So back when I was reading about AFI’s Top 100 Movies Of All Time, I suggested I might do my own countdown. I figure the time to do it is now, in the four weeks before the end of 2007, so I’ll be counting down from 100 every Monday for the next four weeks, making my top 25 posting on Monday, December 31st.
As always, I not only welcome, but revel in getting comments, but please, especially if you’re new to this blog, let’s not rant at me at what horrible taste I have in movies. I think anyone’s list of movies is pretty debatable and subject to criticism as people have very different tastes, I am no different. And really, what the differences would be between my list and a “respectable” AFI list is what interested me in the idea in the first place.
I tried to be really honest…I knew when putting down Citizen Kane, that the higher it goes, the more respect I might get for my list, but the reality is that while it’s a great film, it doesn’t speak too powerfully to me specifically. It was especially difficult to weigh movies with the same criteria from different categories (e.g. drama, comedy, horror), you’ll notice that there are few comedies on here…that’s not because I don’t love a great comedy, but I think it is because it is exceedingly difficult to make a timeless five star comedy.
Last but not least, there are many great films that I have yet to see in this life (there are currently 413 movies in my netflix queue if that tells you anything) so if something is glaringly missing, it may just be that it’s brilliant and I have yet to get to it.
Okay, without further ado…
100. Clerks (1994)
099. Go (2001)
098. Children Of Men (2006)
097. The Believer (2001)
096. Adaptation (2002)
095. Lord Of The Rings I: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001)
094. Imaginary Heroes (2004)
093. American History X (1998 )
092. Kill Bill Volume I (2003)
091. Friends With Money (2006)
090. Broken Flowers (2005)
089. The Anniversary Party (2001)
088. The Lord Of The Rings III: The Return Of The King (2003)
087. The Basketball Diaries (1995)
086. Casualties Of War (1989)
085. Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (1958 )
084. Chinatown (1974)
083. Shaun Of The Dead (2004)
082. The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)
081. 12 Angry Men (1957)
080. I Heart Huckabees (2004)
079. Trainspotting (1996)
078. Syriana (2005)
077. The 400 Blows (1959)
076. Rushmore (1998 )
Okay, there it is…first installment…hope it doesn’t horrify too much. Tune in next Monday for numbers 50 -75.
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I think what’s horrifying is that I haven’t even heard of some of these. I feel properly shamed now.
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When talking about LOTR, which editions are these?
Don’t feel bad about Citizen Kane. I’ve never–and doubt if I ever will–seen it. Don’t believe the hype!
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I haven’t seen 97 and 87. Knowing that you like them so much makes me want to make them a priority. I can’t believe that The Last Unicorn isn’t in here. 😉
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Paul… sigh. You’re wrong about Citizen Kane. Put aside the juvenile rebellion and watch the movie. It’s a great story and all the movies you like (LOTR included) have been influenced by Citizen Kane. Isn’t it important to seek out and experience influential works of art? I find it more sad than I do annoying when people who are interested in creative ventures, be them writing, film, or doing a journal comic, turn a blind eye to something for stupid reasons. Don’t be that guy.
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TK42ONE: hey, everyone’s got random movies on their lists i suppose that others don’t know…nothing to be ashamed of. i’m ashamed to say there are 413 movies that i REALLY want to see in my netflix queue.
Paul: i have the LOTR special editions, so i suppose i am rating based on those, however i don’t honestly feel that the extended special editions raise (or lower) the movie as a whole. i feel like the special editions are for my super fan geeky side…i enjoy it immensely, but it rarely ups the quality of the actual film. You should totally see Citizen Kane, it’s a great film (and i think i list it in my 50 – 75 section) i just can’t put it at #1 like AFI does, because there are other films that speak to me more, or move me more, or i can just watch over and over in pure love
kfugrip: you should see 97 and 87. The Last Unicorn was 101. JOKE, it’s really 120. Again, joke.
Also kfugrip, BEHAVE. this is not Josh’s blog…if you want to be all aggressive and “talking down-y” you know you can hang out over on Josh’s blog.
i don’t want any “schooling” going on here okay? suggestions? helpful hints? great! agressive schooling/educating? no thanks – especially after i prefaced this whole blog with a “be kind in the comments” speech.
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Sorry. Paul, consider it a helpful hint. I’ve been checking out your blog Wistful Writings, and I like it so I was disappointed at your comment. As a kid I started reading science fiction/fantasy and moved away from it eventually (though I still am tempted to pick up a Raymond Feist book). If you like Stranger in a Strange Land then why wouldn’t you want to watch Citizen Kane?
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Thanks for throwing my boy Kevin Smith a bone…even it if is the smallest bone….if he were writing this he’d make a joke about the word ‘bone’.
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Ah, it’s all good. I didn’t take kfugrip’s comment as aggressive, but just rather honest. In hindsight, it doesn’t make sense that I wouldn’t want to watch Citizen Kane. I think it comes down to motivation and just that no one I know would watch it with me and I probably won’t seek it out on my own.
P.S. Raymond Feist is still putting out some good Darkwar Saga books. Check ’em out!
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Paul, whenever they play Citizen Kane at one of the rep. theaters in the city we can all go together… or at least meet there.
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theyetiinside: i throw him another bone later in the list too…so stay tuned. here’s a hint, it’s not Jersey Girl. Blech.
Paul: yeah, come to NYC one of these days if they show it and we can all go.
Adam: Nice suggestion. Thank you.
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Sounds good to me, I’m right around the corner so-to-speak.
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