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Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

I have missed quite a few movies that others claim are important. I was hoping you guys could point out the ones that are really important and should be seen right away vs the ones that are just hype.

* The Big Lebowski
* The Dark Crystal
* The Graduate
* Young Frankenstein
* Better Off Dead
* Blade Runner
* A Clockwork Orange
* Donnie Brasco
* Full Metal Jacket (Only seen first 45 min)
* Jackie Brown
* Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
* Say Anything
* Avatar

Posted: May 11 2010 04:16 pm

I've seen all of those. In order, here's what I think you need to watch first (and screw anyone who gives me shit, it's my opinion):

1) The Big Lebowski (Cohen brothers can be hit or miss for me, but this was a big hit...especially after multiple viewings)
2) Young Frankenstein (Gene Wilder FTW)
3) Better Off Dead (Watched this so often when I was a kid that I probably think it's funnier than it really is)
4) Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels (Interesting, just referenced this in another thread)
5) Say Anything (Many a line from this movie has crept into my everyday vernacular)
6) Full Metal Jacket (Everyone should watch this once)
7) Jackie Brown (a little underrated, but not Tarentino's best)
8) Blade Runner (Saw this so long ago--like when I was 10--that I can't remember much of it and I wasn't a huge fan...I should probably rewatch it)
9) Donnie Brasco (Solid acting, but I don't like it as much as most people do)
10) Clockwork Orange (I think it's overrated now, but for the time I know it was a breakthrough...book's obviously better)
11) Avatar (I enjoyed this movie in the theater, but haven't seen it on DVD or BluRay. If you can still see it in 3D on the big screen, I think it's worth it. I'm guessing the experience doesn't translate well to home viewing...you should still see it eventually though.)
12) The Graduate (You've probably seen so many clips and heard so much about this you know everything that's going to happen)
13) The Dark Crystal (Meh, I'm sure many will disagree with me here, but since I didn't see this until I was older it doesn't hold any nostalgia for me)

Posted: May 11 2010 04:22 pm

The Graduate is one of my favorite movies. As for Clockwork Orange, I recommend the book over the movie.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Klimbatize, thanks for the detailed review. Next time I am at a Redbox I'll try to see if they have anything at the top of your list order.

Posted: May 11 2010 10:41 pm

Klimbatize wrote:

I've seen all of those. In order, here's what I think you need to watch first (and screw anyone who gives me shit, it's my opinion):

1) The Big Lebowski (Cohen brothers can be hit or miss for me, but this was a big hit...especially after multiple viewings)
2) Young Frankenstein (Gene Wilder FTW)
3) Better Off Dead (Watched this so often when I was a kid that I probably think it's funnier than it really is)
4) Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels (Interesting, just referenced this in another thread)
5) Say Anything (Many a line from this movie has crept into my everyday vernacular)
6) Full Metal Jacket (Everyone should watch this once)
7) Jackie Brown (a little underrated, but not Tarentino's best)
8) Blade Runner (Saw this so long ago--like when I was 10--that I can't remember much of it and I wasn't a huge fan...I should probably rewatch it)
9) Donnie Brasco (Solid acting, but I don't like it as much as most people do)
10) Clockwork Orange (I think it's overrated now, but for the time I know it was a breakthrough...book's obviously better)
11) Avatar (I enjoyed this movie in the theater, but haven't seen it on DVD or BluRay. If you can still see it in 3D on the big screen, I think it's worth it. I'm guessing the experience doesn't translate well to home viewing...you should still see it eventually though.)
12) The Graduate (You've probably seen so many clips and heard so much about this you know everything that's going to happen)
13) The Dark Crystal (Meh, I'm sure many will disagree with me here, but since I didn't see this until I was older it doesn't hold any nostalgia for me)

i havent seen Better Off Dead, Say Anything, or Avatar, but i agree w/most of klim's assessments.
in terms of order, i would go w/this:
1) full metal jacket
2) young frankenstein
3) lock, stock, and two smoking barrels
4) clockwork orange
5) donnie brasco
6) big lebowski
7) blade runner
8) jackie brown
9) dark crystal
10) graduate
last 3 are up for grabs since i havent seen those movies.

Posted: May 12 2010 01:19 am

GPFontaine wrote:

Klimbatize, thanks for the detailed review. Next time I am at a Redbox I'll try to see if they have anything at the top of your list order.

If you go to redbox.com you can search for a movie and it will tell you if there are any in any machines near you. You can reserve it online, too. That's how I roll.

Joined: Oct 01 2009 Posts: 5316

I'll add my own reviews just so you get more than one opinion, not to say Klim is wrong by any means.

* The Big Lebowski...believe it or not, I HATED this movie when it came out. Of course I saw it in theaters when I was 14 so I didn't really grasp it, however when I saw it again a couple years later, I respected it a whole lot more. It's not my favorite Coen Brothers movie, in fact it's probably 5th. I really don't know how to describe this movie...it's just the Coens.

* The Dark Crystal...haven't seen it

* The Graduate - I enjoyed it, but of course it doesn't help that every time I see his father I think of Mr. Feeney. I think it's definately good for it's time, but don't believe it has aged very well. I guess the modern day example of what this movie is like is a Christopher Nolan movie, but that's not the best comparision.

* Young Frankenstein - this is one of those movies you almost have to grow up with. Some people might not find it funny by today's standards, but I've always thought of it more than just a comedy (much like Charlie Chaplin movies). I say you should see it, but don't expect to be blown away with the comedy but it should make you laugh nonetheless.

* Better Off Dead - honestly, this is a good date movie...I wouldn't say it's one of the funniest movies ever, but deserves a viewing. I always liked the neighbor.

* Blade Runner - I didn't respect this movie as a kid, now that I'm an adult I enjoy it much more. Part of why I didn't enjoy it was because I didn't know what the fuck was going on, and the fact that it was anti-climatic.

* A Clockwork Orange - see it...it's my favorite movie ever and every time I watch it, I discover something new. This is the one movie I have to disagree with Klim about as far as opinion goes. I think it gets a bad rep because a lot of people (kids) misrepresent what the movie means, since they're attracted to the first part of the movie and really don't grasp the message in the second half. Klim says the book is better, and he's probably right. But unless you want to look at the glossary every 20 seconds so you know what the hell is going on, I reccomend watching the movie first. I guess that's what I liked about it, because the moral of the story (which is better told in the book due to the final chapter) can be looked at through how the viewer themselves watches the movie since the younger me enjoyed the crazy gang violence and now I enjoy all the other little things such as the billards or feeding time. Ugh...I can talk about A Clockwork Orange all day!

* Donnie Brasco - not a big fan...granted it's not terrible, just kind of dull. It's been about 10 years since I've seen it, but again....just dull. I can't even recall what happened that much...Depp and Pacino do some stuff and Depp is undercover....I don't know...dull. There's like 50 gangster movies better than this one.

* Full Metal Jacket (Only seen first 45 min) - then you've seen what's really needed. Honestly, the last half of the movie isn't that good, I mean after boot camp...this movie just falls apart. I would think this movie would actually do a much better job of telling a story if it starts out in Vietnam and then we get flashbacks to boot camp.

* Jackie Brown - not worth it to be honest, this was a MAJOR disapointment after what I expected Tarantino to do. It's not terrible, but it's not in the same league as any of his other movies.

* Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels -havent's seen it...maybe I have...I can't recall.

* Say Anything -haven't seen it

* Avatar - since it's no longer in theaters, I wouldn't bother, it's definately got that theater feel to it. Given that it's a slow simple story built over 3 hours, you need something to hold your attention and quite honestly...the 3D gimmick worked for that. I don't see why you'd want to watch this at home.

Also..just a few classic picks that you may or may not have seen, but favs of mine:

Blue Velvet
The Elephant Man
The Good the Bad the Ugly
Lolita
Once Upon A Time in the West
Some Like it Hot
Very Bad Things
Videodrome
Witness

And goddammit...I might get some heat for this but...Birth of a Nation

Posted: May 12 2010 07:08 am

I'll just talk about the films that I've seen and my opinion of them.

* Blade Runner - Hugely disappointing after all the hype really. It's weird, it's very dated, the plot is confusing as all hell and the ending will make you go, "Huh?" It's one of those movies like Soylent Green where you already know the big twist because it's an old, hyped movie and thus loses a lot of it's original impact. It'd be like watching Sixth Sense for the first time already knowing the twist.

* Donnie Brasco - Boring, boring, boring. If you're expecting a Goodfellas type movie here, it couldn't be farther away. I saw this at the height of my gangster movie craze and really didn't like it. What Dodds said is absolutely right - "There's like 50 gangster movies better than this one." Your time is better spent watching Casino or Goodfellas for the 10th time.

* Full Metal Jacket (Only seen first 45 min) - A must see. It's fun, sad, and makes you think. FMJ is Kubrick's best film and required viewing for every American on the planet in my opinion. Dodds is correct in that the boot camp scenes are the best parts, but that's not to say the rest of the film sucks.

* Jackie Brown - A good film, but kind of lazy when compared to Tarantino's other films. It's watchable and fun though so while it isn't important viewing, you should fit it in when you can, especially if you're a Tarantino fan.

* Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels - If you liked Snatch, you'll like Lock Stock too. Not much more to say really. It's a lot of fun, good action, and a whole lot of Limey gangsters. Typical Guy Ritchie stuff which is a good thing.

Posted: May 12 2010 02:31 pm

Blade Runner was fucking boring.

Posted: May 12 2010 02:41 pm

These are my thoughts...I haven't seen all of these either (in fact some people's reviews have convinced me to go check out some of the movies on your list) but here are the ones I consider important and why:

1. Young Frankenstein - this is (maybe along with Blade Runner) the only one I've seen on your list that I would run, rather than walk, to my local video store for. Its one of my favorite movies of all time. The cast is universally fantastic (especially Wilder of course, but Madeline Khan is fabulous as well.) I will add one caveat though: you should only rent this and expect to LOVE it if you're a fan of Mel Brook's humor. Did you love "Spaceballs" (even beyond the Star Wars parody aspect?) did you love "History of the World, Part 2?" Most especially, did you love "Blazing Saddles?" If the answer is yes to any of those, then you're going to love this movie. (Although you're going to have a good time with Young Frankenstein no matter what; it's just a good *movie* that someone would have to be a real grouch to actively dislike.) Just be prepared to find yourself quoting it for a good couple weeks afterwards. Very Happy

Blade Runner - This movie is required viewing for all nerds and sci-fi fans; the fact you haven't seen it should be remedied immediately. Now, its not the best movie of all time (there was a lot of behind the scenes drama with the studio from what I understand), but it is good, and it's also very important. If sci-fi movies had a cannon in the way classic literature does, this would be near the top. Absolute must-see. (And reading "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" after you've seen it would be a great idea too!)

Full Metal Jacket - This is one of MY personal favorites on your list, and I'd say its a fairly important one to see as well. Along with Platoon and Apocalypse Now, its one of the best movies about the Vietnam experience you're ever going to see. Now I noticed you've seen the first 45 minutes, which really are the best and most classic parts of the movie imho, but I think the rest of it is well worth seeing too. Unless you absolutely hated what you saw, or don't like Vietnam movies in general, give this one a watch.

Clockwork Orange - Its...an okay adaptation. Worth seeing if you've read and enjoyed the book, but if you haven't read the book, do that instead like Klimb said. Much better. (Although I will say if you're a big fan of watching good acting regardless of the movie itself, I would recommend it for that reason.) If you're in the mood for this kind of story, I'd watch "Brazil" over this one any day.

The Graduate - This is one of those classic American movies that, on viewing it, isn't as good as you'd expect based on the raving everyone's done about it. But it IS good, and the actors are fantastic. If you're a fan of anyone in the cast, or have an interest in movie history in general, I'd say watch it. Otherwise you can safely put this one towards the bottom of you list imho.

Avatar - Didn't see this in the theatre, but did rent it a few weeks ago. Its worth seeing. Not over ANY of the others on your list I'd say, but it is a beautiful movie. I'd go check it out in the theatre (maybe even suffering through the 3D) if it was ever re-released. The story...kinda sucks, is heavy handed and overly moralistic, but the visuals are very pretty, even on a small screen.

Joined: Oct 01 2009 Posts: 5316

SoldierHawk wrote:

History of the World, Part 2

HOLY Crap! Even I haven't seen that!! And I've been waiting over 20 years!

Posted: May 12 2010 03:30 pm

Doddsino wrote:

SoldierHawk wrote:

History of the World, Part 2

HOLY Crap! Even I haven't seen that!! And I've been waiting over 20 years!

Bah, I meant Part 1 of course. I had 2 stuck in my head for some reason...my mistake lol.