What are your favourite films? Ones you could watch over and over, ones you'll always remember, ones that give the benchmark for other films to be compared with?

To make sure it isn't a list thread, only give your absolute favourites and provide a reason/memorable quote or scene/something.

Mine are:
Requiem for a Dream. It's a sort of downward-spiral film, and it's done so well that it's too shattering for me to watch it more than once a year or so. The score is also fantastic, it's the only piece of classical music on my iPod. I think it's called Lux Aterna.

Fight Club. I just love it, because although I couldn't be further removed from everyone in it I do identify with a lot of the stuff they talk about.

Devil's Rejects. Apparently most people in the world hate this, but for some reason I love it. It's a thousand times better than House of 1000 Corpses, and it has some great music (there's a great Allman Brother's song and another by Elvin Bishop).

Fight club: similer reasons to Miss, it's very real and there is something in the film that affect everyone. It's very cynical of Hollywood yet plays up a lot of the tricks is mocks, in that way it is very clever. I've always quite liked Fincher and I think this i shis finest work to date

Life is Beautiful: It's a fairly obscure Roberto Benigni film but it is a fantastic one and well worth a look if you haven't seen it. It focuses on life in a concentration camp during the second world war and one father and his son who is being hidden within the camp to save him. I won't spoil it for nayone but I will say it has one of the most poignant and emotional endings ever. Makes me cry every time I see it.

Phone Booth: Awesome film. Almost one huge scene and almost entirely dialogue based, it shouldn't keep you as entranced as it does but that's something it does so well

Donnie Darko
A strange and haunting tale, well told. Beautifully filmed. Its just an awesome film, I get goose bumps every time I watch it. And the 'Smurffette' scene is one of the best in cinimatic history.

Memorable quote:-
Donnie: Why do you wear that stupid bunny suit?
Frank: Why are you wearing that stupid man suit?

Classic.

Excalibur
John Boormans 1981 epic adaptation of Malory's Morte d'Arthur. A real feast on the senses with Wagner providing a rousing score. Early apparences of Helen Mirren, Patrick stewart and oddly the guy you played 'Richard Bouquet'

Memorable quote:-
Merlin: The One God comes to drive out the many gods. The spirits of wood and stream grow silent. But that's the way of things. It's time for men and their ways.

Great film.

Shaun of the dead
I LMAO everytime I watch this and know the script backwards.

Memorable quote:-
Ed: It's not hip-hop, it's electro. Prick. Next time I see him, he's dead.

Dead *ahem funny

Mine are:
Requiem for a Dream. It's a sort of downward-spiral film, and it's done so well that it's too shattering for me to watch it more than once a year or so. The score is also fantastic, it's the only piece of classical music on my iPod. I think it's called Lux Aterna.


I love the bit where she does ass to ass for heroin. ASS TO ASS! ASS TO ASS!

Spice World
Hilarious. Posh is the best actor ever. Especially when she tells Geri to shut up all the time.

There's more but I'm tired, so might post later.

I love anybody that loves Requiem For A Dream. My favourite film in the whole world ever.

The score is also fantastic, it's the only piece of classical music on my iPod. I think it's called Lux Aterna..

I have the entire score - it's done by Clint Mansell and the Kronos Quartet and is a tremendous piece of work.

Other films making their way into my top 3 include Magnolia and Mulholland Drive.

All 3 films made me cry. They are the only films to have ever made me cry.

Trainspotting
Brilliant cinematography, the use of colour and light is skillful, also adapted from what (for me) was the most important novel of the 90's so the script aint half bad either but what makes it are the performances, especially Robert Carlyle.

Dead Man's Shoes
Another example of great urban storytelling from Shane Meadows, but even grittier, more gripping and shocking than anything before. Paddy Considine can't be ignored in this film, neither can the awesome soundtrack and beautiful rural photography.

La Haine
A film that got made against all the odds - too important not to make, like raw energy turned into art. Vincent Cassel rules and the b/w shots are a rollercoaster ride through film school. La Haine was so powerful that the French PM held a meeting with his cabinet and screened them the film.

Once Upon A Time In America
A force-de-jour.The epic story of the prohibitian era that has been overplayed by Hollywood, in so many other fims to the extent that it has become almost a cheap commodity.
This is the best.Nothing else comes close.
Albeit rather twisted and unquestionably unanserable in certain sequence of events , it reamains not only Robert De Niro's finest moment , but also cinemas greatest acheivement.

Apocolypse Now
A searing insight into not only the minds of those who for better or worse participated into the drama of the Vietman War , but also a intriguing venture into the minds of the actors who took part.

My third choice is :

Cutting Moments
Which still remains the only film that has really affected my head, ie: that I found it so disturbing I had to sleep with my lights on.
A bleak film , about a dysfunctianal family who have to result to self mutilation to express their feelings.
Not nice.

Office Space: Basically a Live action version of Dilbert from Mike Judge. It's a great laugh, become a cult classic in it's time :) Nothing else to say about it really apart from a small disclaimer stating that Jennifer Aniston tries to act in it.

OldBoy Korean movie from the Vengance Trilogy. Amazingly well thought out movie and strung together perfectly. Basically, man kidnapped off the street and locked up in a hotel looking room for 15 years without reason. When released, he's given 72 hours (Possibly wrong) to find out who and why this happened. the words "Claw Hammer massacre" come to mind. Highly reccomended, beautiful soundtrack to the film too.

I have more, but i'm too tired to be writting them now.

Oh, before I forget, I do ahve one to mention now.

12 Angry Men Jury Room drama starring more famous actors than I care to remember, including Henry Fonda and Ed Begley. Basic story revolves around a Jury of 12 men deliberating on the case of a young man accused of killing his dad. All but one jump onboard the guilty bandwaggon straight from the beginning, and it's down to the lone juror to make them see reason. Film never leaves this single room till the very end of the movie where it shows outside the courthouse. It's an amazing piece of storytelling highlighting prejudices against those brought up in certain areas.

OldBoy Korean movie from the Vengance Trilogy. Amazingly well thought out movie and strung together perfectly. Basically, man kidnapped off the street and locked up in a hotel looking room for 15 years without reason. When released, he's given 72 hours (Possibly wrong) to find out who and why this happened. the words "Claw Hammer massacre" come to mind. Highly reccomended, beautiful soundtrack to the film too.

<3 Possibly my favourite film ever. I have the soundtrack, so amazingly good.

Magnolia
It's just so sad and great, I cry like a pussy when they all sing 'Wise Up' especially at the end when the little boy sings 'so just give up'. Awww. Plus Aimee Mann pwns and sings practically the whole soundtrack.

My Neighbour Totoro
A Studio Ghibli animation, and is possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen. Really sad at the end, but I can watch it over and over again.

Without gluttonising my choices , i think 12 Angry Men was very good too.
Breakfast At Tiffanny's , has a special place too, while I'm at it.

OldBoy

hmmm, got given this a few weeks ago from a friend and haven't had a chance to watch it yet...

I love so many movies it's so hard to choose. Three off the top of my head:

Boondock Saints

Lake Placid

Mars Attacks

Can't really pick out any single film at the moment but I have been exploring a lot of asian cinema of late so these are the films that have struck a chord with me...

I second Old Boy. Fucking astounding film. I've talked about it several times on this board already.

Memories of a Murderer. Another great korean film about a serial killer in a small korean town and the attempts of two slightly hapless but determined cops to capture him. It's absolutely hilarious in places. And based on a true story.

Any film buy Ki Duk Kim. 3 Iron or The Isle are good films to start you off, and then, once your used to his unique symbolic style you can check out Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... and Spring.

Fight Club
Undoubtedly one of, if not the greatest film of all time. Great story, acting, cinematography and fantastic twist.

Layer Cake
A lot of people panned this when it was released, I have no idea why - i think it's a brilliantly shot piece of film with a half decent film story to boot. Watching this, its pretty easy to see why Daniel Craig was chosen to be the next bond.

American Psycho
If you like a bit of psycopathic prostitute murdering, axe murdering, cat murdering and over-pampering - this film is for you. I do.

Scarface
If Fight Club is one of the best films of all time, this is a very close second or tied to the number one spot. Brilliant Stuff.

Saving Private Ryan
Should be essential viewing for everybody. Superb.

I don't know if they're the all time best, but I know I'll always watch the following, even if I come in half-way through:

The Wizard of Oz
Citizen Kane
The Shining
Vacation (it always makes me laugh)
Dangerous Liaisons
The March of the Wooden Soldiers (old Laurel and Hardy classic)
The Dark Crystal
The Raiders of the Lost Art and Temple of Doom (the third film can fuck off)
The original non-shit Star Wars trilogy
The Lord of the Rings films
Any number of Midsummer Night's Dream film adaptations except for the crap version with that Calista Flockhart bitch in it.

American Psycho is very very very good. I also like the 1963 version of "The Haunting."

The March of the Wooden Soldiers (old Laurel and Hardy classic)

Yes , deffo there'd been sone Laurel and Hardy classics in my list ,too.
'Berth Marks' has always been one of my classic L&H shorts.
LMAO at most L&H films .

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Can't get enough of it. It's touching, funny, glamorous, bloody good.

Bring it On. Can't explain it. Makes me really happy.

Some Like it Hot. Funniest film ever. Just perfect.

Jack and Sarah. Baby with sock on head.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Reminds me of being 12 and watching it at Halloween on BBC2 with the lights out. Also reminds me of a very good school friend.

So, in short, I have the same taste in film as an offensively camp gay man. Hurrah.

The Raiders of the Lost Art and Temple of Doom (the third film can fuck off)


I thought The Last Crusade was the best one.

Once Upon A Time In America
A force-de-jour.The epic story of the prohibitian era that has been overplayed by Hollywood, in so many other fims to the extent that it has become almost a cheap commodity.
This is the best.Nothing else comes close.
Albeit rather twisted and unquestionably unanserable in certain sequence of events , it reamains not only Robert De Niro's finest moment , but also cinemas greatest acheivement.

A great film, this is also one of my favourites. I feel I should watch it again before I comment on it in depth, and with it being 3½ hours long I might not get the chance for a while.

Some Like it Hot. Funniest film ever. Just perfect.

Another classic. Gone are the days when men can dress up in drag and it be truely funny, rather than just a bit camp. Jack Lemmon is hilarious in it. I'll never tire of watching this movie.

Godfather II
The first one was great, but I prefer the second one, mainly for the scenes that go back to New York in the 1910s and track Vito's progress from lowly baker's assistant to Mafia Don.

City of God
Gangster film, Brazilian style. Ever wondered what life is like in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro? Well this film is an excellent depiction of the experiences of one boy in such a place. Even the fact that is in Portuguese doesn't let it down. Anyone who likes gangster films should watch it.

Alot of my faves already mentioned.

Also add......

Boondock Saints - Watch it if only for the awesome performance from Willem Defoe.

Cable Guy - Just hilarious and scary at the same time.

The Trueman Show - Funny and very touching

Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind - (No I am not a Carrey stalker) Great film about true-love that cant be stopped.

A Clockwork Orange - One of the films from a book I love. Challenging and provoking. Another great performance from McDowell. Scary because it could be so true....

Bladerunner - Just bought it on DVD. Ridleys classic is a must see for all sci-fi fans.

Too many to go on with........

I know this'll be less popular but I really love Interstella 5555

This thread prompted me to watch Ichi the Killer again, and it was even better second time round. I love the scene where he takes off the rings around his mouth and has a fight with whatshisname.

I saw Old Boy in between my first viewing of Ichi and this one, and now I see several similarities, especially the school flashbacks. Did anyone else notice that?

This is very tricky, because some films I love for personal reasons, and some films I'll admire in an artsy, academic appreciation sort of way.

Some films have feet in both camps, of course. Were this a review, each would get 10/10 without question.

Psycho
Though probably the most dissected film of all, Psycho still retains a unique, raw power that has never been equalled. Vertigo may have been Hitch’s artistic masterpiece, but here we’re taken further into the dark than ever before. And few other films so incisively remind us that a director doesn’t just direct the film, but also the audience.

The Invisible Man
Eerie, thrilling, funny, and frightening – all of the mischievous artifice of cinema packed into seventy lovely minutes. And the art of Hollywood defined.

Eyes Wide Shut
A film best defined by its own masked ball sequence: overlong, overwrought, pretentious and absurd. So why do I keep coming back to it time and time again? A form of hypnosis? Oh yes...

Got to have another go.

Walt Disney Animated Classics:: Love em , or think they are a load of overtly pious bullshit ,they still remain the greatest institution in the animation and family film making business. You'd have to be a very hardened communist to diss some of the genious on celluliod.

Roots . Not a film , pers se , but i've got the boxed set on video ,so counts for me. A truly entertaining TV series . It may be as true to life as John Wayne was a Marlborough smoking cowboy , but as entertainment values goes it was a class act.

Woodstock:The Movie . But its all we have got of this snapshot in time.

Well, Donnie Darko's already ben mntioned, but It's such an awesome film I simply had to reiterate it.
Primer is also good and somewhat in the same vein as DD but with a slightly more adult scrpt and plot linr, as well as the cast, which is made up of complete ubknown and I think only adds to the appeal of the film, as you have no preconceptions of any of the characters because you're not able to compare performances to anything previous.
I also love The Last Temptation of Christ. Bloody fantastic film ith a kick-ass sound-track by Peter Gabriel.
I could( and have done a LOT) watch all 3 of the LotR films, I especially like watching them (or at least having them on in the background) whilst playing any of the numerous 'sword and sorcery type games that I play. It's particularly good as an accompniment to Everquest 2.
Downsize this by Michael Moore is also good, in a scary kind of way.
It's A Wonderful Life is also one of my all time favourites as it's one of ther few films guarenteed to make both myself and my mother cry buckets - fond memories of sitting at opposite ends of the sofa with a box of tissues between us at Christmas LOL.
The Changeling is definately worth watching for the automatic writing scene alone.
Any of the Monty Python films are good for me too.
I have also recently got into Madagascar which has some suprisingly funny moments.
And last, well at least until I'v had a cigarette and my first cup of coffee and I'm fully awake, any and all of the Bill Hicks performance films.

Primer is also good and somewhat in the same vein as DD but with a slightly more adult scrpt and plot linr, as well as the cast, which is made up of complete ubknown and I think only adds to the appeal of the film, as you have no preconceptions of any of the characters because you're not able to compare performances to anything previous.


I couldn't have hated this film more. Perhaps if I watched it again with a greater realisation of what was going on I'd like it.

Did you actually understand what the hell happened?

Field of Dreams - cry like a baby at the end

Blazing Saddles - so funny

Got to have another go.

Roots . Not a film , pers se , but i've got the boxed set on video ,so counts for me. A truly entertaining TV series . It may be as true to life as John Wayne was a Marlborough smoking cowboy , but as entertainment values goes it was a class act.


I loved Roots and was hooked on the weekly episodes when it first aired. Something I would love to watch again

Field of Dreams - cry like a baby at the end

Blazing Saddles - so funny

2 of my faves as well Mnem

couldn't have hated this film more. Perhaps if I watched it again with a greater realisation of what was going on I'd like it.

Did you actually understand what the hell happened?

Yes, yes I did lol. I'll PM you with the explanation if you like but it's such an awesome film IMO that I wouldn't want to be responsible for a spoiler for anyone who's not seen it :D

A Clockwork Orange- amazing, hypnotic, poignant, thought-provoking, i could go on and on.
The Usual Suspects- hilarious and full of hot guys
L.A. Confidential- film noir at its best
Anything by Tarantino- with the exception of maybe "True Romance", but it wasn't directed by him, so...

there's a lot more but these are my top ones for now.

Can I add
Brokeback Mountain
and
Lost in Translation

Not sure if the first will stand the test of time, but it was the first time I'd gone to the cinema with a gay colleague and his partner (who I didn't know that well then), and it was a bit of a weird experience. But the film was excellent.

both it and Lost in Translation kind of stayed with my for a long time after I'd seen them

I'm adding my 2ps worth then, don't hold your breaths


Until the end of the world rambling rambling film.

Any of the dollars series, just cool as fuck, infact all spagetti westerns. I have a thing for the bandits.

The Warriors dunno why, just bloody love it.

Dawn of the dead see above.

Why the feck no-one has mentioned Star Wars yet is beyond me, and i mean the origional, none of the CGI bobbins.

More than a token nod to cappy's woodstock, i'll often have that on in the background.

I'm adding my 2ps worth then, don't hold your breaths

Why the feck no-one has mentioned Star Wars yet is beyond me, and i mean the origional, none of the CGI bobbins.


funny you should mention that, i've just been on wiki for the past few hours reading about all the characters and what supposedly happened to them after thinking about my lost ESB orgianal VHS tape and checking ebay for a new one.

Luke marries a slutty bitch, Han and Leia have tragedy ahead. :yes:

Also i shall mention
Indiana Jones
duh. only the greatest adventure story eva.

and

Amadeus
the most entertaining Mozart ever, if not strictly autobiographical.
The music of Neville Marriner and St. Martin-in-the-Fields is sublime, there is no one else who understands Mozart like he does. No other conductor comes close.
Plus Milos Forman's sets, photography and cast are total perfection.
Although I don't reccomend the director's cut, unneccessary mediocre scenes that sort of spoil it the effect. Best left on the cutting room floor.