Escapist's List of Essential Movies

Recommended Videos

Radical Dreamer

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Dec 29, 2008
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The Boondock Saints
Blade Runner - Anyone who has seen and enjoys/enjoyed Star Wars should watch this one at least once.
Goodfellas
Saints and Soldiers
Band of Brothers - Is a series that should count as a movie, and a great portrayal of war. (Yes, all 10 of them.)
Those are my nominees for the list.
 

GenHellspawn

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Jan 1, 2008
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Personally, I would've added American History X [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_History_X]. You really have to see this movie (the whole thing is up on Youtube). It's hard to describe what makes it good, but I really liked it.

Also, no Full Metal Jacket?
 

The_Deleted

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Aug 28, 2008
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Dark City.
The Matrix can fuck off.

Dead Mans Shoes
Beyond stunning!

Paprika
Satoshi Kon is a genius

Bad Leiutenant
Kietel at his best

Brick
Stunning.

RoboCop
Comply!

Predator
There's somthin' out there...And it ain't no man.
 

Avatar Roku

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Jul 9, 2008
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Fightgarr said:
I recommend all of Miyazaki's films but for sake of examples I'll list the 4 I think everyone needs to see:

Princess Mononoke
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
Spirited Away
My Neighbor Totoro
I've only seen Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away, but they were great, so point taken.

Anyway, after having just seen it, I have to say Gran Torino.
 

Spektre41

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Jun 26, 2008
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I haven't watched much in the way of "classics", but I would recommend A Christmas Story and Juno.
 

Isaac Dodgson

The Mad Hatter
May 11, 2008
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Heavens...

OOOOK Got more to add still, but let me just say it here as well. I'm not looking for recomendations. I'm not looking for movies that would have you say to someone "Oh yeah that's a great movie, you should see it." What I am looking for are movies that you would expect everyone to have already have seen, and would be shocked, stunned, and or flabbergasted if someone hasn't seen them...
 

tomdavi

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Sep 22, 2008
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Absolute reccomendation for:
V for Vendetta, not only an amzing and intelligent action movie, but an arguement for acceptance and democracy
Fearless, just an amazing martial arts movie and a good bit of history.
The Illusionist, intelligent and enthralling. I can't really describe it so just imagine Sherlock Holmes with magic, intrigue, and he's smithing the "crime" not unravelling it.
Also Minority Report, which is just a really good film.
 

PedroSteckecilo

Mexican Fugitive
Feb 7, 2008
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I would say anthing and everything by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli
Here's a full list...

The Castle of Cagliostro, one of my favorites, stars Lupin the 3rd and has some of the most fun action ever.

Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind, the manga is better but the movie is still worth watching.

Castle in the Sky, pretty much every RPG rips off this movie and does it poorly.

My Neighbor Totoro, if this movie doesn't charm you... you have no soul.

Kiki's Delivery Service, it's like bottled happiness, though not quite as much as Totoro.

Porco Rosso, a movie about a WW1 flying ace in Italy who also happens to be a pig, my personal favorite Miyazaki film.

Princess Mononoke, probably Miyazaki's most mature and violent film and with one of the strongest stories he's ever told.

Spirited Away, probably Miyazaki's BEST film in terms of story, charm and animation.

Howls Moving Castle, Miyazaki's weakest film but still worth it for the cool scenes and machinery, even if the ending is extremely rushed.

The Cat Returns, a rousing, sugar coated adventure that will make you feel good.

Whisper of the Heart, a cute film set in the real world, a little slow, but like I said, cute.

EDIT: Yes I know I missed Grave of the Fireflies, that's because I haven't seen it yet, I don't know if I can handle that level of sadness.
 

poleboy

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May 19, 2008
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Fucking Åmål, a Swedish film about puberty and loneliness. It's very emotional and very sad. In English-speaking countries, it's called Show Me Love.
 

MCGT

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Sep 27, 2008
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What about Apocalypse Now?

Probaly anything by Stanley Kubrick, maybe one of George Romero's '... of the Dead' probaly Night of the Living or Dawn.
 

PedroSteckecilo

Mexican Fugitive
Feb 7, 2008
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If you can find them "The Three Musketeers" and "The Four Musketeers" from the 70's are fantastic comedy/adventure films with some of the most creatively directed action scene's I've ever seen. They're also quite accurate compared to the books, which is a suprise.
 

AuntyEthel

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Sep 19, 2008
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Braveheart is on the list? And you suggest the remake of Italian Job? Not even crack would make it watchable.

Anyway, I'd recommend Monty Python's Life of Brian over Holy Grail, but both are essential.

I'd like to suggest Eraserhead, as there hasn't ever been a movie that's anything like it.
 

Isaac Dodgson

The Mad Hatter
May 11, 2008
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Well...I started out throwing everything suggested on the list...but i should go back and remove some...a lot of these are just good movies, but no the must sees...
 

jdog345

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Jul 10, 2008
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"A Fistful of Dollars"

Not quite "The Good the Bad and the Ugly", but still, a top-notch western.

EDIT: Also, the original Pink Panther movies belong on the list, as well as "Dr.Strangelove"

Peter Sellers FTW.
 

AuntyEthel

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Sep 19, 2008
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Uncompetative said:

The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari.
YEEESSS!!! This, along with Metropolis, is essential to see where people like Tim Burton get their ideas from.