A Journey with The Gunslinger45 and his Top 10 Favorite Directors!
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Of Lynch's movies I've only seen Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, Dune, and The Elephant Man. And the only one of those I'd seen before this year was Dune.
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Of Lynch's movies I've only seen Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, Dune, and The Elephant Man. And the only one of those I'd seen before this year was Dune.
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No surprise with your number one. No surprise with your number 2, either, for anyone who's heard your love for him, but I'm with Mark when he says "Egad!"
Otherwise, great list.
Otherwise, great list.
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I may go back to hating you. It was more fun.
I may go back to hating you. It was more fun.
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Great thread, Gunslinger, and absolutely phenomenal write-ups. I echo what seanc said about how personal you make these lists, which makes them a real pleasure to read. I wish other members were as open as you to share that side of themselves when talking about their favorites.
I've yet to watch Rushmore or The Grand Budapest Hotel, but I've seen all of Wes Anderson's other films. His quirky characters and his confectionery aesthetic isn't really my style, since I generally prefer films that are dark and gritty, but I can understand his appeal. He's a very talented director and I've liked most of what I've seen from him. Favorite Wes Anderson film: The Fantastic Mr. Fox. Least favorite: The Life Aquatic.
All the stress and turmoil during the making of Apocalypse Now must have sapped much of Francis Ford Coppola's talent, because he's never been the same. Granted, I haven't seen many of his films post-70's, so maybe his talent didn't diminish, just his ambition. Regardless, it's crazy to think that the guy who directed The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, The Conversation and Apocalypse Now in a span of a few years has fallen so far off the map. He's still directing, yet you'd think he was dead for how little interest or discussion his films generate nowadays. My favorite Coppola film: Apocalypse Now, which is in my top five. Least favorite: Bram Stoker's Dracula.
The only John Milius film I've seen is Conan the Barbarian, and I haven't seen it in ages. I enjoy cheesy action movies, so I really should give Red Dawn a watch sometime soon since you love it so much. Milius's output as a writer seems far more impressive than his directorial efforts, but I haven't seen enough to judge.
The only Mel Brooks film I've seen is Young Frankenstein, which is highly enjoyable. I need to familiarize myself with more of his work. Given my love for westerns, I expect I'd get a real kick out of Blazing Saddles.
Steven Spielberg has made a ton of great films, yet none of them would make my favorites list. Maybe it's the way he panders to the masses or the way he infuses sentimental family values into nearly never film. He's very Hollywood. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I feel like he's too emotionally manipulative and that he doesn't take enough risks in his films for fear of alienating a portion of the audience. I want a little more attitude from my directors. A little more rock-n-roll rebellion. Behind the camera, Spielberg is as talented as it gets, but he's very suit-and-tie to me. Anyways, my favorite Spielberg film: Saving Private Ryan. Least favorite: 1941.
It's easy to make a case that Kubrick is the greatest director of all-time, or at least one of the few worthy of being in the discussion. His meticulous approach pays off on the screen. I just wish he had made more films during his lifetime. I've seen everything he directed except Fear and Desire. I agree with your comments about Killer's Kiss, but everything else he directed I would classify as either great, excellent, or a masterpiece. 2001: A Space Odyssey is in my all-time top ten. The Shining, Dr. Strangelove and Eyes Wide Shut would also make my favorites list.
Unless I miscounted, I've only seen eight of Kurosawa's films, but they're all magnificent. Seven Samurai is one of the most impressive movies I've ever seen. I was so blown away by it that I kept insisting that all my friends watch it, even though they aren't typically into foreign or classic films. Eventually they all gave it a chance and they all enjoyed it. Kurosawa's films hold up very well, even for modern sensibilities, since they often contain a lot of action and adventure; plus his influence has been so shapely and wide-reaching that it's still trickling down after all these years. I've yet to watch a Kurosawa film that I wouldn't rate at least .
David Lynch would make my own list of top ten directors. I fell in love with Blue Velvet from the first time I watched it. Eraserhead is one of my all-time favorite movies and by far the most psychologically disturbing film I've ever seen. The Elephant Man is one of the most heartbreaking films I've seen. Mulholland Drive is amazing. The Straight Story is great. I hated Inland Empire, and Lost Highway and Wild at Heart are just okay for me (I haven't seen Dune or Fire Walk With Me), but Lynch's highs are enough to make him one of my favorites. He's one of a kind.
I knew Kevin Smith was going to make the list, since I've seen you express your adoration toward him several times. I'm not a fan, although I'm interested in this new direction he's going in nowadays with films like Red State (probably my favorite Kevin Smith film, although I also like Chasing Amy) and Tusk (which I haven't seen, but very much want to, especially since I learned my favorite actor is in the film). I like Jay and Silent Bob as characters, and they're usually humorous in small doses, but overall I just don't find Smith's dialogue all that funny. Clerks, Clerks II, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Dogma and Cop Out are all average or below average. I downright hated Mallrats. Having said all that, however, I appreciate your honesty in putting him so high on your list, effectively listening to your heart instead of being influenced by haters likes myself.
Scorsese is the man. Has anyone made more great films than Scorsese? Maybe Kurosawa if I had seen more of his work, but Scorsese knocks it out of the park every time he steps up to the plate. Even an average Scorsese film like Shutter Island is better than anything most other directors will make. I'm pretty sure that if I made a list of my 200 favorite films that Scorsese would have more appearances than anyone else. Taxi Driver is one of my top ten favorite films. The Last Temptation of Christ, Goodfellas, The Departed, Mean Streets, The King of Comedy, The Gangs of New York, and The Wolf of Wall Street are all movies that I love. I was actually quite enamored with New York, New York, which is much better than its reputation, in my opinion. The Aviator, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Bringing Out the Dead, and Cape Fear are all very good movies. Raging Bull is a staggering work of art. So far I've seen every Scorsese film except for After Hours, The Age of Innocence and Kundun. I've liked everything I've seen to varying degrees, with Hugo being my least favorite.
I've yet to watch Rushmore or The Grand Budapest Hotel, but I've seen all of Wes Anderson's other films. His quirky characters and his confectionery aesthetic isn't really my style, since I generally prefer films that are dark and gritty, but I can understand his appeal. He's a very talented director and I've liked most of what I've seen from him. Favorite Wes Anderson film: The Fantastic Mr. Fox. Least favorite: The Life Aquatic.
All the stress and turmoil during the making of Apocalypse Now must have sapped much of Francis Ford Coppola's talent, because he's never been the same. Granted, I haven't seen many of his films post-70's, so maybe his talent didn't diminish, just his ambition. Regardless, it's crazy to think that the guy who directed The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, The Conversation and Apocalypse Now in a span of a few years has fallen so far off the map. He's still directing, yet you'd think he was dead for how little interest or discussion his films generate nowadays. My favorite Coppola film: Apocalypse Now, which is in my top five. Least favorite: Bram Stoker's Dracula.
The only John Milius film I've seen is Conan the Barbarian, and I haven't seen it in ages. I enjoy cheesy action movies, so I really should give Red Dawn a watch sometime soon since you love it so much. Milius's output as a writer seems far more impressive than his directorial efforts, but I haven't seen enough to judge.
The only Mel Brooks film I've seen is Young Frankenstein, which is highly enjoyable. I need to familiarize myself with more of his work. Given my love for westerns, I expect I'd get a real kick out of Blazing Saddles.
Steven Spielberg has made a ton of great films, yet none of them would make my favorites list. Maybe it's the way he panders to the masses or the way he infuses sentimental family values into nearly never film. He's very Hollywood. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I feel like he's too emotionally manipulative and that he doesn't take enough risks in his films for fear of alienating a portion of the audience. I want a little more attitude from my directors. A little more rock-n-roll rebellion. Behind the camera, Spielberg is as talented as it gets, but he's very suit-and-tie to me. Anyways, my favorite Spielberg film: Saving Private Ryan. Least favorite: 1941.
It's easy to make a case that Kubrick is the greatest director of all-time, or at least one of the few worthy of being in the discussion. His meticulous approach pays off on the screen. I just wish he had made more films during his lifetime. I've seen everything he directed except Fear and Desire. I agree with your comments about Killer's Kiss, but everything else he directed I would classify as either great, excellent, or a masterpiece. 2001: A Space Odyssey is in my all-time top ten. The Shining, Dr. Strangelove and Eyes Wide Shut would also make my favorites list.
Unless I miscounted, I've only seen eight of Kurosawa's films, but they're all magnificent. Seven Samurai is one of the most impressive movies I've ever seen. I was so blown away by it that I kept insisting that all my friends watch it, even though they aren't typically into foreign or classic films. Eventually they all gave it a chance and they all enjoyed it. Kurosawa's films hold up very well, even for modern sensibilities, since they often contain a lot of action and adventure; plus his influence has been so shapely and wide-reaching that it's still trickling down after all these years. I've yet to watch a Kurosawa film that I wouldn't rate at least .
David Lynch would make my own list of top ten directors. I fell in love with Blue Velvet from the first time I watched it. Eraserhead is one of my all-time favorite movies and by far the most psychologically disturbing film I've ever seen. The Elephant Man is one of the most heartbreaking films I've seen. Mulholland Drive is amazing. The Straight Story is great. I hated Inland Empire, and Lost Highway and Wild at Heart are just okay for me (I haven't seen Dune or Fire Walk With Me), but Lynch's highs are enough to make him one of my favorites. He's one of a kind.
I knew Kevin Smith was going to make the list, since I've seen you express your adoration toward him several times. I'm not a fan, although I'm interested in this new direction he's going in nowadays with films like Red State (probably my favorite Kevin Smith film, although I also like Chasing Amy) and Tusk (which I haven't seen, but very much want to, especially since I learned my favorite actor is in the film). I like Jay and Silent Bob as characters, and they're usually humorous in small doses, but overall I just don't find Smith's dialogue all that funny. Clerks, Clerks II, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Dogma and Cop Out are all average or below average. I downright hated Mallrats. Having said all that, however, I appreciate your honesty in putting him so high on your list, effectively listening to your heart instead of being influenced by haters likes myself.
Scorsese is the man. Has anyone made more great films than Scorsese? Maybe Kurosawa if I had seen more of his work, but Scorsese knocks it out of the park every time he steps up to the plate. Even an average Scorsese film like Shutter Island is better than anything most other directors will make. I'm pretty sure that if I made a list of my 200 favorite films that Scorsese would have more appearances than anyone else. Taxi Driver is one of my top ten favorite films. The Last Temptation of Christ, Goodfellas, The Departed, Mean Streets, The King of Comedy, The Gangs of New York, and The Wolf of Wall Street are all movies that I love. I was actually quite enamored with New York, New York, which is much better than its reputation, in my opinion. The Aviator, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Bringing Out the Dead, and Cape Fear are all very good movies. Raging Bull is a staggering work of art. So far I've seen every Scorsese film except for After Hours, The Age of Innocence and Kundun. I've liked everything I've seen to varying degrees, with Hugo being my least favorite.
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Hell of a write up Cap! Thanks for reading my list and putting your own input for each director in. And I hope you check out the films you mentioned.
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Great stuff Guns, not sure how I missed this before. I'll have to read the write ups a bit later because there's apparently tons of these I have to go through. Scorcese, Kurosawa and Lynch would make my own list and FFC and Kubrick would have a good shot.
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Great selection of your favorites. 
I read these a little earlier and I forgot to give you +. I made sure to get those to you now. 
I read these a little earlier and I forgot to give you +. I made sure to get those to you now.
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I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity - Edgar Allan Poe
I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity - Edgar Allan Poe
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This was mostly out of curiosity since Scorsese is also my favourite director, I decided to rank his feature films by favourites, I haven't included any of his documentaries, Concert films, his segment in New York Stories, etc. I've seen 16 of his 23 features.
1.Taxi Driver
2.The King of Comedy
3.Goodfellas
4.After Hours
5.The Wolf of Wall Street
6.The Aviator
7.Mean Streets
8.Casino
9.Raging Bull
10.The Departed
11.The Colour of Money
12.Shutter Island
13.The Last Temptation of Christ
14.Gangs of New York
15.Cape Fears
16.Who's That Knocking at Your Door?
1.Taxi Driver
2.The King of Comedy
3.Goodfellas
4.After Hours
5.The Wolf of Wall Street
6.The Aviator
7.Mean Streets
8.Casino
9.Raging Bull
10.The Departed
11.The Colour of Money
12.Shutter Island
13.The Last Temptation of Christ
14.Gangs of New York
15.Cape Fears
16.Who's That Knocking at Your Door?
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All the stress and turmoil during the making of Apocalypse Now must have sapped much of Francis Ford Coppola's talent, because he's never been the same. Granted, I haven't seen many of his films post-70's, so maybe his talent didn't diminish, just his ambition. Regardless, it's crazy to think that the guy who directed The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, The Conversation and Apocalypse Now in a span of a few years has fallen so far off the map. He's still directing, yet you'd think he was dead for how little interest or discussion his films generate nowadays. My favorite Coppola film: Apocalypse Now, which is in my top five. Least favorite: Bram Stoker's Dracula.
You've got to be kidding me!
FFCs Dracula is brilliant, it actually made my 90s list. It was the first time I spoke to Godoggo about how foolish and blind you people were for not including it on your list. Not sure if it would find a 90s place now but I still really like it.
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Oh I love that score too! Got it on my iPod at all times!
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I noticed no mention of The Terminal here...have you seen it? Come to think of it, there's no mention of Catch me if you Can either.
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I noticed no mention of The Terminal here...have you seen it? Come to think of it, there's no mention of Catch me if you Can either.
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I have not seen that or Catch Me if You Can yet.
. Not big on The Terminal though.
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