The Guardian's 1000 Films To See Before You Die PART 1


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  littlecharmer1959's Rating My Rating
1
Ace in the Hole (The Big Carnival) (1951,  Unrated)
2
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1993,  PG-13)
3
Yukinojo Henge (An Actor's Revenge) (1963,  Unrated)
4
The Addiction (1995,  R)
5
The Adjuster (1992,  R)
6
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984,  PG)
7
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938,  PG)
8
After Hours (1985,  R)
9
Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes (Aguirre, the Wrath of God) (1972,  Unrated)
Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes (Aguirre, the Wrath of God)
Parts of this I really liked, for example the first and last scenes, but otherwise my attention slipped a few times.
10
Airplane! (1980,  PG)
11
Akira (1988,  R)
12
Aleksandr Nevskiy (Alexander Nevsky) (1938,  Unrated)
13
Alfie (1966,  PG)
Alfie
I enjoyed this film. The character Alfie was a bit of a bastard towards his women (always refering to them as "it")but Michael Caine bought a certain charm to the character making him more likeable. This is meant to be a comedy but there were some pretty grim scenes (mainly the illegal abortion scen...(read more)e). Shelley Winters also put in a good performance who in the end gave Alfie a taste of his own medicine.
In all a good film showing another side of 60s London, but nowadays is slightly dated.
14
Alice (Neco z Alenky) (1988,  Unrated)
15
Alien (1979,  R)
16
Todo Sobre Mi Madre (All About My Mother) (1999,  R)
Todo Sobre Mi Madre (All About My Mother)
Good film. The first Pedro Almodovar film I've seen and I wasn't dissapointed.
17
All That Heaven Allows (1955,  Unrated)
All That Heaven Allows
Better than the previous years "Magnificent Obsession", also with Rock Hudson and Jane Wyman. Again a typically melodramatic story but the Douglas Sirk touch makes it well worth watching. Gorgeous cinematography by Russell Metty.
18
All That Jazz (1979,  R)
19
All the President's Men (1976,  R)
20
Alphaville (1965,  Unrated)
21
Amadeus (1984,  R)
22
Les Amants du Pont-Neuf (The Lovers on the Bridge) (1999,  R)
23
Amelie (Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain) (2001,  R)
Amelie (Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain)
Utterly charming! A modern classic.
24
American Beauty (1999,  R)
25
American Gigolo (1980,  R)
26
American Graffiti (1973,  PG)
27
An American in Paris (1951,  Unrated)
28
American Movie (1999,  R)
29
American Pie (1999,  R)
30
American Splendor (2003,  R)
31
An American Werewolf in London (1981,  R)
32
Amores Perros (2000,  R)
33
Anatomy of a Murder (1959,  R)
34
Andrei Rublev (1966,  Unrated)
35
An Angel at My Table (1990,  R)
36
Annie Hall (1977,  PG)
Annie Hall
All I can say is brilliant.
37
The Apartment (1960,  Unrated)
38
Apocalypse Now (1979,  R)
39
L' Appartement (The Apartment) (1996,  R)
40
The Apple (Sib) (1999,  Unrated)
41
L'Armée des ombres (Army in the Shadows) (1969,  Unrated)
42
Around the World in 80 Days (1956,  Unrated)
43
Arsenic and Old Lace (1944,  Unrated)
44
The Asphalt Jungle (1950,  Unrated)
45
Assault on Precinct 13 (1976,  R)
46
Istoriya Asi Klyachinoy, kotoraya lyubila, da ne vyshla zamuzh (Asya's Happiness) (1966,  Unrated)
47
L'Atalante (1934,  Unrated)
48
Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner (2002,  R)
49
Atlantic City (1980,  R)
50
Au Hasard Balthazar (1966,  Unrated)
51
Au Revoir Les Enfants (1987,  PG)
Au Revoir Les Enfants
Malle's last film is a moving and highly personal autobiographical tale (Malle was in tears at the premier). Just as the friendship between the two young boys starts to become apparent to them it's all taken away with the heartbreaking ending.
A must see film for everyone.
52
Audition (Ôdishon) (1999,  R)
53
Austin Powers - International Man of Mystery (1997,  PG-13)
54
L'Avventura (The Adventure) (1960,  Unrated)
55
Babe (1995,  G)
56
Babettes Gæstebud (Babette's Feast) (1987,  G)
57
Back to the Future (1985,  PG)
58
Bad Boy Bubby (1993,  Unrated)
59
Bad Day at Black Rock (1955,  Unrated)
60
Bad Lieutenant (1992,  R)
61
Bad Santa (2003,  R)
62
Badlands (1973,  PG)
63
Bagdad Cafe (1988,  PG)
64
Bambi (1942,  G)
65
Bande à part (Band of Outsiders) (,  Unrated)
66
Bandit Queen (1994,  Unrated)
67
Barbarella (1968,  PG)
Barbarella
A laughable, camp, cult classic! Hilarious set designs, including a spaceship lined with shag carpet. Ultimately pretty poor.
68
Barry Lyndon (1975,  PG)
Barry Lyndon
The best film I've seen in a long time. Glorious cinematography and brilliant soundtrack make this one of Kubrick's greats.
69
Barton Fink (1991,  R)
70
Batman (1989,  PG-13)
71
La Battaglia di Algeri (The Battle of Algiers) (1967,  Unrated)
72
Battle Royale (Batoru Rowaiaru) (2001,  Unrated)
73
Battleship Potemkin (1925,  Unrated)
Battleship Potemkin
A landmark piece of cinema. The sequence on the Odessa steps is just as thrilling as anything in today's films. Literally invented montage editing. You can't call yourself a fan of film unless you've seen this.
74
De Battre mon Coeur s'est Arrêté (The Beat That My Heart Skipped) (2005,  Unrated)
75
Beau Travail (2000,  Unrated)
76
Becket (1964,  PG-13)
77
Before Sunrise (1995,  R)
78
Being John Malkovich (1999,  R)
Being John Malkovich
I can't find the words to describe how great this is, except maybe Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich!
79
Being There (1979,  PG)
80
Belle de jour (,  R)
81
La Belle Noiseuse (1991,  Unrated)
82
The Triplets of Belleville (Les Triplettes de Belleville, Belleville Rendez-vous) (2003,  PG-13)
The Triplets of Belleville (Les Triplettes de Belleville, Belleville Rendez-vous)
A brilliant piece of animation.
83
Ben-Hur (1959,  G)
84
La Bête humaine (Judas Was a Woman)(The Human Beast) (1938,  Unrated)
85
La Bête (The Beast) (1975,  NC-17)
86
Better Off Dead (1985,  PG)
87
37°2 le Matin (Betty Blue) (37.2 Degrees in the Morning) (1986,  Unrated)
88
Beverly Hills Cop (1984,  R)
89
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970,  NC-17)
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
Crazy, campy but ultimately quite fun!

"In a scene like this you get a contact-high!"
90
Ladri di Biciclette (The Bicycle Thief) (Bicycle Thieves) (1949,  Unrated)
91
The Big Chill (1983,  R)
92
The Big Combo (1955,  Unrated)
93
The Big Heat (1953,  PG)
94
The Big Lebowski (1998,  R)
95
Big Night (1996,  R)
96
The Big Parade (1925,  Unrated)
97
The Big Sleep (1946,  Unrated)
98
Big Wednesday (1978,  PG)
99
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989,  PG)
100
The Birds (1963,  PG-13)
101
The Birth of a Nation (,  Unrated)
102
Crna macka, beli macor (Black Cat, White Cat) (1999,  R)
103
Blackboard Jungle (1955,  Unrated)
104
Blackboards (2002,  Unrated)
105
Blade Runner (1982,  R)
106
The Blair Witch Project (1999,  R)
107
Blazing Saddles (1974,  R)
108
A Blonde in Love (Lasky jedne plavovlasky) (1966,  Unrated)
109
Blowup (Blow-Up) (Blow Up) (1966,  Unrated)
Blowup (Blow-Up) (Blow Up)
Brilliant film.
110
Der Blaue Engel (The Blue Angel) (1930,  Unrated)
111
The Blue Dahlia (1946,  Unrated)
112
Blue Velvet (1986,  R)
113
The Blues Brothers (1980,  R)
114
Bob le Flambeur (Bob the Gambler) (1956,  PG)
115
Body and Soul (1947) (1947,  Unrated)
116
Bombon - The Dog (Bombon - El Perro) (,  R)
117
Bonnie and Clyde (1967,  R)
Bonnie and Clyde
Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway play the two leads perfectly. The final scene where they take one last loving look at each other before both being riddled with bullets will stay in my mind for days to come I'm sure.
118
Boogie Nights (1997,  R)
119
Das Boot (The Boat) (1981,  R)
120
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006,  R)
121
The Boston Strangler (1968,  R)
122
Le Boucher (1971,  Unrated)
123
Bowling for Columbine (2002,  R)
124
Boyz n the Hood (1991,  R)
125
The Brady Bunch Movie (1995,  PG-13)
126
Branded to Kill (1967,  Unrated)
127
Braveheart (1995,  R)
128
Brazil (1985,  R)
129
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961,  Unrated)
130
Breaking Away (1979,  PG)
131
Breaking the Waves (1996,  R)
Breaking the Waves
Lars Von Trier takes us on an emotional tour-de-force, questioning love, commitment and religion. Emily Watson gives a great and memorable performance as the troubled Bess, and Katrin Cartlidge provides excellent support.
The only flaw has to be that final scene!
132
Breathless (À bout de souffle) (By a Tether) (1961,  Unrated)
Breathless (À bout de souffle) (By a Tether)
Belmondo and Seberg are so effortlessly cool.

The best Jean-Luc Godard film and one of the best of the Nouvelle Vague.
133
Brick (2006,  R)
134
The Bride of Frankenstein (1935,  Unrated)
135
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957,  PG)
136
Brief Encounter (1945,  Unrated)
Brief Encounter
A simple and terribly British tale of true love. Everything about it is perfect, from the two lead performances, to the locations to the brilliant Rachmaninov soundtrack.
137
Guling jie shaonian sha ren shijian (A Brighter Summer Day) (1991,  Unrated)
138
Brighton Rock (1947,  Unrated)
Brighton Rock
An excellent Brit Noir, with an outstanding performance by Richard Attenborough as the ruthless young gangster "Pinkie".
139
Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974,  R)
140
Bringing Up Baby (1938,  Unrated)
Bringing Up Baby
David Huxley: Now don't lose your head, Susan.
Susan Vance: My what?
David Huxley: Don't lose your head!
Susan Vance: I've got my head, I've lost my leopard!
141
Broadway Danny Rose (1984,  PG)
142
Brokeback Mountain (2005,  R)
143
Buffalo 66 (1998,  R)
144
Bugsy Malone (1976,  G)
145
Bull Durham (1988,  R)
146
Bullitt (1968,  PG)
147
Burnt by the Sun (1995,  R)
148
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969,  PG)
149
Cabaret (1972,  PG)
Cabaret
Liza Minnelli at her greatest in a performance that she hasn't been able to match since. The fantastic musical numbers provide some much needed light relief to the chilling subject matter at hand.
150
Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari. (The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari) (1920,  Unrated)
151
La Cage Aux Folles (1979,  R)
152
A Canterbury Tale (1949,  NC-17)
153
Capturing the Friedmans (2003,  R)
154
Caravaggio (1986,  R)
155
Carry on Cleo (Caligula: Funniest Home Videos) (1964,  Unrated)
156
The Cars That Ate Paris (1974,  PG)
157
Casablanca (1943,  Unrated)
158
Casino (1995,  R)
159
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958,  Unrated)
160
Céline et Julie Vont en Bateau (Celine and Julie Go Boating) (1974,  Unrated)
Céline et Julie Vont en Bateau (Celine and Julie Go Boating)
Watching 'Celine and Julie Go Boating' may well have been the most bizarre, wonderful and memorable three hours of my life.
161
The Cement Garden (1992,  Unrated)
162
Central do Brasil (Central Station) (1998,  R)
163
La Cérémonie (A Judgement in Stone) (1996,  Unrated)
La Cérémonie (A Judgement in Stone)
After only my first Claude Chabrol film I can see why he is sometimes known as the French Alfred Hitchcock. La Cérémonie is based on the Ruth Rendell book "A Judgement in Stone", I'm not going to reveal too much about the plot because this is one of those films which really does benefit from knowing as little as possible. Instead just watch two of the great French actresses of recent times as the story builds with tension to the chilling finale.
164
The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968,  PG-13)
165
Chariots of Fire (1981,  PG)
166
The Chess Players (Shatranj Ke Khiladi) (1978,  Unrated)
167
Chicken Run (2000,  G)
168
Un Chien Andalou (An Andalusian Dog) (1929,  Unrated)
169
L'Enfant (The Child) (2006,  R)
L'Enfant (The Child)
A good little movie which managed to win the Palme D'or at Cannes. A simple but effective storyline about a young couple selling thier baby on the black market. At first I found it a little slow but towards the end it picked up. Overall a gritty, documentary style drama worth seeing.
170
Chinatown (1974,  R)
Chinatown
"Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown. "

Polanski's take on the film noir is a classic. Jack Nicholson is superb as the private detective Jake Gittes who becomes involved in a complex case of murder, incest and water supplies. Faye Dunaway also gives a memorable performance as Evelyn Mulwray ("She's my sister AND my daughter!")
It seems that some people are disappointed by the ending but personally I think it is perfect and fitting.
171
Chuck & Buck (2000,  R)
172
Chungking Express (1996,  PG-13)
173
La Cienaga (2001,  R)
La Cienaga
A very promising debut from Lucrecia Martel. No real plot but that doesn't matter when it's such a great study a family life. Beautifully shot also.
174
The Cincinnati Kid (1965,  Unrated)
175
Cinema Paradiso (Nuovo Cinema Paradiso) (1988,  R)
176
Citizen Kane (1941,  PG)
177
Cidade de Deus, (City of God) (2003,  R)
Cidade de Deus, (City of God)
A remarkable film. Even more powerful due to the fact that it's based on a true story.
178
Clerks (1994,  R)
179
A Clockwork Orange (1971,  R)
A Clockwork Orange
"Viddy well, little brother. Viddy well."
180
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977,  PG)
181
Ostre Sledované Vlaky (Closely Watched Trains) (1966,  Unrated)
182
Close-up (1999,  R)
183
Clueless (1995,  PG-13)
184
Sayat Nova (Color of Pomegranates) (1970,  Unrated)
185
Come and See (Idi i smotri) (1985,  Unrated)
186
The Company of Wolves (1984,  R)
187
Comrades (,  Unrated)
188
Con Air (1997,  R)
189
Il conformista (The Conformist) (1970,  R)
190
The Consequences of Love (Le Conseguenze dell'amore) (2005,  Unrated)
The Consequences of Love (Le Conseguenze dell'amore)
A brilliant and stylish film from Italy. Toni Servillo does a great job as the miserable and deadpan Titta di Girolamo. The camera techniques and soundtrack Paolo Sorrentino uses both pay off. Definitely a director to keep an eye on.
191
The Conversation (1974,  PG)
192
Coogan's Bluff (1968,  R)
193
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989,  R)
194
Cool Hand Luke (1967,  Unrated)
195
Le Corbeau (1943,  Unrated)
196
Letyat zhuravli (The Cranes are Flying) (1960,  Unrated)
197
Crash (1996,  NC-17)
Crash
My first Cronenberg film. Got to admit I was a little disappointed. The acting and directing was great but not much seemed to happen.
198
Cremaster 1 (1996,  Unrated)
199
Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989,  PG-13)
200
Crocodile Dundee (1986,  PG-13)
201
Cronos (1994,  R)
202
Crooklyn (1994,  PG-13)
203
Crossfire (1947,  Unrated)
204
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Wo hu cang long) (2000,  PG-13)
205
Crumb (1995,  R)
206
Cul-de-Sac (1966,  Unrated)
207
Cyrano De Bergerac (1990,  PG)
208
Dancer in the Dark (2000,  R)
Dancer in the Dark
An amazing and heartbreaking film with an outstanding performance by Bjork.
209
Dangerous Liaisons (1988,  R)
210
Danton (1983,  PG)
211
Dark Star (1973,  G)
212
Darling (1965,  Unrated)
213
La Nuit Américaine (Day for Night) (The American Night) (1973,  PG)
214
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951,  G)
215
Days of Being Wild (A Fei zheng chuan) (1990,  Unrated)
216
Days of Heaven (1978,  PG)
Days of Heaven
One of the most visually beautiful films I've ever seen.
217
Dazed and Confused (1993,  R)
218
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982,  PG)