Citizen Kane (17)

I wasn't really sure what I was expecting, but I wasn't looking forward to Citizen Kane at all. I think I was assuming it was going to be a completely political boring movie.

Really, it was great! I highly enjoyed it! The story line itself was great, but really the WAY it was filmed was very interesting.

My favorite part was in his first marriage, the way the scenes went from her being so in love and being sad he was gone at work all the time and kissing him to stay home, then the scenes gradually make her more resentful and angry, and him too, about his never being home. I just thought that was funny.

I love the scandal and then the cover up. The message of how "things" can't buy you love, was wonderful!

In the very end when the reporter was trying to figure out what "rosebud" was...I KNEW what it was!! I won't say, but I knew it :)

As for the top 100? I'm going to guess it has more to do w/the fact that it was directed by Orson Welles rather than the plot of the movie itself. He's really great, he wrote it, directed it, and starred in it! What a guy!

Duck Soup (16)

I was really not looking forward to watching this movie because I've never been a Marx brothers fan. True, I'd never seen them, but they just didn't seem like anything I'd enjoy.

I am happy to admit that I was wrong!

Duck Soup was really funny, surprisingly so! The silent, curly haired "brother" is my absolute favorite. I was laughing so hard!

I think there may be some hidden, or not so hidden, political message. But as I've stated before I usually see right past that to the comedy or love story. I just am not interested in politics.

I am allowing this movie to earn it's place on the top 100 because of the fact that it was so funny that it still made me laugh, even though I'm used to "today's" type of humor. The gentile comedy in Duck Soup was able to last into 2009, so it deserves it's spot.

Wurthering Heights (15)

Oh...my....gosh. Tear, tear. Sob, sob. Whoever said Wurthering Heights is a love story is out of their mind!! This is not a love story, this is a tragedy!

I have this book and tried to read it a couple years ago but for some reason couldn't get into it. I am DEFINITELY going to give it another try now. After all, it is a Bronte classic.

Wow. My heart is still broken over this movie. I don't want to talk about it because I want you all to see this yourself. I don't want to spoil anything.

This movie truly earns it's spot on the top 100. This is why I don't understand how movies like this make the same list as movies like A Hard Day's Night. They're not even in the same league.

This will be added to my movie library very shortly. If you can't wait though, you can watch it for free at Google Videos: http://www.viddler.com/explore/britishstudies/videos/37/

As a side note, many of these movies I've been watching are free on Google Videos. They may be directed to another site, like the link above, but they're free and safe :)

The Awful Truth (14)

Isn't Cary Grant dreamy? :) His role in The Awful Truth is a wonderful example of the easy to fall in love with style he has.

This was a wonderful movie, but I'm not sure what about it landed it a spot in the top 100.

The only thing at all surprising about this movie was how easily divorce came, considering the movie was filmed in the 30's. I didn't think divorce was so casual in those days.

Having said that, this movie is fraught with scandal and really cute dog tricks :) And really, you just can't go wrong with a Carry Grant movie!

Even though I'm not sure it would make my top 100, this really is a super cute movie that I'll probably own.

The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy (13)

Yes, the trilogy counts as one movie :)

Anyone who hasn't seen The Lord Of The Rings trilogy is crazy. Even if you don't like sci-fi/fantasy...everyone must see these.

The scenery, the costumes, the special effects are completely un-matched in any other movie I've seen. The actors are amazing and make you truly believe they are the character they are portraying.

I haven't read the books, but everyone I know who has say that the movies are spot on. That's so rare in movies these days.

It's a good thing I bought the set of all 3 because the way each movie ends leaves you on such a cliff that you HAVE to plug the next one in and watch it right away. So I highly recommend that you don't start these unless you have the 9 hours (just about) that it will take to finish them!

Again, there's no question why these movies are on the top 100. These movies truly show the art of film making at it's finest.

My only suggestion...take the actors that play Gandolf and Grima Wormtongue should be in the Harry Potter movies as Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape, respectively. I love Alan Rickman, but he's not "grimy" enough like Grima is (ha...Grimy, Grima).

Anyway...take the time, get some pop-corn and plenty of beverages and get a really comfy chair and watch these movies!

Some Like It Hot (12)

It's absolutely no wonder why Some Like It Hot is on the top 100. This is one of the most classic Marilyn Monroe movies ever. Granted, it's the only one I've seen, but I couldn't imagine her any more "her" than in this movie. It's been said that "Sugar" in Some Like It Hot was the role that defined her public persona.

The only other movies I'd seen Jack Lemmon in were the Grumpy Old Man movies, in which I adored him. For those of you who love the Grumpy Old Man movies, you'll see an entirely new side of him in this movie. At times I find him almost annoying, but I still love him. Tony Curtis is great too. I'm very impressed at how well these men adapted to walking in heels :)

I wonder how many movies before this showed men cross-dressing. I wonder if that is part of why this movie made the top 100.

By the way...Ms. Monroe's costumes in this movie...FABULOUS!!!!! In fact I intend to re-create them someday when I have her figure ;)

This is a MUST see. And as luck would have it, Bed Bath & Beyond had the special edition DVD on sale for $7.99 and I had a 20% off coupon :) YAY!

Lawrence Of Arabia (11)

Well...what can I say? I honestly have no idea what this movie was about. It was SO insanely long that I kept falling asleep so it took me 4 tries to finish it.

What I was able to get from Lawrence Of Arabia is that Lawrence, in the British Army, was sent to help the Arabs. He decides along the way that he doesn't agree with the British Army's plan (which I don't know what that was) and decided to side with the Arabs instead. He grew close to them and had a team that he went on to fight some other city where the Turks were. (?) I think he freed the Arabs from the Turks. He made some good friends, who both died, and then he seemed to go slightly mad. He then quit the army because he wanted to have a normal job and a normal life.

I'm sure this was a really great movie and that there was a really good message, but I missed it. Maybe I'll try this again on a week where I haven't spent practically every day working 13 hour shifts.

Sorry...this is a totally useless review, but I just could not stay interested.

Brazil (10)

Hmmm...my thoughts are still swimming about this movie. I can't tell if I thought that Brazil was the stupidest movie outside of A Hard Days Night, or if it was rather funny.

I'm not entirely sure what this is even about other than it's supposed to be set in the future, which of course, is completely absurd. The main character (who plays the Governor Swan in Pirates of the Caribbean) keeps flashing back between reality and his dreams. It kept seeming like it was going to be a "technology takes over" kind of movie, but it didn't really go that way. I just can't get over the mom w/a giant high heel for her hat. And the dog with the tape over his bum.

Why on earth is this a top 100? Well, maybe in 1985 this was a great prediction of the future, but it doesn't hold up so well in 2009. Otherwise, I have no idea. That seems to be a trend in these "tops" so far.

Sherlock Jr. (9)

This is the first silent movie I've seen :) It was actually rather good! Sherlock Jr. was really funny and sweet. It's fun seeing how propriety was in the 20s and how a kiss on the hand is the equivalent to a sex scene today.

For the time, I'm assuming this was a huge budget film that was rather advanced. The special effects were pretty impressive for a 20s film.

I really think that actors who can't talk are so much more talented than actors today. When you are acting with your body only you have to ACT so much more than when you have lines to describe what's happening in the scene.

Great movie :) I'd suggest everyone see it just to experience the nostalgia of a silent movie.

A Hard Days Night (8)

WTF mate...wtf. OK let me explain for those of you who don't know what this means. WTF means "what the eff-word" and the phrase is from a Geico commercial that cracks me up.

ANYWAY...seriously, wft? This was the stupidest movie I've seen yet. Maybe since I'm not a flower child I just don't get it. Maybe I was born one generation too late. But to me, this was just one un-necessarily long music video. There was no theme, no point, no real plot. It was just a bunch of British musicians playing music and chasing after a crazy old grandpa. Why is this on the top 100? Beats me.

The Shop Around The Corner (7)

If you loved You've Got Mail, you'll love The Shop Around The Corner. If the title of the movie alone doesn't remind you of You've Got Mail (Meg Ryan's store name in the movie) then the plot of the movie will. Clearly this is the original movie that the newer version was based off of. They aren't the exact same though, so it's still interesting enough to keep your attention.

I loved this movie. It's definitely going down on my favorites list. The main actor, James Stewart, is the actor that plays George Baily in It's A Wonderful Life (another top 100 that will be posted later). I love him, he's such a perfect "classic" actor. I didn't care too much for Margaret Sullavan, she seemed as though she had a bad cold through the entire movie. The way she talked seemed very raspy. The owner of the store I recognize as the actor who played the wizard in The Wizard Of Oz! So that was another fun familiar face :)

Why is this movie in the top 100? I think because it's the first of it's kind of the love/hate relationship. The two characters are in love with each other and don't even know it, and hate each other to each other's face. It's the first movie of it's kind where the surprise of the plot twist is actually shocking. This, I believe, is what earns this movie on the top 100 list.

White Heat (6)

WHITE HEAT is a classic shoot 'em up, gangster kind of film. It really wasn't all that great. I'm not sure why it's on the top 100. I didn't find anything special, different, unique, or out of the ordinary about it. It's just your basic "bad guy has money grubbing wife who's really sleeping w/one of his hit men...and then the bad guy falls for the undercover cop side-kick ploy and ends up loosing because he talked too much" kind of movie.

Not really much else to the movie, not much else to say! Definitely not a movie I'd intentionally watch again.

To Kill A Mockingbird (5)

After reading the book, I really enjoyed watching To Kill A Mockingbird. As usual, many parts were left out, but overall I'd say that what they kept in the movie was spot on, word for word how the book went. I really appreciate that :)

The movie was much better at strengthening Atticus Finch's character. In the book I didn't get the idea as well, but the movie really showed how strong he was.

It's clear that this is in the top 100 because it's just a wonderful example of morality. Teaching kids right from wrong, and that the right choice isn't always the easy choice. Also what people assume about others can be damaging and completely wrong. Learning to get to know people before we judge is a lesson that should be seen in more movies.

My only gripe about the entire movie was the part w/the dog. I wish THAT was a part they had left out, but I suppose they wouldn't have been able to use that to prove how great a man Atticus was, but still...did they have to SHOW it? I know it wasn't real, but I'd have been much happier if they hadn't.

Annie Hall (4)

I honestly thought Annie Hall was going to be a black and white Dorris Day type movie, lol! I must have been thinking about Annie Get Your Gun. Oh well, caught me off guard.

To be honest, this movie was only ok for me. I'm not really sure why it's a top 100. Anyone know? I've never been a huge Woody Allen fan. I love Diane Keaton, and enjoyed seeing her so young, seeing as how I'm used to her in her more recent rolls. I just don't know why this movie is special in any way. The only thing it had that other movies don't, is the way the characters would talk to the camera and have flash backs with themselves in the scene still. But to me it just seemed like a kind of pointless story.

Maybe I'm missing the point on this one. Anyone care to enlighten me? It certainly wasn't a BAD movie, and I did laugh a couple times. But to me it wasn't "Top 100" worthy.

Casablanca (3)

I was super excited to finally see CASABLANCA, surprised that it took me so long. There is no wonder why this is in the top 100. It's just the most classic movie there is. I recognized quotes and scenes from it even though I've never seen it. "Here's looking at you kid." Who doesn't know that line?

What DID get me though, was the ending. This has to be the first movie that doesn't have a happy ending where the screen closes on the two main characters locked in a loving embrace or kissing. I kept waiting for her to come back to him, and she didn't. That was heart breaking.

Isn't Ingred Bergman just insanely beautiful? Women aren't that kind of gorgeous these days. You just can't beat the classic Hollywood look.

I never fully understand the political side of these kinds of movies, but I was able to understand this a bit more than usual. Normally I'm only in it for the romance though.

I wonder what ever happened to Richard. Did he meet some girl someday that made him happy? Did he travel to America to have secret weekend getaways with Ilsa? Did Ilsa leave her husband and fly back to Casablanca? Or maybe they met up in Paris again? No. Paris could only ever be the one memory, otherwise it wouldn't be special. *Sigh* I don't deal well with un-resolved un-happy endings :( Still...WONDERFUL movie :)

The Grapes Of Wrath (2)

Moving right along to The Grapes Of Wrath for my number two. I thought I had seen this in high school...turns out I was confusing it for Of Mice And Men. So once I realized I was remembering the wrong characters and plot, this movie made much more sense.

The Grapes Of Wrath is one of those movies that makes you truly feel the tragedy that the characters are feeling. No doubt, that is why it makes the top 100. While the actors were great, I think the main focus was to make the audience really understand the devastation of having your home and all of your worldly goods taken away from you. Then when you think things couldn't get worse and could only start getting better, you sink lower.

Instead of connecting with the main character, Tom, I found that I actually connected with his mother. She was the one who really lost the most. Being a wife/mother during that time, she was a home-maker. She worked to provide a home out of their house and to keep it up. Imagine how she must have felt when she learned that the one thing in her responsibility, her one symbol of who she was and what her life was about, was going to be destroyed and there was nothing she could do about it. Then to lose her parents (whether her in-laws or actual parents, I couldn't tell, but still) and then in the very end, to loose her son. Not to mention all the turmoil she goes through in between all of that. Yet she still stayed strong for her family. While she may not be the obvious hero of the story, I elect her to be my hero from the story.

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1)

First up on my list (for no reason other than convenience) was ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST.

I was a little worried about this, since it just doesn't seem like a "me" movie. Honestly, I have to say, it was great!

I was surprised at how funny it was and how impressed by Jack Nicholson I was. His character made me keep thinking I knew him and knew what he would do, and then he kept surprising me by doing something totally unexpected.

I absolutely love the relationships he made with the other patients in the ward. My favorite though, was Chief :) I have a special warm spot in my heart for Chief. I wish we had gotten more of his back-story though.

The end was un-expected. I honestly thought he'd escape and go on living a wild life with Candy. I felt really anxious when Chief was smothering him w/the pillow because part of me kept thinking that he was just joking again and that he just took it too far and Chief thought his mind was really gone.

Overall, great movie. It kind of proves that people aren't crazy, it's the people who THINK that someone's crazy who MAKE them crazy. Why is this a top 100? I'm not completely sure yet, other than I think everyone can relate to feeling a bit crazy sometimes. And Jack really did a wonderful portrayal of an insane person...seems to come easy for him ;)

Let's Get Started, Shall We?

I'm creating this new blog simply for organizational purposes. If I were to combine this movie blog with my book and weight loss blog, there would just be way too much "stuff" to have to filter through.

THIS blog is designed for the purpose of journal-ing my reviews of the Top 100 Movies of All Time.

My "list" is a combination of the AFI's top 100 and Time Magazine's top 100. There are many versions and opinions of the top 100 movies of all time, and MOST of them have the same 90 or so movies. So, while this is for the top 100, there may actually end up being a top 130 or 150. We'll see how it goes :)

Since most of these movies are quite old, hence their "classic" status, most video rental stores don't carry these titles any longer, or at least not on DVD. And since I do not intend to purchase these, I have signed up for Netflix.com membership. SUPER easy, and they have EVERYTHING, seriously. I was able to find some DVDs from the 1930s that I couldn't rent anywhere else. And since they mail the movies to me directly, it's much more convenient than driving back and forth to the store over 100 times...ugh. Also MANY of these films are available on Netflix's Instant View so it's even more convenient!

I'm not sure who will read this, if anyone, but I hope you like it and find it interesting! Feel free to leave comments w/suggestions.

ENJOY!