How Many of Yahoo's '100 Movies To See Before You Die' Have You Seen?
I apparently have seven left to go and then I can call it quits
I recently made a point to see all of the films I had not seen on IMDB's Top 250 list and outside of the unavailable Safety Last! (Does anyone own this or know where I can buy it for less than $80?) I managed just that. In talking about taking on the list I discussed it with a fellow Seattle critic who said to me, "Yeah, but there are a lot of fanboy films on that list." I told them I understood that, but there are also plenty of great films on that list and also said it is always best to be sure you see all the films your potential readership has seen and also believes are great.
On top of the IMDB list I have also created a spreadsheet that totals 495 films made up of the IMDB Top 250, the AFI Top 100, the complete list of Best Picture winners and Roger Ebert's List of Greatest Movies and it appears I have a few new films to add to my list as Yahoo has released a list of their 100 Movies To See Before You Die and of that list there are seven I have not yet seen.
I have included the entire list below and you can get a detailed look at Yahoo right here. Movies marked with an * are those I apparently need to see before I die.
How many do you have left to see? Anyone out there seen them all?
The list is in alphabetical order
- 12 Angry Men (1957)
- 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
- The 400 Blows (1959)
- 8 ½ (1963)
- A Hard Day's Night (1964)
- The African Queen (1952)
- Alien (1979)
- All About Eve (1950)
- Annie Hall (1977)
- Apocalypse Now (1979)
- The Battle of Algiers (1967)
- The Bicycle Thief (1948)
- Blade Runner (1982)
- Blazing Saddles (1974)
- Blow Up (1966)
- Blue Velvet (1986)
- Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
- Breathless (1960) *
- The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
- Bringing Up Baby (1938)
- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
- Casablanca (1942)
- Chinatown (1974)
- Citizen Kane (1941)
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
- Die Hard (1988)
- Do the Right Thing (1989)
- Double Indemnity (1944)
- Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
- Duck Soup (1933)
- E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
- Enter the Dragon (1973)
- The Exorcist (1973)
- Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982)
- The French Connection (1971)
- The Godfather (1972)
- The Godfather, Part II (1974)
- Goldfinger (1964)
- The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1968)
- Goodfellas (1990)
- The Graduate (1967)
- Grand Illusion (1938) *
- Groundhog Day (1993)
- In the Mood For Love (2001) *
- It Happened One Night (1934)
- It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
- Jaws (1975)
- King Kong (1933)
- The Lady Eve (1941) *
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- The Lord of the Rings (2001,2002,2003)
- M (1931)
- M*A*S*H (1970)
- The Maltese Falcon (1941)
- The Matrix (1999)
- Modern Times (1936)
- Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
- National Lampoon's Animal House (1978)
- Network (1976)
- Nosferatu (1922)
- On the Waterfront (1954)
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
- Paths of Glory (1958)
- Princess Mononoke (1999)
- Psycho (1960)
- Pulp Fiction (1994)
- Raging Bull (1980)
- Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
- Raise the Red Lantern (1992)
- Rashomon (1951)
- Rear Window (1954)
- Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
- Rocky (1976)
- Roman Holiday (1953)
- Saving Private Ryan (1998)
- Schindler's List (1993)
- The Searchers (1956)
- Seven Samurai (1954)
- The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
- Singin' in the Rain (1952)
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
- Some Like It Hot (1959)
- The Sound of Music (1965)
- Star Wars (1977)
- Sunset Blvd. (1950)
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- The Third Man (1949)
- This is Spinal Tap (1984)
- Titanic (1997)
- To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
- Toy Story (1995)
- The Usual Suspects (1995)
- Vertigo (1958)
- When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
- Wild Strawberries (1957)
- Wings of Desire (1988) *
- The Wizard of Oz (1939)
- Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988) *
- The World of Apu (1959) *
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62 seen. Gotta say, there are ones listed that I could easily die without seeing. But where is the Tres Coleurs trilogy? And no Buster Keaton? Only one Charlie Chaplin? How about the great Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki's? And can I say, although the Academy Awards don't mean that much to me, some of the Foreign Language nominees from past years should be on this list. Damn strange list.
27.
@Patricia: It is a strange list when you think of the omissions, but I will say I have been working on putting together my own list of personal favorites and there just isn't enough room for everything. When I took the IMDB Top 250, Ebert's list, the AFI list and the Best Picture winners and ended up with 495 different titles I was shocked to see there was that much of a difference between the lists.
I have also collected the Empire Top 500 (which is sort of a joke) and the New York Times top 1000 and am trying to decipher between those as well. My hope is in a year or two to begin sharing what I believe are the best films of all-time in some sort of RopeofSilicon Essentials feature and open up discussions on each and take recommendations from readers and so forth, but it is a work in progress because there are just so many great films.
35…i netflixed the rest
Where's the spreadsheet link?
Seen 58 of them, quite a few are on my netflix list.
I'm a bit ashamed to say that I haven't seen 26 films on this list including such inexcusable misses as: The 400 Blows, 8 1/2, The Bicycle Thief, Nosferatu, Breathless
Some Like it Hot, Rear Window, M, The Third Man & Rashomon.
Guess I'd better get to adding films to my Netflix Que
@Eric: I have considered putting it onilne, but I am trying to make it a bit more interactive so you can check what you have seen, save it and update it as you watch the movies. I have been working on it weekly and occasionally daily and hope to have a working interface soon, but I don't want to put anything up only to have to change it all. Stay tuned, I hope to make the history of filmmaking a major part of the site in the coming years.
@The Jackal: Don't be ashamed one bit… I have been watching so many classic films lately and watching classics only leads to watching more classics… It's a never ending process… However, getting the titles you mention there in your queue is a great start. I haven't seen Breatless either, but it is on Netflix Instant Play right now. The others you mention are great and 8 1/2 is definitely one of my favorite films of all-time as is pretty much everything from Fellini.
apparently i'm not going to die for a very long time since I've only seen 24 of these… i thought i've seen a lot of shows, but i guess i'm watching the wrong ones? at least according to this list anyway…
Hmm… "Wild Strawberries" but no "Cries and Whispers"?
I'm not usually drawn to "classics" so my number is fairly low: 23. Ironically I was just watching "All About Eve" a minute ago at a friend's house. I doubt I'll see half of these movies before I die, honestly. Just reminds me how many great films there are out there…and how I've spent so much time watching the shitty ones.
Speaking of shitty ones…Dragonball comes out in like 3 weeks. Who's pumped?? They're gonna have to make room for number 101 come April 10th!!!!!!
@Vince: All about Eve is phenomenal! I love that film and Anne Baxter is one of my favorite all-time Hollywood beauties.
@The Jackal: I know exactly how you feel. Everytime I think I have seen a ton of the classics I discover a whole new plethora of them. At least there's always something awesome to watch.
@Brad Brevet: I LOVE "In the Mood for Love", are you a fan of a lot of the Wong Kar Wai films? You introduced me to him with the reccomendation of Chungking, but just wandering what some of your favorite films by him are? I thought 2046 was amazing as well but I feel I am the minority in that opinion.
Taxi Driver?
This list is rubbish, wheres the Broken Lizard movies?
oh and another thing, I refuse to watch non technicolour wooden acting "actors" pre 60's they freak me out
"A Hard Day's Night"? Seriously? I think I'll be skipping that one.
What a strange list.
You have to see Groundhog Day before you die? Or Die Hard?
I love Die Hard but to say you have to see it before you die is a bit much.
I don't think my life would have been so much less if I hadn't seen it.
If you look at some of the names in the list and some of the ones not in there it seems clear just to forget about it.
seen 'em all!
Only 10 :))
Forrest Gump???? Where is that??
65
Not bad i guess
Had a good night's sleep and have woken up fighting. Where the heck is Brazil…Dark City…City of God…Rabbit Proof Fence…Babette's Feast…Tsotsi…Donnie Darko…Hoop Dreams. Come to think of it, where are the documenteries? But we have Titanic, Toy Story, The Matrix, and Diehard. DIEHARD?!? What the heck is When Harry Met Sally doing here? Or Jaws? And Terminator 2: Judgment Day is one I'm definitely NOT seeing.
I very much look forward to your spreadsheet, Brad. Personally after rereading the above list I have to say that although there are some fine movies there, it contains many, many just OK movies. This list seems to be about movies that movie buffs talk about for one reason or another and not about great filmmaking. For instance, what are Psycho credentials except that people like to talk about how long it took them to take a shower alone after having seen it?
50 exactly. I don't make it a point to watch all the movies on a certain list. There are bound to be movies I really, really don't want to see ("Rocky," for example–I hate sports movies, and the last time I watched a supposedly acclaimed sports movie, I got "Raging Bull," which is one of the worst wastes of an Oscar-worthy performance ever). Meanwhile, some of my favorites are never on any of these lists ("Eyes Wide Shut," "AI: Artificial Intelligence, "Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom").
So I just pretend like these lists are one of my friends: If they mention a movie as really good, I'm interested, but that doesn't mean I'll go right out and watch it. However, if ten of these lists say a movie is really good (just like if 10 of my friends in real life say a movie is really good), chances are pretty high that I'll give it a go.
56? That does not include the Godfather (don't gasp) nor its sequel and the other ones that I tuned out of on TV (now you can gasp).
I never liked: To Kill a Mockingbird, because when making a movie, there shouldn't be only one good actor in it.
I will do my best to avoid: Rocky, for winning over Taxi Driver and Network, but obviously, that's a different topic.
Stuff that I need to see: 400 Blows, In the Mood for Love, It Happened One Night, The Third Man, The Word of Apu (because of the title).
Why is this not on the list?: The Big Lebowski, Y Tu Mama Tambien, Twelve Monkeys, Last Year at Marienbad. And there seems to be a dearth of Lumet/Kubrick/Scorsese on that list. I know there's a lot of those three in that list already but me want more! And one or two more silents, pelase.
No Metropolis??????? How does that work…?
You can get SAFETY LAST in "The Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection Vols. 1-3 (1923)" from Amazon for $89.98. Although a bit over your budget, I guarantee you will not be disappointed. The seven (7!) discs deliver more entertainment than is legal in one package.
Brad to Doc: That is the exact price and item I was referencing when I said "not $80" which you must have known. Not sure why you would mention it.
I'm glad to see "Raise the Red Lantern" on the list! It's one of my favorite movies ever. Despite all the "Hero" and "House of Flying Daggers" greatness, Zhang Yimou will never make a movie as brilliant as "Raise…".
Brad, "Women on the verge…" is my favorite movie of the ones you haven't seen (among the ones I've seen, of course). It's just hysterical. Gonna check 8 1/2 ASAP.
29… loads to catch up on.
70. I'm glad of some films inclusions like Monty Python's Holy Grail, and even Die Hard (Action films need their own champions). Jaw's definitely needs to be placed on that list; it's more absurd for it to be omitted.
Of course there are lot's of films that I feel should be on the list: Stalag 17, Back to the Future, The Great Escape, Night of the Hunter, A Clockwork Orange, etc. But I'm not complaining. All in all it's good. 100 films is just too small anyway.
63
@Doc: Doc, what's up. (Sorry, couldn't resist.) Harold Lloyd was the name I was trying to remember this morning. Yes, a genius of the early industry and not to be missed.
Paolo, To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the best movies ever filmed. The level of performance is so almost universally superior IMO that one can be fooled into thinking that there were no standouts. In that sense, I guess you'd be right. If you want to dismiss Gregory Peck as Atticus, Brock Peters as Tom Robinson, Estelle Evans as Culpurnia, Frank Overton as Sheriff Tate, James Robertson as Robert Ewell, and Collin Wilcox as Mayella Ewell, then at least take a look at the subtle performance of Phillip Alford's seemlessly understated Jem. His accent is just pitch perfect as is his demeanor and overall performance. Jem could have easily been overdone or vapid in the wrong hands but that little boy just nailed it.
I think the best "Top Movies" list is the Empire one that came out this year, voted for by directors, cinematographers, producers and other members of the trade, as well as the public. There's 500 films there, so it's pretty comprehensive, with a pretty wide range. That's the one I'm working through, and that issue has paragraphs on every film on the list, and why it's there. Highly recommend it, even if it means importing it from somewhere.
Well, I have an excuse why I've only seen 27.
I'm 16 years old.
@Brad Brevet:
Thanks! Can't wait!
I've seen 67. But where is 'The Deer Hunter' 'Taxi Driver' or 'Glengarry Glen Ross' or 'Glory'? I could easily get rid of 'When Harry met Sally' and 'A hard days night'
I understand 'The Searchers' has always been considered a classic, but as time goes on John Wayne's acting has been getting more and more dated, almost to the point where I can say that John Wayne sucks.
I've seen 75 of those but of the remaining 25 I only really fancy about half a dozen so not really bothered. Of course their will always be a lot of gnashing of teeth with these lists: Personally I can't believe there are no Coen Brothers films there, among many other anomalies.
i miss 15.
I managed 86 of the films without even trying (just from watching out of curiousity), which I mentioned when this column was first posted (that post of mine — along with several others in other columns — seems to have been deleted: Something — or one — doesn't seem to like me).
Since others have mentioned great films that were overlooked by Those Who Made the Lists, allow me to add: "Ace in the Hole" and "Pickup On Southstreet" (both available from Criterion — both excellent, unusual noir films)…and "Let the Right One In." _That_ is the film which all of the "Twilight" groupie/twinks should be raving about. It's a MUCH better love story/vampire film.
I´ve seen 75. The problem with the remaining 25 is that 9 of them have yet to be released in DVD in Argentina, including Spinal Tap. Hopefully this will change before I die. The remaining 16 are either on my collection or in my netflix list.
Where's 'Apollo 13'? 'Millers Crossing'? How can someone look themselves in the mirror and say you should see 'Die Hard' and 'Balzing Saddles' before you die instead of 'A Clockwork Orange' or 'Full Metal Jacket'. C'mon man! If you're going to put a Mel Brooks movie on your list, at least make it 'Young Frankenstien'.
f.y.i. – the first Terminator is better than the second
I am displeased with myself for seeing only 29 of the films here (granted i have seen parts but not all of many of them which i don't count), but i am, however, pleased to see Terminator 2: Judgement Day on this list, i find that this is much better than the first and establishes John Connor's relationship with his first machine which is the basis of the entire film series, the first film, while good, didn't develope the John Connor plot, it only started it, so i look at it as a vehicle to give a reason to make Terminator 2.
75. 77 if you count the LOTR dreck as three individual films. Which they are.
I've Seen 62. But thats pretty good for a 12 year old!
Hey Krazy Karl, Edward Furlong couldn't act his way out of a paper bag. The only thing better about T2 is the effects. The first Terminator had a better storyline, better suspense, and no annoying kid in it.
Hey Michael Smith, how can you be only 12 years old and seen 62 of those movies? I'm going to go get my boots on because the Bull@#%* is getting thick!
They didnt list "American Graffiti" or "Saturday Night Fever"
Kinda surprised they didnt put them 2 in the top 100.
I miss 38, great list
I think everyone will (and should) have there own film lists.
29.
Fargo?
Seen 94, but got'em all so i can see them all in next few days….anyway lots of great classic movies on this list, but i would add some scorsese, or woody allen…etc, and more european movies …..There is a great book "1001 movies you must see before you die" it is compiled by various critics worldwide and edited by Steven Jay Schneider.
You should check it out…
Hey Sean, good call on 'Fargo'. As a matter of fact I would put 'No Country for old Men' on this list too.
I've seen 32 of them,
but already had like 60 of them on my Netflix.
Out of all the ones I've seen though only some of them I consider "Amazing",
I also believe seven samurai should be higher up.
P.S.
the lack of Miyazaki and terintino films disturbes me.
59. i'm only 16 and i fear that if i intensively watch the highly rated and critical acclaimed films now when im older ill have seen all the good films meaning that Ill only see the 10 odd great oscar worthy and nominated films per year. I pace myself with the great films. Spread them over my life.
@Milan Cargould:
i hear dat
I say 'dat' because it sounds street rather than 'That'
28
hmm…