Posted on 08/21/2011 12:00:53 PM PDT by mamelukesabre
I'm interested in what everyone would add to the list. In no particular order, my list of 15 "must see" movies of the last 30 years...
Bladerunner
The hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy
Stand and deliver
The big labowski
Buckaroo banzai
Oh brother where art thou?
Phenomenon
Fargo
Open range
Cindarella man
The Hitcher
Pay it forward
Once upon a time in america
Forest Gump
Last of the mohicans
I usually don’t even notice those things like cinematography and for the first few Zatoichi films I never appreciated it. Then for some reason I did begin to notice it and you are right, it is first class.
Another movie which has great cinematography is the 1930’s movie “Edge of the World” Even in B&W you can see the beauty of that Scottish Island.
I got Apocalypse Now covered but I just realized it doesn’t make the 30 year cutoff (it was 1979, right?), which is a weird thought because I think of it as a thoroughly modern movie.
In an interview I saw a while back, Clint was saying of all of his movies, it’s his favorite too.
In the remake of Red Dawn, who invades us this time?
What makes a film really stick in your gut are numerous quotes that apply to multiple neat occasions. It doesn't even have to be a good movie.
“No wire hangers. No wire hangers, EVER!” And if we are going back to 1980, I forgot The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark, UHF, and the incredibly horrible but remarkably quotable Army of Darkness. "First you want to kiss me, then you want to kill me. Blow!"
I will add “The Wicker Man” ca.1970, after some good advice from FReepers.
Hey! I liked Phenomenon. Also like Michael.
Glad someone finally listed The Patriot.
I’d add Steel Magnolias to the list.
I got that on Netflix after Rush Limbaugh recommended it. Fantastic movie.
Finding Nemo. So good on so many levels. We quote lines from this movie almost every day.
Nice.
Even if you don't watch the other two parts, it's a great standalone film. I liked this one best of the three because everything was all new, and even though the story is "to be continued", it ends on a note of hope.
The Pirates of the Caribbean: the Curse of the Black Pearl
The first one turned all the tropes upside-down while remembering that pirates are Bad and the Royal Navy were the Good Guys and not played (strictly) for laughs. In particular, the two comic-relief seamen whom you might expect to turn tail and jump into the water instead give each other a nod and charge into the fray.
Geoffrey Rusch's performance is even better than Depp's. He gives a speech about apples that would have sounded stupid from anyone else.
And they struck gold when they cast Jack Davenport as the understated Cmdr Norrington.
The Hunt for Red October
Okay, I'm going back a bit. Best adaptation of a Clancy novel, IMO, and possibly my favorite Clancy novel.
Known for being the last movie of the Cold War.
Second Hand Lions
The Man from Snowy River
A River Runs Through It
The Passion
Not Easily Broken
Finding Forrester
The Patriot
Gladiator
The Narnia series
Strange Cargo
Tobacco Road
The Thirteenth Warrior
Citizen Kane
Shawshank Redemption
Schindlers List
Dr. Zhivago
Dr. Strangelove
Blazing Saddles
Used Cars
The Ten Commandments
Lord of the Rings
Band of Brothers
The Pacific
We Were Soldiers
Shooter
Taken
Terminator Salvation
Black Hawk Down
Life Free or Die Hard
Lethal Weapon
300
I am Legend(Alternate Ending)
Patriot
Legends of the Fall
Battle: Los Angeles
Saving Private Ryan
Full Metal Jacket
The Shawshank Redemption
Firefly(Complete Series)
Serenity
Forrest Gump
Armageddon
The Outlaw Josey Wales
The Count of Monte Cristo
Red Dawn
The Siege of Firebase Gloria
The Third Man
It's consists of 54 hour long episodes. Best thing I've ever watched.
Honesty, loyalty, truth, sacrifice, faith.. It has it all.
Add:
We Were Soldiers
The Mission
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