Must see movies

[basstotheface]

My GF is severely lacking in the knowledge of classic movies department, and I can not tolerate it any longer.

I have planned a series of days where we watch movies that are essential to being a human being.

I already have all of the 007s, and a ton of other DVDs and some money to blow on DVDs so shoot suggestions my way. I am also partial to dumb movies too so don't shy from that because you think I'm only looking for 1960 classic black and whites.

And I know this site is teeming with movie nerds so I hope this gets attention. (looking at you Skitch!)

Thanks guys and gals. (and Deluge!)

[Sonic_Death]

Well, from my experience, there are a ton of great classics that girls haven't seen. Some examples:

Back To The Future movies
Indiana Jones movies
Star Wars movies
Rocky movies
Die Hard
Enter The Dragon
Groundhogs Day
American Psycho
The Usual Suspects
The Jerk
George A. Romero films

[seventhson]

rogerebert.com :: greatmovies_first100

[basstotheface]

Originally Posted by Sonic_Death

Well, from my experience, there are a ton of great classics that girls haven't seen. Some examples:

Back To The Future movies
Indiana Jones movies
Star Wars movies
Rocky movies
Die Hard
Enter The Dragon
Groundhogs Day
American Psycho
The Usual Suspects
The Jerk
George A. Romero films

Great list. I'm proud to say I own everyone of those movies. She will definitely be seeing Enter the Dragon and Die Hard along with other action/kung fu goodies.

[Deluge Of Sound]

Ebert's list is great, and IMDB's top 250 is also a solid list to browse.

Most importantly, films from before, say, 1980 are going to have slower pacing. People watch more movies now, and older films tend to spend more time on the first act--establishing characters, settings, rules of engagement and what have you--than new films do.

As far as important/classic/Good-with-a-capital-G movies I'd show to my girlfriend, were she uninformed?
Off hand, I'd get my hands on copies of:
The Graduate
The 400 Blows
Casablanca
The Shawshank Redemption
Life Is Beautiful
Some Like It Hot
Annie Hall

Now, there are a whole lot of movies I could add, but that's a good primer for films that are very, very good without being too divisive/downer/graphic, since I don't know your S.O.'s tastes/morals/character.

And, apparently, backslashes are my thing today.

[basstotheface]

Give me some background info on Annie Hall, all I've found are super sexy Diane Keaton and that it's about some girl and a comedian.

And I will probably stay in at least the late 70s, I understand most people can't sit through that, I had a GF fall asleep during An Affair to Remember. An Affair to Remember for crying out loud!

[bassteban]

For whom the bell tolls
The apartment
Young Frankenstein

[basstotheface]

Originally Posted by bassteban

For whom the bell tolls
The apartment
Young Frankenstein

Mel Brooks is a must, good thing I have the Mel Brooks collection.

[Deluge Of Sound]

Gotta find ways to weed the quality from the quantity.

Anyway, Annie Hall is a Woody Allen film, featuring, as you've mentioned, a super-sexy Diane Keaton. Won Best Picture. Beat out Star Wars to do it.
The humor runs pretty much like this:
YouTube - Annie Hall
It's a romantic comedy, but its almost nothing like the kind of movie (probably starring Ryan Reynolds or Katherine Heigl) that you think of when you think "romantic comedy." More highbrow than the Apatow crew's take on the genre, just as funny.

[basstotheface]

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

Gotta find ways to weed the quality from the quantity.

Anyway, Annie Hall is a Woody Allen film, featuring, as you've mentioned, a super-sexy Diane Keaton. Won Best Picture. Beat out Star Wars to do it.
The humor runs pretty much like this:
YouTube - Annie Hall
It's a romantic comedy, but its almost nothing like the kind of movie (probably starring Ryan Reynolds or Katherine Heigl) that you think of when you think "romantic comedy." More highbrow than the Apatow crew's take on the genre, just as funny.

Looks my kind of movie. it's kind of lame that I love chick flicks, but they have the best dialogue. When Harry Met Sally is my favorite movie of all time, and I see a twinge of that with a deeper meaning in that clip. I've already got it ordered from Amazon.

[tjclem]

My favorite music related ones are "Blues Brothers" "Standing in the shadows of Motown" and "Crossroads" classic stuff.

If her foot doesn't start tapping during those and you are a player your relationship is doomed.

[pacojas]

don't forget "The Room"!!!!

[SMILEYSIXX]

Can't forget those good ol' mobster movies! Goodfellas and The Godfather should be on that list. The Way of the Dragon too, and depending on whether or not it's your thing, Tron.

The geeky side of me also wants to suggest Wrath of Khan

EDIT: I knew I forgot something. A Clockwork Orange.

EDIT 2: All Quiet on the Western Front

[Deluge Of Sound]

Originally Posted by SMILEYSIXX

EDIT: I knew I forgot something. A Clockwork Orange.

The perfect example of an important movie, but potentially a very bad "show-the-girlfriend" movie.

[jmattbassplaya]

Seven
L.A Confidential
The Usual Suspects
Amadeus
American Psycho
The Three Amigos
Fletch
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Groundhog Day
The Departed
Dances with Wolves
Parenthood
The Saint

^^Just a few I could think of off the top of my head.

[Joe Gress]

Off the top of my mind:

Snatch
Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels
Pulp Fiction
Reservoir Dogs
Goodfellas
The Godfather I and II
Gangs of New York
The Shining
The Exorcist
Taxi Driver
Raging Bull
The Good The Bad and The Ugly
The Cowboys
Fargo
The Big Lebowski
Rasing Arizona
Evil Dead
Army of Darkness
Good Bye Lenin
Grave of the Fireflies
Cowboy Bebop
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Bullitt
History of the World Part 1
Young Frankenstien
Shindlers List
One Flew Over Cuckoos Nest
Fight Club
City Of God
The Usual Suspects
Leon The Professional
Apocalypse Now (redux or the original)
American History X
Inglourious Basterds
Princess Mononoke
No Country for Old Men
Donnie Darko
Amores Perros
Life Of Brian
Casino
Stand By Me
Patton
Clerks I and II
The Departed
DR. Strangelove (or how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb)
The Fifth Element
Kelly's Heroes
Hot Fuzz
Shawn of the Dead
Juno
O Brother where art thou?
Pineapple Express
Requiem For a Dream
Training Day
American Gangster



Otherwise check out this list:
IMDb Top 250

[dullsilver_mike]

Look up the list for the Criterion Collection and go to town.

[Joe Gress]

Originally Posted by dullsilver_mike

Look up the list for the Criterion Collection and go to town.

This too. Fantastic collection of films.

[Skitch it!]

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

The perfect example of an important movie, but potentially a very bad "show-the-girlfriend" movie.

Agreed, Singing in the Rain has never quite had the same ring to it for me since watching that.

What about V for Vendetta, maybe not your girlfriends cup of tea?

[kingpin2512]

Thumb Wars?


seriously though I'm going to say Scarface.