Imdb Top 10: 10-6

And now we’re finally here. The top ten films of imdb. Obviously these aren’t the official top 10 films ever, it’s your own choice for that. But these are the films the most people voted high, so it’s a very good guide. I’ve split the list into 10-6 and the top 5, so I can give a little more detail to these films than I’ve done to the others we’ve already looked at. So without further ado, the top 10 of imdb, part 1.

10. Inception
Everyone knows what this is. It was the big craze of last year when Inception came out and everyone would talk about how good it was, or how confusing it was, or just go on about it in general. I missed out a bit because at the time it came out I was poor, so I couldn’t go and see it and I didn’t get the DVD for a while either because it was pretty expensive. So by the time I saw it I’d heard pretty much everything there was to say about the film. But even with all the high expectations I had for this film, it surpassed them. I love this film. The first time I saw it, my mind was blown, I thought it was amazing, best film ever. Over time I realised it was just sort of shock value, and the movie itself wasn’t quite as good as it first appears. It’s still a brilliant, well made film with plenty of interesting and well done ideas; it just misses the emotional heart that most other films on this list have. I would still rank it as one of the best films ever made, but maybe not quite top ten material. Give it a few more years and I have a feeling this’ll be one that goes down the list with time.  Oh and it’s not as confusing as people say. Yes it’s hard to explain in a short paragraph, but if you watch it, you won’t be confused, well as long as you pay attention and aren’t an idiot.

9. The Dark Knight
Now this is one of my favourite films. I readily admit that the 8 films above it are better, but if you gave me the choice of which to watch, I’d choose The Dark Knight. The Batman films are a bit patchy to say the least, starting very camp in the 60s, going dark and really weird with Tim Burton, then family friendly, then  Batman and Robin, the worst superhero movie this side of Green Lantern, however the funniest superhero comedy ever. Except for the fact it’s not meant to be a comedy. So Bats went away for a few years and then came back in 2005 with Batman Begins. It was a good film, but as an origins story it got bogged down in setting everything up and didn’t really get going properly. However it set everything up right for the sequel. We knew who everyone was, and how they got on, so there wasn’t any wasting time. It brought back all the old favourites, learnt from the mistakes of the last film and brought in two of the greatest Batman villains, Harvey Dent/Two-Face and the one and only, the Joker. Everyone is at the top of their game, especially the late Heath Ledger, giving the performance of his career, the stakes are raised, and everything is just bigger and better than any Batman film had been before. This is the film that showed that comic book movies didn’t have to be stupid or looked down on, and could in fact be masterpieces. My only problem with it is that it’s set the bar so high for the last in Nolan’s Batman trilogy and that The Dark Knight Rises will become this generation’s Return of the Jedi, still good, but not the conclusion we were hoping for.

8. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
We’ve got a slower, more psychological film here at number 8. This film is really disturbing. I can really think of what genre it belongs to. It’s the story of a man in jail who pretends to be insane to get into a mental asylum because he thinks he’ll get out quicker. But instead he’s trapped with a group of crazy people all presided over by the callous Nurse Ratchet. Sometimes it’s a happy film, with the inmates escaping and having fun on a boat, but other times, well let’s just say that this has some of the darkest moments ever put on film. This is Jack Nicholson at his finest. There’s not much more to say than this is one of the smartest, darkest and thought provoking films ever made and you should definitely give it a watch if you haven’t already seen it.

7. Schindler’s List
This is just wow. I really have nothing to say about this film. At the time it might seem like a strange choice to give a serious film about the Holocaust to a man who’d previously only directed action and scary movies. Well made action and scary movies, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Jaws, but still nothing quite like this. But really Steven Spielberg must have been really passionate about this film and it shows, it is a masterpiece. I like to make jokes about films or tell my stories about them, but really Schindler’s List stands on its own. I don’t really have any good stories about it, there’s no time to go into an in-depth analysis of why it works and it would be in poor taste to make jokes. So yeh, it’s breathtaking and unbelievably moving and that’s all I have to say about it.

6. 12 Angry Men
This is probably the least generally watched of the top ten. Now whether it’s because the film’s old or obscure, or that not a lot actually happens, I don’t know. What I do know is that considering how well known the others are compared to it, it’s a surprise this is so high up. Until that is, you watch it. To be honest if as many people had seen this as had seen Shawshank then I think it could’ve been the top film. It really is that good. The film shows a set of jurors who are all sure of the guilt of the accused man, except for one who isn’t sure. He keeps questioning the reasons behind why they believe the man is guilty and disproves them one by one and begins to persuade the other jurors who were so sure, that maybe they were wrong. It’s a very psychological film, which the entirety of the action set in one room while we see the workings of the men’s minds. It’s very intriguing and far more interesting than you would expect after hearing the plot. Well made, well acted, and just great all round, this film should be far more popular than it is, but when you say black and courtroom psychological drama from 1957 all set in one room with 12 characters without names just numbers, it puts a lot of people off. It shouldn’t though, give it a watch.

Imdb Top 100 Part 6: 25-11

25. The Silence of the Lambs
This is one of my favourite horror films, if you can even describe it as that. It’s clever, dark and Anthony Hopkins is just amazing. And the part which really made it for me is when the main character is put in danger, and I was actually really scared for her. Lots of films can make you scared about what’ll jump out next, but it takes a special kind of film to make you worry for the characters.
24. The Usual Suspects
I like this film. I don’t really know what to say about this good parts. It’s well made, inventive and has great characters except for the whole film I want to slap Kevin Spacey for being so annoying. But then it has simultaneously one of the best and worst twists in film history. It’s a great twist, I won’t ruin it here. But there isn’t one hint in the film leading up to. Now you might think that’s a god thing, but for this type of reveal there really should be some clues. Clues that you don’t notice until you’ve seen the ending, but something. But here it just comes completely out of nowhere. So, it’s a great film, but with an annoying ending.
23. Raiders of the Lost Ark
Indiana Jones. I love Indy. Well, the first three. And this one is clearly the best. It’s got the best characters, best action and best sense of adventure. It’s definitely still as entertaining as ever. If you haven’t seen it, I’d definitely advise to watch it, and if you have... watch it again. My only problem with it, is it doesn’t have Sean Connery in it. Because him in Indy 3 is just the best thing, ever.
22. The Matrix
I don’t know if I’d agree the placing of the The Matrix. I mean it’s good, but it really this good? The actors aren’t half bad, except Keanu Reeves, and although he’s playing the part the way it’s probably meant to be, it’s still not that interesting. The plot has been done before and although it’s done well here, but it’s filled with philosophical rubbish that means nothing and doesn’t really go anywhere. Really the best things are the fight scenes and they are amazing, but should they really propel what is basically just a “good” film, into the top 100. Personally I don’t think so. Nothing against the film, I just don’t think it’s as good as it’s hyped up to be.
21. Rear Window
This is as simple as a film can get. A man breaks his leg and is stuck in his flat. To fill him time he looks out his window, but he starts to notice some very odd behaviour in his neighbours, until he’ll convinced that a man murdered his wife. Is Jimmy Stewart right? No-one seems to believe him, but every time his argument starts to fall apart something new comes along to strengthen his beliefs. A truly brilliant mystery.
20. Once Upon A Time In The West
This is my favourite western. It’s got all the tricks of the Dollars trilogy, but it’s refined into a better film than any of them. The characters are memorable, the harmonica is instantly stuck in your head and it looks like a huge sprawling world. The mysteries are intriguing and that have a good pay-off. This was the last film I saw out of the Imdb Top 100 and it definitely didn’t disappoint.
19. Casablanca
Casablanca is a romance film. But it’s like a romance film for men. All men want to be like the main character, because Humphrey Bogart is just so cool. It’s got a selection of interesting characters, mainly men and deals with Bogart’s simultaneous love and hate for a woman, but from his perspective. Really, if you’ve heard the plot and you think “nawh, it’ll be soppy romance” think again. It’s dark, entertaining and brilliant.
18. City Of God
I can’t really explain this film. I love it. If it was in English I think people might claim it was the greatest film ever made. Obviously because most critics we hear from are English speakers they’re prejudiced against it a little, but really this film has it all. It’s funny, it’s sad, it’s happy, it’s dark, it’s romantic, it’s heartbreaking, it’s gritty and over the top at different point and it leaves an impression. Really I can’t praise this film enough, and even though I say watch it even though it’s in a foreign language with any film on this list, this film I really mean it. It’s a true masterpiece.
17. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Fellowship might be might favourite of all the LOTR films. The others are very battle driven, but what I really like about this film is the sense of adventure there is. For the most part the film is just a journey rather than some world changing events and while it might not be as epic as the other films, I think it’s far more fun than them.
16. Star Wars
Come on. It’s Star Wars. What do you expect me to say? Everyone’s seen it, or should’ve seen it. It’s a grand adventure and the film that started the greatest film trilogy of all time. Sure it’s what spawned The Phantom Menace, but if the originals weren’t so good no-one would’ve cared about that film. Seriously, there’s nothing to be said you don’t already know. If you haven’t seen it, get out from under your rock and watch it right this second.
15. Goodfellas
Sorry to disappoint people, but The Godfather is not my favourite gangster film. This is. And the reason why? Even though it has very dark moments and deals with a lot of violence and death, it definitely has a lot of fun. I’ve always found Godfather , although a brilliant film a bit serious for my taste. Goodfellas is just great fun to watch. And you’ll still get your De Niro fix. One problem with this film, is now I’ve seen Home Alone I can’t take Joe Pesci seriously anymore.
14. Fight Club
Is Fight Club one of those films everyone’s seen? Like Forrest Gump? I don’t know. It should be. It’s brilliant. I think everyone knows the twist by now which is disappointing, because it’s very well done. It’s got hints that you realize after learning the twist, but before you just think it’s part of the mystery. This is a very powerful and entertaining film. Norton and Pitt are brilliant in it and I didn’t even mind Helena Bonham Carter, an actress I normally find unbelievably annoying. A must see.
13. Seven Samurai
This is a film I really want to like. I like the characters, I like the designs and visuals, I like the story, I like the lines. But there’s something about it. Maybe it’s how long it is, considering it’s in a foreign language, and maybe I don’t have the patience for that. I’d like to hope not. I can’t really explain what it is, but I can see this is a brilliant and inspired film, but I just can’t bring myself to advise it. I bought a video game based on it the other day for PS2, which looked more like a Final Fantasy game. Maybe that’ll change my mind. Or maybe it’ll just annoy me for ruining a brilliant film. Either way I’m sure I’ll enjoy it.
12. The Empire Strikes Back
Again, why do you need to ask? I can understand people not having seen the LOTR trilogy or not having seen the new Star Wars films. But everyone’s seen this. The AT-AT battle on Hoth, Yoda in the swamp, Vader and Luke’s battle leading to a shocking revelation. This is old news, but still as good as ever. Also it has my favourite bad-ass moment of any movie villain ever.
11. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
And finally, just missing out on the top ten is the last of the LOTR trilogy. I personally don’t think of this as a great film, more of a spectacle. There’s character and heart, but it’s all overshadowed by the battles. Really this film is, well, spectacular. No other word. You sit there like “woaw...”. And the best thing about it is that you actually care about the people in it, not like most other effect covered films. We want to see want happens with our favourite characters. It’s all been leading up to this and it doesn’t disappoint. 
NEXT TIME. THE TOP TEN.

Imdb Top 100 Part 5: 40-26

40. American Beauty
This is truly a film not like any other. I mean, what genre is it? I don’t know. It’s not romance, it’s way to creepy and dark for that, it’s not a thriller, the only word I can use is a “psychological” film. It’s about a man who’s attracted to his daughter’s friend and that inspires him to live his life, but everything around eventually falls apart. Really a must-see, you’ll never see anything else like it.
39. North by Northwest
Another Hitchcock thriller, this time about a man mistaken for a spy. It’s not just any 60’s spy film though, there are twists and turns that really surprise and shock you. There’s a brilliant plot and cast, especially the main characters mother, my favourite character. Her scene in the lift is hilarious. Watch and find out what I mean.
38. Citizen Kane
The Citizen Kane of all movies is of course, Citizen Kane. Regarded by many as the greatest film of all time, I can’t really fault it. Not because I’m scared of getting attacked by fans, but because it is actually that good. Well, maybe not the best film ever, but definitely up there. It’s the best film I’ve seen from its time and for years after, and while I don’t worship it, I would definitely say it’s one of the best and most influencial
37. Toy Story 3
The first Toy Story was brilliant, the second was great, but this one really gives us everything it’s got. The toys we’ve grown up with are given away when Andy goes to university. But the nursery they end up in turns out to be a terrible place, and they lose Woody, then things go terribly wrong until the most emotional animated scene ever. If you’ve seen it, you know what I mean, if you haven’t then you won’t believe how moving it is until you do.
36. American History X
A Neo-Nazi, played by Edward Norton, comes out of prison a changed man. Unfortunately his brother is heading down the dark past that put Norton in jail to begin with. The film follows the story of both brothers in the present and in flashback, and it was really an eye opener. I didn’t really understand how such people could still exist even now, but this film really explains the culture and shows the terrible effects it has on families and the community.
35. Apocalypse Now
One of the most brilliant war films of all time. It’s just great to watch and asks many questions, until it reaches my major problem with it. SPOILER WARNING. At the end of the film Martin Sheen meets the crazed Marlon Brando and his cult, but I really can’t understand what it is about Brando that all these people are enthralled by. I work with people with mental problems and I can see lots of their behaviour in his character which really means I can’t see why anyone would think he was wise and not just ill. Maybe it’s just me, but it’s never really sat right.
34. Dr Strangelove or How I Learnt to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
One of the few Stanley Kubrick films I don’t have a problem with. Normally something in the way he directs bugs me, but I really enjoy this film. It’s truly hilarious, but in a really dark way. Every joke works, and by the end you’re both thinking about the implications and still laughing. It’s the perfect example of an intelligent comedy.
33. Leon
I saw this film recently, but I’d wanting to see it for ages. It’s the story of a hitman who adopts a little girl after her family are murdered. That sounds awful, but it’s done really well. All the parts are played really well, subtle Leon, surprising good child actress Natalie Portman isn’t completely annoying, and Gary Oldman... well he’s just fucking insane. It’s brilliant. It’s like a feel bonding tale crossed with a tragedy crossed with an action movie crossed with an art film, and I love it.
32. Sunset Boulevard
There were a lot of films about aging stars back in the 50s, but this is by far the best. It’s classic film noir, with the dark visuals and twisting plot and it really is just a descent into madness. You don’t know whether to feel pity or be repulsed and the things that happen to the main male character, well no-one deserved that. It’s grand and impressive but filled with anger and bitterness, just like the characters.
31. Memento
This is Christopher Nolan at his best. This is a very complex film, but it’s totally worth it. It’s about a man who can’t form short term memories. His memory only lasts about 10,20 minutes. So we see each section of his memory, but we see it in reverse order. Things at the end which he doesn’t understand are revealed to us in the flashbacks and the revelations are truly shocking, and utterly brilliant. Definitely one to watch if you’re wanting to used your head.
30. Forrest Gump
I must be one of the few people not to have seen Forrest Gump years ago. I only saw it a few months ago after people said how shocking it was I’d never seen it. And I can see why it’s a brilliant film now I’ve watched it, but I can’t really see what makes it a much watch over the other films in this list. My only idea is that it’s because of how easy it is to watch. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing to it like a dumb action film, it’s just you can sit down, turn it on and the time passes without you even realizing it. At the end you feel happy and relaxed and I can’t really explain why, but it’s a great experience.
29. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
And now we come to our first LOTR film. I used to love LOTR when I was younger, not as much as Star Wars but almost. I think everyone knows what LOTR is, even if you haven’t seen it, so there’s not really much to explain. The reason I think this one gets voted less well than the others is that it’s the middle one. In my opinion they’re all of equal quality, but this one doesn’t really begin or end any stories, so it’s a great watch, but much as there are a number of huge battles, there isn’t the sense of conclusion as you get with ROTK and there’s not the sense of anticipation as you get with FOTR. But it’s still a great film, don’t get me wrong.
28. It’s a Wonderful Life
This is one of my top ten films ever. Really. I love it. I love Jimmy Stewart, I love Clarence, I love the supporting cast and this tragedy of the man’s life and I love the darkness of the world without him. And most of all I love the ending. If you’ve seen it you know why, and if you’ve not, I cried at it, and I don’t cry at anything, so that should give you the impression of the impact it has, it’s just so happy. Look it up now. But watch the B&W version, that just feels better than the computer added colours which seem unnatural.
27. Se7en
It’s a good mystery, great main characters, interesting mode of murder and sinister atmosphere. And now, SPOILER WARNING. At the end of the film it turns out that the murderer has planned a whole situation and before allowing himself to get caught he went to one of the detective’s houses and cut off their wife’s head and put it in a box. This is supposed to be shocking and all that, but I just can’t take it seriously. Like come on, head in a box? He’s not a supervillian off a particularly dark cartoon. It really ruins the movie, because for me it just takes one step over the line of suspending my disbelief and makes the film just seem silly. At least to me. Obviously you can decide yourself.
26. Psycho
Everyone knows the shower scene. But I wonder how many people have actually seen the rest of the film. Because it’s an intriguing mystery and a dark slashed film, with a mad, but brilliant twist at the end. It’s the most perfect slashed film, and very entertaining. But the last scene, with the Doctor is just... awful. I don’t understand why it’s there. But still, great film.

Imdb Top 100 Part 4: 55-41

55. The Lives of Others
This is the story of a communist agent who spies on a writer and his girlfriend to try and see whether they are undesirables. He sits in their attic and listens in to their conversations. And as the story goes on he is drawn in by their life and changes his beliefs. It’s the sort of story that been told plenty of times before, but really it’s not been told much better than this. It’s set in a time and place I knew nothing about, but it was still easy to understand and well worth a watch.

54. Double Indemnity
This is the first film noir that I watched. I wasn’t sure whether I’d enjoy it. But it’s very entertaining, and shows off the best qualities of the genre. The dark imagery, the gritty characters, the backstabbing and complex plots. This film was a real eye-opener for me, and led me to watch other classic films, so I’d give it a watch and see whether it inspires you as well.

53. M
I don’t like Metropolis, so I didn’t have high hopes watching another German expressionist film by Fritz Lang. However I really liked M. I’m not really sure why. Maybe it’s because it’s set in the present day and real world for the time. Maybe it’s because it’s not a silent film any more. Or maybe it’s the strong visuals such as the chalk M on the murderer’s coat. It’s probably a mix of them all, but I was very pleasantly surprised by this film.

52. Wall. E
I’m not sure why this is so high up. I could see if the  film was all like the first half. It’s the story of two robots on a ruined Earth told just by visuals and music, there’s no dialog. It’s like 2001, except not incredibly pretentious. It’s like a work of art. But then it turns into a silly comedy on a spaceship filled with fat people. I mean it’s not bad, but it’s nothing special. It’s a bit of a mixed bag.

51. The Pianist
We all know the terrible things that happened during WW2. However this is the first film that made me truly angry at the Nazis. It really gets you invested in the struggle the characters face. The despair, the horror, the sadness, you feel them all, and really what more can you ask for. Definitely one of the best WW2 films, obviously highly personal due to the director living through events like though shown in the film.

50. Paths of Glory
This film shows the terrible treatment by the men in WW1 by their superior officers. Three men are chosen to be executed because their squadron refused to go on a charge that would have been suicide. We see the reactions of the men as they are chosen and sentenced to death and of the high officers who couldn’t care less, and of the men’s captain who tries everything to save them. Some bits are heartbreaking, some bits are hilarious, it’s a real mix of a film, but it’s still very good.

49. City Lights
Another Charlie Chaplin film. I prefer Modern Times on the whole, but this film has two things that make it a better film. One is a millionaire who when sober hates Chaplin, but loves him when drunk. This guy is one of the funniest things on film, he needs to be seen to be believed. And the other is Chaplin’s love story with a blind girl. I didn’t think it was possibly to get emotionally invested in a silent slapstick comedy, but this film really proved me wrong.

48. The Shining
I can’t say I see why The Shining is supposed to be so good. I liked it, except the part with the psychic black guy, up until the part where Jack gets let out of the freezer by the ghosts. Up until then I could believe that the ghosts where all just in his head and he was being driven insane by the loneliness. I thought that kind of psychological horror would be really interesting, but then, because it’s Stephen King, it turn out he wasn’t just crazy it was ghosts, and I couldn’t  take the film seriously anymore. Also that kid saying “redrum”? He needs a good slap.

47. Amelie
It’s a love story. I can’t think of any love story films that I like except this one. But this really isn’t like any others. It’s quirky and whimsical and it lives in its own magical world. It’s really funny. And moving and sad and happy and... well it just jumps from one thing to another, it’s got the air of a dream almost. So don’t get put off by the romance, even a manly man could enjoy this film.

46. Spirited Away
I don’t like anime. I’m not sure what it is. I tell myself it’s because it doesn’t explain itself, like in this film a little girl ends up in a magical world where lots of really odd things happen and you just have to accept them. But really that can’t be true, because some of myself favourite films are sci-fi or fantasy, which are different sorts of weird but equally strange. So I can’t explain it. But I don’t like anime, so I don’t like this film. If you like anime you might like this, but I’m in no position to judge.

45. Vertigo
The first Hitchcock film we’ve come across on the list. It shows the dark mystery, brilliant characters and unexpected twists that I love in his films. Not to mention, it has Jimmy Stewart, one of my favourite actors in it. This really draws you in, and you really want to know what is going on, but it just keeps getting stranger, until the reveal which isn’t a disappointment.

44. Alien
The original and the best. Forget about the one good sequel, the three mediocre to poor sequels and AVP 2, a film I hate with a passion. This is the one that started the whole series. And it’s brilliant. The alien is just that, an alien. It can’t be reasoned with, it can’t be understood and it can’t be stopped. It’s just a terrifying monster in the shadows that strikes down the crew one by one. The best sci-fi horror film ever.

43. Saving Private Ryan
Much as I hate Braveheart with its historic inaccuracies, this film has enough impact to get away with it. The heart of the soldiers and their struggles makes this film draining, but heart-warming by the end. However the first scene, the D-Day landings are just... incredible. It’s the most impressive war movie scene I’ve ever seen, it leaves such an impact.

42. Taxi Driver
This is a difficult film to explain. It’s the story of a Vietnam veteran suffering in a life he hates. He meets a woman, but things go wrong and spiral out of control until the last act, which is mind-blowing. Of course there’s a lot more to it than that short description, but I really don’t know how to say much about it without ruining it. Watch this film, there’s nothing else quite like it.

41. Terminator 2: Judgement Day
My second favourite sequel of all time, this is the follow-up to a story of a killer robot coming back in time. This time there’s two, but ones on our side. The first film is just an action movie. There are some good parts, so it’s better than average but it’s nothing special. But Judgement Day? It’s got the whole package. The effects are incredible, the acting is great, the story is engaging and it’s got heart too. I really can’t think of anyway this could have been better. In fact if you’re only going to watch one Terminator film, I’d skip the first one and watch this.

Imdb Top 100 Part 3: 70-56

70. Chinatown
Pretty much, it's the sort of film noir that was all the rage in the 1940s/50s but by 1974 when this was released it wasn't such a big film movement anymore. Could a film like that still work even now? Well it does. Mainly due to Jack Nicholson being as entertaining as ever and the dark twists near the end of the film. I don't want to spoil anything so I'll just say if you ever wanted to get into film noir I'd start with this because it's a very easy to watch film.

69. L.A. Confidential
Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce play cops in the corrupt city of 50s L.A. What more is there to say. It's a very modern film in the way it's done, so it's easy for modern audiences to get into, the characters are all really entertaining, even the smaller parts, especially James Cromwell (the guy who's in everything but no-one knows his name) as the police chief. One of my favourites on the list.

68. Back to the Future
Some people might write this off because it's about time travel, but they're stupid. Back to the Future is so much more than just some silly sci-fi film. It's got mad science, high school hijinks, a mad plot, some hilarious jokes, a classic villian, some touching moments and it's all wrapped up in a great adventure. Most people reading this'll have seen it, and if you've not, go out and watch it now. And watch the sequels, because in my opinion they're as, if not more funny than the first film.

67.The Third Man
Starring Orson Welles this is a great piece of cinema. I watched this for the first time in about, 2004ish, so I was only about 11. And to be honest all I really watched at the time was Star Wars, but I watched this with my parents and I really enjoyed it. So if an 11 year old sci-fi geek is blown away by it, I think anyone could have a good time watching it.

66. Reservoir Dogs
I love Tarantino's films and I think this one might just be my favourite. It's primarily set in one room with the rest of the story told in flashback. What I like is that although it's a film about a robbery, all thats shown is the lead-up and the consequences. It shows restraint not to have the bloody heist on screen, and lack of restraint is what I think ruins some of his later films. This one is my favourite though and I'd definately recommend it.

65. Life is Beautiful
This is one of my three favourite foreign language films. It starts off as just a joker trying to woo a woman, then it jumps to when they're married and it's during WW2. The main character and his son are both Jews though and start by getting persecuted before getting sent to a concentration camp. But although it's sad film it's also really heart warming, seeing how the father risks his life to keep his son happy all through the terrible things that happen to them.

64. Modern Times
Another Charlie Chaplin film, this time it's a silent film. But unlike some films don't let the silence put you off. This film is unbelievably funny. It's an hour and a half of completely ridiculous slapstick, and it's just so funny. It's hard to talk about it without ruining the fun so I'd say have a look.

63. Das Boot
This is an odd film. It's a film about a Nazi submarine crew, and you'd think after all the other WW2 films I would hate them. But it makes the crew strangely likable, mainly due to them being just tired old sailors who're fed up of their orders but carry them out as their duty. It's over 3 hours long and I didn't get bored in all that time, so they're definately doing something right. And the ending, well, I won't ruin it, but it definately gets it's point across.

62. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Jim Carrey plays a man who wants the memories of his ex removed. Half of the film takes place in his head as while the memories of her fade he realises he still loves her. That sounds like a sappy romantic comedy but it's a lot darker than you would expect. Also, the other half of the film takes place with the people removing his memory and they are not good people, but they are sure as hell entertaining. I didn't think this would be my sort of film, but I was pleasantly surprised.

61. Requiem For A Dream
Well, this is a hard film to look at. And I mean that literally. I love it, but it's like watching a crash. You don't enjoy it, but you can't look away. I don't mean it's a bad film, anything but. But the things that happen in the film I think would be unwatchable to some people, especially one scene at the end. But it's a very well made and enjoyable film as well, so if you think you can take it, I'd say give it a look.

60. Aliens
The first Alien is a horror movie, where the crew of a ship are stalked and killed one by one by an alien monster. But we'll get to that later. Right now it's the turn of the sequel which is one of the best sequels of all time. And it managed that by... completely changing what kind of film it was. Aliens is an action film. It's about a survivor of the first film and a group of marines going to a planet filled with the aliens and killing them. There's a lot more to it than that, but thats the bit that makes it great. It's still scary but in a different way and it's exciting, and if I still was in the 90s I'd say it was awesome.

59. To Kill A Mockingbird
Its based on a brilliant book, so it already has the groundwork of a great plot. But what really makes it for me are the performances. It's about a lawyer fighting to save a black man in the 1930s in Southern USA. I love the conviction of Gregory Peck, but my favourite part of the film is the main racist. He's just such a completely unlikable character, but he's great to watch. The sad thing is you know that there's still people like him out there.

58. A Clockwork Orange
I have mixed feelings for this film. I like the plot and the ideas behind it. And although I find some of the imagery to be a bit over the top, like the outfits the main characters wear, I could get behind it if it wasn't for one thing. The slang they use. It was especially invented for the novel this film was based on and I suppose it's mean to be symbolic or something I don't know. It just makes me be unable to take the characters seriously, but they talk like stupid children. But maybe that's just me.

57. Lawrence of Arabia
This is the definition of an epic film. It looks amazing. The parts shot on location in the desert are just breathtaking. That isn't to mean it doesn't have a plot though, it's not 2001. The story stretches over an entire war campaign and tells the story of a very unusual soldier. It's thoughtprovoking and moving and it's one of the most visually impressive films of all time.

56. The Departed
The police have a mole in the mob and the mob have a mole in the police and they're trying to find out who each other are and bring down the opposite organisation from their own. Confused yet? This film has a very convoluted plot, but that something I always like in a movie. It has possibly the best performances of Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon and it also has Jack Nicholson which always makes for a good film. This film is definately worth a watch for all the backstabbing and tricks and lies and just everything in it that make it a truly intelligent thriller.

Imdb Top 100 Part 2: 85-71

85. Full Metal Jacket
I must be the only person who preferred the second half of this film. I thought the drill sergeant in the first half was just annoying. But hey, the second half was one of my favourite war films, so swings and roundabouts.

84. The Bridge On The River Kwai
This film is amazing. It seems like a typical old war film, but excellent performances especially from Alec Guinness really make it something special. I got shivers down my spine at the line “what have I done?”  and when that happens you know it’s a good film.

83. All About Eve
There’s not a lot I can say about what I like in this film without giving away the plot. It’s about an old star getting eclipsed by new fresh talent. But it’s not just some coming of age story, there’s something more sinister at work. I didn’t think it would be my type of film, but it really won me over.

82. Pan’s Labyrinth
I really like Guillermo Del Toro’s work. I love Hellboy II, one of my favourite films. This takes the same sort of magical world, and instead of an action movie makes a dark twisted fairy tale. And it really works. It’s like Alice In Wonderland but by Tim Burton... oh wait, that actually exists. And it was shit. Never mind.

81. Amadeus
This would be a good film. Good script. Good direction. Good actors for the most part. Except for one thing. I cannot stand Mozart in this film. He’s just so annoying. His voice is annoying; the way he acts is annoying and his fucking laugh... I don’t know if that’s the point but he just ruined the film for me. He was so annoying I could barely watch it. If you can stand him it’s a great film, but I really can’t.

80. Singin’ In The Rain
I hate musicals. The only one I like is The Blues Brothers so I can’t really give an opinion on one. It wasn’t as bad as some other ones. That’s the best I can say.

79. Rashomon
It’s aged a bit now, but this is still a really interesting film. It’s a clear inspiration for some newer films like Hero, so I’d say give it a look. I like the way it’s presented with the three tales and the framing of the storytellers, so with a bit of patience I’d say check it out.

78. Some Like It Hot
This film is hilarious. I thought the humour of the 50s might be lost on me, but I was sitting laughing the whole way through. The disguises are so funny; especially the millionaire and the ending scenes are just completely mad and hilarious. It’s probably the old film on this list that’s aged the best, as it’s still as funny as it would’ve been at the time.

77. Once Upon A Time In America
This is tied with Goodfellas as my favourite gangster film of all time. It’s set over 50 years, took 10 years to make and is almost 4 hours long. It’s truly a film epic, and you’re worn out after watching it. But it’s really rewarding as well. It’s also my favourite Sergio Leone film, and his only non-western film I’ve seen, shows that westerns aren’t the only things he was good at making.

76. Raging Bull
The only other boxing movie I’ve seen is Rocky, and I really liked seeing the same sort of story going in the opposite direction. The main character is not a good man, and because of this all his success escapes him and in the end brings him down lower than he started.

75. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
This film is hilarious. I’ve never seen the Python TV series, so this was my first experience of them. And it really didn’t disappoint. From the bridge, to the black knight, to the rabbit, this film is incredibly witty and hilarious. Personally I prefer Life of Brian, but they’re both equally good. Just avoid Meaning of Life, maybe it’s just me, but I didn’t find that funny at all.

74. Cinema Paradiso
It sounds bad. A boy befriends the old projectionist in a cinema. He starts off getting annoyed with the boy them learns to love him. It sounds like retread of a story told so many times before. But the enthusiasm of the actors and the richness of the script just bring it to life unlike any other film of this type. Truly heart-warming and heartbreaking at the same time. And don’t ask me to explain how it can be both. Just watch it.

73. The Green Mile
I don’t like Stephen King. And this film has all the usual small townsfolk, magical black guy problems of his other works. It’s a well made film and it’s quite entertaining for a bit, but I really got fed up with it all after a while. I would be more behind this film if it wasn’t so damn long. But it was a real drain after the halfway mark and I really stopped caring.

72. The Treasure of the Sierre Madre
This is a film that hasn’t aged very well. But, unlike Metropolis, you can still enjoy it. And the main reason you can enjoy it is the three main actors. The rest of the story doesn’t hold up so well but the parts with just the three men really shine. And the ending is brilliant.

71. The Prestige
My least favourite Christopher Nolan film, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad film, it means he makes really good films. The magicians and their tricks are brilliant and the mystery leading up to Tesla’s machine is also gripping, but as soon as you find out what it really is and what it does, I was disappointed and it brings up a whole bag of plot holes. It’s still a great film, but I’d watch Nolan’s other work first before searching this one out.

Imdb Top 100 Part 1: 100-86

Recently I told you I'd watched all the imdb top 100. Someone asked me which of the films was the best. Although techinically the list says Shawshank Redemption is the best, I think most are equally good. And so i've decided to share a few words about my views about each film here. I'll do 15 at a time then do the top 10.

100. Black Swan
 I didn’t think I could be interested in a film about ballet. But by focusing on the main character with the Swan Lake swans as a metaphor for what happens in the her head, it really drew me in and surprised me a gripping psychological drama.

99. Up
For the most part this is a typical Pixar adventure film. Brilliantly mad ideas with a good story and good animation. But what brings it onto this list is that you care for the characters and there are some really heartrending scenes.

98. Gran Torino
One of my favourite films on the list. Clint Eastwood plays a bitter old man who’s racist and doesn’t talk to his family. As the film goes on he draws closer to his asian neighbours and is drawn into gang fights. And the ending... well I don’t want to ruin it, but wow. Seriously amazing.

97. The Sting
The box for this film says it’s a comedy. I wouldn’t really agree, it’s more of a drama that just doesn’t take itself too seriously. The cuts in this film look great, the cast are fun and the plot is a good laugh. There’s nothing in this film that stands above the rest, but it’s just got such a great sense of fun that it deserves its place on the list.

96. Unforgiven
This film is made by its casting. Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Gene Hackman and the other supporting cast make what could be a standard western flick into a masterpiece. And again Eastwood shows he really knows how to end a film, with the last 20 minutes my favourite western scenes in any film.

95. Oldboy
The first foreign language film on the list. This film works because of two reasons. One is the action, which looks amazing, especially the corridor scene. The second is the intrigue as to why the main character has been locked away for 15 years. And this film does not disappoint with the answer with one of the most shocking and horrific twists in movie history.

94. Downfall
A film about Hitler’s bunker during the fall of Berlin, leading up to his suicide. This film shows Hitler as he was near the end, as a desperate madman on the edge of giving up. It really feels like you’re watching the events that happened and not just actors portraying them.

93. Inglorious Basterds
Another WW2 film, but this time from Quentin Tarantino. He brings his own style to the war film and all the different storylines entertain especially when they combine for the epic finale. As with all Tarantino films this is a mad but hugely enjoyable film. And Christoph Waltz is fantastic.

92. Metropolis
This is the first film I disagree with. At the time this must have been a revelation. It looks amazing for 1927 and would have a good story for a silent film. But I think now it’s too dated to compare. It’s too slow for today’s audience and the look of the film, although distinct, doesn’t look impressive anymore. We’ve seen better. So basically, it was at the time probably the greatest film ever, but its day has past.

91. The Apartment
This film starts as a comedy and then suddenly it’s a drama. And you don’t feel like any dramatic change has occurred. It’s just the way the film’s story goes. You really get invested in the characters and this was the first of the old 1940s-60s films I watched in my imdb quest that I forgot about watching it for the list and just enjoyed it.

90. Gladiator
I don’t have much to say about this film. It’s good, and I can tell that, but it’s not really my type of film so I don’t like it. All I can say is it’s good if you like this sort of thing. Also, listen to the music. Hans Zimmer totally didn’t rip himself off from this when he did Pirates of the Caribbean...

89. Braveheart
I hate this film. It doesn’t deserve to be on this list. I have a full written explanation of how much I hate this film, here.

88. 2001: A Space Odyssey
This is an example of a film that is more about style than substance. The first and last third are basically just images to music. It looks amazing, but it’s not what I want in a film. I want a proper story which it doesn’t deliver. If you like art films then you’ll like this. But I personally don’t. EXCEPT. I really like the middle third. That looks good and has a plot and if the whole film was like it, it would probably be one of my favourite films.

87: Bicycle Thieves
This starts as a touching tale of a father and son bonding, but as time goes on it gets more and more depressing as they get desperate and their bonds start to break. Don’t be put off by it being in Italian and black and white. This is a very good and moving film.

86: The Great Dictator
Charlie Chaplin does a parody of the Nazis. What else is there to say? It was made during the war and still works as a complete mockery of the Nazi party and Hitler. It makes you sit there laughing at them the whole way through. Apparently Hitler saw the film once and I can’t imagine how furious it would make him. It’s a well made and intelligent film and still well worth a watch.

To be continued