The Top Movies on Movie Lists

The Top Movies on Movie Lists

by Matt Stratton

The Top Movies on Movie Lists

For the past 10 years or so it has been discussed and argued about which movies are truly the best movies. Below, I will go through some of the most popular movie list sources and dissect the validity.

The AFI Top Movies of all time: Since 1998 and as recent as this year, many great movies have been posted to this list. It always begins with Citizen Kane as the top movie of all time and then ending with which ever movie deserved to be on the movie list the last time. Some have been kicked off since 1998 and some new ones have been added. One of the oddest additions has to be "The Sixth Sense." While recognized as a shocker and one that has possibly changed how endings are made, it is now mostly known as a good overall movie, but has not aged well. The AFI Top Movie List is compiled by critics, writers, journalists, creators, producers, etc. The validity of the list is definitely not mainstream as 70% of the American Population has not heard of half of the movies that appear on the list. None the less, most of the movies on the list are incredible movies if watched with an open mind. They are more than just movies.

Roger Ebert's great movie list.: How can one man say he knows what movies are the greatest of all time - and why would people believe him? Simple, he is a creative writer, fairly mainstream in nature, and rarely negative. He likes all kinds of movies. He does not rank each of his movies, but does some times say roughly where he would put his movies on a list. He believes strongly in what he thinks. He rarely changes his mind. His problem is that he has way too many films on his list. He also includes his favorites that don't really apply to most people's tastes. It's ok, because it is his list and not a computation.

Time Magazine: This may be the least familiar list. There are 1000 movies on it and all are noteworthy. But, there are a lot of sleepers. "The Fly" is one that comes to mind. It is a solid sci-fi, but does not fall on any major list (or many minor lists). Most of the movies many people have not heard of. It is a good list to go by for advanced movie watchers (once they have watched the entire AFI).

The final list that will be reviewed is IMDB (internet movie database). It is one of the few internet only movie lists. It is compiled by 100s of 1000s of votes. This is a list compiled by normal users, critics, and anyone who has internet access. IMDB is a great list to go by for novices and experts. Its top movies do change regularly, which is a good thing as it gives new movies a chance to make the list.

None of the lists are perfect, and none of them are bad. A good rule of thumb is to use all lists - watch all movies on the lists, and then tell others about it. Enjoy the greatest movies of all time!

Alex is the co-founder of www.filmcrave.com

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How to Write Great Movie Reviews for Your Entertainment Website

How to Write Great Movie Reviews for Your Entertainment Website

by inju

How to Write Great Movie Reviews for Your Entertainment Website

If you have an entertainment website then you're always looking for fresh, new, fun and interesting material to keep your readers coming back for more. Movie reviews are a great way to do that. People always want to know what someone else thinks about the movie they want to see and they will scour the web to look for these opinions. Now you could syndicate another site's reviews, but why do that? You want your readers to be loyal to you and your site and honestly, they want to hear what you have to say and what you think. If you're thinking you haven't the foggiest idea on how to write fun, compelling movie reviews, then think again. I'm going to tell you all you need to know.

1. Actively Watch the Movie - Yes, I recognize that movie watching is a passive activity. Watching a movie isn't something you do, it is something that happens to you. However, if you want to write good reviews you have to learn to look at movies with a critical eye. This means you need to pay attention to everything and I mean Everything. Notice how the actors are placed in each shot, the setting, the camera angles, even the music. All of these elements play a role in the story that is trying to be told and are important to talk about if you want to write the compelling sort of reviews that your readers will stop by your site each week to read. .

2. Take Copious Notes - No, I don't expect you to sit in a theatre with pen and pad or laptop in hand. But I do expect you to take solid mental notes. Information such as the actor's names or who the director was is easy to come across, but information like camera shots, or plot devices is not, so you need to train yourself not only to watch for that type of information but also to remember it.

3. Summarize. Don't Spoil. - This is important. Nothing is worse then reading a review that tells the whole movie from beginning to end and leaves nothing for you to see. People want your opinion, no t for you to spoil the movie. A basic summation of the plot is all that is necessary. From there you can talk about whether or not the plot worked well or was the plot even a plot at all. Let the details of the film be revealed when your readers see the film, not when they read your review.

4. Critical Analysis is Key - The difference between a review anyone can write and a review people will clamor to read is in how well you analyze the film. Think about those papers you had to write for lit class in college. The professor didn't want you to just tell him what the book was about but wanted you to break down the themes in the book and how they related to the plot, the characters, etc. Well the same is true for a movie review. No one wants a summary of events or the plot. A good review will examine the themes or ideas the movie raises and talk about how well or not so well the movie executed those themes and ideas.

5. Point Out the Pros and the Cons - No m ovie is perfect and rarely is any movie all bad, so take the time to talk about what the movies does well and what it does not so well.

6. Be Original - For some folk it is two thumbs up, for others it is rotten tomatoes. Whatever you decide you want your rating system to be, be original. Try to find a hook that works for you. Just don't do something that closely resembles someone else or you'll just seem like a bad copy of the original.

Follow these steps and you'll be writing the best reviews the web has to offer and your readers will constantly come back for more week in and week out. Happy writing.

(C) 2005 Tamika Johnson

Tamika Johnson is a freelance writer and editor and chief of Prologue, the best arts and entertainment online community the web has to offer. To read more articles by Tamika and to receive FREE tips on how to be a successful writer visit http://www.prologuezine.com

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Five Must Watch Movies Made Before 1980

Five Must Watch Movies Made Before 1980

Five Must Watch Movies Made Before 1980

They just don't make 'em like they used to.

How many people have heard this claim and wondered if it could possibly be true? For seemingly every cultural format--books, music, television, and especially films--a crusty, dark-browed curmudgeon lurks waiting to insist that the product of yesterday far outweighs what we read, listen to, and watch today. For most avid film fans, the curmudgeon's reaction is a tempting one. When movies like "Shrek 3: The Search for More Kids to Exploit" and "Pirates of the Caribbean 3: We Promise Johnny Depp Isn't Dead" top the box office charts, it's easy to retreat into a warm bath of nostalgia ... with extra Audrey Hepburn bubbles.

This sense of nostalgia shouldn't go unquestioned. "Breakfast at Tiffany's" may be a great film, but it's also marked by mind-boggling racism. "The Searchers" showcases a top-notch performance from John Wayne, but the film is about a guy who plans to shoot his own niece because she's been kidnapped by Native Americans ... then we're proud of him when he doesn't. Movies like "The Thing from Another World" made plenty of money fifty years ago, just like movies like "Big Momma's House" make money today. And today's best films still hit the mark every so often.

The irony of the curmudgeon's cry is that his insistence on a stark contrast between then and now actually drives many people away from the films of the past. (It's that and the total lack of movies about battle droids pre-1998.) Inexplicably, many of my friends simply avoid old movies as voraciously as Mike Meyers avoids movies that aren't sequels.

The advent of Netflix and its imitators, however, has changed the rules of the game. If you want to watch a "vintage classic" film but don't have the gumption to take action, here are five films you might want to consider adding to your queue. I've tried to avoid the obvious recommends, like "Casablanca" and "Gone with the Wind." But feel free to add those t oo. The five below, however, promise to give contemporary moviegoer copious as they delve into the past.

The Third Man (1949): If you've seen "Citizen Cane," you've probably heard of Orson Welles. He's that guy who supposedly made only one good movie and then threw his life away. "The Third man," however, provides an impressive if brief dose of young, un-thrown away Orson-Welles-ification. It takes place in Vienna in the aftermath of World War II and centers on the mysterious death of Harry Lime (Welles). Holly Martins (Joseph Cotton) resolves to find his friend's killer.

Read more about it here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041959/plotsummary

All about Eve (1950): If you are looking for a classic that doesn't star Humphrey Bogart, Kerry Grant, or James Dean, consider "All about Eve," a pure masterpiece starring Anne Baxter, Celeste Horn, and Bette Davis. Often cited as one of the film industry's truly great achievements, "All about Eve" centers on an aging stage actress who takes an overzealous fan under her wing.

Read more about it here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042192/plotsummary

The Hustler (1961): Paul Newman plays "Fast Eddie" Felson, a young pool shark who's convinced he's the best the game has ever seen. Jackie Gleason puts forward an unforgettable performance as pool legend Minnesota Fats, while Piper Laurie skillfully plays Newman's melancholy love interest. On sheer acting alone, this one is worth seeing. It also explains so many jokes from so many later movies. "Oh! They were making fun of 'The Hustler'!"

Read more about it here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054997/plotsummary

The Last Picture Show (1971): I'd heard about this movie for years before I put together the gumption to see it. Timothy Bottoms, Jeff Bridges, and Cybill Shepherd all deliver knock out portrayals of young but not quite innocent teens in a small Texas town in the 1950s. This film grabs hold of the viewer almost ins tantly and doesn't let go.

Read more about it here: http://imdb.com/title/tt0067328/plotsummary

Mean Streets (1973): In the aftermath of Martin Scorsese's "The Departed," it's easy to forget he made another movie about urban youngsters walking the line between right and wrong, set to the awesomeness of a song by the Rolling Stones. No, I'm not talking about "Goodfellas." Scorsese's first official directorial effort, "Mean Streets," stars Harvey Keitel as Charlie, a low ranking hood in Little Italy's local mob. Robert Deniro, before he was a cliché of himself, fills the supporting role of Johnny Boy, Charlie's erratic friend. Fans of "Pulp Fiction" will enjoy exploring a crucial work in the evolution of the gangster movie.

Read more about it here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070379/plotsummary

Matt Lavin is the creator/editor of "Bosworth: An Online Humor Magazine Brimming with Unearned self-Importance." http://www.bosworthmagazine.com He is also working toward a PhD in literature at the University of Iowa.

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