60's - From Russia with Love
My favorite bond film from the best bond decade. Great story and the whole visual play with grant is awesome.

70's - Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope
The Beginning of something very special.

80's - Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
My favorite Indy film. Love the story, actors, music, and direction. Plus it's just plain fun that also has some serious undertones.

90's - Braveheart
The first movie that really had me thinking about what movies were saying. Great direction and pleasantly moving.

There's my take. Disagree if you will. I might even disagree in a couple of hours. My favorites tend to shift a lot.

NP - Contact

1940's Tie - Casablanca & Citizen Kane. "Kane" is probably the perfect movie.

1960's - 2001: A Space Odyssey - Probably the most perfect sci-film ever (despite Kubrick's screwing over A. North).

1970's - Tie - Jaws & Star Wars.

1980's - The Right Stuff.

1990's - Contact.

BTW Onelegger, I hate to pick nits, but Star Wars wasn't "Episode IV" when it originally came out. It was simply "Star Wars."

Kevin

1930s - KING KONG. Pioneering, spectacular, and surprisingly psychologically perceptive.

1940s - CITIZEN KANE. Enough's been written about this one, forever.

1950s - GOJIRA. The most remarkable monster movie ever made, and a harrowingly acute portrait of the mindset of the one people, the Japanese, who suffered the brunt of the birth of the atomic age.

1960s - THE BAD SLEEP WELL. Kurosawa indicts Japanese corporate culture -- which isn't, as it turns out, any different from ours. Chilling finale.

1970s - must pick two: PAPILLON (favorite, an emotional journey like few others) and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS (movie that made me want to MAKE movies, and, indeed, made me want to be kidnapped by space people, those ships looked like so much fun -- it has the perfect acuity of the strangest dream, this movie)

1980s - EXCALIBUR. The ideal mix of sword and sorcery. Director John Boorman manages to mix spectacle with oddball humor (mainly from Merlin), things that shouldn't necessarily work, but he brings it off. Another epic journey, with one of the most heart-wrenching finales in the history of cinema.

1990s - MILLER'S CROSSING. Dark and melancholy, spiced with weird bits of unexpected humor ("They took his hair, Tom ... damn, that's strange"), but also, as with all the Coens' pictures, suffused with a deep and perceptive humanity.

(All the dozens I've had to leave out ... damn, that's strange)

1930s - The Bride Of Frankenstein. Ask me this tomorrow and I'll choose The Wizard Of Oz, King Kong, Gone With The Wind, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, or any of the many classics from this decade.

1940s - Citizen Kane. No contest.

1950s - Ben-Hur. No contest.

1960s - Planet Of The Apes. This was another tough decade, holding so many of my favorites. Apes changed my life.

1970s - 1776. In a decade that started with THX-1138 and ended with Star Trek: The Motion Picture (Yes, I love it, despite its flaws), 1776 has become a fixture of my life and person, as well as for my wife & daughter. It is a masterpiece (but only the original director's cut in widescreen!).

1980s - Crimes And Misdemeanors. Woody Allen's most penetrating drama. I don't know what to say. Ya' gotta see it.

20's...
The Lost World

30's
M

40's
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek

50's
Invasion of the Body Snatchers

60's
To Kill a Mockingbird

70's
Young Frankenstein

80's (tie)
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Wings of Desire

90's
Contact

Like I said, those could change by tomorrow. I don't really have such limited favorites.

40’s CASABLANCA

50’s HIGH NOON

60’s NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD

70’s DAWN OF THE DEAD

80’s DAY OF THE DEAD

50´s - Vertigo

60´s - Psycho

70´s - Star Wars

80´s - Tie: Batman/Dangerous Liaisons

90´s - Edward Scissorhands

SFT

An interesting thread.
I hope you don’t mind if I add a little detail to my earlier posting here.

I have carefully analysed my PERSONAL appreciation of the 4376 movies I have watched over the past decades and have discovered these interesting statistics.

My own rating system sees me apply a simple mark out of ten for each movie, ten being best. A movie with a rating of five or higher is basically a decent movie, or better. I now indicate the percentage of movies with a rating of five or higher found in each decade.

30’s 24%

40’s 26%

50’s 15%

60’s 6%

70’s 2%

80’s 3%

90’s 24%

NP: IL MERCENARIO (Ennio Morricone, 1968 Western, very strange pastiche of Morricone-isms, mariachi pieces and, just now, sticking out like the proverbial sore thumb, an extended Richard Strauss reference)

By decade, my choices would have to be:

1920's POTEMPKIN: The most amazing use of montage when compared with what we have today. I'm still amazed at what good propaganda can do. Eisenstein was a true genius.

1930's ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT: The BEST anti-war movie as of yet, there is no other that has as many memorable scenes, save maybe FULL METAL JACKET. Among my favorites are the beginning sequence, end sequence, Pauls horrifying talk with the dead Frenchman, ect..

1940's I still can't comment on this one, since I haven't seen all of Citizen Kane, and I wouldn't want to make judgment on a movie I haven't seen all of yet.

1950's (tie)12 ANGRY MEN/HIGH NOON: Greatest Western ever...Cool score...Fantastic story...no more to say. And 12 ANGRY MEN? Excellent in every way, though sneaky with the dates .

1960's 2001: 2001 is not only the most visually amazing movie ever, but it is still the only movie that has me thinking since I saw it, and that was awhile ago...

1970's A CLOCKWORK ORANGE: Kubrick showed off his mad skills with this sadistic, hillarious movie (probably Malcom McDowell's only good work) that has the darkest sense of humor this side of FARGO.

1980's BRAZIL: The best movie done by a Monty Python person, and still the film to which all hyperkinetic, freaky, surreal mind-trips try to live up to time and time again.

1990's AMERICAN BEAUTY: C'mon...We've seen it. Do I have to say anything? Good...Mooooovieeee...

2000's GLADIA--Er...Oops .

--Ted

Full Internet Movie Database page:

http://us.imdb.com/Details?0050083

Ha ha! I was able to change my post with no one the wiser. Watch as the past is altered...by me! MWHAHAHAHAH!!!! *cough*

Ted "2+2=5" O'Brien

I certainly do not.

I WAS only kidding about the ‘dead’ movies. Though I believe them to be innovative, well-crafted, entertaining and rewarding movies, there are other 60’s, 70’s and 80’s movies that I prefer. However, as my analysis of my favourite movies by decade illustrates, the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s have seen comparatively few ‘favourite’ movies of mine. However, I didn’t realize JUST how few films appealed to me from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, until I carried out the posted analysis.

I agree, KNIGHTRIDERS (**1/2) was a slightly ‘better’ movie than DAY OF THE DEAD (**1/2) (as a single entity), but, perhaps out of ?loyalty? to the ‘dead’ series I had to mention it. On balance, I actually thought the similarly themed NIGHT OF THE COMET (**1/2) was a ‘better’ movie than DAY OF THE DEAD, but after the hugely entertaining NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (****) and DAWN OF THE DEAD (***1/2), DAY OF THE DEAD did provide a satisfactory continuation of the zombie saga….and indeed a pleasing conclusion.

One thing I should make clear. Though my analysis by decade indicates my bias TOWARD the 30’s, 40’s and 90’s, it is NOT that I am prejudiced against movies of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. I’ll give any movie a fair crack of the whip; it’s just that I’ve found the movies of the 30’s, 40’s and 90’s ESPECIALLY entertaining and satisfying. Of course, there are wonderfully entertaining movies from the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s, like STAR WARS, DIE HARD, THE FLY, THE RULING CLASS and so on, but compared with the 30’s, 40’s, 90’s and even the 50’s, are comparatively few in number….in my opinion.

Many great things have come out of 60’s, 70’s and 80’s cinema, but I believe that it is during the 90’s that cinema has truly flourished again, as it did back in the 30’s and 40’s.

Chris Kinsinger and H Rocco.

I couldn’t resist the reference to 1982’s tv-show KNIGHT RIDER (1/2 star), especially since there was even a connection with one of Chris’s favourite movies. Perhaps I should have said Mulhare made a good King Arthur-figure to complete the cross-reference with KNIGHTRIDERS. The contrast (in entertainment value) between KNIGHTRIDERS and KNIGHT RIDER is quite apparent. Let’s just say KNIGHT RIDER was another career killer for Basehart, in a production here (the two hour pilot episode) that rivalled 1973’s …..AND MILLIONS WILL DIE! (normally ½, but ***1/2 for sheer UNINTENTIONAL entertainment value) for tackiness, but KNIGHTRIDERS was an interesting, though not wholly successful (in my opinion), movie, especially coming from Romero.

However, I recognize that KNIGHTRIDERS is a favourite movie of many people and respect that.

Have you seen the so-called 30th Anniversary edition of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD? Thank God I didn't buy it. I rented it thinking it would be something special, and man, was it EVER special ... its cowriter John Russo restructured the whole thing, shot NEW footage, inserted NEW narration, a wretched original score, even carved up the famous finale. It's actually a fascinating spectacle -- how many things could possibly have gone wrong? (Russo co-owns the rights to the movie, hence could do anything he wanted, I guess. Russo owns the trademark "Living Dead"; Romero owns the trademark "Dead." Some bizarre legalism after what I understand to be years of acrimony between the two. The "Special Edition" could well comprise Russo's final revenge.)

Thanks for the recommendation….and the warning!

1910’s - Tille’s Punctured Romance (1914)
Features almost all of the early Silent era stars and is also the first full length feature. Interesting and survives surprisingly well for a feature 86 years old.

Runner Up: Although I did like the The Spider for its pre-Indiana Jones like action, it has flaws that make Tillie a better view.

1920’s – Metropolis (1927)
A very difficult film to overlook when you consider how good (For the day) the special effects in the lab sequence were. A movie that not only entertains but also points to the tyranny of the state to come. Still effective and enjoyable (No matter what you think about the updated score)

Runner Up: Mark of Zorro (1920) The swashbuckling Douglas Fairbanks is at the top of his form in this classic. (Although its hard to overlook The Thief of Baghdad as well)

1930’s – Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) A great swordfight between Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone is just one of the highlights of this film. An Erich Wolfgang Korngold score adds to its charm.

Runner Up: There are so many memorable films from this decade that it is almost impossible to pick a winner let alone a runner up. Gone with the Wind, Wizard of Oz, M, King Kong, Captain Blood, ARRGH!

1940’s – Casablanca (1943)
Probably the best movie to come out of the Hollywood Studio system. It emerged more by accident than design. When you read about how this film was made, you have to marvel that a film with such a “downer” ending could get made. When you consider that the only principal actor who actually wanted to be there was Claude Rains and the rest were dragooned because of studio contracts, it does represent the best of the studio system.

Runner Up: Again difficult. So many great films in the 40’s. But Maltese Falcon has got to be it. The dialog snaps and crackles and we are never really sure if Sam is on the level or not. “By God Sir, I like talking to a man who likes to talk!”

1950’s – The Caine Mutiny (1954)
A great film that shows what vanity and pressure can do to a man. A great Max Steiner Score and a coming of age story that doesn’t center around a character “Losing It”.

Runner Up: Witness for the Prosecution (1957) If you haven’t seen it, you should. A suspenseful, well acted drama that I didn’t see coming. Don’t read about it. Rent it and be astounded by Charles Laughton and Marlene Dietrich

1960’s – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
A very complex film that never fully reveals its mysteries. Proving that great Science Fiction is better at asking questions than answering them.

Runner Up: Charade is a well plotted and quirky supense film with a great cast that actually seemed to enjoy making the film. I also enjoyed Breakfast at Tiffany’s for Audrey Hepburn’s incredible charm and innocent sophistication.

1970’s – Star Wars (1977)
The first film that changed the way I looked at movies. Science Fiction didn’t have to be cheesy.

Runner Up: Logan’s Run was a film I saw about 10 times. It was full of “Meaningful” things and it hasn’t aged well, but I still have fond memories of this film. Especially love the scene when they come out of the Ice Cave and see the sun and Jerry Goldsmith’s radiant music reminds that this is what sunrises should be.

1980’s- Raiders of the Lost Ark (1980)
This could be my favorite film of all time. I enjoyed this one even more than Star Wars. Harrison Ford and the manic pace that Spielberg puts him through. I was almost as tired as I was when I saw Aliens!

Runner Up: Empire Strikes Back, the best of the series, vies with Aliens, the best of the series.

1990’s-Pulp Fiction (1994)
Another important film that changed movies. It actually made people listen to the dialog. It was hip, slick and unafraid to do outrageous things. It didn’t feel like it had to explain everything to give a satisfactory conclusion.

Runner Up: The Matrix. An awesome vision that overcame plot holes by rewarding viewers for patience. Here’s some exposition, here’s some incredible action. Listen to this boring speech about human’s as viruses. Okay now watch the building explode and Neo do a somersault and grab a M-16 and shoot everybody. A great film.

1920 - Sunrise - I was floored by this beautiful film. Who needs talking?

1930 - Gone With The Wind - In 61 years they haven't made a more perfectly crafted film. It is expertly made in every way. You may argue that there are films that are as good; but there are none better.

1940 - The Snake Pit - Groundbreaking film with a flawless performance from Olivia DeHavilland.

1950 - North By Northwest - Witty, exciting screenplay and Hitchcock's perfect craftsmanship.

1960 - The Sound of Music - The lone example of a Broadway musical being improved upon, in every way, by its film version. Beautiful from every angle. Julie Andrews' workhorse performance is perhaps the finest of the decade.

1970 - Close Encounters of the Third Kind - along with the 1950's "The Day the Earth Stood Still", it is the most human of sci-fi films. I was engaged to be married when I saw it, but it made me feel like a kid again.

1980 - Blow Out - DePalma's thriller is top notch, engrossing movie making.

I’ve no problem with that Chris….you’ve only said what others probably think.