The Top 100 Movies of All Time: Updated

According to the American Film Institute, these are the top 100 movies of all time. I'm amazed at how many I haven't seen! I've highlighted the ones I have seen. I've got some renting to do!

The Complete List:
1. CITIZEN KANE (1941)
2. CASABLANCA (1942)
3. THE GODFATHER (1972)
4. GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
5. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
6. THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
7. THE GRADUATE (1967)
8. ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
9. SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)
10. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)
11. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
12. SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950)
13. THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)
14. SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)
15. STAR WARS (1977)
16. ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)
17. THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951)
18. PSYCHO (1960)
19. CHINATOWN (1974)
20. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)
21. THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940)
22. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
23. THE MALTESE FALCON (1941)
24. RAGING BULL (1980)
25. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)
26. DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)
27. BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967)
28. APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)
29. MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)
30. THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948)
31. ANNIE HALL (1977)
32. THE GODFATHER PART II (1974)
33. HIGH NOON (1952)
34. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)
35. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)
36. MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969)
37. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)
38. DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)
39. DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965)
40. NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)
41. WEST SIDE STORY (1961)
42. REAR WINDOW (1954)
43. KING KONG (1933)
44. THE BIRTH OF A NATION (1915)
45. A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951)
46. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)
47. TAXI DRIVER (1976)
48. JAWS (1975)
49. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937)
50. BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)
51. THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940)
52. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)
53. AMADEUS (1984)
54. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)
55. THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)
56. M*A*S*H (1970)
57. THE THIRD MAN (1949)
58. FANTASIA (1940)
59. REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)
60. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)
61. VERTIGO (1958)
62. TOOTSIE (1982)
63. STAGECOACH (1939)
64. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
65. THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)
66. NETWORK (1976)
67. THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962)
68. AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (1951)
69. SHANE (1953)
70. THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971)
71. FORREST GUMP (1994)
72. BEN-HUR (1959)
73. WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939)
74. THE GOLD RUSH (1925)
75. DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990)
76. CITY LIGHTS (1931)
77. AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)
78. ROCKY (1976)
79. THE DEER HUNTER (1978)
80. THE WILD BUNCH (1969)
81. MODERN TIMES (1936)
82. GIANT (1956)
83. PLATOON (1986)
84. FARGO (1996)
85. DUCK SOUP (1933)
86. MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1935)
87. FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
88. EASY RIDER (1969)
89. PATTON (1970)
90. THE JAZZ SINGER (1927)
91. MY FAIR LADY (1964)
92. A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951)
93. THE APARTMENT (1960)
94. GOODFELLAS (1990)
95. PULP FICTION (1994)
96. THE SEARCHERS (1956)
97. BRINGING UP BABY (1938)
98. UNFORGIVEN (1992)
99. GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967)
100. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)

Labels: AFI

posted by Lisa at 12:51 p.m. |

 
Their War. Our World.

Last night I saw Michael Bay's highly anticipated Transformers. Two rival robotic clans have come to Earth searching for something known as the All Spark. Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf-Disturbia) is caught in the middle of the battle thanks to a twist of fate, and the purchase of a car that is more than meets the eye.

To say I was excited to see this movie would be an understatement. In fact, I was so eager to see it, that just as the movie was being, I had a terrible feeling that it wouldn't live up to my expectations. So, when I say that it surpassed everything I could have hoped for, that speaks volumes. The movie starts with a splash and doesn't let up. In true Michael Bay (The Island) style, the films is full of explosions, crazy action sequences and is generally a thrill ride from beginning to end.

But there are some stand out moments. When Blackout makes his first transformation - the first of the robots we see in the movie - the audience responded audibly. It was a cross between and inhalation and an "ooooooo". And I was right there with them. The first site of Optimus Prime made me shimmy in my seat with excitement. Actually, pretty much every scene featuring a Transformer was pretty freaking awesome. And I think I actually stifled a cheer when Optimus said his classic line "Autobots, roll out!"

LeBeouf was in particular well cast in this film. He has just the right mix of geek and cool to be believable. Megan Fox (Hope & Faith) was admirable in a role that was basically just that of 'the hot girl,' while Josh Duhamel (Win a Date With Tad Hamilton), and Tyrese Gibson (Four Brothers) provided enough macho hotness to please both the men and women in the audience. The coup de grace, however, has to be the return of Peter Cullen as the voice of Optimus Prime. I was instantly transformed, if you will, into a little girl watching the cartoon.

In fact, for all of the non-stop action, wild stunts and fantastic CG, this movie never forgets it's roots. Transformers was first and foremost a kids show line and this film manages to keep the spirit of that cartoon that we knew and loved so well as children. In fact, this movie was so much fun, I plan on seeing it again. Tomorrow. Check it out, there really is more than meets the eye.

5 (out of 5)

Labels: Action, Adventure, Family

posted by Lisa at 5:21 a.m. |

 
At the End of the World, the Adventure Begins

The pirates are back in Pirate's of the Carribbean: At World's End. The third installment picks up some time down the line (we're never sure how much time has passed actually at any point) from where the second movie finished. Elizabeth Swan (Keira Knightley) and Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) have become unlikely allies with Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) and the voodoo woman Tia Dalma (Naomie Harris) to find a way to bring Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) back from Davey Jones' locker, or the land of the dead as we land lubbers would call it. Why? To save the pirates from extinction at the hands of Lord Beckett (Tom Hollander) and his followers.

This film is action packed with a series of unlikely adventures and fantastical hijinks. Depp is, as always, a delight, as Jack, but with some of his weird hallucinations etc. there may actually be too much Jack. Hard to imagine, I know, but it's true. Bloom looked a little more like a pirate than the last two films, but not as much as Knightley (despite some truly atrocious costume choices by returning costume designer Penny Rose). There was also (multiple) returns of favorite characters, some too briefly, but many seemed thrown in just to make an appearance (a common problem shared by another summer sequel, Shrek the Third). I did particularly enjoy Rush's return to Barbossa; he stole his scenes in my humble opinion.

The film starts out strongly, with a dark and haunting execution scene, and your hopes are immediately lifted. My hopes continued to rise with what was the surprise cast of Chow Yun-Fat (Curse of the Golden Flower) as Captain Sao Feng. Then the (minor) inconsistancies started to throw me. Like, doesn't anyone know how long it would have taken to get from the Carribbean to Singapore in a sailing ship? And then, from Singapore to the Arctic? A lot longer than these writers seemed to realize. I was with them when they went to the land of the dead to rescue Jack, but surely they could have come up with a much more terrifing punishment for the unrepentent Sparrow? I was even with them when we see that the evil East India Trading Company (no, I'm not joking) is out to destroy all pirates with the coerced help of Davey Jones (Bill Nighy).

At World's End makes all kinds of promises to its viewers early on that it never fulfills. Sure, some of the darkness is there throughout, but it seems that the filmmakers and writers opted to see how many wacky things they could get away with rather than advancing what could have been an interesting story. Some points of the movie are so fantastical, I had a hard time concentrating on where I was in the story. There were a number of times where I could overhear the friend I'd gone with say "You've got to be kidding." Unfortunately, they weren't. What happened to the simplicity of the original? Where did the interesting dialogue and character development that surprised and delighted us go?

Whereas Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl will always be one of my guilty pleasures, this sequel, like "Dead Man's Chest," doesn't quite cut it.

Rating: 3 (out of 5)

Labels: Action, Adventure, Comedy

posted by Lisa at 11:25 a.m. |

 
Knocked Up

From the creator of "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy" and "40 Year Old Virgin", Judd Apatow, comes Knocked Up. Alison Scott (Katherine Heigl-Grey's Anatomy) has it all. She's young, beautiful, and has just received a promotion into her dream job. To celebrate, she and her sister Debbie (Leslie Mann-Stealing Harvard), go out for a night on the town to celebrate. Drunk, she picks up slacker Ben Stone (Seth Rogen-You, Me and Dupree) and takes him home. 8 weeks later, she is horrified to learn she is pregnant. The couple find themselves forced into a relationship, terrified about the upcoming baby and worried they'll turn out like Debbie and her husband Pete (Paul Rudd-Anchorman).

This film is hilarious in a funny-because-its-true kind of way. Beautifully written, I laughed from beginning to end. I'll probably have to watch it again because there were entire sequences I missed because I was still laughing at what had happened immediately before. Easily my favorite of Apatow's films, I appreciate that the humor comes from the situation and he doesn't force silliness on the audience. As the couple deals with the pregnancy and their own incompatiblities, hilarity just naturally ensues while still building relationships. One of my favorite scenes takes place in a hotel room where Pete and Ben talk about love, while high. It's incredibly funny but still moves the plot along. Kudos to Apatow for a wonderfully written comedy.

I particularly enjoyed Rogen as the unlikely romantic lead. He's sweet, charming, earnest and funny, and he gives Heigl gold in every scene. I particularly enjoyed the scenes between Rogen and Rudd. In all, I thought the film very well cast. Heigl was a great contrast with her blonde beauty to Rogen's "every day Joe" appeal. Mann and Rudd were wonderful as the bickering couple who inadvertently act as a foil to Alison and Ben's budding relationship. The wacky characters who inhabit the world of Ben and Alison are also such comedic treats (I particularly enjoyed SNL's Kristen Wiig as one of Alison's co-worker. Genius!) that you'll want seconds and thirds.

This film is a must see for singles and parents alike.

Rating: 4 (out of 5)

Labels: Comedy

posted by Lisa at 6:36 a.m. |

 
Random Reviews

Clerks 2
Kevin Smith's return to his first beloved characters is a success. As funny as the first with enough shockingly funny moments that make it one of the best sequels ever.

4 out of 5

Zoom
I am often skeptical when conforted with Tim Allen. Not for any good reason beyond still being scarred by the terrible-ness that was "Home Improvement." Definately a kids movie, "Zoom" is cute with some nice original moments. Chevy Chase is a great addition to an otherwise static cast. Worth seeing if you have kids or like superheros.

3 out of 5

Snakes on a Plane
Originally doomed to a lame name and a disturbingly serious script, thanks to internet buzz, "Snakes-" is an excellent slice of action cheese. With some reshooting and vamped up dialogue, this is pure entertainment. And of course, with Samuel L., what could go wrong?

As a serious film: 1 out of 5
As a drinking game? 3.5 out of 5

Little Miss Sunshine
This is easily one of the best films ever. With the 'its funny because its true' humor, impressive script and stellar casting, this is the must see comedy of the year. This film does the impossible and establishes its characters within minutes, leaving the rest of the movie to delight you with its antics. You love them, you hate them. You are them.

5 out of 5

Crank
It has Jason Statham in all his sexy goodness. What more do I need to say? Okay, okay! Amy Smart is delightfully bubbly in this action adventure, while Statham rampages across the screen in all his British glory. While this film never takes itself seriously, this proves to make it a delight.

As a serious film: 1.5 out of 5
As a drinking game? 5 out of 5

Labels: Action, Comedy, Family

posted by Lisa at 10:58 a.m. |