[Archived] Best Films Of The Last Two Decades

[rebelmswar]

I guess by "important" you mean films "with a message" rather than just brainless popcorn fodder.

Not really, I feel that important should be important to the individual rather than the group collective.

Humans tend to answer in group politik when asked "What is the most important....." If you add "to you" you normally get to the core.

Must admit some very good ones named on here, my paper is going to be rather large as each response I get, makes me more excited.

Thanks so much.

Have to ask, is there a back story to liking this film so much?

[Eddie]

A lot of great films have already been mentioned, but how about American History X? Really good film.

White Men Can't Jump taught me a lot about myself...

[Jim J]

Stand By Me 1986. Watched this again last night, great film, makes you want to be a young teenager again.

[Nelsta]

Stand By Me 1986. Watched this again last night, great film, makes you want to be a young teenager again.

Yep, i have that same feeling when watching the goonies.

Although i find i cant watch the Goonies anymore with out a twinge of sadness.

Being that the friends i use to watch it with and long for that adventure have all drifted out of my life now.

I guess the saying at the end of Stand By Me is correct.

"You never have friends like the one's you did when you was 13"

[Rovermatt]

A lot of great films have already been mentioned, but how about American History X? Really good film.

Agreed. Incredible film.

[Scotty]

Apart from the one's mentioned - Seven is one of my favourites. The Bourne films must rank up there in terms of Action/Adventure. A Few Good Men was good too. I saw The Departed last week for the first time and really enjoyed that as well.

[adopted scouser]

Have to ask, is there a back story to liking this film so much?

Somebody gave me a copy to watch a long time ago, it's hardly Shawshank but a real cracker. Preferred it to 'Die Hard'

By the way I loved the first 'Elizabeth' NOT the second.

[Billy Castell]

Sin City, Bladerunner, The Seventh Seal, Shawshank Redemption, Spoorloos, Goodfellas, Kandahar, Lord of the Rings, City Of God, Unforgiven, The Shining, Finding Nemo, Pulp Fiction, ET, Terminator 2, Akira, Bowling for Columbine, Reservoir Dogs, The Matrix, Raging Bull, Amelie, Oldboy, Pans Labyrinth

I will pencil in Batman Begins for the moment as the greatest comic character adaptation until I see Dark Knight.

I have grouped my picks up the greatest movies by genre

I personally thought Sin City was crap. The visual effects were great, but it was so up its own bum and was trying to be so cool it was a bit pathetic. A bit like Kill Bill, which suffered from Matrixitis. The director made it look great, but there was too much waffle and it took itself too seriously. City of God is a fantastic film though.

Toy Story can be seen as important, as it launched Pixar into the big time, and was probably one of the first CGI animation films to be a big hit. Aladdin is also an important film too. This is because it used Robin Williams as the voice for the genie, and may have been the first to hire a big star to use a real actor's to sell the film, rather than have specialised voice artists. How many recent animation films have had famous actors lending their vocal talents and having their names on the posters since then?

[Biddy]

I have to echo the comments of The Shawshank Redemption being the best film. Most films I grow tired of watching but not this one, I could watch it over and over. I loved the Stephen King / Frank Darabont follow up, The Green Mile. Another superb film but not quite in the same league.

I honestly can't think of a "most important" film as I don't think I would judge any film as being important.

[Presty On Tour]

The Goonies is legendary!

My favorite films are movies such as Lock Stock, Snatch, Reservoir Dogs and Layer Cake.

Also growing up though the teenage years i cant forget the American Pie Trilogy.

I think the James Bond films always set the highest standard of making movies.

[Rovermatt]

I think the James Bond films always set the highest standard of making movies.

The three films preceding Casino Royale were terrible.

In any case I think Bourne has to be given a lot of credit for reinventing the action/spy genre. The first two films were so good and so fresh that the Bond franchise - for so long the standard-bearer - was forced to reinvent, and consequently save, itself. No Bourne, no Casino Royale

[Flopsy]

I dont have a favourite film of all time I have lots which include

Schindlers List,

Saving Private Ryan

Leon - a cult film for people of about my age - sadly not as well known now

The Lord of the Rings extended versions as seen as one very very very long film

Memento

Batman

Batman Begins

Toy Story and Toy Story 2

Lock stock and two smoking barrels

Shawshank Redemption?

Shreck and Shreck two

Akira

Matrix

The Bourne Trilogy

Casino Royale

[Nelsta]

Leon - a cult film for people of about my age - sadly not as well known now

Absolutley superb film(glad they cut the bit of leon sleeping with a young natalie portman out though)

Akira

Another superb film and opend the eyes of the world to manga.

[colin]

I'm not going to add anything new to the pool, but Shawshank Redemption & Pulp Fiction are there with the best.

As for "important" I think it's hard to apply this to a film that you go to see primarily to be entertained.

Don't forget you have a limited sector of the population at large in this sample

[Flopsy]

am i allowed king pin (cow? We aint got no cow, got a bull though) And the naked gun

[rebelmswar]

Don't forget you have a limited sector of the population at large in this sample

A lot less limited than if I asked in the area of the world I am in right now.

"The Birth of a Nation" and "Days of Thunder" would be classified as the best movies ever made.

I almost forgot "Song of the South"

There is a larger cross section on here right now for outline and direction reasons and some of the comments have helped out a great deal.

"Leon" or "The Professional" in the US is a good example as is "The Long Kiss Goodnight"

am i allowed king pin (cow? We aint got no cow, got a bull though) And the naked gun

And the hair in that movie was comic genius.

What I am doing is taking a baseline sample here and will flesh out each section.

I have plenty of time and wish to do a good job on it, make that GI bill pay off.

[Hasta]

Very difficult to answer. There are films that I grew up with as a kid that I still enjoy (Ghostbusters, Gremlins, Back To The Future) and then there are films which I find so watchable due to their cheese (Rocky 1-4 , Predator etc).

Star Wars obviously was superb as a sci-fi film and has had a lasting effect on the entire industry.

As for THE best I'd have to give it a lot more thought and remember a lot more films than I can. However you tend to know when you watch a film that you really enjoy and know that most others will. Of recent years the only two that I think will go down as genuine 'special' films are The Departed and Pans Labyrinth.

As for The Matrix - it is the biggest, most over-rated pile of science fiction dog poo I have ever seen. That's just my opinion of course.

am i allowed king pin (cow? We aint got no cow, got a bull though) And the naked gun

The greatest comedy ....

[Jim J]

Kingpin is quality, one more to add, one of the best low budget films i've seen, "Dead mans shoes"

[Bazzanotsogreat]

Mine In Alphabetical order

Aliens

American Gangster

American History X

Blood Diamond

Crash

Fight Club

Full Metal Jacket

Gladiator

Heat

Kill Bill: 1

LaVita è bella,

No Country for Old Men

Platoon

Saving Private Ryan

Schindler's List

The Departed

The Lord of the Rings: (Trilogy)

The Matrix (Trilogy)

The Shawshank Redemption

The Usual Suspects

There Will Be Blood

[Flopsy]

guess who's been through his dvd collection? shaun of the dead, serenity, america world police, reservoir dogs, spiderman 2

[Flopsy]

ooo oooo oooo ooooo

Mars Attacks

[Nelsta]

Big Trouble in Little China(Guilty pleasure #1)

[Flopsy]

nowt to be guilty about - when was "The Thing" released?

[rebelmswar]

ooo oooo oooo ooooo

Mars Attacks

Has to be up there for me too.

Anything by Burton.

nowt to be guilty about - when was "The Thing" released?

1982. Paranoia movie of the highest order.

Kurt Russell only better in Big Trouble in little China

[Flopsy]

Mine In Alphabetical order

Aliens agreed

American Gangster not seen

American History Xnot seen

Blood Diamondnot seen

Crashnot seen

Fight Club agreed

Full Metal Jacket agreed

Gladiator agreed

Heat agreed

Kill Bill: 1 agreed

LaVita è bella, not seen

No Country for Old Mennot seen

Platoon Seriously?

Saving Private Ryan agreed

Schindler's List agreed

The Departed agreed too a point - he's done better films

The Lord of the Rings: (Trilogy) oh yes

The Matrix (Trilogy) the first one was excellent - the 2nd was just dull and pretentious, the third one was much better but still slightly up itself

The Shawshank Redemption yup

The Usual Suspects how could I bloody forget that one?

There Will Be Blood not seen

My guilty pleasure #1 - The Rock

#2 - Highlander, just for the absurdity of Casting Lambert as a scotsman and Connery as an Egyptian, Spaniard who had lived in Japan for years who was still more scottish than the french bloke. Still Queen did the soundtrack and that forgives all sins