The Coen Brothers
I love most of their films. Pretty much if you want a wooyay film just pick up anything of theirs. No Country For Old Men is amazing but Raising Arizona was only flawed by Nick Cage, pissflap that he is.

Pissflap I say.
( SauronWibble I'll hold it, you lick it..., Thu 17 Jul 2008, 21:50, 1 reply)

RoboCop.
Now let's get one thing out of the way: I'm not referring to the franchise as a whole, due to the fact the sequels & TV show are crap.

I'm referring of course, to Verhoeven's masterpiece.

Why? Because it's as relevant now as it was then. You can watch it and enjoy it on the level of a comic-book style action film with over-the-top violence, or you can dig a little deeper and discover a sharp satire that pokes fun at the way tragic news reports are nestled between car adverts & family boardgames about nuclear armageddon.

For me, it's two-fold. Watching now makes me realise how much we rely on technology around us now, so much so that we may have to look upon it as a saviour from the pervading crime wave that the media loves splashing about on the front pages. But in turn, through all this technology, are we falling further out of touch with ourselves as human beings? Peter Weller's portrayal of the mortally wounded cop-turned-cyborg is incredible for the way that he begins life as RoboCop as he is meant to be: Cold, calculating, doing what must be done as his program orders, as a machine should be.
But then we see the slow reveal of the human lost inside, memories of family that he can no longer relate to, and the thirst for revenge on the killers who took away his life.

Plus it's relevant now as it shows that although we thought corporate life was bad in the 80s, it's virtually parallel with what happens now, with corporations such as Haliburton & Blackwater taking on aspects in our world around us that Orwell would be spinning in his grave about.

So to recap: Science fiction, action, over-the-top violence, biting satire, drama, an amazing soundtrack by the late Basil Poledouris, and a gun that would kneecap a T-Rex.

Edit: also a prophetic idea about video on a cd sized disc - crazy people, where do they get these ideas?!

No apologies for length Lewis, we're only human.
(Jimmy Jangle, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 21:49, 11 replies)

well
I just saw Million Dollar Baby, and that was pretty magnificent.

These are the best films ever made (in order, and in my opinion)

The Shawshank Redemption
American Beauty
Crash
Fight Club
Pulp Fiction
Chicago
Million Dollar Baby
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Toy Story

I also need to see Requiem for a Dream, as I only saw the first 20 minutes, and a lot of people here say its very good.
(abignumber, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 21:28, 2 replies)

The best film ever
Would be the one I want to make one day. It would feature the following:
Spitfires, Dinosaurs, Ninja, Cavegirls, Vikings, Helicopter gunships, Maoris and the battleships Yamato and Hood.

Until then, assuming the Japanese haven't already made it, the best film ever is probably Zulu.

Yes, I know Hood was a battlecruiser.
(Big D, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 21:23, Reply)

Two for me
Number one- Seven Samurai, because it's perfect in every way. A strong story of honour gained, lost and stolen, redemption, courage, selfless sacrifice, friendship, love and faith in humanity. Added to that superb acting, incredible direction and camerawork, tense gripping battle scenes and not one wasted second in over 3 hours.
Number two- Stalker. An extraordinary, poetic, ambiguous film. Every frame of this could be hung in a gallery. The stalker is a guide, who takes people into The Zone, a military-guarded abandoned area: at the centre of the Zone is a room in which the deepest desire of anyone entering will be made real. The route to the room is dangerous and not straightforward- the stalker is the only one who can make his way through, using steel nuts tied to strips of bandage to test the ever-changing safe route. He is guiding a Writer and a Scientist, and as they progress through the Zone the focus is on their motivation for wanting their wishes granted. I can't say any more as that would spoil the film, but you should watch this if you have an afternoon or evening spare.
( uncle bastard is twanging a dan moi, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 21:23, 2 replies)

Looks at DVD shelf ...
As Van the Man once said - "It ain't why why why why why why why it just is."

So these "just is" wonderful movies.

Withnail & I
Ivan the Terrible
Battleship Potemkin
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Ghostbusters
American History X
Southern Comfort
2001
A clockwork Orange
Sexy Beast
Apocalypse Now
Brazil
Sin City
King Kong (the original)
Lost in Translation
The Godfather (I, II but not III)
Any Miyazaki ...
The Cabinet of Dr Caligari
Nosferatu (not the Klaus Kinski remake)
Fitzcarraldo
(ramrod_newell had his hair brushed at, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 21:20, 1 reply)

84 Charlie MoPic
Repo Man
Amelie
Control

search these out, and watch them
(big fat cocks, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 21:11, 3 replies)

the limey
remake with terence "stampo" stamp...

worth it just for the line

"you tell them i'm coming
YOU TELL THEM I'M FUCKING COMING"

intense!
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Thu 17 Jul 2008, 21:06, 1 reply)

Bram Stoker's Dracula.
It was so amazing, I cried at the end of it. But whenever I tell people that fact they kinda look at me as if to say "Why the hell did you cry at that!? It's just about vampires and blood and sex..."
...then they do actually say something along those lines.
But think about it! That film is about a guy who loved a girl so much that he gave away his SOUL because he was so devastated by her death. Then he lives hundreds of tortured years until he finds his love, reincarnated.
THEN he goes through loads of trouble trying to get rid of her fiance and make her fall for him again.
So what if he was a really old, evil, bloodsucker? He really, truly, honestly loved her and I hope I'll be lucky enough to find someone to like me even half that amount.
But obviously that film is merely a fantasy... a man really caring for a woman? Hehehe.

Length had nothing to do with it, it was looove!
( Mellicious is made of candy, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 21:03, Reply)

The Hollywood challenge
Can anyone please provide me with a Hollywood remake of a film that is better than the original please?

of the track record I can think of

El Mariachi is better than Desperados

Any Japanese horror movie has been better than the hollywood remake

Get Carter - genius versus abomination

The Italian Job - genius versus abomination

The only film that comes close is The Departed and thats still not quite as good as Infernal Affairs.

Just be interested to know if there are any good ones out there?
(Halfy By light alone, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 21:02, 4 replies)

One of my faves
Motorama.

Full of jokes, a journey of a young kid as he goes on a quest to win a gas station giveaway prize. He ends up kidnapped, losing an eye, covered in tattoos by Meatloaf, meets Robert Picardo. It's frelling surreal, so based on normalacy yet so over the top and the twist ending....Well, it's not as blantantly obvious as omg I see dead people ;)

If you loved Twin Peaks and/or Wonderfalls, this movie is a must!

www.imdb.com/title/tt0104922/
( kitty minion Babies ate my dingo!, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 21:00, Reply)

Primer
This is the most awesome film ever made by far... yet hardly anyone has heard of it.

Made on a paltry budget, and about as geeky as you can get, it makes no concessions for its mind-twisting plot. It's another one of those films that gives you more every time you rewatch it, too.

Awesome.
( jon4009, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 20:45, 4 replies)

A must see
Akira

made me friends watch it and they kinda just sat there before the debate over what the heck just happened started.
(fisherOfApples123 -=destroyer of toilets=-, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 20:41, 6 replies)

As we are on a black and white theme
The Seventh Seal really is one of those films you need to watch before you croak.

I know the Death - Knight thing has been parodied so much through the years it no longer was the original impact but the witch burning and fear of the black death atmosphere running through the film grips you like not much else.

Oh and yes agree with below and everyone else who mentioned 12 angry men.
(Halfy By light alone, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 20:40, Reply)

if i'm in the mood for a car chase then it has to be...
"fear is the key" starring barry newman, 1972 by michael tuchner.

makes the chase in bullit look like a pile of shite (which it is). you can really see the damage to the car (a dodge charger i think) increase as the chase developes, bent chassis and all that.

so very cool.

pity the rest of the film is so damned crap!
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Thu 17 Jul 2008, 20:37, Reply)

12 Angry Men
When I first heard of this the reaction was meh - black and white.

But if you haven't seen it I'd highly recommend it. It's darkly atmospheric, with the 12 characters carefully portrayed and brilliantly acted. It's also one of the most claustrophobic films you'll ever see, even more so than Das Boot.

Oh, and Centaur, agreed Requiem for a Dream is a great movie, but it's one I'll never watch again, certainly if I have access to sharp implements.

Plus it'll make you want to do jury service.
(paxvobiscum, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 20:33, Reply)

Grace of my Heart
The music, specially written, including a collaboration of Burt Bacharach & Elvis Costello,
see here :
www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-xjhoaoAhw

(loosely) based on Carole King and composers in The Brill building.
( beaubodor blogless, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 20:33, Reply)

Delicatessen
Just a great French black comedy, worth a look.

Also Pan's Labyrinth.
(twoheads Is currently broke on, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 20:32, 2 replies)

its rant 'oclock
For the pet peaves QTOW I ranted about brit flicks. Time for a hot and vitriolic pea roast: www.b3ta.com/questions/peeves/post152641/
( willenium Fist bump for verification, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 20:28, 2 replies)

Requiem for a Dream
"Don't watch it on your own" the counter guy at Fopp said, half jokingly. I laughed and said I wouldn't.

It's the only DVD I've ever sat through the credits for. And for half an hour I didn't move, just sat in silence. It felt like a funeral.

And yet, it remains one of the best examples of cinema I know of, truly taking the medium to another level.
(Urban Hermit Exit, pursued by a bear on, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 20:28, 5 replies)

Cary Grant films
Yes, that really does say Cary Grant films, and im probably destroying the last crumbling semblances of pride and respect I have on here but I really like watching his old black & white gentle comedies of the 40's and 50's

Its like comfy slippers, watching him toddle about in his gentlemanly gad about town apparel, daft accent and smooth charm in those old farce / comedy films just brings back memories of rainy summers in my youth plonked in front of the telly with mum ironing and nan knitting in the corner while we all chuckled at his antics.

Couldn't name any of the films now but used to run them on an afternoon on BBC two.

sigh, those were the days.
(Halfy By light alone, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 20:27, 2 replies)

I have a love/hate relationship with cinema
I'm finding the fact that the pirate DVD has the anti piracy ad at the beginning hilarious. This must mean that the drugs are kicking in, I crack another beer and pour the cheap lager down my dry throat. I grab the rolling tray while I'm still compis mentis. I dont want to be sober on movie night, the amount of money required to buy tickets for half of us to see this, whatever it is at the cinema cover the DVD the green the beers.

It seems stupid when you think about it, but If i wanted to think I wouldn't be watching this. Some good and thought provoking novel mutilated into 90 minutes of gunwank and lame titillation. Its Hollywood for godsake, the good guys win, the hero gets laid. The only variable is how many explosion there are before then. The credits are nearly over, the conversation dies.

Not all films have to be like this. I have seen some truly spectacular films amongst dozens of crap. I don't believe the hype, and cast a critical eye over everything I see, thats what the chemicals are for. To enable me not to think.

The best film I ever saw was along time ago. years before youtube a website called atomfilms .com offered online videos. At the time this was truly unique and I felt truly privileged to have found it. It took hours for the 17 minute film to load, "dammed if you do" It was called. The story was of a loser dieing at his brothers wedding and being offered the chance while waiting to get into heaven to go to hell where the cool kids go. Reincarnated by the devil he has to break all ten commandments at the wedding. He finally gets to tell the various banes of his life to get fucked, and starts a false idol worshiping cult during the toasts. 'this milk jug in the shape of a cow shall be our salvation! can I get an amen!? '.


It made me laugh, It made me appreciate independent film making, and then it went. Atomfilms no longer hosts it. Its not on iMDBor youtube. Google cant help me.

I think of the one that got away, and open a second beer 'cause Its the only way to sit through the cliche that is 'the movies'.
( willenium Fist bump for verification, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 20:21, 2 replies)

WHYDAFUCKDOIWANTACARAVARDATSGOTNOFOOKINWHEELS!!??
SNATCH was great.

Lock stock was good too.

I think this question should have been "Favourite quotes from a movie"

Examples

The Good the Bad and the Ugly. - "There are two kinds of people, those with loaded guns, and those who dig"

The Crow - "CAW CAW BANG FUCK I'M DEAD!!"

and so on....I expect more..I know you lot can think of them...
(Nihlistic_Alchemist Brand the Herd with Fashion, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 20:20, 1 reply)

Ooh, I've got another one!
A looong forgotten hardcore porno called Glitter Sex which I watched on pay-per-view in my San Francisco hotel room, whilst on holiday with my parents in 1986. My father had prepaid for our stay and we were only there for one night, so the itemized bill consisted of some breakfast extras - and Glitter Sex.
I was barefaced in my denials and good old Dad
refused to believe his 12-year-old son was capable of such mischief, so he steadfastly refused to pay for it. The hotel management caved in. Huzzah!
I got three wank-free orgasms on the house, each brought about by the mere friction of cock against sheet, so aroused was I by this never-before imagined level of depravity.
(RayPugh So, what are you wearing?, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 20:20, Reply)

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Just for the bit where the PeasantCoveredInLeaves shrieks "TO THE TREEEEEEES!!!!" like an outraged mother buffalo on fire.


the rest is shite.


apart from alan rickman who is ace.
(happylittletulip helpless and delicious, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 20:19, 2 replies)

Reading through these
Brings more to my mind, including

Dog Soldiers - indeed, indeed. Went to see this in the cinema with a mate, last showing of the night. Got the bus back to our area, on the very outskirts of the suburbs (full of woods and stuff). Walking towards his house, past the woods, and this horrible screaming, crying sound comes from inside. Never have two guys ran so fast in different directions - it was bloody terrifying.

Also,

Goodfellas
Leon - probably one of my favourite favourites
Fight Club
Inside Man
Dejá Vu
John Q (and TBH most things with Denzel Washington)

I'm sure reading through there will be others - whether there is a story, who knows
(bamboozled Can hear you getting fatter, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 20:12, Reply)

Just a list
I'm not going into long descriptions because all you arty farty B3tans will know what I'm on about.

Crimson Pirate - the first film I was taken to see. That was at The Avenue cinema in Onchan, Isle of Man when I was about six. This was not yesterday!
Any film by Sergei Eisenstein
The 39 Steps - Donat and More versions
Night Mail - steam and poetry in black and white - Yum!
Jean de Florette
Manon des Sources
Pirates of the Caribbean - but only the first one!
King Kong - not the godawful remake!
Carry On Up the Khyber
C'etait un Rendezvous - barking mad motoring through early morning Paris
Henry the Fifth - both Olivier and Branagh for different reasons
The Ladykillers
The Cruel Sea
From Harrogate It Started - the original, not the cut to shreds thing which is available on DVD. A Castrol film of a 1971ish RAC rally; Shekhar Mehta going sideways through Kielder in a 240Z is magic but missing from the DVD version for some reason.

That'll do for now
(The Jannie, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 20:05, 2 replies)

In no particular order......
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Twelve Monkeys
Anything by Studio Ghibli
House of Flying Daggers
The Wicker Man (original)
Donnie Darko
Amelie
Lair Of The White Worm (only Hugh Grant film I've really liked)
American Beauty
Head (by the Monkees)
True Romance
South Park The Movie
Shaun Of The Dead
Bad Girls (early 80s porno - 1st one i ever saw - aw bless his little libido)

and if anyone can source a copy of "The Christmas Martian" (Canadian Kids Film from late 70s) I'll love them forever
( jonbontempi, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 20:05, 2 replies)

Misery
I just love that bit when Kathy Bates says, "God, I love you," to James Caan - then proceeds to annihilate his ankle with some specie of mallet.
Actually I thought Dolores Clayborne was bloody brilliant, too.
(RayPugh So, what are you wearing?, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 20:03, 5 replies)