Anarchy’s Top-25 Movies of All Time

in the early afternoon on Monday, the 24th of October 2005 by Anarchy

OK… I took a look at that Top-25 list from The Register, and it just didn’t quite sit well with me. The list just seemed a bit one-sided. Now… that’ll be true of most people’s fav lists… and I understand that many people find it difficult to gauge a film that doesn’t fit into something that they specifically like.

Now… most that know me know that I like movies. I’m usually not too partial to a specific genre… I just like movies. So I decided to come up with my own Top-25 list. I tried to stick to films that I thought were significant enough to make an impact on me. So… yes… this list is jaded as well. However, I did my best to pick what I think are brilliant films… as such, you will please note that at no time in this list will you ever see me use the word “Matrix”.

OK. Here goes…
25 - La Femme Nikita — yes… it’s french… but it’s damn good.
24 - Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World — as close as you can get to living on an 18th century frigate… but without the smell.
23 - Forbidden Planet – classic science fiction at it’s best!
22 - Gaslight – I prefer the 1944 version with Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman… plus… this was Angela Lansbury’s first film role… I love it when she says “Coo !”
21 - The Blues Brothers – this has to be the greatest collection of car wrecks ever filmed
20 - Planet of the Apes – the original… none of that Marky Mark version, thank you
19 - Cool Hand Luke – here’s a bit of trivia for you… Luke’s prison number is 37… which is in reference to the Bible in Luke 1:37 which reads… “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
18 - Arsenic and Old Lace – this macabre comedy is worth watching just to see Cary Grant’s exaggerated double- and triple-takes on finding the body in the window seat.
17 - Mad Max – you’ve got to love a movie with character names like Toecutter, Mudguts, and Clunk
16 - The American President – this is one of those feel good films that delves into the idea that “politics is preception”… well… it’s true, don’tcha know
15 - Alien – this was one of the first films I remember seeing in the theatre when I was young… and it scared the ever-living out of me… I loved it!
14 - The Philadelphia Story – Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and James Stewart… in one film… ’nuff said
13 - Saving Private Ryan – I don’t usually go in for Tom Hanks films too often, but this one was worth the time and effort.
12 - Bringing Up Baby – Fast-paced conversations, screwball antics, and Cary Grant announcing he’s suddenly gone gay… comic perfection.
11 - Serenity – Yes, I’m a Browncoat… and, no… that didn’t influence my voting.
10 - Rocky – Yo! I’ve noticed that there are alot of people (women mostly) who jump to conclusions about this film. Give it a chance… just once. I convinced my wife to finally watch it with me… and she cursed me afterwards because she actually liked it.
8 - Forrest Gump – This is another Tom Hanks film that I thought was rather good. Of course… Lieutenant Dan was my favorite character.
9 - Three Days of the Condor — Who knew that reading books could be so dangerous. One of Robert Redford’s best films!
7 - LÃ©on (aka… The Professional) – Jean Reno takes Natalie Portman under his wing and begins training her as an assassin. Brilliant! It’ll probably never happen, but every day I hope and pray that oneday a sequel will be made… named “Mathilda”.
6 - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid – Not that it matters, but most of it is true.
5 - All the President’s Men – Thanks for the first amendment!
4 - Raiders of the Lost Ark – Indy never loses his hat throughout the entire film… because it would have caused problems with continuity. Later, it became a running joke.
3 - Star Wars – Of course this made the Top list… duh.
2 - The Shawshank Redemption – I think a man working outdoors feels more like a man if he can have a bottle of suds. That’s only my opinion.
1 - The Great Escape – In my humble opinion… the best film ever made.

As an additional note… I’d like to throw out one more list.

Anarchy’s Top-10 List of Films that you’ve probably NEVER heard of, but MUST SEE.

10 - The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai: Across the Eighth Dimension – Peter Weller, John Lithgow, Jeff Goldblum, Christopher Lloyd, … and the list just keeps going… and going.
9 - Ngo si sui (aka… Who Am I?) – Fight now. Ask questions later.
8 - Dung fong saam hap (aka… The Heroic Trio) – Not a great film… but it’s a fun chicks-with-superpowers film.
7 - The Matchmaker – Janeane Garofalo at her best!
6 - Tampopo – A diner cook and a truck driver set out to find the secret to the perfect bowl of noodles.
5 - Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins – Chiun never does get around to telling us about Lesson #36.
4 - Six-String Samurai – Float away, little butterfly. Just flutter away.
3 - Die xue shuang xiong (aka… The Killer) – Body Count = 120
2 - Lola Rennt (aka… Run Lola Run) – Check out all the symbolism… the clocks, the breaking glass, the # 20… and damn, can that girl scream!
1 - El Mariachi – this film is proof that when a film maker is hungry, he can be very creative… sadly, Mr. Rodriguez lost his edge the moment he had a budget.