What older movies can you think of that were made so well they are good even by today's standards?

Blade Runner (1982 - 26 years old) was on free TV tonight, I suspect because of the new Indy movie, but that movie is way above par! Ridley Scott is a genius. Alien, there is another timeless movie from him as well. The art in Alien, which was done mostly by HR Giger, was truly amazing.

2001, A Space Odyssey.

Dr. Strangelove.

United 93.

Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Fargo

Pulp Fiction

Cool Hand Luke

Reservoir Dogs

Scarface

The Godfathers


I was listening to the Playhouse this morning and Pk said he just saw "pulp fiction" for the first time this past weekend. I wanted to call up and say "Have you been living in a box?" I thought EVERYONE has seen Pulp Fiction!

You're getting old Justin. Kids today, they have their own thing going on.

I haven't seen Pulp Fiction.

Debbie Does Dallas has held up well.

I wonder if Debbie has also held up well.

...

My daughter was shown "Old Yeller" in her 5th grade class today, and she loved it so much she checked it out from the library and asked me to watch it with her again. The Disney movies from that era have a clarity, innocence and honesty that still resounds today. It was a fun movie to revisit - and Old Yeller's death still stings.

My kids grew up on "Singin' in the Rain" when they were younger, and still as teenagers will pull it out and watch it, not to mock it but to enjoy it once again. Cinematic comfort food for them, I guess.

They are of the age when I'll have to introduce them to "Casablanca", "The Searchers", etc.

"Vertigo" - Hitchcock's masterpiece, which has its 50th anniversary this year. Cinema 21 is getting a new print of it to show next weekend. Can't wait!

"Citizen Kane" really is an awesome movie, too.

Andrew

It would be impossible to list all the great ones, but here are a few that are timeless in my view:

The General 1927
All Quiet on the Western Front 1930
A Night at the Opera 1935
Grand Illusion 1937
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington 1939
The Great Dictator 1940
The Grapes of Wrath 1940
Citizen Kane 1941
Casablanca 1942
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn 1945
It's a Wonderful Life 1946
The Third Man 1949
Sunset Boulevard 1950
On the Waterfront 1954
The Country Girl 1954
The Man Who Knew Too Much 1956
The Searchers 1956
The Bridge on the River Kwai 1957
12 Angry Men 1957
The Apartment 1960
The Sundowners 1960
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance 1962
The Manchurian Candidate 1962
8 1/2 1963
From Russia with Love 1963
Dr. Strangelove 1964
The Loved One 1965
Closely Watched Trains 1966
The Dirty Dozen 1967
Play Time 1967
2001: A Space Odyssey 1968
The Odd Couple 1968
Bullitt 1968
Bananas 1971
Serpico 1973
The Last Detail 1973
Chinatown 1974
Network 1976
Star Wars 1977
Animal House 1978
Being There 1979
This Is Spinal Tap 1984
Amadeus 1984
Brazil 1985
Wings of Desire 1987
Bull Durham 1988
The Unbearable Lightness of Being 1988
Do the Right Thing 1989

Thank heavens for a shelf full of videos for those long winter evenings.

Just thought of one:
Kelly's Heroes

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065938/

If you have not seen it rent it, a truly great movie!

My daughter's favorite movie is






"White Christmas" and we're holding out hope for HER daughter as well.

"Citizen Kane" is an awesome movie (one of my favorites) but an acquired taste. Most of the people I try to share it with just don't seem to get it, or find it tedious.

LS, have you ever sampled "Our Hospitality?" I think it is on par with "The General" as "essential Keaton". The waterfall scene is especially breathtaking (how did they do that stuff before CGI?)

""Citizen Kane" is an awesome movie (one of my favorites) but an acquired taste. Most of the people I try to share it with just don't seem to get it, or find it tedious."

I'm one of the latter. I've had the DVD in my collection for some time and finally watched it. Boring as hell.

Yes Edselehr! Buster Keaton is fantastic.

How did they do that stuff before CGI?

Skill, courage and whiskey.

my fav...
"The Blues Brothers"
...were on a mission from God...

Andrew, you mentioned "Vertigo". I agree it is Hitchcock's masterpiece. Interestingly, this movie was not a hit when it came out. Audiences thought it was too dark. Its popularity has grown over the years. Not many movies can claim that.

Kelly's Heroes..."Oddball" was probably the first movie character I ever quoted. The casting was perfect, all the way around. I still LMAO every time I see that movie.

"Why don't you knock it off with all them negative waves?"

I love Kelly's Heroes, Vertigo and The Blues Brothers too!

Chris, I think White Christmas is good, but Holiday Inn is even better. When your granddaughter gets older, you can turn her on to the romantic Christmas classics like, The Shop Around the Corner and tearjerker holiday movies like, Young at Heart.

The Sting
Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid
Bonnie & Clyde
American Graffiti
LA Confidential

I bought Warren Beatty's 1975 flick "Shampoo" last week. I'd never watched before. Despite the rave reviews of friends of mine, who said this movie was a "classic", and who said it fabulously captured the end of the 60's and the cynical empty beginning of the 70's, I only saw a hint of what they were talking about.

Sure, the ingredients for a great movie were there, but this movie missed on all its chances. I'll have to watch it again. Maybe I'll change my mind. I didn't think it was a classic.

One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest
The Shining
Wizard of Oz

Full Metal Jacket
Indiana Jones and the last Crusade
Back to the Future part 2 and 3

"Back to the Future part 2 and 3"

BTTF 1 doesn't cut it for you? At least as good as 2, since 2 was burdened with trying to figure out what do do with Jennifer. Even the director said that, had he known he would be making a sequel, he wouldn't have made the Delorean fly (intended as a silly joke) and wouldn't have stuck Jennifer in the car as they flew off into the future.

Had he know he was making a sequal.

I thought he did know he was making a sequal!
Infact I remember seeing Back to The future part 2 in the theater, and at the very end of the movie they had a sneek 2 minute preview of part 3.

The *original* original Star Wars trilogy, circa '77-'83 (not the crappy mid-90s reworking.)

FYI, *DON'T* watch it on DVD! See it on Laserdisc if you can. * wink smirk*

Others:
Koyaanisqatsi
Tron
Rad!
Grease
Network
UHF

"Had he know he was making a sequal."

Back to the Future 1 was intended to be a standard '80s teen flick with a time-travel twist. But it was so popular that the director Robert Zemekis (sp?) was pressured to make two sequels. Had he known that would happen, he would have ended 1 differently.

Semoochie, forgive me for mixing you up with Chris. I will have to get that stocking re-embroidered with your name.

Zak, Koyaanisqatsi is a masterpiece. I also remember loving Tron and spending many nickels and tokens on the arcade version back in the day. I think UHF is vastly under appreciated too.

It doesn't bother me at all if you confuse me with one of the industry's finest!