tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27601672.post7396441042428673064..comments2024-02-16T18:07:05.844-05:00Comments on ZONE: The Greatest Films of All Time: 51-100cowboyangelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452987299073540171noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27601672.post-78780366084342243872008-08-07T15:47:00.000-04:002008-08-07T15:47:00.000-04:00Jeff,Thanks for the comments. Yeah, I liked Aguir...Jeff,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the comments. Yeah, I liked Aguirre. So did Crystal! Heck, so did Roger Ebert! It's one of his 100 Great Movies. And if Roger Ebert likes it, then you know it has to be good. :-)<BR/><BR/><I>Second me as one who'd like to see an actor's list over a director's list.</I><BR/><BR/>What do you mean? No entiendo. What would an actor's list look like?<BR/><BR/>Yeah, I didn't think Barry Lyndon was that highly regarded when it came out. Another reason I was surprised to see it ranked ahead of Strangelove. And, to be honest, I'm surprised Strangelove is so low on the list. But maybe it's a film that resonates more in the US.<BR/><BR/>I thought of it this week when listening to news on the anthrax case. A member of the United States Army launched a terrorist attack, using biological weapons, against his own country. That's really intense. Someone in the Army crazy enough to do such a thing. Which, of course, made me think of Strangelove! Scary stuff.cowboyangelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13452987299073540171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27601672.post-46724082765828128832008-08-07T15:15:00.000-04:002008-08-07T15:15:00.000-04:00That's a much better list than the top 50, in my o...That's a much better list than the top 50, in my opinion. More watchable films; not such boutique choices. <BR/><BR/>Second me as one who'd like to see an actor's list over a director's list.<BR/><BR/>You liked Aguirre: The Wrath of God? I thought it was atrocious, even though I love Klaus Kinski. I liked the old silent Nosferatu too, but I especially liked Klaus Kinski in the <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1KO55JBuFE" REL="nofollow">Nosferatu remake with Isabelle Adjani</A>. <BR/><BR/>I never saw Barry Lyndon, but I don't recall it being so highly regarded when it came out. Wild Bunch and Blade Runner were both wildly original classics. Terrific films, both.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10754406706300818849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27601672.post-47250941247556633092008-08-06T16:16:00.000-04:002008-08-06T16:16:00.000-04:00Another thought on stars and directors: Film is in...Another thought on stars and directors: Film is interesting because it locks in the cast and crew eternally. They are always an integral part of the creative work. I don't think that's as true in other performing arts. In theatre, a play can be done by hundreds or thousands of different companies, and only once in a while do we associate a specific actor with a role in terms of analyzing <B>the work</B> itself. When one analyzes Hamlet, Olivier is probably not mentioned (unless one is writing about different actors playing the role.) But in film, you always have to take into consideration the actors. If you analyze The Maltese Falcon as a work of art, you have to talk about Bogart, Greenstreet, Lorre and Mary Astor. And, of course, Elisha Cook Jr.cowboyangelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13452987299073540171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27601672.post-52488834164963047152008-08-06T16:09:00.000-04:002008-08-06T16:09:00.000-04:00Liam,Yes, I was going to mention that many of the ...Liam,<BR/><BR/>Yes, I was going to mention that many of the actors were working with specific directors, like Marcello with Fellini and Grant with Hitchcock. Also Stewart's in two Hitchcock films, John Wayne in two Ford films, De Niro in two by Scorsese, etc.<BR/><BR/>Why do you say the lists are director-based, though? Do you think Roger Ebert or Time magazine are thinking in terms of Directors? Some, I would guess, but not necessarily as the first thing.<BR/><BR/>My posts have been director-based. But that's me.<BR/><BR/>It's interesting to me that most fans probably think of movies first in terms of stars. The Dark Knight = Heath Ledger, not Christopher Nolan. Whereas critics and maybe serious film-lovers think more in terms of directors.<BR/><BR/>Several of the films in the Top 100, however, seem more star-based than director-based. No one thinks of Victor Fleming in regards to The Wizard of Oz - they think Judy Garland. I didn't even know Fleming had directed it, to be honest. Casablanca = Bogart and Bergman, not Michael Curtiz.<BR/><BR/>Disappointing to only see Bogey in one film in the Top 100. Personally, I think The Maltese Falcon belongs in a Top 100. Because it's an excellent all-around film - acting, directing, writing, cinematography, editing, story; it was essential in the development of a major genre - film noir; and it marked the emergence of both John Huston and Bogart. I'm guessing it will show up in the Top 200.cowboyangelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13452987299073540171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27601672.post-34434945293137483002008-08-06T15:32:00.000-04:002008-08-06T15:32:00.000-04:00The actor thing is a whole other ball game. It see...The actor thing is a whole other ball game. It seems that since the lists are director-based, we're seeing director's favorite actors (Marcello and Cary Grant).Liamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17265036866243982434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27601672.post-55796000893709927122008-08-04T09:56:00.000-04:002008-08-04T09:56:00.000-04:00Julie,Thanks for visiting. And all the way from C...Julie,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for visiting. And all the way from Canada! I keep wanting to see Toronto, now that it's played the role of New York in so many recent films. I can usually tell when it's Toronto, because the streets look so much cleaner.<BR/><BR/>I hate most lists. So, of course, I tried to make my own from a bunch of others. I'm pleased, but I'm not sure anyone else is. I think that's the way these things go.<BR/><BR/>I'll check out your site.cowboyangelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13452987299073540171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27601672.post-50584978077327708782008-08-04T09:53:00.000-04:002008-08-04T09:53:00.000-04:00Crystal,I enjoyed reading your comments. thanks fo...Crystal,<BR/><BR/>I enjoyed reading your comments. thanks for the lowdown on Barry Lyndon.<BR/><BR/>Your knowledge of silent films is impressive. I've seen a few but am really just now investigating Chaplin and Keaton, for instance. Nosferatu is one of the ones I really want to see.<BR/><BR/>The Wild Bunch is nihilistic, yes. But I think it taps into something about the west and the mythology of the west that usually gets missed. It's very well written.<BR/><BR/>Plus, it's just a bad-ass film. :-)<BR/><BR/>Blade Runner is definitely in a special class.<BR/><BR/>I haven't seen Schindler's List either, though more because I don't like Spielberg and fear what he may have done with a subject like the Holocaust.cowboyangelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13452987299073540171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27601672.post-35734060540926838142008-08-04T03:07:00.000-04:002008-08-04T03:07:00.000-04:00Another list! No-no, I'm not being sarcastic; call...Another list! No-no, I'm not being sarcastic; call me somewhat nerdy, but whenever I wanted to watch a <I>good</I> movie, I would look up a few lists, such as this one, compare them, and then decide what to see. I can't help it; I like good movies! In my perspective, why bother wasting time with movies you have very little clue about, or which may have high ratings simply because they've been released recently?<BR/><BR/>Time will test them. We here at <A HREF="http://juliekinnear.com/torontomoviemadness.html" REL="nofollow">Toronto movie madness</A> should know...<BR/><BR/>Yours truly,<BR/>JulieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27601672.post-87318275022728819862008-08-03T23:16:00.000-04:002008-08-03T23:16:00.000-04:00This is fun :)I have seen Barry Lyndon and I do...This is fun :)<BR/><BR/>I have seen Barry Lyndon and I don't think I'd pick it as one of any top 100 movies, though it was beautiful to look at. I just couldn't like the main character or see the point of the story. <BR/><BR/>I remember Nosferatu - another silent movie I went to with the old boyfriend. Pretty fun.<BR/><BR/>Loved The Apartment, Sunset Blvd, North by Northwest, Rear Window, Notorious (think I had a past post on Notorious). They're all great. I just saw Rear Window a while ago before I stopped the TV ..... still reaaly good.<BR/><BR/>I saw The Wild Bunch and found it upsetting - so nihilistic.<BR/><BR/>Of coures, Blade Runner is in a class of its own :)<BR/><BR/>Still haven't worked up the courage to see Shindler's List.crystalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05681674503952991492noreply@blogger.com