While listening to NPR yesterday, they had a movie critic talking about the new Coen Brothers movie “True Grit”. He (the critic) was giving what he called a Western genre “Starter Pack” for people unfamiliar with the genre. He did say that the 5 movies he chose we not the BEST westerns, they were simply 5 movies that someone new the genre might enjoy. He did state that if you watched the movies and didn’t like any of them, you are just not going to like westerns at all.
His movies where -
** 1. Shane
2. The Seekers
3. The Dirty Dozen
4. Blazing Saddles
5. Unforgiven**
That got me thinking about doing this for other genres. So here are the rules -
List a genre.
List 5 movies that you would consider essential to any fan.
Explain why, or don’t, doesn’t really matter.
Enjoy
Now for mine.
Genre: Horror Starter Pack:
1. The Exorcist
2. Poltergeist
3. Texas Chainsaw Massacre
4. The Ring
5. The Strangers
Again, these are not what I would say are THE BEST horror movies made, just my opinion on some essential flicks for the genre.
Hell I was pretty sure it was The Dirty Dozen, but I guess I am wrong. He said that it was on his list because it was the first of the really violent movies that didn’t really have a “hero” saving the day. It was focused on the outlaw aspect and was unique in that way*.
I am not a fan of westerns and have never seen any of the movies in the pack (with the exception of Blazing Saddles), so I’m just going on what the critic said.
A genre I’m sure everyone knows and loves, Torture Porn:
Audition Hostel Saw Inside Frontier(s)
There are movies much, much harsher than these (Srpski Film, August Underground Mordum, Philosophy of a Knife, Snuff 102), but those five are “mainstream” enough to give someone an intro.
Back to the Future (if I can count a trilogy as one movie, then all 3, but if I only get 1, then just the first, even though I think 2 is a better example for this thread, since there is a lot more time travel, but 2 really relies on having seen 1 to get the full experience.)
Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (one of the best examples of closed-loop time travel, especially the end with the whole “I’ll hide the keys right here…awesome, here they are!” part.)
Terminator II (doesn’t rely as heavily on having seen the first one as BttF, and goes more into the whole “can we change the future with our actions” aspect.)
Primer (I recommend viewing this last as well to avoid the inevitable head explosions ruining the viewing of future movies.)
Alien** - Fantastically filmed and an excellent thriller/horror. The Matrix - I could do without the pseudo-Eastern philosophy but still an impressive film. Forbidden Planet - Great effects for the era and budget and tells the the journey within our mind is at least as important and the journey to the stars. Plan 9 From Outer Space - From the “so bad it good/no, it’s just bad” file. Blade Runner - I don’t even much like the movie but it’s a perfect example of the dystopian/cyberpunk future.
Not meaning to be critical of your list but I can’t claim to be familiar with this film. Googling turned up an HG Well story that was never filmed that I can find and that deals with then ending of our current world and the birth of a new, better, more rational time. Is this story what you’re referring? If not, then please enlighten me. Could it possibly be Night of the Comet?
As an alternate, I’d swap out one of these, probably Helvetica, for something like This Is Spinal Tap, Best In Show or A Mighty Wind. I figure any of those are as much a documentary as Blazing Saddles is a Western.
