S/O: Best Movie Ever

[sam_gordon]

The discussion about Wonka (https://www.disboards.com/threads/wonka-the-best-movie-ever.3936468/) got me thinking... What would be *MY* choice for "Best Movie Ever"? I couldn't really come up with one. Among my favorites:
Star Wars: A New Hope
Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back
Blazing Saddles
History of the World Part I
The Big Red One
Saving Private Ryan
Indiana Jones Raiders
Indiana Jones Holy Grail

That's just off the top. That made me think about what qualities *I* would use to determine the "Best Movie Ever". Obviously it needs a good story, good actors, well put together. But again, I couldn't say "this" is what makes a good movie.

So in the interest of discussion, what would you consider the "Best Movie Ever"? And/or what do you use to measure that?

 

[PollyannaMom]

So in the interest of discussion, what would you consider the "Best Movie Ever"? And/or what do you use to measure that?

I haven't read the other thread, as I haven't seen Wonka yet and wanted to stay away from spoilers.

But in general (in addition to your "good story, good actors, well put together") the movies that make my "best" list:

• Are re-watchable
• Make me feel something
• Have a hopeful ending

Bonus if they also have an excellent sound track!

 

[GreatLakes]

Mine would be the first Godfather hands down.

 

[BrianL]

It's this:



Wanna fight about it?

I once told Goofy at Tusker house that, "A Goofy Movie was, like, the Citizen Kane of movies." I am not sure Goofy heard me, but his handler was cracking up. I don't know why though - it wasn't a joke.

 

[Lord Manhammer]

I’m not sure there is one singular film that could be considered the greatest of all time, but I think there are characteristics that make films like Kane, M, The Kid, Singing in the Rain, etc as part of the canon of the greatest cinematic productions. Mainly I think that for a film to be considered “great” it needs to be as flawless as possible
In terms of narrative, editing, cinematography, mise en scene, acting, and music. Every film has little errors or inconsistencies, but for the most part, those films that are considered to be the best have these elements. That said, there is so much subjectivity in a question like this that you’re going to get vastly different answers simply based on taste and experience. For me, I consider Kane to be the finest film ever made, but I know other film scholars who don’t even show it to students and show Blade Runner instead, which I thought was a snooze fest. I think it’s an interesting litmus test for these boards though as it shows what kind of cinema we are all most interested in.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Titanic is the best - hand's down...

Then the top 5...

Clue
Sixth Sense
The Lion King (original animated)
Toy Story Trilogy (you have to watch all 3, and they are so above anything after - the series ended at 3).

 

[_19disnA]

Rating movies is a very subjective thing. Something YOU might have liked a lot may not appeal to others. YOUR favorite movie may not even be considered by most others as the 'best' ever. First you need to define the criteria for what makes something the 'best ever' movie (and get a lot of other people to agree with your criteria).

While I think it is fine to list YOUR favorite movies, I think that is a different discussion then what people would consider to be the 'best ever' movies.

 

[firefly_ris]

That is such a tough thing for me! I have probably a top 20 and that is hard enough. Then there is defining "best" -- certainly many of my favorites have wonderful cinematography, set making, acting, editing, musical scores and so on, and many are generally well-revered. BUT then I have some favorites that are for other reasons like nostalgia, certain memory connections, little things I just find endearing about them but are perhaps not well-revered or are cheaply made or whatever. If I were to split into 2 separate lists based on that I could still come up with a ton, ha.

 

[sam_gordon]

Rating movies is a very subjective thing. Something YOU might have liked a lot may not appeal to others. YOUR favorite movie may not even be considered by most others as the 'best' ever. First you need to define the criteria for what makes something the 'best ever' movie (and get a lot of other people to agree with your criteria).

While I think it is fine to list YOUR favorite movies, I think that is a different discussion then what people would consider to be the 'best ever' movies.

I guess it wasn't obvious... that was the entire point of the thread... what is YOUR "best movie ever" and/or what are YOUR requirements for a movie to make that list?

 

[Jennasis]

My favorite movie is 12 Angry Men. The original black and white. Simple. Perfect.

I have eclectic tastes...as I also think i would rank Godzilla King of Monsters and Avengers Endgame as best as well.

 

[firefly_ris]

The Lion King
All Dogs Go to Heaven
Fletch
Back to the Future
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Temple of Doom
The Last Crusade
Free Willy
Ghostbusters
The Goonies
Help!
Hook
Jurassic Park
The Land Before Time
Mulan
Oliver & Company
PeeWee's Big Adventure
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
Rushmore
The Saint
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Spirited Away
Stand By Me
Three Amigos
Airplane!
Tommy Boy
Uncle Buck
What About Bob?
You Don't Mess with the Zohan
Zoolander


....that's just from taking a quick scroll through my Plex library. I could probably go back through it and pick 30 more... but those are the ones I could watch over and over. For various reasons.

 

[gmi3804]

Too many to list, and I'm forgetting so many.

Days of Heaven
The Night of the Hunter
Singin' in the Rain
Kieslowski's Three Colors Trilogy: Blue, White, Red
2001: A Space Odyssey
Psycho
The Graduate
Ikiru
Raging Bull
The Godfather
Rosemary's Baby
8-1/2
Fanny and Alexander
Nashville
Mulholland Drive
All That Heaven Allows
Barry Lyndon
Terms of Endearment
Pulp Fiction
Sunset Blvd
The Shawshank Redemption
Wings of Desire
Carrie
Distant Voices, Still Lives and The Long Day Closes
Citizen Kane
The Lion in Winter
Hannah and Her Sisters
Vertigo
Taxi Driver
Broadcast News
The Last Emperor
Playtime
Badlands
All About Eve
The Haunting
Once Upon a Time in America

 

[ChrisFL]

It's The Lord of the Rings Trilogy for me

I have many personal favorites that wouldn't end up on most people's "best movie ever" lists, like Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby for example

 

[Karin1984]

• Are re-watchable
• Make me feel something
• Have a hopeful ending

With this criteria, the first movie that comes to mind is: Keeping Mum.
Absolutely amazing cast in a great and well-executed story.

I should watch that again. *goes to Netflix*

 

[Chili327]

Personal "Best" is an odd duck because it can just be timing of when you saw it, or age that makes it hit harder, but obviously needs to tug at some feels in one way or another, but by far does not need to be immaculately produced, or even acting (as shown in my favs. lol)

Personally "Hollywood Knights" was always my favorite since I was 10, but here is a list of others I have to watch whenever they come on.

• Dazed and Confused
• Tombstone
• Pulp Fiction
• Roger Rabbit
• Goonies
• Raiders of the Lost Ark
• Back to the Future (all 3)
• Cars (1 is best, but i like all 3)
• Casablanca
• Oceans Eleven (the original)
• Also love a lot of old Bob Hope movies... My Favorite Brunette, Lemon drop Kid, or the "Road to.." series with Bing Crosby.

These I would agree with as being great (to me), that others listed.

• Fletch
• Back to the Future
• Raiders of the Lost Ark
• The Last Crusade
• Ghostbusters
• The Goonies
• Jurassic Park
• The Saint
• Stand By Me
• Airplane!
• Tommy Boy
• Uncle Buck
• What About Bob?

And

• The Godfather
• Mulholland Drive
• Pulp Fiction
• Sunset Blvd
• The Shawshank Redemption
• Citizen Kane
• Taxi Driver

 

[RedAngie]

“Chinatown” with Faye Dunaway and Jack Nicholson

“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf”. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton ripping each other apart.

“Bonnie & Clyde”. Faye Dunaway again and Warren Beatty

 

[Smugpugmug]

It's The Lord of the Rings Trilogy for me

I have many personal favorites that wouldn't end up on most people's "best movie ever" lists, like Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby for example

The Peter Jackson LOTR trilogy was truly something special. I genuinely believe we'll never see a fantasy genre film series with that level of quality ever again.

 

[Minnesota!]

My personal favorite, ever, is "The Way, Way Back". Something about it gets me every.single.time.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

I largely quote my post from the other thread:

My favourite three movies ever are Requiem for a Dream, Hannibal and Silence of the Lambs. Yes, I know, I'm dark! But you have to give credit to the producers, the cinematography is FANTASTIC! In actual fact, I find Requiem too tough to watch again, I was just blown away to simply see it. Hannibal was a masterpiece with an Opera written just for the movie to the words of Dante. And Silence of the Lambs, well, best on screen chemistry EVER! No wonder it won so many oscars!

Runner up prizes go to The Greatest Showman, partially because I NEED a positive movie in the mix, partly because I think the music is AWESOME; The Village as it has more twists than my signature and Sing, again because of the story and music

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Other runners-up:

• Shutter Island
• Spirited Away
• China Syndrome
• Duel
• Pi
• American Beauty
• Road to Perdition
• South Park
• Chocolat
• Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
• Black Swan
• About a Boy
• Arrival
• Juno

I appreciate movies based on one factor - a movies ability to make you feels something significant.