Essential Movies

As some of you know, my film education is somewhat...lacking. If you're ever talking to me about one of those universally loved movies that everyone has watched...I probably haven't seen it. I might not even have heard of it. :laugh:

So, one of the things that I want to do in 2016 is to come up with a list of awesome movies that I can start working my way through. Which movies do you consider to be 'essential' viewing?

Oh man. I love it when people say this. The list is pretty long but I think I'll just give it to you in small doses and try to narrow it down to truly important movies, culturally. To start with, anything made by Mel Brooks. This includes, but is not limited to, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Spaceballs, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, History of the World Part 1, and Dracula: Dead and Loving it. The man is a master of parody and comedy in general.

Goken wrote: Oh man. I love it when people say this. The list is pretty long but I think I'll just give it to you in small doses and try to narrow it down to truly important movies, culturally. To start with, anything made by Mel Brooks. This includes, but is not limited to, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Spaceballs, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, History of the World Part 1, and Dracula: Dead and Loving it. The man is a master of parody and comedy in general.

^couldn't agree more, love Mel Brooks! But you didn't include 'The Producers' in your list (either version is good). I would have have to recommend classic gangster films, Godfather 1, 2 and 3, Scarface, etc.


Edit: Lost in Translation and Forrest Gump! My 2 favourite films of all time!

I actually think the purge and purge 2 are interesting movies, if you want to watch something that makes you think and it's a hero's journey that blurs the lines a little.

If you're interested in watching a vampire film before all the crazy and frankly ridiculous ones then go look up 'Interview with the Vampire' with Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise (and a very young Kirsten Dunst). Based on the book by Anne Rice I think it's a great film.. although not sure it's 'universally loved', it is one of my favourites..

Some suggestions can be found here:

http://www.listchallenges.com/200-movies-to-see-before-you-die

I love this list, honestly.

Edit: This is the list from the Book 1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die:

http://1001films.wikia.com/wiki/The_List

i absolutely second blazing saddles and forest gump! those are ESSENTIAL

spaceballs too just because its sw spoof and its awesome

i have been thinking this over - i dont know your taste and i didnt want to hit you with like a thousand things becaus it adds up quick if everyone chimes in, so, i would especially suggest any (all!) of these:

happenstance

rocky horror picture show (its not actually a horror)

the dark knight

a nightmare before christmas (not a horror)

nightmare on elm street (horror)

the notebook

donnie darko

the princess bride

shawshank redemption

--

i guarantee youll love at least one of those movies!

V-Tog wrote: Which movies do you consider to be 'essential' viewing?

I had spent majority of life watching movies, and I have quite a few essentials as shown below, at least for me.

***

1) The Bleak House (2005 BBC TV serial w/Gillian Anderson & Anna Maxwell Martin) - the best drama recommended.

2) V for Vendetta (2006)

3) 1984 (1984) - obviously!

4) The Matrix (1999)

5) The Forsyte Saga (2002 miniseries)

6) Frank Herbert's Dune (2000 miniseries)

7) Cloud Atlas (2012)

Serenity (2005)

9) Donnie Darko (2001)

10) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Fight Club

The Godfather 1&2

300

Dark City

Apt Pupil

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory(Gene Wilder version)

Edward Scissor Hands

Fried Green Tomatoes

Steel Magnolias

SLC Punk

American Beauty

Legend

I personally am a HUGE fan of the Jurassic Park series. Jurassic Park 1 and Jurassic World are definitely the better of the series, but Jurassic Park's 2 and 3 are adequate films. Also The Martian, starring Matt Damon. I absolutely loved that movie.

Khaos wrote: Fight Club

Legend

FC one of the best movies ever imo

do you mean tom cruise legend or tom hardy legend?
i would guess the tom hardy legend but hey, you never know, the cruise was a great movie imo

Legend with Tom Cruise in it.

I love movies...

So many...

And the ones mentioned are awesome...

So, short list:

I'm going to tell you Forest Gump, as already suggested....

Pulp Fiction

Identity, Pushing Tin, Say Anything, Grosse Point Blank, Being John Malcovich, High Fidelity, Serendipity, Better Off Dead - anything john Cusak really, lol...

Blues Brothers

Hair

Sound of Music

The Doors

The Apprentice (Nick Cage)

Oh man, the list goes on...

Young Frankenstein (1974) is a must see. But first watch Rosemary's Baby (1968). You'll be a nervous wreck after it and Young Frankenstein will be all the more welcome. Both have particularly lovely theme songs. After that promise me you'll see Being There (1979). I can't wait to hear what you think about Chance (the gardener). If you like these I have more to suggest. In my book these movies rise to the level of transcendent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOPTriLG5cU

Here is the theme song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3vsB-f0HyY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PewtQsgN5uo

And it's theme song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wRNX94fU94

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOOghKacg40

• 12 Angry Men, my favorite courtroom drama.
• Blade Runner, for interesting questions about what constitutes humanity.
• Big Trouble in Little China, for a movie where the sidekick is convinced he's the main character.
• Unbreakable, that plumbs the depths to which we will go for "destiny."
• Fallen, to show us there's nowhere we can hide from ourselves.
• Equilibrium, on days when we feel emotion is overrated.
• Kagemusha, a film about identity and self-worth.
• Rashomon, a tale of the importance of perception.
• Blazing Saddles, to drive home the lunacy of racism.
• Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, for a look at the end of the Cold War era through a sci-fi lens.
• The Big Lebowski, a crash course in "takin' it easy, man."

I've seen quite a few movies but I'll keep the list short and only list the ones I didn't see posted already.
"Pay it forward." about a kid just trying to make the world a better place.
"The Voices" Ryan Reynolds shows us an interesting perspective on mental illness
"Pitch perfect" Because come on who in there right mind doesn't want to sit on a couch covered in 30 blankets yelling the words to these all to catchy songs.

Thanks V for this thread. I've noticed mostly we all watch the same stuff. My selection is Day breakers. The vampires finally win.

Kurosawa’s 1958 samurai classic, The Hidden Fortress.

It really is a broad topic and it depends on which genres you like, but i'd start with any movies from Imdb Top 250 you haven't seen yet.