Director's finest: Best of the best

[madsci]

A new post for deciding what you think the very best movie a director/film maker ever made. Some are very easy whilst others are like pulling teeth out with a pair of pliers. Here are my picks:-

(1) George Lucas - between THX1138 and ANH (original) - I'll go with ANH (NOT the 'Special' edition) - when Lucas had no money, no power (in Hollywood), and no clout whatsoever, he managed to stun all of Hollywood (and the world) with a very simple story that appealed to everyone.

(2) Francis Ford Coppola - The Godfather. Coppola wanted Pacino as Michael Corleone, the studio didn't believe he'd be convincing. What more do I have to say?

(3) James Cameron - The Terminator. No budget, no stars, no clout, using his own SUIT pack in the film as a coroner's bag, using cigarette smoke for the Terminator's final shot, yet this beats anything else he's ever done.

(4) Steven Spielberg - A tie between Jaws (fake shark, so little usage and high tension), E.T. (his most personal story) and Raiders of the Lost Ark (just for the final shot).

(5) Christopher Nolan - Memento ($5M budget, never to be topped in terms of imagination).

(6) Bryan Singer - The Usual Suspects. Damn you, Keyser Soze!

(7) David Fincher - Se7en. Hell, he put Gwyneth's head in a box (he can't EVER top that!)

(8) Ridley Scott - Alien (the perfect fusion of visuals and story).

(9) John Carpenter - The Thing (him and Kurt Russell - the perfect partnership).

(10) Stanley Kubrick - 2001: A Space Odyssey (I still don't get it, but then no-one really does).

[DF2506]

My picks in no order what-so-ever (with replacements for David Fincher and John Carpenter since I'm not really a fan):

(1) George Lucas - I'd have to go with Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back (special edition). Such a great movie and I think all the improvements that Lucas made on this make it even better. Of course, I'm a big fan of the special editions overall. I loved going to the thearter to see these movies (never seen them on the big screen) and the new scenes were awesome imo.

(2) Francis Ford Coppola - The Godfather 2. The first movie is a classic, no doubt about it, but I love this one even more because of the flashbacks. Its so cool seeing the raise of the Godfather. Definitly Coppola's finest imo.

(3) James Cameron - Terminator 2. The first one is OK, but with the second one Cameron was really able to give us a better view of his vision for the Terminator series. Better special effects, better script (imo), good actors, and just a really cool movie. My favorite Cameron movie.

(4) Steven Spielberg - Saving Private Ryan without a doubt. This is just Speilberg at his best. Great actors, powerful script, and images that stay with you long after you've finished watching the movie. Nuff' said.

(5) Christopher Nolan - Memento. I love Batman Begins and I like the Prestige a lot, but this is still probably Nolan's best movie. Its directed so well. It just HAS to be. The movie is told in such a unique and different way. Love it.

(6) Bryan Singer - Superman Returns. Singer made the classic Superman movie here. Sure the orignal Superman movie is good, but this one, imo, is even better. All the elements are there and Singer does a great job directing this one. I can't wait to see the sequel!

(7) Frank Darabont- The Green Mile. While the Shawshank Redemption is such a great movie too, I'd have to go with the Green Mile as his best film. This is a perfect adapation of the novel and is really well directed by Darabont. He brings the story to life and creates such a great movie!

(8) Ridley Scott - Gladitior. Sure Alien is a cool movie, but I think Gladitor is Ridley's best movie. Well directed, well acted, really good script, and just an excellent movie imo. I know this movie has it nay-sayers here but I like this one a lot. Definitly Ridleys best!

(9) Cameron Crowe- Vanilla Sky. Crowe has done some really good movies, but this is definitly his best imo. Powerful images, a twisting plot, one of the best performances ever by Tom Cruise, and just one of those movies that you have to watch over and over and over again.

(10) Stanley Kubrick - 2001: A Space Odyssey. Not a huge Kubrick fan, but this movie is classic. Sure the ending makes no sense, but its still a really good movie. Without a doubt, Kubricks best!

DF2506

[Eliseu Gouveia]

Cronenberg - Scanners. The ultimate Heroes.

Riddley Scott - Blade Runner. Still blows me away after all these years.

Cameron - Terminator. Starving fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants Cameron was far more engaging than rich acommodated Cameron.

Singer - X-Men 2. Even though he wasn´t made for superhero movies, he managed to work out his shortcomings.

McTiernam - Die Hard. It´s like watching a fine piece of machinery working at its absolute optimum efficiency.

Carpenter - A tie between They Live and The Thing

[madsci]

Hmm, for Cronenberg, I'd say The Fly, since it was both an intellectual remake AND so disgusting (EW!)

For Mctiernan, I'd say Predator. Die Hard may have started a franchise and 'Yippe Ki Yay!', but Predator gave a slogan to the sports shows (Get to Da Choppa!), and the best quotes ever ('I ain't got time to bleed'), a VERY filthy joke, and Arnie getting beaten up (FINALLY!)

I'd also include Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands

Kevin Smith's Mallrats (100% Smith)

Terry Gilliam's Brazil (HIS version) (1984 on LSD),

Martin Scorcese's Goodfellas

and Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven (NEVER to be topped).

[J. Robb]

Lucas - Star Wars
Spielberg - E.T.
Cameron - Aliens
Gilliam - Time Bandits
Crowe - (very tough choice!) Almost Famous

A couple more I'll add:

Coen Brothers - The Big Lebowski
Paul Thomas Anderson - Boogie Nights

[CaptainAwesome]

John Ford- The Searchers
Michael Mann-Heat
Howard Hawks-The Big Sleep
John Huston-Treasure of the Sierra Madre, or possibly Maltese Falcon (cant choose)
Rob Reiner-This is Spinal Tap
John Sturgess-The Great Escape
Billy Wilder-Sunset Blvd.
Orson Wells- Citizin Kane (though my favorite is Lady from Shanghai)

[hoffmandu]

Lucas- American Graffiti

Spielberg- Schlinders List

Darabont- Shawshank

Raimi- Evil Dead II

Fincher- Fight Club

Shoemacher- Falling Down

Van Sant- Good WIll Hunting

Eastwood- Unforgiven

[Tages]

I think Raging Bull is thematically richer and psychologically more probing than Goodfellas, and contains one of the finest film performances ever by an American actor.

Goodfellas is still damn near perfect, though.

[Aggie]

david lynch- the elephant man

cecil b. de mille- the 10 commandments

steven speilberg- the color purple

pedro almodovar- all about my mother

billy wilder- double indemnity

martin scorsese- taxi driver

alfred hitchcock - lifeboat

zhang yimou- raise the red lantern

russ meyers- faster pussy cat kill, kill...

darren aronofsky- requiem for a dream

[EZMOHR]

George Lucas- Star Wars
Francis Ford Coppola- The Outsiders
James Cameron- Terminator 2: Judgement Day
Steven Spielberg- Empire of the Sun
Christopher Nolan- Memento
Bryan Singer- X2: X-Men United
David Fincher- Fight Club
Ridley Scott- Legend or Black Hawk Down..it's tough
Tim Burton- Sleepy Hollow
Michael Mann- Collateral
John McTiernan- Die Hard
Martin Scorsese- Raging Bull
David Lynch- The Straight Story
Clint Eastwood- The Outlaw Josey Wales
Sam Raimi- Spider-Man
Cameron Crowe-Almost Famous
Terry Gilliam- 12 Monkeys
The Coen Brothers- O' Brother Where Art Thou


and since we know he's gonna be put on here sooner or later

M. Night Shymalan- Signs

[ChrisIII]

Lucas didn't direct ESB-Irvin Kershner did. Although you could argue that Lucas directed the new stuff.

[madsci]

Some more...

Michael Mann - The last of the Mohicans

Quentin Tarantino - Pulp Fiction

Robert Rodriguez - El Mariachi (That was truly HIS - everything since then HAS been a compromise, in some minute way).

Sergio Leone - The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

John Huston - The man who would be king (God, I LOVE this film! If Hollywood ever DARES to remake it, may it be at least 50 years from now...)