# Give me 5 movies I should see before I die! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 6, 2007, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144 "2007-02-06T23:16:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Surbey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@Surbey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surbey)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/1 "2007-02-06T23:16:43Z")
I’m not dieing, but if I were, what would you tell me to see? ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/2 "2007-02-06T23:29:04Z")
Norman McLaren’s **Begone Dull Care** Karel Zeman’s **Inspiration** The Fleischer Brothers’ **Snow White** (with Betty Boop) Jan Svankmajer’s **Dimensions of Dialogue** Frederic Back’s **The Man who Planted Trees** All Shorts. All Animated. All Brilliant. And cumulatively will take up only 1 hour of your life. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/3 "2007-02-06T23:44:06Z")
\*\* Local Hero\*\* \*\* The Right Stuff\*\* ``` **Soldier of Orange** ``` **Places in the Heart** ``` **Nashville** ``` ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/4 "2007-02-06T23:56:37Z")
**Judgment at Nuremberg** (I Tivo’d it recently and am enamored anew [I hadn’t watched it in many years]- it’s a largely forgotten multiple Oscar winning classic with a script so intelligent it makes you debate whether the Nazi judges on trial should really be sentenced to prison and which is most deserving of contempt (the bigoted opportunist who was true to himself while sentencing “race defilers” to death or the legendary ethical judge played by Burt Lancaster who is tortured by his actions but did the same thing). Oscar winning performance by Maximilian Schell, great performances by Montgomery Clift, Judy Garland [yes, really], Spencer Tracy, Werner Klemperer [yes, Col. Klink, and yes, really], Marlena Dietrich, Richard Widmark, others- even William Shatner’s inclusion doesn’t sink his scenes) **The Lion in Winter** - the original Hepburn/O’Toole/Hopkins version- scenery chewing, Christmas hams all around, but still excellent **84 Charing Cross Road** - a great “little movie” with Hopkins and Anne Bancroft about two soulmates who never meet and whose letters are only about rare books Hopkins sells and Bancroft buys. More interesting than my description. **The Miracle Worker** - forget the Helen Keller jokes or that Patty Duke begat a hobbit, married Gomez and went crazy in some order, it’s a great (very low budget) movie **Reefer Madness: the Musical** - poses the ethical question t… okay, no ethical questions or great production values, but you get to see Christian Campbell dancing in nothing but a thong for several minutes (with a satyr clad Alan Cumming gyrating behind him no less- I’m guessing Cumming was never once late to the set on those days and that he demanded many many retakes). ---
**Author:** ![According\_to\_Pliny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/5 "2007-02-06T23:56:43Z")
\*\*The Knack (And How To Get It) \*\*(British) Rita Tushingham **Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment** (British) Vanessa Redgrave, David Warner **Can Hieronymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness?** (British) Anthony Newley, Joan Collins, Milton Berle, George Jessel ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/6 "2007-02-06T23:56:48Z")
Hiyao Miyazaki’s **Spirited Away**. If you’ve only got time for one more movie before you die, see this one. **Finding Nemo** **Groundhog Day** **Big Trouble in Little China** The complete\*\* Lord of the Rings \*\* extended edition, back to back in one 12 hour marathon. ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/7 "2007-02-07T00:00:54Z")
Of course, we don’t know what you have already seen, so expect some damned good movies that you probably already know. [Excalibur](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082348/) - A lush and compelling version of Arthurian legend that actually comes across well on screen. [The Third Man](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041959/) - A noir classic, tense as a zither string. (#45 on the IMDB Top 250) [Hedwig and the Angry Inch](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0248845/) - It’s bitter and heartwrenching, it’s sweet and endearing, it’s quite alternative, and the music kicks ass. And end it with a Rob Reiner twofer: [The Princess Bride](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/) - “Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Revenge. Giants. Monsters. Chases. Escapes. True love. Miracles.” (#130 on the IMDB Top 250) [This Is Spinal Tap](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088258/) - _The_ Mockumentary against which all others are bound to come up short. ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/8 "2007-02-07T00:02:35Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] **Reefer Madness: the Musical** - poses the ethical question t… okay, no ethical questions or great production values, but you get to see Christian Campbell dancing in nothing but a thong for several minutes (with a satyr clad Alan Cumming gyrating behind him no less- I’m guessing Cumming was never once late to the set on those days and that he demanded many many retakes). [/QUOTE] And for us straight boys, the “Little Mary Sunshine” number. Great choice! Edit: [http://www](http://www). [youtube.com/watch?v=SqEyDMPBrsc](http://youtube.com/watch?v=SqEyDMPBrsc) (Link tweaked because somewhat NSFW. Remove the space before “youtube.”) ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/9 "2007-02-07T00:15:43Z")
[Trainspotting](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trainspotting_(film)) - hedonism and consequences thereof. [LA Confidential](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L.A._Confidential) - seedy underbelly. [Aliens](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aliens_(film)) - Game over, man. [The Dish](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0205873/) - The second most charming film ever made. [Local Hero](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Hero) - The first most charming film ever. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/10 "2007-02-07T00:19:42Z")
_Solaris_ ---
**Author:** ![Dr.nuggets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@Dr.nuggets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.nuggets)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/11 "2007-02-07T00:42:14Z")
E.T - a classic. it really makes you wonder why man is so afraid of the unknown? A Streectcar named Desire - 'Nuff said The Station Agent - Jsut made me say “wow” Howl’s Moving Castle -More of a kid’s movies but the animation is incredible Phil Collins:The Movie (just kidding!!!) If you want to die of laughter then watch Airplane ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/12 "2007-02-07T00:46:47Z")
Casablanca Star Wars Pulp Fiction Saving Private Ryan The Lord of the Rings trilogy ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/13 "2007-02-07T00:47:02Z")
I suppose it depends who you are and if it is 5 films that will somehow change what little time is left to you, or just a sweep across the genres. From the later point of view; One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest - Just an awesome film, seams to make me blub. Finding Nemo, if there is one film to sit down with kids of 3-4 yo, then this is a good one, nothing too scary and a great story and characterisation. I’d have put ET in here if the wee sproogos were a bit older. Apollo 13. Not many films make me wish I was there, part of it, just as a small cog in a big wheel , but that film is one. I guess it owes more to real life events than any great doing on behalf of the crew and actors, but hey hoy it works. Beside any film that makes me want to be in Houston must have something going for it. Aliens was almost there on my action category, I gess I had no wish to be there getting dissolved or suffering serious intestinal upset. Reservoir Dogs. Excellent dialog just punctuated with some of the most graphic violence that hit mainstream cinema at that time, Tim Roth looked like he was in a bit of pain in the back seat of a white leather upholstered car. Scum is also there for shock and dialog of a very brutal nature, but Reservoir Dogs pips it due to Harvey Kietel talking about chopping some bank dudes finger off, followed by hankering for a taco. I guess it has to be Spinal Tap, Airplane or one of Billy Connolly live stand up (if that counts) for comedy. Well either an useful list or a sad indictment of my cultural awareness. cheers ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/14 "2007-02-07T01:10:52Z")
[Silence of the Lambs](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102926/) [Bob Roberts](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103850/) LOTR trilogy [Blazing Saddles](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071230/) [Apocalypse Now](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078788/)–the original, not the Redux version. ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/15 "2007-02-07T01:24:23Z")
[QUOTE=El Cid Viscoso] _Solaris_ [/QUOTE] [Which](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069293/) [version](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0307479/)? ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/16 "2007-02-07T02:11:46Z")
**One flew over the cuckoo’s nest, Sunset Boulevard, LOTR trilogy, Star Trek II: the Wrath of Khan, the Station Agent.** So many more I could name… ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/17 "2007-02-07T02:23:17Z")
Some of you guys are getting kind of esoteric; I mean _84 Charing Cross Road_? _Soldier of Orange_? _Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment_? Our man is dying here, and he only has twelve hours for a movie marathon. This is no time, as much fun as it can be in its own way, for art house pretension and rare, eclectic movies. Anyway, here’s my list (pick any five):[ul] [li]_Raiders of the Lost Ark_[/li][li]_Rear Window_[/li][li]_Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love The Bomb_[/li][li]_Rashomon_[/li][li]_The Third Man_[/ul][/li]Also rans include (in no particular order) _Blade Runner_, _The Empire Strikes Back_, _The Bicycle Thief_, _The Apartment_, _Sunset Blvd._, _Some Like It Hot_, _The Godfather 1+2_ (which would make the list if it was only one film…the smashed together remix version doesn’t count), _Apocalypse Now_ (theatrical cut), _Being John Malkovich_, _Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind_, _Ran_, _Kagemusha_, _Chinatown_, _Five Easy Pieces_, _Vozvrashcheniye_, _The 400 Blows_, _To Kill A Mockingbird_, _Out Of The Past_, _The Maltese Falcon_, _Raging Bull_, _Taxi Driver_, _The Wild Bunch_, _8-1/2_, _La Dolce Vita_, _The General_, _Brazil_, _Before Sunrise_, _Before Sunset_, _Arsenic and Old Lace_, _The Sweet Smell of Success_, _The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance_, _The Triplets of Belleville_, _Roman Holiday_, and _Atanarjuat_. On second thought, pay your doctors whatever it costs to keep you alive long enough to see all of these films. I’m surprised (though perhaps I shouldn’t be) to see the _Lord of the Rings_ films recommended with such frequency. I considered them enjoyable popcorn munchers but sort of lacking in thematic depth; not films I’m going to watch over and over again and discuss for detail and interpretation. If I had to pick a single frilm from Peter Jackson’s ouerve, it would be _Heavenly Creatures_, about the Parker-Hulme murder case. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/18 "2007-02-07T02:26:56Z")
Gattaca Groundhog Day Blade Runner The Iron Giant Gladiator (I would add Fifth Element, but I know that’s just me) ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/19 "2007-02-07T02:30:55Z")
Shakespeare In Love The Ninth Configuration Bring It On Amadeus This Is Spinal Tap ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/20 "2007-02-07T02:30:57Z")
[QUOTE=Only Mostly Dead] [Which](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069293/) [version](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0307479/)? [/QUOTE] Clooooo-ney! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144.md?page=2)