STEPHEN KING'S TOP 20
Recently "The King of Horror" -- Stephen King -- wrote an article stating, "Most summer movies are hell on earth. Fortunately, heaven is only a rental away." We at Needtovent couldn't agree more.
Here's Mr. King's list of entertaining films to rent during the summer:
20. WHITE HEAT
19. MR. PEABODY AND THE MERMAID
18. POINT BLANK
17. TITANIC
16. SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER
15. CURSE OF THE DEMON (1958)
14. Stephen Spielberg's 1941
13. CUJO
12. THE CAINE MUTINY
11. THE THING (He prefers John Carpenter's 1982 remake)
10. DR. STRANGELOVE
9. BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA
8. KISS OF DEATH
7. DIE HARD
6. THE BLUES BROTHERS
5. THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT
4. THE WILD BUNCH
3. SLING BLADE
2. WAGES OF FEAR
1. SORCERER (William Friedkin's remake of WAGES OF FEAR)
Other than a few exceptions, we think this is a marvelous selection of divergent and wonderful films, especially his inclusion in first and second place two often-overlooked classics -- SORCERER and WAGES OF FEAR. Kudos to King for recognizing their ability to generate incredible suspense -- if you have never experienced a Sphincter Pucker Factor of 9.9, then you definitely must see one or, preferably, both.
Personally, we would not have included 1941, CUJO or DIE HARD, although they are admittedly fine films which do entertain. (We defer on MR. PEABODY AND THE MERMAID since we haven't seen this one.) And, of course, we would not have chosen THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT -- a remarkable cultural phenomena, but as a motion picture we find it terribly lacking.
Replacing the aforementioned four titles we suggest -- THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY, BUBBA HO-TEP, DETOUR (1945) and ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST. Then again, yesterday we might very well have listed I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE, A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT, THE WORLD'S FASTEST INDIAN and KING OF HEARTS.
That's the fun thing about Top 20 Lists (or any ranking of favorite movies -- there are so many great ones we find it impossible to be absolute).
Send us your list -- Needtovent would love to see what you think.
posted by Robert A. Nowotny @ 3:28 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
i am shocked, appalled, and disappointed the greatest film of all time failed to make mr. king's list....in any spot....there are more quotes from that one film that have made their way into our language and everyday conversation....just a few of them are....this could be the start of a beautiful friendship....you'll be there at six....i'll be there at ten....they wore gray, you wore black...here's looking at you, kid....of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine....and perhaps the most oft misquoted "play it again, sam"....nowhere in the movie does this line occure. what is said by bogart is ...."you played it for her, you can play it for me. if she can stand it, so can i. now play it sam." I'm speaking of Casablanca, that "B" movie originally scheduled to star ronald reagan as rick....the cast turned out to be some of the greatest hollywood characters and stars ever put into one film....throw ingrid bergman into the mix and any man would slide right out of his chair....but i digress....this film should lead every list of top celluliods from anyone, anytime, anywhere....mrn
Yes, not including CASABLANCA is a mystery -- and it is one film that we should have mentioned as well. Then again, THE RADICALS isn't on the list either...
touche'....
I have seen most of the movies from this list and agree with your rating. I really like Die Hard the most and love to watch it again.
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