Well folks, as you know - unless you're living under a rock or spent a fabulous week+ in Europe (so jealous, Val and T, the pics look awesome!) - AFI has come up with the top 10 films of 10 different genres: animation, romantic comedies, westerns, sports, mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, gangster, courtroom drama, and epic. You can view the list at http://www.afi.com/10top10/animation.html.
This week, let's talk the list.
I have to say that I was pretty impressed. For the most part, I thought the movies were good pics. Some of my favorites made it: The Philadelphia Story, Adam's Rib, Moonstruck (#5, #7, and #8 romantic comedies); Cat Ballou (#10 western, and a big surprise); Rocky (#2 sports); Rear Window and The Usual Suspects (#3 and #10 mystery); the entire fantasy list; Star Wars, Blade Runner, Terminator 2 (#2, #6, and #8 sci-fi); The Godfather 1 and 2 and Pulp Fiction (#1, #3, and #7 gangsters); and Schindler's List (#3 epic). This is not to say that I can't appreciate many of the other films, but these are my favs from the list.
That said, I have a few comments on said list. First, where is the horror genre? Mystery is not horror. The Shining should have been on this list somewhere. Horror is its own genre and worthy of a top 10 list. Second, Raiders of the Lost Arc should also appear on one of these lists. However, it doesn't really fit into any of the genres as defined by the AFI. Technically it's not fantasy since it's set firmly in this world and it's probably not long enough to be an epic (or boring enough). Maybe they could have also included an action list. Also, when commenting remember that the AFI is the American Film Insitute. On one blog I checked out people were commenting that The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly should have made the list. It's an Italian film so it was rightly left off.
There's my peace. Hopefully I've gotten the ball rolling. Next week I'll be discussing The Happening but without any spoilers!
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Top Five Meryl Streep Roles
- Miranda Priestly - "The Devil Wears Prada"
- Susan Orlean - "Adaptation"
- Madeline Ashton - "Death Becomes Her"
- Sophie Zawistowski - "Sophie's Choice"
- Karen Blixen - "Out of Africa"
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4 comments:
I'm not entirely sold on Groundhog Day. I mean, sure, it was a good little movie. But top 10 of fantasy?
Also, I prefer the first Terminator to T2. The budget and effects weren't great, but the story was awesome.
The courtroom drama list is pretty much perfect, I think. Except maybe The Accused should have made it - but I wouldn't know which one to take off.
I saw the Happening this weekend too! But I'll wait to comment.
I forgot about "The Accused"! Yes, that should have made the list.
While I like Terminator, I do prefer T2. The story isn't quite as good but still interesting. And the effects are pretty wicked. Speaking of Terminator, I saw "300" this weekend. Lena Headley totally rocks. I didn't realize she was the Spartan queen at first. That woman is one of my new favorite kick-ass women. Best line ever: "Only Spartan women give birth to real men."
My biggest problems are probably with the fantasy list. I get the definition of "fantasy" according to AFI, but I would never consider "It's a Wonderful Life" fantasy. I like the movies on the list but am not sure all of them are typical fantasy films.
Haven't seen 300 and I'm not particularly inclined to. But Lena Headley does rock.
I'm not sure IAWL qualifies as fantasy either. AFI had it as #1 on their "inspirational" list a few years ago, didn't they? It certainly qualifies for that.
One the epics, I'm so tired of Titanic. Yet another effects movie that loses its appeal on further viewing.
I saw the X-files preview this weekend! awesome
Actually, I really disliked "300" beyond Lena Headley's scenes. It was boring and a little too supernaturally unnatural for me. But I watched it anyway because it looked so good on the new flatscreen!
I never was a big fan of "Titanic" so I hate seeing it on any list. It also was #3 on "Entertainment Weekly's" list of new classics (movies from the past 25 years that have influenced filmmakers). I just don't get it. It's a sappy romance that belittles the grand tragic scope of a sinking ocean liner. I even cringe when I hear that annoying Celine Dion song.
We were a smidge late getting to the theater so I walked in at the end of the "X-Files" trailer. I'll be seeing the movie though!
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