Best of the Best Part 7: IMDb Top 10

[Buffy Summers]

Godfather Part II.

I can't believe some people here voted for the Dark Knight. Suicide Squad looks like Shakespeare by comparison.

 

[HowiMetdaSlayer]

Seriously?! The Dark Knight is a classic! 😵 I've never been able to sit through a whole Godfathers film, yet. I'd probably vote for Pulp Fiction from that list.
If I were picking, it would be different. My number one would be Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

 

[Ethan Reigns]

Where are the classics?

Gone with the Wind
Apocalypse Now
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Judgement at Nuremburg
The Wizard of Oz
Casablanca
North by Northwest
Psycho
Rashomon
On the Waterfront
Invasion of the Body Snatchers

and a whole bunch of others. Of the original list, I like The Godfather parts 1 and 2, Pule Fiction and Fight Club and 12 Angry Men is a classic. But let's face it - a list of greatest movies that does not include Casablanca or Gone with the Wind? Not even worth making a choice.

 

[Mr Trick]

Seriously?! The Dark Knight is a classic! 😵 I've never been able to sit through a whole Godfathers film, yet. I'd probably vote for Pulp Fiction from that list.
If I were picking, it would be different. My number one would be Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Ha! Typical youngster!😉 Jackie Brown is actually QT's best film😀 I don't agree that the Dark Knight is a classic but its certainly very good, and like you I'm pretty confident its better than SS😛

 

[HowiMetdaSlayer]

I'm just not that big on gangster (or prison) movies, in general. I think most critics would agree on TDK. Also you should know by now, that I'm hardly yer typical teen - thank you very much. Ordinary People is one of my favorite films. So I don't just like new movies. I will disagree about Jackie Brown. While a great movie, Pulp Fiction's still by far his best work.

 

[Mr Trick]

I'm just not that big on gangster (or prison) movies, in general. I think most critics would agree on TDK. Also you should know by now, that I'm hardly yer typical teen - thank you very much. Ordinary People is one of my favorite films. So I don't just like new movies. I will disagree about Jackie Brown. While a great movie, Pulp Fiction's still by far his best work.

Yeah but the Godfather has far more depth than your typical gangster film.

I prefer JB because its a more humun and mature story but is still entertaining. And the performances are much better too.

 

[ILLYRIAN]

Who decides what a classic is, what are the concepts that go into making a film a classic? If a film is about a historical event that only effects one country then there isn't much chance of it becoming a classic.
So the film, Gone with the Wind is heading for classic status. Films that have previously stated as being a classic are not even mentioned here so does that mean it isn't a classic or that the listing isn't much good?
Another film that has reached 'cult' status is Quatermass and the Pit, it is also listed as a classic.
 
GwenRaiden,
I had to send off to England to get a copy of it, but it came back as suitable to be played in UK region. So I bought a DVD Blu-ray multi-region player. About a month ago the American owners of the film released it so I bought it again, I also bought the TV series. I am still waiting an answer from the new American owners as to how they have a copy of the first series, episodes 3, 4, 5 and 6 as those episodes were not recorded by the BBC.

 

[AnthonyCordova]

Thats a shitty top ten list, all in all. Shawshank redemption, pffft. Lord of the rings, double pffft. Schindler's list (moral issues of ww2 as interpreted by the utter child named Spielberg) and the dark knight (popcorn top 10 maybe) please. That list is deprived of all real artists: my vote would go to 2001 space odyssey, kubrick, or stalker by tarkovsky, or several Bergman films. Also, about 3 dozen classic silent films, such as the cabinet of dr. Caligari or nosferatu. Even keeping just to mainstream hollywood, where is Bladerunner or Alien? Taxi Driver or Deer hunter? Those are fantastic films.

 

[Blaze]

My favourite to watch in that list is Return of the King (extended edition of course). I don't really care that it's not the best, it's the one that has the most odds of ending up in my DVD player.

 

[Mr Trick]

Thats a shitty top ten list, all in all. Shawshank redemption, pffft. Lord of the rings, double pffft. Schindler's list (moral issues of ww2 as interpreted by the utter child named Spielberg) and the dark knight (popcorn top 10 maybe) please. That list is deprived of all real artists: my vote would go to 2001 space odyssey, kubrick, or stalker by tarkovsky, or several Bergman films. Also, about 3 dozen classic silent films, such as the cabinet of dr. Caligari or nosferatu. Even keeping just to mainstream hollywood, where is Bladerunner or Alien? Taxi Driver or Deer hunter? Those are fantastic films.

If you lift the borefest which is 2001 from that list than I am just about with you. Though I still haven't seen The Deer Hunter which I know some people consider to be racist.

 

[Washburne]

As been said earlier there's a difference between what you think is the best and what you enjoy. Godfather 1 & 2 may be good but bored me. The dark knight isn't my favourite in the Nolan-trilogy. Fight club is ok but I can't see the greatness. Not sure I've watched all of Pulp fiction. I enjoy all of the Lord of the rings movies but they're not at the very top. Schindlers list is good but it feels wrong to fall it enjoyable. I mostly call The shawshank redemption my favourite movie so it got my vote. The rest I've either not watched or forgot most of them.

 

[Guy]

I never got this idea that "the best movies" and "the movies I like best" are different things. There's no such thing as an "objectively good film", and there's no objective way of measuring quality in films (or in any art form). So, the only scale that really exists is "how much do I like it?" And by that scale, I'd definitely pick something like 'The Dark Knight' or 'Return of the King' or 'Pulp Fiction' over something like '2001' or '12 Angry Men'. '12 Angry Men' is very good, but it's certainly not top 10 material. And '2001' may have been revolutionary, but as an actual movie it's kind of terrible. I'd cut almost every single shot in that movie in half, if I were the editor.

 

[Washburne]

I never got this idea that "the best movies" and "the movies I like best" are different things.

You can enjoy or have Twilight as your favourite movie. I won't agree with you but that's personal taste for you. Claim it's the best movie ever made and we'll have an issue and you'll have an extremely difficult time making a case for it no matter your reasons. I enjoy Cool runnings and Bad boys to take two examples but I would never put either of them on a list of the best movies made.

 

[Guy]

You can enjoy or have Twilight as your favourite movie. I won't agree with you but that's personal taste for you. Claim it's the best movie ever made and we'll have an issue and you'll have an extremely difficult time making a case for it no matter your reasons. I enjoy Cool runnings and Bad boys to take two examples but I would never put either of them on a list of the best movies made.

Well, then, what are the criteria for "best movies"? Because I will say that it's IMPOSSIBLE to come up with such a criteria in any logical way. There's no LOGICAL way of measuring quality in art. It's entirely subjective.

So, yeah - if someone will tell me that 'Man of Steel' is the best movie of all time, I will say "that's a perfectly valid opinion", despite the fact that I hate that movie.

 

[wickedtiger86]

I love Shawshank. I always have. I just recently watched it again when it was on TV and it was still great. It wasn't like some of them are, where it's only great in my memory, and then I watch it again and I'm like . . . what?

Weird side note: I used to work in a bookstore and someone wanted book recommendations. And I suggested a Stephen King and she said, "I don't like him. He's too weird. I like nice stories like "The Shawshank Redemption."

And, I mean, first I was like, but he wrote that. But then I was like, "Nice stories? Shawshank is a Nice Story?" I wouldn't ever say that, I don't think.


Anyway, one of the mottos of my life is Morgan Freeman saying "Get busy livin' . . . or get busy dyin'" So. It gets my vote.

 

[Washburne]

Well, then, what are the criteria for "best movies"?

I don't really care. Take any criteria except "I like it". You can like a painting made by three random brushstrokes without any special thought. Can it also be the best painting ever? I guess we just have to accept that we don't see it the same way. I do get where you're coming from.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Well, then, what are the criteria for "best movies"?

Originality
The uniqueness and originality of the premise or story.

Creativity
The effective use of imagination as evidenced in the entry.

Plot
The actions, events, conflicts, and turning points that propel the story forward. How the story unfolds.

Pacing
The timing of the action, unfolding of plot elements and character development.

Structure
The framework of the film or script. Effective use of three-act, odyssey, linear or non-linear story progression.

Characters
Personalities that are distinctive, compelling, multi-layered, and unpredictable. A protagonist and antagonist with clear and active goals.

Cinematography
The quality of cinematography or videography demonstrated in the work.

Direction
The quality of direction exhibited in the work.

Entertainment Value
Does the story keep the viewer's or reader's attention? It is fun, engaging, or thought provoking?

Dialogue
Voices that are natural, succinct, and unique to each character. Use of language that effectively reveals character and moves the story forward.

Overall Quality of Production or Script
Is the entry well constructed and well executed as a whole?

 

[Guy]

Originality
The uniqueness and originality of the premise or story.

Creativity
The effective use of imagination as evidenced in the entry.

Plot
The actions, events, conflicts, and turning points that propel the story forward. How the story unfolds.

Pacing
The timing of the action, unfolding of plot elements and character development.

Structure
The framework of the film or script. Effective use of three-act, odyssey, linear or non-linear story progression.

Characters
Personalities that are distinctive, compelling, multi-layered, and unpredictable. A protagonist and antagonist with clear and active goals.

Cinematography
The quality of cinematography or videography demonstrated in the work.

Direction
The quality of direction exhibited in the work.

Entertainment Value
Does the story keep the viewer's or reader's attention? It is fun, engaging, or thought provoking?

Dialogue
Voices that are natural, succinct, and unique to each character. Use of language that effectively reveals character and moves the story forward.

Overall Quality of Production or Script
Is the entry well constructed and well executed as a whole?

These are all things that I value in movies, and things that I look for in the movies I watch. But they can't serve as the criteria for "best movies", for two reasons:

1) They're completely subjective. "voices that are natural, succinct and unique to each character" is something that every person judges differently. Same with "entertainment value", and "cinematography", and "pacing", etc...
2) There's no logical reason why any of these things would be important. For example, why is structure important? I can find movies that fit the three-act-structure perfectly, but still suck hard. Why should a movie need an antagonist? Why should a movie need dialogue at all? Why does it matter if it's original? There's no satisfying, logical answer to these questions.

Therefore, as I understand it, "the best movies" are, simply, "the movies I like best". It's completely subjective.

 

[JCoatsworth]

The Good, the Bad & the Ugly. Such an epic. I just love every minute of it. Tuco is one of the greatest characters in cinema.