Ok, off the top of my head...

Star Wars Trilogy (original)

Although GL seems to be ****izing our beloved childhood favorites on the eagerly anticipated DVD release, and nearly sinking the enterprise on the pre-equals (that are not worthy to carry the SW seals of the originals) what these films did for the film industry hasn't been replicated since.  THX, Skywalker sound, etc. were created from these movies alone.  ANH was a pioneering acheivment, and ESB was the first cliff-hanger of it's magnitude.

Casablanca

I only watched this movie for the first time this past year, but damn did I fall in love with it!

Gladiator

I was blown away the first time I saw this moive!

Lord of the Rings trilogy (Fellowship of the Ring)

Again, setting the visual standard for movies to follow.

Halloween

I generally do not enjoy horror movies, but I love this one.  Maybe it's the idea that it could really happen and that is what makes it so good?  I think it finds itself on this list because this is a genre I normally despise, and somehow this movie overcomes that and for that, it is highly regarded IMO.

I know I am leaving out some great classics (and probably many I have never even seen!).  I'm sure I'll think of 10 other movies I could put in my top 5 as well, but off the top of my head, these are it!  What are yours??? 

I would have to add the original Indiana Jones to the list. I got the trilogy on DVD last Christmas and have enjoyed them alot.

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Cheers,

John Wanderscheid

I will probably want to change this later, but here is my list.  It has both fluff and heavy viewing.  In no particular order.

-Fellowship of the Ring

-Seven

-Usual Suspects

-Fargo

-Field of Dreams (gotta have a baseball movie in there )

Honorable mention goes to:

-Monty Python and the Holy Grail

-Seven Samuri

-Das Boot

lol...ok, I'll stop

I will probably start another thread later with the most obscure movies that you SHOULD watch, that should be fun!

 

Star Wars: A New Hope

It's the only one of the series I can still watch and take seriously. The others just don't come close. The newer they are, the worse they get.

Raiders of the Lost Ark

The Matrix

Amazing movie. Try watching it while listening to Dark Side of the Moon (way better than Wizard of Oz).

Fight Club

If you haven't got time for the book....

Clockwork Orange

Same as with FC.

 

1.  Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

2.  The Sound of Music

3.  Do the Right Thing

4.  Trainspotting

5.  Clash of the T itans

1. Fight Club Some say it's overrated. But then, all movies seem over-rated after you've seen them a 100 times. And it could also mean you have a problem with anything violent, whether it's song lyrics, videogames or movies. 2. Jerry Maguire It still remains one of the greatest on-screen romances I've ever seen. 3. Almost Famous Now what can anyone possible have against this? 4. American Beauty Again, it's now termed "overrated". Think of the first time you saw the movie in the theater not knowing what it was about, not the 100th time it was on TV.... 5. The Insider Two Words: Al Pacino. (Ok, screw the word limit. I like this movie because I relate to it: I'm a chain smoker!)

O.K., I can't resist:

1: The Matrix - Great story, technologically groundbreaking, even Keanu couldn't screw it up.

2: Full Metal Jacket - In a word... Kubrick

3: The Empire Strikes Back - Left me wanting more, yet completely satisfied at the same time.

4: Tombstone - Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday is probably my favorite all time performance.

5: Bruce Campbell Vs The Army of Darkness - Ash is what most films in the genre lack: A protagonist worth watching.

 

What, no one has added Blade Runner yet?  Either the directors cut or the standard.  That's definitely one of my all time favs!

GREAT movie, Scott!  Just didn't make my top 5.  I was a little dissapointed when Scott came out a couple years ago and stated definitively if Ford was a replicant or not.  It was nice having it be a mystery (kind of like Tarentino not saying what is in the breifcase in Pulp Fiction).  There are many allusions to what it is in there, and you think you know, but you never really know since he won't directly answer that question.  Blade Runner was cool in that same respect, the allusions are there and you think you know, but there is always that mystery of doubt that maybe not?  Ridley ruined that when he came out and stated on the replicant issue.  I won't repeat it here, just in case someone is still intrigued with wether he was or not???

The best 5 movies for sound quality IMHO.

1)  Master and Commander: Far Side of the World.

2)  Black Hawk Down

3)  LOTR: Return of the King

4)  Saving Private Ryan

5)  Dances with Wolves

and another I just watched....

SAW.

I think SAW is a fabulous movie.  I won't believe anyone who says they knew who it was all along.  Almost as twisted as House of a 1000 corpses.

You've all named movies that I would put on a top 5 list already, but here are a few others that I also liked:

 

1.  Dr. Strangelove

 

2.  Pale Rider

 

3.  The Patriot

 

4.  Fritz the Cat

 

5.  Jackie Chan movies, in general.

Goodfellas

The Thin Red Line

Spirited Away

The Others

LOTR

Not in that order...

Wow this requires ALOT of thinking... a very fun topic

1. StarWars Trilogy

2. Indiana Jones Trilogy

3. Die Hard

4. Nightmare Before Christmas

5. Shawshank Redemption

I agree a fun but difficult topic... Starwars: Empire Strikes Back Lord of the rings: Fellowship of the Ring Fight Club The Matrix Predator

Way too many movies that you can watch over and over but mine are ...Dumb and Dumber...Alien,,,Where Eagles Dare,,,The Bourne Iden****y,,Caddyshack!!!