best/bestest/betterthanyours

[hayrold]

lets clear all this "MY LIST IS BETTER THAN YOUR LIST" stuff up.

quite clearly Harold and Maude is the best film ever made.
...ever!

it's hilarious.
it's moving.
it's tragic.
it's original.
it's cinematically beautiful.
hal ashby is a genius, bud cort is a legend, and cat stevens is perfect.

so there. ;D

x

[captainofbeef]

Harold and Maude is an excellent film, not the best ever made IMO though. You wanna show some other films you like?

[hayrold]

i'm not entirely sure how arsed i can be to write everything down.
i like a LOT.
but fine ok, i'll do my top 20 or something:

harold and maude.
donnie darko.
stand by me.
shaun of the dead.
psycho. [1960]
the royal tenenbaums.
time of the gypsies.
a patch of blue.
secretary.
amelie.
angels with dirty faces.
scarface. [1983]
the nutty professor. [1963]
drop dead fred.
disco pigs.
trainspotting.
shallow hal.
heavenly creatures.
his girl friday.
everything is illuminated.

there you go.

[hayrold]

oh and how could i forget...
it most definately IS the best film ever made.

and that's that. ;D

[sacrilegend]

How is Everything is Illuminated? My mom keeps hassling me to watch it.

[hayrold]

it's actually really amazing.
it's lovely and quirky without being that annoying/cliché quirky that's around these days ya know?

it's beautiful to watch, but i also really love the story. bloody hilarious aswell.
AND... lead singer from the band 'gogol bordello' is utterly IMMENSE in it. funniest thing i'd seen for ages.
great score by gogol too.

i'd recommend to everyone.

[ie]

A friend of mine absolutely loves Gogol Bordello, and has even met with the band once or twice, but wasn't impressed with Everything Is Illuminated. "I disliked the main character and found the whole thing to be pretty dull." "There were good parts, yes. But I didn't like it enough to ever watch it again." So, there's a difference of opinion.


Oh yeah, I haven't seen Harold and Maude in a little less than a year, but it was pretty good as I recall.

[criterionmaster]

Good list. I am dying to see Harold and Maude, and almost watched it on TV before. I have heard a lot about it, mostly good things. What about it makes it your favorite? (That could be a hard question to answer, since it is normally hard to answer a question like that. )

Stand by Me is a classic, and really funny. I just love watching it, and the soundtrack just makes it that much more re-watchable. Glad you like Psycho, too. I usually hate it when people don't like the classics, or don't watch them. Old Hollywood is an amazing time in film, and some of the all-time masterpieces came out of it, so it angers me when people won't allow themselves to get passed preconceptions (or whatever) and watch some of them. Have you seen any other Hitchcock films, like Rear Window (even better than Psycho, in my opinion.)

Royal Tenenbaums is so perfect, there is just too much I could say about it. See Rushmore if you haven't. Top 10 best comedies ever, and it is from the same guy, Wes Anderson.



I really hated Amelie, although it would seem like I am one of the few, since it is so highly regarded. It seems so forced, and like it tried to be quirky, and just didn't impress me. Scarface remake is nothing compared to the original, and has become super annoying. It is a movie that is so over-the-top that after watching it and/or thinking about it too much, it just irritates a person. Pacino's performance was always one of the most stupid I had seen on film, he acts like a complete idiot half the time, and overacting can't even begin to describe it. See the original, much different, but if I remember correctly, WAY better. (I don’t entirely hate it though.)

Shallow Hal is kinda funny, but not close to being a favorite, nor good to me. There are many others I still need to see off your list as well.

[captainofbeef]

I honestly liked Scarface the firs time I saw it. But it gets kinda tiring as everyones favorite movie. And the original is a hundred times better anyway.

[criterionmaster]

captainofbeef said:

I honestly liked Scarface the firs time I saw it. But it gets kinda tiring as everyones favorite movie. And the original is a hundred times better anyway.

Yeah, don't get me wrong, I totally dug Scarface the first time I saw it, but like I wrote above, it gets irritating after awhile because it is just the kind of film that the more you think about it, the worse it gets, since it is way too quote-y and just too much and over-the-top. I would still tell someone to watch it, but it is definitely no masterpiece, it is just a film you should see but nothing super special. I wouldn't mind if someone liked the film, it is just how much people quote it, and call it their favorite movie, especially if they completely miss the point, like if they are black and look up to Pacino's character and stuff, that just makes me fear for the future if you look at him like a hero or whatever, like tons of people do. Not to mention the fact that, if you are black, you must like the movie. People who obviously wouldn't like it, since it isn't exactly action-packed, it moves pretty slow, wear the shirts and stuff, just because they think they are suppose to, or that it is cool. Anyone else sick of seeing illegal XXXX-Large Scarface shirts being worn by big black dudes?

[captainofbeef]

I honestly can't stand it anymore. I mean, you gotta see it once just to see it. Its an essential piece of cinema just because of how popular it is. I mean, not many kids like films from the eighties anymore. But still, Pacino has delivered much better performances and even some better over the top performances. And it IS a remake after all. And the popularity with the black community is ridiculous. They think the movie glorifies the life of drugs and violence when it really attempts to do the opposite.

[hayrold]

well i've already put why i love harold and maude so much.
i just honestly believe it has everything a film should have.
the characters are loveable, the cinematography is beautiful; and gets more impressive the more times you watch it, and honestly it's the only film to make me think for so long. not about the relationship so much, but more just the moral of it all.
also, lots of films inspire me, but every single time i watch harold and maude i get like a wave of ambition come over me. it's just jaw droppingly gorgeous.
it's beyond amazing for me, there's NOTHING i can personally fault it on.
sigh... i sound like a sappy idiot, but i adooooooooooore it.

and yeah of course i love rushmore, wes is my FAVOURITE!
i have everything he's been a part of. have you seen the squid and the whale?


well i'm a BIG de palma fan, and scarface is something i can rewatch forever and never get bored with.
i think it's far superior to the original.
i love the classics, with a passion! but i also love modern filmmaking, the 1983 scarface is much more entertaining and interesting to watch than the original in my opinion.

and well yeah, a few of my friends weren't too keen on everything is illuminated either, i guess it's up for debate.
but for me it's just on of those films i watch again, and kinda forget how much i enjoy it.
the main character COULD have been abit more interesting, but alot of that film is eccentric and his lack of emotion is somewhat of a relief in parts.

and of course, i'm not claiming shallow hal is a cinematic masterpiece, but it cracks me up everytime, and i watch it a LOT, so i'm not gonna lie about it being one of my favourites.

if i was gonna recommend anything else from my list though [other than my favourite of course] ... it'd definately be time of the gypsies.
kusturica is amazing! and i never have anyone to talk to about his work with

[hayrold]

criterionmaster said:

I really hated Amelie, although it would seem like I am one of the few, since it is so highly regarded. It seems so forced, and like it tried to be quirky, and just didn't impress me.

...oh and i forgot to comment back about this
that's a real shame, i LOVELOVE it. i think it's a great example of what can be done with a story. i like films that don't pretend to be realistic. it's fantastical and it constantly reminds me i'm being entertained with the colour scheme. i think that's my favourite part about it actually. i'm getting sick of real life grittyness, i wanna be shown someone's world.
i think amelie is escapism at it's best.

i know what you mean about the quirky thing, that happens alot now, that whole cute quirky character with a special story to tell thing.
GARDEN STATE being the prime example.
it tries soooo hard to be something it's not. and the characters are ridiculously annoying.
i like it, but i have NO idea why.
maybe it's because it's just interesting as an example of what NOT to do.
har.

[sacrilegend]

Have you seen Arizona Dream (1993) by Emir Kusturica? It is so amazing.

[criterionmaster]

hayrold said:

well i've already put why i love harold and maude so much.
i just honestly believe it has everything a film should have.
the characters are loveable, the cinematography is beautiful; and gets more impressive the more times you watch it, and honestly it's the only film to make me think for so long. not about the relationship so much, but more just the moral of it all.
also, lots of films inspire me, but every single time i watch harold and maude i get like a wave of ambition come over me. it's just jaw droppingly gorgeous.
it's beyond amazing for me, there's NOTHING i can personally fault it on.
sigh... i sound like a sappy idiot, but i adooooooooooore it.

and yeah of course i love rushmore, wes is my FAVOURITE!
i have everything he's been a part of. have you seen the squid and the whale?


well i'm a BIG de palma fan, and scarface is something i can rewatch forever and never get bored with.
i think it's far superior to the original.
i love the classics, with a passion! but i also love modern filmmaking, the 1983 scarface is much more entertaining and interesting to watch than the original in my opinion.

and well yeah, a few of my friends weren't too keen on everything is illuminated either, i guess it's up for debate.
but for me it's just on of those films i watch again, and kinda forget how much i enjoy it.
the main character COULD have been abit more interesting, but alot of that film is eccentric and his lack of emotion is somewhat of a relief in parts.

and of course, i'm not claiming shallow hal is a cinematic masterpiece, but it cracks me up everytime, and i watch it a LOT, so i'm not gonna lie about it being one of my favourites.

if i was gonna recommend anything else from my list though [other than my favourite of course] ... it'd definately be time of the gypsies.
kusturica is amazing! and i never have anyone to talk to about his work with

Thanks for the response(s). Wes is one of the best new directors working today, don't let clarknova on this forum tell you otherwise. No, I haven't seen Squid and the Whale, but since so many people expressed love in it, or at least I had heard it was good, I bought it a while back, but haven't watched it yet. There are some people who didn't like it, too, though. What did you think of it? I know it was written by Anderson's friend (who co-wrote Life Aquatic), who did the film Kicking and Screaming. Have you seen that? I really didn't like it, but I can see how someone could.

I think DePalma is alright, granted, I haven't watched Sisters yet, so that could make me love him, since it sounds like a good movie, but I do like some of his films (Carrie, The Untouchables, maybe some others). I just never thought he was that amazing. Have you seen Sisters? And what makes you like him so much? I know he is good at doing various genre pictures. Oh, yeah, I will have to watch the original again before I can comment much about that.

hayrold said:

criterionmaster said:

I really hated Amelie, although it would seem like I am one of the few, since it is so highly regarded. It seems so forced, and like it tried to be quirky, and just didn't impress me.

...oh and i forgot to comment back about this
that's a real shame, i LOVELOVE it. i think it's a great example of what can be done with a story. i like films that don't pretend to be realistic. it's fantastical and it constantly reminds me i'm being entertained with the colour scheme. i think that's my favourite part about it actually. i'm getting sick of real life grittyness, i wanna be shown someone's world.
i think amelie is escapism at it's best.

i know what you mean about the quirky thing, that happens alot now, that whole cute quirky character with a special story to tell thing.
GARDEN STATE being the prime example.
it tries soooo hard to be something it's not. and the characters are ridiculously annoying.
i like it, but i have NO idea why.
maybe it's because it's just interesting as an example of what NOT to do.
har.

Oh God, Garden State. I hate that movie so, so, much. I am going to make a post about it somewhere on the forum, probably in my thread, under this same board, called "most hated films." Braff was on SNL and did so much to piss me off, so I have to rant about it. But, exactly, I hate films that feel so forced and fake like that. If someone asks me to describe "pretentious" I say Garden State.

[hayrold]

yeah arizona dream is great ;D
finally someone that relates that film to emir and not johnny depp!
i think i'd sell my soul to have a conversation with someone as besotted with time of the gypsies as me. i'm definately naming my next pet perhan!

yeah i liked squid and the whale. i wouldn't say i loved it but i definately liked it, my eyes certainly widened when i saw anderson's name pop up in the opening credits.
it makes me adore jeff daniels abit too, i think he's probably the best thing about it, such a great performance.

no i haven't seen kicking and screaming but i'll definately look it up at the library. cheers.

yeah i've seen sisters, i love it
i think i've seen pretty much everything he's done. scarface, carrie and blow out are my favourites; blow out is ridiculous but utterly entertaining! anyone seen it?
i think i love him so much because of the auteur thing, all of his films are so famous for his little quirks/themes/motifs, i could talk about them all for hours and they're always so fun to notice when you watch a few of his films in a row.
trains, escalators, lifts, blue, red, white, 360 degree shots etc. and of course he's the split diopter master!

[criterionmaster]

hayrold said:

yeah i liked squid and the whale. i wouldn't say i loved it but i definately liked it, my eyes certainly widened when i saw anderson's name pop up in the opening credits.
it makes me adore jeff daniels abit too, i think he's probably the best thing about it, such a great performance.

no i haven't seen kicking and screaming but i'll definately look it up at the library. cheers.

yeah i've seen sisters, i love it
i think i've seen pretty much everything he's done. scarface, carrie and blow out are my favourites; blow out is ridiculous but utterly entertaining! anyone seen it?
i think i love him so much because of the auteur thing, all of his films are so famous for his little quirks/themes/motifs, i could talk about them all for hours and they're always so fun to notice when you watch a few of his films in a row.
trains, escalators, lifts, blue, red, white, 360 degree shots etc. and of course he's the split diopter master!

Yeah, Jeff Daniels is an underrated actor. I can't even remember what his best performance was, though. I will check the film out sometime, although I have much to watch, maybe I will just watch it tonight or something, lol.

Awesome, I don't know why I am recommending a movie I dislike so much, but whatever. It is worth seeing at least once, and it is a "hate it or love it"-kind of movie.

I haven't seen Blow Out, but you should really see the film Blow-Up, since that is the original. The original is the English film from Italian director, Antonioni. I am pretty sure there is no way the remake is better, since the original is one of the greatest films ever made. Have you heard of it?




I was never big on the split diopter, it gets too overused. I get pissed when I see it a lot in modern films and shit.

[sacrilegend]

hayrold said:

yeah arizona dream is great ;D
finally someone that relates that film to emir and not johnny depp!
i think i'd sell my soul to have a conversation with someone as besotted with time of the gypsies as me. i'm definately naming my next pet perhan!

Well, it's an amazing film, and personally I find Johnny to be extremely overrated.

Although I've always had a weakness for scraggly, dark-haired pirates with loads of eye-liner, mmm.

[hayrold]

blow up, of course!
i've seen it about 3 times now and it really doesn't get any better, for me it's not a film i like. i got incredibly bored the first time, and after that it's just been in classes i've watched it.
it's just... blah, i dunno. it just plain bores me

as for depp, yeah he's good and suchlike, but this whole pirate thing has got out of hand haha. i think he looks hideous as sparrow!
...maybe it's my intense hatred for men in makeup though?
or the fact i work at a cinema and it's been RIDICULOUSLY busy everyday because the 3rd pirates film has just come out over here.

[criterionmaster]

hayrold said:

blow up, of course!
i've seen it about 3 times now and it really doesn't get any better, for me it's not a film i like. i got incredibly bored the first time, and after that it's just been in classes i've watched it.
it's just... blah, i dunno. it just plain bores me

as for depp, yeah he's good and suchlike, but this whole pirate thing has got out of hand haha. i think he looks hideous as sparrow!
...maybe it's my intense hatred for men in makeup though?
or the fact i work at a cinema and it's been RIDICULOUSLY busy everyday because the 3rd pirates film has just come out over here.

Oh man, that sucks, I love Blow-Up. The way it looks, its style, and how loose the story is, how it doesn't necessarily have to have something happening, how sixties it is, and also that ending! I really need to see some more Antonioni (sp?) films.

I actually really like Depp, he is a fantastic actor, but now, like you said, he is doing a bunch of crap that doesn't take too much talent, but look at a film like Ed Wood, he is fantastic. Have you seen that?

[hayrold]

yeah i really like ed wood.
i won the dvd last year at a film quiz actually so now i own it.
really NOT a burton fan, but that's one of his i can manage.
the opening titles are possibly my favourite part haha, it's sooo well done.

x

[sacrilegend]

hayrold said:

as for depp, yeah he's good and suchlike, but this whole pirate thing has got out of hand haha. i think he looks hideous as sparrow!
...maybe it's my intense hatred for men in makeup though?
or the fact i work at a cinema and it's been RIDICULOUSLY busy everyday because the 3rd pirates film has just come out over here.

I never bothered watching the second and third films,but I have a weird perversion when it comes to men with make-up.

[eatawiiner]

hayrold said:

i'm not entirely sure how arsed i can be to write everything down.
i like a LOT.
but fine ok, i'll do my top 20 or something:

harold and maude.
donnie darko.
stand by me.
shaun of the dead.
psycho. [1960]
the royal tenenbaums.
time of the gypsies.
a patch of blue.
secretary.
amelie.
angels with dirty faces.
scarface. [1983]
the nutty professor. [1963]
drop dead fred.
disco pigs.
trainspotting.
shallow hal.
heavenly creatures.
his girl friday.
everything is illuminated.

there you go.

Drop Dead Fred? LOL you got good taste man.