Another movie thread: this time name a good movie that you like.

[loquere]

In this thread name a good film, that you like and explain why you like it.

Example 1. I like "Mr Smith goes to Washington," because I'm an idealist & it's a beautifully well acted film with a great principled script.

Example 2. I like the film, "the father of the bride." To be honest I don't know why I like it, I just do. It makes me smile.

 

[ElectricBlue]

2001 A Space Odyssey

because it redefined cinema. Such a shame no-one can see it nowadays on the massive curved screen.

A movie buff dies and goes to heaven. In the distance he spots a bearded guy wearing an anorak with a stash of pens and pencils in the pockets. The movie buff turns to St Peter and asks, "hey, is that Stanley Kubrick?"

"No, that's God. He just thinks he's Stanley Kubrick."

 

[Zeb_Carter]

So many...

Let's start with one I just recently saw...

50/50, well written, well acted and it has Anna Kendrick in it and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. It's a chick flick, but a good chick flick.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Saving Private Ryan - Tom Hanks, World War II, 'nough said.

 

[JKendallDane]

"Oh God!"

Besides the comedic brilliance of George Burns, simply because the film takes direct aim at how badly organized religion has screwed up such a simplistic plan.

.

 

[feistyphoenix]

True Grit, yes the original. I don't know what to say about it other than it's John Wayne, what's not to like?

 

[Handley_Page]

Oh dear; such a long list is possible.

1; Battle of Britain.
An almost dispassionate description of those dark days. With excellent flying scenes and a pretty maid.

2. Tora Tora Tora
Another almost dispassionate description, clearly pointing out the sundry errors made.

3. El Dorado. / Rio Bravo.
I'm a great fan of the Western, especially with John Wayne.
"Let me hear you laugh" is one of the best.

4. The Princess Bride.
A real comedy.
"My name is Inigo Montoya; you killed my Father. Prepare to die"

 

[beachbum1958]

True Grit, yes the original. I don't know what to say about it other than it's John Wayne, what's not to like?

Yes indeed, 'True Grit'; even though I'm not a fan of John Wayne, 'True Grit' is a truly standout movie, and, in my opinion, the greatest western ever made, the yardstick by which all others should be judged. The remake is dire, Jeff bridges just doesn't have the screen presence and stature of John Wayne, and Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross was the most irritating part of the entire movie; her droning, yapping voice buzzed and jarred constantly, and when the rattlesnake bit her, all I could think was 'Thank fuck for that; if this really is a re-imagining of the original, then this is the point where she's suddenly struck dumb...'

On the other hand, the original movie is pretty much technically perfect; I may not be a fan of John Wayne, but that doesn't stop me feeling that the direction, staging, cinematography, and pacing are all absolutely faultless. To my mind, the only other films that can even come close are also John Wayne movies; 'Fort Apache', 'Rio Grande', and the wonderful 'She Wore A Yellow Ribbon' with its magnificent backdrops and vivid Technicolor cinematography.

The 2010 're-imagining' of True Grit has none of the grand, epic feel of the original; it feels like a cop-out cheap remake, especially as whole blocks of dialogue seem to have been recycled from the original; Jeff Bridges handing out John Wayne's lines? Nah.

 

[R. Richard]

The Monster That Devoured Cleveland. Specifically the end of the Mistake By The Lake and the scene were the monster rapes a passenger train.

 

[lovecraft68]

Natural Born Killers

Like the raw violence of it and the dark satirical view of society and glory hound media. We all knew Robert Downy was supposed to be Geraldo

Plus Rodney Dangerfield as a sick child molesting father in the beginning was both disturbing and somehow oddly funny.

Woody portrayed Mickey with both evil and humor and the ever skanky/hot Juliette Lewis was a great hell hath no fury fem fatale

This opening scene stayed with me for a long time and I watch it once in awhile because I love the abrupt violence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVizhLGaEmk

 

[lovecraft68]

History of Violence, quirky movie that featured a pretty hot fight/sex scene on a staircase, but also again, some damn good action scenes.

Another diner scene.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtYg1xz1A00

 

[lovecraft68]

Tombstone.

Val Kilmer stole this movie as Doc Holiday, too many great scenes to choose from.

 

[J_R_Ashunwhy]

Arsenic and Old Lace -- lots of sarcastic, dark humor, and lots of Cary Grant over-acting
The Comedy of Terrors -- more sarcastic, dark humor, and lots of Vincent Price over-acting
Bettlejuice --did I mention I like dark humor?
The Rocky Horror Picture Show -- no explanation should be needed for this one
The Nightmare before Christmas -- Halloween has always been my favorite holiday, and I love the way Tim Burton draws his characters

 

[lovecraft68]

Arsenic and Old Lace -- lots of sarcastic, dark humor, and lots of Cary Grant over-acting
The Comedy of Terrors -- more sarcastic, dark humor, and lots of Vincent Price over-acting
Bettlejuice --did I mention I like dark humor?
The Rocky Horror Picture Show -- no explanation should be needed for this one
The Nightmare before Christmas -- Halloween has always been my favorite holiday, and I love the way Tim Burton draws his characters

Somewhere, locked hidden away in her house, lest I find and destroy them, my sister has pictures of me dressed as Frank N Furter, complete with fishnets

They ran that movie every Saturday night at midnight in the old Warwick meadowbrook theater for years and we'd dress up and go.

 

[J_R_Ashunwhy]

Somewhere, locked hidden away in her house, lest I find and destroy them, my sister has pictures of me dressed as Frank N Furter, complete with fishnets

They ran that movie every Saturday night at midnight in the old Warwick meadowbrook theater for years and we'd dress up and go.

Bawhahaha... I was always more of a Magenta myself...but you go LC!

 

[lovecraft68]

Bawhahaha... I was always more of a Magenta myself...but you go LC!

Double standard because my sister did dress as Magenta and when she shows those pictures, she gets "You look hot" so her legs were better than mine, big deal.

 

[loquere]

A few good men. The quick smart dialogue.
The intense court scene.

LTJG Kaffee: Colonel Jessep! Did you order the "code red?!!"

Judge Randolph: You don't have to answer that question!

Col Jessep: I'll answer the question. You want answers?

LTJG Kaffee: I think I'm entitled to them.

Col Jessep: You want answers?!

LTJG Kaffee: I want the truth!

Col Jessep: You can't handle the truth!

 

[navycolt]

Double Indemnity (1944)
Sunset Boulevard (1951)

Two of the greatest film noir movies ever made, both directed by Billy Wilder

 

[Ewobbit]

Somewhere, locked hidden away in her house, lest I find and destroy them, my sister has pictures of me dressed as Frank N Furter, complete with fishnets

They ran that movie every Saturday night at midnight in the old Warwick meadowbrook theater for years and we'd dress up and go.

I seem to have developed an eye twitch.

I typically try to stay the hell away from "good" movies. Give me a cheesy 80s action flick with unreal ammo counts, cheesy one liners, and only one of three plots to choose from and I'm good.

But...

And I can't believe I'm about to admit this...

"Man From Snowy River"

I truly don't know where to begin.

1) I was horse crazy at the time. I still like them, but I long ago gave up foolish dreams of having an open range horse ranch with a couple hundred head.

2) Sigrid Thornton. 'Nuff said.

3) The music was... transcendental.

4) The cinematography likewise (for the time).

5) Did I mention Sigrid Thornton?

6) It's a coming of age story that didn't rely on the stereotypes of the time to get the point across.

7) Kirk Douglas had not one, but two parts. (And I still nearly laugh myself sick every time I see the scene when the cook slaps her spoon down on his wooden leg and gets taken in by his feigned injury.)

8) Sigrid Thornton only had one part. But, she had a part!

I could go on and on. But, I figure I've probably give enough ammunition to be poked fun at for a few months.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Arsenic and Old Lace -- lots of sarcastic, dark humor, and lots of Cary Grant over-acting

In the same vein, "Kind Hearts and Coronets" is one of my all-time favourites. Wickedly sharp dialogue, Alec Guinness playing half a dozen different roles, and Joan Greenwood... where was I?

"Hot Fuzz". Incredibly tight writing, nothing wasted; virtually every line of dialogue is setting up some sort of Chekhov's Gun. Timothy Dalton said it was the most fun he'd ever had making a film.

"Frida". I'll watch almost anything with Salma Hayek in it, but this is one of her best. Julie Taymor did such a great job of integrating Kahlo's paintings into the story.

"The Talented Mr. Ripley". Great portrayal of a man who wants to be somebody else, and what it costs him. There's a great bit there where Minghella uses Ripley's reflection in a piano to show what's going on in his head, without a word of dialogue.

"Miss Potter". Another one that integrates art into the story, but what I really remember about this one is the lesson about the cost of closeted relationships.

"Dean Spanley". Won't spoil the plot, but if you've ever cried for a dog, this is wonderful.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

A League of Their Own - Great movie, with stellar performances by Tom Hanks, Genna Davis and Rosie O'Donnell (even though I don't like her politics). Great story about the women's baseball league during WWII.

Castaway - Another Tom Hanks great.

E T The Extra Terrestrial - Spielberg breaking ground once more. Classic.

Glory - I'm actually speechless about this one. Great performances all around. Wonderful story about an all black battalion during the civil war. Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington and Mathew Broderick stared.

 

[navycolt]

In the same vein, "Kind Hearts and Coronets" is one of my all-time favourites. Wickedly sharp dialogue, Alec Guinness playing half a dozen different roles, and Joan Greenwood... where was I?

One of my favorites British films too, along with The Importance of Being Earnest and various Ealing comedies.

 

[PennLady]

Oh wow. I love my movies Here are some of my favorites -- a list which probably changes almost daily -- in no particular order.

1. Mad Max: Fury Road. I love the pacing, the cinematography, and everything else.

2. Pacific Rim. Because I guess I love stories about giant robots and giant monsters. Which I didn't know until I saw it.

3. Dark City. Great sci-fi/noir atmosphere. Love the world Alex Proyas created.

4. The Crow. Another Proyas film with terrific atmosphere.

5. Casablanca. It just flows so well, and the cast is fantastic.

6. Howl's Moving Castle. Not Studio Ghibli's best movie, perhaps, but it all comes together for me.

7. My Neighbor Totoro. Another Ghibli movie, and I love that it's just a sweet little story. Plus -- catbus!

8. Nightmare before Christmas. I like most things from the mind of Tim Burton. Nice job, Bone Daddy.

9. The Day the Earth Stood Still. The original from 1951. Love the old shots of DC.

10. Some Like It Hot. Always good for a laugh.

I'll stop now.

 

[navycolt]

Forbidden Planet, one of the best science fiction movies, with a plot that draws from Shakespeare's The Tempest. It was notable for being the first movie with an entirely electronic score--really cool otherworldly sound effects similar to the later Moog Synthesizer. Also, Anne Frances was a really hot chick with long sexy legs.

And in my opinion, despite have lost all respect for Clint Eastwood, his Pale Rider (1985) is the best Western ever made.

 

[JKendallDane]

Need to add a few.

The American President ...It's worth sitting through the whole movie just for the press conference scene at the end.

The Incredible Journey (both the 1963 original and 1993 remake) ...Just a pair of wonderful feel-good movies.

Fail Safe ...The original Cold War thriller with brilliant acting that keeps you on the edge of your seat every time even though you know what's coming.

Animal House ...It's ridiculous. It's raucous. It's juvenile. But you can't help yourself because it's just so funny.

Miracle on 34th Street ...How can you not love this one? It's the poster child movie for hanging on to your youth and believing.

.