The godfather?
I recognize this puts me in a vast minority (although that’s the point of the thread), but Back to the Future for me is a huge mixed bag. There’s a lot about it that’s clever and fun, and structurally speaking it’s one of the best wind-up-toy scripts ever written, but it’s got some wildly uncomfortable blind spots that make it a tough sit for me. Marty’s mom is being sexually assaulted in that car, and the movie just sort of glances past it so she and Marty’s dad can have their heroically romantic reunion. And then she’s okay having her attempted rapist hanging around the house for the next couple of decades? Really? I fully understand none of this is a problem for most people and my reaction is a significant outlier, but again, that’s what the thread is about.
Nobody said Citizen Kane?
I thought Back To The Future was boring in places, too. It definitely would make my list
Regarding To Be or Not To Be, I actually prefer Mel Brooks’ remake over Ernst Lubitsch’s original film.
Another black&white one I would agree with.
Sorry, never saw the remake. Knowing Mel Brooks it was surely no shame.
No I don’t believe there is any movie everyone agrees on.
You could try a movie poll ala MMM music poll
Movies aren’t my thing but even I enjoy Jurassic Park, Ghostbusters, BTTF. E.T. has few detractors
For your consideration: A Hard Day’s Night
Another vote against The Wizard of Oz, for the oft-observed reason that Glinda comes across as a manipulative schemer pitting Dorothy against the WWotW. It’s one of those “can’t unsee” interpretations.
I’ve not even heard of the vast majority of recent films. Ironically the only one in the 2020-2024 period I’ve actually seen apart from the Wallace & Grommit one is Is That Black Enough for You?!? and I found it a hot mess, which made me quite angry as the subject matter deserved a lot better.
But maybe that’s just me, and everyone else has seen Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted, Milli Vanilli, Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus, and Wolfman’s Got Nards.
Read the book when it was new, thought it was mediocre, found the movie more mediocre than the book. Good fx? Yes. Good writing? Not so much. (I have never been much impressed with Crichton.)
55; Gaslight’s a good one.
Oh gosh–that’s because you’ve never talked to me about it.
I didn’t see it when it came out, but because of its fame, finally decided to watch it about twenty years ago.
I almost never quit a movie halfway through. I quit Groundhog Day. 100% of the reason was Andie McDowell, whose acting I found insufferably bad. Otherwise, the movie was fine–nothing remarkable, but fine. But Andie McDowell? Oh my god, who told her she knew how to act?
That said, I’ll throw out what I consider to be a perfect movie: the 2010 True Grit. Does anyone dislike this movie?
I’ve been trying to think of non-obvious films to nominate.
Concert films like The Last Waltz.
Kid’s films from our childhoods, like A Boy Named Charlie Brown.
For more conventional choices:
Dr. Strangelove
The General
(Now that I think about it, those last two might have viewers who can’t get past their settings and circumstances.)
As noted, Dung crapped all over Casablanca up thread.
I realize that as unlikely it is that we will all agree on a “good” movie, it is likely more unlikely that we will agree on what “good” movie means. I think I was hoping for something more than “OK.” (I recall MANY years ago discussing with friends how often people describe just about any experience as “It wasn’t that bad!” Seemed faint praise indeed.)
So a little more than, “That wasn’t a complete waste of time,” or “Better than jabbing icepicks into my eyes.” Probably closer to, “That was a pleasant/enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours,” or “Certainly better than average.”
So, is that a thumb up or thumb down? Again, the standard isn’t greatness.
Similarly:
Does “more mediocre = “not good” for purposes of this thread?
Added to the list (until e hear back from DG):
Jurassic Park
Ghostbusters
ET
A Hard Day’s Night
I’m nixing Citizen Kane. Boring.
Groundhog Day nixed
So, I think the current list is:
Back to the Future
Groundhog Day
Ratatoulle
Apollo 13
Star Wars - A New Hope
The Awful Truth
The Godfather
To Be and Not Be
The Great Dictator
Galaxy Quest
Jurassic Park
Ghostbusters
ET
A Hard Day’s Night
Did I miss any nominations/rejections?
And folk, for the last time (until I personally give up on keeping track of this exercise), can we please be clear about nominations/rejections? Just clear statements, rather than, “I imagine some people…”
Feel free to discuss however youu want. But I’d prefer the suggestions/objections be stated clearly and unambiguously.
I like it.
It will seem that I have a black&white bias, but I agree on those two too.
My recollection is that another group which didn’t like it (or any of its sequels/prequels) was serious science fiction fans, whose complaint was that “it’s not really science fiction.”
It’s “space opera,” or “a fantasy movie with spaceships and laser swords” – and honestly, they aren’t wrong.
And, with all respect to @Dinsdale and this thread, my answer is, “I don’t think that you can find any movie which everyone feels is ‘good,’ if not ‘great.’” Tastes vary too much, and as we’re already seeing here, for any movie, even one which is widely respected, you’ll have people who feel, “it’s boring,” “it’s stupid,” “I don’t like black-and-white movies,” “I don’t like westerns,” etc.
Do i have to enjoy the movie, or just agree that “it’s objectively a good movie”. I didn’t personally love “the godfather”, but i watched it and thought, “oh wow, i see why it’s so highly rated. Fabulous cinematography, good acting…”
I’d put A Charlie Brown Christmas above that. I dunno how those who don’t celebrate Christmas feel about it but it’s my favorite Christmas film and the soundtrack is legendary.
I think Groundhog Day is probably the answer – it even changed the meaning of Groundhog Day.
ETA: Having read to the end of the thread, I guess I’ll withdraw GD.
That said, I nominate the Blues Brothers.
ETA 2: Charlie Brown Christmas is not a movie.