What's your favourite movie and why?

This always seems like such an easy question to answer. Without giving it too much thought there seems to be only 4 or 5 choices to pick from. However when you seriously contemplate which one to choose you realise that there are hundreds. At least that's what I find anyway. I could probably narrow it down to the following three:

Rocky - Absolutely inspirational, despite questionable acting.
Phenomenon - Eyeopening as to what the mind is truly capable of.
The Matrix - Opens up so many possibilities of our true reality.

Even now, there are already other movies that seem to be on an equal footing with these in my mind, such as The Shawshank Redemption, but sometimes you just have to make a choose.

Deffinately like your answers and agree with your reasons.

Another personal favorite is Cinderella man for the inspirational aspect.


For future reference you probably should of posted this in the Movie section.

Thanks chissler, mods, feel free to move it. I actually looked around for a better forum but this was the best one I came across.

I probably cannot same 1 and only 1.

The Big Lebowski

Casablanca

The Maltese Falcon

Treasure of Sierra Madre

Godfather

Dr. Strangelove

2001: A Space Odyssey

Henry V (I watch it every year on October 25 --- St. Crispin's Day!)

The Man Who Would be King

Blade Runner

.

Dirty Dancing - Patrick Swayze....

These r some of my favs. Billy Maddison, Happy Gilmore, 50 first dates (all movies with Adam Sandler basically)
All rocky movies (I wouldnt be who I am now if it werent for that film)
Cast Away
Halloween 1,2,3,4,5,6, h20 & reserection (hope they make more)
Blair witch project (good acting if it really is fake)
Kickboxer & most other Vann dam films
Enter the dragon

Everyone has different personalities so it reflects on which films they like. U see all of the films mentioned above reflect on my personality in some way, Sense of humour, sporty, determined, egh cant think of a word to describe horror films but u know

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon - Just pure brilliance.

As a native of Philly, I hate Rocky! I am so damn sick and tired of 'Eye Of The Tiger" and those stupid mantages. He's making part VI right now, and every freaking day I get caught in traffic because of it!

In fact, a buddy of mine had a boxing match last night and I actually watched as more people went to get autographs from Sly and his stupid brother frank (yes, I did not use caps on the 'F' on purpous) then Joe Frazier!!!!



Any way, as to the original question...

I really liked Saving Private Ryan. Great movie. And if you count mini-series, then Band Of Brothers would have to be up there too. The Exorcist gets a nod as well, just because it was the only horror movie that ever got one spec of reaction out of me (when that little girl runs down the stairs upside down and vomits, I actually got chills).

Another good one - to get back to the Philly theme - is Trading Places with Dan Akroyd and Eddie Murphy. Absolutely hysterical!

And one more on the Philly note: M. Night Shamlaghns (spl?) The 6th Sense was very good as well. It was the first of that theme (where the main character doesn't know "it" is really him). He actually went to my rival high school...

Ohhh, and one more. If you haven't seen it, I would suggest renting "Momento". It's definately one of the most original movies I have ever seen.

BTW - Good call Strangecraft. The dude is the man.

If we play this game long enough, we'll name every movie ever made. (except The Three Amigos.)

So, why don't we, if you've already posted, give some more info on Why.

For instance:

The Big Lebowski:

- It loosely parallels my own life at the time the movie is set. Except I lived in Austin and there was no castration imagery in my life. (there were some Cherman Nihilists, though. And porn star. But thats another story.).

-It is a characterization showcase, like other great "caper" movies along the lines of The Maltese Falcon. In other words, the plot is so convoluted you give up and just soak in the moment, like the Duder does. But the characters are so full - on, you feel like you've known them. The fact that John Goodman didn't get an Oscar is an endictiment of the whole tinseltown apparatus IMO.

- Insane acid-trip sequences composed of MTV videos meets Vegas Shows.

- The main characters don't even listen to each other, and frequently have as many as 3 simultaneous conversations while studiously ignoring each other.

Good call Strangecraft...

Since I'm sure most of you have heard of or seen the other movies I listed, I'll go with Momento.

The movie is about a guy who has no memory. As in, if he meets you, 10 seconds later he would forget your name, how he met you, and what you were discussing. He lost his memory after his wife was murdered, and the murderer hit him in the head. So, unlike most revenge movies, he is at a unique dissadvantege.

The kicker is, the movie is done backwards, as in the first scene of the movie is chronologically the last for the main character. The second scene occured right before that and so on. This allows the viewer to progress through the movie much as the main character does, untill it all comes together at the end.

It's probably not a movie for everyone, but I thought it was good, and more importantly for me, very original.

[edit on 12-2-2006 by American Mad Man]

interesting,

I would have to say if i really think about my favs or even ones that made me think,

ELEPHANT MAN (1980, David Lynch)

FULL METAL JACKET (1987, Stanley Kubrick)

JAWS (1975, Steven Spielberg)

DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990, Kevin Kostner)

MALCOLM X (1992, Spike Lee)

SCHINDLERS LIST (1993, Steven Spielberg)

oh and ET and Ghost busters