What is your Favourite Movie?/5 Movies that Changed the way you see Films

This is the parrallel thread to those "What is your favourite album" and "% Albums that changed the way you hear music" threads... it's pretty self explanatory...

My favourite movie, and the one that changed how I see film the most, is V for Vendetta - it was the movie that first sparked an obsession, I watched it once a week for a few months and know it back to front, and that obsession leaked into other movies, which I now watch more critically and attentively.


My favourite film series are Star Wars and the Matrix

Comedy is Keeping Mum...

Christmas with the kranks. For the first time in my life, i was but only a triggerpull away from my own physical demise. Well, the 2nd, first was during that one reallllly ****** movie, i forgot what it was called, "How to decompose a mind in 10 minutes"? I don't know, but it involved that southern acting actor, if you can call him that.

those both changed my perspective on hollywood movies.

Shawshank, back when i was quite younger, had an effect on me.

Movies that changed how I looked at films all together?

Snatch The Fight Montages, the end, the multiple stories as homage to Tarantino, it moves so fast that you cannot blink. Perfect dose of humour too, very dark, very good. My favorite movie ever made.
Reservoir Dogs I could've picked this or Pulp Fiction, but I had to pick this because of how the story is bits and fragments replayed semi-sequentially.
The Godfather (A great book) I think one and two count here. One shows a man on the decline while his son rises to power and two shows Vito's past and Michael's running of the family business. One of the greatest scenes ever, the baptism/assassination of the heads of the five families and Moe Green.
Collateral Jamie Foxx plays one of the most believable everymen and Tom Cruise made me forget he is a crazed freak, I actually thought he played a convincing killer.
Office Space Actually a movie with barely a plot, but it pulled it off somehow. Great movie.

Dear lord, you want this limited to five? There are sooo many good movies out there. MY list may get very artsy fartsy so I apologize in advance.

Well I'll start with one of the movies I saw when I was still a kid:

Mad Max (1 and 2) this was of course Gibson became a total tard. I allways remember things from this movie. Also I love apocalyptic themes and stuff like that so it really was the perfect movie for me. (if anyone chooses to rent this makesure not to get the dubbed version, yes they dubbed out the 'Austrailian' and put in 'english' instead)

Sin City. Holy hell this is a good movie, on nearly every level. Definitly opened up the realm of what could be done with movies.

Akira Kurosawa (Director) - All his stuff is excellent, if I had to pick one movie it would be either Yojimbo, or Ran... or Seven Samurai. He really was prime film maker, master class.

The Seventh Seal by Ingmar Bergman, one of the best movies I've ever seen. Ever. I havn't seen any of his other stuff, I wonder if it even approches the mastery that is The Seventh Seal.

The Professional. That's the name I saw it under anyways, its also called Leon. This is my favorite all time movie ever. I saw it when I was like 14 -16 and totally fell in love with it (and Natalie Portman ). I think it is movie perfection embodied (her too ).


Of course with such a limited list you leave out so many important others, like Zhang Yimou's films, certain Korean films (Oldboy, or War Kong Wai), or more Japanese films (Beat Takashi, Miike), or even single films like Requim for a Dream (super powerful movie) or Natural Born Killers. Least of all Tarintino who is definitly an important figure in modern film (although I felt it was safe to assume he would get the credit he deserves anyways). Hell I could do a list of just awsome Canadain film that would be well over 10 seminal works.

Edit - Oh yeah I thought I'd include a list of my favorite Critics: Ebert... Thats it. Even if I dont allways agree with him he is always worth reading, his points are well writen and thoughtful and most of all, the dude totally loves films (whereas I get the impression most other critics come to hate them or don't care). His rating sytem is totally skewed though, only films with a four rateing or a one rateing are sure things the rest is nonsense.

Originally Posted by Falconius

Dear lord, you want this limited to five? There are sooo many good movies out there. MY list may get very artsy fartsy so I apologize in advance.

Well I'll start with one of the movies I saw when I was still a kid:

Mad Max (1 and 2) this was of course Gibson became a total tard. I allways remember things from this movie. Also I love apocalyptic themes and stuff like that so it really was the perfect movie for me. (if anyone chooses to rent this makesure not to get the dubbed version, yes they dubbed out the 'Austrailian' and put in 'english' instead)

Sin City. Holy hell this is a good movie, on nearly every level. Definitly opened up the realm of what could be done with movies.

Akira Kurosawa (Director) - All his stuff is excellent, if I had to pick one movie it would be either Yojimbo, or Ran... or Seven Samurai. He really was prime film maker, master class.

The Seventh Seal by Ingmar Bergman, one of the best movies I've ever seen. Ever. I havn't seen any of his other stuff, I wonder if it even approches the mastery that is The Seventh Seal.

The Professional. That's the name I saw it under anyways, its also called Leon. This is my favorite all time movie ever. I saw it when I was like 14 -16 and totally fell in love with it (and Natalie Portman ). I think it is movie perfection embodied (her too ).


Of course with such a limited list you leave out so many important others, like Zhang Yimou's films, certain Korean films (Oldboy, or War Kong Wai), or more Japanese films (Beat Takashi, Miike), or even single films like Requim for a Dream (super powerful movie) or Natural Born Killers. Least of all Tarintino who is definitly an important figure in modern film (although I felt it was safe to assume he would get the credit he deserves anyways). Hell I could do a list of just awsome Canadain film that would be well over 10 seminal works.

Edit - Oh yeah I thought I'd include a list of my favorite Critics: Ebert... Thats it. Even if I dont allways agree with him he is always worth reading, his points are well writen and thoughtful and most of all, the dude totally loves films (whereas I get the impression most other critics come to hate them or don't care). His rating sytem is totally skewed though, only films with a four rateing or a one rateing are sure things the rest is nonsense.

Yes, Ingmar Bergman surpasses himself, again and again, after the seventh Seal. I did not think it was possible, but it is.

@bOROMIR - Ernst Ingmar Bergman. Not Ingemar.

1/ Seven samurai-

The directing style of Kurosawa (stolen by George Lucas) still impresses me with it's mix of elegance and practicality. The final battle scene i've watched over and over and over again. The mix of scenic beauty and bloody battles defined for me what a historical action film should be.

2/ Star wars-

Had to be here somewhere didn't it? Lucas's gamble of a space opera paid off despite problems that would have killed the passion of well, anybody else. I still kinda respect his devotion to the francise (when he's not scamming everyone with 'special editions')

3/ Breaking the waves

Really really good film about a scottish girl from a religious community who marries an outsider... I get upset even talking about the plot so find out for yourselves by watching it! Proof that a film without lightsabres in can hold my attention. Emily watson is supppppeeerrrbbbb.

4/ The Elephant man.

Before this I thought freaks were treated as normal individuals in victorian society...how wrong I was. Jest aside, this film is unique in that it made me cry. Bloody john hurt and his acting skills.

5/ Cross of Iron

A war movie with a lovely cynical edge which is how I like em'. James Coburn is the officer-hating german corporal placed under a glory-seeking nazi determined to win the Iron cross... at all costs. Changed my view of what a war movie should be.

Honourable mentions- Awakenings, MP's Holy Grail, Life and death of colonel blimp, the odessa files, shawshank., Das boot....

1,Bladerunner. best existentialist, cyberpunk movie ever....lot of philosophy in it, and good camera work. Before Ridley became hollywoodian fool...

2, Godfather I-III (especially I) the film about love, vendetta, politics, power theory, falsehood and justice...old New York city parts and beautiful Sicily....what more would you need?
And Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone, the wise old man.

3, Der König der letzten Tage
good german historical movie, realistic

4, The seventh seal by Ingmar Bergman.
Just fantastic. Great storyx and characters.

5, Europa by Lars von Trier
Film noir.

etc, etc....

Ah, there are probably many more, but just off the top of my head I'll try to name few:

Sergio Leone films. It would be cruel to name only one of them. Although I'm pretty sure I saw the Once upon a time in the West first, then was inspired to see the dollar trilogy, then saw the Once upon a time in America, and Fistful of Dynamite. Anywho, these are all masterpieces and in my top 20/30 list. Gotta love those Italians.

Monty Python's Holy Grail. I think I wasn't even ten years old when me and my friend got our hands on it, and instantly loved it. I forgot the whole movie then and only remembered some scenes and quotes, untill I saw it in the store two or three years ago. So pretty soon I had all the Monty Python DVD's available in Finland.

Braveheart. Saw it first time quite a while ago. Those were the times when I was totally ignorant about all the great movies, perhaps because I wasn't old enough to see them. Anyway, Braveheart was my favourite movie at that point, it was just perfect. I think that made me to buy Medieval TW back then. Yes, it has probably worn out a bit by now, after seeing it like 15 times, but it's still great. Don't mention the historical value.

Same goes for Gladiator and Spartacus, both really impressing, and sparked my interest in ancient Rome and history in general.
Then there's Godfather and Goodfellas.. No need to explain they're just cool. Took a while for me to acyually like Godfather though, it isn't that easy for a kid.

Didn't name any war movies, because there isn't a really special one for me, athough I love all kinds of war movies. Band of Brothers earns to be mentioned, even though it's a miniseries. Then there are many, many smaller, foreign films that I can't possibly name. For the german films, Das Boot and Stalingrad.

Originally Posted by Spart

Sergio Leone films.

Few of my absolute favorites as well.

Das Boot

A movie which you actually feel for the germans.


Not so much of a movie freak,
I can mention Scarface, is was very good and unusal, the main character actually dies!! w00t

If I HAD to pick a favorite movie of all time...Bladerunner. The original NC-17 rated theatrical release with the voice over, the one thats like impossoble to find nowadays. Hopefully we'll for sure get that 3 version dvd boxset this year.

I can't really pin one film down to what sparked an interest into film for me, though to name but a few in no paticular order Leon, Reserviour dogs, The Godfather (as many have already also put down) American History X and The Lost Highway, the last being my fav of all time, if anyone has not already, try giving it a look, though it's not everyones cup of tea

Dr. Strangelove is quite possibly the best movie I've seen.

The Blues Brothers and the Fellowship of the Ring are also favorites.

I'm a sucker for the Underworld series as well...

1. Lord Of The Rings -Finally, a fantasy movie that lifted the fantasy film genre to an art form. Think about it, before LOTR we had the cheesy Conan meets Xena movies of the 70s and 80s, and god-awful tripe like Dungeons and Dragons. Oh yeah, also best use of CGI in a movie yet.

2. First Star Wars Trilogy - Once again groundbreaking for their time. I think 3,000 years from now, people will still be looking at Star Wars the way we look at the Illiad today.

3. Saving Private Ryan - most visceral and realistic war movie I've ever seen.

4. Braveheart - ok the history's a bit wonky, but it's still my favorite sword epic based on real-life.

5. Happy Gilmore -my favorite slapstick comedy of all time. Unlike the other films I've mentioned, I know Happy isn't a really good film. But it sure is entertaining.

Honorable mention:

Kurosawa films, 80s teen comedies like 16 Candles, Pulp Fiction, Shawn of the Dead

Originally Posted by Count of Montesano

1. Lord Of The Rings -Finally, a fantasy movie that lifted the fantasy film genre to an art form. Think about it, before LOTR we had the cheesy Conan meets Xena movies of the 70s and 80s, and god-awful tripe like Dungeons and Dragons. Oh yeah, also best use of CGI in a movie yet.

I agree for the most part (the third movie was worse then that third book) but I really liked the Conan series.

Conan: Enough talk!

*throws big ass sword*

*thunkkk*
Evil over-talkative priest dies.


It doesn't get more poignant then that.

@ Shaba Wangy
Well then, I think I ought to go to the rental store and pay my late fees.

...Is it wrong to say 300? But sadly it is my fav film.

Boogie Nights (great dialogue, story, editing, and camera work.

Dazed & Confused (the story of my generation)

Flags of Our Fathers/Letters from Iwo Jima (the 2 best war movies ever made)

The Caine Mutiny (almost as good as the book)

Donnie Barasco (most realistic Mob Movie)

Casino (best Epic Mob Movie)

Pretty In Pink (poor Ducky)

Casablanca

A total ripoff...

1) Voyna i mir
2) 2001: A Space Odyssey
3) Barry Lyndon
4) Lolita
5) Psycho

I don't get out much.

1)Blade Runner. A noir, rainy, dystopic version of our future with plenty of philosophy hidden in between the scenes sporting the best music ever by Vangelis and one of the best scenes in film history.



2)The Count of MonteChristo. The original, not the remake. It was the first and still the most accurate description anyone has ever given me, of why revenge always destroys you in the end.

The Movies who changed my the way I view movies:

1. Bladerunner, the old, original cinema version, with the voiceover. But you cant find it anywhere

2. The who dances with the wolve (Did I spelled that right?)
Kevin Costners greatest movie. Definately. Deep and moving.

3. Matrix (The first one), gave me many worries if this world is real...

4. Blues Brothers. No description needed. It´s just one of THE movies

5. Spartacus. A really classic one. And a real good one.

Number 6 would be Highlander, there can be only one!

(In time order)
1) Titanic - while I was truly young this movie taught me what the word "epic" means for the first time.
2) Enemy at the Gates - how to express the atmosphere of war? and how is indiviuals in it?
3) Dreams - a collection of very meaningful stories by a famous japanese director (can't spell his long name), telling me movies can have deep implied meanings when I was small, besides talking, killing and making love.
4) As far as my Feet will carry me
5) 300 - wow, movies are again not about its meaning again (of course making sense and educational or inspiring is important), also about epic scene@!