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My top 100 movies: #1: E.T. The Extra Terrestrial (1 Viewer)

Andy Dufresne said:
#4 - Terminator 2: Judgement Day

"It's in your nature to destroy yourselves."

I wish someone other than Furlong had been cast but not even he could make a dent in the awesomeness.

The blending of old and new effects techniques is amazing. The audience's reaction when the T-1000 passed through the bars was priceless. WHAT DID I JUST SEE!?

But the soft touches are great too, like when Sarah is reminded of her humanity.

The stunt work with the helicopter alwayas astonishes me.

It's just freaking amazing.

One more thing...

GUNS AND ROSES!!!!

Trivia:

Pilot Charles A. Tamburro actually flew the helicopter under the overpass in the final chase scene. The camera crew refused to film the shot because of the high risk involved. James Cameron did the filming with the help of the camera car driver.

Linda Hamilton trained with former Israeli commando Uzi Gal and with personal trainer Anthony Cortes for three hours a day, six days a week for 13 weeks before filming. Under both, she trained intensely with weights and learned judo and heavy military training techniques. She had to maintain a demanding non-fat diet even during filming and lost 12 pounds. Because of this punishing regimen, she declined to reprise her role for Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003). Ironically, her identical twin sister Leslie Hamilton Gearren was only required to "hit the gym" for a few hours a week and the difference is visible in the two scenes they star in together.

The "forced medication" scene (Special Edition only) had to be re-shot several times because actor Ken Gibbel wouldn't hit Linda Hamilton properly with his nightstick. The scene was very physically demanding and Hamilton was furious with Gibbel because he repeatedly botched it. She got her revenge in a later scene where she beats Gibbel with a broken-off broom handle - the blows are for real.
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Great movie, and you are correct, even Furlong couldn't ruin this.  I have no idea how he got this role.

The You Could Be Mine video is pure awesomeness.  The image of the terminator walking down the hallway, pulling the shotgun out of the box of flowers, set to that music is perfection.

Thought you might like this bit of trivia:

The pumps in the gas station forecourt, shown prior to the chip surgery scene, display the Benthic Petroleum logo. Benthic Petroleum was the company that owned the submersible drilling rig in one of James Cameron's previous movies, The Abyss (1989).

 
Andy Dufresne said:
#3 - Star Wars: A New Hope

Like any self-respecting boy from the 70's I went bonkers for Star Wars. My friend and would grab our sisters' twirling batons and have lightsaber fights - until our mothers found them all dented to hell and made us pay for new ones. I even had the Jawa action figure with the vinyl cape.

It's hard to conceive of a time where the Star Wars story was just "good guys versus bad guys" but when there was only A New Hope it spoke directly to and helped form the ethos of a small, country living boy from the outskirts of Moorhead, Minnesota. 

Because it was first it gets ranked a notch higher than Empire.

Trivia:

Due to the limited budget, the American cast members and crew (including George Lucas) all decided to fly coach class to England, rather than first class. When Carrie Fisher's mother, Debbie Reynolds, heard about this, she called Lucas, complaining about how insulting it was for her daughter to be flying coach. Fisher was in the room with Lucas when he took the call, and after a few minutes, asked if she could talk to her mother. When Lucas handed her the phone, she simply said, "Mother, I want to fly coach, will you f**k off?!" and hung up.

When 20th Century Fox attempted to distribute the film in the U.S., fewer than 40 theaters agreed to show it. As a solution, Fox threatened that any cinema that refused to show Star Wars would not be given the rights to screen the potential blockbuster The Other Side of Midnight (1977), which ended up grossing less than 10% of what Star Wars did.

After visiting the set of Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), George Lucas was sure Close Encounters would outperform the yet-to-be-released Star Wars at the box office. Steven Spielberg disagreed, and felt Lucas's Star Wars would be the bigger hit. Lucas proposed they trade 2.5% of the profit on each other's films; Spielberg took the trade, and still receives 2.5% of the profits from Star Wars.
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Only movie I went to multiple times when it was still in the theater. I saw it 7 times, and I'll never forget feeling a little :unsure:  when at the last showing, the opening crawl included Episode IV: A New Hope.

I think I had the original Boba Fett action figure, with the rocket that actually fired but was recalled due to the choking risk.  One of the proudest moments of my life was when I was able to pass those action figures and vehicles to my oldest son, though sadly he has outgrown his Star Wars phase.

This would probably be about 2 or 3 on my list as well.

 
#2 - Raiders of the Lost Ark

"It's not the years, honey...it's the mileage."

Well neither have done this film a disservice. Since it was a throwback itself when it was released, it's probably ageless.

The first time I went to see it with my parents, the film melted at the point where the Nazi sub surfaced next to Katanga's ship. We were all given tickets to come back later. A couple weeks after, my parents go to Continental Divide and I watch Raiders again, this time sitting next to a nice old lady that shared her popcorn with me. 

Trivia:

During the scene where Indiana threatens the Nazis with a bazooka, you can clearly see a fly creeping into the mouth of Paul Freeman. Contrary to popular belief, he did not swallow it. Freeman explained in an interview years later that the fly flew off at about the instant he uttered the word "bad," but Steven Spielberg noticed it and decided it would be funny to cut out a few frames so the fly would not be seen flying away. This made it look as though Freeman ate it, and he found the edit highly amusing.

The out-of-control airplane actually ran over Harrison Ford's knee, tearing his ligaments. Rather than submit to Tunisian health care, Ford had his knee wrapped in ice and carried on.

The models used for the German U-boat were rented from the production company that was making Das Boot (1981) in the same area at the time. The company, however, had forgotten to tell this to the crew of Das Boot, who were surprised to find the model suddenly missing.

 
Andy Dufresne said:
#2 - Raiders of the Lost Ark

"It's not the years, honey...it's the mileage."

Well neither have done this film a disservice. Since it was a throwback itself when it was released, it's probably ageless.

The first time I went to see it with my parents, the film melted at the point where the Nazi sub surfaced next to Katanga's ship. We were all given tickets to come back later. A couple weeks after, my parents go to Continental Divide and I watch Raiders again, this time sitting next to a nice old lady that shared her popcorn with me. 

Trivia:

During the scene where Indiana threatens the Nazis with a bazooka, you can clearly see a fly creeping into the mouth of Paul Freeman. Contrary to popular belief, he did not swallow it. Freeman explained in an interview years later that the fly flew off at about the instant he uttered the word "bad," but Steven Spielberg noticed it and decided it would be funny to cut out a few frames so the fly would not be seen flying away. This made it look as though Freeman ate it, and he found the edit highly amusing.

The out-of-control airplane actually ran over Harrison Ford's knee, tearing his ligaments. Rather than submit to Tunisian health care, Ford had his knee wrapped in ice and carried on.

The models used for the German U-boat were rented from the production company that was making Das Boot (1981) in the same area at the time. The company, however, had forgotten to tell this to the crew of Das Boot, who were surprised to find the model suddenly missing.
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You were right. My all time favorite film. I sure hope your number 1 is Casablanca.  

 
Andy Dufresne said:
#2 - Raiders of the Lost Ark

"It's not the years, honey...it's the mileage."

Well neither have done this film a disservice. Since it was a throwback itself when it was released, it's probably ageless.

The first time I went to see it with my parents, the film melted at the point where the Nazi sub surfaced next to Katanga's ship. We were all given tickets to come back later. A couple weeks after, my parents go to Continental Divide and I watch Raiders again, this time sitting next to a nice old lady that shared her popcorn with me. 

Trivia:

During the scene where Indiana threatens the Nazis with a bazooka, you can clearly see a fly creeping into the mouth of Paul Freeman. Contrary to popular belief, he did not swallow it. Freeman explained in an interview years later that the fly flew off at about the instant he uttered the word "bad," but Steven Spielberg noticed it and decided it would be funny to cut out a few frames so the fly would not be seen flying away. This made it look as though Freeman ate it, and he found the edit highly amusing.

The out-of-control airplane actually ran over Harrison Ford's knee, tearing his ligaments. Rather than submit to Tunisian health care, Ford had his knee wrapped in ice and carried on.

The models used for the German U-boat were rented from the production company that was making Das Boot (1981) in the same area at the time. The company, however, had forgotten to tell this to the crew of Das Boot, who were surprised to find the model suddenly missing.
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:wub:   Probably the movie I've watched the most times in my life, including 5 or 6 times in the theater.  8 year old me wanted nothing else in the world than to be Indiana Jones.

####.  43 year old me wants nothing else than to be Indiana Jones :lmao:

 
pandora said:
And Indy is still irrelevant in the movie.
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Not true. If Indy hadn't shown up in Nepal, Toht would have simply murdered Marion (they'd eventually find her), taken the headpiece, immediately found the Ark and returned to Berlin with it. There, the Nazi's would likely have not been as reckless as Belloq in opening it and succeeded in turning it into a weapon.

It's because he arrived that things went haywire for Belloq and the Nazis and the Ark ending up in the hands of the Americans.

 
Andy Dufresne said:
Not true. If Indy hadn't shown up in Nepal, Toht would have simply murdered Marion (they'd eventually find her), taken the headpiece, immediately found the Ark and returned to Berlin with it. There, the Nazi's would likely have not been as reckless as Belloq in opening it and succeeded in turning it into a weapon.

It's because he arrived that things went haywire for Belloq and the Nazis and the Ark ending up in the hands of the Americans.
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The Big Bang Theory episode that made this joke was so dumb, any real fan could have easily refuted the claim that Indy was irrelevant.

 
OK, I'm leaving in 20 minutes.  Are we going to have a conclusion in that time?  I haven't been following the spoilers conversations, so I am in suspense on the #1 movie.

 
#1 - E.T. The Extra Terrestrial

I was 11 when this came out. For a few reasons, I related to Elliot. I never had the family issues that he did. But my parents have been emotionally divorced for as long as I can remember. In my experience, the best way out of your own sadness is to help someone else out of theirs.

Like E.T., Elliot has been abandoned. His older brother has friends. His sister has their mother. He's alone, bitter about it, and wants others to feel like he does. The script is flipped on him when E.T. arrives.

And although Elliot the child wants nothing more than the one thing in the universe who understands him to stay with him - he knows, as someone who's grown up early, that the right thing to do is get him home.

Beginning from when E.T. revives until the end is my favorite 20 minutes of any movie. Thanks in no small part to John Williams' score.

Escape/Chase/Goodbye

End Credits

Trivia:

The doctors and nurses that work on E.T. are all real emergency room technicians. They were told to treat E.T. the same way they would treat a real patient so that their dialogue and actions would seem real.

Steven Spielberg worked simultaneously on both this film and Poltergeist (1982) in 1982 (which was directed by Tobe Hooper but produced by Spielberg), and both were made to complement each other. "E.T." represented suburban dreams, and "Poltergeist" represented suburban nightmares.

Steven Spielberg shot the film in chronological order to invoke a real response from the actors (mainly the children) when E.T. departed at the end. All emotional responses from that last scene are real.

 
Andy Dufresne said:
#1 - E.T. The Extra Terrestrial
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I wouldn't have picked this for my #1, but I can't argue.  Some had said how much a sensation Jaws was when it came out, E.T. was like nothing I had seen up to that point (only 9 in '82) and can't think of anything since.  I saw it seven times in the theater.  I can't imagine bringing my kids to a movie seven times in today's economy.

"I'll be right here" is probably a top three line for me in any movie genre as far as the emotional response it garners from such a simple phrase.

 
can't say I disagree much with the top 7(sans ET)...no animated crap, no old movies(relative I suppose) and no superhero garbage.

 
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Andy Dufresne said:
#1 - E.T. The Extra Terrestrial

I was 11 when this came out. For a few reasons, I related to Elliot. I never had the family issues that he did. But my parents have been emotionally divorced for as long as I can remember. In my experience, the best way out of your own sadness is to help someone else out of theirs.
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Ugh, ET over Empire and Raiders??

Cmon man!!!!!

 
We're about the same age and have a lot of the same taste in movies, so I really enjoyed your list.  Even as an adult, I still find the rewatchability of movies like Star Wars, Raiders, Wrath of Khan top-notch.  The one huge exception, though, is E.T. That movie was a huge favorite of mine when young, but just didn't hold up well 30+ years later.  Definitely a must-watch if you have kids, though.

 
Thanks Mr. Dufresne for putting this list together complete with some interesting trivia.  Nobody will agree 100% but I now have a number of films to add to my list to watch. I also have some I now know I won't enjoy (based on your comments plus other responses) so won't bother.

Now, where to start??? :popcorn:

 
falguy said:
Thanks Mr. Dufresne for putting this list together complete with some interesting trivia.  Nobody will agree 100% but I now have a number of films to add to my list to watch. I also have some I now know I won't enjoy (based on your comments plus other responses) so won't bother.

Now, where to start??? :popcorn:
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Got a list of five? Will suggest from there.

 
Thanks for the list, AD.  Reminded me to watch a few that I haven't seen and re-watch some that are just awesome.

Probably throwing on some Raiders this weekend.  Forgot how much I liked that movie.

 
Nice job AD

Vanilla Sky easily the worst on the list.

My top 10

1. Millers Crossing

2. Pulp Fiction

3. True Romance

4. Godfather

5. Hunt for Red October

6. Twelve Angry Men

7. Layer Cake

8. Godfather 2

9. Snatch

10. The Sting

 
Andy Dufresne said:
#5 - Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

After the letdown that was The Motionless Picture, the Trek franchise was in danger of once again slipping into obscurity.

But in resurrecting the series' best villain they ensured its success for the 30+ years afterward.

And it proved that the cast could actually ACT. The finale, with Spock death, is remarkably heartbreaking.

James Horner came into his own with the score.

I just love everything about it. I'd guess I've seen it well over 50 times.

Trivia:

The Motion Picture had a budget of $46 million. Khan only had $11 million.

The "Genesis" sequence called for a long and massive explosion. ILM rented the Cow Palace in San Francisco for the effect. They covered the ceiling with a black cloth and placed the camera on the floor looking up at it. The explosion would occur directly above the camera so the fall-out would appear to rush directly towards the point of view. A special high-speed camera was constructed which ran at 2,500 frames per second. One of its components was a spinning prism, which bent the image onto the film as it rushed past, which increased exposure time without having to slow the frame rate.

The ongoing debacle of Khan recognising Chekov can easily be explained. Watching Space Seed, Khan recognises Marla McGivers when she enters the room he is in because he'd been reading the passenger manifest. This manifest could easily have told Khan the entire list of officers due to be assigned shortly thereafter as Chekov did come aboard Enterprise not long after this incident. This is the most logical explanation of Khan recognising Chekov on Ceti Alpha 5. Chekov would surely have been briefed on the incident with Khan when reporting on board being given the ship's previous service and exploits, leading to Chekov knowing who he is, despite never having met Khan.
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whales, IMO.

 
:bow:  

fantastic job on this, andy. a ton of fun to read- very impressed with the thought given to every movie... every. stupid. movie.

 
Andy Dufresne said:
#1 - E.T. The Extra Terrestrial

I was 11 when this came out. For a few reasons, I related to Elliot. I never had the family issues that he did. But my parents have been emotionally divorced for as long as I can remember. In my experience, the best way out of your own sadness is to help someone else out of theirs.

Like E.T., Elliot has been abandoned. His older brother has friends. His sister has their mother. He's alone, bitter about it, and wants others to feel like he does. The script is flipped on him when E.T. arrives.

And although Elliot the child wants nothing more than the one thing in the universe who understands him to stay with him - he knows, as someone who's grown up early, that the right thing to do is get him home.

Beginning from when E.T. revives until the end is my favorite 20 minutes of any movie. Thanks in no small part to John Williams' score.

Escape/Chase/Goodbye

End Credits

Trivia:

The doctors and nurses that work on E.T. are all real emergency room technicians. They were told to treat E.T. the same way they would treat a real patient so that their dialogue and actions would seem real.

Steven Spielberg worked simultaneously on both this film and Poltergeist (1982) in 1982 (which was directed by Tobe Hooper but produced by Spielberg), and both were made to complement each other. "E.T." represented suburban dreams, and "Poltergeist" represented suburban nightmares.

Steven Spielberg shot the film in chronological order to invoke a real response from the actors (mainly the children) when E.T. departed at the end. All emotional responses from that last scene are real.
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My brother was in a junior college class with Henry Thomas circa 1990. Just remember it being strange that Elliot was enrolled in some podunk juco.

 
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