LU's Top 50 Movies (2007) - The Countdown

[Misanthrope]

Another year has rolled by and once again there has been an impressive turn out of voters to make sure this year's Top 50 is every bit as well rounded and ecclectic as possible. Before launching into the count down of this year's top fifty, though, I thought it would be good to jog everybody's memory about last year's. Which of these films didn't make the cut this time around?

2006 Top 50

47 - Raiders of the Lost Ark
47 - Lost in Translation
47 - Batoru Rowaiaru (Battle Royale)
47 - Back to the Future
44 - Rocky
44 - The Return of the King
44 - Cool Hand Luke
42 - To Kill a Mockingbird
42 - American Psycho
39 - The Godfather
39 - Monty Python & The Holy Grail
38 - American Beauty
38 - Sin City
37 - Se7en
35 - Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas
35 - Being John Malkovich
31 - Silence of the Lambs
31 - Saving Private Ryan
31 - Requiem for a Dream
31 - Clerks
29 - Kill Bill
29 - Le Fabuleux destin d'Amelie Poulain (Amelie)
28 - The Empire Strikes Back
25 - Snatch
25 - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
25 - American History X
22 - The Crow
22 - La Vita e Bella (Life is Beautiful)
22 - Cidade de Deus (City of God)
21 - Trainspotting
19 - Braveheart
19 - Blade Runner
17 - Scarface
17 - Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels
15 - The Godfather, Part II
15 - Donnie Darko
14 - Full Metal Jacket
12 - Forrest Gump
12 - Fight CLub
11 - Monty Python's Life of Brian
10 - A Clockwork Orange
9 - Goodfellas
8 - Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
7 - Terminator 2: Judgement Day
6 - The Usual Suspects
5 - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
4 - Reservoir Dogs
3 - Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
2 - Pulp Fiction
1 - The Shawshank Redemption

Many of these didn't place (or didn't receive a single vote, in some cases) this time around. The ones that didn't make the cut were Raiders of the Lost Ark, Lost in Translation, Battle Royale, Back to the Future, Rocky, Return of the King, Cool Hand Luke, To Kill a Mockingbird, American Psycho, Se7en, Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, Being John Malkovich, Silence of the Lambs, Amelie, Requiem for a Dream, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Crow, Trainspotting, Blade Runner, Full Metal Jacket, A Clockwork Orange, and Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.

Our #10 film from last year failed to tally a single vote, whilst Star Wars Episode IV fell just two votes outside the Top 50.

Speaking of 'just outside the Top 50', here are the films that fell outside the Top 50.

- Mad Max 2 (1981)
- The Great Escape (1963)
- Batoru Rowaiaru (Battle Royale) (2000) Last placed #47
- Good Will Hunting (1997)
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
- Billy Madison (1995)
- Full Metal Jacket (1978) Last placed #14
- Million Dollar Baby (2004)
- Armageddon (1998)
- Taxi Driver (1976)
- American Pie (1999)
- Heat (1995)
- Fargo (1996)
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1997) Last placed #8
- Old School (2003)

Next, we'll see 50-41...
​

 

[Misanthrope]

Can a mod please sticky this and unsticky the voting thread?

 

[OVP]

maybe the mods are dead, mate

But this is a bump to say thanks

 

[skeepe]

I had wondered what was happening with this.

 

[Misanthrope]

Without further ado, let's kick this off!

50 - Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979)
Last Finish: 11
Director: Terry Jones
Writer: Monty Python
Stars: Monty Python

An irreverant and sometimes controversial Biblical tale, Life of Brian followed the exploits of Brian - whose life began with him being mistaken for Jesus and seemed to continue in that trend despite his objections to the contrary. Laden with classic lines, the film was also a subtle jab at organised religion, and ends with one of the most memorable musical numbers in cinematic history.

49 - Almost Famous (2000)
Last Finish: DNR
Director: Cameron Crowe
Writer: Cameron Crowe
Stars: Billy Crudup, Kate Hudson, Zooey Deschanal, Patrick Fugit, and Francis McDormand

A semi autobiographical look at Crowe's own early life traveling with bands and writing for Rolling Stone - Almost Famous tells the story of a bright eyed young kid who teams up with some gorgeous groupies and the band Stillwater in a life changing journey. Bittersweet and about a life changing journey - Almost Famous is a film most any young man can relate to, even if the setting and scenario isn't quite the norm.

=48 - Superman Returns (2006)
Last Finish: DNR
Director: Bryan Singer
Writer: Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris
Stars: Brandon Routh, Kevin Spacey, and Kate Bosworth

After the collosal success of Batman Begins and Casino Royale in reinventing their respective tales, Superman Returns continued in the same vein as it looked to reintroduce the Superman character to a new generation. With Bryan Singer at the helm, Superman Returns managed to avoid being 'just another comic book movie' much as his previous effort (X-Men 1 & 2) had. Not only did the movie succeed at the box office, but it managed to do so without being mindless action - and looks set to reignite Superman fever.

=48 - School of Rock (2003)
Last Finish: DNR
Director: Richard Linklater
Writer: Mike White
Stars: Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Mike White, and Sarah Silverman

A rocking, feel good comedy about a man who poses as a teacher and introduces a bunch of pinned down private school kids to the joys of rock - School of Rock blends a great soundtrack, Jack Black's manic energy, and disproves the 'Never work with children' adage to create a heart-warming and enjoyable comedy.


=46 - Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Last Finish: 31
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writer: Robert Rodat
Stars: Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Vin Diesel, Edward Burns, and Tim Sizemore

Speilberg's epic World War II movie not only resurrected a dying genre of cinema in Hollywood, but also won tremendous critical acclaim with its realistic portrayal of World War II combat conditions. A platoon of soldiers are sent on a near suicide mission to return a young man to his mother after all of his siblings are killed, and along the way we encounter their heroism, their cruelty, and their loyalty to one another in a journey that is both brutally exciting and touchingly human.

=46 - Casino (1995)
Last Finish: DNR
Director: Martin Scorsese
Writer: Nicholas Pileggi and Martin Scorsese
Stars: Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci, and Sharon Stone

A modern day gangster classic, and we could expect nothing less from those involved, Casino still holds a Hollywood record for most uses of the word 'f**k' in a movie. Looking at clashes between the Las Vegas and Chicago mob, Casino is everything you'd expect from Scorsese: gritty, violent, and unflinching in its portrayal of a cultural phenomenon the United States and the world seem obsessed with.

44 - Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Last Finish: 4
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Writer: Quentin Tarantino
Stars: Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, and Steve Buscemi.

The film that introduced the world of the genius of Tarantino, Reservoir Dogs is every bit as edgy, violent, and sometimes hilarious as the movies that would follow it. Detailing the before and after of a botched jewel heist - the film's non linear storyline and witty dialogue would become Tarantino trademarks. Essentially in independent film, it speaks volumes of Reservoir Dogs' quality that it is today recognised as a classic.

=43 - Clerks (1994)
Last Finish: 31
Director: Kevin Smith
Writer: Kevin Smith
Stars: Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Kevin Smith, and Jason Mewes.

Like Reservoir Dogs, Clerks introduced the world to the talents of Kevin Smith - but the similarities really end there. Known for his casting favourites, his witty but low key dialogue, and for recognising the absolute lunacy of the human condition - Smith's follow up projects would all attain greater financial acclaim - but probably none will ever be quite as loved as this story of two losers working in retail and hating every minute of it.

=43 - Superman: The Movie (1978)
Last Finish: DNR
Director: Richard Donner
Writer: Mario Puzo
Stars: Christopher Reeve, Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, and Margot Kidder.

The original superhero epic, Superman brought the universally bland super-hero to the big screen and proved that people wanted to see these epic tales of super-heroes fighting against super villains. Like Superman Returns many years after it, Superman received not only box office success but critical acclaim - and launched the career of a charismatic young Christopher Reeve.

=43 - Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Last Finish: 3
Director: Peter Jackson
Writer: Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Phillipa Boynes
Stars: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellan, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom, and Liv Tyler

Achieving what many had thought impossible, Fellowship of the Ring finally succeeded in translating J.R.R Tolkien's epic masterpiece to the big screen and did so with immense success that would be matched only by its two sequels. Breathtaking in its scope and near flawless in its casting, Fellowship's only real criticism comes from its slow pacing. It seems unlikely that any trilogy will ever match 'The Ring's' immense success, but it has laid the foundation for others to try. Films such as Harry Potter, Beowulf, and The Golden Compass owe much of their success to the way in which Fellowship and its successors made fantasy mainstream again.

 

[Red Bear]

this is going at a cracking pace

 

[pennywisealfie]

Lol

 

[Red Bear]

errr, misan??? Anything happening? At all???

 

[Misanthrope]

Unfortunately, I lost a lot of my data/rankings during my move and the purchase of a new computer. I've noticed now that a bunch of people have submitted votes since the original deadline as well.

I'm contemplating re-starting voting and using a system similar to that which Bumble has used with great success in the Computer Games count-down. What do people think?

If I were to do that, would people prefer me using the top 80/160 from IMDB as a starting point? Or would they prefer to nominate films to go into the mix?

 

[Parki]

i think top 80 is a winner champ

 

[Misanthrope]

Just a straight lift? Or would people prefer it if I didn't include movies made pre 60s-70s? I consider myself a cinema nut and there's some movies in there I've never seen.

 

[Parki]

maybe make it the movies you reckon people would have seen (things like gone with the wind etc should still be in there IMO)