AFI's 100 YEARS... 100 MOVIES - 10th Anniv. Ed.

[Heineken Skywalker]

10 years after they first did it, the AFI (American Film Institute) recently decided to update their list of what they consider to be the greatest American films of all time, by conducting a new poll.
Here's the full list:

1 CITIZEN KANE
2 THE GODFATHER
3 CASABLANCA
4 RAGING BULL
5 SINGIN' IN THE RAIN
6 GONE WITH THE WIND
7 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA
8 SCHINDLER'S LIST
9 VERTIGO
10 WIZARD OF OZ
11 CITY LIGHTS
12 THE SEARCHERS
13 STAR WARS
14 PSYCHO
15 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
16 SUNSET BLVD.
17 THE GRADUATE
18 THE GENERAL
19 ON THE WATERFRONT
20 IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
21 CHINATOWN
22 SOME LIKE IT HOT
23 THE GRAPES OF WRATH
24 E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL
25 TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
26 MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON
27 HIGH NOON
28 ALL ABOUT EVE
29 DOUBLE INDEMNITY
30 APOCALYPSE NOW
31 THE MALTESE FALCON
32 THE GODFATHER PART II
33 ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST
34 SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS
35 ANNIE HALL
36 THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI
37 THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES
38 THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE
39 DR. STRANGELOVE
40 THE SOUND OF MUSIC
41 KING KONG
42 BONNIE AND CLYDE
43 MIDNIGHT COWBOY
44 THE PHILADELPHIA STORY
45 SHANE
46 IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT
47 A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
48 REAR WINDOW
49 INTOLERANCE
50 THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
51 WEST SIDE STORY
52 TAXI DRIVER
53 THE DEER HUNTER
54 M*A*S*H
55 NORTH BY NORTHWEST
56 JAWS
57 ROCKY
58 THE GOLD RUSH
59 NASHVILLE
60 DUCK SOUP
61 SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS
62 AMERICAN GRAFFITI
63 CABARET
64 NETWORK
65 THE AFRICAN QUEEN
66 RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK
67 WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?
68 UNFORGIVEN
69 TOOTSIE
70 A CLOCKWORK ORANGE
71 SAVING PRIVATE RYAN
72 THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
73 BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID
74 THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
75 IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT
76 FORREST GUMP
77 ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN
78 MODERN TIMES
79 THE WILD BUNCH
80 THE APARTMENT
81 SPARTACUS
82 SUNRISE
83 TITANIC
84 EASY RIDER
85 A NIGHT AT THE OPERA
86 PLATOON
87 12 ANGRY MEN
88 BRINGING UP BABY
89 THE SIXTH SENSE
90 SWING TIME
91 SOPHIE'S CHOICE
92 GOODFELLAS
93 THE FRENCH CONNECTION
94 PULP FICTION
95 THE LAST PICTURE SHOW
96 DO THE RIGHT THING
97 BLADE RUNNER
98 YANKEE DOODLE DANDY
99 TOY STORY
100 BEN-HUR

Click here to read some interesting facts about the list.
While watching the AFI tv special the other night I decided to keep track and write down the names of all the movies I hadn't yet seen so that I can go try to rent them on dvd or catch them on IFC, TCM or HBO. Turns out there were only 3 movies on the list I haven't yet seen, #91 SOPHIE'S CHOICE, #90 SWING TIME, #82 SUNRISE, and one "maybe", #49 INTOLERANCE. I say maybe, because I just don't remember. INTOLERANCE is an old silent film from 1916, and while it sounds familiar and I think I may have seen it a long time ago, I'm not 100% positive, so I may have to give it another look. (Cut me some slack, I'm 40 and have seen a shitload of films. I'm bound to forget one from time to time.)
As for the rest of the list, like most film fans, I have some issues with it. Whether it's how low some movies rated, GOODFELLAS, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK and JAWS are only #92, #66 and #56, respectively?? Or how high others rated, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN is #5?? Or by the complete omission of others, where the hell are THE EXORCIST and DANCES WITH WOLVES??
Anyway, what do you guys think of the list? Have you seen most of the films on it? Have you managed to miss most of them, slayrrr?
Are there some you would've voted higher or lower? What's a glareing oversight in your opinion? Is CITIZEN KANE really deserving of that top spot or is it time for film fans to move on already?
This is just for fun, there are no prizes. Just trying to stir up some discussion other than what movie or tv show has everyone seen lately.

[slayrrr666]

LOL

I've seen a good 30-40 of the list. It took me a while to become fully-fledged horror only, and spent most of my youth in a video store. I may not have liked them, but I've seen a little less than half that list.

[LivingDeadGirl]

I've only seen under half of them...I guess I need to watch more TCM. And fill my Netflix qeue up more than it already is. ;D

2 THE GODFATHER
4 RAGING BULL
6 GONE WITH THE WIND
8 SCHINDLER'S LIST
10 WIZARD OF OZ
13 STAR WARS
14 PSYCHO
15 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
20 IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
24 E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL
27 HIGH NOON
30 APOCALYPSE NOW
32 THE GODFATHER PART II
34 SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS
40 THE SOUND OF MUSIC
41 KING KONG
42 BONNIE AND CLYDE
43 MIDNIGHT COWBOY
50 THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
52 TAXI DRIVER
53 THE DEER HUNTER
56 JAWS
57 ROCKY
62 AMERICAN GRAFFITI
66 RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK
68 UNFORGIVEN
69 TOOTSIE
70 A CLOCKWORK ORANGE
71 SAVING PRIVATE RYAN
72 THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
73 BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID
74 THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
75 IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT
76 FORREST GUMP
83 TITANIC
86 PLATOON
89 THE SIXTH SENSE
92 GOODFELLAS
94 PULP FICTION
96 DO THE RIGHT THING
97 BLADE RUNNER
99 TOY STORY

[Phoenix]

I will have to recount the ones I've seen later.

I really do NOT believe Citizen Kane deserves to be number one. What is the mean age of voters for this list? I find that movie boring....

boring...

did I mention boring?

Every time I've tried to sit through it I've fallen asleep. I have seen it in it's entirety only as a sum of parts (because of the sleep). I have to admit I do not like Orson Wells either.

I like old movies, I just don't think that one should really be the BEST movie of all time. I've yet to meet anyone, including my grandparents, who say that is their favorite movie.

ROSEBUD!!!!!!!!!!

[Pulpmariachi]

I think it's a culmination of all the votes. Just because it's not everyone's favorite movie doesn't mean it doesn't deserve to be there. Frankly, no one can definitley say which is the best movie ever, but you look at the story, the cinematography, the performances, and all of the other technical mumbo jumbo and it comes together superbly. Just like "The Godfather", I mean, I'm not the biggest fan but you can't deny everything came together greatly.

I've seen over half of those movies...maybe even 3/4ths. I'd say there's a good crop of movies there, personally, but like Heineken, I'm a bit eh about some of the rankings. To me, it seems other films lower on the list ("Raiders of the Lost Ark") came together better than some of the higher ranked ones ("Singin' in the Rain").

[Heineken Skywalker]

Besides all the stuff Pulp mentioned, story, cinematography, performances, etc., I think rewatchability counts for a lot when I think of all of my favorite movies. Can I watch that movie over and over and still enjoy it? Star Wars, Jaws, The Godfather, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Goodfellas, Dances With Wolves, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, This is Spinal Tap, Rocky, Toy Story, Shawshank Redemption, It's a Wonderful Life, and many others are movies that I feel that way about. A lot of the movies on the AFI list would find their way on to my list, but the order would be drastically different.

Regarding Phoenix's Citizen Kane rant. I like the movie, I've seen it three times, I own the dvd, and each time I watch it, I like it a little more. And I can appreciate why film historians always seem to rate it so high, there are many film techniques in it that were never attempted before, the scope of the story, the age of Welles when he made it, etc. But I can also understand why some would consider it boring. It's definitely not for everybody. Would I rate it number one? Absolutely not. Personally, I think it's time for film historians and fans to move on about that one already. As groundbreaking as Kane was at it's time, there have been so many advances in movies, techniques and technology since then, that it sometimes seems like critics and historians almost feel like they have to name it number one.

[Phoenix]

Yea, I agree with your assessment there Heineken. I think the list reflects less of WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE and more of WHAT MOVIES PAVED THE WAY FOR OTHERS or WHAT MOVIES ARE THE BEST IN TERMS OF AN ARTFORM? Which can be different than an enjoyable film. Sometimes the two can mix to make a great film that you can watch over and over and still love in terms of story. Other times it's just something you have to watch for the sheer "appreciation" of how they did it. Which is what I think Citizen Kane is about.

Citizen Kane has amazing lighting, expert direction, acting, etc. but is it anyone's favorite movie (that is under 60)? I really believe it is not. In fact, most old timers like Ben Hur (should be higher than 100) and Gone With The Wind or John Wayne stuff. Of course, that is only from my own informal polls working with old timers in the hospital and nursing home setting. I've never met anyone, EVER who said "Citizen Kane is my favorite movie." I am disappointed that the American Film Institute is not a little more progressive. If it was #2 I'd be okay with it. #1, no way.

It's sort of like saying The Great Gatsby is the best American novel of all time. Maybe 40 years ago yes, but nowadays I really don't think so.

[Heineken Skywalker]

Well, I know everybody around here was on pins and needles about this, so I'm happy to report that I can now cross #82, SUNRISE, off my list of movies from the AFI list I hadn't yet seen. Saw it last night and my comments about it are in the Just Watched thread.
Three more to go, #91 SOPHIE'S CHOICE, #90 SWING TIME and #49 INTOLERANCE and I'll have seen all 100 movies.
It's good to have goals.

[LivingDeadGirl]

Congrats! ;D I have a long way to go to watch them all, but hopefully slowly but surely I can.

[Heineken Skywalker]

An update: I finally watched #90 on the list, SWING TIME. My comments in the "Just Watched" thread.
Two more to go, #91, SOPHIE'S CHOICE (now on my Netflix qeue) and #49, INTOLERANCE. Gonna see if my brother has that one on vhs or dvd. He's a big fan of silent films.
Anyone else catch up with any from this list they hadn't seen before I first posted it?

[slayrrr666]

Well, I knocked off some that were on the list I haven't seen: The Indiana Jones trilogy. Never seen any of them before, got them through the marathon on Sci-Fi Channel over the weekend, so that puts me about halfway through having seen the list.

[Heineken Skywalker]

Another one bites the dust. Just watched #91, SOPHIE'S CHOICE (1982).
One more to go, #49 INTOLERANCE, and I will have seen the entire list.

[Quorthon]

2 THE GODFATHER
6 GONE WITH THE WIND
8 SCHINDLER'S LIST
9 VERTIGO
10 WIZARD OF OZ
13 STAR WARS
14 PSYCHO
15 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
23 THE GRAPES OF WRATH
24 E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL
31 THE MALTESE FALCON
33 ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST
34 SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS
39 DR. STRANGELOVE
41 KING KONG
45 SHANE
50 THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
52 TAXI DRIVER
54 M*A*S*H
56 JAWS
63 CABARET
66 RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK
68 UNFORGIVEN
70 A CLOCKWORK ORANGE
71 SAVING PRIVATE RYAN
72 THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
74 THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
76 FORREST GUMP
79 THE WILD BUNCH
86 PLATOON
89 THE SIXTH SENSE
94 PULP FICTION
97 BLADE RUNNER
99 TOY STORY


Wow. I've sure missed a lot. This is all I've seen. I'm so lame. Some of these I don't even really remember aside from, "yeah, I saw it. It was a long time ago, but I saw it."

[Heineken Skywalker]

Q, you've never seen the original ROCKY?? Movie Police!! Movie Police!!
That, GOODFELLAS and BEN HUR, are probably the omissions on your list I was most surprised by.
There are a couple of upcoming "Genre of the Month" categories where you'll be able to catch up on at least two of those titles.

[slayrrr666]

4 RAGING BULL **
5 SINGIN' IN THE RAIN
9 VERTIGO
10 WIZARD OF OZ**
13 STAR WARS
14 PSYCHO
15 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
17 THE GRADUATE**
20 IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE **
22 SOME LIKE IT HOT
23 THE GRAPES OF WRATH
24 E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL**
25 TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
26 MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON
27 HIGH NOON **
33 ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST
34 SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS
39 DR. STRANGELOVE **
40 THE SOUND OF MUSIC**
41 KING KONG
47 A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
48 REAR WINDOW
55 NORTH BY NORTHWEST **
56 JAWS
57 ROCKY **
60 DUCK SOUP
66 RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK **
68 UNFORGIVEN
74 THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS**
76 FORREST GUMP
77 ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN **
79 THE WILD BUNCH
83 TITANIC
84 EASY RIDER
85 A NIGHT AT THE OPERA
89 THE SIXTH SENSE**
93 THE FRENCH CONNECTION**
94 PULP FICTION
96 DO THE RIGHT THING
99 TOY STORY

Figured that since Q did his list, I should do mine. Betcha there's some surprising ones on there, huh?

**indicates some which I've seen but not uncensored.