[Cowboy Bob]

Best movies:

Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure

Fifth Element

[InterceptPoint]

[TontoKowalski]

"Silence of the Lambs." The first time I saw that, everyone in the theater was absolutely transfixed on the film.

Edge of the chair the whole time. Fantastic acting. Evil villain. Charming and pretty hero. And, of course, the bafoonish prison psychiatrist that you really didn't mind getting eaten in the end.

[exDemMom]

That's the magic of movies: some folks will enjoy a film that may seem an endurance test for others.

Indeed. I utterly loathe "It's a Wonderful Life." The premise that the world would be quite different if a specific person (selected at random) had not existed is ludicrous. And the movie just goes downhill from there, with its over-the-top sappiness.

It's hard to pick a movie that I would consider among the best ever made. Patton, The Addams Family, Beauty and the Beast... clearly, good movies can fall into any genre.

[jetson]

Big Lebowski

Joe Dirt

Caddyshack

These movies tell about everything one needs to know.

[cyclotic]

I can’t believe no one has mentioned Die Hard as the best Christmas movie yet.

I agree with Its a Wonderful Life. The premise is true. No matter who you are, your impact on others can change the world.

[notted]

It’s a Wonderful Life, is one of my favorite movies as well. My take is; that the theme of envy, is personified by Mr. Potter, which shows the destruction that envy causes for the whole town, the movie also shows that retreat from the world, holds untold consequences, by premising the plot on how George wishes he was never born. It is a variation of the idea of envy, but an envy of the dead and the retreat from responsibility. The movie successfully demonstrates how envy can be overcome by charity.

[mad_as_he$$]

Best movie ever? Easy. Unforgiven.

[Verbosus]

Weekend at Bernies II

It has every aspect of a Shakespearian classic play - the occult, love, hate, ambition, greed, humor, comic relief, death, wealth and it’s opulence, poverty and it’s blight, politics....

I could easily go on - but the brilliance of that masterpiece speaks for itself.

[sakic]

Goodfellas

[CrazyIvan]

Big Fish
Secondhand Lions
Worlds Fastest Indian

(In addition to the fore mentioned)

[fr_freak]

I love "It's a Wonderful Life" and the end always seems to get me in the gut, but when one goes even just an inch past the surface in analyzing it, one is forced to realize that the movie fails to be a truly inspirational film because it relies too much on George Bailey's life being perfect to begin with. He had an extraordinarily beautiful wife who was completely devoted to him (she was an old maid in the alternate reality. An old maid!), plenty of fine children, a nice house, a good if struggling business, and friends all over town. Maybe he missed out on trips to Paris and being an architect, but so what?

The movie could have depicted true sacrifice. George's life in present day could have really sucked (no beautiful wife or kids, no friends all over town, etc.), but he could have been shown how his sacrifice benefited others. Then, at the end, George goes back to his little hovel, alone, knowing that he made a difference. Sure, it wouldn't have had the Disney ending, but it would have been a truer tale of "Christ's teachings being put into action by a Believer."

[dynachrome]

“O Brother, Where Art Thou”

[onedoug]

The one I’m watching.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Found the worst, and not in a “Plan 9 From Outer Space Way.”

“FART:the Movie” (1991)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIB0GtbYpc4

You don’t need to watch any of it. Just know that it exists.

[montag813]

I am shocked that NBC doesn’t bleep out “God” when George Bailey says it (many times). Perhaps next year.

[BipolarBob]

Drama - Dersu Uzala
Comedy - Blazing Saddles with Used Cars a close second
Sci-fi - Blade Runner with Prometheus a close second

[.45 Long Colt]

“But I would submit that It’s A Wonderful Life shows Christ’s teachings being put into action by a Believer.

I concede that there is no scene showing George hearing the Gospel and responding to it, so I’m making an assumption. That’s another magic of the medium: the best movies let us project our sensibilities onto a film’s theme. But when you analyze the consistency of George’s caring nature that puts others first, is it really difficult to see him as a man of faith?”

I like the film, but I don’t totally agree with Mr. Boatwright. While George does pray in the film, his isn’t the prayer of a devout man of Christian faith. I might project my sensibility, my Christian worldview, and presume George is a Christian if it weren’t for his prayer. His prayer could be uttered by anyone of any faith with a naked belief in “God.”

This is what George says:

“God... God... Dear Father in Heaven, I’m not a praying man, but if you’re up there and you can hear me, show me the way. I’m at the end of my rope. Show me the way, God.”

Maybe George is on his way to Christian faith, but he’s not a believer yet. No Christian prays that prayer.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

“The Best Years of our Lives.”

[stylin19a]

Undercover Brother