I hate this question, but if a gun were put to my head, I’d have to say The Wild Bunch - magisterial, thrilling, complex, troubling, beautiful, sad, invigorating… superlatives fail me.
I agree with Starblack, this is a tough question to pin down. Most days i’d probably have to say APOCALYPSE NOW. It made quite an impression fairly early in my movie viewing history, and i still love to watch it regularly. Though on the right day i could go with THE WILD BUNCH also. God bless Peckinpah.
Can not argue with that choice. In my top list as well. Hearts Of Darkness shows the chaos which was going on during the making. It makes it one of the most believable & realistic movies ever. Martin Sheen was literally so drunk during that opening scene that he actually was bleeding as his mirror punch was real & not in the script. Robert Duvall’s performance is amazing.
It is hard to pick just one movie here are my favorites of a few genres:
Western: For a Few Dollars More
Sci-fi: Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
Action: Star Wars
Horror: Dawn of the Dead
Comedy: National Lampoon’s Vacation
Martial Arts: The Crippled Avengers
Drama: The Manchurian Candidate
War: Full Metal Jacket
I always try to compile these lists and then fail at it because I can’t pick favorites, even among genres. So, off the top of my head, I’ll say Gangs of New York. Yes, it’s not perfect and it’s not even the best Scorsese, yet it holds a special place in my “favorite films corner” because I feel like its passion overshadows its flaws. I was so disappointed when it lost the Oscar to Chicago! :-\
others in my favorites
Animated: Wizards
Giallo: Tenebre
Drama: Citizen Kane
Noir: The Third Man
War: Lawrence of Arabia
Musical: Singin’ in the Rain
Spaghetti Westerns: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Western: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Science Fiction: 2001: A Space Odyssey
Gangster: The Big Heat
I can’t decide if its For a few dollars more or The good the bad and the ugly.
Drama: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Noir: Chinatown
War: Saving Private Ryan
Spaghetti Western: Once Upon a Time in the West
Western: Unforgiven
Crime: Pulp Fiction/Casino
Action: Enter the Dragon
Comedy: Snatch/Lock, Stock and Two Smokin Barrels
Sci-Fi: Blade Runner
Mystery/Thriller: Seven/Memento
Horror: Braindead
My top 10 films:
- Once Upon a Time in the West
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
- 12 Angry Men
- Chinatown
- The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
- Pulp Fiction
- Seven
- Vertigo
- Snatch
- Memento
Nice list MG.
[quote=“The Magnificent Gringo, post:49, topic:1396”]Drama: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Noir: Chinatown
War: Saving Private Ryan
Spaghetti Western: Once Upon a Time in the West
Western: Unforgiven
Crime: Pulp Fiction/Casino
Action: Enter the Dragon
Comedy: Snatch/Lock, Stock and Two Smokin Barrels
Sci-Fi: Blade Runner
Mystery/Thriller: Seven/Memento
Horror: Braindead[/quote]
Dear me, we have only one title in common (the spaghetti western) !
I’m sorry to say that I dislike all the other titles … :’(
Too bad Scherp, you have really to work on your “taste”. 
Yeah, Scherp’s braindead, enter the dragon or lock & stock him up in the cuckoo’s nest with his pulp fiction
Can’t ever say he’s not quick witted.
I’l have to do a similar list:
War: Jarhead
Spaghetti: Blindman
Noir: Big Combo
Crime: Pulp Fiction
Mystery: D.O.A
Thriller: House by the River
Horror: The Thing (1982)
Western: Unforgiven
Comedy: Young Frankenstein
[quote=“korano, post:55, topic:1396”]I’l have to do a similar list:
Spaghetti: Blindman[/quote]
i MUST HAVE MISSED THIS CATAPULT TO THE TOP OF YOUR LIST.
Your shitting me right?
I’ve always had it as my favorite Spaghetti Western. It’s great.
Ok, maybe a surprising choice, but my favorite movie is a very un-action/adventure type of thing. The Mirror by the Russian director Tarkovskij. It´s such a unique and strange film, i used to watch it once every year and allways find somethin new, and allthough having seen it now about 7-8 times there´s still a lot that puzzles me about it. A very fascinating and beautiful film (and i suppose to most people, boring as hell).
Other favorites:
Paris qui dort (René Clair, early surrealist silent shorty, really spectacular), Aguirre - the Wrath of God (Herzog and Kinski at their best!), all Buster Keaton/Fatty Arbucle shorts, La trou/The Hole & A Man Escaped (nervewrecking french prison-break-films), The Black Pirate (pirateadventure by Sollima), The Beyond & Manhattan Baby (confusing horror from Fulci), Cannibal Holocaust, Death Laid an Egg, Curse of the Devil, Hunchback of the Morgue & Return of the Zombies (Paul Naschy), I will walk like a crazy horse (Arrabal), Antonio das mortes (Brazilian “western” - great!) and of course countless more… and as a kid more than anything the Star Wars trilogy!
- obviously the spaghettis (Companeros, Once Upon a Time in the West, Django Kill etc). never been very fond of American westerns though, except for Peckinpah…
damn, how could i forget Where Eagles Dare…?!
[quote=“korano, post:57, topic:1396”]Your shitting me right?
I’ve always had it as my favorite Spaghetti Western. It’s great.[/quote]
I shit you not my friend. Matalo is your staff pick so I was surprised that Blindman was atop your list. I love it as well. I’m sure my recent top 20 list (as well as others) help propel it into the sites top 20 list.