Rule #1 - you can only list one movie.

Rule #2 - you can't list any other movies, other than the very best movie ever made... according to you.

Rule #3 - you can't say something like... but _________ is a close 2nd.

Rule #4 - you need to defend your choice, with logical reasons to back it up.









The soundtrack is unbelievable, easily the best ever.
The cinematography is unbelievable.
The direction is perfect.
The plot is amazing.
The acting is superb.
Braveheart is the best movie ever made, and seriously? INEC.

The directing, acting, and plot are all amazing. It features beautiful cinematography and has had a profound cultural impact on the United States.

The Godfather is the best movie of all time.

Everything from the plot to the action to the actors are amazing.

Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

god dammit

Godfather II. No explanation needed actually.

The Usual Suspects

The characters in the film where absolutely outstanding and the double twist in the plot created one of THE GREATEST VILLAINS of all time! Also, some of the greatest movie quotes of all time come from this film.

Verbal: Keaton always said, "I don't believe in God, but I'm afraid of him." Well I believe in God, and the only thing that scares me is Kiser Soze

Verbal: Who is Kiser Soze? He is supposed to be Turkish. Some say his father was German. Nobody believed he was real. Nobody ever saw him or knew anybody that ever worked directly for him, but to hear Kobayashi tell it, anybody could have worked for Soze. You never knew. That was his power. The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist. And poof. Just like that, he's gone.

QFT

Just for fun to debate your pick a little bit...

When I think of great movie soundtracks, Braveheart doesn't even come to mind.
I agree on the cinematography.
The direction is good, perfect is a bit of a reach.
The plot is standard, nothing that unusual, outstanding, or shocking about it.
The acting was pretty good, but there are some very average performances in the there.

Firstly, Two Towers is a better LOTR movie.

Secondly, and I do want an answer to this:

Have you seen Braveheart?

Have you seen Godfather? Godfather II?

Have you seen Citizen Kane?

Have you seen Pee-wee's Big Adventure?

Thirdly, I believe you should have listed The Sentinel, simply citing: Jack Bauer.

Shawshank redemption for it's amazing plot and themes on freedom and institutionalization (hope I spelt it correctly)

bleh, this makes the thread silly IMO. There is no such thing as a best film of all time as major films hit at certain times. FOr anyone who has seen a good amount of film, this is an impossible question to answer. I know that I can provide just as many reasons for why Citizen Kane is "the best film of all time" as I can for breathless or the 400 blows or the seven samurai

OK, I really think this could/should be a gebre based question, but I'll weigh in with a movie that I don't think others will offer as a choice...

The special effects and set design were peerless for its time.
The slightly gappy plot simply adds to the mystery of an uncertain ending, creating more questions than it actuially answers (which, for me, is something I love in a screenplay).
The acting is excellent, so much so that it's unnoticeable in it's excellence
The direction is sure-handed and ambiguous at the same time. Drawing us into a dystopian future, Ridley Scott connects us with our lost humanity: replicants who have discovered that they are greater than the sum of their parts, yet cursed with a finite lifespan and an even more grim sentence because they rebelled against their "duty"
It combines two of my favorite genres: Film Noir and Sci-Fi

Bladerunner is the best film of all-time

If you don't like it, I'll "early retire" you.

To Kill a Mockingbird is my choice for best movie of all time. A great story told through one of the characters. It drives home several messages involving Racism and it's different forms. It also shows what Moral Charactor and courage are. Mans loyalty to God, his family, and his community/country/mankind. One good man standing up against evil and Gods loyalty to man through the most innocent of human's.

" I may not be much Mr. Finch, but I'm still the sherrif of Macom County, and Bob Yule fell on his knife." thats a close quotation, maybe not perfect.

i agree with all this and ill add that it set a new standard for realistic gore in movies, and also every written line is poetry.

Schindlers List

Vote #3.

Pulp Fiction- good plot, great actors, great soundtrack.

In my opinion the best film ever is The Hustler, starring Paul Newman. This film deals with the struggle one man has with his own demons. Also Fast eddie (Newman) has to defeat' the system'. Although his backer Burt Gordon would seem to support Eddie, the reality is Gordon is scared of Eddie's spirit, humanity.

Even in victory Eddie loses. After winning he can never play again. The film is a vibrant metaphor of mans struggle against himself and the system.

Forrest Gump. Nuff said.

The Big Lebowski.

My vote goes to Casablanca. Amazing script, dozens of memorable lines, great acting, beautiful girl, and amazing shooting.







Mercury, have you read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (which Bladerunner was based on)? I like the movie, but the book is so much better.

You know, I haven't, but it occured to me to do so as I wrote my nomination. BTW, Casablanca may very well be the most perfect movie in existence. Not a single wasted shot or line of dialogue, no missed opportunities to develop and move the plot along, terrific acting, directing editing, screenplay. I'd certainly have nominated Casablanca for best of all-time if I hadn't decided to come from a different angle.

12 Angry Men


the original one, although the remake was line for line the same.

You're both right.

Do you see why?



yes, yes you did. Ironically, however, you spelled 'spelt' wrong.

Cool Hand Luke

Watch it again if you don't believe me.




Well, I don't care if it rains or freezes,
Long as I have my plastic Jesus
Riding on the dashboard of my car
Through all trials and tribulations,
We will travel every nation,
With my plastic Jesus I'll go far.

keith's answer is correct, but if i had to pick it would be



virtuosic technical filmmaking in the service of extraordinary content - mankind's struggle to reconcile himself with technology...

I love that movie.

The Godfather II has everything a good movie should have. Usually when i watch a movie i can come up with several things which i would do that would make the movie more enjoyable to me. For me, The Godfather II was perfect and i wouldn't change a damn thing.

QFMFT!


But a close second is......

Since I technically just agreed with Ozi , I get an honorable mention vote.

If I had to be trapped on an Island for a year with only one film, then I would pick this one for....

Superb acting.

Outstanding direction.

Heart wrenching story telling and incredible script.

A huge cast of characters the flow perfectly together, creating an amazing story.

Has you emotionally rooting hard for the main character...and then getting the full payoff!


Shawshank Redemption.

The Mighty Ducks.. the flying V. [/thread]

I agree with mk - will go with 2001: A Space Odyssey. Kubrick is far and away my favorite director so I am biased.

I too, have to agree with this.

It featured 4 premiere actors all performing in their absolute primes.

It had a light, easy plot.

It has immense re-watchability.

It compels people to quote it incessantly.

If it comes on TV, I am probably going to watch.

It makes people laugh and laugh and laugh.


The greatest movie ever is Caddyshack.

Plus it had Rodney Dangerfield....which is nice

I was including him in the 4 actors in their primes (Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Ted Knight, and Dangerfield)

Not too mention all the no-names (except for the Noonan's annoying irish girlfriend) gave great performances as well (spalding, noonan, denunzio, smails' wife, porterhouse, dr. beeper, the caddymaster, etc.....)

I've sent younger people than you to the Gas chamber. Didn't want to do it, felt I owed it to them.

Ted Knight was great

Im surprised no one has said this yet.
Great subject matter.
Great acting.
Very rewatchable.
For these reason the best movie ever is Rounders.

bill murray was not in his prime during caddyshack, hes been in his prime the last few years.

and the award for most incorrect statement of the night goes to......

Don Giovanni....come on down!!


seriously, name a really funny movie Murray has done in the last few years. i mean what, life aquatic? lost in translation wasnt a funny movie. just name one since groundhog day.

Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums

Oops

Trainspotting

Everything about it is great!

This thread has become exactly what I envisioned. Thank you everyone for your answers. Other than KDawg, who being a mod can't follow simple rules, everyone is basically saying... "If I had to choose one movie... it would be ______." NH everyone. Obviously everyone has different tastes at different times... and to choose just one movie is extremely tough... but it's cool to see the wide range of answers. I love it. That being said... I have a question for the 2001 people....

I really like mk's sentence above especially the bolded part. But there is no way I can choose 2001 as even in my top 25. Why are guys jumping around in monkey suits for 15 minutes? What is the monolith? It's certainly not 'Man made' or even 'technology'... so what's the point? Also, why does the movie end with 15 minutes of a fly-over a desert with changing colors? Why is there a blinking eye changing colors? I seriously don't understand why people think this is the best movie ever... and I want to understand... so if someone could please take the time to answer these questions and even add answers to questions I didn't ask... I would love it.

Again, I really appreciate everyones answers... nh.

I can't believe it took 'till the ninth reply in Jojo's trip report for someone to figure out it was CHL.

Groundhog Day came out in 1993 after which he starred in films such as The Man Who Knew Too Little (a personal fave), Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (apologies to the guy who said these already). All of which are funny movies. Also, his prime was in the 80s. That's a fact, Jack.

If I had to pick one movie of all time as the best, just to go with something different, I'd go with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. You got some action, tiny bit of good music, some comedy, good story and it's fun. Think you used enough ... there brvheart?

bawaahahahahahahaha


Epic post my man.





read the book


Ya, I'd hate that answer too. The movie didn't translate the beginning or the end very well.

My vote for best movie all time goes to...

Pulp Fiction

I never get tired of seeing it. Great character development and a very entertaining plot!

Great movie! On my top 10 list.

Dogma
Blues Brothers

But Mary Poppins is a close second.....

Goodfellas.