What are your five favorite movies of all time?

[tru2myself]

I'm a big fan of movies. Do I watch them everyday? No, but I thoroughly enjoy watching a good movie. I was gonna make this into "what is your favorite movie of all time" but this seems like a better idea because it gives a person more leg room to choose.

I'll start the thread off with my top five movies (no particular order):

1. Memento - Some people found it confusing. If you're one of these people, try giving the movie a second viewing. I missed a couple of key plot points the first time around and really enjoyed it after the second view. Memento's plot doesn't progress forward like your ordinary movie. The movie displays the protagonist's past and then hurls you back into his present all while keeping everything connected. I've seen a few other movies take a similar approach to storytelling but none have mastered it as seamlessly as Memento.

2. Gladiator - What makes Gladiator so great is that you swear to yourself that its been done before: There's a hero. Hero is good with sword. Sword bashes skull of enemy. Enemy dies. Even with the shadow of familiarity hanging over the picture you still enjoy a well made movie. Characterization, plot, musical composition, and camera work all is done so well in this film. I'll be surprised if anyone denies this movie its well deserved praise.

3. Infernal Affairs - This is the best cop thriller hands down. It is one of the best cat and mouse story lines you''ll ever come across. Just when you think the suspense can't get any higher, the plot introduces a new happening to set the bar even higher. The ending The Departed was surely an excellent remake of this film, but I felt this film appeared much more realistic and down-to-earth than The Departed. The Departed in some instances felt overdone in its acting and over-the-top moments.

4. The Matrix - The intrigue of the theory behind the story is what really makes this movie shine. Creating a virtual world beyond everyday reality where extraordinary events happen all the time just reeks excitement. What keeps you interested is the fact that you're learning about this new world as it unfolds in front of you. The graphics and eye candy are just bonuses in my book. The story is the real winner here. Unfortunately, the other Matrix movies didn't live up the first at all.

5. The Nightmare Before Christmas - My favorite animated movie ever. Who knew a dark, gloomy animated film would be this good. Similar to The Matrix, I appreciated the world in which the movie took place more than the actual characters or plot itself. I loved how even though the world was obviously fictitious, you felt as if the setting really existed in some far away world. The music that went into this film was remarkable. Each circumstance within the movie was captured flawlessly through the application of a tune. never did I fall in love with an animation the same way ever since watching this movie.

[Mefree]

Oh merciful God, I'm immune to just about any horror flick out there, but nothing in this WORLD scares me as much as The Nightmare Before Christmas. I don't know what it is, but something about that movie makes me want to curl into a ball and scream for mommy. I think the longest I ever lasted was ten minutes into it, then I felt like something from my childhood was reaching out of my mind and strangling me to death. *shudders* And yes, I'm too broke for therapy.

Gladiator was a good choice, though. Never get tired of that one.

Hmmm... what else would I put on there? Oohh, Aladdin! Yeah that's right, the Disney film. Does that make me a wuss? Yes. Does that make the movie any less awesome? No sir. Open a cold beer and watch Aladdin. (sighs happily) Now if beer didn't taste like rat piss that'd be a good day.
Thinking on it, that movie is a stark contrast to my other faves. I've always liked Saving Private Ryan. Brutally realistic. Schindler's List, too. Both of 'em are great. What else, though?...
Oh, A Clockwork Orange is good for those with an iron soul. I think a small part of me died with that film. Very deep, although not something you'd wanna watch if you were a recovering PA...
Right, I couldn't forget Pulp Fiction either. Tarantino's mastered dialouge in a way I could only hope to emulate. What a genius.

Wow, aside from the Disney, that's a pretty depressing list. Maybe I'll think of a comedy I really like.
OH YEAH!! Who could forget Date Movie, Meet the Spartans, and Epic Movie!?!? (That's a joke, please don't stone me.)

[Crisodian]

Good list so far!

Comedy? How about "Monty Python and the Holy Grail". Still makes me cry with laughter every time I see it. Or any of the Monty Python flicks or series for that matter.

Have to have a chick flick listed: "The Notebook"
(Although in all honesty, I'm not a big "chick flick" girl. I like action.)

James Bond. All/any of them.

Phantom of the Opera

Shrek & Wall-E

I could go on and on. I love movies. Of course, with 2 small boys most of my days are filled with Bob the Builder and Thomas the Tank Engine...LOL


~C~

[WifeOfNewLifeMan]

I always say Dirty Dancing is my favorite movie, and its mostly true. But I just love Fight Club. Its so brutal and twisted, but I love it.

Other than that... I would have to say Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Office Space (because its still true) and that's it. I just have a top 4.

[Crisodian]

Office Space! We had a stapler addict where I work too. LOL Every time she went looking for her stapler, I flashed right to that movie. Good addition!!

[Mefree]

THAT'S RIGHT!! I completely forgot about Monty Python. Man it's been awhile since I saw that one- Classic. ("Help! Help! I'm bein' repressed!")

I also have about a $300 James Bond collection. Sean Connery and Roger Moore were the kings. Never gets old.

I remember when I memorized all the lines to Shrek. Haha what a loser, I know.

I've never seen Phantom of the Opera or Wall-E. Fight Club kicks ass, though. What a great one. Really got me thinking.
Office Space made my sides hurt.

Geez what great taste.

[Crisodian]

"You didn't slay the dragon?!? "

"It's on my to do list. Now come on!"

Love that movie...

~C~

[tru2myself]

Wow Mefree! The Nightmare Before Christmas isn't actually a horror movie at all. It's actually a children's movie.

Mefree I also see you mentioned Fight Club. I found the movie excellent up until the fight club itself took on a societal agenda and it became more of a gang. That's when I believe the awesome train derailed into a massive heap of twisted metal and dark smoke.

I've noticed many of you have comedies in your favorites list. Somehow I just can't bring myself to include the genre of comedy in my favorites list. Maybe because it's not my preferred film genre to watch.

Office Space is a movie I've been meaning to watch for the longest. Thanks everyone for reminding me. The concept sounds hilarious.

With this said, everyone forgot to mention the most insanely funny movie ever made: Dumb & Dumber! It's my favorite comedy movie.

I know this is a "what are your five favorite movies?" thread but I'd be damned if I didn't speak about my most beloved TV series of all time..... LOST

Please Watch Lost if you haven't already. Buy the first season and give it a view to see how much you like it :D

[Pandora's Hope]

LOL
One of the first conversations Statler and I had was "what's your favorite line from the Holy Grail?" Mine was "She turned me into a newt- I got better" and his was "you can tell he's the king, he hasn't got sh*t on him"

And I'm pretty sure I work for The Permanent Assurance Company...

Good list so far!

Comedy? How about "Monty Python and the Holy Grail". Still makes me cry with laughter every time I see it. Or any of the Monty Python flicks or series for that matter.

Have to have a chick flick listed: "The Notebook"
(Although in all honesty, I'm not a big "chick flick" girl. I like action.)

James Bond. All/any of them.

Phantom of the Opera

Shrek & Wall-E

I could go on and on. I love movies. Of course, with 2 small boys most of my days are filled with Bob the Builder and Thomas the Tank Engine...LOL


~C~

[Pandora's Hope]

TV shows? gotta watch Big Bang Theory and Mad Men, too!