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Daily Featured Ranking Question for 2010-06-15

The Top 25 Movies of All Time by Mark D. Hauser

(To give your answer and view the results to this ranking question, go to: Movies: Movies: All Time.)

So, what makes a great movie? A movie critic looks at movies from one perspective, a serious movie fan from another, and a casual movie watcher from yet another. Whose to say which perspective is correct? And regardless of someone’s perspective, it seems that most people think that the main purpose of a movie is to entertain. Of course, since we are all unique individuals, we are all entertained by different things in various ways.

Hence, no matter what movie critics say or write about what movies are great and why, it has little influence on me. After all, there are no exact criteria for what makes a great movie. Besides, since a movie’s main purpose is to entertain: why the heck would I listen to a critic about which movie would entertain ME? Since, after I watch a movie, the main thought that goes through my head is: How much did the movie entertain me? And then, ultimately: How badly do I want to see the movie again?

To me, the last question is important when I rank movies because if a movie is so great I should want to see it over and over again. It is not the only criterion, however, if a movie is great is has to be entertaining and if it is truly both great and entertaining -- I will want to watch it several times.

I bring this up because several movie critics and a good friend of mine feel strongly that “Casablanca” is the greatest movie of all time. When I finally got around to seeing Casablanca I thought it was an excellent movie and entertaining, however, to date, I have seen Casablanca a grand of total of one time. Nothing about the movie gave me a strong desire to watch it again. I am sure I will watch it again, but I’m in no hurry. The same goes for “The Shawshank Redemption”. Needless to say, neither movie made my top 25.

However, when I saw “Die Hard” in the movie theater I was so blown away by the intensity and excitement of the movie (not to mention Bruce Willis’ mesmerizing and star-making performance), for the first and only time in my life, I went back to the movie theater to see it again a couple weeks later. To date, I have probably seen it a dozen times –- the most of any movie. Probably only “The Wizard of Oz”, which my family watched together every February on network television when I was growing-up, comes close in total number of viewings. And while the Wizard of Oz did not make my top 25, I did vote for it for Best Family Movie of All Time.

Anyways, to me, my favorite movies are also the best movies of all time. I don’t expect you to agree with my list and I’m sure if I did it again tomorrow it would change. Besides, as I like to remind people, do not get your movie watching couch pillows in an uproar –- you get a vote too!

1. Die Hard 2. The Outlaw Josey Wales 3. The Bourne Ultimatum 4. Blazing Saddles 5. Pulp Fiction 6. Raiders of the Lost Ark 7. Star Wars 8. Psycho 9. The Godfather 10. The Godfather: Part 2 11. The Bourne Identity 12. The Bourne Supremacy 13. Animal House 14. The Empire Strikes Back 15. Live Free of Die Hard 16. 12 Angry Men (1957) 17. Dr. Strangelove 18. The Silence of the Lambs 19. Jaws 20. Back to the Future 21. Titanic (1997) 22. King Kong (2005) 23. The Transporter 24. True Believer 25. The Exorcist.

Honorable Mention (or favorite movies that I somehow forget or did not have room for): Kung Fu (made for TV), Rocky, Hoosiers, The Natural, Unforgiven, Play Misty for Me, The Birds, The Pink Panther Strikes Again, Body Heat, Young Frankenstein, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Heaven Can Wait, The Sting, Scarface, A Few Good Men, Full Metal Jacket, Apocalypse Now, The Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, The Planet of the Apes, King Kong (1933), The Graduate, Rosemary's Baby, Transporter 2, and Braveheart.

Comments

I actually haven't watched all of the movies listed in your top 25, but I'm certain that Titantic should be boosted up a few. Great chick flick, action flick, romance, historical, and family film!!!
Posted by Fuschia68
Hey don't you think Terminator should be a higher rank, Arnold was a great actor before he got into politics, lol!
Posted by fburnet1
chicks are obviously ranking these movies, I think the order is better than what is being suggested
Posted by hs62045
I would argue that what what you find entertaining isn't what entertains another. Some people enjoy creative editing, great characters, graphic violence, the list goes on. This is precisely why films shouldn't be ranked by such subjective criteria. Instead, films should be judged on how well they use the devices of the medium to create a full and fulfilling experience.
Posted by jmullan

Past Featured Ranking Questions

The Top 10 Movie Directors of All Time by Mike Lombardo
The 25 Greatest Rock Bands of All Time by Mark D. Hauser
The Top 10 Funniest Stand-up VHS tapes/DVDs of All Time by Mark Hauser
The Top Acting Performance by Paul Newman by Mark D. Hauser
The Top 25 Movies of All Time by Mark D. Hauser
The Top 25 Stand-up Comedians of All Time by Mark D. Hauser

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