My Favorite Movies
my favorite 101 movies of all time.
| sanjurosamurai's Rating | My Rating | |
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| 1 |
Batman Begins (2005, PG-13)
the best sound and cinematography Ive ever seen in a movie. a great restart to a film series about this figure of american mythology. every actor delivered leaving me salivating for the next films in the series. the training sequence was brilliant and the development of the character bruce wayne was as complete and interesting as one could have hoped for. my favorite film of all time. |
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| 2 |
Casablanca (1943, Unrated)
"of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world she had to walk into mine." what a perfect movie. i just saw this for the fourth time and it was the best viewing yet. this film is cluttered with wonderful qoutes, great diologue, and an incredible plot. bogey and bergman are larger than life in this film and the rest of the actors really shine. i have read many critics reviews of this film and some try to think of something critical to say for the sake of being objective, in reality criticizing this film is futile. many consider this to be one of the top five films and unlike others in the top five, i can raise no objections here. this is easily one of the greatest films ever made without exception. as ebert once said, this is probably the most well recieved and reviewed film ever made and it deserves its aclaim. "heres lookin at you kid." |
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| 3 |
Akahige (Red Beard) (1965, Unrated)
"hes a great doctor. no, hes a great man." that quote from this film really wraps it up. this movie is flawless, perfect in every way. easily kurosawas best directing job, and mifunes acting performance is one of the greatest in film history. every line of diologue, every camera shot, everything was perfect. one of the 10 greatest films i have ever seen, absolutely brilliant in every way. the young doctor, the little boy towards the end, all of the acting was great and this story is stunning and beautiful. dont believe that kurosawa can only make samurai films, this one is even better than seven samurai. |
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| 4 |
About a Boy (2002, PG-13) |
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| 5 |
The Last Samurai (2003, R)
Introspective. For someone who is more into samurai films than anyone I know, this one is the best of them. Brilliant. i was mezmorized by the precise calculation and execution of every scene. zwick isnt counted among the greats, but this is a stunning directing job. This movie made me like Tom Cruise. |
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| 6 |
Yojimbo (1961, Unrated)
after yet another viewing im reminded of why this is one of my favorite films of all time. my favorite actor playing his best role, it is fascinating to watch this ronin samurai play such a distant character who at the same time is perfectly calculated in every step he makes. this film is often imitated and never equaled, especially the exceptional scene at the end where sanjuro is standing at the edge of the street just moments away from his stand against his enemies. the music, weather, and cinematography were used perfectly and the entire film from start to finish could not have been carried out any better. this film improves with each viewing. |
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| 7 |
Miller's Crossing (1990, R)
masterpiece. absolutely astounding. this is easily the best film ive seen in the last year of my life and one of the best i have ever seen. gabriel byrne puts in an astounding performance as does finney, the story was perfect with each twist, and the themes of loyalty and morality were present to a degree rarely captured in a movie. the cohens put in their best script and directing job in this film all should see. this is the best mobster flick i have ever seen bar none. |
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| 8 |
The Seven Samurai (Shichinin no Samurai) (1954, Unrated)
i just watched this movie for the second time and it was worth reviewing again. masterpiece. considered one of the 20 greatest movies of all time by most critics, and considered the greatest samurai film ever, this movie lives up to all of its hype. this film just furthers the lengends of kurosawa who did an amazing job making this film, as well as mifune and shimura for their brilliant acting performances. the whole film all i kept thinking was "wow this movie is amazing, perfect in every way." there are actually 2 other kurosawa films i like more, but that doesnt take away from this film, it just proves that kurosawa was a genius. what a fantastic film. |
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| 9 |
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983, PG) |
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| 10 |
The Third Man (1949, Unrated)
a flawlessly conceived, expertly crafted film that ranks as possibly the greatest film noir that i have ever seen. the cinematography is especially notable, and every member of the cast was perfectly chosen. the script is also one of the greatest in film history, and every scene was shot purposefully and effectively. the entire chase sequence at the end of the film is marvelous. easily one of the greatest films ever made. |
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| 11 |
The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (2001, PG-13) |
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| 12 |
Die Hard (1988, R) |
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| 13 |
Robin Hood (1973, G) |
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| 14 |
Raiders of the Lost Ark (Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark) (1981, PG) |
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| 15 |
Devil in a Blue Dress (1995, R) |
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| 16 |
Michael Clayton (2007, R)
this film is amazing. the first hour felt incoherent and without consequence, by the time i walked out of the theatre i was blown away by how brilliant the film is. there was a strong use of false foreshadowing that was not as much tricky as it was calculated. there were long and simple shots, like ones where clooney would be driving in his car for periods of time and you would expect something to happen because so much attention was payed to him driving, and then nothing happens at all, which felt strange in the beginning but added an intensity by the end because nothing ever happened to him until finally, one built up moment where you though it might just be another scene of him driving that ended in something big. the anticipation of events was perfectly executed. the diologue was powerful and the disposition of the characters was atypical. and amidst the brilliance the best part was the performances. clooney gives the best performance of his career as a tired and worn down but brilliant specialist, and he just looks exhausted through the whole film. wilkinson also gives his best and even swinton and pollack were very good. this film deserved its 7 oscar noms and it is clearly one of the best of the year. |
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| 17 |
Road to Perdition (2002, R)
everytime i watch this film it touches me more. it hits me even harder now that i have kids. in my opinion, this is easily one of the most underrated films of all time, and absolutely beautiful portrayal of redemption and family. the acting was great, the score was perfect and a bit haunting, and the cinematography was among the greatest work of all time. one of newmans final films, i watched this the day he died as a tribute to his legacy. a masterpiece. |
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| 18 |
The Twilight Samurai (Tasogare Seibei) (2004, Unrated)
the great underdog story. a man who should struggle between the path of glory and being a good father, he really doesnt struggle at all. fatherhood comes first for the main character much to the suprise of the other samurai. a story about a man who seems lost to all around him but really only cares for what he loves. |
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| 19 |
When the Last Sword Is Drawn (Mibu gishi den) (2003, Unrated)
absolutely incredible. this is only the second movie af all time to make me cry, and i cried twice. absolutely one of the sadest things i have ever seen. this film won best picture at the japanese academy awards in 2003 and absolutely deserves it. the story was marvelous and the acting was incredible. there were 2 major things in this movie that infuriated me, those 2 things made me so angry that i wanted nothing more than to HATE this movie. but i cant hate it. its nearly perfect. the main character does have a major contradiction within his character which seems like a possible flaw in the script, but other than this point this film is brilliant. the 2 things that made me want to hate this movie werent flaws or script issues, they were just things in the story that didnt go my way. this film does not have your typical happy ending. but like i said, despite my tears and sadness for the characters at the end, i cant find anything about this film thats not beautiful. i havent stopped thinking about it since i watched it, one of my favorites of all time. |
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| 20 |
Coming to America (1988, R) |
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| 21 |
Changeling (2008, R)
easily the most powerful, and possibly the best film of 2008. i was shaken by this epic film which began as a story about a mother and her son and blossomed into a bone chilling crime saga for the ages. my favorite film from both clint eastwood and angelina jolie, this film had me speechless. the end brought back memories of shawshank and the art direction is some of the best work i have ever seen. the oscars for best picture, best actress, best screenplay, best director, best art direction, and possibly best supporting actor have major candidates here. truly remarkeable. |
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| 22 |
The Big Sleep (1946, Unrated)
another of the many astounding films featuring humphrey bogart. hawks directing job was great as he handled the difficult and involved script as well as anyone could have. the story was great, reminding me a lot of the maltese falcon but maybe even slightly better. i was intrigued the whole way through, and this is one of those rare films that leaves you completely satisfied without a criticism. amazing movie. |
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| 23 |
The Maltese Falcon (1941, Unrated)
definitely one of the best films of all time. classic noir with great performances and a perfect plot. the twists and turns were intriguing and the payoff at the end following all of the mystery was incredible. there were no holes in this one and the characters were consistent and well developed despite their simple purposes. a truly great piece of film history. |
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| 24 |
Angels with Dirty Faces (1938, Unrated)
easily one of the most underrated gangster films ever made. rarely listed amung the classics, this picture see's a young bogart and a young cagney go head to head in a match of criminal thinking. o'brien is very good as the priest, and the dichotomy that is built between his character and cagneys is powerful. two friends with everything in common go in opposite directions because of a single moment in their lives, and they couldnt have ended up more different. the acting was great and the moral commentary was carried out perfectly. this was a profound story, admitting that although this life is made easier by dishonest living, that still doesnt make it right. bearing many similarities to two other films, white heat and on the waterfront, this will be a film i rewatch every few years. |
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| 25 |
Blood Diamond (2006, R) |
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| 26 |
Lara Croft - Tomb Raider (2001, PG-13) |
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| 27 |
Open Range (2003, R) |
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| 28 |
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980, PG) |
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| 29 |
Field of Dreams (1989, PG) |
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| 30 |
Once (2007, R)
after a second viewing of this film im still convinced that in 2007, a year that i find to be one of the best movie years of all time, once is my favorite film of the year. im still blown away with how much the director and lead actors did with so little, only $100,000. the music is mind blowing and the story simple and charming. the shots were amazing for the limited camera equipment and glen hansard set himself up for a great acting or musical career if he chooses to do more. wonderful fim. |
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| 31 |
The Incredibles (2004, PG) |
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| 32 |
Signs (2002, PG-13) |
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| 33 |
The Dark Knight (2008, PG-13)
magnificent. just a shade inferior to batman begins, but it was a very different movie from that one in some ways and absolutely phenomenal in its own right. while the first felt more complete, this film felt more epic, like a crime saga rather than just a story. the talk about ledgers performance was justifiable as he was truly great. it wasnt necessarily the best the joker could have been played, but it was a stellar interpretation of my single favorite character in the history of fiction. two face was done well, the story was amazing looking to harvey dent as the white night he was always meant to be, and the twists the joker takes us through are excellent. i waited for this film for three years and wasnt disappointed. easily one of the best films i have ever seen. |
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| 34 |
Burn After Reading (2008, R)
i originally had intended to rate this a bit lower on first instinct, but the more time that has passed since watching it the more ive realized that this is easily one of the funniest comedies i have ever seen in my entire life. i very rarely hand out a perfect rating like this, but this really is a comic masterpiece. the characters are phenomenally constructed disfunctional lunatics, and the actors played them all perfectly. The script was beyond clever as a perfectly woven story about nothing. Many people seem to dislike the films pointlessness, i feel that this is the magic and brilliance of the film. malkovich was hysterical and pitt gives a performance for the ages in a rare comedic role for him. even clooney was hilarious throughout the entire film. this cements the coens as the most versatile director in hollywood, if that hadnt already been cemented. its been 25 hours since ive seen this and its already becoming one of my favorite and most highly quoted movies ever. oh, and the cinematography was astounding. |
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| 35 |
A Song Is Born (1948, Unrated)
snow white and the seven musical genius hermits. not only one of the best musicals ever made, but one of my favorite films of all time. virginia mayo shows us again why she was one of the most beautiful women of her time, and dany kaye puts in a stellar performance. the appearances and music of two of the greatest musicians of all time, benny goodman and sachmo, were excellent. each piece of music in this musical about the making of jazz was perfect, and the love story hit the mark. the opening sequence was fuzed with clever writing and great humor, and the film never slows down. one of the top five films of its decade which features some of the greatest films ever made. |
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| 36 |
Unbreakable (2000, PG-13) |
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| 37 |
Sanjuro (1962, PG-13) |
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| 38 |
Bushi no Ichibun (Love and Honor) (2007, PG-13)
this is a beautiful film. the close of yoji yamada's loose samurai trilogy, this film catches a seemingly cliche theme of a man looking for sight through blind eyes and makes something extrordinary and anything but cliche. the diologue is poetic and tragic and the story is passionate and heart felt. the acting, music, and direction were amazing and the cinematography was as good as it gets. yamada should never stop making period pieces, all three from the trilogy of films with similar themes were mind blowing. this will be one of my most rewatched films in years to come. |
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| 39 |
Le Doulos (1962, Unrated)easily one of the most gripping and fulfilling films i have ever seen. the film has enough twists to fill a lifetime, shifting the direction of the characters so often to keep one glued to the story but no too often so as to confuse. a perfect blend of mystery and suspense with noir like lighting and style. one of the best crime dramas ever produced. |
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| 40 |
Dumb and Dumber (1994, PG-13) |
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| 41 |
High and Low (Tengoku to jigoku) (Heaven and Hell) (1963, Unrated)
kurosawa does it again. this movie is incredible. i wasnt expecting alot from this because its one of kurosawa's lesser known films, and its one of the best movies ive ever seen. a detective story about a man whos son is kidnapped, this film takes you through every step of what a detective goes through when trying to solve a case. this film had a very intricate plot line and the details of the case were woven together perfectly. usually films this complex have holes, but this one was perfect. kurosawa got some great shots as usual and the acting was brilliant. the end was a little abrupt, but not enough to be an issue. great story, another great film from kurosawa. |
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| 42 |
The Sting (1973, PG) |
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| 43 |
The Godfather (1972, R)
it took me many viewings and a considerable amount of time to give in to this film, but i have finally given up any apprehension towards it and have come to realize it is simply one of the greatest films in history without question. i used to pit myself against this movie not because of the movie itself, but because of its typical fans. many love this classic for all the wrong reasons. clueless fans who know little about great filmmaking rally around this for its violence, glorification of mafia life, and grittiness. the real reasons to love this film are because of its superb score, great acting, haunting cinematography, and genius storytelling. i feel that this film is popular for all the wrong reasons, but that doesnt exclude it from its greatness, truly a genuine classic. |
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| 44 |
Network (1976, R)
they just dont make films like this anymore. an absolute genuine masterpiece of filmmaking, the highlight of the already brilliant career of sydney lumet. the acting was stellar, especially the performance of william holden, and the film was flawlessly directed. a perfect commentary on the effect of t.v. and big business on the world and a brilliantly crafted film all around makes for one of the best american films in history. |
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| 45 |
Braveheart (1995, R) |
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| 46 |
The Shawshank Redemption (1994, R) |
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| 47 |
When Harry Met Sally (1989, R)
probably the best romantic comedy ever made. the dialogue encompasses every detail of the nuances of men and women in a relationship, and each of those nuances was effectively fused into the relationship of the main characters. witty and clever, each of the actors played into the story perfectly. a wonderful movie. |
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| 48 |
(500) Days of Summer (2009, PG-13)
utterly and completely brilliant in every way. this is easily one of the best romantic comedies i have ever seen, as everything was perfect, from the creation and development of the characters, to the acting, to the script and overall story, and topped off by some of the most creative, innovative, and effective directing ive ever seen in any film. the non-linear storytelling worked so well here and every risk taken by webb worked from the musical number, to the split screen, to the scene that faded to sketch art. i cant say enough about this film. a romantic comedy for all time that leaves behind all cliches to tell a story i cant wait to see again. |
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| 49 |
Munich (2005, R)
although raiders of the lost ark is still my favorite of spielbergs films, this may very well be his magnum opus, and that is in the light of films like schindlers list and jaws. a masterpiece of the highest quality, every actor, every shot, every line was perfect. the screenplay was beautifully crafted by roth, and geoffrey rush put in a subtly brilliant performance. the musical score was also effective, and despite the long running time the films pacing was flawless. a stellar film. |
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| 50 |
Schindler's List (1993, R) |
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| 51 |
Spartacus (1960, PG-13)
"I am not an animal". one of my favorite films of all time and a genuine cinema classic. spartacus is a grand epic and one of the greatest hero stories ever put to film. definitely my favorite kubrick picture which is ironic because kubrick went on to disown this film because it wasnt "his". He was a director for hire making the film kirk douglas wanted to make. regardless, its my favorite kubrick film and an amazing movie. "Im Spartacus!" |
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| 52 |
Glory (1989, R) |
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| 53 |
The Departed (2006, R)
best scorcese film ever. unbelievable. youre enthraled through the entire story. dicaprio is already one of my favorites, but this is one of his best performances, he was brillliant. damons performance is overlooked and the end is shocking and suprising, even disturbing really. i havent stopped thinking about this film since i watched it, nearly perfect. |
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| 54 |
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008, PG-13)
mezmerizing. truly one of the greatest films ever made, period. it will be a tragedy if this film isnt soon seen as a classic of cinema. it has everything. brilliant acting, amazing cinematography, perfect art direction including makeup, and an epic and perfect story for the ages. i was enthraled for every minute of the nearly three hours of this film. at one point, the film brought me to an intense level of emotion and didnt let up for nearly 30 minutes. captivating on every level, this film battles changeling for the best of 2008. |
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| 55 |
La Battaglia di Algeri (The Battle of Algiers) (1967, Unrated)
strirring and perfect from start to finish. although difficult to watch, it is at the same time one of the more beautiful films ever made. non traditional for a semi-war film, the reality of the story and method of film making provide a shocking glimpse into the tragic reality of the life of people in the midst of struggle. one of the best films ive ever seen. |
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| 56 |
American Gangster (2007, R) |
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| 57 |
Letters from Iwo Jima (2006, R)
incredible. one of the best films ive seen in the last year. extremely sad and realistic. ken watanabe was fantastic and the direction was great. you can see the samurai honored culture maintain in soldier life clear into the 20th century, the japanese may fight differently than we do, but the film does a great job of showing the true humanity of all people on all sides of war. one of the greatest war films of all time. |
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| 58 |
Kaidan (Kwaidan) (Ghost Stories) (1964, Unrated)
a film containing four short films that are ghost stories from various points of the samurai era in japan. while all four stories were compelling, my perfect rating is mostly for the third story called "hoichi the earless man". hoichi is easily the greatest ghost story i have ever seen on film, with wonderful acting, flawless cinematography, and a haunting storyline. it was a pleasant suprise to see takashi shimura appear as well. the art direction and cinematography for all four stories was essentially perfect, and these four stories assemble to make one of the greatest films i have ever seen. |
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| 59 |
The Hidden Blade (2006, R) |
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| 60 |
North by Northwest (1959, Unrated)
really a masterpiece. incredible movie. easily hitchcocks best and one of the best films of all time. the airplane crop dusting scene was shot well, and you really felt like cary grants character was an average guy who became a brilliant spy on a whim just to stay alive. similar in many ways to another hitchcock film called saboteur, but this one was much better. |
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| 61 |
Groundhog Day (1993, PG)
one of the great comedies in history starring possibly the greatest comedic actor in history. the script, editing, and timing in this film are unusually perfect for a comedy and the story is about as perfectly mapped out as one could have hoped for. it would have been easy to screw this movie up, but i think the reason this is considered one of the great comedies in history is because rather than be formulaic and predictable this film brought murrays character to points where the audience says "if i was in his shoes i think i would do the exact same thing." perfect comedy. |
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| 62 |
Amistad (1997, R)
wow. what a powerful film. this movie had little to do with entertainment and much to do with human nature. there were unforgetable scenes in this film, like the two slaves discussing Scripture using only pictures and the speach given by John Quincy Adams (anthony hopkins) at the end of the film. this movie was haunting and heartbreaking, yet it was filled with themes of hope, salvation, and courage. one of the truly great films that has ever been made, the acting was incredible and this is easily one of spielbergs best films. lets all stop neglecting this film and give it the due it deserves. |
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| 63 |
Kung Fu Panda (2008, PG)
amazing. hilarious at every turn, the action sequesnces were perfectly planned, and the story was flawless in every way. there arent more than a couple of animated films ever made that are better than this, and this was one of the most enjoyable movie theatre expiriences of my life. it was also the fist film i took my son to in the theatre, and i couldnt have picked a better film. |
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| 64 |
Scarface (1932, PG)the grandfather of all gangster films. the gold standard and one of the greatest films ever made, this film is everything that a gangster picture should be. haunting for its time, the original scarface puts the depalma version to shame and shows us what the gritty world of 1930's depression era crime was like. masterpiece. |
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| 65 |
Dersu Uzala (1975, G) |
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| 66 |
The Lady Vanishes (1938, Unrated)
easily one of hitchcocks best films, this is also one of the greatest films ever made. incredible photography, a perfectly crafted and haunting script, a brilliantly chosen cast, and a well thought out plot. there were no holes and the entire film was perfectly executed. to be honest, i was nervous the first 30 minutes, and then the last hour was one of the most mind blowing and engaging hours of film that i have ever seen. a perfect masterpiece. |
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| 67 |
The Killers (1946, Unrated)
siodmaks version of the killers is mesmerizing. one of the best film noirs ever made, lancaster was great in his debut, ava gardner was stunning as always, and obrien turns in a typically solid performance in a noir investigative role. the first few minutes of the film basically lays out hemingways 8 page short story with perfection, and the rest of the story created for the film was true to the spirit of hemingways work. as the plot thickens so does the intrigue, finalizing in a twisted and dark tale that satisfies completely. |
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| 68 |
Biruma no Tategoto (The Burmese Harp) (1956, Unrated)one of the most beautiful and powerful films ever made. mizushima is a heroic character yet tragic at the same time. the film could have used another 20 minutes to flush out more of the introductory relationships that the protagonist had with his fellow soldiers, but ichikawa directs well enough to give us enough of the story for it to profoundly impact the audience. this films shows the emptyness of the loss of life and holds as one of the greatest war films of all time. |
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| 69 |
One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975, R)
jack nicholson in possibly his finest performance. the film works because jack works, but he is so good that this ranks up there as one of the all time classics in the history of film. the first two hours are fun, witty, charming, and heart warming. the film ends by spiriling into chaos that is both shocking and powerful. deserving of its sweep of the big 5 oscars, one of the best films of 1975 and one of my favorites of all time. |
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| 70 |
Tokyo Story (Tôkyô monogatari) (1953, Unrated)
a profound and beautifully told story that lives up to the hype and challenges even the most well meaning children on issues of honoring their parents. the story is stirring, especially as it picks up steam from its slow start. the actors capture their characters hearts well, and the film brings back visions of the life checking thoughts brought on by ikiru. this film begs the question, "how shall we then live?" |
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| 71 |
Suna no Onna (Woman in the Dunes) (1964, Unrated)
"are you shoveling to survive, or surviving to shovel?" one lead asks this of the other, and it is a telling question because it was the same question that circled my mind through the entire film up until the point it was asked. without question, woman in the dunes is one of the most unique pictures ever filmed, and its uniqueness brought with it brilliance. the plot is actually absurd and there are a few questions left unanswered, but teshigahara also made sure to answer the most important questions to make this outlandish story actually seem believable on every level. the acting was superb especially okada playing the lead, and the premise of this non horror film was more terrifying than just about any horror film ive ever seen. the cinematography was astounding, some of the best ive ever seen, and the film was effective in everything it attempted from start to finish. the music was also especially perfect for the film. the end of the film didnt go my way at all, but it wasnt supposed to. a genuine masterpiece of cinema. |
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| 72 |
Mo' Better Blues (1990, R)
what an incredible movie. i dont care for spike lee's themes of racial distinction in most of his films, and some of it that was present in this film were annoying, but this film was too brilliant not to love. it has quickly become one of my favorite movies of all time. i tried to identify wether this was a film about love or music, and then i realized its not about either, its a memoir of a musician. i think i like this film more than most for musical reasons and not film reasons, because im such a HUGE jazz fan, but the movie was well made and well acted. the diologue and ending were not typical rehearsed hollywood, they were genuine. many scenes were pointless and didnt further the plot at all, and in this film it was a good thing. it made the characters more real. denzel was incredible as usual, but the entire cast with the exception of indigo was chosen perfectly. the music scenes were really great and because i know jazz, i know that the things that happen to denzels character in this film happen to jazz musicians all the time. i may not always care for spike lee, but he did a wonderful job on this film. |
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| 73 |
All Quiet on the Western Front (1930, Unrated)absolutely chilling. one of the greatest war masterpieces of all time. this is the film that did the most for getting me to hate war. while i understand war and feel that it is sometimes necessary to use force to fight evil that rejects the use of reason, i still hate war, and this is the most moving anti-war film ever made. nearly 80 years since its release it holds up incredibly well. the acting is a little weak at points, but the war scenes are haunting and the psychological effect of war on those that participate in it is presented powerfully. one of the great films of all time. |
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| 74 |
Transformers (2007, PG-13)
rediculously, phenomonally, incredibally, wonderfully fantastic in every way. one of the best films i have ever seen in my life. michael bay is usually not very good, but he delivered. there were a few typical michael bay sequences that another director could have done better on, but overall the cgi, acting, and storyline were remarkeable. shia lebeouf was amazing and the casting was done very well. i couldnt think of a single poorly casted role in this film. i got goose bumps on 3 different scenes, especially when you hear optimus speak for the first time. the comedy was great, really funny and never corny, and the action was equally impressive. this is normally not the type of film i would hype up this much but its too good. it made me fall back into the love affair i had with the transformers when i was 5. |
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| 75 |
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000, PG-13)
absolutely sensational. this is perfect movie making at its best. the entire film the only thought that kept going through my mind was on how well this film was made. deakins cinematography was beyond genius, the script was amazing, and the performances were perfect for the characters. the scene in the town hall near the end was one of the best scenes of any film ever made, and the twists that the coens gave to the odyssey were creative and well designed. above all, not enough can be said about the soundtrack. throwing in a character based on blues legend robert johnson was also a stroke of genius. another near masterpiece by the coen bros. |
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| 76 |
Ben-Hur (1959, G)
one of the great epics of all time. re-watchability is effected by its 3 1/2 hour length, but other than this the film is nearly perfect. the chariot race is a stagering feat, the performances, locations, and cinematography are astounding, and the story is inspiring. great reverence is paid to Christ in making him voiceless and faceless and the imagery of his death bringing life is perfectly painted. worthy of its 11 oscars, this film is wonderful. |
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| 77 |
Rio Bravo (1998, Unrated)
everything in me wants to rate this perfectly except the small voice holding me back until i get a second viewing. probably the second best western ive ever seen, and better for me than many of the western gold standards like high noon and the searchers. this is the most ive enjoyed john wayne whom i normally dont care too much for, and every cast member was chosen perfectly for their role. the story was epic although typical, and the film had an epic feel because of the grand and detailed stoytelling. truly one of the great westerns of all time. |
|
| 78 |
King Arthur (2004, PG-13) |
|
| 79 |
Die Hard 2 (Die Hard 2: Die Harder) (1990, R) |
|
| 80 |
On the Waterfront (1954, Unrated)
this film is amazing for the stunning performances if for no other reason, and there are many other reasons to love this movie. brando gives possibly his best performance and every other actor from the biggest roles to the smallest roles was at the peak of acting. possibly one of the best acted movies in history. the sermon given by the priest at the dock was possibly the best movie speech ive ever seen and the plot was very good. i do think that the story was a bit shifty at the end keeping this film from being perfect, but it was as close to perfect as a film can get. wonderful picture. |
|
| 81 |
Lethal Weapon (1987, R) |
|
| 82 |
Beverly Hills Cop (1984, R) |
|
| 83 |
Red River (1948, Unrated)
a near perfect western and one of the best films of the 1940's. clift was perfect in his debut, wayne gives one of the best performances of his career, and the characters developed for the film were engaging and well suited for the story. as westerns go, this film is far more epic than most as we expirience a well crafted cattle drive over the course of 1,000 miles. great action, high emotion, and an excellent story place this film up there as yet another great film from the masterful howard hawks. the only thing holding this film back from really being my favorite western of all time is the late infusion of tess's character into the story. she felt forced, which might have been a script issue but was more than likely the weakness of joanne dru's performance. aside from this one misstep red river is one of the greatest westerns ever made. |
|
| 84 |
Pinocchio - Walt Disney (1940, G) |
|
| 85 |
Miyamoto Musashi Kanketsuhen: Kettô Ganryûjima (Samurai III: Duel on Ganryu Island) (Bushido) (1956, Unrated) |
|
| 86 |
Ikiru (Doomed) (Living) (To Live) (1956, PG)
profound. everything about this film is moving. it inspires the viewer to not waste his life. kurosawas shots are perfect as always and the side characters are just as compelling as the lead character. this is considered one of kurosawas 2 masterpieces along with seven samurai, there are 5 or 6 kurosawa films i like better but thats only because everything he does is so good. this movie is near flawless and i highly reccommend it to anyone. it will tug at your heart and make you doubt whether anything you do is worth your time. |
|
| 87 |
The Warui yatsu hodo yoku nemuru (The Bad Sleep Well) (1962, Unrated)
incredible. kurosawa never ceases to amaze me. this is considered one of kurosawas least appreciated films but its so perfect. tashiro mifune offers up another brilliant performance. kurosawa is known for his period films but this one takes place around 1960 when the film was made. this is just as good as kurosawas other more well known films. just incredible. this film tackles corporate corruption and revenge and it has some cool plot twists. must watch for any movie fan. |
|
| 88 |
Ran (1985, R)
what a fantastic movie. this film is great, very similar in a lot of ways to kagemusha but much better. i thought about giving this film 5 stars but there is a loose end that wasnt tied up when the movie was over, and 5 star movies tie up their loose ends. but regardless, this is an epic film. tatsuya nakadai does an absolute wonderful job and each scene was shot beautifully. i cant believe that in akira kurosawa we had one man that could make so many incredible films. this is one of the best films i have ever seen and i can name 5 of his i liked better. there are plenty of characters in this film to root for and plenty of villians as well, great war film from fuedal japan. |
|
| 89 |
Guys and Dolls (1955, Unrated)
take two of my favorite actors of all time, leave one (sinatra) in his element, and challenge the other more talented actor (brando) to step out of his a bit, and you get a genuine musical masterpiece. the film is nearly perfect, great dialogue, mostly great music, and a perfect cast of characters, and i was enthralled for the entire 150 minutes. one of my favorite films. |
|
| 90 |
Hang 'em High (1968, PG-13) |
|
| 91 |
National Treasure (2004, PG) |
|
| 92 |
Hidalgo (2004, PG-13) |
|
| 93 |
Toy Story 2 (1999, G) |
|
| 94 |
Gone Baby Gone (2007, R)
this was a top notch film in every regard, practically perfect. i wanted to give it a full score but its just not quite there, although im hard pressed to find much wrong with it. the language is severe and hard to get through at times, but the acting was great, especially the performance by ed harris, the story is heart felt and thought provoking, and in the end this is one of those rare movies that really means something. it has a deeper point than most films. this film is cluttered with issues of ethics and morality and the end leaves you wondering on at least three occasions, i found myself thinking all three times, "what would i do if i were him?" the answer to those questions will perplex you, they are not easy to come by. |
|
| 95 |
Mongol (2008, R)
astounding. this film blew me away. the only thing keeping it from perfection is the slightly choppy telling of parts of the story, but there are so many things about this film to love. the cinematography is among the best i have ever seen, period. the locations are beautiful, building an awe within me surrounding the world we live in. the acting, considering no one has heard of these actors, was near perfect. the counterfieters was a great film, but this should have beat it last year for the oscar for best foreign language film. absolutely amazing. |
|
| 96 |
No Country for Old Men (2007, R)
this was an astounding film. it was dark but funny, disturbing but engaging. its not often that movies about hitmen and drug money become masterpieces, but this is one. the end was chaotic and then anticlimatic in a strange shift in momentum, but in all the movie was near perfect. tommy lee jones was really good even though his character was the least necessary to the plot. a great movie. |
|
| 97 |
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977, PG) |
|
| 98 |
Vengeance Is Mine (1979, Unrated)
one of the most disturbing and highly effective films that i have ever seen. ken ogata is masterful as one of the most notorious serial killers in japanese history, and the film delivers near perfection on all ends from the acting, to the cinematography, to the script itself. the fact that this is based on a true story is what secures its believability as a man who eluded a nationwide manhunt in plain sight. nothing feels gimicky or forced and we see enough of the killers life in flashbacks to understand his deranged nature but not too much as to detract from the story. imamuras directing and the editing are first rate in this absolute classic. a must see. |
|
| 99 |
Taxi Driver (1976, R)
what an absolute classic film in every way. deniro gives probably the best performance of his legendary career in this gritty tale of a young guy confused by the world he finds himself in. cybill shepherd was delightful and beautiful in her role and the other actors delivered well. the story shifts in odd ways leaving the end totally up in the air, and when the end of the film arrives it really delivers in a bloody and shocking climax. deniro's character is not alltogether likeable, but its realistic and understandable. shepherds character summed up the film well when she said to deniro, "Ive never met anyone quite like you." what a brilliant film, among the best ever made. |
|
| 100 |
Sunset Boulevard (Sunset Blvd.) (1950, Unrated)
this was a very good movie. one of those classics that deserves to be called one. the narration and overall performance by william holden was very good and the story was top notch. this is definitely the best film ive seen about making movies and the hollywood lifestyle, much better than say 8 1/2, but it wasnt just a movie about making movies, it had many great themes. it was a love story, tragedy, study in narcism, and commentary on obsession all in one. swansons character was so in love with herself that she went beyond narcism and became a study of insanity. all of the characters were compelling, not the least of which was a sleeper character in max the servant. great film. |
|
| 101 |
Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942, G)
this is a genuine musical masterpiece. one of the best films i have ever seen and certainly near the top of the great musicals, this film is a deep tale of patriotism and achievement. the film follows cohans life with perfect pace and a high level of engagement. we see the character grow as a person and develop powerfully. there are striking similarities with citizen kane released a year earlier, but i actually enjoyed this film more than that one. cagney recieved a best actor oscar for his role and he deserved it in one of his many great performances. the music was perfect and well placed, striking out against the idea that a musical has to be mostly music. a great classic. "my mother thanks you, my father thanks you, my sister thanks you, and i thank you." |

































































































