77 replies to this topic

[Loomis]

What would you say are the three most perfect films ever?

Films that you can rewatch quite literally until the cows come home. Films that are almost part of your DNA. Films that have no flaws at all.

What does your gut tell you? Forget your intellect. Which three films somehow possess you as though you're Linda Blair? Which three films go to work on you like Marcellus Wallace's pipe-hitting goons?

Don't think about it too much, because you know you already know the answers. Just pick the three most precious to you - not necessarily The Three Best Films Ever Made™ (although they may well also be that in your book), but the three flicks closest to your heart. And your soul. The three that somehow got under your skin and made you the movie geek you are. Films that have accompanied you like old friends throughout your journey through life. Films that you'd take a bullet for.

Just three, mind you - but you can have an honourable mention as well. My choices:

DIE HARD

HALLOWEEN (1978)

ROCKY

Honourable mention: PULP FICTION

Over to you.

[BlackFire]

LIFE'S BEAUTIFUL

Can't think on some more right now..

[Agent 76]

The Godfather

Raiders of The Lost Ark

Rain Man

[JackWade]

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
NORTH BY NORTHWEST
THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION

[Vauxhall]

NORTH BY NORTHWEST and THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION immediately came to mind for me too. Still undecided on a third, although ZODIAC, CHINATOWN, THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY and AMELIE are strong contenders.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Loomis,I'm picking four sacred cow movies so sue me.

Raiders of the Lost Ark I almost wish they never bothered to make this a series. The first is painfully superior to all the (lame)sequels.I once thought Temple of Doom was in Raiders' class but it hasn't aged well. It's biggest liability is that *&^%$#@! kid...ugh. Don't get me started on Last Crusade and 'Skull.

Predator See above.

Casablanca A classic worthy of it's reputation. James Bond and Indiana Jones owe this film a few pints.

From Russia with Love Bond...what else can I say here? This movie (and this series ofcouse) is like a manual for how to be a man(Raiders too). Suave, debonair,smart,cultured,tough/cunning, stylish...etc. who doesn't want to be james Bond?


Honorable mention:
Heat
Boogie Nights
Empire Strikes Back
The Good,the Bad and the Ugly
The Road Warrior
Tombstone
Cheech n Chong's Up in smoke/next movie
Blade Runner
The Samurai trilogy
The Bourne Trilogy
Goldfinger-Thunderball-OHMSS-Casino Royale-Quantum of Solace

[Harmsway]

What does your gut tell you? Forget your intellect. Which three films somehow possess you as though you're Linda Blair? Which three films go to work on you like Marcellus Wallace's pipe-hitting goons?

Don't think about it too much, because you know you already know the answers. Just pick the three most precious to you - not necessarily The Three Best Films Ever Made™ (although they may well also be that in your book), but the three flicks closest to your heart. And your soul. The three that somehow got under your skin and made you the movie geek you are. Films that have accompanied you like old friends throughout your journey through life. Films that you'd take a bullet for.

2OO1: A SPACE ODYSSEY
dir. Stanley Kubrick

THERE WILL BE BLOOD
dir. Paul Thomas Anderson

VERTIGO
dir. Alfred Hitchcock

And yes, I know they seem like the kind of choices the intellect would make. But for me, they're really not. These are entirely gut-level choices, and represent three films that grab me on a visceral level and never let go.

[Turn]

The Godfather

Goodfellas

Bond (as a series; why else would I be on here?)

Honorable Mention: Diner

[jaguar007]

Raiders OF The Lost Ark and North By Northwest were the first two films that popped into my head when I saw the topic. I think Airplane might just be the third.

Runners ups

Casino Royale
FRWL

[Matt_13]

RAIDERS

THE GODFATHER

SCHINDLER'S LIST

[golrush007]

Very difficult to say -

Lawrence of Arabia - one of the first films I can ever remember seeing, and still my favourite. Although the video my dad had taped off the TV was without the last 30 minutes or so, which I only ended up seeing over a decade later.

Schindler's List - a harrowing film, but with a touching and inspirational story which almost overshadows the horrors of the film - as it says on the ring Schindler is given - "He who saves one life saves the world entire."

The Third Man - Tense, funny, exciting film noir set in the semi-ruins of post-WWII Vienna. Wonderfully written with great actors - including former M, Bernard Lee as a wonderful Cockney sergeant and Orson Welles as the evil Harry Lime. Also that wonderful scene on the Prater ferris wheel which was paid homage in TLD.


Honourable Mention:

- Casablanca
- Pulp Fiction
- The Silence of the Lambs
- The Right Stuff
- From Russia With Love
- The Shawshank Redemption

[dinovelvet]

What would you say are the three most perfect films ever?

Films that you can rewatch quite literally until the cows come home. Films that are almost part of your DNA. Films that have no flaws at all.

HEAT - I'm tempted to say any Michael Mann film really, with Manhunter and Miami Vice being close contenders, but Heat is clearly the flawless masterpiece of the bunch.

CASINO ROYALE - Even though its still a very young film, everything is note perfect and the pacing is fantastic. Just when you think the film might be about to fall into a lull, another cool scene starts up.

FARGO - Just good stuff, basically. I don't particularly like anything else by the Coen brothers, strangely enough.

Honourable mention :

RESERVOIR DOGS, though these days its a bit clouded by Tarantino's obnoxious ego. Pop cultural references and dialogue I once thought were "cool" is now just a teensy bit eye-rolling.

[Blofeld's Cat]

In no particular order...

The Perfect Storm
A Perfect Murder
Dead Solid Perfect

[Santa]

The Empire Strikes Back

Lawrence of Arabia

Top Gun

and honourable mention to: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

[Safari Suit]

In no particular order...

The Perfect Storm
A Perfect Murder
Dead Solid Perfect

I've never heard of that last one.

Anyway, this thread makes me realise not only do I have no idea what my favourite movie is, I don't even really have a shortlist for it

[DamnCoffee]

1. Quantum of Solace.
2. The Last Crusade.
3. Dr. No.

[Jim]

The Wages of Fear
Pink Flamingos
The Manchurian Candidate (the original version, not that remake thing)

[Single-O-Seven]

The two I immediately thought of, and have been important to me for years, are:

1. 2001: A Space Odyssey - as a backyard astronomer and space sciences enthusiast alone this film has so much appeal. The only space movie I know of that, largely, obeys the laws of physics. Plus it's just a damn beautiful and powerful film.

2. North By Northwest - sheer exictement beginning to end. What a terrific balance of strong characters and story, laced with action sequences notable for their nerve-wracking suspense and originality.

I'm not surprised but am greatly pleased to find both of these are making the lists of others.

For my third pick:

3. Saving Private Ryan - powerful epic film with the most gut-wrenching and, I'm assuming, realistic war scenes yet. This is a film about heroism and bravery, but not in the old typical sense of soldier comes to battle, beats the enemy, saves the day. There's emotion and sacrifice here, as I'm sure there is in real conflict.

Honourable mention: From Russia, With Love - not just because I'm a Bond fan. It's an excellent film in its own right, and had this been the only Bond movie made it would sit right next to North by Northwest in cinematic history.

[ACE]

Cobra
Over The Top
Tango And Cash

[Harry Fawkes]

The Four Sons of Katie Elder (Loved watching it)
Mrs Miniver
Who Dares Wins
The Wild Geese

Did you say three...Sorry, I was always slow in understanding

[ACE]

Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot
Oscar
D-Tox

[Scottlee]

Scarface

The good the bad and the ugly

Empire of the sun

---------------------------

Those three are ENGRAINED in my soul.

[Conlazmoodalbrocra]

Goldeneye

Licence To Kill

Defiance

[Loomis]

ACE, you have taste, my friend.

Although may I ask what's wrong with DRIVEN, JUDGE DREDD and PARADISE ALLEY?

[Kristian]

First off: Loomis - this is a wonderful idea for a thread, enumerating films that choose you instead of you choosing them.

So, if I'm going to choose which films I pine for without rhyme or reason (much like love and that lust thang I have for Ashton Kutcher)even though I know they may not be anything approaching a masterpiece (or even a particularly good film), then I must go with:

THIEF OF HEARTS (1984) A repressed interior decorator trapped in a stale marriage has her diaries taken by a cat burglar, who proceeds to use this "secret info" to turn himself into her "perfect lover" and sets out to woo her, with the expected complications ensuing. Sorry, but if there is a woman out there who says this premise does not appeal to her, then she is either a (A.) Lesbian (but even those can just turn the cat burglar into a woman) or (B.) A f@cking liar.

AMERICAN FLYERS (1985) Two brothers bond during a high-profile bicycle race, while grappling with the knowledge that one of them might have inherited their father's family disease and could be dying soon. This film never fails to choke me up. Oh, and Kevin Costner with a mustasche is enough to make me reach for an afterglow cigarette (plus he flashes his for the first time in this one). Sigh.

TO CATCH A THIEF (1954) One of Hitch's fluffier entrees, but I like this one for its empty calorie content. I mean look at all that eye candy: The gorgeous Med, the elegant hotels, Grace Kelly gorgeous enough to make every woman in the room flirt with a little line-crossing, and Cary Grant looking, well, looking like he should've worn some sunblock. Can't win 'em all. Great escapist fare. Plus it's full of strong, intriguing female characters - especially that final twist!

HONORABLE MENTION:

NO WAY OUT - They should've called it NO WAY I'M GOING TO MISS KEVIN COSTNER IN ANYTHING.

APRIL FOOL'S DAY - I remember being a kid and OBSESSED with this movie. So much so that I wanted to reenact the whole thing for real with some friends. As you can imagine, my Princess Points dropped big time after that.

VIRTUOSITY - Russell Crowe's Azz, Russell Crowe's Azz, Russell Crowe's Azz, Russell Crowe's Azz, Russell Crowe's Azz, Russell Crowe's Azz,Russell Crowe's Azz, Russell Crowe's Azz, Russell Crowe's Azz,Russell Crowe's Azz, Russell Crowe's Azz, Russell Crowe's Azz. What more do you need.

[Trident]

Ascenseur pour l'échafaud - no, this is not really a film. It's a fever-dream made out of fear, desolation and the genius of Miles Davis.

Psycho - of course the real deal by the master himself, not the terrible remake.

The Empire Strikes Back - no comment necessary there.

Highlander - has had more of an impact on the art of making films than most of us are aware of. A jewel.

[HildebrandRarity]

Casablanca

Ben-Hur

Star Wars

Quantum Of Solace

[Loomis]

First off: Loomis - this is a wonderful idea for a thread, enumerating films that choose you instead of you choosing them.

Yes, well put - that's exactly what I'm driving at: films that choose you instead of you choosing them.

If I had to pick the three best films ever, I'd have a much, much harder time. Right now I've no idea where I'd even start. 8½, perhaps? PATHER PANCHALI? SANSHO THE BAILIFF? SCHINDLER'S LIST? TOKYO STORY? But then there are so many truly great films out there, so sifting the cream of the crop from the, er, cream of the crop would be a monumental challenge.

No such difficulty with those favourite flicks that chose me. I know exactly what they are.

Incidentally, Sylvester Stallone's bum is on display in FIRST BLOOD and, if memory serves, ROCKY V. If you're interested, like.

[Tarl_Cabot]

ACE, you have taste, my friend.

Although may I ask what's wrong with DRIVEN, JUDGE DREDD and PARADISE ALLEY?

Why not Rinestone?

[Joyce Carrington]

I'm not sure. There is one film I can name that is important me, that is almost part of me:

Serenity (2005)

There are other films that are cool or fun or good, but this is one that really matters to me.