Deadite's 50 Cool Movies for Cool People

[Deadite]

Been thinking about doing this one for a while...

I fell in love with movies when I was a boy, experiencing their power to create moments that stuck with me throughout my life, captivating me with people and worlds that never existed. It was magic, and I still carry them with me in my mind.

So I thought I'd throw together a little highlight reel of movies that made an impression on me over the years, the stuff that stuck, that seemed to keep on living inside my head long after I left the theater or turned off the TV. In other words, the really frikkin cool stuff. Whether they're outrageously funny, wickedly fun, eyeball-poppingly amazing, badass, or just plain crazy, they all sum up everything I love about movies.

So, in no particular order of preference...

[Harry Lime]

I'm not really cool, can I still view your list?

[Deadite]

50. True Romance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV1M6qf0Fts

A crackling noir thrill-ride with energetic and unforgettable performances throughout, True Romance probably shouldn't work half as well as it does, but its intense yet quirky style locks you in while the believability of its loser lovers-on-the-run gives it an unexpected depth. The music is great, the dialogue is sharp, the danger is palpable, and the stakes feel very high indeed as we root for Clarence & Alabama to make it out alive. A great comic turn by Brad Pitt as the burn-out roommate Floyd and Gary Oldman oozing menace as the sleazy drug-dealing pimp Drexl are just two reasons to see this movie.

Bottom line: It's extremely cool.

[Deadite]

I'm not really cool, can I still view your list?

:nope:

[Miss Vicky]

Nice start. :)

It's been a very long time since I last watched True Romance, but I do remember liking it very much. It's in my collection and it's way past due for a rewatch.

[mistique]

I'm not really cool, can I still view your list?

That unfortunately goes for me as well.

I haven't seen True Romance, not even sure if I still own it or gave it away.

[Deadite]

49. Casino Royale (2006)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4T551JuZkA

For my money, this is the definitive James Bond film. Much as I love the mythology, this movie perfectly strips the franchise to its core, creating a Bond who is empathizable in his flawed humanity yet still a plausible agent and killer. The film also strikes just the right balance between grittiness and glamour; Bond's world is entrancing without the nastier aspects being romanticized, darkly sinuous and intoxicating in its flow from quiet confidence to sudden violence, superficially beautiful but ultimately deadly, like a venomous snake.

Okay, maybe that's a bit much. Bottom line: The stunts are great, the plot sweeps you along, the characters intrigue and surprise, and it all feels effortlessly cool.

[Deadite]

That unfortunately goes for me as well.

I haven't seen True Romance, not even sure if I still own it or gave it away.

Yeah well, you know... it's just, like, my opinion, man. :)

[Deadite]

48. Akira

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8NC5ZKx8Yo

Seminal, groundbreaking, a masterpiece; Akira has long been highly praised as one of the most influential and deep animes ever made.

But never mind all that. Akira works for me because at the center of its epic yet murky apocalyptic sci-fi tale is its portrayal of an underclass of young hoodlums, both noble and vicious, caught up in events far beyond their understanding or control. Akira is richly imagined, dense with meaning, filled with nightmarish visuals and infused with a sense of foreboding and majesty by its brilliant musical score.

Simply put, it's one of the coolest animated films of all time.

[Daniel M]

Not seen Akira, but True Romance and Casino Royale really are cool films, good stuff so far, Deadite.

[Guaporense]

Akira is not among my top 10 favorite anime films (I think it lacks some emotional depth compared to other anime films) but it is still an excellent film.

Also, the quality of animation is among the best ever.

[Deadite]

Thanks, Daniel! My main aim is to highlight movies that have their own unique "personality" or vibe that make them cool for me. They may not all be the best films ever or even necessarily the best of their individual genres, but are significant in their impact they've had on me. And if my list gets anyone interested enough to check out a film that they've never seen before, I'll consider that a bonus.

[TylerDurden99]

Not a big fan of True Romance or Casino Royale, but Akira is a fantastic film.

[Deadite]

47. Fright Night (1985)

A winking ode to classic horror, Fright Night deftly mixes goofy charm, supernatural evil, fantastic FX and excellent performances to spin a vampire yarn that could've come straight out of a Tales From The Crypt comic. Nimbly walking a line between horror and comedy to alternately produce tension and relieve it with laughter, it fondly recalls a time when the scares were above all fun and the suspense was in the set-ups, not the bloody outcome. With shades of Rear Window and a hint of Blue Velvet, Fright Night wonderfully captures the subtle clash between innocent teen Charley Brewster and his suavely sinister neighbor Jerry Dandridge, who he discovers is a monster in sheep's clothing.

"You're so cool, Brewster." :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-H-fsFmQ9I

[Godoggo]

Love Akira, and Fright Night is immensely enjoyable. I enjoy True Romance as well, but it's been so long since I've seen it that I don't remember a lot of it.

Can't comment on Casino Royale. I've only seen one Bond movie and that wasn't it. :cool:

[Deadite]

Love Akira, and Fright Night is immensely enjoyable. I enjoy True Romance as well, but it's been so long since I've seen it that I don't remember a lot of it.

Can't comment on Casino Royale. I've only seen one Bond movie and that wasn't it. :cool:

Yeah, that's both a motivation and the trickiest part, since I myself haven't re-watched in years quite a few of the movies I'm planning to include, but although they may be hazy in some ways, they're all embedded in my mind as moments/characters/ideas that stand above the rest of the stuff I've seen over the last two-and-a-half plus decades. They're all just sort of hanging out, and I figured it's high-time to give them their due. So this is more a personal tribute to my own history with movies than any attempt at objective ranking, and it's also fun to refresh my own recall of them as I go and consider why/how they've impacted me so much.

[Godoggo]

So this is more a personal tribute to my own history with movies than any attempt at objective ranking, and it's also fun to refresh my own recall of them as I go and consider why/how they've impacted me so much.

Exactly! When I finally get around to doing my list that will be the approach I take.

[donniedarko]

Fright Night is absolutely brilliant :up:

[cricket]

Love Fright Night and True Romance; haven't seen the other two.

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRszJrqrNzGzD7wHMddiKj88p7GTxTey0D_bL2W91eg5D__3Usarw

[The Rodent]

Fight Night And Akira are prob my faves out of the list so far.

Akira particualrly is one of the most enjoyable and edgy animated films I've seen.

[dadgumblah]

Very cool list going on here, Deadite. I was very pleased and surprised to see Fright Night made it. In the days when you couldn't go into YouTube and instantly find a trailer for an upcoming movie, I went into this fairly ignorant of what joys it would hold. :cool:

[Deadite]

46. Eve's Bayou

Lush and lyrical, Eve's Bayou is a mesmerizing slice of life set in 1960s Louisiana, following 10 year old Eve Batiste (played by an adorable Jurnee Smollett) and her affluent southern family. Her father, Louis (Sam Jackson), is the town doctor, an idolized and conceited adulterer... and maybe something much worse.

EB casts a spell right away with its opening narration and delves frequently into the mystical, yet remains ambiguous enough to allow a skeptical interpretation of its events. Even so, it's a haunting and lovely film that rewards repeated viewings. There are scenes that still give me goosebumps now, such as Aunt Mozelle's story of the death of one of her husbands, and the way the film plays with time is very cool.

The trailer doesn't do it justice, and I strongly suggest knowing as little as possible before watching, anyway. It's currently available on NetFlix Instant Streaming, so for those who have that, it's well worth a look.

[Deadite]

45. Blade

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNEXUOoL400

I actually enjoyed the entire trilogy, even the admittedly subpar third film, but I wanted to focus on the original Blade and highlight what a unique and awesome superhero/horror mashup it really is.

First of all, Snipes was perfect for the role and he exudes badass presence from start to finish. He was physically great as Blade but more importantly, he sold the character with emotion and touches of humor that made Blade a very compelling action hero. The film itself has cool effects, is visually stylish and energetic, and Stephen Dorff nailed it as a bratty and cruel vamp god wanna-be!

In the ranks of superhero movies, Blade is too often overlooked as a unique hybrid superhero/horror film. Its slick cinematography and pumping soundtrack, solid cast, dramatic storyline and excellent action scenes all combine to make it a highly entertaining ride.

[wintertriangles]

I have a soft spot for the Blades

[Godoggo]

I really like Eve's Bayou. I've got a thing for movies set in the deep south

[Deadite]

I really like Eve's Bayou. I've got a thing for movies set in the deep south

Gotta love the Southern Gothic magical realism. :)

[TylerDurden99]

I've only seen the original Blade, but I thought it was pretty awesome. It's definitely Snipes' best role to date (excluding Demolition Man).

[akatemple]

48. Akira

Simply put, it's one of the coolest animated films of all time.

Just watched Akira for the first time not that long ago and really loved it, I have never been into anime but this inspired me to give some of the others a chance, so that's really high praise. Really loving this list and the reviews, great job. ;)

[Tyler1]

Blades are my guilty pleasure. That said, I found Blade 2 to be vastly superior to Blade, not only because of Del Toro's dark style and comic humour but also well choreographed fight scenes.

[Deadite]

44. Persona

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ztjizxgUOOQ/TkxOuo_SztI/AAAAAAAABrE/c4sPhmVrtYI/s1600/Persona+3.jpg

I don't know what I could say about Persona that hasn't been said many times before, and better. It's a film that seems to simultaneously demand and defy analysis. Visually stunning and casually shocking, its deceptively simple plot seems tapped into a kind of Jungian collective unconscious more than any film I've ever seen.

After my first viewing, I sat overwhelmed with mixed feelings. I knew I had witnessed something profound, as profound as movies can be, but I had no answers to the questions running through my mind. Persona may be considered intellectual but for me its greatest impact was purely visceral.

I could write pages on what Persona means to me, how it seems to use film as a metaphor for existence, both deconstructing itself as it goes and sublimely interweaving its identities, both reflecting and negating viewer expectations. It is a chilling psychological tour de force.

[dadgumblah]

Deadite, still going gangbusters on the Cool list. Eve's Bayou is an awesome, moody, tragic film and very worthy of inclusion on your Cool Movie lineup.

Love the Blade films, also. When I first saw the original, I knew I was in for something special when Traci Lords took that guy to the club and what came out of the sprinkler system. Wild stuff!

[Deadite]

43. In Bruges

A crime-dramedy, amiable farce, thriller with dark humor in spades, IB could easily be misunderstood and dismissed as a wanna-be Tarantino or Ritchie clone but it has something they often lack: genuine humanity.

In Bruges doesn't sneer at its characters; rather, it displays great affection for them and allows them to be noble, pathetic, blundering and crafty to their fullest without overriding emotional nuance with heavy-handed stylish excess or confining their antics to cartoonish mayhem. It walks a very fine line between tragedy and comedy throughout to give us likeable imperfect characters that don't exist merely for the sake of story but who are the real story, their personalities & idiosyncrasies serving as the driving force and heart of a surprisingly expansive tale that is bittersweetly touching, drolly amusing, exciting and charming. The lovely setting is very much a character itself and the plot is consistently surprising yet cohesive in an uncontrived way.

[cricket]

In Bruges is a very cool movie. Brendan Gleeson is always great and this was the most impressed I've been with Colin Farrell. Great use of a midget too. I haven't seen your previous 3 picks.

[donniedarko]

Persona= My all time favorite
:up: :up: :up:

[Sinny McGuffins]

Still haven't seen Persona, I really want to see it now though. And nice write-up on In Bruges, I love that movie and I think you summed it up very well.

[honeykid]

When I first saw the original, I knew I was in for something special when Traci Lords took that guy to the club and what came out of the sprinkler system. Wild stuff!
No, that was the special thing. It's crap after that. I think I turned it off with about 10-15 minutes to go and I didn't even care.

[HitchFan97]

Persona is an infinitely fascinating onion. There's always another layer to peel away :up:

[mark f]

I've written a lot about Persona around here, and I like it well enough, but aren't some of the layers meant to keep you away from parts of the movie?

[HitchFan97]

I've written a lot about Persona around here, and I like it well enough, but aren't some of the layers meant to keep you away from parts of the movie?

How so?

[mark f]

The characters and the actions in the movie aren't meant to be fully understood.

[HitchFan97]

I'd definitely agree with you on that. I think one of Persona's central themes is the manner in which people hide parts of themselves from those around them, so I guess it would make sense that the characters remain somewhat ambiguous. I'm fairly certain that Alma and Elisabet are the same person, but I don't think I'll ever know which is true: that Alma represents Elisabet's inner self or that Elisabet represents Alma's inner self.

[Deadite]

42. Waking Life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25xatfvfms0

A lucid dream, a fascinating philosophical contemplation of reality and self, a marvelous animated journey into the unknown, Waking Life pulls you in with its dynamic artistry but keeps you there with its musings - sometimes funny, sometimes disturbing, always thought-provoking - on life, the universe, and everything.

[Deadite]

I'd definitely agree with you on that. I think one of Persona's central themes is the manner in which people hide parts of themselves from those around them, so I guess it would make sense that the characters remain somewhat ambiguous. I'm fairly certain that Alma and Elisabet are the same person, but I don't think I'll ever know which is true: that Alma represents Elisabet's inner self or that Elisabet represents Alma's inner self.

That's a valid interpretation. Another interpretation is that they may be two individuals, but are the same on a deeper psychological level. Perhaps the film implies that all personas are masks covering an essential oneness of human beings in general, and those two are a particular example of that. I've also read of an interpretation that Elizabeth represents Bergman's silent God.

The greatness of Persona for me is that it doesn't clearly distinguish between what's meant to reflect "real life" and what's meant to be purely symbolic...

[Deadite]

41. Dark City

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSpowoKqSzc

Before The Matrix and Inception, there was Dark City, a dazzlingly imaginative mind-bender combining elements of noir, sci-fi, and German Expression. Following the bewildered and hunted amnesiac John Murdoch, DC is a fantastic visual feast that creates an other-worldly yet familiar setting to great effect, quickly immersing the viewer in its vaguely 40s-era style while raising questions of just how real all of it actually is.

[wintertriangles]

Nice x2

Haven't seen either in a long while, though I feel their impact on me nonetheless

[Deadite]

40. Jacob's Ladder

Tim Robbins is superb as a Vietnam vet suffering from PTSD... or is it something more? Plagued by horrifying hallucinations and entangled in an apparent government conspiracy, he and a few other vets question what seems to be a cover-up. As they begin to die, he descends ever deeper into a paranoid hell where he can't be sure who to trust or even what's real. I saw this film way back before these types of psychological horror head-trips like The Jacket became common, so it was very fresh and disturbing for me. The film appears to have had quite an influence, and fans of moody and bizarre Silent Hill-type horror will probably enjoy it most. Despite all the similar movies I've seen since, Jacob's Ladder remains a personal favorite with terrifying imagery that still gets under my skin today.

[cricket]

Haven't seen your last 4 but I'll keep a look out for them.

[Deadite]

39. Sin City

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKFLrTYKIXk

Like noir on crack, Sin City is a wild and gleefully unrealistic ride through a bizarre and savage landscape populated by hookers with uzis and swords, assassins and mercenaries, insane politicians, a baby-faced serial killer, Marv the human tank, and much more. Sin City isn't gritty; it kicks gritty's teeth out and then forces it to drink gasoline.

The entire cast is pretty much perfect for what this material is, which is determinedly over-the-top and gruesomely violent, but in particular Mickey Rourke is absolutely riveting as the honourable brute Marv. He completely nailed the character and brought him to life from the comic in a way that actually bettered it.

SC's not for everyone, certainly, but it's probably the most faithful adaptation of a comic ever. As a fan of Frank Miller's work, I was giddy throughout.

[wintertriangles]

SC's not for everyone, certainly, but it's probably the most faithful adaptation of a comic ever.http://t.qkme.me/35ip4c.jpg

[Godoggo]

Love Sin City. Noir on crack is a perfect description.

I'm in complete agreement about the cast and some of my faves are in there: Rosario Dawson, Brittany Murphy, Benicio del Toro, Mickey Rouke, Bruce Willis and I could go on. Most definitely a cool movie for cool people. :cool:

[honeykid]

Considering the cast (c'mon, how often is a film with a cast with that many stars actually good?) I was surprsed that I enjoyed Sin City. I've not seen it since '05, but I wouldn't mind watching it again.

[cricket]

Love Sin City

[Deadite]

38. The Big Lebowski

Extremely quotable, dense with layers of funny, TBL is one of the best Coen brothers films and one of the best comedies ever. I've seen it quite a few times yet somehow every time I re-watched it, it pulls me in and cracks me up all over again.

*foul language*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMuFYnvSsZg

[The Rodent]

The Duuuuude!

Great choice... I had Lebowski at 24th in my top 100...

[Miss Vicky]

Huge thumbs up for Lebowski.

Not just one of the best comedies ever made, THE best comedy.

[honeykid]

Great film, great choice. :up: #59 on the HK 100.

I don't really care one way or the other for Jeff Bridges, but he's superb in this.

[RabiaRR]

very good list!

[RabiaRR]

38. The Big Lebowski

Extremely quotable, dense with layers of funny, TBL is one of the best Coen brothers films and one of the best comedies ever. I've seen it quite a few times yet somehow every time I re-watched it, it pulls me in and cracks me up all over again.

*foul language*



still have to see this one...it shows up on everyones list

[RabiaRR]

41. Dark City

Before The Matrix and Inception, there was Dark City, a dazzlingly imaginative mind-bender combining elements of noir, sci-fi, and German Expression. Following the bewildered and hunted amnesiac John Murdoch, DC is a fantastic visual feast that creates an other-worldly yet familiar setting to great effect, quickly immersing the viewer in its vaguely 40s-era style while raising questions of just how real all of it actually is.

Sooo long ago...very imaginative movie

[Deadite]

37. Jackie Brown

Tarantino's most mature work, Jackie Brown is part crime thriller and part character study. I love the slow-burn pace, the performances such as De Niro's schlubby ex-con and Robert Forster's shrewd but kind bail bondsman, the wonderful soundtrack, the unexpected moments of violence that are so much more powerful because they're sudden and brief.

While not as show-offish as Tarantino's other work, JB is expertly directed with many flourishes accentuating characters instead of upstaging and undermining them so we aren't distracted from what's happening between them by Tarantino's direction. I especially enjoyed the very understated developing romance between Forster's character & Grier's.

In my book, JB's a quiet masterpiece about over-the-hill desperate people that will stand the test of time to eventually outshine most of Tarantino's more flamboyant and self-consciously cool movies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-eqQXHmY4I

[Deadite]

still have to see this one...it shows up on everyones list

For good reason. :yup:

[BlueLion]

I love Jackie Brown, it's one of Tarantino's best films and I agree with everything in that post.

Max Cherry is one of my favourite movie characters of all time.

[Deadite]

I love Jackie Brown, it's one of Tarantino's best films and I agree with everything in that post.

Max Cherry is one of my favourite movie characters of all time.

Yeah, there's a very cool old school vibe there, and the chemistry between Forster & Grier is subtle and delightful.

[lundy1026]

Nice list so far, I like that you included trailers so I could check out some that I hadn't seen yet. (Like suprisingly I never saw True Romance which is crazy because I thought I had seen everything with Brad Pitt--not that I'm a Brad Pitt obsesser but some of my friends growing up were and girls night out usually included movies with him haha) Nice "cool" list! lol

[Deadite]

I'm kind of mixing it up on trailers, fan tributes, pics, whatever, to keep it interesting for me. Glad you like the list and if it helps you discover something you enjoy, nice!

[cricket]

Jackie Brown and The Big Lebowski are absolute musts on any cool movie list.

[Yoda]

I have a question:

Deadite, I am not cool. May I still watch these movies? Does that make me the target audience, IE: this is for people who want to become cool? Or is it only for pre-approved cool people, precluding me from participating?

Many thanks,

Not Cool In the Northeast

[lundy1026]

lol, don't feel bad yoda. I am the textbook deffinition of "uncool" here in the midwest. (although I'm in AZ right now so I guess I qualify since I'm missing the snow, and I think that's pretty cool haha)

[Deadite]

I have a question:

Deadite, I am not cool. May I still watch these movies? Does that make me the target audience, IE: this is for people who want to become cool? Or is it only for pre-approved cool people, precluding me from participating?

Many thanks,

Not Cool In the Northeast

There are many kinds of cool, my friend, and just like cool movies, cool people aren't all cool in the same ways. :)

Very coolly,

Deadite aka Mr. Cool

[lundy1026]

I found a pic of you Deadite!
http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4586587858077750&pid=15.1

[Deadite]

I look so yummy there.

[Yoda]

Hey, I was just kidding. I'm actually cooler than air conditioned underpants. In December. In Antarctica. Hanging out with Samuel L. Jackson. And Fonzi. Wearing sunglasses. At night. So I can, so I can.

[Deadite]

Hey, I was just kidding. I'm actually cooler than air conditioned underpants. In December. In Antarctica. Hanging out with Samuel L. Jackson. And Fonzi. Wearing sunglasses. At night. So I can, so I can.

Yes, you can. You can even dance... if you want to...

You can leave your uncool friends behind...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZaiB9jYCxI

[Skepsis93]

Yes, you can. You can even dance... if you want to...

You can leave your uncool friends behind...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZaiB9jYCxI

That was spectacular.

[Miss Vicky]

I love The Safety Dance, but that was pretty funny.

[earlsmoviepicks]

Yoda, not being cool is now the new cool. So by default, that now makes you cool. Man looks into the precipice and he sees nothing.....aw hell, screw it, I'm going for a ginger ale.

I have a question:

Deadite, I am not cool. May I still watch these movies? Does that make me the target audience, IE: this is for people who want to become cool? Or is it only for pre-approved cool people, precluding me from participating?

Many thanks,

Not Cool In the Northeast

[Harry Lime]

The characters and the actions in the movie aren't meant to be fully understood.

I'd definitely agree with you on that. I think one of Persona's central themes is the manner in which people hide parts of themselves from those around them, so I guess it would make sense that the characters remain somewhat ambiguous. I'm fairly certain that Alma and Elisabet are the same person, but I don't think I'll ever know which is true: that Alma represents Elisabet's inner self or that Elisabet represents Alma's inner self.

That's a valid interpretation. Another interpretation is that they may be two individuals, but are the same on a deeper psychological level. Perhaps the film implies that all personas are masks covering an essential oneness of human beings in general, and those two are a particular example of that. I've also read of an interpretation that Elizabeth represents Bergman's silent God.

The greatness of Persona for me is that it doesn't clearly distinguish between what's meant to reflect "real life" and what's meant to be purely symbolic...
It's postmodern so you're all correct, in a way.

[Deadite]

Postmodern? Whazzat?

[Harry Lime]

Postmodern? Whazzat?
It's a bit much to explain here. Maybe read up on it.

And add some more cool movies!

[Deadite]

It's a bit much to explain here. Maybe read up on it.

And add some more cool movies!
:suspicious:

[Harry Lime]

:suspicious:
?

[Deadite]

Never mind.

New cool movies coming soon.... er or later, y'all!

[Deadite]

36. The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xscm3Wp0M-s

Bizarre and bizarrely upbeat, Little Dizzle is an absurd yet charming indie sci-fi comedy that is surely immediately offputting to many in concept/plot, but for those who can go with the weird combination of existential angst, toilet humor, and anarchic sensibilities that drive its compassionate yet darkly funny take on the human condition, there's a lot of goofy fun to be had.

ICLD is almost Fight Club lite, sans the misanthropic rage, but it puts me more in mind of another cult indie film, Repo Man, also about losers in very offbeat situations. The cast here really makes the movie come alive (especially Durden-esque slacker Vince Vieluf) and they all add a lot of depth to otherwise not-so-deep characterizations with great humor and aplomb in otherwise untenably WTF circumstances. My biggest beef with ICLD is its ending, which kinda just fizzles out like a sentimental shrug.

[Godoggo]

Haven't seen that one, Deadite. I'll have to check it out, especially since you compared it to Repo Man. :cool:

[honeykid]

I wasn't aware of this either.

[Deadite]

I'm not surprised that it isn't well-known. It's not easy to explain it, and even a basic description can't really convey the tone of it... Perhaps "Charlie Kaufman meets the Farrelly brothers"? :D

I'll just say it's one of the most original movies I've ever seen, and I'd happily recommend it to any adventurous movie lover who likes discovering something very different... so different that you'll probably never see anything like ICLD again, though I'm sure some viewers will be glad about that.

[Deadite]

35. Dream with the Fishes

Another indie gem, DwtF is a whimsical road trip comedy-drama about two men, suicidally depressed loner Terry and terminally ill free spirit Nick (David Arquette and Brad Hunt, respectively, both great in their individual roles as well as displaying great buddy chemistry), who enter into a strange agreement and become friends. Writer-director Finn Taylor's (who also did The Darwin Awards) bromantic little film about appreciating life is a bit rough around the edges, reminding me of a 90's Easy Rider, but ultimately a compelling mixture of despair and delight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhuw0gbIwT4

[dadgumblah]

Digging on your picks for Sin City, Jackie Brown, and especially The Big Lebowski, which is in my Top 10 of all-time. Cool, cool, cool!

[JayDee]

Have you abandoned your cool movies Deadite?

[Deadite]

I haven't abandoned it or MoFo. I just have a lot of personal stuff I'm juggling, like taking care of my mom. Hopefully will have some more time for this again soon.

[honeykid]

We'll be here. :)

[TheDavePhan]

Nice list, waking life is also going to be in my top 100

[Deadite]

I might edit this down to top 25 or 30... Got so much else goin on yet I hate to leave it unfinished. :(

[Deadite]

34. Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn

One of my favorite horror-comedies ever ever ever. Where the original ED was more straightforward scares albeit amateurishly creative and whereas Army Of Darkness was bigger and sillier in its Harryhausen-esque medieval fantasy pastiche, Dead By Dawn struck the perfect balance between gruesome horror and dark humor with a manic blend of wildly imaginative FX and slyly tongue-in-cheek carnage to become a splatstick legend. A screwball horror classic with fiendishly energetic direction, its lovecraftian story combined time travel, demons, an eldritch tome, and an iconic central character to create one of the most fun and bizarre movies I've ever seen.

Bottom line? It's groovy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkuTEzN1YsI

[honeykid]

It's ok, but I really don't get the whole Evil Dead/Bruce Campbell cult at all. :shrug:

[Sexy Celebrity]

It's ok, but I really don't get the whole Evil Dead/Bruce Campbell cult at all. :shrug:

I don't either. I don't really care for anything Evil Dead related. It's never been able to grab me. I saw Evil Dead II as a kid -- when I saw EVERY horror movie out there. It did nothing for me.

[Sexy Celebrity]

35. Dream with the Fishes

Another indie gem, DwtF is a whimsical road trip comedy-drama about two men, suicidally depressed loner Terry and terminally ill free spirit Nick (David Arquette and Brad Hunt, respectively, both great in their individual roles as well as displaying great buddy chemistry), who enter into a strange agreement and become friends. Writer-director Finn Taylor's (who also did The Darwin Awards) bromantic little film about appreciating life is a bit rough around the edges, reminding me of a 90's Easy Rider, but ultimately a compelling mixture of despair and delight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhuw0gbIwT4

I have this on VHS, but I haven't watched it. I need to. I have the soundtrack as well. I love indie films with David Arquette. To me, they are a psychological vitamin.

[Deadite]

Have you seen Roadracers, SC?

[JoeHorrorFanatic]

I agree 100% with Evil Dead 2. It's rare when a film manages to be funny and freaky in equal doses. Army of Darkness was funny too, but it went a little overboard with the silliness and it just didn't have the same magical balance as its predecessor.

[Deadite]

It's ok, but I really don't get the whole Evil Dead/Bruce Campbell cult at all. :shrug:

Drew isn't in it. :(

[Sexy Celebrity]

Have you seen Roadracers, SC?

Part of it. I found it on Blu-ray real cheap and was thrilled, but when I started watching it, I couldn't get into it.

One David Arquette movie I have seen all the way through --

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=10678&stc=1&d=1371514992

Happy Here and Now (2002)

Weird movie. Bad movie. Makes no sense. Yet not the worst I've seen and I oddly like it.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=10679&stc=1&d=1371515041

I also love Johns. So much that I own two copies of it on DVD.

[JoeHorrorFanatic]

I couldn't get into Roadracers either.

[Sexy Celebrity]

David Arquette belongs in the '90s. He does not belong in the '50s. Although he does look really good in the movie.

[JoeHorrorFanatic]

My favorite movie with him would have to be Riding the Bullet.

[honeykid]

Drew isn't in it. :(
I'm sure that'd help, but I still wouldn't get the love for those two entites.

David Arquette belongs in a chalk outline.

[Deadite]

Your hatred of Arquette is leading you down a dark path. :(

[Sexy Celebrity]

Your hatred of Arquette is leading you down a dark path. :(

Towards a dark woman....

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=10683&stc=1&d=1371564400

[honeykid]

Your hatred of Arquette is leading you down a dark path. :(
Really? How?

[Deadite]

Yoda says so. :yup:

[honeykid]

:laugh:

[Deadite]

33. TerrorVision

An unabashedly silly and cheaply made spoof of sci-fi creature features, TerrorVision is actually an overlooked gem of campy horror. From the warped sitcom family (complete with dorky dad & mom swingers desperately trying to be hip, a rebellious punk daughter and her cheerfully dimwitted boyfriend, a survival nut grandpa, and a wide-eyed boy protagonist everyone ignores) to its hokey fx, TerrorVision deliberately revels in maximum cheese. Depending on how you look at it, it's either bad, so-bad-it's-good, or pitch-perfect in its hammy acting and 80s cliches. I personally find the whole thing quaintly oddball and endearing in its earnest goofiness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxkELa9w2j4

[The Rodent]

Aaah... Terrorvision... one of the finest examples of a real B Movie.

Camp filled crap but still manages to be better than most sci-fi that has been churned out over the past 15 years.
It's soo pants I was surprised to find out it wasn't made by Reg Grundy or Red Heart.

[Deadite]

For interested readers, I'm pretty sure NF Instant has it. BYOB/W

[donniedarko]

It doesn't :(

[JoeHorrorFanatic]

Terrorvision is awesome. Personally, I fall into the crowd who finds it pitch perfect. I watched part of it when I was a kid and thought it was the freakiest thing ever, but now I can appreciate it as one of the funniest comedies I've seen. When I re-watched it as an adult, I was already a fan of Charles Band, so I loved finding out that he was the producer of this film.

[Deadite]

Let's get this ball rolling again with some quick picks:

32. Bubba Ho-Tep

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/49/Bubba_Ho-Tep_poster.JPG


31. The Adventures Of Buckaroo Banzai Across The 8th Dimension

http://cf.drafthouse.com/_uploads/galleries/16238/buckaroo-banzai_l.jpeg


30. Strange Invaders

http://cadegallery.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/strangeinvadersalien1.jpg

[Miss Vicky]

Love Bubba Ho-Tep. Sad to see you didn't give it a write-up though.

[Deadite]

It's fat Elvis & black JFK vs. a mummy that sucks souls out of buttholes. What more need I say?

[Deadite]

29. Desperado
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h6Rc3-BnWY


28. eXistenZ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnSF7YIuLZc


27. Versus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaTBressHfg

[Gabrielle947]

Desperado is great! eXistenZ looks great too,I might check it out some time. :up:

[Deadite]

26. The Nines

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJKO8JAgFUQ

No doubt RR haters will come out of the woodwork but I greatly enjoyed this philosophical mindbender which combines The Sims, smoking crack, a musical number by Hope Davis, and many other delightful oddities within three interconnected stories.

25. Mulholland Drive

And while we're at it, let's add one of the greatest psychological thrillers ever made.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5ryfb4yHV4

[Swan]

I want to give you a million rep points for having Braindead in your top 10.

[Deadite]

So here we are at the halfway point (finally), and I hope you've found some enjoyment in the thread so far. Hopefully the next half won't take as long to get through. :D

50. True Romance
49. Casino Royale '06
48. Akira
47. Fright Night (original)
46. Eve's Bayou
45. Blade
44. Persona
43. In Bruges
42. Waking Life
41. Dark City
40. Jacob's Ladder
39. Sin City
38. The Big Lebowski
37. Jackie Brown
36. The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle
35. Dream with the Fishes
34. Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn
33. TerrorVision
32. Bubba Ho-Tep
31. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
30. Strange Invaders
29. Desperado
28. eXistenZ
27. Versus
26. The Nines
25. Mulholland Drive

:cool:

[Rhys]

Deadite, you definitely have a cool top 10. I can see you like your gore? ;)

Everything on your Top 10 that I've seen appears in my current Top 100 list. Well, apart from Braindead but I need to watch that again.

[honeykid]

Good to see you carrying on with this, Deadite. :)

[Deadite]

24. Time Bandits

http://s3.amazonaws.com/criterion-production/release_boxshots/179-704e8f336434065fa3ab1e8be5416106/37_box_348x490_original.jpg

Still underrated. Still one of the greatest fantasies of all time.

[Deadite]

23. Tombstone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkm1i2o6Ri8

[honeykid]

Not a fan of Westerns, as you know, but Tombstone is very watchable.

[Deadite]

Deadite, you definitely have a cool top 10. I can see you like your gore? ;)

Everything on your Top 10 that I've seen appears in my current Top 100 list. Well, apart from Braindead but I need to watch that again.

Oh yeah, imaginative goriness is one of my favorite things in movies. I'm a big kid. :)

[Deadite]

I want to give you a million rep points for having Braindead in your top 10.

Better start repping all my posts from now on then. :D

[Deadite]

Not a fan of Westerns, as you know, but Tombstone is very watchable.

Impeccable performances all-around and awesome dialogue do the trick, I think.

[Nostromo87]

23. Tombstone

like the choice Deadite :up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u5A0H6PkqE

[Miss Vicky]

50. True Romance
41. Dark City
38. The Big Lebowski
34. Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn
32. Bubba Ho-Tep
23. Tombstone


:up:

[Deadite]

22. Blade Runner

http://www.kyru.net/gallery/d/215-1/bladerunner.gif

One of the most powerful film experiences I've ever had. A fascinating work of art, deeply moving and philosophically profound, not to mention a hugely entertaining sci-fi noir thrill-ride, Blade Runner deserves every bit of praise it gets.

[Deadite]

21. The Stepfather ('87)

http://brainhammer.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/stepfather-1987.jpg
http://www.bloodygoodhorror.com/bgh/files/reviews/caps/cap2_0.jpg

While clearly flawed, this 80's B-movie has one great thing going for it: Terry O'Quinn's intense and believably schizoid performance as the titular character, a charming mild-mannered fellow who would just kill to have his ideal family. Add in a few touches of dark humor ("Buckle up for safety!") and you have a pretty cool little horror-thriller that is sure to please nostalgic fans of the era.

[honeykid]

I haven't seen The Stepfather since, well, possibly the late 80's, but I remember thinking it was pretty good. mark's a fan, too.

[Deadite]

I had nearly forgotten about it 'til that lousy remake came along and reminded me.

See, even bad remakes can serve a greater purpose. :D

[Swan]

The Stepfather is great. :up:

[jiraffejustin]

24. Time Bandits

http://s3.amazonaws.com/criterion-production/release_boxshots/179-704e8f336434065fa3ab1e8be5416106/37_box_348x490_original.jpg

Still underrated. Still one of the greatest fantasies of all time.

I voted for this in the 80s list, but it didn't make it. I would kiss you on the mouth for including this movie.

[Deadite]

:kiss: :D

[edarsenal]

glad to see ya back and continuing onward! Lovin the list and YES Time Bandits IS underrated. Great call on Blade Runner and while Tombstone IS great to watch, for myself, I alway go with Wyatt Earp.


https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQEDFQ7BpDUEHDPNPpK2r9ZzJXdZevicC0Q3DisLR2qjHU8XLjq
"You all can kiss my rebel d*ck."

[cricket]

Love The Stepfather, like Blade Runner, didn't like Time Bandits.

[Deadite]

20. Mimic

I consider Del Toro's somber creature feature to be an underrated sci-fi horror gem. That may be partly due to lovely Mira Sorvino, but overall I find the atmosphere compelling, the monster designs are very cool, and the characters are intriguing albeit a bit thin (but c'mon, compared to most horror cardboard cut-outs they're pretty well-drawn). I especially liked Charles Dutton in his small but memorable irritable blues-singing supporting role.

[Godoggo]

Mimic is a good choice.

[honeykid]

I didn't get on with Mimic at all. I was looking forward to it, too, much more than The Relic, which looked pretty poor. After seeing both, I wished I'd just watched The Relic twice... and a lot earlier.

[Swan]

I like Mimic myself.

[Yoda]

Mimic is awesome. Crazy underrated. 4.

[Deadite]

19. Darkman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1fSmptANOU

I don't have to justify or explain the inclusion of this film in any way after that so screw you.

[The Sci-Fi Slob]

I've not seen Darkman in ages. Needless to say Liam Neeson wasn't at his best.:D

[Deadite]

On the contrary, that was one of his best roles and he nailed it.

[The Sci-Fi Slob]

On the contrary, that was one of his best roles and he nailed it.

http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/mefnirV.gif

[Deadite]

18. Evil Dead Trap

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC4qLmoYaq8

This 80's japanese slasher is as bonkers as it is grotesque. Starting with its lurid intro which shows talk show host Nami receiving a hideous snuff video, she and her team's investigation then leads to an abandoned military base where the film settles into being a fairly inventive slasher before finally morphing into an insane sci-fi nightmare in its last act. EDT achieves a sort of sleazy B-movie epicness thanks to some looney twists and turns, a vibe of general nastiness, the memorable monster Hideki, and a sudden flurry of false endings, all adding up to a unique horror experience well-deserving of its cult status.

[Deadite]

17. Lord of Illusions

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e6/Lordillusionsposter.jpg

Atmospheric horror noir, underdeveloped but entertaining and intriguing. The Puritan is a memorably icky baddy.


16. Clay Pigeons

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3e/Clay_Pigeons.jpg

Fun black comedy and the best use of Vince Vaugn ever.


15. The Happiness of the Katakuris

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f6/The_Happiness_of_the_Katakuris_%28DVD%29.jpg

Words... fail me. Zombie musical?

[Miss Vicky]

16. Clay Pigeons

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3e/Clay_Pigeons.jpg

Fun black comedy and the best use of Vince Vaughn ever.


:up:

LOVE this movie!

[Camo]

Great list and write ups Deadite ! I feel like i'm missing something when i skip by one of the films on your list because i haven't seen it :). Also personally along with Mark F and Holden, i love your writing, i mean anyone who has seen Persona tell me this isn't GOLD - It's a film that seems to simultaneously demand and defy analysis. Visually stunning and casually shocking, its deceptively simple plot seems tapped into a kind of Jungian collective unconscious more than any film

could write pages on what Persona means to me, how it seems to use film as a metaphor for existence, both deconstructing itself as it goes and sublimely interweaving its identities, both reflecting and negating viewer expectations

[Deadite]

Thank you very much. :blush:

[cricket]

Only saw Clay Pigeons from the last set-nice pick!

[Guaporense]

Great number of films I never heard about which I am interested in watching.

[Gideon58]

[I]True Romance[I] is a great start to your list...fantastic movie, probably Christian Slater's finest hour.

[Daniel M]

What about Titanic..best one

Not exactly the film I'd choose to chill out with my mates and enjoy with a few beers. But whatever floats your boat... :p

[doubledenim]

When you wish you could take so few words and make them mean so much.

[jiraffejustin]

Damn. Ten years goes quick.