AFI's Top 100: Part II

Once again, I am taking my list from the American Film Institute's list of 1998. I am only citing movies from the list that I have personally seen. Here are movies 51 - 100:

51 The Philadelphia Story(1940) – wonderful movie, love the dialog

52 From Here to Eternity(1953) – I had to see this because of the infamous beach scene. I wasn't overly impressed.

53 Amadeus(1984) – saw this in music appreciation class. I'll never think of Mozart the same. I hope he wasn't really like how he was portrayed in the movie.

55 The Sound of Music(1965) – I have seen this over and over again. I have played the music from this movie in duet form many times. I personally think this movie should be much higher up the list. This movie was based on a book – The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp. If you want to know more of the back story, I recommend checking out the book.

56 M*A*S*H(1970) – I liked the TV show back in high school, so I thought I would like the movie. I think I made it through the first 15 minutes. The TV show was often suggestive; the movie is just raunchy.

60 Raiders of the Lost Ark(1981) – I love this movie! I own this movie! I think I shall watch this movie again sometime soon...

61 Vertigo(1958) – great Hitchcock, as always. I think James Stewart did so well in this role. My third favorite Stewart film, after It's a Wonderful Life, and The Philadelphia Story.

62 Tootsie(1982) – my mom actually rented this movie for us to watch. I thought it was funny, but I don't know why it made the “100” list. Perhaps for the special effects with makeup? Although Dustin Hoffman still made one ugly woman, despite all the makeup work it must have taken.

65 The Silence of the Lambs(1991) – eww, eww, creepy! But well done, nonetheless. If you haven't seen this, and you are easily disturbed, I advise watching the TV version. I think this is the best of the Hannibal Lecter movies. A trivia fact: the Buffalo Bill character in the movie is loosely based on Ed Gein, a serial killer in the 1940's and 50's, who was also the inspiration for the Psycho character.

69 Shane(1953) – When I was a kid, I had to watch this several times at school throughout the years. If you like westerns, you should see this movie.

71 Forrest Gump(1994) – I think everybody in America has seen this movie. Every time I see this film, I'm drawn to the Jenny character. She reminds me so much of my birth mother.

72 Ben-Hur(1959) – I'm typically not a fan of Charlton Heston movies, but I do think this film was well acted. This movie is based on a book by the same title, and I recommend you just watch the movie. Unless you enjoy books similar to Moby Dick.

75 Dances with Wolves(1990) – As a child, my mother forbid me to see this movie. So I watched it the first chance that I got. While this is a good movie, I think the movie runs a bit too long and tries too hard to engender sympathy for Native Americans. This movie isn't for kids, so please don't rent it as part of your unit study on Native Americans.

78 Rocky(1976) – I love the Rocky movies. I don't know how many times I have seen this film. If you think that Stallone is dim-witted, you'll be surprised to know that he wrote the script for the film.

84 Fargo(1996) – I KNOW I've seen this movie, but I honestly can't remember anything about it except for the funny accents. And the pregnant cop lady. I guess I should see this again, huh?

86 Mutiny on the Bounty(1935) – I didn't think I would like this film, but I did. I've heard that there are two other versions of this movie that give slightly different accounts of the mutiny, which really happened. If I cared about naval history, I might be tempted to watch all three – but I'm not, so I won't.

91 My Fair Lady(1964) – If you like musicals, you've (hopefully) already seen this movie. If you don't like musicals, see this movie anyway, just for the lovely Audrey Hepburn. This musical is of course based on Shaw's play, Pygmalion. The main character, Eliza Doolittle, was originally performed on Broadway by a then-unknown Julie Andrews. I think it's a great tragedy that Audrey's singing vocals were dubbed by a “greater” talent in the film. Today, it wouldn't have mattered that she didn't have a trained voice.

92 A Place in the Sun(1951) – so sad. So good. See this movie, if you haven't already.

94 Goodfellas(1990) – if “The Godfather” was too complex for you, and you think “The Sopranos” are how Italians really act, this movie is for you. I can't recommend it, but it does have funny (and violent) parts.

95 Pulp Fiction(1994) – the movie that made Tarantino a household name and revived the career of every actor in the movie. Not a wholesome movie, not a nice movie, but well-written and directed.

98 Unforgiven(1992) – I don't get what the Oscar buzz was about for this movie. I believe that Eastwood has done much finer work during his long career. A depressing film in nearly every way. If you want to see a western, watch Tombstone.

99 Guess Who's Coming to Dinner(1967) – a landmark film, one of the few Hepburn/Tracy films that I like.

100 Yankee Doodle Dandy(1942) – great movie, contains one of my favorite quotes, delivered in the move by the George M. Cohan character: “It seems it always happens. Whenever we get too high-hat and too sophisticated for flag-waving, some thug nation decides we're a push-over all ready to be blackjacked. And it isn't long before we're looking up, mighty anxiously, to be sure the flag's still waving over us.” Ain't that the truth?

be sure to check out Daily Mish Mash for more!