Soderbergh is an excellent director—I wouldn't dream of putting him on this list. He’s prone to experimentation and stylistic exercises (think *Solaris* or *Good German*...). That Ocean trilogy is top-tier filmmaking. It’s textbook directing. The movies just "glide" while you watch, regardless of how many characters or subplots they throw at you.
Nicole Nelson772 said:Aha, that’s smart. 😉 Once I pick up some DVDs or Blu-rays, maybe we can swap some movies—though I suppose you've probably already seen most of my collection anyway.
I haven't been watching much at home lately. I prefer heading out to the theater every now and then.
Nicole Nelson772 said:Thanks for the suggestion. I've actually been eyeing it at the library for a while now, but I just haven't pulled the trigger. Ever since my old Sony and Corleone devices basically kicked the bucket at the exact same time, I've been a bit hesitant to go out and splurge on some new high-tech monster
Just hold off a bit longer and grab a Blu-ray player instead. Investing in that kind of Collection is definitely worth it.😁.
Bond is the one film that truly showcased the full extent of the Wachowski brothers' talent. I honestly hope they find their way back to that kind of storytelling instead of wasting time on things like Speed Racer or Plastic Man.
wiredbison82 said:It’s true; Dahl was arguably the most striking surprise and perhaps the most promising genre director during the first half of the nineties.
Yeah, well, he’s vanished now. That movie of his, *The Great Raid*, was a total dud—and now he's just churning out TV shows like *Californication* and *True Blood*. Maybe he'll land a tiny cameo for Linda Fiorentino if he's lucky.😁
wiredbison82 said:Donner's original version of The Omen serves as a perfectly competent studio horror, much like the abundance of such films produced during the 1970s—at one point, they were almost ubiquitous. While certain elements feel somewhat safe or even naive, the film remains an exemplary specimen of its genre. That said, it still sits a tier below heavyweights like Friedkin's The Exorcist, De Palma's Carrie, or Polanski's Rosemary's Baby, which is how it's frequently categorized in these discussions.
I couldn't agree more. It definitely isn't in that same league.
wiredbison82 said:That’s an interesting list. I can certainly get behind Fellini and Carpenter, though personally, I'd probably lean toward Dolce Vita or the Witching Hour instead... Casablanca doesn't quite make my top five, and The Sound of Music wouldn't even crack my top 555 essential films. As for Pinocchio, it's been far too long since I last watched it to offer much of an opinion.
You definitely need to watch or grab Pinocchio—it usually comes bundled with Jungle Book or Sleeping Beauty. My choices are driven by sentimentality; I've got an emotional connection to all these films.
Let’s shake things up here. If we're narrowing it down to just five films that absolutely belong in any serious home collection, these are my picks: Casablanca Pinocchio Pinocchio (Disney) The Sound of Music The Thing (Carpenter) La Stradia (Fellini)
Adam Moore said:Chuck Jones is easily my favorite—I knew even at seven years old that his shorts were the best, and back then, I couldn't have cared less about directors or any of that technical stuff. 😬
None of his cartoons ever feel routine or basic—they just don't. I’ve always had a soft spot for those Three Bears family shorts. 😁😁😁
I’m genuinely curious—will there be an intermission during Predators? Word is they implement breaks for any movie running over 130 minutes, and according to IMDb, Predators clocks in at 138.
And don't even get me started on Tex Avery. I picked up two DVDs of Tex Avery's Droopy, only to find out there are just three Tex shorts on there... total scam.😠
I recently sat down to watch that documentary—not boring at all, in my opinion. Herzog does a solid job weaving together the footage Treadwell captured with interviews from those who actually knew him. Ultimately, though, the guy got exactly what he bargained for... they're wild animals, after all.
Regarding the Looney Tunes—I recently sat down and binged a bunch of them, and it’s glaringly obvious how much better the Bob Clampett or Chuck Jones shorts are compared to the stuff from Freleng or McKimson.