tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2587775651487578742.post4840615439222803450..comments2024-03-29T07:03:32.119+13:00Comments on Cinematic Paradox: The 'Favourite Film' Argument...(post #700!)Stevee Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284769251750574447noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2587775651487578742.post-17222414417039992262011-11-18T02:29:29.553+13:002011-11-18T02:29:29.553+13:00This will give me something to think about for the...This will give me something to think about for the rest of the day. For what it's worth, Pulp Fiction if my all time favorite.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10907807064603780735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2587775651487578742.post-75296110489397371622011-11-18T01:59:09.374+13:002011-11-18T01:59:09.374+13:00"I particularly loved it when I picked up a f..."I particularly loved it when I picked up a free copy of Blue Valentine from work and exclaimed, "I just got my 21st favourite film for free!" What I didn't like was the fact that my fellow staff members looked at me strangely." -- lol<br /><br />Great write-up. I also thought before of all this stuff that you wrote in this article. I really want to make my own list of top favorites but I have to find some courage haha.<br /><br />I think it is okay to include newer films. I mean there are great films made every year and a film is a phenomenon, it can directly speak to your heart, even if it's just a 2011 kid looking up to a 1940 classic. I agree with pretty much everything you said.<br /><br />My three top favorites are Gone with the Wind, Lord of the Rings (trilogy; can't see them as separate movies), and Inception. And you know what, it's a problem because it's hard for me to choose the order for these three. They are flawless to me. I watch GWTW, and right after I think: that's it, my #1 of all times. Then I watch LOTR, and I think: oh no, it's way to great; it's my #1. And the same with Inception.<br /><br />Anyway, I hope that I will tackle this challenge and will have a 100 list.Lesyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11785171567540455637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2587775651487578742.post-31426995463213859132011-11-10T21:23:46.547+13:002011-11-10T21:23:46.547+13:00Mette - Good luck with your list! I guess I wanted...<b>Mette</b> - Good luck with your list! I guess I wanted to do such a task because I like having things in order. It's a hard task, but it is worth it! <br /><br /><b>Ruth</b> - Thanks! The 'film I always go back to' thing always wins a lot of points with me when I do a top 100 list. Like Mean Girls. I have to watch this film at least three times every year!<br /><br /><b>Castor</b> - Yes, I'm quite a sentimental person so most of my films are placed in my list depending how much they mean to me. Which is probably why Inception in my top 10. I get so sentimental over that movie! Anyway, I totally agree with what you're saying!<br /><br /><b>SDG</b> - Thanks!<br />It is a really hard task, isn't it? But it is totally satisfying.<br />I had that problem too, as I had drafted a list and then I saw a whole lot of good films that I just had to put them in. It was torturous trying to take things out and put the new stuff in!<br /><br /><b>Jack</b> - Same here, if I see a great film, it will instantly become a favourite. But sometimes these great films can't make the list :/<br />Thanks!Stevee Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12284769251750574447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2587775651487578742.post-84364575579755741152011-11-08T12:03:28.877+13:002011-11-08T12:03:28.877+13:00I understand the difference some people make betwe...I understand the difference some people make between best films and favourite films, but I have never made it personally <br /><br />If I see a great film, it will instantly became a favourite, I suppose it's closely linked to the whole "guilty pleasure" thing as well, which I've never really understood either.<br /><br />Anyway great post, very interesting read.Jack Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14558083317361098572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2587775651487578742.post-66321758115743660302011-11-08T04:06:43.846+13:002011-11-08T04:06:43.846+13:00Congrats on your 700th !!
I have been making my o...Congrats on your 700th !!<br /><br />I have been making my own top 100 list for last couple of weeks. So, I can relate to every statement you are saying. It is extremely tiring to first select 100 movies(you immediately feel bad about leaving so many others), then deciding their spots - main reason why such a list would take weeks to make. Its damn hard but really satisfying.<br /><br />However, for me, worst part is updating the list. I am almost done with the list and then I saw Festen(1998) and I had to include it in the list. It took me hours to decide where.<br /><br />Great Post !!SDGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09331736603243732602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2587775651487578742.post-76889496399400179872011-11-07T19:06:43.032+13:002011-11-07T19:06:43.032+13:00Long ago, I tried to list my favorite films... The...Long ago, I tried to list my favorite films... Then I realized the list would change all over the place every other day so I quickly stopped on my endeavor ;)<br /><br />At the end of the day, it just comes down to what means something to you at particular moments of your life. Movies are just little bits of introspection into the human condition and our own identity. No wonder they are so subjective not only from person to person but from moment to moment.<br /><br />Congrats on 700 Stevee!Castorhttp://www.anomalousmaterial.com/moviesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2587775651487578742.post-32675731582683981672011-11-07T17:07:12.243+13:002011-11-07T17:07:12.243+13:00Firstly, congrats on your 700th post!! I just reac...Firstly, congrats on your 700th post!! I just reached that milestone not too long ago myself. Great topic too, btw and you're so right that 'best' film and 'favorite film ever' could very well be very different. I do have one that I thought is technically a masterpiece and also happen to be a favorite of mine, it's one of my top 5 fave of all time, and that is Ben-Hur. As for favorite film I could watch over and over again, I'd go with Ang Lee's Sense & Sensibility... that one also wins the title 'movie I always go back to' category as I never gets bored watching it.ruthhttp://flixchatter.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2587775651487578742.post-74093544793941372662011-11-07T07:39:43.427+13:002011-11-07T07:39:43.427+13:00As you know I'm working on a Top 100 list myse...As you know I'm working on a Top 100 list myself (okay, I haven't started yet... but mentally), and this post was a great inspiration for me... I've been thinking about that best film vs. favourite film thing too, so thank you for opening my eyes... I will order it after my personal taste, without any exceptions.Mettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08094234448852441633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2587775651487578742.post-84553587213036610852011-11-06T21:19:22.352+13:002011-11-06T21:19:22.352+13:00Nikhat - I guess the favourite films/best films I&...<b>Nikhat</b> - I guess the favourite films/best films I've ever seen do differ, but some of the films in my list are on equal grounds. Then again, people will *always* have problems with me calling Schindler's List the best film I've ever seen. So I tend to gravitate towards the 'favourite film' aspect a lot more.<br />Yeah, I always feel like I should say "look at me, I have better taste in films than you" to my peers. Which is part of the reason why Memento is my favourite film. This is because I only know one of my friends has seen it, and many of my peers haven't even heard of it, so I feel all high and mighty compared to their Despicable Me's. I'm so horrible.<br />Yeah, in my first round I forgot a few movies and then I hated myself. Even now I still doubt my list. But hey, that's life.<br /><br /><b>Brent</b> - I started with a top 10 which is a good base. But it's still really hard!<br /><br /><b>pturner1010</b> - Thanks!<br />Gosh, I feel exactly the same about Requiem for a Dream. I was actually only ever going to watch it once, but then my friends thought it would be a good idea to watch it too, and after that second time I vow never again. I still love it to pieces, though.<br />Don't feel bad about having Titanic in there! There are plenty of worse films that you could include so high.<br />Yes, ordering is the worst part. I admit that my ordering is by no means perfect.<br /><br /><b>Aziza</b> - I'm glad I waited a while to do a top 100, because if I remember a draft I did when I was 13 and I think Confessions of a Shopaholic was number 32! I've still got lots of films I need to see, but I'm off to a good start.<br /><br /><b>mrg</b> - Yes, favourite is all about the personal stuff. I haven't seen Shortbus, but I really would like to. And that's a good film to have as your favourite!<br />It takes a long time, but if you really put your heart into it then it'll be worth it!<br /><br /><b>Bonjour Tristesse</b> - Haha, it is an overwhelming task!<br /><br /><b>3guys1movie</b> - My opinion changes all the time, too. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was in my top 10, but it slid down quite a lot. Schindler's List used to be my 44th favourite movie, and now it's my second! Times change, opinions change. <br /><br /><b>SJ Honeywell</b> - I love North by Northwest. I feel the same about the top movies in my favourites list. Like Mean Girls...it gets everything right in terms of comedies, and I enjoy watching it. But it's not one of the best movies I've ever seen. <br /><br /><b>Tyler</b> - It's weird that you say that Titanic is technically the best movie you've ever seen. That movie is only mediocre to me...but my best friend loves it. Which I suppose is a good thing, since 'the best movie she's ever seen' used to be Burlesque.<br />I'm not very good at making recommendations because no one in this town has the same taste as me. Which is sad.<br /><br /><b>James</b> - 5000 films could never translate to 100 favourite films. That would be nightmare for me! Ranking is hard, and it's never something that can be precisely done.Stevee Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12284769251750574447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2587775651487578742.post-37525768060588295422011-11-06T19:10:53.403+13:002011-11-06T19:10:53.403+13:00Ah, vexed issues...
For a start, I don't do &...Ah, vexed issues...<br /><br />For a start, I don't do "favourites". By my count I've seen nearly 5000 films in my life and trying to boil that down to even a top 100 is something I'm just not interested in doing or am able to do. And to some extent I slightly distrust people who can, cos I always suspect they're just being glib (or else they don't really have a big acquaintance with film). And I definitely distrust ranked lists, cos I don't think art of whatever sort really can be ranked anyway, and the bigger the list the more meaningless the numbers become. Allan Fish's list of 3000 films at Wonders In The Dark is a mightily impressive thing, but really, what fine quantifiable distinction separates <br />Once at 3000 from The Good Earth at 2999? That said, I am always fascinated by people's lists when they do make them... just that I can't do it myself.<br /><br />Also, I draw the line between "best" and "favourite" this way: between what *I* think are the best films I've seen and what *others* say are the best films they've seen. I think all criticism is inherently subjective (any individual critic can really only tell you their individual opinion of something), and that the nearest you can get to objectivity is a sort of consensus built up over time as to how a lot of critics/audiences have responded to a given film. From that you can get a sense of whether or not a film is generally regarded as a classic or something you should see if you're interested in films (whether *you* happen to like it is another matter). The line between "best" and "personal favourite" otherwise doesn't matter much to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2587775651487578742.post-50596119857702191252011-11-06T12:57:43.306+13:002011-11-06T12:57:43.306+13:00You're so right with what you've said. Whe...You're so right with what you've said. When I wrote my top 100 list, I was very meticulous and critical, and careful to make the distinction between movies I liked and movies I considered to be especially well-made. For example, TITANIC is probably technically one of the best movies I have ever seen. But I did not enjoy it at all and hated the characters. That's where I draw the line.<br /><br /> One film I consider both one of my favorites as well as one of the best ever made is Ingmar Bergman's THE SEVENTH SEAL. However, I showed it to my friends and very few of them liked it as much as I did. At first I thought something was wrong, but gradually I grew to realize that... well, this isn't a film for everyone. Not everyone's going to like it and even fewer will love it, even though it's considered an all-time great by critics.<br /><br />I still make movie recommendations, but I do it a lot more carefully. And I have never criticized anyone's choice of film for their Top 100. I might not agree with a choice, but criticizing it is pointless because if they like the movie, they like it. That's the beauty of opinion.<br /><br />Oh, and Congrats on 700 posts!!!Tylerhttp://magnoliaforever.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2587775651487578742.post-81938066448795899342011-11-06T07:27:37.615+13:002011-11-06T07:27:37.615+13:00In my mind, the "best" film ever created...In my mind, the "best" film ever created is <i>North by Northwest</i>. It gets everything right--tone, sexiness, danger, action. The characters are great, the script crackles, and it also features Hitchcock at the top of his game.<br /><br />Is it perfect? No--there are some technical issues. The rear projection work is shoddy by modern standards, for instance. But for me, it is the pinnacle of what a film should be. <br /><br />But, if you told me I could only watch one movie for a year, I probably wouldn't pick it. I'd be much more likely to pick <i>Amelie</i>.<br /><br />"Favorite" and "best" are important distinctions.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2587775651487578742.post-80961829448314210382011-11-06T06:07:50.092+13:002011-11-06T06:07:50.092+13:00That top 100 is a daunting task indeed. We only ha...That top 100 is a daunting task indeed. We only have a top 5 up on our site and my opinion changes all the time about what should be on there. I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite film of all time.... Nice post, got me thinking.3guys1moviehttp://3guys1movie.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2587775651487578742.post-68789691237338703102011-11-06T01:41:44.624+13:002011-11-06T01:41:44.624+13:00I agree, these personal lists should be your favor...I agree, these personal lists should be your favorite films and not necessarily what are the 'best films'. One of these days I will start working on a list, but it's just such a daunting task and I get overwhelmed every time I think about it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00597866901901238462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2587775651487578742.post-52079790934680049192011-11-06T00:34:48.645+13:002011-11-06T00:34:48.645+13:00I think there is a big difference between 'bes...I think there is a big difference between 'best' and 'favourite'. Favourite, for me, is a very personal film and is based on how you, as an individual, connect with it. I get a lot of stick for my favourite, Shortbus, as a lot of people do not like it, but it says something very personal to me.<br /><br />I am starting to think about doing my own list after reading yours, but it is going to take some time!mrghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06410323997825677478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2587775651487578742.post-49172149997485833482011-11-05T23:01:56.211+13:002011-11-05T23:01:56.211+13:00Interesting post, I do sometimes wonder about the ...Interesting post, I do sometimes wonder about the difference between the best and favourite. <br />I would love the make a top 100, but I'll wait, there are so many other movies I have to see before making that decision!Dianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18333927581755884053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2587775651487578742.post-71520280228462620722011-11-05T22:21:43.005+13:002011-11-05T22:21:43.005+13:00Damn right it's ok to have new films in your t...Damn right it's ok to have new films in your top 100!!! You've nailed it, Memento, Schindler, Fight Club... all are utter classics and proof that cinema is still evolving.<br /><br />Interesting point about favourite vs best. I love Requiem for a Dream and it's one of the best films I've seen. Therefore I still count it as one of my favourites but after seeing it a couple of times, I really don't want to watch it anymore. It's just too sad.<br /><br />Also I'm always mocked for having Titanic up in the top 5 along with Fight Club, City of God and La Haine. <br /><br />You have inspired me to attempt my own list. I imagine it's the getting the order right that is the really tough part?ilovethatfilmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11882133059882238037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2587775651487578742.post-24889768647149912802011-11-05T21:25:10.650+13:002011-11-05T21:25:10.650+13:00I just wouldn't tax my poor little brain! I...I just wouldn't tax my poor little brain! I've thought of doing this some time ago but just deciding on number 1 was too much of a challenge let alone ordering 100! I might consider a top ten at some stage which won't be easy either!<br /> But it is fun and challenging and lets face it 100 films is a lot.BRENThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15953231992674091002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2587775651487578742.post-39164905280512317622011-11-05T20:59:42.481+13:002011-11-05T20:59:42.481+13:00Yes I am perfectly perplexed by this whole idea. M...Yes I am perfectly perplexed by this whole idea. My favourite films are very different than the films I think are the best I've ever seen. And then there's the difference between favourites and those you love despite the fact that they are oh so flawed. Like by no stretch of imagination are the Harry Potter films the best ever, but without them I would not be who I am today. And something like Tree of Life was so ambitious and beautiful, but the fact is that it left me totally baffled, and not in a way I like a lot so it won't be there at all. And I have this habit of really telling people, sometimes aloud and always in my thoughts, that "Look at me, my taste in films is better than yours," and then I start thinking of things like having a reputation and stuff.<br /><br />And I am so indecisive...I keep toying with the idea of making the 100 favourite movies list, but I know I will forget something and hate myself or just keep doubting it. <br /><br />Problematic, this.Nikhathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com