Director: Spielberg

innerSpaceman · 03-13-2008, 04:54 PM

Easy.

1. Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Not the version you can find. The 1977 version (I'm still waiting for my phone call, G.C.)

2. Raiders of the Lost Ark. Brilliant fun, not so easy to achieve (Exhibit "A" - the sequels)

3. Jaws. OMG, one of the best movies ever made. Likely better a film than my first two faves, this one's a close, bitting at your heels (or worse) third.

4. Schindler's List. I can't bear to even watch it, but it's easily among my faves. Genius.

5. A tie: War of the Worlds. Sacrelige or no, it's tons better than the campy George Pal version from the 50's. The oft-told story has never been better told.

-and-

Minority Report. A wonderful noir thriller. Less good as a whodunnit than as a stylish styler.

blueerica · 03-13-2008, 05:02 PM

Goddamn it, even after accounting for the few I haven't seen, this choice wasn't made easy. Why did I punish myself into thinking I could pick just five. I'd rather rank them in order. Or not. It would still be hard, but... gah.. I even had to knock off a childhood favorite: E.T.

Anyhow, in no particular order...

Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Amistad (1997)
Schindler's List (1993)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - in all fairness, I know a lot of people didn't like the two subsequent sequels, but they're actually pretty good, IMO, and worth a re-watch before the next Indy comes out.
Jaws (1975)

Gemini Cricket · 03-13-2008, 05:14 PM

Top 5:

1. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - by far. Great story, cool characters, fun action, melting faces...

2. Schindler's List (1993) - This is a well made film. Editing, story, direction, acting, pace, cinematography... It's an important story to be told. And, heck, it even has a couple of jokes in it...

3. Jaws (1975) - One of the best horror films out there. Suspense, action, laughs and some of the best 70's hair ever caught on film.

4. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) - I've always liked this one. For the sci-fi stuff as well as showing a really cool but messed up family in action. One of his best because one of his characters was named Brad. Barry needed a leash, though...

5. Minority Report (2002) - I thought I was going to hate this one after seeing AI and because Tom Cruise was in it. But it ended up being a well thought out film with cool effects. The eye scene should be watched at dinnertime.

And, for fun, the bottom 5:

Artificial Intelligence: AI (2001) - Snoreville. An android and his talking bear friend. WTF?

The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) - Damn. This movie is a jurassic turd. Hmmm. I made the first one and it had one TRex... I know, the sequel should have two Trexes.... and a baby TRex.... Ugh. Nice visual effects but it lacked everything else. Hated the first one, too. It stays off of the worst list because of its ground-breaking effects.

Hook (1991) - Not even Maggie Smith could save this one. I found it a lame vehicle for Robin Williams and terrible casting for Tink. And what poor PA had to shave Williams for this one? Oy.

Always (1989) - Not even Audrey Hepburn could keep this one in the air. Boring! It was too long, too. It should have been called Forever.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) - Overly gross, overly glossy and overgrown with lameness. It gets one star for the cool spike room scene. The future Mrs. Spielberg was stinky in this one.

1941 (1979) - One of his unfunny comedies. Boring and stupid.

Gemini Cricket · 03-13-2008, 05:19 PM

My idea for this thread came up when I watched JP this morning. It was such a bad film. I can't believe JP and Schindler's was made in the same year. There was rumors that Lucas finished JP after Spielberg went off to Europe to shoot Schindler's and, heck, it could be true. Yuck.

I also can not believe that the man who has done fantastic films also directed JP: The Lost World. Oy vey!

I respect the fact that Spielberg took over Kubrick's film AI. But, man, that movie made me want to shoot myself in the face.

03-13-2008, 04:54 PM	#1
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Easy. 1. Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Not the version you can find. The 1977 version (I'm still waiting for my phone call, G.C.) 2. Raiders of the Lost Ark. Brilliant fun, not so easy to achieve (Exhibit "A" - the sequels) 3. Jaws. OMG, one of the best movies ever made. Likely better a film than my first two faves, this one's a close, bitting at your heels (or worse) third. 4. Schindler's List. I can't bear to even watch it, but it's easily among my faves. Genius. 5. A tie: War of the Worlds. Sacrelige or no, it's tons better than the campy George Pal version from the 50's. The oft-told story has never been better told. -and- Minority Report. A wonderful noir thriller. Less good as a whodunnit than as a stylish styler.
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03-13-2008, 05:02 PM	#2
blueerica Nueve Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,497	Goddamn it, even after accounting for the few I haven't seen, this choice wasn't made easy. Why did I punish myself into thinking I could pick just five. I'd rather rank them in order. Or not. It would still be hard, but... gah.. I even had to knock off a childhood favorite: E.T. Anyhow, in no particular order... Saving Private Ryan (1998) Amistad (1997) Schindler's List (1993) Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - in all fairness, I know a lot of people didn't like the two subsequent sequels, but they're actually pretty good, IMO, and worth a re-watch before the next Indy comes out. Jaws (1975) __________________ Tomorrow is the day for you and me
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03-13-2008, 05:14 PM	#3
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	Top 5: 1. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - by far. Great story, cool characters, fun action, melting faces... 2. Schindler's List (1993) - This is a well made film. Editing, story, direction, acting, pace, cinematography... It's an important story to be told. And, heck, it even has a couple of jokes in it... 3. Jaws (1975) - One of the best horror films out there. Suspense, action, laughs and some of the best 70's hair ever caught on film. 4. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) - I've always liked this one. For the sci-fi stuff as well as showing a really cool but messed up family in action. One of his best because one of his characters was named Brad. Barry needed a leash, though... 5. Minority Report (2002) - I thought I was going to hate this one after seeing AI and because Tom Cruise was in it. But it ended up being a well thought out film with cool effects. The eye scene should be watched at dinnertime. And, for fun, the bottom 5: Artificial Intelligence: AI (2001) - Snoreville. An android and his talking bear friend. WTF? The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) - Damn. This movie is a jurassic turd. Hmmm. I made the first one and it had one TRex... I know, the sequel should have two Trexes.... and a baby TRex.... Ugh. Nice visual effects but it lacked everything else. Hated the first one, too. It stays off of the worst list because of its ground-breaking effects. Hook (1991) - Not even Maggie Smith could save this one. I found it a lame vehicle for Robin Williams and terrible casting for Tink. And what poor PA had to shave Williams for this one? Oy. Always (1989) - Not even Audrey Hepburn could keep this one in the air. Boring! It was too long, too. It should have been called Forever. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) - Overly gross, overly glossy and overgrown with lameness. It gets one star for the cool spike room scene. The future Mrs. Spielberg was stinky in this one. 1941 (1979) - One of his unfunny comedies. Boring and stupid.
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03-13-2008, 05:19 PM	#4
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	My idea for this thread came up when I watched JP this morning. It was such a bad film. I can't believe JP and Schindler's was made in the same year. There was rumors that Lucas finished JP after Spielberg went off to Europe to shoot Schindler's and, heck, it could be true. Yuck. I also can not believe that the man who has done fantastic films also directed JP: The Lost World. Oy vey! I respect the fact that Spielberg took over Kubrick's film AI. But, man, that movie made me want to shoot myself in the face.
	Submit to Quotes