What's your favorite John Landis movie?

[Heineken Skywalker]

Sure, Landis doesn't make movies that get noticed by the Academy at Oscar time, except for the f/x in "AMERICAN WEREWOLF", but he has made a number of huge box office hits over the years and several modern comedy classics and that's a good thing too, right? It means that a lot of people have enjoyed his movies and movies shouldn't just be "important films". There's plenty of room for "popcorn movies" too. And he's made some good ones.
Besides movies, Landis is the man responsible for two of the most famous music videos of all time, well, him and Michael Jackson. "THRILLER" and "BLACK OR WHITE" were both directed by Landis. Another claim to fame that he probably wishes he didn't have is that he was the director of the segment in TWILIGHT ZONE: THE MOVIE where two children and actor Vic Morrow were killed in a helicopter accident during filming.

Of course he hasn't delivered in a while, BLUES BROTHERS 2000 . But I've got faith that Mr. Landis has at least one or two more big successful movies in him.

This was actually a tougher choice for me than picking my favorite Spielberg or Scorsese, but ultimately I'm gonna go with AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON. Simply because it's one of the best werewolf movies ever made and it's one of the best combinations of Horror & Comedy ever made. The Horror/Comedy is a hard combo to pull off, see VAMPIRE IN BROOKLYN, but in "WEREWOLF" everything works. The two male leads are witty and charming and have some hilarious moments together, but at the same time that first attack on the moors is as horrifying as anything I've seen in any traditional horror movie. Not to mention the tension that builds up just before the subway attack. That's edge of your seat stuff. And do I even need to mention the "state-of-the-art", at the time, f/x? While I love ANIMAL HOUSE for being an original in it's genre, the slob comedy, and THREE AMIGOS is a favorite of mine for it's sheer goofiness and "anything for a laugh" attitude, "WEREWOLF" wins just by being a really good movie in a tough genre.
But enough about my opinions. What do you think?

[Bartwald]

Heineken said:

...This was actually a tougher choice for me than picking my favorite Spielberg or Scorsese...

It was tougher for me, too! And I haven't even seen An American Werewolf!!!

But it just can't be better than Three Amigos or Spies Like Us: two of the funniest comedies in the world, if you ask my opinion! Spies Like Us got my vote but it could be Three Amigos if I voted tomorrow: both brilliant comedies full of utter stupidity that would NOT work if it wasn't performed by Chevy Chase or Dan Aykroyd or Steve Martin or Martin Short! The 'cheating during the exam' scene from Spies - where Chevy uses his plaster cast and eye patch to get some answers right - this always cracks me up PAINFULLY!

[ulmer]

The Blues Brothers.

[Bartwald]

Yeah, alright... it sure is a classic, but why exactly did you choose it, ulmer? Myself I was rather disappointed with it - too much music for a comedy, in my opinion, and... I don't know, I always thought Chevy Chase is funnier than John Belushi.

[Heineken Skywalker]

Bartwald said:

Myself I was rather disappointed with it - too much music for a comedy, in my opinion...

Well, yeah, but the movie isn't just a comedy, it's also a celebration of rythm & blues music. I always looked at it as a musical disguised as a comedy.
Unfortunately, Belushi didn't get as many chances as Chase to dazzle us on film, but between this and ANIMAL HOUSE he gave us two classic performances.
Welcome to the board, ulmer.

[frankenjohn]

Bart, you gotta see American! I laughed so much! It gave me a few thrills, too. Plus, the F/X is really good. It should be at your local Blockbuster/video rental store. Really look forward to seeing that one next. AVOID SEQUEL! CGI WEREWOLVES AND TOO MUCH GROSS-OUT HUMOR!

[Bartwald]

frankenjohn said:

Bart, you gotta see American!...It should be at your local Blockbuster/video rental store...

The sad thing is... it's not! Our rental stores are mostly interested in new movies and don't give a f#@k about the classic stuff on Special Edition DVD's - unless it's Terminator, at least. I guess we need Blockbuster to finally invade Poland: show'em how to do it, guys!

In fact, I already saw the sequel. And you're right - it wasn't good.

[Bartwald]

By the way: what's your favourite Landis movie, frankenjohn? You don't seem to have voted.

And one more thing: only now have I noticed that Oscar - the Sly Stallone comedy - made it to the poll! I wonder if anyone picks this one as a favourite! That would be cool! ;D

[frankenjohn]

These are all very funny movies (Oscar being OK). I'm gonna vote for American, for the reasons above.

[Sybillness]

I voted for Blues Brothers. Belushi's straight faced delivery has always appealed to me and I thought Dan Akroyd pulled it off as well. I love the chase scenes and the nun creeped me out. Just thinking about Belushi being on a mission from God still makes me giggle.

My close second is American Werewolf in London. You just gotta see that one Bartwald!

I loved Oscar! Yeah, yeah, shoot me.

[Bartwald]

Nah, I'm not going to shoot you just for liking Oscar, Sybillness... but it didn't do the comedy trick for me, let's be honest about it. I loved so many Landis movies in a row and then came Oscar. Hey: I even liked so many Stallone movies in a row (don't tell me you don't dig Cobra, folks!) and then... you know. So I'm not too fond of it.

What about The Kentucky Fried Movie? No one mentioned this one here and it is actually the craziest comedy Landis made (together with Jim Abrahams and the Zuckers, by the way).

[Heineken Skywalker]

"What about The Kentucky Fried Movie? No one mentioned this one here and it is actually the craziest comedy Landis made (together with Jim Abrahams and the Zuckers, by the way)."

You know, I thought about adding it to the poll, but I figured it's such a cult movie that not many would've seen it. But you're right, funny stuff.
I couldn't even sit through OSCAR, but it obviously has its fans. I did sit through COBRA. Once. Not Stallone's finest hour.

[RIP]

Animal House kicks ass!!! It's my fave comedy and a great beer drinking movie that reminds me of my college fraternity days. ;D

[Bartwald]

Animal House is funny and I know many people like it a lot, but I for one could never make myself love it. The ending also feels somewhat different than the rest of the movie and it always bothered me, it was always som kind of a letdown for me.

But I'm glad you feel so sentimental about it, RIP!

[ZapRowsdower]

I gotta go with the Three Amigos! One of my childhood favs, you know?