[Archived] Best Films Of The Last Two Decades

[Wolves_Rover]

Just caught this thread and will add my twopenneth

The word Important is a little flexible - important to the viewer is one aspect, important to the film industry is another.

If we are talking about important to the viewer then my 1-2-3 would probably be Fight Club (1999); American Beauty (1999) & Office Space (1999) (all the same year I know - must have been something in the water back then)

For me, these films had a strong, postitive message that consisted of anti-establishment; self-improvement & a sense of realisation that life is finite - so do not waste it doing frivolous things.

However, the case for important to the film industry can permeate many levels of the film industry - for example a film that dominated at the box office and became the new high standard - This would be a film such as Titanic (1997). Other characteristics of the industry may include films that broke new ground on a technical front such as The Matrix (1999) or even Toy Story (1995) or low budget features that utilised the power of the internet and eventually took a large gross such as The Blair Witch Project (1999).

There are many other aspects to the industrial importance of a certain film that I can't address right now - such as films that dared to be different (in the recent past) - Clerks (1994) is a good example of this or films that exhibited a deviation from the traditional hollywood style - Memento (2000) is an excellent example of this. The recent 'torture porn' phenomona is arguably very important due to the sheer wealth of films that could now be categorised as such, as well as the box office takings these films seem to average.

However, the importance of film varies from viewer to viewer and this is one of the reasons that film remains in the popular scope. There are films for all tastes and this is the reason why I place it at the top of my interest.

Before I finish I must mention There Will Be Blood (2007) as this film contained one of the most important perfomances in living memory - a truly astonishing example of what evil really is and what wrongs people can do if they really want to.

If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything...

[Nelsta]

Mainly because of the moronic wanna be Tony Montana's it created. I found Tony to (in the end) be such a pathetic creature of a fellow.

Yeah i think i have lost a lot of intrest in that film, Due to the amount of Scallys/Chavs That seem to be buying up everything they can to do with Scarface I.E. Framed pictures, Mobile Phone wallpapers.

[Jimmy Jupiter]

Honey I Shrunk the Kids and Suburban Commando.

[Flopsy]

I always enjoyed Universal Soldier "Vat aceeent?"

[Flopsy]

rumble in the bronx. Jackie Chan did half that movie with a broken ankle, and he did all his own stunts

[rebelmswar]

I always enjoyed Universal Soldier "Vat aceeent?"

Guilty pleasure right?

Did anyone else ever see "Munchies" the rip of of Gremlins?

Could we have some entries for Best Horror Movie's of the 80's please? Sorry "Dawn of the Dead" was 70's

Part One is culture effects of 70's financial troubles = increase in horror movie production.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Could we have some entries for Best Horror Movie's of the 80's please? Sorry "Dawn of the Dead" was 70's

A few suggestions:

The Evil Dead- Has a cult following and is regarded as a classic.

The Fly- Science fiction horror with a bit of comedy

The Hitcher- Horror/Thriller. Rutger Hauer is great and the film has some scary moments.

There was also

An American Werewolf in London- the transformation effects were pretty groundbreaking at the time.

There was also this that scared the **** out of me when i was pretty young and saw bits of it.

[American]

Unfortunately, the greatest of all time, Halloween, was in 1978. Fortunately, the second best of all times, Halloween 2 was in the 80s.

For other 80s ones, have to say the original Nightmare on Elm Street, Firestarter, Prince of Darkness (I'm a big Carpenter fan), Hellraiser and The Shining.

[broadsword]

You have to love Rocky 4 for Dolph Lundgren saying: "I must break you". The film's a complete dog of course, but the line is so funny.

And some complete tosh from Stallone about how he has to stand in front of the Russian, and he's scared but the Russian's going to have to go toe-to-toe with him or something.

Here we go:

"Oh, Adrian. Adrian always tells the truth. No, maybe I can't win. Maybe the only thing I can do is just take everything he's got. But to beat me, he's going to have to kill me. And to kill me, he's gonna have to have the heart to stand in front of me. And to do that, he's got to be willing to die himself. I don't know if he's ready to do that. I don't know."

[yoda]

Unfortunately, the greatest of all time, Halloween, was in 1978. Fortunately, the second best of all times, Halloween 2 was in the 80s.

For other 80s ones, have to say the original Nightmare on Elm Street, Firestarter, Prince of Darkness (I'm a big Carpenter fan), Hellraiser and The Shining.

How about Midnight Express for pre 1980's, or Clockwork Orange?

[rebelmswar]

You have to love Rocky 4 for Dolph Lundgren saying: "I must break you". The film's a complete dog of course, but the line is so funny.

"If he dies, he dies" Classic.

Soviet as the boogy man was complete wave the flag garbage but made an interesting movie to watch.

[rebelmswar]

A few suggestions:

The Evil Dead- Has a cult following and is regarded as a classic. I am a due paying member.

The Fly- Science fiction horror with a bit of comedy A shocker for its time, the penis in the medicine cabinet was enough for me.

The Hitcher- Horror/Thriller. Rutger Hauer is great and the film has some scary moments. Massive suspense, finger in the fries.

An American Werewolf in London- the transformation effects were pretty groundbreaking at the time.

Agree 100% and the re-imagining of what a werewolf should look like was superb. You have to give Landis a lot of credit for the comedy aspects wound into it. To this day this scene makes me afraid of weird eyes.

There was also this that scared the **** out of me when i was pretty young and saw bits of it.

The invention of that Chucky character is horror genius. Sad that the sequels were bad and the last could almost drive people to suicide through its crapness.

Unfortunately, the greatest of all time, Halloween, was in 1978. Fortunately, the second best of all times, Halloween 2 was in the 80s.

For other 80s ones, have to say the original Nightmare on Elm Street, Firestarter, Prince of Darkness (I'm a big Carpenter fan), Hellraiser and The Shining.

I agree Halloween 2 was almost as good as the first.

Which Nightmare was the best and worst for you?

Firestarter is always looked over but is great, nice to see a book to movie that is good in its own right.

Hellraiser what needs to be said, the scene with the floor, stands out.

The Shining, infamous lines great psychotic portrayal only bettered by Ledger in The Dark Knight

Big Trouble in Little China must play constant in your house.

[broadsword]

"If he dies, he dies" Classic.

Soviet as the boogy man was complete wave the flag garbage but made an interesting movie to watch.

Yes, agreed, but not in the way film-makers intended.

We can all laugh at it now of course, but at the time perhaps quite a manipulative movie?

Film is a very interesting medium. Of course a lot of it is spoiled by people just wanting to make as much money as possible.

"Does this film fit XYZ template? Audiences liked XYZ fiulm, we need more of that."

Like record companies really. Perhaps there's a mathematical formula for a /2good/2 film that will gross back its profits. Bits like a cooking recipe.

"Take one heroine with bg boobs, douse her in goo and make her helpless. Meanwhnile the hero, who you've prepared before must first be battered with caricatured baddies ..." and so on!

I've almost givenm up on modern films, I like old ones! Bad Day at Black Rocks kicks ass! And it's definitely of its time. Perhaps in fifty years people will be saying similar things of Donkey Punch (maybe not)

Ha! Big Tropuble in Little China, a film that doesn't take itself too seriously.

[broadsword]

"quite a manipulative movie"

I do apologise, I've had a few!

It was terrible, you might as well have had Ronnie Reagan as trainer.

[S15]

''Escape From Manhattan'' and ''Escape From LA...''

Right, mods, you can lock this now.

[Flopsy]

I'll agree with New york, but LA as a dreadful film.

When was "The Running Man"?

[rebelmswar]

When was "The Running Man"?

1987, one of Stephen Kings many game show of the future scenario.

We are getting closer to that type of show all of the time.

[Flopsy]

Ooo, Contenders - Series 7 then.

did I mention Rumble in the Bronx?

[rebelmswar]

did I mention Rumble in the Bronx?

You did, you seem to have a taste for the oriental action be it martial arts or shoot em ups.

People thought I was nuts about John Woo when I showed them "Hard Boiled", "Bullet in the Head", "The Killer" and "A Better Tomorrow".

They changed their tune as soon as he added John Travolta into his kit bag.

For pure bullets flying and over the top bad guys you can not beat "Face Off" and "Broken Arrow". After a few beers.

Ooo, Contenders - Series 7 then.

Who would say that they would not watch it?

People that say they wouldn't would catch up on the internet.

[Flopsy]

I do like the eastern martial arts films, they're inevitable crap plots, poorly acted, but the stunts and action make up for anyother failings.

I wasnt particularly keen on Broken Arrow, but I loved Replacement Killers and Face Off

[dopper69]

The best film ever is quite simply Saving Private Ryan!

[Hasta]

"quite a manipulative movie"

It was terrible, you might as well have had Ronnie Reagan as trainer.

I like the way that Rockys trainer Duke even beats the Russian at chess !!!!

[rebelmswar]

I like the way that Rockys trainer Duke even beats the Russian at chess !!!!

I am sure if they filmed a urinal scene the Americans would pee longer than the Ruskies.

[Flopsy]

The best film ever is quite simply Saving Private Ryan!

The first 20 minutes is probably the best in any movie, the last 20 minutes is pretty special, the rest? Nah I can leave it, except for the Ted Danson bit.

Event Horizon scared the ###### out of me, as Rovers Air Force, takes great delight in telling everyone

[rebelmswar]

The first 20 minutes is probably the best in any movie, the last 20 minutes is pretty special, the rest? Nah I can leave it, except for the Ted Danson bit.

I rate the movie very highly, wasn't that Vin Diesel's first movie?

"Thin Red Line" not so much.

Event Horizon scared the ###### out of me, as Rovers Air Force, takes great delight in telling everyone

Was it the video on the captains log?