# Your favorite movie and Why **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 22, 2001, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-and-why/77496 "2001-08-22T05:16:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Evno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c68b51/32.png) [@Evno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evno)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-and-why/77496/1 "2001-08-22T05:16:08Z")
Some people think it’s wrong to label a movie as “favorite”, but I have no problem with it. In high school, I thought **The Crow** was great. The sets, the lighting, the story…and especially the score. Graemme Revell is wonderful. The score from this movie is still used in movie trailers today! Now, and since 1996 (or whenever), my favorite movie is **Contact**. It’s more technically accurate than most movies of it’s kind, and for almost three hours it can still keep me silent without a blink. Absolutely incredible movie, mainly showing that Religion and Science are in many ways the same thing = both require faith, both are pursuing truth. I’m disgusted that so many people hated it. I think it’s just because they didn’t get to see any aliens (this was in the time that the newer alien movies were coming out: Independence Day, Mars Attacks!, blah blah). Sorry if this topic has been done to death here, but it’s always good to have a source for good opinions at hand. ---
**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-and-why/77496/2 "2001-08-22T05:24:39Z")
I like the **Star Wars** movies… because. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-and-why/77496/3 "2001-08-22T05:34:17Z")
[sub]sure, it’s not The Crow, or Star Wars, but…[/sub] **Room With a View** The greatest quirky costume romance ever. Daniel Day Lewis is inspired. The music is perfect. Merchant & Ivory at the very top of their form. I have been to Florence, Italy, twice because of that movie. ---
**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-and-why/77496/4 "2001-08-22T05:35:24Z")
**Correction:** I like the first three **Star Wars** movies. I felt that _Episode I_ lacked the sentiment that only a movie from the 70’s or 80’s could achieve(i.e. Apocalypse Now, E.T., Indiana Jones, Gremlins, Back to the Future, etc.) Might I take this time to add that **Harrison Ford** has the most impressive filmography of any actor ever. ---
**Author:** ![DPWhite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@DPWhite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPWhite)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-and-why/77496/5 "2001-08-22T06:01:31Z")
Casablanca is my all time favorite. Seen it 28 times. The Empire Strikes Back is the only great Star Wars film (but I love them all) guys. Other tops: Maltese Falcon, Citizen Kane, The Third Man (I like Bogey and Welles, what can I say). Godfather I and II (I liked III too, but it isn’t nearly as good a film), Apocalypse Now, Repo Man, Dr. Strangelove, Blazing Saddles, Rear Window, Unforgiven ---
**Author:** ![Feynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@Feynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feynn)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-and-why/77496/6 "2001-08-22T09:11:30Z")
You asked for one. Highlander. It is the classic heroes tale told in grand style. The first time I saw it was in 1986 and the last time was a few weeks ago after I bought the DVD, which is loaned out right now. My favourite part of the movie is the period where Conner is with his wife Heather. We watch as she grows old while Conner the immortal, remains forever youthful. Time passes and as he holds her as she lies dying she asks him “Will you light a candle for me on my birthday?” He replies “Aye Heather, I will”. When we fast forward 400 years we see him in the church, lighting a candle for his beloved wife. It chokes me up every time I see it. When people ask me why I love this movie I just ask them to watch it themselves. There have been many converts. The sequels are crap and the series is forgettable. There can be only one. ---
**Author:** ![Xixox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/13edae/32.png) [@Xixox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xixox)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-and-why/77496/7 "2001-08-22T09:27:13Z")
I’d hafta say Lawrence of Arabia. There’s a compelling story of struggle for life and freedom, a hero with real emotions that you can sympathize with, stirring orchestral soundtrack (a classic work in its own right), amazing cinematography, and scenes with thousands of participants and not a single one of them is cardboard or digitally inserted. And the end isn’t nicely tied up and force fed to you; you can finish watching the show and be occupied months later with your own questions and imaginations. Plus Sir Alec Guinness just kicked holy ass at whatever he did (Force be with you, Obi Wan). Tschuss ---
**Author:** ![Skip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@Skip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skip)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-and-why/77496/8 "2001-08-22T10:34:24Z")
Bladerunner It’s just a great movie. The sets are eyepopping, the score is great and the cinematography and direction are top notch. Add to that some serious hardcore philosophy wrapped up in cyberpunk visuals and you can’t go wrong. Skip ---
**Author:** ![SteveinSpain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@SteveinSpain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveinSpain)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-and-why/77496/9 "2001-08-22T11:26:56Z")
It’s a mad, mad, mad,…world - because it’s so funny and I love the all star cast and the cool cars. ---
**Author:** ![Sunglasses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5fc32e/32.png) [@Sunglasses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunglasses)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-and-why/77496/10 "2001-08-22T11:49:51Z")
I have two favorite movies: Contact being the first, for the same reasons you give, Evno; and Groundhog Day, because Bill Murray just cracks me up. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-and-why/77496/11 "2001-08-22T11:51:42Z")
My favourite movie is [Once Upon a Time in America](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0087843) the full version. I realize that it has it’s flaws but the lead actors (DeNiro and Woods) just blow me away. It’s a movie that you can really immerse yourself in. Other fav. include: [A Matter of Life and Death](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0038733), I could look at this movie all day . [Cinema Paradiso](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0095765). \* Alfredo, Alfredo \* 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-and-why/77496/12 "2001-08-22T11:58:01Z")
**Amadeus** I don’t know why. ---
**Author:** ![VanLandry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/eb9ed0/32.png) [@VanLandry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VanLandry)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-and-why/77496/13 "2001-08-22T12:08:30Z")
Flash Gordon - “Flash. Flash, I love you, but we only have 14 hours to save the earth”. This is the most hated movie thread, right? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![VanLandry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/eb9ed0/32.png) [@VanLandry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VanLandry)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-and-why/77496/14 "2001-08-22T12:10:26Z")
I supppose I should include my favorite(s). It’s a tie between “Jaws” and “Close Encounters” ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-and-why/77496/15 "2001-08-22T12:52:31Z")
**Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead**. Tom Stoppard’s writing is snappy, funny as hell and the movie just gets more entertaining every time I watch it. ---
**Author:** ![kiffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/d78d45/32.png) [@kiffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiffa)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-and-why/77496/16 "2001-08-22T13:24:22Z")
Lawrence of Arabia: beautiful camera work, excellent acting, wonderful character study and characterizations esp. Raines’ role, political/historical film Godfather II: beautiful camera work, excellent acting, wonderful character study, excellent study of the use of power and its influence on the user Apocalypse Now: based on a classic story, excellent acting, interesting characters esp the Duval role, good camera work Tom Jones: funny, funny film about sex, family, sex, cultural mores of the 18th century, good acting, As pointed out earlier, these films are populated with real people and not computer throw-ins, the character studies are as important as the interesting plotlines, camera work tends toward the more simple rather than the current “throw everything in” approach. It seems like I’ve been drumming my fingers for years to see another film that can be included in this bunch, but it now seems to be a fruitless wait. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-and-why/77496/17 "2001-08-22T14:01:16Z")
It’s a tie: **Reservoir Dogs** because it is beautifully made, tied up in the end and just an amazing package. Just enough humor, gore, suspense, etc. **Picnic at Hanging Rock** I saw this as a kid and was captivated, and it still fascinates me. Beautifully shot, mysterious, sad. ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-and-why/77496/18 "2001-08-22T14:54:16Z")
I’ve had so many Favourites that I can hardly rank them any more here are a few that pop to mind Casablanca Apocalypse Now A Clockwork Orange Seven GodFather GodFather II The Good Bad and the Ugly Saving Private Ryan Black Robe Das Boot ---
**Author:** ![Clucky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@Clucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clucky)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-and-why/77496/19 "2001-08-22T16:16:24Z")
I’m going to say **Blazing Saddles** , because it’s still the funniest movie of all time with the best lines ever, and great comedic acting. Only Mel Brooks could have pulled this off, and there will never be another movie like it, because it was politically incorrect in the use of the N word. (It was like Huck Finn, in that it used the word, but made fun of the white folk.) The ending is a bit out of control. But, it’s still No. 1 in my book. I also enjoyed **Contact** , and appreciated its take on science and religion. I can’t believe people were upset they didn’t get to see aliens. Oh well. **Silence of the Lambs** was a great movie, but I’ve seen it too often. Suspenseful movies lose quite a bit of juice after several viewings. I loved the first two **Godfather** movies. To this day, I’ll sit and watch them when they’re rerun on TV. **Caddyshack** is my second favorite comedy. [Bill Murray’s groundskeeper voice]So I says, Hey, Lama, how ‘bout a little somethin’ for, you know, the effort.[/Murray’s groundskeeper voice] ---
**Author:** ![jellen92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@jellen92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellen92)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-and-why/77496/20 "2001-08-22T16:46:40Z")
The best movies I can think of are Tootsie, Prince of Tides, and Shawshank Redemption. All for different reasons. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-and-why/77496.md?page=2)