Clearly, there's been a misunderstanding. I wasn't referring to everyone's selections other than my own. (And, frankly, you honestly believe I am that big a dickhead that I would imply: "everyone else's lists suck but mine"?! That's deeply insulting.) I think almost everyone did a great job. As a matter of fact, my list looks the way it does because of the films you, Frankenollie, and jpanimation already selected. You guys took care of most of the older era classics. Surely, you're not saying you disapprove of Repulsion (have you seen it?), The Day the Earth Stood Still (again: have you seen it?), All About Eve, and Carnival of Souls. They're classics. But I'm not sure I saw them on anyone else's lists. I made my list, very much like the one I made in the Best Albums of 2000-2009 thread, as a way to make sure certain kinds of movies weren't forgotten in the overall collection of our lists together. The titles themselves are just tokens, though I believe I could defend any of them (as I proved with Killer Klowns from Outer Space on the last page, in response to Flanger Hanger who still needs to see the movie). The last thing my list is is casual.
I was referring to inclusions such as The Pacifier, Legally Blonde, and Nacho Libre. A few movies per maybe 3 people's lists. Movies that, as I explained, I believe can't be argued by anyone as being more than casually enjoyed movies. I still agree that we shouldn't single people out expecting them to explain. But, as I myself explained, I believe when we list something here, we should be listing it because we
could make a serious case for our personal favorites being highly groundbreaking, influential, or flawless films... I'm not arguing that everyone's making dreadful mistakes, I'm arguing that the integrity of this exercise is compromised when people suggest that (let's go back to Hollywood for a minute) any Vin Diesel film is a classic that would hold up as long as / as well as, let's say, Die Hard (which I completely support your enthusiasm for even though the only one of those movies I sat through all the way was Part II and I remember having a lot of fun with it). (Oh, and before anyone has the idea to say Pitch Black, let me counter with: Aliens.)
Goliath wrote:But looking at your list, I don't think you're the right person to make this kind of criticism
I took my list very seriously, I'll have you know. And, clearly, I also anticipated what other people would be trying to do making choices such as Legally Blonde and The Pacifier. Trying to basically find Hollywood films helmed by directors whose names haven't exactly risen to the level of a Hitchcock, Kubrick, Scorcese, De Mille, or Spielberg. For example, and perhaps your outlook here can be useful: have there been any good romantic comedies made after, let's say, the Audrey Hepburn era? Any
really classic ones? I named more than one for a couple of reasons. But, you'll notice that nobody here even thought to name When Harry Met Sally. Which many people consider to be the single definitive (Hollywood) romantic comedy and the best of 2 decades worth of (mainstream Hollywood) cinema. I haven't seen that movie enough times / I don't remember it well enough to put it on the list, so I went with Pretty Woman. The performances are dynamic, as is nearly every aspect of the movie. That movie has proven to stand the test of time with many people. People remember it and love it and it made several people huge movie stars. Anyway, you have to let movies make up their own rules and judge them by that. I think, certainly in comparison to Legally Blonde which sets out to make Elle look smart and instead they just made her look like an idiot for cheap laughs, Pretty Woman is a movie about a strong person who actually earns her emotions when the movie gets serious and her happy ending. (I guess I decided to go into this much detail on this movie because I actually believe it may look the most suspect movie on my list.)
As for my list, you can tell it was sorted by genres (which is important since the mindset of playing with genre expectations in filmmakers is literally the reason Quentin Tarantino started making movies and got a reputation), I believe I said at the end that it wasn't finished, and, again I would defend each and every one of those movies. And, pretty well I think. We talked before about it being possible to separate one's idea of what they just like seeing and what is an actual standard of good moviemaking. And if you remember that thread about our 30 Favorite Movies of All-Time, you'll see just how much restraining I did from just naming personal favorites. I exercised an incredible sense of restraint and have a great sense of compare & contrast built-in (for example: turn the culture back to the 90's and compare Freeway to Hard Candy). You know what a huge horror fan I am and look at how short that list is, comparatively. Also: consider how many of these movies I selected because of their progressive views on sexual politics. A lot of best movie lists don't give much thought to movies about, and marketed to, women. When you think about it like that, I'm shocked that you yourself neglected Welcome to the Dollhouse. (Have you seen it?)
As for what I think I might want to add to the list now... when I think of how much I hate sci-fi, I appreciate Westworld (1973) all the more. The Stepford Wives (1975) is a little slow and could use more tension, yet that still doesn't diminish the movie's power when we get to the final TERRIFYING scene (set to tranquil music). That's an interesting example because a Greatest Films list needs a movie about feminism that applies to everyday household America but I'm strapped to think of a better one.
Goliath wrote:sorry.
Uh...
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Okay, at the start of this reply, I was being very careful. I think we're doing pretty good right now and the last thing I want is for us to slip into our old pattern... But, that is an outright
patronizing thing to say to another person, in any regard or context. And there's no excuse for it. No matter what attitude you may have thought I had in my last post.
Next time, will you maybe try to consider what the other person may be saying before you insult them? I saw you say in the Sitepocalypse thread that you thought people here were blaming you for the confrontations you get in and that that must change. I agree. But you know it takes two people for these things to happen. You're going to have to change the way you argue too.
I'm still cynical of you, I admit. But I have tried very hard on multiple occasions to have civil discussions with you. People like Amy and Frankenollie think we're both capable of getting beyond our problem. I've also been told nobody on the board likes seeing us bicker. With this in mind, can you try to be more understanding in the future? Maybe ask for an explanation from me when you believe I'm being abusive of others or am making a thoughtless argument?