I've long considered myself a bit of a movie geek. But looking at the American Film Institute's 100 Films ... 100 Movies list makes me realize how many notable films I've never seen. (Note: These are all American films. I'm probably even more behind on foreign releases.)
2. The Godfather. Yes, The Godfather. I was too young for it when it first came out, and ... I dunno, I never got around to renting it. I have, however, seen a good chunk of that re-edited-for-TV cut that puts Godfather and Godfather II scenes in chronological order. But not the whole thing, and, purist that I am, that just doesn't count. It's been on AMC lately, but I hate watching serious films with commercials these days.
11. City Lights. I have seen quite a bit of Charlie Chaplin, but never got to this one.
12. The Searchers. I'm not big on Westerns.
32. The Godfather, Part II. But here's the odd thing. I have seen Godfather III, I think because I was working through a crush on Andy Garcia.
36. Bridge on the River Kwai. Though I could hum the "Col. Bogie March" for you.
37. The Best Years of Our Lives. I probably saw pieces of this on TV when I was a kid, but not the whole thing, and I don't remember it at all.
38. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Same as above.
49. Intolerance. Oh, I get why it's important, but does anyone really want to sit through this?
59. Nashville. In general, I don't like Altman. But I did enjoy the first half of this. Still, I didn't have time to watch the whole thing and it was due back at Blockbuster, so I can't count it.
67. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? But I've read the play.
79. The Wild Bunch.
82. Sunrise. Another silent film--one I'd really like to see.
90. Swingtime. Musicals don't do much for me, even of the Rogers/Astaire variety.
98. Yankee Doodle Dandy.
There are a few others--In the Heat of the Night, The French Connection, The Apartment--that I'm pretty sure I saw all of, but a long time ago, and I really don't remember them. And if I don't remember them, do they count?
So, what haven't you seen? TVB regular God Is My Codependent has never seen Star Wars or any--that's right any--Bond film.
And for the record, of all the ones on the list that I've seen, the only one I've taken an active dislike to is Pulp Fiction. I hereby nominate it as most overrated of all time.
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9 comments:
I can lend you a videocassette of City Lights. It's worth it.
The first videotape I ever bought was Chaplin's Modern Times. I bought it in the 70s, when videos were just coming out. I paid $55 for it--in 70s dollars!
And then I lost that copy and replaced it years later with a $5 one from eBay.
Yeah, I remember--at the dawn of the video age, new movies were around $90 a pop.
I'm going to put "City Lights" in my Netflix queue.
I haven't seen any of those movies either. I also haven't seen Pulp Fiction. And while I have seen the three old Star Wars, I've only seen them once.
This is why I have so much time to read.
Am I missing anything? Please let me know.
The Godfather? Seriously? C'mon, dude... it's on cable, like, three times a month. Are you actively avoiding it?
The AFI list is ridiculous. I mean, Forest fucking Gump is on it. That said, I'm a sucker, so here's my list of shame.
The Searchers — it's in my Netflix queue, though not high because I've already seen as much John Ford as I probably need to.
The Grapes of Wrath — at least I've read the book.
To Kill a Mockingbird — ditto. And I've seen chunks of the movie.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington — Frank Capra is hit or miss for me. I've always suspected this would be a miss.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves — I may have seen it as a kid.
The Bridge on the River Kwai — in my queue.
The Best Years of Our Lives
Intolerance — But I saw all the important scenes in film class
The Deer Hunter — in my queue again. So I guess at least these are all "known unknowns."
Rocky — no interest.
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolfe — You know how hard it is to write queue over and over again?
Spartacus — You call this a gladiator movie?
Sunrise
Swing Time
Ben-Hur
Other than the Godfather, you're not missing much. I could make a case for Sierra Madre and Wild Bunch, but you shouldn't feel deprived if you never get around to them. But do see The French Connection (again).
Oh yeah, I haven't seen City Lights either.
Radosh, I saw Mr Smith in film class in college. They showed it in a huge auditorium, 600 seats, with maybe 50 people watching it. I got there early and took a seat in the second row. And shortly thereafter, 4 guys came in, sat directly in front of me, and lit up joints.
I saw the film through a haze of smoke, but it seemed like the greatest movie ever made.
I liked "Mr. Smith" (sans chemicals, I might add), but I'm a pretty much a sucker for Capra-corn.
(Where did those guys thing they were going? A "Fantasia" screening???)
Radosh--Agreed, "Gump" is pretty lame. And "Titanic," despite its B.O., some nice visuals, and decent chemistry between the leads, has some of the most godawful dialog I've ever heard in my life. And Billy Zane. I spent half the running time giggling quietly. (Though I admit I was rarely bored.)
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