Last week I made an error. I said #86 in the showdown would be: Full Metal Jacket vs. 2001: A Space Odyssey. Me got confused. #86 was Platoon not Full Metal Jacket.
So at least I was saved from having to watch two Kubrick movies in one week.
I can keep this pretty short. I’d seen Platoon before. I’m not a big fan of
Ollie Stone. Too rough around the edges for me. But at least it is a complete
story, unlike anything Kubrick I’ve seen so far. Plus, the lead singer guy from In Living Color was in Platoon. Plus+, it offers one of the
most iconic film images from the 80s, if not all time.
2001:A Space Odyssey. Sigh. I know I am supposed to like this movie,
but I really don’t. I will give you
that it had some special effects pretty advanced for its time (1968). And it
influenced some of those whom I highly respect (Spielberg, Lucas, Scott). But that’s pretty much all I’ll give you.
The movie is boring, and without the use of psychedelic
drugs, almost impossible to get through. Much less take seriously. Unfortunately I think Kubrick is the reason
why so many “normal” people say they aren’t science-fiction fans. They saw 2001, said “WTH?” and never tried
another sci-fi movie again. My mother is one of those people.
(But, as an aside, if you have a newer iPhone, ask
Siri to “open the pod bay doors.” She’ll
harass you, but it’s fun.)
So my pick for this week is Platoon. Never thought I would pick a war movie over a sci-fi. 2001: A Space Odyssey shows back up as
#15 (#15?! Oh, for heaven’s sake) on the AFI list. It’s against Goodfellas. I like Goodfellas,
but it definitely would not be my #15. Oh course, neither would 2001.
AFI’s
Top 100
|
IMDB’s
Top 100 (as of 1/1/12)
|
|
#86
|
Platoon (1986)
|
2001:
A Space Odyssey (1968)
|
#87
|
12
Angry Men (1957)
|
Inglorious Basterds (2009)
|
#88
|
Bringing Up Baby (1938)
|
The
Great Dictator (1940)
|
#89
|
Sixth Sense (1999)
|
Braveheart
(1995)
|
#90
|
Swing
Time (1936)
|
The Bicycle Thief (1948)
|
#91
|
Sophie’s Choice (1982)
|
The
Apartment (1960)
|
#92
|
Up (2009)
|
Goodfellas
(1990)
|
#93
|
The French Connection (1971)
|
Downfall
(2004)
|
#94
|
Pulp Fiction (1994)
|
Gran
Torino (2008)
|
#95
|
The
Last Picture Show (1971)
|
Metropolis (1927)
|
#96
|
Do The Right Thing (1989)
|
The
Sting (1973)
|
#97
|
Blade Runner (1982)
|
Gladiator
(2000)
|
#98
|
Yankee
Doodle Dandy (1942)
|
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
|
#99
|
Toy Story (1995)
|
Unforgiven
(1992)
|
#100
|
Ben Hur (1959)
|
The
Elephant Man (1980)
|
Next week: AFI’s A
Night at the Opera (Marx Brothers) vs.
IMDb’s Full Metal Jacket (basically Platoon
from Kubrick’s POV). Haven’t seen
either. Can’t see how this is possibly
going to be an easy match-up.
Full Metal Jacket, Platoon, Casualties of War, Hamburger Hill... weren't they all the same movie?
ReplyDeleteSo when you get to #15, are you going to watch both movies again since you have already seen them in your countdown?
ReplyDeleteBTW, is it just me or does it look like AFI is running away with this so far?
Hey Joel :) Once I've watched a movie one time for the list, I won't watch it again (ESPECIALLY not any Kubrick)unless I just want to. I'm hoping this will allow me to get through multiple comparisons each week closer to the top.
DeleteAnd yeah, who would've thought AFI would be making such a run for it early on... But IMDb has some really strong contenders coming up. And some foreign films - the AFI list has no foreign films at all (thus the *A*FI list)