What is good enough to get a 5?
January 6th, 2003 at 11:01 am (Uncategorized)
As I watch movies and prepare reviews I have not yet found a movie that I consider worthy of that holy grail of ratings ‘5′. OK, that is not really true, Lord of the Rings I and II both deserve this rating, but I have not gotten around to writing a review for either movie. So until that happens, what movies do you love so much that you would rate it a five?
Flava said,
January 6, 2003 at 3:08 pm
Well, I may be shooting myself in the foot here, but I am going to submit a few films I think might be able to crack into the area of a “5″ rating. Bear in mind, I STRUGGLE to get out and see movies, but my time is not my own. No movie is perfect unto itself, and I am a forgiving guy if the *overall* sense of the film makes me happy.
Please, don’t get me wrong. I am not a Hollywood Blockbuster fan. I haven’t been since “Independance Day” left a sour taste in my mouth as a teen.
1. Sixth Sense: Okay, maybe the first time’s the charm, but M. Night (last name omitted cause I can’t spel) clocked me over the head with this highly entertaining ghost story.
2. Gladiator: You may not like Russell Crowe as a person, but you gotta love him as a Roman General turned Gladiator. Epic, bloody, and definately worth seeing multiple times.
3. American Beauty: I don’t condone the man, but who wouldn’t do likewise if pushed hard enough? Certain parts do tend to take themselves too seriously, but a great film.
4. Black Hawk Down: Simply because I watched the AMC documentary on the real events and went, “Holy crap, that part was in the movie” about 100 times.
5. Fight Club: Okay, okay, I dig Ed Norton. But, geez, I’d never seen anything like it.
6. Training Day: Not sure if it deserved an Academy Award, and the ending was predictable, but the scene in the bathtub with the shotgun almost made me evacuate in my pants.
7. Mystery Men: I’m sorry, I had to. It was so stupid it was funny. Okay, maybe not “5″ funny, but still a classic most people have forgotten
…or hated.
Now that I look at this list again, maybe 4 is as high as it can get. Hey, it’s America. You get “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and “Eight Crazy Nights” in the same theater!
Flava said,
January 6, 2003 at 3:42 pm
FRICK, forgot Memento. Just TRY and watch it without pausing every five minutes to discuss it with everyone in the room.
Leopoldo said,
January 6, 2003 at 3:57 pm
Woops.. this entry was intended as a place holder so the Rating would show up in the menu. I created an entry for each rating that I could delete later on… I think I may take your comments and start a new post entitled ‘What would rate a 5?’ so they can be preserved.. or I may just re-write this original entry to give people a chance to talk about 5 rated movies.
Leopoldo said,
January 6, 2003 at 4:21 pm
1. The Sixth Sense. Loved this movie.. it chilled me, it thrilled me, it touched me… in a bad way
Yes, I think I could give this one a 5.
2. Gladiator was a disappointment for me. I would put this one around a 2 or 3.
3. American Beauty. YES! What an incredible movie! Definitely a 5.
4. Black Hawk Down. Very impressive.. a 4 in my book.
5. Fight Club… another great film and a 5 contender.
6. Training day. Have not seen it so I cannot comment.
7. Mystery Men. Hated it! Well, I did laugh a few times but man alive, this one just did almost nothing for me.
Flava said,
January 7, 2003 at 1:58 pm
Did anyone love Snatch as much as I did? If that didn’t deserve a 5, nothing did.
Leopoldo said,
January 7, 2003 at 2:24 pm
I liked Snatch.. but I have one major gripe with it: Snatch felt like an attempt to remake Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrells.. and not as well as the first film. I was rather hoping for something more original from Guy R.
Flava said,
January 7, 2003 at 2:35 pm
Well, I am at a big disadvantage then…(gulp)…I never saw Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. If it is BETTER than Snatch, oh yeah, baby. It’s all good! I gotta rent that one now.
Nick said,
January 10, 2003 at 2:42 pm
I always feel uncomfortable giving something a top score when it’s not that old and hasn’t had time to wear in and see if it lasts. But given that, I’ll go with the flow:
1. Sixth Sense: I’m a huge M. Night fan as well. I think Unbreakable is in many ways more mature and accomplished, but not as thrilling. Was a little disappointed with Signs, but I understand he was trying to make a movie more for the masses after his monetary disappointments with Unbreakable. 5.
2. Gladiator: It’s really just a melodramatic action movie with some supposedly meaningful crap thrown in to make it look important. It’s decently enjoyable, but it’s no more than Die Hard with historical sets. 3.
3. American Beauty: I don’t know. There’s some good acting, but I get so tired of the “we’re so uptight, why don’t we loosen up, the family is so f’d up…” thing. The nazi dad was too over the top. The boyfriend was too “insightful” (you know, if you think about that dancing bag for more than a second, you start to go: “what freshman college poetry class bs is this?”. Also, I think it was out of character for the dad not to sleep with the girl. 3.
4. Black Hawk Down: This is my favorite movie by these guys probably. Pretty good, not too cheesy, intereting, and has something to say without trying to say too much. 4.
5. Fight Club: Until I realized that what they were blowing up was the credit reporting agencies (who, after I’ve worked in the mortgage industry and seen them f’ up people’s credit wrongly often, I’ve despised), I thought the ending was kind of cheesy and weird. Now I like it more. I still think the ending is a little awkward (as in, the part in the skyscraper at the very end), but it’s a very good movie. It’d be a hard one to finish for anyone. 4.
6. Training Day: It was very, very good for a while. Then it turned hollywood, got too black and white and ridiculous. Better when there was some ambiguity and you were asking yourself whether what he was doing was really right or wrong. 3.
7. Mystery Men: Never saw it.
Here’s be a list of 5s from me from various genres and decades (and since these are movies popping into my head they must be some of my favorites):
Grand Illusion, The Bicycle Thief, The Third Man, Some Like It Hot, Resevoir Dogs, Rushmore, The Sixth Sense, Star Wars, LOTR: FOTR, Ghostbusters, Lawrence of Arabia, Rear Window, Anatomy of a Murder, To Kill a Mockingbird, 400 Blows…
Galenglamwen said,
January 26, 2003 at 5:33 pm
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy!!!!! Out of 1 - 5 it deserves a 10!! Great movies, can’t even wait for the 3rd to come out!!!!
fux said,
February 6, 2003 at 1:35 pm
i defanately think that “that darn cat” was an instant classic muther fukin fmb was as well
Brendan said,
April 21, 2003 at 4:29 pm
fives–
Saving Private Ryan, Armaggedon, Breaking Away, Legends of the Fall, Fight Club, Snatch, Lock Stock, Deuce Bigalow, Spiderman, The Ring, 28 Days Later, many others that I can’t think of right now.
Flash said,
May 9, 2003 at 7:13 pm
You all forgot Road to Perdition!
I agree with Gladiator and Black Hawk Down. I also emensly enjoyed Unbrakable for being a down-to-earth superhero story.
Flash said,
May 9, 2003 at 7:19 pm
Oh, yeah, forgot Snatch. It was Guy’s chance to redeem himself for the awful excuse for a movie that was Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels (don’t flame) and he succeeded… he just needed to recycle the story. Fight Club was an incredible psycological journey… did anyone notice Brad Pitt’s character (I forget his name) flicker into being early in he movie, just there for a frame? Watch closely if you rent the movie or something.
Leopoldo said,
May 12, 2003 at 10:06 pm
Haven’t seen Road to Perdition. After American Beauty I have a lot of respect for Sam Mendes, but the previews for Road simply did not appeal to me.
Gladiator I thought was a cheap bore. Over-acting, under-writing and not so special effects. Loved the opening sequence with oil-loaded catapults firing into enemy lines.
Black Hawk Down I had my doubts about until I saw it. Wow, what a powerful movie. In case anyone wondered if Ridley Scott still had it in him… yup, he sure does!
Unbreakable I was unimpressed with. I think I was expecting more from M. Night Shyamalan after The Sixth Sense
Snatch I liked. I also liked Lock Stock though.
Fight Club I think is an awesome movie. And yes I did catch Tyler Durden appear in flashes at the beginning and yes, I did spend some time on a DVD going frame by frame on each one.
Leonhart said,
May 22, 2003 at 1:07 pm
Movies that i give a five rating are:
- Fight Club
- LOTR trilogy
- Training Day
- The Truman Show
- Minority Report
- X-Men 1 (didnt like 2 as much as one)
- Chicago
- Shrek
- Ice Age
- Road to Perdition
- Schindler’s List
jbarrington said,
May 27, 2003 at 2:28 pm
For me, a movie that rates a 5 would have to set a new standard, or raise the bar a notch. It has to make a statement that it would be hard to have a sequel unless the sequel can notch a little higher. The movie would, or should be enjoyable to watch many times over time (and sometimes learning something new about it).
My list for this would be (not in any order):
-Star Wars (the very, very first one)
It set many new standards for special effects and costumes in scifi movies in the 1970’s.
-The Sixth Sense
A very different spin on a “normal” ghost story. “The Others” tried to cash in on a similar ending, but failed.
-The Terminator
At the time, it made most people say “WOW!” when it was over.
-Terminator 2
A sequel that was better than the first. A rarity in the movie business.
-The Matrix
Took scifi action movie to another level by provoking the viewer to think about what was seen. It also had effects that are still being copied on TV, commercials, and other movies.
-Big
Tom Hanks leting you see how a kid adapts with become a man, but soon realizing that being a kid wasn’t that bad after all.
-Saving Private Ryan
Normandy beach, at the beginning of the movie, left your mouth drooped open, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the movie house at the very end.
-The Shawshank Redemption
One of the few Steven King stories that really works on screen. One of the top 5 best prison movies.
-Lilo and Stitch
(I wanted to include at least one animation film.)
A fresh new standard for Disney. Everytime I watch this movie, I see small details that I missed, and sometimes these little details add a little more humor to the film.
WALLY said,
June 2, 2003 at 7:34 pm
PERECT MOVIES FROM START TO FINISH
2001
TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE
SLACKER
MIDNIGHT EXPRESS
CLERKS
DESPERATE LIVING
FANTASM
MIDNIGHT COWBOY
WILD AT HEART
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Fred said,
June 4, 2003 at 5:24 am
MATRIX - what a film!!!!!!!! surely worthy of a five unless u are determined to spend hours unravelling the plot rather than enjoying the spectacular effects that it has to offer. Unfortunately matrix reloaded was not as amazing but it still rates highly.
DONNIE DARKO - another incredible film. unfortunately the boring and unsuggestive title causes would be viewers to shy away from it but nevertheless this is a film that will test your mind to its limits and take you on an incredibly journey. a six foot bunny rabbit named Frank, a disturbed kid (Donnie Darko) and the nearing end of life as we know it - what could be better?
Matt said,
June 18, 2003 at 6:52 pm
Regarding the LOTR:FOTR,,, does anyone else agree that the first 45 minutes of that movie (Shire up to the Prancing Pony) were quite possibly the best piece of epic filmmaking out there? I just like the feeling of this great story revolving only around a very limited number of characters (before it explodes into the dozens later into the movie) in a limited amount of space, i.e. the Shire and surrounding areas. This was when Jackson could focus on developing his characters and really instill fear into the audience with the Riders because everything was small and managable and, well, awesome! Kudos to Jackson for handling the LOTR universe so far, but his first 45 min of LOTR are by far the true 5 in my book.
dyingofluv said,
September 3, 2003 at 3:48 pm
Yes, I would agree … at least partly. I wouldn’t go so far as to say the first forty-five minutes are *better* than the rest of the movie, but it reflects the book’s feeling perfectly; a sense of lyrical intimacy and security, and you fall into step with the characters without even thinking about it. And then it’s such a shock when the first shadow of evil manifests itself, although it could be argued that there are little harbingers of this throughout … It’s just such a brilliant piece of work, exactly as the books. You start out as innocent as the hobbits, frightened but thinking that it will all be over soon. But the scope of horror keeps growing, and your own perspective with it, until you are following many different characters and agendas and you’ve lost that innocence, that sense of perfect serenity and contentedness that you can find in those ‘first pages’…
dyingofluv said,
September 3, 2003 at 3:49 pm
Disregarding the above, the real reason I got into this place was to shove Stand By Me in … theat movie is the absolute best. Understated but perfectly told. I mean, seriously!!
wraithraven said,
September 17, 2003 at 12:03 pm
Fives for me would be:
Waking Life
Amelie
American Beauty
Fight Club
The Matrix/Matrix Reloaded
Original Star Wars Trilogy (none of the new ones are up to par with these)
Harold and Maude
and (just to get a martial arts film in) Fist of Legend
raspensen said,
March 14, 2004 at 7:50 pm
come one flava, you were right on with sixth sense but you should have stopped right after that. it’s such a wonderful, one-of-a kind movie and you had the balls to follow it up with overrated garbage like gladiator. give me a break, it’s one of the worst movies i’ve ever seen. but what really gets me is black hawk down, seriously black hawk down? america as a nation should be embarassed for turning out a movie full of terrible acting and writing, that movie should be deemed unconstitutional and every copy ever made should be removed from the face of the earth. that movie sickens me, almost as much a minority report.
Werewolf said,
May 11, 2004 at 8:34 am
You all should check out Ginger Snaps, Bad Moon, Queen of the Damned, Silver Bullet, and The Company of Wolves. Rate those.
MovieMan said,
June 6, 2004 at 11:31 pm
OK, I have to say Band of Brothers is a 5. While it is really a 12 hour mini-series, I would have to say it can be considered a movie. If anyone has the time, they should defently rent it.
MovieMan said,
June 6, 2004 at 11:39 pm
Oh yea, I forgot to mention A Clockwork Orange. It just with out a doubt one of the strangest movies I have ever seen, but the plot and directing blew me away. One of Stanley K. bests
skeletor_hercamp said,
July 8, 2004 at 12:15 pm
to me underworld. u see a hot woman in tight clothes go around killing werewolves
Jacinda said,
February 13, 2005 at 7:47 pm
Okay well this question is so easy,
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Hands down!
other than that movie which nothing can compare to, their are many others which also good. It really depends on your personality though. I mean think about it. The same people that enjoyed the Dead Poet’s Society are not as likely to enjoy Gone in 60 Seconds.
To me neither of those films are that good.
Craig W. said,
February 19, 2005 at 10:06 pm
A few 5’s (fairly recently made) to add to the list:
Shawshank Redemption - the best adaptation of a Stephen King story, well acted, well written, strong story with heart
Gattaca - one of the most intelligent sci-fi movies made
Matrix - this is a given
LOTR - another given
Moulin Rouge - perfect musical, made Chicago look like child’s play
Saving Private Ryan - first 15 minutes of the movie may be the most visceral ever shot
Do the Right Thing - you can feel the heat of the day and the emotions of all the ethnic groups emanating from the screen
Road to Perdition - impressive
Three Kings - great modern (anti) war movie
Sarah said,
March 28, 2005 at 9:27 am
Recently, The Sea Inside and Vera Drake.
che said,
May 23, 2005 at 5:46 pm
For the most part I would agree with the original list, although I wasn’t impressed by Black Hawk Down and certainly not by Mystery Men. However my personal 5’s would be:
City of God
Seven Samurai (The inspiration for The Magnificent 7 and Star Wars)
The Godfather
John Woo’s ‘The Killer’ (Made over 15 yrs ago, the only thing that betrays its age are the cars. Timeless action from master Woo)
Once upon a time in America
Once upon a time in the West (Henry Fonda and Charles Bronson… a touch of genius)
I’d like to add once upon a time in China to the list, but sadly it’s not in the same league. Instead I would choose ‘Twilight Samurai’ (A simply beautifull depiction of Samurai life/love and the social intricacies of ancient Japan) or ‘Zatoichi’ (Takeshi Kitano did a great job of recreating this classic character in his own distinctive style, the story wasn’t as good as some of the original zatoichi films but it was beautifully filmed and well acted. I’ve seen most of Takeshi’s films and I wouldn’t give any of them less than a 4.