I've just perused the 2023 UK Empire magazine's
100 best all-time movies, and have to say it's
the most bizarre such list as I've ever seen.

"The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring"
the best movie of all time?

Seriously?      ;D

Where's "Play Misty For Me", "Das Boot", "The Third Man", 
"Metropolis",  "Last Tango in Paris",  "Blow Up",  "Paris,Texas", 
"Blue Velvet",  Battleship Potemkin",  or "Zabriskie Point" 
for example?  Each in its own way a masterpiece—and all
for different reasons.

How old was the judging panel... all teenagers?   They've
obviously chosen the vast majority of their 100 as relatively
recent blockbusters, and even thrown in a few cartoons FFS.

And yes, I know everybody has their own more
than valid personal opinions of what makes a good
movie, but the Empire list is nonsensical.

It is a good list. But, not likely to be the 100 best movies of all time. Why "Titanic" is sitting at number 88 is beyond my understanding. "Schindler's List" at 46 is a joke. Maybe the list is not in order of the best to worst. Aussie movie "Balibo" is definitely a contender for greatest movie in the top 100.

A few of my top ones

No Country for old men
The Shawshank Redemption
One flew over a Cuckoos Nest
The Godfather
Saving Private Ryan
Forrest Gump
Titanic

AusGeoff wrote on Aug 13^th, 2023 at 5:18am:

I've just perused the 2023 UK Empire magazine's 100 best all-time movies, and have to say it's the most bizarre such list as I've ever seen. "The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring" the best movie of all time? Seriously?      ;D

I've never watched that movie - can never get past the first 15 minutes.  Boring.

Strange list, for sure.

'Roma' should be in there.

Nobody can win with these things but gee there are some god awful movies in this top 20.

You could probably make a list with none of the top 10 in the top 100.

greggerypeccary wrote on Aug 13^th, 2023 at 10:56am:

AusGeoff wrote on Aug 13th, 2023 at 5:18am: I've just perused the 2023 UK Empire magazine's 100 best all-time movies, and have to say it's the most bizarre such list as I've ever seen. "The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring" the best movie of all time? Seriously?      ;D I've never watched that movie - can never get past the first 15 minutes.  Boring. Strange list, for sure. 'Roma' should be in there.

To me it is a good movie but certainly not in the top 50 of all time. It is the best in the LOTR series which is a relief.

AusGeoff wrote on Aug 13^th, 2023 at 5:18am:

I've just perused the 2023 UK Empire magazine's 100 best all-time movies, and have to say it's the most bizarre such list as I've ever seen. "The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring" the best movie of all time? Seriously?      ;D Where's "Play Misty For Me", "Das Boot", "The Third Man",  "Metropolis",  "Last Tango in Paris",  "Blow Up",  "Paris,Texas",  "Blue Velvet",  Battleship Potemkin",  or "Zabriskie Point"  for example?  Each in its own way a masterpiece—and all for different reasons. How old was the judging panel... all teenagers?   They've obviously chosen the vast majority of their 100 as relatively recent blockbusters, and even thrown in a few cartoons FFS. And yes, I know everybody has their own more than valid personal opinions of what makes a good movie, but the Empire list is nonsensical.

The Third Man doorway in Vienna, near the University at Shottentor - I stood there.
It isn't a great movie but an iconic one.

Any of these lists of 'greatest' are clickbait. We all have our lists of greatest but would be hard pressed to be definitive or exhaustive about them, be they movies, books, music, paintings.



There are works of art that speak to us directly, strikingly (books that bring an axe to the frozen sea within, as Kafka put it). We can say why they are so significant to us. To then say that they should be similarly significant to others is preposterous.

Still, airing what is significant to us is a way to send out signals to others with similar, compatible sensibilities.

in Our Garden (2002) is the greatest movie of all time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM2Fp3cdqkI

it says


33) Casablanca

When you've got such a clear-cut good-vs-evil scenario as World War II, it takes guts to put out a film which lets its (anti-) hero lurk for so long in a grey area of that conflict — while said War was still raging, no less. Of course, Rick (Humphrey Bogart) eventually does the right thing, but watching him make both the Resistance and the Nazis squirm right up to the final scene is truly joyous.

my mothers favourite movie was casablanca. When she got dementia she watched it over and over and as her carer i saw it over and over. Could prolly quote you the movie word for word so while it is a good movie i never want to see it again.

I hope 5th element was on that list.

Spot

Frank wrote on Aug 13^th, 2023 at 8:36pm:

...The Third Man doorway in Vienna, near the University at Shottentor - I stood there.

LOL... when we were travelling around Europe,
I had to emulate Gregory Peck sticking my hand
into the opening of La Bocca della Verità, and of
course did the same thing as Peck with my wife.

Just like a million other tourists before me.

   

AusGeoff wrote on Aug 14^th, 2023 at 6:37am:

Frank wrote on Aug 13th, 2023 at 8:36pm: ...The Third Man doorway in Vienna, near the University at Shottentor - I stood there. LOL... when we were travelling around Europe, I had to emulate Gregory Peck sticking my hand into the opening of La Bocca della Verità, and of course did the same thing as Peck with my wife. Just like a million other tourists before me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6af1dAc9rXo

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Aug 14^th, 2023 at 3:58am:

my mothers favourite movie was casablanca. When she got dementia she watched it over and over and as her carer i saw it over and over. Could prolly quote you the movie word for word so while it is a good movie i never want to see it again. I hope 5th element was on that list. Spot

I'd watch it again.

Oh, I almost forgot...

My worst ever movie?

"Manos The Hands of Fate" from 1966.

     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpCYzyYryCg&ab_channel=ACMTV

If you think the opening driving sequence is
bad, please persist, as the movie goes downhill
from there.  It cost $19K to produce, and was
shot by hand with 16mm film, with  all sound
effects and dialogue overdubbed in post-production.

—Watch until the end for a barrel of guaranteed laughs.

Although I dunno whether or not 1959's "Plan 9 From Outer
Space" is slightly better or slightly worse than Manus.

     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zNSQmS2gls&ab_channel=FreeFilmHeritage

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Aug 14^th, 2023 at 3:58am:

my mothers favourite movie was casablanca. When she got dementia she watched it over and over and as her carer i saw it over and over. Could prolly quote you the movie word for word so while it is a good movie i never want to see it again.

Some months ago, they were showing Lethal Weapon 2 on the television. I was sitting at my computer for most of the movie, just listening to the story. Having watched that movie about 20 times, I not only knew the lines, but I also could picture the video being played as the sound was being played. All the nuances, etc.

There are a whole bunch of movies that have had such a visual impact on my viewing that I know the scenes in my memory, whenever I hear the sound.

Best is a pretty strong word.
Here's just a few my favourites:

The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (silent)
Italian and Swedish cinema of the 1950s.
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre,
The Asphalt Jungle
On The Waterfront
Stromboli
The Day the Earth Stood Still
The Cruel Sea
The Rebel (Tony Hancock)
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
China Town
Easy Rider
Color Purple
Paris, Texas
The Life Of Pi
Goodnight, And Good Luck

Bobby. wrote on Aug 14^th, 2023 at 6:46am:

AusGeoff wrote on Aug 14th, 2023 at 6:37am: Frank wrote on Aug 13th, 2023 at 8:36pm: ...The Third Man doorway in Vienna, near the University at Shottentor - I stood there. LOL... when we were travelling around Europe, I had to emulate Gregory Peck sticking my hand into the opening of La Bocca della Verità, and of course did the same thing as Peck with my wife. Just like a million other tourists before me.     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6af1dAc9rXo

How did he make his sleeve go over his hand?

How did you do it?

Easy Rider sucks as a movie.

AusGeoff wrote on Aug 14^th, 2023 at 6:37am:

Frank wrote on Aug 13th, 2023 at 8:36pm: ...The Third Man doorway in Vienna, near the University at Shottentor - I stood there. LOL... when we were travelling around Europe, I had to emulate Gregory Peck sticking my hand into the opening of La Bocca della Verità, and of course did the same thing as Peck with my wife. Just like a million other tourists before me.

Yes, I visited that church, too, and did the same.   Been telling the truth since.

Frank wrote on Aug 14^th, 2023 at 8:08am:

AusGeoff wrote on Aug 14th, 2023 at 6:37am: Frank wrote on Aug 13th, 2023 at 8:36pm: ...The Third Man doorway in Vienna, near the University at Shottentor - I stood there. LOL... when we were travelling around Europe, I had to emulate Gregory Peck sticking my hand into the opening of La Bocca della Verità, and of course did the same thing as Peck with my wife. Just like a million other tourists before me.     Yes, I visited that church, too, and did the same.   Been telling the truth since.

Yeah, sure, Soren.  Sure.  Tsk, tsk, tsk...   ::) ::)

issuevoter wrote on Aug 14^th, 2023 at 7:31am:

Best is a pretty strong word. Here's just a few my favourites: The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (silent) Italian and Swedish cinema of the 1950s. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The Asphalt Jungle On The Waterfront Stromboli The Day the Earth Stood Still The Cruel Sea The Rebel (Tony Hancock) What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? China Town Easy Rider Color Purple Paris, Texas The Life Of Pi Goodnight, And Good Luck

I agree with a couple there.

Also, 'Sideways'.  Love that movie.

Not a classic by any means, but just a great little independent (?) movie.

greggerypeccary wrote on Aug 14^th, 2023 at 6:33pm:

issuevoter wrote on Aug 14th, 2023 at 7:31am: Best is a pretty strong word. Here's just a few my favourites: The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (silent) Italian and Swedish cinema of the 1950s. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The Asphalt Jungle On The Waterfront Stromboli The Day the Earth Stood Still The Cruel Sea The Rebel (Tony Hancock) What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? China Town Easy Rider Color Purple Paris, Texas The Life Of Pi Goodnight, And Good Luck I agree with a couple there. Also, 'Sideways'.  Love that movie. Not a classic by any means, but just a great little independent (?) movie.

Oh, and 'The Time Machine' (1960), with Rod Taylor.

I couldn't get enough of that movie when I was a kid.

I must have seen it 25 to 30 times now.

Why wasn't Excalibur on the list?
It has to be in the top 20.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7iBcmQW3ow

Bobby. wrote on Aug 14^th, 2023 at 7:40am:

Bobby. wrote on Aug 14th, 2023 at 6:46am: AusGeoff wrote on Aug 14th, 2023 at 6:37am: Frank wrote on Aug 13th, 2023 at 8:36pm: ...The Third Man doorway in Vienna, near the University at Shottentor - I stood there. LOL... when we were travelling around Europe, I had to emulate Gregory Peck sticking my hand into the opening of La Bocca della Verità, and of course did the same thing as Peck with my wife. Just like a million other tourists before me.     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6af1dAc9rXo How did he make his sleeve go over his hand? How did you do it?

Simple... I didn't pull my hand out of the mouth
like Peck.  Just screamed for the effect.

The Peck shot was just clever editing I guess?

AusGeoff wrote on Aug 15^th, 2023 at 5:34am:

Simple... I didn't pull my hand out of the mouth like Peck.  Just screamed for the effect. The Peck shot was just clever editing I guess?

I think he used his left hand to pull the sleeve down over his right hand.  :)

Just thought of another favourite. "Throw Momma From The Train," with Danny de Vito, Billy Crystal, and the unforgetable Anne Ramsey as "Momma."

The night was dark . . .

A Night at the Opera should be in the list.

Gone with the Wind despite the lost cause myths in it?

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/grave_of_the_fireflies

Does this classify as a movie?

Setanta wrote on Aug 23^rd, 2023 at 9:21pm:

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/grave_of_the_fireflies Does this classify as a movie?

Gets good reviews.

Jovial Monk wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2023 at 8:03am:

A Night at the Opera should be in the list. Gone with the Wind despite the lost cause myths in it?

Gone with the wind could be viably used as a form of torture.

Dnarever wrote on Aug 23^rd, 2023 at 9:45pm:

Jovial Monk wrote on Aug 22nd, 2023 at 8:03am: A Night at the Opera should be in the list. Gone with the Wind despite the lost cause myths in it? Gone with the wind could be viably used as a form of torture.

Gone With The Wind certainly is dated, but if I listed every movie that was torture, I'd crash the server.

AusGeoff wrote on Aug 13^th, 2023 at 5:18am:

...and have to say it's the most bizarre such list as I've ever seen.

I agree with you.

As far as I understand from the list, they do not consider comedy to be something worthwhile.

I would probably agree with Forrest Gump and Groundhog Day from the list.