Zagat’s World Best Movies
Posted on by Forest in General, Movies & Videogames, Opinion
Zagat recently released what they consider to be the top 1000 movies of all time in their Zagat’s World Best Movies book. I love watching movies so wanted to find out what they had at the top of their list and maybe set myself the challenge of watching them all.
One of the things I love about movies is that they give me an immense amount of entertainment and exercise all my emotions. With the fact that it’s easy to get them streamed via services like Netflix, OnDemand or just by popping down to the video store it makes for an affordable and fun night in. I love the kinds of lists Zagat has compiled too as it pits the thoughts of everyone else against my own movie likes and dislikes.
To create the list in the book Zagat surveyed 20,773 people who voted on their website Zagat.com. The book rates each movie on their 30-point scale that has four categories: Overall Quality, Acting, Story and Production Values.
Zagat’s World Best Movies top 20
I have not grabbed the book yet but luckily Zagat published the top 20 on their site Zagat.com. I took a look over them and decided to post them with some brief comments.
- 1) The Godfather (1972) – Amazing and intense movie. Pacino is just amazing in this movie, or was that in Godfather part II! Not sure this is the best but it is a damn good movie.
- 2) The Godfather Part II (1974) – As I kind of mentioned in the comment above Godfather I & II do merge together for me and they are both absolutely stunning movies. Don’t forget DeNiro’s turn in this movie and of course Brando. I love the fact that these movies supposedly changed the way the mob behaved as they wanted to be more like the characters in the movies!
- 3) Casablanca (1942) - I feel embarrased to say this but I have never seen this movie but it is now on my list!
- 4) Schindler’s List (1993) - Awesome film with one of my favorite actors (Ralph Fiennes). Even if not fully historically accurate the sentiment in this film makes it deserving to be on this list.
- 5) Lawrence of Arabia (1962) – Again, another I have not seen but one I have to one day very soon. Sometimes these classics do feel like a burden to get take the time out to watch but often they don’t dissapoint.
- 6) To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) – Not seen it or read the book, shame on me!
- 7) Star Wars (1977) - I prefer round three of these movies but they don’t reach my top 20 partially because there are so many better Sci Fi movies out there and Mark Hamil is a terrible actor.
- 8) The Wizard of Oz (1939) - Actually really good even though it’s a bit olde fashioned. Never done the Dark Side of the Moon thing though, have you?
- 9) Lady Eve (1941) – Never even heard of this movie! Must watch it.
- 10) Singin’ in the Rain (1952) – I can’t stand musicals but maybe just maybe in the name of the list I will make myself watch it!
- 11) Rear Window (1954) - I recently started catching up on my lack of Hitchcock viewing and can’t wait to see this movie.
- 12) It Happened One Night (1934) - Again sadly never heard of this movie either!
- 13) Citizen Kane (1941) - I found this movie a bit pompous and boring to be honest. Mr Welles did a great performance but it could have run a lot shorter.
- 14) Shawshank Redemption (1994) – Well what can be said for this movie! For me a top 5 for sure although may need a re-watch as I have not seen it for years. The line “He crawled through a river of sh*t and came out clean on the other side” sticks with me.
- 15) All About Eve (1950) – Had to scroll up as thought this was on the list already. Another I have never heard of before!
- 16) The Pianist (2002) – (oops, I original got this confused with The Piano so talked about the wrong movie. I have not seen the Pianist but here Brody put in a hell of a performance so plan to see it). *Mistaken original comments* – This movie was pretty good but I did not find amazing. Although the talks afterwards made it grow on me. The representation of Natives, the connotations towards sex, rape and domination. This movie is deep and interesting and a feminists playground.
- 17) African Queen (1951) - Not seen and don’t know much about it but must watch.
- 18) Third Man (1949) – I know this is a classic I must see very soon!
- 19) Finding Nemo (2003) – Pixar can’t do any wrong but I don’t thing Nemo should have been the one to make this list. I can’t deny it is a great film but for pure film making genius UP beats it for me. The first time I felt such intense sadness from a cartoon ever and Nemo didn’t do that to me at all!
- 20) Dr. Strangelove (1964) - I love the Pink Panther movies but never saw Sellers in this movie. I will pick up this movie very very soon.
I don’t agree with the list a whole lot but as you can see I have probably seen less than half of them. I expected a few more modern movies and no foreign film (that I can see) made the cut so I don’t know if the list was for USA movies only. 20k people can’t be wrong though, right? I must complete watching every movie on this list.
What do you think of the “Zagat’s World Best Movies” list and what would you have put in?
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167 Responses to “Zagat’s World Best Movies”
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November 14, 2010
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Dutin
11. Nov, 2010
You are an idiot.
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Forest
11. Nov, 2010
Coming from someone who can’t spell their own name DUSTIN (yes I saw your fake email address and you didn’t write DUTIN there). Thanks for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful comment….. Now what movies would you put up there?
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stlfan1101
11. Nov, 2010
…ditto…this jag-off hasn’t a clue what a good movie is. Hasn’t seen Casablanca, and he’s commenting on a top 20 movie list? Please…..
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hi Stlfan, well a large part of my blog is reader interaction. This list interested me because I want to complete it so I think it’s fair to talk about it here. It’s not like I am running a newspaper or anything here, it’s a blog!
Of course I want to and will be watching movies like Casablanca very soon.
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Chris
12. Nov, 2010
No, you seriously are an idiot. First of all you are borderline-illiterate: “too”, meaning “also”, has two “o”s. Al Pacino does not spell his last name with an “h”. It’s Italian, not Spanish. And why do you even feel it necessary to comment on these movies when you have not even seen more than half of them?
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
I didn’t have to place comment but I wanted to and it’s my blog where I like to encourage interaction from my readers. Sorry about the errors, I rushed it a bit too much but will be going over and fixing them asap.
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Roger
12. Nov, 2010
No, Forest. You’re not an idiot because of the your film rankings, you’re an idiot because you have no business having an open opinion about a subject you know absolutely NOTHING about. You’ve never heard of “All About Eve”, you’ve never seen or read “To Kill a Mockingbird”. Never seen “Dr. Strangelove”, “Casablanca”, “The African Queen” or “Singing in the Rain.” And yet you call yourself a film critic. THAT is what makes you an idiot.
Maybe you’d like to hear my opinion on Quantum Psychics? Oh, wait…I don’t know anything about Quantum Physics, but why should that stop me for rendering an opinion? IDIOT!!
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g
11. Nov, 2010
For number 16 – I think you are confusing this with The Piano. The Pianist was the Roman Polanski movie about a Polish Jewish pianist. Adrian Brody won the academy award for his performance.
It is amazing – depressing but amazing
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Forest
11. Nov, 2010
Oh dear big mistake!!!! Yeah I want to see that movie actually. The one where Brody lost a load of weight?
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Danny Salvatera
11. Nov, 2010
I did not even see in the list I consider the best 4 movies of all times:
1) Ben Hur
2) Titanic
3) Avatar
4) Oliver Cromwell
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Forest
11. Nov, 2010
Hey Danny, not seen Ben Hur oddly but want to. I don’t like Titanic but I love Avatar (just watched it again 2 days ago) and also need to see Oliver Cromwell.
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Danny Salvatera
11. Nov, 2010
For me, Ben Hur will remain the best movie ever, Unbeatable!!!!
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Take it Back
11. Nov, 2010
Ben Hur!!! -
“Rome is an affront to God. Rome is strangling my people and my country and the whole earth, but not forever. I tell you, the day Rome falls, there will be a shout of freedom such as the world has never heard before.”
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Take it Back, great quote.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Danny, a lot of people saying that. I have seen clips and they seem great so I must check it out soon.
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Dan
11. Nov, 2010
I have done the Dark Side of the Moon Thing with Wizard of Oz and I will honestly tell you that I don’t believe that it’s all coincidence. Pink Floyd must of made the album in a way to intentionally sync up because otherwise there is no way it would fit together the way it does. If I remember correctly you are supposed to start the cd on the 2nd (or maybe third) MGM Lion roar at the beginning of the movie.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Awesome Dan, I think Google Video or somewhere has it posted with it all set up so I must dig it out and take a peak.
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James
11. Nov, 2010
Goodfellas, The Departed, Raging Bull? Any Scorcese love out there?
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Forest
11. Nov, 2010
All awesome movies. I love The Departed the most I would say but Raging Bull is mastery.
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acelongg
11. Nov, 2010
Excuse please, if you propose to compile a list of the best of
anything, but havn’t even seen or read some of the classics
of the given genre, how do you have the balls to serve as critic. I cite Dr, Strangelove as a prime example, one of the most cleverly written scripts of all time. That’s universal knowledge to anyone in the film industry for the past 40 some years.
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Forest
11. Nov, 2010
Hey Acelongg, I didn’t make this list Zagat did. I wrote it down because I want to see all the ones on the list and will be starting very soon. I’m not saying any are bad movies that I have not seen and in fact I bet they are mostly awesome.
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Kelvin Mbude
11. Nov, 2010
hey guys, what nonsense movies did you just lined up?No “the good the bad and the ugly?no scareface? didnt even mentioned sounds of music….hmmm you guys must have lived outside our world
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Forest
11. Nov, 2010
Hey Kelvin, Zagat lined up this list not me. I hate the Sound of Music personally but Scarface is decent and the Good the Bad and the Ugly too.
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keith
11. Nov, 2010
Dear Forest,,
Why do you feel it’s necessary to give your commentary on this list of movies in which you haven’t even heard of half of them? I guess on the internet everyone’s a critic and somehow has the authority to give their opinion however unqualified. Where did you go to film school?
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Forest
11. Nov, 2010
Hey Keith, it isn’t necessary and I have not given any critical commentary on movies I have not seen. This is my personal blog so I like to talk with my readers like I would talk with people in a bar. By your reckoning you can’t even talk about a movie you have not seen!
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michael
11. Nov, 2010
Hey, lets get the least informed person of all time to write an article. Great Idea!!!!
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Forest
11. Nov, 2010
Hey Michael, a big part of me writing this article is to get your feedback on Zagat’s list too….. A sharing of discussion. I would say I am half informed when it comes to this list. Obviously if I made my own list of faves I would be 100% informed on those!
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Jesse
11. Nov, 2010
Lists are so hard to make and have people agree. I can’t argue with any of these, i would put up a couple, but they are so many good ones it is hard to argue. I would consider Unforgiven. I think it is certainly one of the best westerns ever made. Also, Bladerunner still holds up very well but might be more of a top 50. Rear Window is probably Stewart’s best movie but, how is Its a wonderful life missed, or my favorite of his which is Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. I am suprised i have only not seen two of these. Third Man and Lady Eve. I actually haven’t even heard of them. I will have to see if i can find them. I like the list though.
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Forest
11. Nov, 2010
I agree Jesse. Zagat made this list probably knowing they would get some stick for it but at least it came from info gathered from 20k of their users.
Unforgiven and Bladerunner are both fantastic movies.
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Bobby
11. Nov, 2010
Why would someone who hasn’t even SEEN many of the movies on this list feel the need to write an article? Seriously–you never heard of “It Happened One Night” ?What are you, twelve?
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Bobby, I just found the list interesting and I want to see all the movies. I thought my readers would like to see the list too.
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Brian
11. Nov, 2010
Who gave that uninformed, uneducated kid the assignment
of covering Zagat’s Top 20 motion pictures? Said kid has
not veiwed(or even heard of), half of those movies. Think, research and pursue your subect matter before putting it
out for the world to see what an artistic BANKRUPT idiot you are. Jackarse!!!!!!
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Brian, not too sure how not seeing a few movies makes me a jackarse or bankrupt but hey maybe you know something I don’t!
As expressed above I just thought the list was interesting and worth sharing with my readers.
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allen mertz
11. Nov, 2010
i dont know how u got jop under desh lol u idoot dont agree
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Allen, not totally sure what you are saying but I don’t agree with you, ha ha!!!
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Brian
11. Nov, 2010
And…..what’s with the use of “AMAZING” in the few reviews
for the small amount of movies actually seen? Thank God this kid is too young to remember “AWESOME”. ” SAY WHAT AGAIN, JUST SAY IT AGAIN”!!!!!!
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Brian, sorry I did use that word far too much. I admit I published this post before looking over it properly as was in a rush that morning….. Will be editing it soon to read better.
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stan
11. Nov, 2010
Finding Nemo instead of Gone with the Wind in top 20….rediculus!!
For you not to have seen half these movies should disqualify you from making comment.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Stan, I was a little surprised to see it in the list too but it’s an ok movie so maybe top 100.
It’s my website, I have every right to comment.
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Ding-Dong
11. Nov, 2010
Hard to believe they only pick 20??? out of sooooo many great movies (both old/classic and new ones). And “Gone With The Wind” didn’t even make it to the list….
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Ding Dong, they actually pick 1000 but I just listed the top 20 as a taster list of their picks.
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M Mo
11. Nov, 2010
where is Seven Samurai? Silence of the Lambs?
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey N Mo, I am sure they made their top 50, they must have!
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JB
11. Nov, 2010
I can’t believe Schindler’s List is ahead of Lawrence of Arabia. It’s a good film, but it ain’t that freakin good…LOA is superior in storyline, script, direction, music and of course cinematography. There a LOT of films better than SL. Examples: Gandhi, Ben Hur, and Gone With the Wind, just to name a few.
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richard
11. Nov, 2010
Lawrence of Arabia was beautiful but boring…
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Richard, I do find that with some of the classics which is why it’s sometimes hard to watch them!
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
I think the Schindler’s List just hit a lot of people in the emotional spot as it felt real. LOA is a much further away piece of history even if it is a better piece of film making.
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marietta mouthpiece
11. Nov, 2010
Not a bad list – I would have included 12 Angry Men, Jaws, and one of the Hanks films (Forrest Gump, Castaway, Charlie Wilson’s War, etc) – and maybe The Nuremburg Trial. That’s the trouble with lists – they are so limiting.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Marietta, didn’t find Castaway that great but Gump always has a place in my top 20-30 list somewhere. Lists are terribly limiting for sure.
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Jeryl Wilborn
11. Nov, 2010
What about “Roots”
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Jeryl, Roots is a fantastic and important piece of film making. If I had a list of my own that judged films on their importance it would be near the top of the list.
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Troy
11. Nov, 2010
What?? No Doctor Zhivago!! come on, i would rate that movie higher than 17 on your list.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Troy, this is Zagat’s list created from a survey, my own list would look quite different.
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fh
11. Nov, 2010
ben hur greatest actor of all charleton heston greatest movie no other actor could have played the part also the 10 commandments heston again . how about on the waterfront????
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richard
11. Nov, 2010
Youre right…how about On the Waterfront? Jaws? ET?
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
I don’t like Heston in every movie but he was a great actor that is for sure.
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micker
11. Nov, 2010
What about Fiddler on the Roof, The Sound of Music, Forrest Gump, Scarface, Raging Bull, hell even movies like The Princess Bride, The Lord of the Rings etc.. They have movies on here that no one has even heard of. They may be good, but if they are that good, I think I would have at least heard of them before. Looks like a list made from a group of 70yr old+ people. I’m all for classic movies, but not a list full of them. Guess a movie has to be 20+yrs old in order to be considered great.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Micker, I will get shot for agreeing with you by these ravenous commenters I think! Movie making has actually continued to improve in many ways so the list didn’t need to be all classics!
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Brian
11. Nov, 2010
Beyond the small minded reviewer’s comments, I whole heartedly commend Zagat for their excellent choices. I wonder if Zagat has viewed/processed the new collection
of Criterion Movies on BLU-RAY…….they are mind blowing.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Brian, I think the fact that i have displayed a will to see every movie on this list makes my comments far less than small minded….. if I said I will never watch them because they are old that would have been small minded!
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Brian
11. Nov, 2010
Okay, my first two comments were rather scathing. I just had a little too much Cafe Verona this morning, PLEASE FORGIVE ME. I am one of the most avid collectors of Quality motion picture Discs: DVD, Superbit and BLU-RAY. Thank you for maintaining this Forum, Brian O’.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Thanks Brian, yes I was a little off put that I was called small minded for no reason! I want to catch up on these movies and I am sure Blu Ray would be an amazing way to do it.
I am travelling right now (well living in Egypt) so won’t be buying Blu Ray anytime soon so may not get a chance for a while.
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acelongg
11. Nov, 2010
Okay everybody, instead of throwing stones, allow me to make a few suggestions on some good ones you may also
never have seen, ( and may not make anyone’s top twenty)If you were born later than 1975 you may never have seen “One
Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” with Jack, or “The Wind and the Lion” with Sean Connery, or “Hard Times” with Charly
Bronson. There were only a handful of good movies made in the 70′s and those are 3 of them.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Acelongg. Once Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is an immense film and one of my personal faves! Not seen the others you mention but they sound like they are worth a watch for sure. Thanks!
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stell
11. Nov, 2010
one of my all time favorites is the Court Jester with danny kaye…and Calamity jane with doris day. how the west was won, with marilyn monroe, lulliby of broadway , with doris day, ethel merman…paint your wagon,. spartacus, with kirk douglas and tony curtis…ullysses…..all old big screen red carpet type movies…seabiscut, with toby mcquire., even if u dont like horses this movie give a great depiction of the great depression and what people went through…centennial man with robin williams…
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hi Stell, thanks very much for your recommendations.
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average Joe
11. Nov, 2010
Hey I didn’t see Taxi Driver with Deniro listed, or my personal favorite, Cool Hand Luke. Yea I’m no critic but I know what I like. No 2 people will ever have the same list of top 5, 10 or whatever of movies, songs, wines, cars etc adinfintum…
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Average Joe, Cool Hand Luke and Taxi Driver are amazing movies. Taxi Driver would make my top 20 but my faves do change a lot!
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Take it Back
11. Nov, 2010
The Fugitive; The 10 Commandments; Silence of the Lambs; Witness; Terminator; Soldier’s Story; Gandhi; My Cousin Vinny; The Empire Strikes Back – none of these cracked the top 10.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Take it Back. Silence of the Lambs has been mentioned by others. It is a great movie and I recently re-watched it. It’s just as great as ever! I loved My Cousin Vinny but not sure it would make my top 20.
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JB
11. Nov, 2010
Please please please don’t give movie opinions anymore. Especially when you haven’t seen any of the classics that any true appreciator of film would have seen long ago.
And for the few movies you HAVE seen, you only commented on the acting or the story, and completely left out anything about the filmmaking or visuals – which is what film is all about.
And the Zagat’s list is pretty shallow and not that good.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey JB, I am sure you are yet to have seen all the classics either! The thing is this article was made to show my readers the list and my intent to watch all the movies on the list (and catch up with the classics I missed). As I get older I am appreciating the classics more but it takes a while to catch up.
My comments were quick but yes I could have expanded on the film making side a lot. One of my favorite films for beauty was Raise the Red Lantern and also Stalker but I also love the starkness and clean image of many 1960′s movies like The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.
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JB
11. Nov, 2010
Lemme correct myself that the list isn’t that bad, but it’s just pretty predictable, and certain ones don’t belong on there. There are a lot of incredible movies on the list though.
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Bret
11. Nov, 2010
What? No “Gone With The Wind?, no, “How The West Was Won”? This list is total Bullshit! The Deer hunter, and Superman are also classics !
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Bret, the Deerhunter is stunning and very well acted and I loved Superman as a Kid. I really can’t stand Gone with the Wind though. Generally not a fan of musicals!
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Dean
11. Nov, 2010
Agree with acelongg on One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, one of my top 20. There are some great movies on there and certainly some missing from my personal top 20. What about Silence of the Lambs?
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Dean, I agree that is one of the best. Silence of the Lambs would make it fairly high on my own list.
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Don B.
11. Nov, 2010
There is definitely an age problem here.First of all there should be no,I repeat no science fiction movies on a all-time classic list for no other reason than there not classics.
I enjoyed Avatar very much but be real how long has this been out.Pleease.Any of Brando’s early ones,On the Waterfront,Cat on a hot tin roof.Definitely One flow over the Cuckoo’s Nest,Raging Bull and any of the classic Jimmy Stewart,Gregory Peck or Henry Fonda movies.Again I can’t
understand people talking about classic movies and to have never seen Casablanca or Gone with the Wind.Do some homework.Oh by the way ! Zagat stick to the dining you don’t know jack about movies with a list like this…
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Don B, this isn’t a list of classics. Just best movies (there is a difference as far as I am concerned). I love many movies you mention but think Sci Fi really deserves it’s spot more so than it is in this list. Think of Blade Runner and 2001 Space Odyssy.
I didn’t make this list. Just re-published it with my intent to watch all the movies on it! The readers of Zagat made this list by voting so the blame lies on them
.
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Johnny
11. Nov, 2010
This guy who wrote this article hasn’t seen half of these classics!!! – so why is he even writting at all? Is his vision myopic?
And please notice – there are few modern day films that made this list……. Thanks Hollywood!
Now get a job!
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hi Johnny, I clearly stated my intent to see all these movies. There are many modern day great films though, many are independent and a few are hollywood productions.
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julian santos
11. Nov, 2010
How biased Zagat can be! What about Felini ( Amarcord) , Lina Wertmuller ( Seven Beautiess) the French ” Nouvelle Vague” Directors (Lelouche, Louis Male, etc)?
And why not “One flew over the cuckoo’s nest”?
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hi Julian, I can’t find it said anywhere but something tells me it was only for US movies as i also can’t understand why certain movies like Life is Beautiful would not have made the top 20.
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richard
11. Nov, 2010
How can you make a list not haveing seen some of the movies? Casablanca tops my list and you didnt even see it…..
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hi Richard, I never made this list Zagat did.
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Sasha
11. Nov, 2010
Wow, what a great list of movies!! most in my top Five…and most you’ll be sorry if you miss seeing. I love it that so many classic films have been saved. The question is really, Is there a such a thing as a universal top 20? No not really. To many great movies from different eras, and to many people not willing to watch Movie’s from the past. What one movie someone finds boring and will inmaturely dog, someone else will watch several times and sing it’s praises. Wouldn’t it be a shame if the genrations of today didn’t go back and watch the films made in the past. What a rich history we have in film. I always told my kids, Hollywood didn’t just start making films the day you were born!! Whenever we were somewhere, and I saw a picture of an Actor from the past, I would tell them I would give them 5 Dollars to tell me who it is..So they started learning about Bogie, Hope, Hepburn, Kelly..etc, in doing so learned to love them and their films.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Sasha, paying them to learn would have fast tracked their knowledge that is for sure!
I totally will be catching up on all the classics but it does take time and sometimes patience.
I absolutely agree there is never a universal list for anything!
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Freddie @ Real Estate Investing
11. Nov, 2010
Wow, there are a bunch of sour pusses on this comment thread. But I guess people are very passionate about their movies.
For me, Roots should be on this list. It was amazing and immortalized a time that shall never be forgotten.
Avatar will make this list in the future as the world is able to put into perspective the marvouls things they did in this moving to revolutionize the film business.
Ii loved Nemo, but can’t believe it actually made the list. Zagot is really uppity and didn’t think they would give such a rank to this type of movie.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
I know Freddie, some people just don’t know how to act in public cussing and swearing and things rather than discussing!
Roots is a brilliant piece of cinema that should never be forgotten and will probably be re-made and maybe ruined soon.
Agreed Avatar may make the list but with 2 planned sequels they might kill their own fire a bit!
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Donna
11. Nov, 2010
What about “It’s A Wonderful Life”
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Donna, a great movie worthy of being on such a list.
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Walt
11. Nov, 2010
You can’t pass over Song Of The South just because some censors have!
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hi Walt, never seen it I am afraid so i can’t comment.
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Brian
11. Nov, 2010
OR: 2001: A Space Odyssey
A Sound Of Music
Slaughterhouse Five
Oliver!
Samurai Seven
Straw Dogs
M
Doctor Zhivago(SP?)
The Exorcist
South Pacific
Alfie(original)
Jesus Christ Superstar
Metropolis(original)
Alien(Ridley Scott’s)
Apocolypse Now
Monty Python’s Holy Grail
Spartacus(Kubrick’s)
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
The Party(Peter Sellers)
Around The World In Eighty Days(orig)
Airport(Arthur Haley’s)
JAWS
Elephant Man
Tough Guys Don’t Dance
Now I digress to my favourite cult films of all time.
Tune in tomorrow, I must get back to work, BO’B.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Brian, some great films on the list. I have seen over half of those
. Look forward to the cult list.
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fool
11. Nov, 2010
Forest:
You’re much of a movie buff if you haven’t seen most of those movies. Why would you even bother writing your opinion if you don’t have an educated one? Dumbass.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Fool, c’mon that’s not fair. My article was more about the intent to see them and seeing what readers thought of the list.
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Kathy
11. Nov, 2010
20,000 people do NOT qualify in picking out the 20 best movies of all time for sure. Gone With The Wind should have been at the top of the list.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Kathy, well of course they can’t. My last comment was mildly tongue in cheek.
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Knapper
11. Nov, 2010
My goodness … for being a movie buff as you claim, you’ve quite a lack of knowledge of some of the first 50 years of films and classics within that period. I might suggest catching up through Turner Classic Movies or Netflix just to get a better base. C’mon back when you’ve broadened your depth a bit.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hi Knapper, never claimed to be a buff…. Just said I liked movies. Don’t worry I will be working on catching up.
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Jim Greenberg
11. Nov, 2010
The Ladykillers (original)
The Blues Brothers
The 6th Sense
North by Northwest
Spartacus
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Great list Jim.
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Cesar
11. Nov, 2010
This is one of the most lame articles I have ever read. Really, if you don’t know why, I’m not going to explain it to you. Why am I still with MSN?
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Thanks Cesar, I suggest you start reading Yahoo instead if you are unhappy.
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You don't need to Know
11. Nov, 2010
What about all th calasics. Most of these are drama filled. Why isn’t Mary Poppins, or The Sound of Music, or The Notebook. At least thesse movies are still played on regular cable TV.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey YDNTK, sure those movies are classics too in many peoples eyes. The list in the book is 1000 movies so I am sure the films you mentioned made the top 100.
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A.B.Carroll
11. Nov, 2010
I would put Dennis the Menace. I put that o n every Thanksgiving for my children (students, I’m a Teacer). We also watch Annie, and if they are putting The Wizard of Oz up there, they should have put The Wiz.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey A.B.Carroll, I really liked Dennis the Menace and Problem Child when I was little. Never heard of The Wiz.
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Friarjack
12. Nov, 2010
How can anyone not have ‘The Best Years of Our Lives’ in the top 5 ????
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Friarjack, I guess the list is an average and I am sure it appears in the top 50 somewhere.
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David Hutton
12. Nov, 2010
Where is “Gone With the Wind?” That is probably THE greatest movie ever made? I’d also think a Top 20 list should include “The Silence of the Lambs,” “The Dark Knight” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey David, I personally don’t like Gone With the Wind but many people have expressed in these comments that it should be up there. Heath Ledger’s performance in Dark Knight is now legendary so I expect that movie to start making these lists in a few years when it has had time to become more of a classic.
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Boombah
12. Nov, 2010
Where is “Gone With The Wind”?
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Boombah, as I said to David above, lots of people want this in the list.
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Alex
12. Nov, 2010
this guy is an even worse movie reviewer than the person that said that “eat pray love” was amazing! ur forgetting the 5 most memorable movies of all time
1. Harry Potter
2. James Bond
3. Star Wars
4. Terminator
5. Rocky
we dont want to hear about movies from 1950! the era of charlie chaplin is over! the era of george lucas, steven spielberg, tyler perry, and james cameron is JUST BEGINNING!!!!!!
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Alex, I didn’t compile this list, just commented on it! All very good films in your list.
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Jerry
12. Nov, 2010
I believe that Godfather IS the best film, and go a second
with On The Waterfront, and then the great Orson Welles
flick CITIZEN Kane.. Have we forgot about COMEDY? Over and over again
I watch “Mad, Mad, Mad,Mad World” and think it was the
funniest film EVER made! How can they leave out a film
that keeps you laughing all the way through it?
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Jerry, it seems people don’t like putting comedy up there and serious drama seems to almost always feature. Some of these lists do occasionally allow Some Like it Hot to slip through. I loved the Pink Panther movies myself and more recently things like Shaun of the Dead.
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DonaNicole
12. Nov, 2010
Yeah, this guy got the right actor, Adrian Brody, but the wrong story. The Pianist is definitely NOT a rape movie or a feminist movie. The Pianist is a Nazi/Jewish movie and definitely DOES deserve to be on the top movies of all time. Adrian Brody got an academy award for this movie.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Dona, I originally thought of the Pianoist…. But I corrected it. I kept my original comments though just in case anyone was interested!
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carmen
12. Nov, 2010
I am surprised nobody mentioned Gone with the Wind, Such a powerful movie!
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Carmen, many many people mentioned it in the comments, it’s very popular.
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Marion
12. Nov, 2010
This was so informative. Glad you wrote a blog about something you know nothing about. I would like the last 2 minutes of my life bsck. Maybe watch these movies first.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hi Marion, well I was just commenting to say I am going to watch them and I wanted peoples feed back on what they thought of the list.
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TOM
12. Nov, 2010
You all made good points appraising the movie list but I believe there are too many outstanding (awesome) movies out there that would not get justice unless you catagorize the movies into different groups then you could begin to have good list. Furthermore it would particially alleviate people from getting upset because there favorite isn’t listed. For example; a sci-fi buff would not like to see a movie like “The Pianist” listed ahead of or rated higher than “Avatar” and so on for each catagory.
P.S. I am also a great fan of “Ben Hur” and my personal favorite movie in this class is the Ten Commandments.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hi Tom, I believe the Zagat book actually does split into categories too.
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TOM
12. Nov, 2010
Oh, and by the way, Zagat’s World Best Movies top 20
isn’t a bad list but could use a little work.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
I agree Tom
.
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Brian
12. Nov, 2010
All of the pictures that I’ve mentioned above, have great scope; soaring panaramic scenery, detailed characters and excellent sound tracks. Most of these movies are
now available on BLU-RAY, and folks I’m here to tell you, they are startling, clean, anamorphically correct and the surround sound tracks blow your doors off. More on the Cult pictures, which I have coveted and now own, Later.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Brian, you are getting me very interested in trying to see some of them on BluRay.
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Stormcat
12. Nov, 2010
This is my first exposure to this blog and I like the lively nature of the comments. As far as the original article, I thought it was well written because the author was honest about the basis for his comments. He didn’t claim to be an expert on film or even knowlegable only that he enjoyed film and was looking forward to finding out the contents of the list so that he could expand his own viewing range.
As far as the list itself, there is no way to know how Zagats compiled but since it came from a survey I would guess that the list is skewed to the opinion of that demographic of individuals who fill out surveys. Probably under 25 and over 65. Surely not experts. That would somewhat explain the content of the list.
As far as the Author’s comment about Citizen Kane, Many people include that on best movie lists only because it is taught to them. However, I’ve seen it several times and definately consider it so, Not because it hasn’t been surpassed in quality, but because it was so groundbreaking in advancing filmmaking technology. The basis of most of modern filmmaking finds its roots in that film. As I see it there two catagories; films made before Citizen Kane and those that came after!
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hi Stormcat, thank you for hitting my point on the head. Many people attacked me here and I think they missed what I was trying to do. I wanted a discussion around the movies not a bash the write fest, ha ha!
I think what you said about Citizen Kane is totally true. He pioneered a lot of new cinematic techniques for that movie and truly is a one of a kind. It just doesn’t sit too well for me from a story perspective but I have a lot of respect for it as a piece of groundbreaking art.
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Woolaroc
12. Nov, 2010
How is “Gone with the Wind” not on this list???
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Woolaroc, mentioned many times in the comments, not sure where it sits on Zagat’s list.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Woolaroc, it’s mentioned many times in the comments, not sure where it sits on Zagat’s list.
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Jimbo
12. Nov, 2010
No Jack Nicholson? Duh!
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Jimbo, one of his works should have featured on the list for sure.
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Georgiana
12. Nov, 2010
I think Back 2 the Future should have been on that list
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Georgiana, I love BTTF I, II & III, great fun films.
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dennis burns
12. Nov, 2010
you jokers should stick to food and restaurant reviews, because you don’t know shit about cinema. ddb
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hi Dennis, they published a very big book about movies so they seem to have gotten further than most of us!
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tampatide
12. Nov, 2010
High Noon
12 O’Clock High
Stalag 17
Flying Down to Rio
Animal House
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Tampatide, thanks for your list
.
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jorge
12. Nov, 2010
I don’t know how I got to this website to read these reviews, but I want my 10 minutes back. Citizen Caine “pompous”? You must mean, “I didn’t really get it…” Brilliant might be the better description for it.
Sometimes the internet is a wasteland, sadly…
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Jorge, I am pretty sure I got Citizen Kane. I understand it was much more than my quick comment. The fact that it was a groundbreaking piece of cinematic art makes me have to give it a lot of respect but at the end of the day I just did not enjoy it. Story wise it’s a little like Synecdoche New York which I much preferred.
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don
12. Nov, 2010
Paring the list down to 20 is an almost impossible task. There are literally hundreds that could be on the list.
I work for a Library, and I select the videos for our collection.
I always have more titles to buy than I have budget to buy with. As such I scour multiple review resources to find the best videos to add to the collection. I have almost all of the titles listed in the above comments in my collection and am saddened by the fact that few people check them out.
If you don’t visit your local Library for video titles you are missing a bet.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Don, absolutely agree. It’s a good discussion list but my own list would be at least 100 long with no real order or preference. I used to use my library all the time for classics. Sadly I am in Cairo right now and don’t have a decent library to get films from.
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gary
12. Nov, 2010
Did I miss it or was Gone With the Wind just not listed. I would replace Finding Nemo with it at the very least. At least two more Stewart films should be on the list; Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and It’s a Wonderful Life. I guess I just missed. In the end the BEST MOVIES are those that are BEST to the VIEWER. Like a good wine is what tastes good to you.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Gary, Gone with the wind has been mentioned many times in the comments an d although I don’t like it a lot myself I agree it should appear above Nemo.
I agree it is always subjective.
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Dave
12. Nov, 2010
Greatest movies of all time can only be subjective. What one man’s “greatest” is another’s ” good”. We also get swept up in all the great technology in movie making that has been developed in the last 20 years. Having said that, I’d like to add a couple that were not mentioned (both older and newer). The Cain Mutiny, Cyrano and of course Saving Private Ryan.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Hey Dave, absolutely, everything is subjective. I love Saving Private Ryan but have not seen the other two you mention.
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Bitterblogger
12. Nov, 2010
Forest, what kind of crap have you been watching? These films are almost impossible to have missed, unless you’re a recent devotee. . .
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Well thanks for the blunt comment BitterBlogger….. I watch a lt of foreign films and indie flicks but am catching up on my classics now.
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Brian
14. Nov, 2010
Best Romantic pictures( for me):
Love Story
A Carousel
Wuthering Heights
Doctor Zhivago
Henry(Harrison Ford)
On A Clear Day…..
A Sound Of Music
Barefoot In The Park
Oliver!
Brian’s Song
Michael(Travolta)
Pretty Woman
more to come, as I must get back to work. And I still
owe you my fave cult list, thankx for indulging me, BO’B.
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Forest
14. Nov, 2010
Thanks Bryan, looking forward to the Cult list.
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TOM
16. Nov, 2010
I can give you a list of horror films…. haha
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Forest
21. Nov, 2010
Hey Tom, I like Horror so why not
.
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JERRY ROME
02. Dec, 2010
THE STING…..ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOOS NEST..12 ANGRY MEN ..THE BLACK SWAN I JUST SAW LAST NIGHT
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Forest
02. Dec, 2010
Great choices Jerry.
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VINOD BHATIA
08. Feb, 2011
WHERE IS ‘GONE WITH THE WIND?’ HOW CAN ANYONE IGNORE OR EVER FORGET THAT MOVIE? IT IS A CLASS BY ITSELF.
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Forest
10. Feb, 2011
Sorry Vinod!!! Most people said the same to me!
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Martyn
22. Sep, 2011
Forest, delete your blog your wasting peoples time, discussing things you have no knowledge of, you’ve unfortunatley stolen 5 minutes of my life on reading some of the content. You may have noticed from most of the blog entries that people agree with me.
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Forest
23. Sep, 2011
Hey Martyn, sorry you didn’t enjoy the post. I do try and write stuff my audience will like and I think a lot are happy readers.
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Bill
12. Dec, 2011
Forestparks, no criticism from me. I just want to commend you on your patience.
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Forest
12. Dec, 2011
Thanks Bill
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