1. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
2. Amelie
3. Blade Runner
4. The Shawshank Redemption
5. Donnie Darko
6. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
7. Pulp Fiction
8. The Princess Bride
9. Gone With The Wind
10. Fight Club
Here are the results for the Top 100 list (actually Top 102 because the top film is a trilogy).
I counted the movies and had watched a total of 66 movies from the list. I have to stress again that this is a viewer's poll, not a critics poll. Still, I am very surprised that "The Princess Bride" made it to the Top 10. My personal choice was "The Sound Of Music", a purely sentimental choice that came in at No. 11, just missing out on the Top 10. It was the first movie I ever watched, and my Mum, who did not understand much Engish, loved this movie for the beautiful songs. I have since watched it countless times, and though it was very difficult to choose a No. 1, I surprised many people who know me with my choice. However, if I had to select a Best Hollywood Film based on artistic merit, my choice would have to be "Casablanca".
The forum had quite a few people choosing their Top 10 films of all time, and I found that task impossible. I did however find plenty of joy tabulating my favourite Top 10 foreign movies and in no particular order, they are:
(1) Tokyo Monogatari 東京物語 (Tokyo Story) - dir. Yasujro Ozu (1953) - I have reviewed this extraordinary film before in August.
(2) Hotaru no Haka 火垂るの墓 (Grave Of The Fireflies) - Isao Takahata (Studio Ghibli) (1988) - This movie changed the face of anime. In perceiving that animation can only be used to depict fantasy and happy scenes, this depressing World War II movie drew many tears of sorrow from its fans (including me) and offers people a view of what Japan was like during the War.
(3) Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi 千と千尋の神隠し (Spirited Away) (- dir Miyazaki Hayao (Studio Ghibli) (2002) - The first anime from Studio Ghibli that I ever watched, and Iwas hooked from that moment on. This Oscar winner for Best Animated Feature combines "Alice in Wonderland" and "The Wizard of Oz" and transports every viewer back into their childhood fantasies. Priceless!
(4) Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (Amélie) - dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet - There are only a few rare films in life that makes you feel like life is beautiful and that helping others is a virtue that should be practised every day. This is one magical ride ...
(5) Vozvrashcheniye (The Return) - dir. Andrei Zvyagintsev (2002) - A stark and haunting film about a father's return after a 14 year absence and the fishing trip the two young sons take with their father, which explores deep into every man's relationship with their father. Startling!
(6) Diarios de motocicleta (The Motorcycle Diaries) - dir. Walter Salles (2004) - A biographical account of young Che Guvera and his experiences while travelling with his buddy on a motorcycle trip. The trip changes his outlook in life forever and he finds the role he's meant to live in life. Inspirational!
(7) Hsi Yen - 囍宴 - (The Wedding Banquet) - dir. Ang Lee (1993) - My first Ang Lee movie is this unforgettable tale of a gay man tries to hide his homosexuality by marrying this woman, and things start getting more complicated in the process. Hilarious and real! It could happen to anyone and probably still is ...
(8) Ikiru 生きる (To Live) - dir. Akira Kurosawa (1952) - Akira Kurosawa's human drama about an old salaryman coming to terms with his terminal illness, and realising that he has not lived life to the fullest. A depiction of the Japanese society then but still resonates in today's world.
(9) Fa Yeung Nin Wa 花樣年華 (In the Mood For Love) - dir. Wong Kar Wai (2002) - I wasn't a fan of Wong Kar Wai till this beautiful movie starring two of my favourite actors. Who could forget the love between these two neighbours suspecting their partners of extra marital affairs while forming a special bond between themselves.
(10) La Vita è bella (Life is Beautiful) - dir. Roberto Benigni (1997) - For me, this movie is most poignant at the end where shock is quickly transformed into tears of sorrow at the great sacrific that one can have for love. It is one of those rare movies that can transform a serious and tragic story into one of love, humour and triumph!
So, what are some of your favourite movies and did they end up in the Top 100? What did you think of Australian's choice?
3 comments:
Good choices! I love to watch 火垂るの墓 & 千と千尋の神隠し as well. 火垂るの墓 is so touching that it made me cry. となりのトトロ (or the chinese version 龙猫) is the first anime by 宫崎骏 that I came across. Since then I've watched almost all of his works, and 火垂るの墓 & 千と千尋の神隠し are among the best. His most recent work, ハウルの動く城 is also worth watching.
Thank you, Pat. 火垂るの墓 is my favourite because I cried an ocean over it. If there was anyone out there who believed that the citizens of conquering countries lead a luxurious life while their leaders pursued their personal senseless dreams of power, then this movie will prove them wrong.
Humanity prevails ... no matter how differentiated we are, suffer under the hands of wrong leaders the majority select to present us. They live in luxury while we have to bear the consequences.
Did you know that 宫崎骏 encouraged Isao Takahata to take on doing this after he approached Miyazaki with some reservations? Director Takahata was disillusioned after being approached to create 火垂るの墓, but he had another project on hand and he liked 火垂るの墓 very much. So, he approached Miyazaki and Miyazaki said that he should do it because if he doesn't do it now, he might never ever receive the funding to do it again. So, we ended up with the classic.
Two of my friends have "chastised" me for lending them the DVD. They said that they sat at different ends of the sofa when the movie started, and ended up hugging each other sobbing at the end. I love it for its human touch that is so "unreal" for animations of all forms.
千と千尋の神隠し is totally opposite in its mystical energy and fantasy, and I fell in love instantaneously.
I have yet to watch ハウルの動く城 but I might do it this weekend. Thanks for the tip!
Wow, you are indeed good. You even know the story behind the making... It's really a waste you're not in the entertainment news line of work...
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