I wouldn't say Gone With the Wind is over-rated, but it hasn't aged well. It's conspicuously absent from the top nominations, and I suspect that's why.

Casablanca, is a phenomenal example of a troubled production that managed to become one of the most popular films of all times. Amidst the wartime background is the steamy story of an ill-fated romance, rekindled with such passion that little else matters, and yet Rick's innate morality wins out, as he sacrifices his own happiness in order to make sure Ilsa and her husband make it to safety, ensuring the success of the war resistance. Add to that the sparkling dialogue, with many examples of witty exchanges, contrasted with the stark emotion of Rick's pain.

Bogart's soliloquy brings a tear to my eye every time. "Of all the gin joins in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine..." You SEE the tears he's holding back. It's the performance of his career.

Add to THAT, the many memorable characters such as Claude Rains' duplicitous police chief, Peter Lorre's slimy toadie and Sidney Greenstreet's masterful turn that made him a star and resulted in a series of films teaming him with Lorre.

Citizen Kane is hard for many viewers to relate to today, I think, because it's a very cold film, and everything today passion and emotion, where everything must be FELT. It's an intellectual film chronicling the downfall of a corrupt powerful man, who sacrificed everything for money and power, especially his emotions , and anyone who got close to him. Quite a daring film in its day when William Randolph Hearst was still very much in power, its impact may be somewhat lessened today when many don't even know who he is. However, it's superbly crafted, impeccably shot, and it makes its point with a savage force.


Yah, I got that. You might have noticed I said "Yes I know I just cherry picked a single sentence from your entire post, ignoring the rest." Did you see that? I also ended the entire thing with a wink - ::wink::

I'm going to take a lot of pot shots at various statements throughout this entire process. I hope people don't take them too seriously. I'll endeavor to keep things somewhat lighthearted. wink wink ::wink:: ::wink::

I could not have said it better.

Yeah, I saw that, but I figured I would clarify, just in case.

I don't have a problem with any of the mentioned movies being on the list.

I'm not crazy about Cassablanca to be honest, but that has more to do with the genre than the quality of the movie itself, which is why I won't object to it. I may be a woman, but I've never cared much for the romance genre - the idea of taking something from "real life" and turning it into something so unrealistic makes it hard for me to relate to it.

Boy, am I going to be reminded by the rest of you that I said that, when I get to my defence of a certain movie from my own list... ::big grin::

Though apart from Schindler's List none of the Top voted films made into my top 20 but I like to strongly stand for Citizen Cane here. I think NE & metternich already defined it beautifully & actually can't add anything more. All I can say is it'll be a shame for us as ardent movie lovers if we failed to give its desired place in the Final Top 100 compilation.

I'm not against at all such awesome entertaining films like Raiders of the Lost Ark & Star Wars: New Hope and may it's just me but whenever I see films like this competing with films like Schindler's List, Citizen Cane & many other unquestionably brilliant films then I feel it may be better to have some categories in the final compilation...like the way we did in The Sub-Genres of Horror list, i.e. Cinematic Excellence, Most Beloved or Popular Films, Director's Cut etc.

Bogart's best (and career defining) role was in The Maltese Falcon, IMO. Apart from his absolutely brilliant performance as the brooding Sam Spade, and supported ably by an equally impressive supporting cast, the film itself is undoubtedly a milestone in cinema history, because it paved the way for all mystery/noir films to come, and also commercialised the femme fatale character in a huge way.

Ask me to choose, and I would pick this over Casablanca any day.

-------------------------------

Anyway, looks like the majority are in favor of the most-nominated films.

If Villain waives Citizen Kane through, we can move on.

I still think Citizen Kane is on here for the wrong reasons but I'll OK it so we can move on

Not gonna lie, I'm entirely against Raiders of the Lost Ark in the list, maybe as an honourable mention just to satisfy nostalgia, but I'm not a fan at all. Star Wars is a little more iconic and has a stronger cast with some fine individual performances, so I'm less against it. But if I wanted an Alec Guinness performance in my top 100, it would have been Kind Hearts and Coronets or The Mudlark, not Star Wars. Not going to vote against either movie, because I really don't think its worth it, just wanted to voice my opinion.

Regarding Citizen Kane, its just a flat out quality film, good story, great acting and a story that resonates and has a really beautifully written script. They are all personal opinions however and I don't expect everyone to agree with them, but I'd like to just make one more point for people to consider while we are making up our final list. When we talk about how film x changed cinema or influenced a genre just be aware that no movie in cinema history influenced its predecessors as much as Citizen Kane. Orson Welles provided the blueprint and has influenced just about every director that came after him, whether they knew it or not.

Okay, I think the majority are in favor of the topmost nominated ones so they all snuggle themselves into the final 100.


Moving on, here are the SEVEN films with 4 nominations each:



Arguments/objections/votes for/against, if any? Majority decides.

If not, then we can waive all SEVEN films through and move on to the next set.

I'm pro all the above movies with the exception of The Matrix.... Is it a good movie? Yes. Is it one of the best 100 movies ever made? No. Again, I'm not going to vote against it, because its going to get in anyway. The fact that it made so many peoples top 20 movies of all time is a surprise to me, but then again these things always surprise me.

I'm good with moving them on.