The 50 Films to see before you DIE list is CRAP! (and here is why)
Some English station (Channel 4 in England?) had some 50 moves to see before you die list and I completely disagree with it. So lets go down the list and see which ones are wrong and why (I will bold the ones I have seen)
1. Apocalypse Now (1979) -
Not the Francis Ford Coppala film I would have picked (Godfather 1 & 2 anyone?). I understand why it's there but I'd be more inclined to go with Platoon or Full Metal Jacket as far as vietnam war pictures go)
2. The Apartment (1960) -
The Apartment? Really? I mean it's good and everything but I don't think it's Billy Wilder's best film. What about Sunset Blvd. or Sabrina or even 1, 2, 3. If you insist on a comedy here how about Ninotchka or Some Like It Hot? I find The Apartment completely overrated when it comes to Wilder. There are a half dozen better movies.
3. City Of God (2002)
4. Chinatown (1974)
5. Sexy Beast (2000)
I mean it's good, but it's not life altering. I'm not quite sure how Sexy Beast made it on the list. There are a ton of films I would have put there instead.
6. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
I know why it's there, but I have always found it overrated. Truthfully if I was putting Kubrick on the list (and I might not) I'd be more likely to put The Shinning or A Clockwork Orange.
7. North By Northwest (1959)
8. A Bout De Souffle (1959)
9. Donnie Darko (2001)
Okay, again, really? I mean it's a good film, but hardly life altering and important. I would recommend it but I hardly think everyone need to see it before they die. You'll be quite fine if you skip it.
10. Back To The Future (1985)
Again, good film. Fun and frivolous. But before you die? If you're looking for something in the Robert Zemeckis/Michale J. Fox genre may I recommend The Frightners directed by Peter Jackson?
11. Alien (1979)
I like Aliens better. I think it's a more interesting film.
12. Lost In Translation (2003)
Blech. It's okay, but again, before you die? I don't think so. If I was going to pick a Bill Murray starring vehicle I'd go with Rushmore.
13. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
This film should be on the list twice it's so good.
14. Lagaan (2001)
15. Pulp Fiction (1994)
16. Touch Of Evil (1958)
Again, this is the Orson Wells film they pick? Not Citizen Kane (which really is a masterpiece. There is a reason why it's on all those top ten lists. If you haven't seen it, this is one to see before you die)? Not Chimes at Midnight? Not F for Fake?
17. Walkabout (1971)
18. Black Narcissus (1947)
Not my favorite, but I know why it's there.
19. Boyz N The Hood (1991)
20. The Player (1992)
The Player is so completely NOT the best Robert Altman film that I can't imagine how it made the list. How about Nashville or M*A*S*H? Either one of those films is far superior.
21. Come And See (1985)
22. Heavenly Creatures (1994)
Peter Jackson again. Excellent Film.
23. A Night At The Opera (1935)
I adore the Marx Brothers but for pure comedy and biting social comentary I would probably have gone with Duck Soup. Although I will admit that A Night at the Opera is their most consistantly funny film.
24. Erin Brockovich (2000)
25. Trainspotting (1996)
Both 24 & 25 are good films, but hardly must-sees.
26. Hero (2002)
27. The Breakfast Club (1985)
Again, not even close to the best teen angst movie ever made. Not even the best Jon Hughes teen movie ever made (that would be Ferris Bueller's Day Off).
28. Fanny And Alexander (1982)
29. Pink Flamingos (1972)
30. All About Eve (1950)
31. Scarface (1983)
32. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Once again, good film but as far as action movies go, not even close to the best.
33. Three Colours: Blue (1993)
34. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
35. The Ladykillers (1955)
Again, in the Alec Guiness pantheon of films, why not go with Kind Hearts & Correnettes (sp?) which is just extraordinary instead of this maudlin slapstick.
36. Fight Club (1999)
37. The Searchers (1956)
I couldn't agree with this one more. The Searchers is an amazing film.
38. Mulholland Drive (2001)
39. The Ipcress File (1962)
40. The King Of Comedy (1983)
41. Manhunter (1986)
42. Dawn Of The Dead (Director's Cut) (1978)
43. Princess Mononoke (1997)
44. Raising Arizona (1987)
As Coen Bros. movies go it's okay but I'd probably put The Hudsucker Proxy or Fargo there before Raising Arizona.
45. Cabaret (1972)
46. This Sporting Life (1963)
47. Brazil (1985)
48. Aguirre, The Wrath of God (1972)
49. Secrets & Lies (1996)
Really? Of all the Mike Leigh films we're going with that one? His most mainstream and least interesting film? I'd probably go with Topsy Turvy myself but I don't much like Mike Leigh.
50. Badlands (1973)
Okay, a dozen films they seemed to have missed (and this is off the top of my head mind you):
Snow White
City Lights
Star Wars
Raiders of the Lost Arc
Ran
Yojimbo
Hannah and Her Sisters
It Happened One Night
The Dirty Dozen
The Brother from Another Planet
Gentleman Prefer Blondes
The African Queen.
End rant.
1. Apocalypse Now (1979) -
Not the Francis Ford Coppala film I would have picked (Godfather 1 & 2 anyone?). I understand why it's there but I'd be more inclined to go with Platoon or Full Metal Jacket as far as vietnam war pictures go)
2. The Apartment (1960) -
The Apartment? Really? I mean it's good and everything but I don't think it's Billy Wilder's best film. What about Sunset Blvd. or Sabrina or even 1, 2, 3. If you insist on a comedy here how about Ninotchka or Some Like It Hot? I find The Apartment completely overrated when it comes to Wilder. There are a half dozen better movies.
3. City Of God (2002)
4. Chinatown (1974)
5. Sexy Beast (2000)
I mean it's good, but it's not life altering. I'm not quite sure how Sexy Beast made it on the list. There are a ton of films I would have put there instead.
6. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
I know why it's there, but I have always found it overrated. Truthfully if I was putting Kubrick on the list (and I might not) I'd be more likely to put The Shinning or A Clockwork Orange.
7. North By Northwest (1959)
8. A Bout De Souffle (1959)
9. Donnie Darko (2001)
Okay, again, really? I mean it's a good film, but hardly life altering and important. I would recommend it but I hardly think everyone need to see it before they die. You'll be quite fine if you skip it.
10. Back To The Future (1985)
Again, good film. Fun and frivolous. But before you die? If you're looking for something in the Robert Zemeckis/Michale J. Fox genre may I recommend The Frightners directed by Peter Jackson?
11. Alien (1979)
I like Aliens better. I think it's a more interesting film.
12. Lost In Translation (2003)
Blech. It's okay, but again, before you die? I don't think so. If I was going to pick a Bill Murray starring vehicle I'd go with Rushmore.
13. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
This film should be on the list twice it's so good.
14. Lagaan (2001)
15. Pulp Fiction (1994)
16. Touch Of Evil (1958)
Again, this is the Orson Wells film they pick? Not Citizen Kane (which really is a masterpiece. There is a reason why it's on all those top ten lists. If you haven't seen it, this is one to see before you die)? Not Chimes at Midnight? Not F for Fake?
17. Walkabout (1971)
18. Black Narcissus (1947)
Not my favorite, but I know why it's there.
19. Boyz N The Hood (1991)
20. The Player (1992)
The Player is so completely NOT the best Robert Altman film that I can't imagine how it made the list. How about Nashville or M*A*S*H? Either one of those films is far superior.
21. Come And See (1985)
22. Heavenly Creatures (1994)
Peter Jackson again. Excellent Film.
23. A Night At The Opera (1935)
I adore the Marx Brothers but for pure comedy and biting social comentary I would probably have gone with Duck Soup. Although I will admit that A Night at the Opera is their most consistantly funny film.
24. Erin Brockovich (2000)
25. Trainspotting (1996)
Both 24 & 25 are good films, but hardly must-sees.
26. Hero (2002)
27. The Breakfast Club (1985)
Again, not even close to the best teen angst movie ever made. Not even the best Jon Hughes teen movie ever made (that would be Ferris Bueller's Day Off).
28. Fanny And Alexander (1982)
29. Pink Flamingos (1972)
30. All About Eve (1950)
31. Scarface (1983)
32. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Once again, good film but as far as action movies go, not even close to the best.
33. Three Colours: Blue (1993)
34. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
35. The Ladykillers (1955)
Again, in the Alec Guiness pantheon of films, why not go with Kind Hearts & Correnettes (sp?) which is just extraordinary instead of this maudlin slapstick.
36. Fight Club (1999)
37. The Searchers (1956)
I couldn't agree with this one more. The Searchers is an amazing film.
38. Mulholland Drive (2001)
39. The Ipcress File (1962)
40. The King Of Comedy (1983)
41. Manhunter (1986)
42. Dawn Of The Dead (Director's Cut) (1978)
43. Princess Mononoke (1997)
44. Raising Arizona (1987)
As Coen Bros. movies go it's okay but I'd probably put The Hudsucker Proxy or Fargo there before Raising Arizona.
45. Cabaret (1972)
46. This Sporting Life (1963)
47. Brazil (1985)
48. Aguirre, The Wrath of God (1972)
49. Secrets & Lies (1996)
Really? Of all the Mike Leigh films we're going with that one? His most mainstream and least interesting film? I'd probably go with Topsy Turvy myself but I don't much like Mike Leigh.
50. Badlands (1973)
Okay, a dozen films they seemed to have missed (and this is off the top of my head mind you):
Snow White
City Lights
Star Wars
Raiders of the Lost Arc
Ran
Yojimbo
Hannah and Her Sisters
It Happened One Night
The Dirty Dozen
The Brother from Another Planet
Gentleman Prefer Blondes
The African Queen.
End rant.