What is the greatest movie ever made?
What is the stupidest question I have been asked this week?
I’m not sure the first question has an answer, but do believe the first question is the answer to the second question! There are those who will tell you Citizen Kane is the greatest film ever made, others will suggest it is The Godfather, but is The Godfather as good as its own sequel? The Shawshank Redemption has been the top rated film on IMDB for as long as I can remember, as good as it is, I’m not convinced it is the best film from 1994 let alone the greatest of all time. Number nine on the same list is currently The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, it isn’t even my favourite movie in the trilogy. I am not saying the people who have voted for these movies are wrong, but the concept of ranking is wrong. We all have our opinions, but we are all different, it isn’t even a matter of personal favourites, a film can be better or worse depending on personal prospective. Like music, movies are more readily available than ever before and than any other art form, and like music there is some strange human desire to rank them.
So what is the obsession with ranking? It works in some things, if you are putting together a sporting team or squad, you only have an set number of places so you want the best. The same could be said for a job or a university entrance but art and media, what sense does that make. Take the idea further, or more accurately look at a small part of it under a microscope. The Oscars pick “the best…” in a selection of categories each year, but who ever agrees with the result. Award ceremonies are the worst offenders when it comes to ranking and they encourage discussion on the subject, but it isn’t even a simple matter of good, to win an award you have to be worthy and within the current zeitgeist. There are no universally accepted rules that conclude in a film being described as great or the greatest. Some are financial successes others are flops. There is a school of thought that suggests it is an artistic statement to declare something great when it can not be qualified or quantified. There is even merit in the idea that if you could quantify it, it would detract from the brilliance.
I have another idea on the subject, it goes back to something from the most list-centric book/movie High Fidelity: “It’s what you like; not what you ARE Like, that really matters”. just like showing off a physical attribute or sporting prowess a list is a message to anyone who is interested in listening or reading, a message the cuts to the heart of not just what we like, but what we are like. We have all done it, formed or changed an opinion of an individual based on there taste. But this is drifting away from topic. This in itself creates a question, how many people have to think something before it becomes true? Personally I prescribe to the theory that numbers don’t matter and it is all just opinion. Every year I produce a top ten movies of the year and a ranking of the hundred or so movies I watch at the cinema in the year. These are my favourite movies of the year, MY top ten, MY favourite, not THE best movies. It is easy to fall into the collective view and justify something’s greatness because it is in the IMDb Top 250 or Empire magazine’s 500 Greatest Movies Of All Time. With this in mind it is refreshing to think there is someone out there who believes Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is the greatest movie of all time. I reserve the right to believe that, that person is an idiot with no taste but I also believe their opinion is no less valid than people who love Citizen Kane or The Shawshank Redemption. Look at it this way, Michael Bay’s movie has better action, better robots and better CGI than Kane and Shawshank, and if you judge a movie by those criteria you may have a point.
Next time someone asks you what is the greatest movie ever made? Don’t answer the question, just think how dumb the question is.
Fandango Groovers Movie Blog 
Well… its JURASSIC PARK. Obviously. I think the point of a list is the discussion it creates. Nothing more. Thats not a bad thing. Its when people take the whole discussion a little too literally, that they fall short.
It really is a dumb question, you’re right. I thought Citizen Kane was a rather poor movie, and Shawshank Redemption was downright pitiful. Gone with the Wind seemed to last forever. Ask me what the best movies of all time were, and I’ll say they would have to include Rio Bravo and Inception. Or one of the Bing Crosby/Bob Hope movies. Or even Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein. I’d pay to see those movies long before I would drag myself to see Shawshank again.
“Gone with the Wind” was a movie for it’s time. When Scarlet O’Hara says “I’ll never be hungry again”, so too were the audience, who had just gone through the Great Depression, and World War One.
But Shawshank is so good! Maybe not the best movie of all time, but still wonderfully done. I like rankings because it gives you some ideas of where to start if you are looking for a good film. Of course no ranking on ANY subject can be “correct,” as we all use our personal experiences to connect with and judge them. For instance, I really enjoyed Bottle Rocket because it hit a chord with my previous Race studies at university (more on that here if you’re interested: http://theunitedstatesofk.wordpress.com/2012/07/15/bottlerocket/ ) and I generally like Wes Anderson. But Anderson said it himself in the special feature from the Criterion Collection that people either love his work, or hate it. He’s a director that would clearly rank well on most people’s lists but still a large audience group could vehemently dislike him. Rankings are just a guideline, they are not a finite answer.
I agree! I don’t think I’ve ever sat through Gone with the Wind without the fast forward button. Inception on the other hand, is one first class act. 🙂
http://capoeiramoves.net
I agree with you completely! It’s not a bad thing really, right? It’s actually just informative.
zebraman! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0388556/
توهین،بهتان،دروغگویی،به مقدسات،به اعتقادات،به زندگی شخصی مردم توسط گروهی که خودشون رو جریان روشنفکری می دونند چیزهای حال به هم زن این سایت مزخرفه.واقعا تجربه ی جالبی بود.جهل عمومی شده در این سایت ضد ایرانی پنهان شده است.به خدا قسم که اگر ایرانی باشید و سر در آخور خائنین داخلی و خارجی نداشته باشید یک تجدید نظری درباره سایت می کنید.توهین به افترا به تمام مقدسات در اینجا جریان داره.هر کی هرچی دلش می خواد مقدسات این مردم رو با انواع چیزهای پست مقایسه می کنه.چرا؟همین منافقین معلوم الحال که در دهه شثت مردم رو در خیابان ها به گلوله می بستند و عقبه ی اونها در مرصاد به مصدر گایش رفتند یکی از اصلی ترین دست های پنهان این سایت هست.به همه ی کاربران فهیم و آگاه می گم فکر کنید.به خودتون بیایید.فرزندان ایران به ایران خیانت نمی کنند.نه با فکر،نه با قلم،نه با عنوان کاربری و هر چیز دیگه.چرا مدیران سایت این همه توهین رو در سایت می بینند و خاموش اند؟مگر خدا رو قبول ندارند؟مگه ایران رو قبول ندارند؟مگه انسانیت رو قبول ندارند.این همه فحاشی رو به حساب روشنفکری می گذارید؟این دغدغه ی آزادی که دارید همینه؟سایت بالاترین شده جای یک عده فحاش ترسو که حتی جرات نوشتن اسمشون رو هم ندارند.اگر دین ندارید آزادمرد باشید.چرا کلمات کثیفتون رو به سمت کسانی نشانه می روید که پاکترین و عزیزترین انسانهایی اند که اعتقاد یک ملت رو ساختن؟به هیچ جا نمی رسید و فق می گم : مه فشاند نور و سگ عو عو کند! والسلام.دیگه به این جای پر عفن و لجن منافق زده برنمی گردم.تف به ذات منافقین.
I have no idea what this says, I hope it isn’t anything offensive. I’m the only one allowed to offend on this blog!
Google translate says this:
Insult, calumny, lying, blasphemy, beliefs, personal life by a group of people who are themselves intellectual Dvnnd the things he is Mzkhrfh this site. It was an interesting experience. Public ignorance on this site hidden anti-Iranian is. I swear by God that if you are Iranian and foreign and domestic traitors faces in the manger, you have a site reconsidered. insulting libel will flow all the sacred here. anyone who wants to sacred heart I see these people with all kinds Do things by comparison. why this notorious hypocrites Shst people in the streets of Aqaba to the ball and they closed the infinitive Gaysh went to one of the main tools of this site is hidden. to all users I think discerning and aware. to come here. children of Iran, Iran will not betray. nor think, nor pen, nor anything else with the user. because webmasters all the insults I see on and off site are not acceptable, except God? I do not accept Iran? I do not agree humanity. this all just an intellectual obscenity When will you have this concern is it freedom? site rather than by a foul-mouthed coward who dare not even write I do not have names. injunction if you do not have religion. Why Ksyftvn words you are going to sign those people who are dearest Paktryn and then make a nation believe? was not anywhere Fq say: May the light of banks and strike down the Dog to strike down! Valslam. I’m put back to this place was full of hypocrites Fn and sludge. Spit to the nature of hypocrites.
Offensive or not? I’m not even sure what it means.
My mother-in-law’s favourite movie of all time: The Fifth Element with Bruce Willis. My wife’s favourite movie of all time: True Lies with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis. My favourite movie: it could very well be The Incredibles by Pixar.
Google translation not much help, really. From Persian script and language.
Insult, calumny, lying, blasphemy, beliefs, personal life by a group of people who are themselves intellectual Dvnnd the things he is Mzkhrfh this site. It was an interesting experience. Public ignorance on this site hidden anti-Iranian is. I swear by God that if you are Iranian and foreign and domestic traitors faces in the manger, you have a site reconsidered. insulting libel will flow all the sacred here. anyone who wants to sacred heart I see these people with all kinds Do things by comparison. why this notorious hypocrites Shst people in the streets of Aqaba to the ball and they closed the infinitive Gaysh went to one of the main tools of this site is hidden. to all users I think discerning and aware. to come here. children of Iran, Iran will not betray. nor think, nor pen, nor anything else with the user. because webmasters all the insults I see on and off site are not acceptable, except God? I do not accept Iran? I do not agree humanity. this all just an intellectual obscenity When will you have this concern is it freedom? site rather than by a foul-mouthed coward who dare not even write I do not have names. injunction if you do not have religion. Why Ksyftvn words you are going to sign those people who are dearest Paktryn and then make a nation believe? was not anywhere Fq say: May the light of banks and strike down the Dog to strike down! Valslam. I’m put back to this place was full of hypocrites Fn and sludge. Spit to the nature of hypocrites.
for me it shawshank redemption….
Well I’m grateful for your final conclusion…trying to come up with my own pick was hurting my brain. Now you’ve given me an out!
😉
My boyfriends fav movie is Forrest Gump as he said he went into the cinema to watch it having no clue or synopsis of what it was about, and that way, sometimes films can surprise you more. I however can not answer this question. There are far too many amazing films out there that give me a different emotion when watching, be it humor or tears. Same goes for when people ask me who my fav bands are. Good post 🙂
Parkview Square Hotel is a famous 4-star hotel in Guangzhou. Book Parkview Square Hotel Guangzhou now, you can enjoy VIP discount and quality service. Parkview Square Hotel will be your best choice for your business or vacation trip in Guangzhou.
Mbah,arung angka yg diberikan sma Mbah,tembus lagi ahirnya saya sudah buktikan 2x kemenangan main togel,jika anda sering kala main togel hub:Mbah,arung No.085384384484 bukan rekayasa kemanpuan beliu di jamin.krna saya sudah menbuktikanya.,,
Shawshank. No ifs, no buts. End of.
As you mention in High Fidelity the whole approach to top 5 this and top 5 that, i think its a great way to view it. I have films, songs that mean different things to me because of mood, time of my life, people etc…so it is in conclusion ‘A brilliant dumb question’
You got that right!
I do agree with you: it is a dumb question, 2001 A space odyssey is the best film ever made… forgive me, my opinion is close to yours but… I just can’t resist!
I agree totally and that goes for most stuff, books, meals, places…the worlds just too diverse and beautiful to try and squeeze it all into a top ten list..!
Ha! Love your thoughts on this. I agree wholeheartedly, My criteria for movies that I love is different than just about anyone else I know. I’m good with that. Thanks for a wonderful post.
It’s interesting how you talk about perspective. One of my favourite films for years has been Luc Besson’s ‘Leon’. I thought every scene was perfectly crafted and enjoyed it even more with each viewing.
Then I watched it with a friend – who taught cinema at university, yet has never seen Star Wars – who HATED it, and took it apart, “Oh so it’s a man who’s an assassin but he’s really a child who likes looking after his plant and drinking milk, what typical French bollocks” and from that point onward I enjoyed it just a little bit less.
Gary Oldman is still amazing though! Definitely my number on actor! 😉 (Although if you choose to google him make sure you don’t miss out the “r” because then you get some really messed up results!)
Well.. as you said, defining the “greatness” (and comparing) is a difficult task. Its completely relative and depends upon tastes. Instead we can give a list of them which remains in our memories for ever. If you ask me I can give a list only. like Bicycle Thieves, 12 angry men, The grate detractor, Frida, Pather Panjali (Bengali) , Three iron (Korean), Peddler (Iranian), Motor Cycle diaries (Spanish), Blow up(Italian) etc.
I completely agree, and even this morning I was asked this very question. And as always I answer what my favourite movie of all time is, because it is all about subjectivity. And speaking of idiots, if any one mentions “Transformers” when talking about favourite/best movies, I tend to fake my own death to draw attention away from their apparent lack of substance.
Interesting article, I’ve never heard anyone argue about what the greatest painting ever made is, for example. I guess the point with saying Kane’s the best is that you can really see the artistic achievement in the film, where as with any Bay film you know it’s all about how many dollars it can make and how loud it can possibly be.
Very interesting post, Andy. I always have a Top 10 list at the end of the year but the films I choose are the ones I got the most enjoyment out of, pure and simple. There are so many films that I could call my ‘favourites’: films that I come back to and watch every year, certain films from each genre…
The greatest movie of all time? In that section,it is good to mention for a real answer I think!
Reblogged this on Musings of a doc.
i love the book of eli i think its from the best filmes had made
Personal perspective that is what it comes down to, right? I always thought so. You’re right, it is a dumb question to ask, a better question would be, What is your choice for the greatest movie ever made? My choice- Shawshank. I’ve only seen it like 35 times.
Haha that’s true…I’ve never even thought of thaat, probably because it’s such a common questions I’ve been conditioned to think it matters 🙂
The definition of the perfect movie will always vary based on who you ask. There really is no “right” answer because everyone’s view of perfect will never be the same as the next persons. Just as there are some who prefer the three original star wars movies for their use of real props and miniatures, there will always be others who prefer the more “in your face” cgi animations. Which looks better? It’s all relative based on who you ask. This really is a dumb question, but only because it’s one of personal opinion. If there really is one “perfect movie” which fits all the right criteria, there will always be others who disagree. This is the nature of the human condition, and I personally love it. 🙂
You can’t argue with a Groover!!! Great Blog!
You are right, picking just a handful of movies is difficult and pointless, especially considering that each time you get to see a really good one the list must change…
IMHO, Dead Poets Society was a masterpiece and it made a huge impact on me at the time it came out. But then I also really enjoyed films like Inception or Avatar, so why even bother with a list.
The Godfather
My pick matches the picture..Shawshank Redemption. I’m a cinephile but nothing makes you feel warmer and fuzzier inside then the ending to this incredibly beautiful film. Kill Bills are a back up for me! Love love love
Interesting. I’m always judging movies on whether they would be in ‘my’ top 25 of all time. And although Shawshank is definitely high on my list, I’m gonna give you something else to ponder. For Shawshank to rank so high on the list, it was a dud at the boxoffice. It actually made most of its money on video sales. I know. I used to hang out at the movie rental houses and plug it, once I’d seen it, because I figured not many others had. Just my thoughts. And I agree Simon, it really does create discussion. By the way, Jurassic Park is one of my greats, too.
You make a very interesting and valid point in this post, one that I’ve unknowingly agreed with all along. I’m always a little upset when I watch the Oscars or any other award show and certain (in my opinion) sub par films receive enormous accolades, while others that I think are more than worthy of recognition, go completely unnoticed. I have to admit, the title and display picture are a little misleading because I actually thought this was going to be a positive review of the Shawshank Redemption, but I like the little twist you added in terms of pointing out how ridiculous it is to have a universal ranking system for movies. It’s hard to say what the best movie of all time is for the simple reason that there are far too many factors that need to be taken into account. Not just people’s different opinions and tastes, but also the time period during which the movie was made, the technology available, the actors and their acting choices in the films, the directors chosen and the list is endless. I could go on, but I think you see my point. All in all, great post :).
P.S. MY favourite movie is, always has been and always will be Dead Poets Society. I’ve seen many films over the years, but for me, NOTHING even comes close to that one. I’ve heard all kinds of opinions on the film itself, but I could care less. It’s the feeling of enjoyment I get whenever I watch it that makes me love it more and more every time.
You’re exactly right. How can they say that Shawshank Redemption is the best movie of all time? We all know that the Last of the Mohicans is the best movie of all time.
Interesting take and agreed to an extent. Greatest movie ever made is a dumb question as “greatness” may vary from Al Pacino to Megan Fox :). However, lists like IMDB 250 help a lot – if over 750,000 people have voted The Shawshank redemption as #1, it has to be good, if not the best. So, its a good starting point for someone who has never heard of this movie and wants to give it a try.
Assalamualaikum wr.wb saya sangat mengucapka banyak terimah kasih kepada KI RONGGENG atas bantuan AKI kini impian saya selama ini sudah jadi kenyataan dan berkat bantuan KI RONGGENG pula yang telah memberikan anka jitunya kepada saya yaitu 9214 dan alhamdulillah berhasil..sekali lagi makasih yaa AKI karna waktu itu saya cuma bermodalkan uang cuma 100 rb dan akhirnya saya menang..??? Berkat anka GHOIB nya KI RONGGENG saya sudah bisa buka toko sendiri dan kini kehidupan saya jauh lebih baik dari sebelumnya,bagi anda yg ingin seperti saya silahkan HBG 082_331_753_379 KI RONGGENG ,ramalan KI RONGGENG meman memiliki ramalan GHOIB” yang dijamin 100% tembus…
good post!..I figured it out ages ago..lists are for people who don’t want to accidentally watch bad films..what they don’t know is that ‘Twilight’ is highly ranked somewhere out there…scary!..but what you say is true…no sense in making lists really…unless you get a lot of joy by making a grown man watch ‘one day’ after giving it 5 stars..when I said you I meant me…muhahaha…
Reblogged this on La pluma de jAzZ.
At the moment, my favorite film is My Father and The Man in Black, which is a documentary involving Johnny Cash and the man who helped him climb that ladder to fame. http://riatarded.wordpress.com/2012/07/03/my-father-and-the-man-in-black-part-2-review/
You guys should check it out!
Oh and yes, ranking is meh… I have enjoyed some of the badly ranked movies as well :p
I agree that the question is dumb, but not necessarily for the reason that you suggest. Throw out the idea that what I like and what you like and what he likes and what she likes don’t line up in the slightest. While it is a valid point, it isn’t the crux of the issue. It’s easy to throw statistics together and get enough data to prove that enough people say “Movie A is the best movie ever” to validate that “Movie A is the best movie ever.” No, the issue that I have with the question is that even on a personal level, I have a hard time deciding which one is truly the best. Depending on my mood and what I want out of a movie at the time you ask me, my answer will invariably change. Therein lies my greatest issue with the question: The lack of the ability to come up with a solid answer, even on a personal level.
Question #1 needs to have the addition “…according to you?” for it to be even remotely possible to answer.
-But then again no, I still feel it’s unanswerable with just one title. If required I MIGHT be able to narrow it down to “One hundred of the best movies ever made, according to me”.
Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed. I guess that makes you one of the greatest bloggers of all time. I agree with the irrelevance of the question Lists are just a way of generating buzz for shows about movies. My ten would be based on my mood at the time. I think a legitimate measure for a personal list might be: What movies have you seen more than 10 times?
A very well drafted opinion. I second you.
It will always be LOTR for us (me and my kids). But there are lots of good movies that tops and make it to our list and taste. Good point there Andy!
So you’re saying “Revenge of the Fallen” isn’t the greatest movie of all time? That blows up my list.
The Big Chill is the greatest movie of all time.
Yes, it is true we should look down upon other people’s tastes, because the whole thing is so subjective. People who watch a lot of movies generally tend to like classy stuff and people who don’t, like modern mainstream stuff. If someone says Transformers is the best movie of all time, I’d just assume that he doesn’t watch many movies.
Yes, Yes, and yes. I am a visual artist and have won many awards including best of show. I have also judged many shows as an “expert” I believe that every one where I was awarded was a personal opinion period! The same goes for the ones I judged. Apart from certain obvious criteria art is in the eye and the ear of the beholder.
funny how it just pops in my head. It must be the “Whoppee Boys”…..one of the funniest stupid movies of past. Paul Rodrieguez and some others. Keep in mind it was in my young experimental days.
couldnt agree more
RIGHT
Great post! Very funny at the end too. I’ve always tried to figure out what my all time favorite movie is but for some reason I can never narrow it down to less than my top 5! But hopefully a movie will come soon that will absolutely blow me away.
Thank you for that, I hate when that happens, recently someone ask me just that, I was quite thinking (he was not patience at all) my answer; from what nationality, genre, and he did not let me finish, he went nuts on me saying and talking about psychology. I do have some favorites and have a list, for example I love mar adentro (the sea inside) he commits suicide, but Xavier Bardem’s acting is superb, imagine if I say that will never hear the end of it. For me is what a movie made me feel.
Being the best movie with what criteria? Gross sales? Most awards (that are fake and political anyways)?
I’ll tell you the last best movie I watched: The Best Exotic Mariold Hotel!
Like so many subjects, wine, art, architecture etc etc, it’s all about personal taste! People without an, or any, opinion rely on lists!
Reblogged this on Under The Radar.
That was a good movie
Right on brutha! You tell ’em.
My personal favourites include The Usual Suspects (which you neglected to mention!! Come on now…), The Warriors (1982), La Haine (1995), and the first colour version of Zorro from ni’teeeeen se’nty fi’!! Must find a copy of that on DVD, absolutely brilliant. 😀
I have always been torn between The Seventh Seal and The Mummy.
You make a good point here and I love it!
Good, thoughtful post. I get tired of people arguing their favorite movie or movie franchise is better than another, when really, they’re both good based on their own merits. They just have their own strengths and weaknesses
I think Jerry McGuire should be in the list at any given day… “Whose coming with me’, ‘show me the money’,’ u got me the first time u…’ anyway my point is, good movie should have that memorable scenes (who can forget the charismatic Billy Bob Thornton in Friday Night Lights, and Brad Pitt in Moneyball… u just don’t care), phrases or whatever that keep playing years after years after years after years (yesss… Star Wars.. why not?).
Good movie should live forever. Its not you choose the movie, movie choose you!??!….err!@??.. to me whatever movie that can leave such a cinematic visually feeling, such an emotion deserve to be honor as Greatest movie. “You Jump, I jump” is just another example.
p/s: “why so seriouss”
As someone above said: it’s the discussion that’s so interesting. Everyone is different. What one person likes, another person dislikes – for whatever reasons. There are just SO many good movies, good books. Some not so good but that still have good qualities about them – just like people, I think. So many memorable phrases in so many wonderful movies. I just love movies; always have since I was old enough, in the early fifties, to go to the movie theater (this was even before TV). It’s a matter of personal opinion. Nothing to argue about, really.
Interesting post, interesting comments!
Couldn’t agree more, THE greatest movie just doesn’t exist. Oppinions being subjective and all, it would be next to impossible to decide even the most favoured movie of all time, especialy as people cannot have seen all movies ever produced in order to compare. Not to mention how greatest isn’t necessarily the same as most popular.
Although I can say in my current mood My choice would be Kingdom of Heaven, probably for similar reasons the hypothetical philistine chooses Transformers.
Thanks.
I was just talking the other day about how underrated Kingdom of Heaven is.
Nice post. Congrats on being Pressed!
The movie that leaves the biggest impression on the individual is the best movie ever made.
For that individual, personally i remember “Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain” and have had images from it in my head since i saw it 11 years ago. My brother, who is more of a war-movie-buff is less impressed with the colors and romantics from it. Thus my best movie ever is just another movie as forgetful as any to him. Debating the idea of ONE best movie is like debating what leaf is the prettiest in a forest.
I am a big fan to The Shawshank Redemption , but I will have to agree with you.
Thought provoking post. Among my favorites: 2001, A Space Odyssey, War and Peace (the Mosfilm production–all 6 hours of it), Ballad of a Soldier (Mosfilm production), Citizen Kane, and Alexander Nevsky (with film score by Sergei Prokoviev).
I gotta say, you need to answer these important questions like “what’s the best movie of all time”. It’s a human thing, and we are going to have many different answers, but for me, there is only one answer. It’s either Duck Soup or A Night At The Opera.
Wait.
That’s two answers. Damn, I thought I had this worked out, but I can’t even settle on an answer myself.
Hey, what if all Marx Brothers movies were actually just episodes of one long movie, kind of like the Star Wars 6? Then all of the Marx Brothers movies would be the best movie and I would be happy. There, I’ve said it. I’m happy now. The Marx Brothers movies are the best movie of all time – all 14 of them. And the 23 other movies which aren’t Marx Brothers movies but have a Marx Brother in them.
Thats 14 or 37 best movie of all time.
“Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them… well, I have others.”
Groucho Marx
Thanks for that last paragraph. As soon as I saw your post title my first instinct was to leave a rather lengthy comment on how stupid your question was. I feel cheated now that I didn’t have that opportunity. Great post and congrats on winning the FP lottery.
Glad you approve. The title and the image have made a lot of people think they are clicking on a post about how great The Shawshank Redemption is.
It’s a wonderful Life; Saving Private Ryan; The unforgiven; Most of the Spielberg movies; Dancing with Wolves; Casa Blanca; Wizard of Oz; and many more.
It’s a great way to look at what truly is the best, since each of us have our own opinion. People debate forever to declare which movie/book/song is THE best, but really it’s just personal taste. Good post.
It’s the best movie of all time… in your opinion! And rankings just represent the masses, after all it’s what most people found the best. But I do agree with the statement that “Award ceremonies are the worst offenders when it comes to ranking”. It’s just a laugh after all, or as you said, a spark for further discussion 🙂
great post! Jaws is my fave.
It really doesn’t matter what film each individual thinks is the best, or is their favorite or whatever. What matters, in the end, is whether or not those you share these things agree, or think you need therapy for your choice, and are willing to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your choice versus their choice.
For example, the day I met my wife, to break the ice, I asked her what her favorite movie was. She told me it was “A Christmas Carol”. So I asked her “Which version? I have six at least.”
We’ve been married for 8 delightful years.
I guess it turned out to be a good question.
shawshank redemption mother fuckers
I ve loved The Prestige: Good story, wonder style of narration, action superb, suspense held till the end..
I ve loved The Prestige: Good story, wonder style of narration, acting superb, suspense held till the end..
Shawshank or The Lion King. Nope, don’t fight me on this.
Shawshank is certainly the most heartfelt and watching that film is like being in the company of two trusted friends for a few hours. Before Shawshank for me it was Lawrence of Arabia that was the greatest. I guess it all depends on the era it was made, the type of film it is trying to be and what sort of movie you enjoy.
Taste and Color are difficult to estimate. Opinions can be modified based on the present athmosphere, the political and economic trends of the moments, and so.
I totally agree with your article.
There is no greatest, there are only greats. Shawshank’ is one of mine, but thank goodness for subjectivity still shining through the smog that is mediocrity. Top five or ten lists relate a great deal to universality, but often it’s just a case of accessibility and what people think a film should have in it, like you said. Many obviously have limited fields of scope. I mean, I also consider Problem Child a great film for what it is and where it’s from.
Benigni’s “La vita è bella” =)
Great post! Very interesting to read an i like your point of view…but also interesting to see the topic compared to the list of nominations and winnings of lemmys on the right side of the blog. ; )
The best movie ever is certainly not american. No american movie is in my top ten. Don’t you watch non-english-language movies?
Yes, I watch a lot of European and Asian movies, Oldboy is one of my all time favourites.
I am not suggesting the movies I mention in the article are the best/greatest movies ever, I am suggesting that no one movie can be better than every other movie ever made.
Agree that the answer to the question is a personal affair and even a sort of momentary one. We can appreciate a whole range of things and ranking them can be just for the fun of the discussion it brings, someone trying to make conversation… to kill time… or trying to make one’s taste a worldwide standard. However, it can be fun if you have time and nobody takes it too personally, and could be a complete bore if the other person just knows the box office top ones.
Titanic.
Wonderful post, MY favourite is Shawshank and I must have seen it more than any other film, but I agree it’s only MY favourite and other peoples favourites are just as valid. I do love top 10 lists though, which is why high fidelity is such a great book!
shawshank redemption best movie ever!
My list : Godfather,Forrest Gump,shawshank redemption,Pursuit of Happyness
Blazing Saddles!!!!!
I’m going to add my name to the ‘Shawshank Redemption’ list I’m afraid. First time I saw it, having rented it from a flea-bitten video store back in 1995, I was blown away. Having said that, I also love 1991’s ‘Doc Hollywood’ starring Michael J. Fox, which probably precludes me from passing judgement on these things
Blades of Glory. It’s Blades of Glory. Great post Fands, well done getting on Freshly Pressed
“Plan 9 From Outer Space”, for transcending all its limitations to become a “classic”. 😈
“The Wizard Of Oz” – a five-year old and a ninety-five year old can both enjoy this masterpiece.
The only stupid questions are the ones not asked.
I don’t have a single favourite movie because I feel that to pick one favourite ignores the great aspects of other great films. Among my favourites though is Enchanted, some other Disney classics, Wall-E, and Star Wars. Among my favourite movies that aren’t as widely considered good are Flushed Away, Prince of Egypt, and Barbie in a Christmas Carol which I really didn’t expect to like much.
Forgot to mention. My favourite non-child-friendly movie is Charlie Bartlett
Shawshank Redemption! Hope is good! May be best of all things! 🙂
Casablanca is definitely the best movie of all time. You should rewrite this post accordingly.
Congrats on getting freshly pressed! I found your point of view refreshingly honest.
Wasted 10 mins of my life.
Para mim… sem dúvida o “Era uma vez na América”!!
Inesquecível e comovente.
Well put. Just like with music, I believe that the only rankings that are valid(ish) are those based on objective criteria, eg the amount of money they made or the number of CDs bought. And more popular does not equal better. (Although even those should be taking with a pinch of salt as buying things is not the only way to get your hands of them, but that’s hardly the point here.)
Besides, even if the question were not “What is the best movie”, but “What is the movie YOU liked best”…who can truly answer that? Today I’m feeling emotional and want to see some happy-ending Hollywoodian drama/comedy/whatever the heck they are, tomorrow I am going to be looking for a movie that will make me meditate on the meaning of life. Some things just shouldn’t be quantified. Maybe there is one particular movie close to our heart or mind or whatever, but trying to say it aloud, to explain it to somebody else, is pretty much impossible. Or maybe I just can’t express myself xD
Reblogged this on One Is Greater Than Zero.
IMDB’s list doesn’t rank films by how many people think it’s their all-time favorite. It ranks films by what percentage really really like a given movie. So there’s a difference. The Shawshank Redemption probably isn’t the best movie ever made, but it’s one that the typical filmgoer has an excellent chance of enjoying.
Totally agree with you! 🙂
I think you have to define the greatest movie as the one that a single line brings back the joy you feel when you watch it. To me that movie is Blazing Saddles. It is profane enough to be dangerous but clever enough to make you think.
Hi
The picture of Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman on the WordPress homepage brought me here. Seen that movie half a dozen times, an all-time classic, but surely not the greatest. But does it need to be that in order to be watchable or for that matter any other movie? No movie or song can be greatest – if I like it for some reason, there would be someone out there who probably hates it for that very reason.
There are so many talented people out there and each has his/her uniqueness and magic; they all appeal to us. Classification is irrelevant like you have rightly pointed out.
I don’t need to know that I am watching the Greatest or the Best .. that its worth watching is reason enough.
As for the phrasing of your question … I come from India, a country that makes 1000s of movies each year and our directors have created some special ones too – the Asians, the Europeans and the Latin Americans would have there own Greatest and Best to add too.
So to begin with your “Stupid question” has to be rephrased …. “Which Hollywood movie ….” or “Which English language movie ” or ….. Well! I am beginning to feel quite stupid too.
Let me end by saying that I have watched a number of Hollywood movies and have enjoyed so many of them – each had a special meaning for me. Many of them were not award winners or considered great, but it didn’t take away anything from the movie.
Shawshank Redemption is special place and I sure will watch it again, and again, in the years ahead. Its still won’t be the best.
I enjoyed reading your article – it’s prompted me to look at a few other things differently.
Cheers!
The Shawshank Redemption. Period. “I remember thinking it would take a man 500 years to tunnel through the wall with it. Old Andy did it in less than 20.”
Yey! even I replied the same! 🙂
Shawshank Redemption is still one of my favorites.
Ass the Movie featured in Idiocracy is the best ever.
Consider this:
For The Academy Awards, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (an American organization) maintains a voting membership of 5,783 as of 2012. However, when the Academy Awards are televised, the TV program reaches more than 100 countries where most of the audience has no representation in the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
How did it come about that 5,783 Americans ended up being the so-called global judges for what movies are considered the best each year?
Then there is the Nobel Peace Prize—this prize exists because of Alfred Nobel, a man that earned his fortune as a global weapons merchant. When he died, he left a will setting up the Nobel Prize. However, the only reason there is a Nobel Peace Prize is because the Russian woman he loved refused to marry and live with him due to the source of his wealth. After she left him and returned to Russia, the two stayed in touch through letters. In one letter, after he told her about his idea of a Nobel Prize in the Sciences, she suggested that he should include a Peace Prize in addition to the prizes in science and literature (as far as I know the Nobel Prize in Literature was her idea too).
Here’s the real shocker, the recipient of The Noble Peace Prize is decided in Norway by a committee of five white people (all Caucasians)—three women and three men.
The present Norwegian Nobel Committee (from left): Geir Lundestad (secretary), Gunnar Stålsett, Berit Reiss-Andersen, Inger-Marie Ytterhorn, Kaci Kullmann Five og Thorbjørn Jagland (leader)
Source: http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/articles/committee/
Norway has a population under five million. More than four million or 83.6% are Christians with about 98% of the population being white/Caucasian. Globally, Christianity only represents about a third of all humanity. That means two thirds of all people on the Earth belong to other religions or are atheists.
There are more than 7 billion people in the world and yet five Norwegians decide who is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Not one person of color is on the committee or ever has been. Everyone on the committee is influenced by his or her cultural and racial identity and the environment he or she grew up in.
Yet the Han Chinese are the world’s largest single ethnic group, constituting over 19% of the global population, while the second-largest single ethnicity, the Bengali people, account for around 4.8%. By comparison, people of white European descent constitute between 12 and 13% of the world population. The world’s most spoken first languages are Mandarin Chinese spoken by 12.44% of the world’s population, Spanish is second place at 4.85%, English is third at 4.83%.
How many people in the world speak the language of Norway?
Need I say more about the absurdity of the Nobel Peace Prize that is supposed to represent the best of mankind and the entire world?
Reblogged this on Lloyd Lofthouse and commented:
Food for thought. It got me going. I left a long comment along with more than a hundred others. I hope my comment is approved.
Has to be Shawshank Redemption as you were rooting for him to escape. A euphoric moment when he finally did.
Why, it’s “Exodus” (1961) of course.
Great flick u wud say. I agree with you somehow. But there are dozens of films I think rock. The problem is I cant remember any. But thanks for the spot light…
Amazing post, and I certainly have to agree with you. There’s too much ranking in the world of entertainment. Go look at the Billboard website and it’ll have guys like Jay Z at the top but any true rap fan will tell you that underground rap is where true talent lies. Everything depends on personal views, and the only reason a person would ask you what the greatest movie ever made was, is to refute your answer with their own,
Love your response to the whole top lists and top whatevers. I hated having to have and declare a top 10 among my students. I think the same applies that having to rate is difficult and people will never really agree to one idea and be happy about it. What more for 5 stuff on the top. People will just continuously dispute it.
The Shawshank Redemption for sure…
I couldn’t agree more. There is no “greatest” of anything–because “great” is a totally subjective term.
i think.. any animation movies could be the best movies..they seem to not disappoint (at least, me) whether it be in animation, story telling, actions, musics and all sorts of different things..
Moonrise Kingdom. It may not top the list but it belongs on it. How GREAT to have a current movie be a RREEAALLYY good one.
Well said. It’s more a listing of you than films, or music or art.
Reblogged this on triadarabarlian and commented:
smart !
I would put in either “The Dark Knight” or “Fight Club”. But I can’t select any one. There are just too many good movies around! I have got to agree with your slection.
SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION. HANDS DOWN! 🙂
wow..great..i enjoy reading this article and so interesting to read a informative and clear story or blog like this..im new here so.. add me guys on yahoo paaleyah@yahoo.com or skype cantsignin1 .. 19 gurl from us
I agree that there is no true answer for that question. What I can answer though is if the question would be “what is the greatest movie you have ever seen” that is a fair question as it relies on your personal oponion and could probably avoid arguments
Great post, i’ve never actually seen citizen kane or the godfather and when people protest at this, i just say why should i go out of my way to watch these films just because others say they’re the best…i do love shawshank redemption though 🙂
I’m loving sifting through the comments and seeing what people are calling THEIR favourite movie/s… My list of all-time movie favourites changes from year to year but there are those that will always have a safe place – Philadelphia Story, Clueless, The Big Chill … City of God was in there for a while, as was Igby Goes Down, Much Ado About Nothing and The Royal Tenenbaums… you’ve inspired me to have a real think and make my own little list.
I recently blogged about TV’s Unlikely Sex Symbols (http://ballyhoopla.wordpress.com/2012/06/20/unlikely-tv-sex-symbols/) and I’d be interested to see what characters make up everyone else’s list, as mine is in no way definitive.
Thanks for a great post!
Greatest Movie of All Time has yet to be made, and will completed on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2013: Barack Obama’s Farewell Speech
I couldn’t agree more.
Best movie? It all depends on what you like. I still love The Sound of Music,The Power of One and, yes, Shawshank Redemption.
So funny that you mention this today. I live in South Korea and every other day The Shawshank Redemption is on TV… I have no idea why. There are so many other movies that I would much rather see on a daily basis…like Demolition Man 🙂
I believe one of the main criteria to the answer is “standing the test of time”. Approaching 20 years now, it is amazing the impact that Shawshank Redemption still has on people. It is at least one of my personal favorites and based on how many mention it and mention quotes from it, I would say it is the top pick!!
I just can’t…I just can’t do it.
Are there some french talking bloggers giving their opinion for the greatest film ? All the posted tittles are “english speaking”.
What do you think about “Un homme et une femme ” from Claude Lelouch ?
I totally agree with your ending statement. It’s an irrelevant question for people to argue over for the sake of arguing. You gain nothing by arguing which is a better film: casablanca or transformers. It makes sense that people take such a silly question so seriously though. People love superlatives; enter most of mankind’s problems.
So is it possible for an objective opinion on any art to even exist?
I’m loving reading everyone’s comments. That’s what a great blogger does – provokes debate and interest. Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed. I got FP’ed earlier this year but I do healthy recipes so not a whole lot of debating there, unless it’s about tofu or beets (yawns). Btw, sappy old me rates It’s A Wonderful Life; hubby says Some Like It Hot. And no, we are not in our 80s.
shawshank redemption was a terrible dogshit film. why the ridiculous hype?
People with strong opinions often have great and inspirational stories. I’m just starting out with a new idea and I’d love to have your story on my blog. If you get a chance, check out my web page. I’d love to have your story, or even just a snippet, on there. I’m just starting out and am looking for people with great stories. I’d love to hear from you.
http://pragmaticallyeccentric.wordpress.com/share-your-story/
I agree that it is a dumb question………..unless you put the words “What do you think the…?” in front of the question. If some people can relate to Transformers, so be it.
Afterlife (Japanese film) for me.
Shawshank Redemption!!!!
I couldn’t agree more. This is the greatest blog post of all time.
Bodacious! Love this post! You should make more posts like this!
“Best ever” is all a matter of opinion. Shawshank was definitely a great movie, although the Usual Suspects is my favorite by far.
I completely agree with this? I mean how can there ever be a real answer? New movies come out all the time and we all have different tastes..
Film greatness shifts with time and personal experiences through life. As with most artistic medium, some things resonate at certain times more than others, within each of us. When I was 8 years old I thought “Turner and Hooch” was fantastic, now not so much. Again now in my life I would probably say “Alien” would be my personal preference but that’ll change with time, maybe to something else I’ve already seen.
Does the desire to repeatedly watch a film place it above another film’s greatness? I admit to liking Independence Day as a guilt pleasure, it doesn’t remotely mean I’d place it above say Schlindler’s List or Blood Diamond just because I’ll stick it on when I’m bored. I just wouldn’t want to revisit the material within those other films more than once.
..but the best film ever?? Easy.. one I haven’t yet seen.. ;o)
Best movie of all time – you’re right, we’ll never agree – but I can tell you a movie that will always remain a turning point in my life because it was the first time I experienced a larger response than just the feelgood movies up til that point. After I watched Platoon I was amazed at the range of emotion that one could take in a few hours with a movie and be dying to do it again. I’m sure every generation has one…
I was slightly annoyed when I saw the title of your blogpost I must admit, haha! But so glad to see that you came to the right conclusion about the entire question! 😉 “What are some of your favorite movies?”-fine “What’s the greatest movie of all-time?”-stupid question
Suggestion: One way to determine the most popular movie(s) might be to get everyone who responds to list the ten movies they feel they “must” watch whenever they have a chance; maybe split them up by era and genre with ten choices in each category. Then compile the lists and post the movies and their rankings. But I have to agree with Joe; there’s no sense in arguing over movies that have no basis for comparison. How could one possibly compare The Third Man with Terminator?
The Shawshank Redemption !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
…and The Last Castle!
very intresting message=)
The Shawshank Redemption – but no forget this one: Before the Rain, englis-makekedonian, directed by Milcho Manchevski, Golden lion -price in Venice 1994. Of course one of the best – for many reasons – is Casablanca.
nice post..
My bet would be that people insist on ranking out of narcissism.
Wow I love your blog please could you visit my blog at http://www.tyxen.wordpress.com thank you
It is so hard to even say what’s my favorite movie, let alone the one I believe is the best of all time. I’ll name a few that have got me really pumped: City of God, Doubt, 300, and American Beauty.
Blue 22
Best movie ever? In America. Exhausting. Brilliant. Moving. Gratifying. I could go on but I would probably start crying. Again.
Lists are a discussion starter. I totally agree that we tend to take them too far: some particular list is THE top 10, or 100, or whatever. I also prefer lists of personal favorites, because they say more about the person making them. But I disagree that these lists are useless. Saying “everything is relative” is nonsense. Any well-educated person can recognize the quality of a good film, regardless of whether or not they personally love it. There are definite criteria, although as with all art, a great movie always comes around that defies the limited criteria we set up. But anyway, “Citizen Kane” most certainly does have better special effects than any “Transformers” movie. Sorry, Michael Bay, but you really are a total failure, except for the whole moneymaking thing.
Still, here’s a post I wrote that takes a similar tack on the issue of the “greatest movie ever made”: http://infinitecrescendo.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/there-is-no-greatest-movie-of-all-time/
My favorite movie of all time is also considered to be the greatest musical of all time, “Singin’ in the Rain”.
Shawshank and Kane are excellent choices, and I agree that they are indeed worthy of true excellence.
Shawshank for sure is up there, as far as comedies – certainly Raising Arizona
Well said. It falls in the same realm as ‘favorite song’or ‘moment’.
Enter the Void (2009)
Personally, I enjoyed Shawshank the first time I watched it, but it got boring after that. I didn’t read all of the comments, But I do know that my Top 10 list of favorite movies has about 200 movies on it. So I am not the one to make the list. Different movies will land in different orders depending on my mood. I do know that Fifth Element with Bruce Willis, and Boondock Saints always seems to be in the top 5 with about 12 other movies. So yes, it is very hard to decide what the greatest movie of all time is. I don’t think there is one.
Payback with Mel Gibson. A man on a mission, misunderstood by everyone he runs into. Hangs with a whore who believes in him. Betrayed by those around him. And filmed on the street where I used to work.
(actually, the answer is “Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance” which I literally finished reading – again – about 1 hour ago! Explores the question “what is the best” – interesting answer)
Wow, exactly. It’s up to each person, there’s no universal best movie. I, for instance love “Marnie”, how many people hate it? Very good points, and a very insightful article.
I like the question because most people are going to have a different answer, A lot depends on the age group reviewing the film too. One has so many categories to choose from. For example, I like silent films (no, I’m not that old). I discovered silent films primarily through John Gilbert, my favorite actor. His 1925 film, “The Big Parade,” was eclipsed only by “Gone With the Wind.” I like films that shy away from foul language. I find foul language distracting. It adds nothing, especially when it’s overdone. I call “foul language” filler–a lack of creativity. Anyone can curse, but not everyone is clever enough to think of alternatives to get his or her point across. (Admittedly though, a good strong “damn” now and then does drive a point home.) Regarding talkies, so many classics come to mind, such as “Jane Eyre,” “Wuthering Heights” (the version starring Finnes), “Rebecca,” “Vertigo,” “Picnic,” “Northwest by Northwest,” etc. As for modern day films, I like “Kate and Leopold” and “Amazing Grace” and “The Scarlett Pimpernel” (with Jane Seymour). And, of course, you have James Dean in “Grapes of Wrath.” So many great films, so little time to watch them. Regardless of what the critics say about a film, the people have the last word. We’re the ones who pay at the box office. As for THE greatest film ever made, i don’t think there is one. Instead, there are many.
I think the greatest movie you can consider “Schindler’s List” than also You can Consider “Pursuit of Happiness”, and there are lot more movies which can be a called as a legendary movie.
Finding nemo of course! What is your take on the new 21 Jump Street?
I nominate roozbeh for Most Incomprehensible Answer to the Most Stupid Question.
There is no definitive greatest movie only one persons greatest movie. If you change the question to ‘what is your greatest movie?’ It has a lot more relevance.
It is the type of question that invites a lot of crazed looking into the room. One so general in nature that a true answer couldn’t be answered as a fact, just one idiots opinion to another. This is where the pissing match of the fan boys takes place giving other people in the room something to be annoyed about.
“The Shawshank Redemption” is a very good movie, it also reminds me a lot of another very good movie “The Green Mile.” I must agree with the question being a stupid one, as everyone obviously is going to have their own oppinion about what makes a movie good. Besides variety is the spice of life, I would much rather spend my life watching new and different albeit mediocre movies then my favorite movie of all time over and over again.
Reblogged this on dfmw and commented:
apocalypse now, to sir with love, the bicycle thief, inherit the wind ..
Wow! I’m so different from everyone here. I would have to say my favorite movie of all time is White Christmas. There. I said it. I never get tired of watching it. Although, I have to say, when I saw Gone With the Wind for the very first time, I was absolutely awestruck.
I’ve gotta say my favorite switches with my mood, not to mention how much time i’m willing to commit. Some days it’s “JFK”, some others it’s “Total Recall”, still other days the film student in me comes out and it’s “High and Low” or “The 400 Blows”. Take your pick they’re all good, and they all have been, and will be again, my favorites!
I don’t have a favorite movie because too many movies are great.. I think it depends on what mood a person is in… For me, I prefer the old movies with the great actors such as Bette Davis, Cary Grant, James Mason, Claude Rains, Barbara Stanwyck, and the list goes on… I also enjoy Alfred Hitchcock films.. He was a great director!
It’s hard to choose what the greatest movie ever is because everyone has a different opinion but there certainly are many greats like ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ but I typically like comedy or horror and my favourite is like ‘Superbad’ or ‘Role Models’ because I find it very relateable but this is just my opinion, id love to here what you guys think!
Reblogged this on Tortugas Tapalpa.
It’s always ask on my friends slumbook and I’m like mentioning 10 and more movies when It’s my time to note. Don’t know if any of you can relate but yes, that was like 20 years ago. Probably, the greatest movie or movies for me are those that has entertain me that much, like scare me to death, laugh me out loud the most or the one that made me cry a bucketful. Depends…okay, enough said. 😀
————-
colorado springs divorce lawyers
I would say that for me the best movie ever is, The Last Samurai with Tom Cruise. Although dude could not play a samurai worth a damn, but on the whole it`s a good movie.
It’s in the eye of the beholder! From my point of view its Marley and Me with recognition to Beethoven and Lassie Come Home.
Sandy
http://www.sandysays1.wordpress.com
YES THE INCREDIBLES!!!!!!! but I’m an animated movie junkie. Loved Despicable Me, Finding Nemo, Cars… perhaps I am just a toddler forced to be an adult. The best movie of all time would have to include something satisfactory for everyone, for every movie category: I tend to think action movies rate well cause they’ve got the action, the romance, the humor, the drama, etc. Anyway I can never answer any question related to “best of” simply because there are too many criteria!
The Best Tim Robbins movie is Bull Durham! The Best movie of all time is a tuff call to make. My personal fav is the Big Lebowski;)
It’s quite like asking What is the best antivirus out there? (Sorry, tech geek :P)
great article thanks you
This is same as asking who is the greatest batsmen of all time? Or who is the best actor of all time? Questions like these will always have a number of answers as the people voting for the same can never come together on the same platform as far as their thinking is concerned.
I’m with chrissyk3; I’m completely in love with the animated movies that have been coming out in the last 10 years or so. Wall-E, Cars, Despicable Me and most recently How to Train Your Dragon were all amazing! However, Shrek 2 is my favorite animated movie of all time.
Favorite movie-movie? Gotta be JAWS, hands down!! The scene where Quint talks about the USS Indianapolis is unmatched in cinema!!
had to write a paper on this movie for my community class…. inspirational
talking abt shawshank redemption by the way
I agree! Well written post. Everyone has their own individual preferences. It goes back to that age old cliche’, “you can please some of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”. It would be similar to asking what is the best number of all time. It’s all subjective.
There is a big difference between “best movies” and “favorite movies”. Why would the average person, who doesn’t happen to be a movie critic, even care about what the best movies are? As long as you have you favorites, that’s all that’s needed. I have my favorites but I won’t try and convince anyone they are the best movies ever made.
The question I hear you asking is, “what methodology can we use to rate the most entertaining movies?” Methodology and entertaining being the key words.
My best movie too. A big story with everything inside.