MZ's Top 50 Films of All-Time - the 2012 update!

[Neil]

I've not seen Spartacus or Ben Hur, or Twelve Angry Men, or The Battle of Britain. O M G ! Twelve Angry Men is obviously the odd one out in those four flicks, it's a tiny drama set in a room. The other three of course are huge action romps done before CGI offered easy (easier) cut'n'paste effects. You have to admire those three films for the mammoth production mountains they had to climb alone, but to only do that would be to ignore the great drama and acting and story also in there. Spartacus and/or Ben Hur would have to be in my top 50 list. And The Battle Britain might also sneak in there if only how proud it makes you to be British

[bassman]

Yeah dude....you need to see Ben Hur as soon as possible. Incredible flick. One of my top ten, actually.

[Neil]

Yeah dude....you need to see Ben Hur as soon as possible. Incredible flick. One of my top ten, actually. It's obviously dated in some ways now (being over 50yrs old), but even so, it's just epic in every sense of the word possible Wonder if they'll ever dare make a cinematic remake? I actually think Spartacus has aged better than Ben Hur. It comes across less 'hammy' and doesn't suffer from religious undertones. I have trouble choosing which I prefer...

[shootemindehead]

*shifts awkwardly in his seat* ... I've not seen either of those movies! However - I do keep a look out for them to see if they roll around one of the movie channels (they haven't yet though). *goggle eyes popping out of head* Good lord man! Do yourself a favour and rent both. A good night in. The best British gangster films ever made.

[MinionZombie]

*goggle eyes popping out of head* Good lord man! Do yourself a favour and rent both. A good night in. The best British gangster films ever made. Mark my words, friend - I'll get them watched. Also - a little follow-up post on the whole movie list thing: http://deadshed.blogspot.com/2012/01...p-50-most.html

[EvilNed]

I read and am satisfied with your response MZ. Even if your list scares me a little bit and is a perfect example of just how americanized some of the western world has become. In the near future I am going to compose a list of my own, including some of the cinematic masterpieces I feel are missing (and ditching Friday the 13th Part IV ).

[MinionZombie]

I read and am satisfied with your response MZ. Even if your list scares me a little bit and is a perfect example of just how americanized some of the western world has become. In the near future I am going to compose a list of my own, including some of the cinematic masterpieces I feel are missing (and ditching Friday the 13th Part IV ). Does this now mean I'm off the KGB's watch list? j/k Personal favourites is personal favourites at the end of the day. Whatever each person loves in their cinematic treats is fine by me, and the trouble always is there's so many movies out there you can never possibly see them all ... but just think of all those people who think Date Movie/Meet The Spartans/Disaster Movie are funny. Now that there is the bottom of the cultural barrel... Sometimes it's about grabbing my attention ... there was all this talk about "The Host" (the Korean monster movie) and I watched it, but I've gotta say, I didn't dig it. I was bored off my arse for half the time - but to each their own. Then you have something like Downfall, which to most people is only known via those re-subtitled YouTube videos, and I thought that was a spiffing film. Just tip-top - I wouldn't watch it at the drop of a hat, any time of the day, but it's a great piece of dramatic filmmaking.

[EvilNed]

It's not so much what movies one places on their list that bugs me (Ghostbusters or Meet the Spartans make no real difference to me in this particular instance), but rather a... (how can I say this without sounding like a pretentious dick sitting on a high horse?)... "narrow world view". I'm not looking for those exact words, but something along those lines. Maybe, just maybe, because I know you dabble in film, I had expected a more international variety of influence. Who can say. Maybe I'm just wrong. Maybe this is how the world looks. Maybe people just don't know or care about this stuff. Bottom line is: Democracy doesn't work!

[MinionZombie]

Well as I've said, that Top 50 list was personal favourites - the sorts of flicks I could watch at any time at the drop of a hat - ones I just love and enjoy above all others and beyond all reason really. I've studied and own a much wider variety of films, and while I respect or greatly admire many of them, they're not my most favourite-favourites or they don't hold some sort of deeper personal meaning or nostalgic value. It just comes down to grabbing my attention - there's so many films all competing for your attention, plus the myriad of stuff you are passionate about (in my case - the horror genre), and there just isn't the time - plus the fact that there's a whole lifetime to watch movies so you can't have seen them all. Over time your viewing habits grow larger and larger - but the time dedicated to it gains competition from elsewhere, such as TV drama, which has just exploded since The Sopranos came out. So yeah - if my attention is grabbed by it, then chances are I'll see it, but there's so much competing for my attention, including the sorts of movies I love above all others ... then of course there are plans to see particular works in the future - for example I want to see some of Werner Herzog's films in due course (his earlier work I mean, because I have seen his version of Bad Lieutenant, and his documentary Encounters At The End of the World). Perhaps era and genre have more sway over me personally than nationality does, but that doesn't mean the latter is excluded.

[krisvds]

Well as I've said, that Top 50 list was personal favourites - the sorts of flicks I could watch at any time at the drop of a hat - ones I just love and enjoy above all others and beyond all reason really. I've studied and own a much wider variety of films, and while I respect or greatly admire many of them, they're not my most favourite-favourites or they don't hold some sort of deeper personal meaning or nostalgic value. It just comes down to grabbing my attention - there's so many films all competing for your attention, plus the myriad of stuff you are passionate about (in my case - the horror genre), and there just isn't the time - plus the fact that there's a whole lifetime to watch movies so you can't have seen them all. Over time your viewing habits grow larger and larger - but the time dedicated to it gains competition from elsewhere, such as TV drama, which has just exploded since The Sopranos came out. So yeah - if my attention is grabbed by it, then chances are I'll see it, but there's so much competing for my attention, including the sorts of movies I love above all others ... then of course there are plans to see particular works in the future - for example I want to see some of Werner Herzog's films in due course (his earlier work I mean, because I have seen his version of Bad Lieutenant, and his documentary Encounters At The End of the World). Perhaps era and genre have more sway over me personally than nationality does, but that doesn't mean the latter is excluded. Believe me, you are in for a treat. The early Kinski collaborations are wonderfull. Do see Aguire as it is one of the best 'adventure' films ever made. And you will love his 'Nosferatu'. Try to get the original versions and not the dubs. Saw Cobra Verde the other night in a horrible english dub. Don't go there. That being said, it's not for everyone. Some find those films too artistic/pretentious. They are obviously mistaken Oh, and no love for Kurosawa? Seven samurai? Hidden fortress?

[MinionZombie]

Believe me, you are in for a treat. The early Kinski collaborations are wonderfull. Do see Aguire as it is one of the best 'adventure' films ever made. And you will love his 'Nosferatu'. Try to get the original versions and not the dubs. Saw Cobra Verde the other night in a horrible english dub. Don't go there. That being said, it's not for everyone. Some find those films too artistic/pretentious. They are obviously mistaken Oh, and no love for Kurosawa? Seven samurai? Hidden fortress? Again - personal most-favourite favourites that I could watch at any time at the drop of the hat that I've enjoyed & loved the most in my life. Sheesh - can't please you people! Seriously though, from all the stuff I've read about Herzog - and from interviews I've seen (including the infamous one with Mark Kermode in L.A. when he was shot by "not a significant bullet" ) - he seems like a very fascinating filmmaking figure. Aguire and Fitzcaraldo are both at the top of my 'Herzog films to watch' list. It's all on the 'to do' list - I'll get around to them sooner or later like most other things.

[krisvds]

Again - personal most-favourite favourites that I could watch at any time at the drop of the hat that I've enjoyed & loved the most in my life. Sheesh - can't please you people! Seriously though, from all the stuff I've read about Herzog - and from interviews I've seen (including the infamous one with Mark Kermode in L.A. when he was shot by "not a significant bullet" ) - he seems like a very fascinating filmmaking figure. Aguire and Fitzcaraldo are both at the top of my 'Herzog films to watch' list. It's all on the 'to do' list - I'll get around to them sooner or later like most other things. Hehe. Your list is very nice. Just fun flicks all 'round. I remember my dad taking me to the theatre to see Aliens. I was 13 and my mind was blown! Only in the eighties did the Belgian authorities allow children to see stuff like that on the big screen. Good times.