OK, this is probably a bit late, but a couple of weeks ago Channel 4 (UK TV station) broadcast a huge programme entitled '50 films to see before you die'.

Here are all the films they called essential viewing (obviously number 1 is considered the best) -

1. Apocalypse Now (1979)
2. The Apartment (1960)
3. City Of God (2002)
4. Chinatown (1974)
5. Sexy Beast (2000)
6. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
7. North By Northwest (1959)
8. A Bout De Souffle (1959)
9. Donnie Darko (2001)
10. Back To The Future (1985)
11. Alien (1979)
12. Lost In Translation (2003)
13. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
14. Lagaan (2001)
15. Pulp Fiction (1994)
16. Touch Of Evil (1958)
17. Walkabout (1971)
18. Black Narcissus (1947)
19. Boyz N The Hood (1991)
20. The Player (1992)
21. Come And See (1985)
22. Heavenly Creatures (1994)
23. A Night At The Opera (1935)
24. Erin Brockovich (2000)
25. Trainspotting (1996)
26. Hero (2002)
27. The Breakfast Club (1985)
28. Fanny And Alexander (1982)
29. Pink Flamingos (1972)
30. All About Eve (1950)
31. Scarface (1983)
32. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
33. Three Colours: Blue (1993)
34. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
35. The Ladykillers (1955)
36. Fight Club (1999)
37. The Searchers (1956)
38. Mulholland Drive (2001)
39. The Ipcress File (1962)
40. The King Of Comedy (1983)
41. Manhunter (1986)
42. Dawn Of The Dead (Director's Cut) (1978)
43. Princess Mononoke (1997)
44. Raising Arizona (1987)
45. Cabaret (1972)
46. This Sporting Life (1963)
47. Brazil (1985)
48. Aguirre, The Wrath of God (1972)
49. Secrets & Lies (1996)
50. Badlands (1973)

You can find a link to the Chanel 4 page about the programme here -
50 FILMS TO SEE BEFORE YOU DIE

This site also contains opinions and write ups about each film.

Anyone have any opinions about the list?

I thought they did a good job for the most part, although they didn't include the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Evil Dead. I suppose they made up for it with Dawn of the Dead though.

Not much to say really. It's a very fine list, and I am particularly thrilled to notice Come and See, that singular Russian film in there.
Myself, I would have put Aguirre in the top 5. I would have had Hiroshima Mon Amour in there somewhere, and where the hell is Blade Runner??!!#

Every film on the list is an outstanding film however, so if there is one or more you haven't seen...get out there...

Thanks for posting Dunc.

I can accept that people with strong stomachs and a high tolerance for z-movies should watch Pink Flamingos, but I have to draw the line at calling it "outstanding".

I greatly admire Come and See and highly recommend it, but I do find it somewhat influenced by Sergei Bondarchuk's War and Peace; at least in its graphic depiction of man's mistreatment of man in a highly-cinematic manner.

One other thing to add, re: the Marx Bros. I think they're way behind the times lionizing A Night at the Opera. I mean, I like it and all, but compared to Horse Feathers and Duck Soup, it's easily avoidable pre-death.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mark f,

I wouldn't really mind dying before seeing The Breakfast Club.

In fact, I recall saying that I'd rather do quite the opposite.

Manhunter over The Silence Of The Lambs?

Fanny And Alexander over Wild Strawberries/The Seventh Seal?

No Fantasia?

ERIN BROCKOVICH???

Lost In Translation (as much as I love it) should really be replaced with Eternal Sunshine.

And yeah, where the hell is Blade Runner?

I appreciated their more risky picks like City of God and Boyz N the Hood but I still believe a lot was left out.

No amination movie at all; they could have gone with Shrek and/or any Disney movie. I do think you should see at least ONE animation movie before you die. I also feel that more comedies should have been picked and Do the Right Thing should be on there.

quote:

Originally posted by Nhazghaal:
Manhunter over The Silence Of The Lambs?

And yeah, where the hell is Blade Runner?

Absolutely Manhunter above Silence of the lambs! Interestingly, there's a little known Comic Strip film called 'Gregory - Diary of a Nutcase'. It's a satire that explains all the problems in Silence of the lambs better than I ever could. Although Silence of the lambs is a well made piece of entertainment and a solid mainstream movie, Manhunter was the real deal and it's been unfairly overlooked.

As for Bladerunner - I suppose if you're going to make a list of just 50 films, you're going to have to choose between Alien and Bladerunner. Either selection will cause a lot of arguments.

I believe Monty Python and the Holy Grail should be on the list. Everyone should see that.

quote:

Originally posted by ericg75:
I believe Monty Python and the Holy Grail should be on the list. Everyone should see that.

I agree with you on that one eric, everyone should see it.

Maybe it is far too early, or even too absurd to make this claim, but I think everyone should see Wedding Crashers--arguably the best comedy of the 00's--in my opinion.

And not just because I love it but everyone should see Finding Nemo. It has a great story, smart writing, teaches great lessons, a cast full of memorable characters voiced by choice actors and it's hilarious!

No American Beauty? No Matrix? At least they have the respect to include Fight Club...

Adaptation would have been a nice pick, too, in my opinion...

quote:

Originally posted by FragileKidA:

No amination movie at all; they could have gone with Shrek and/or any Disney movie. I do think you should see at least ONE animation movie before you die.

They did put Princess Mononoke at 43. Which I guess you can't complain about, but I can think of a few others I'd pick over a lot of these, any day (Fantasia, Akira, Spirited Away...)

This seems like a rip-off of the hardcover book "100 movies you must see before you die" which I own. When I saw heavenly creatures on there I thought I was bound to see some LOTR action on the list. Alas, no. Not that I'm a HUGE fan of the movies, I'm not really. Yeah, Blade Runner should be on there. It was in the book version. I think 50 is just too short a list for something as subjective and all-encompassing as film. The book I have feels more complete at 100.

It's tough to make a list list this, because you'll always have some glaring omissions. Narrowing down 100 years of cinema into a top 50 list is a daunting task. I like the inclusion of Sexy Beast though. Great flick.

Overall, the list stayed away from really obvious choices, which is very cool.

quote:

Originally posted by goathouse:
This seems like a rip-off of the hardcover book "100 movies you must see before you die" which I own. When I saw heavenly creatures on there I thought I was bound to see some LOTR action on the list. Alas, no. Not that I'm a HUGE fan of the movies, I'm not really. Yeah, Blade Runner should be on there. It was in the book version. I think 50 is just too short a list for something as subjective and all-encompassing as film. The book I have feels more complete at 100.

As it was a TV programme including interviews, reviews and critical analysis, I would argue that 100 films would make it over-long.

On the subject of numerous Hollywood blockbusters not being included - I actually found that refreshing. It's rare to see a list of films focussed on creativity, integrity and cultural relevance as opposed to just reeling off a load of well known titles. I've seen many similar programmes that simply listed Star Wars, The Matrix, Raiders of the lost ark, Titanic, ET etc. You could compile a list like that in minutes. It seemed like a little more care and attention went into these selections.

The programme itself was interesting and informative. There are a few titles on the list which I've still not seen and knew little about. One film I'm having difficulty in tracking down is The Player. In the UK, it doesn't seem to have a release on DVD. It looks very interesting.

The name of the book is actually 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.

I don't have any problems with these kinds of lists because they are basically alternative lists for people who enjoy alternative movies. You could have 50 completely different movies, and it would still be a good alternative list. I noticed they tried to name only one movie from specific actors/directors so as to share the love.

quote:

Originally posted by mark f:
The name of the book is actually 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.

I don't have any problems with these kinds of lists because they are basically alternative lists for people who enjoy alternative movies. You could have 50 completely different movies, and it would still be a good alternative list. I noticed they tried to name only one movie from specific actors/directors so as to share the love.

great book, my aunt has it, every time i visit her i end up paying more attention to the book than her. 1000 is a solid number.

jeez, how about movies made before 1980. Check out Jean Cocteau's "Belle Et La Bete" (Beauty and the Beast) for one.

I think it's an injustice to not have any of Sergio Leone's movies on that list, "Once Upon a Time in the West" and "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" are both brilliant movies. Get rid of Pulp Fiction and put one of those up there.

quote:

Originally posted by DigToChina:
I think it's an injustice to not have any of Sergio Leone's movies on that list, "Once Upon a Time in the West" and "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" are both brilliant movies. Get rid of Pulp Fiction and put one of those up there.

Egads! Good/Bad/Ugly is indeed great but not ye Pulp Fiction! Get rid of say, Erin Brockovich

And welcome!

a very peculiar list indeed. definitely skews toward the violent and american and recent... and yet several good exceptions. is it just me or does this list seem to be personal and not from a larger poll?

oddities:
touch of evil, but no citizen kane
spielberg completely overlooked? harsh!
hero but no crouching tiger?

wtf are these doin on the list:
sexy beast
hero
the king of comedy [no taxi driver, raging bull, or goodfellas?]
manhunter