District 9 (List 2: #126)

I'm not usually a big fan of alien movies at all, but this one was very well done. Still not one of my favorite movies ever, but probably good enough to make it on the list. I guess what I got out of this movie was that if we were ever invaded by aliens we should willingly invite them into our homes and be the best of friends with them. Not sure if I'll take that advice.

"When dealing with aliens, try to be polite, but firm. And always remember that a smile is cheaper than a bullet."

- Zac


I second Zac's statement that I'm not real big on alien movies, however, I'm not even sure I would consider this an alien movie.  Yes it has aliens in it, but it is focused on how we treat them.  Not on how horrible they are, but instead on how horrible we are.  It is a good concept, and an interesting was of portraying it.


"He was an honest man, and he didn't deserve any of what happened to him."


-Megan

The Green Mile (List 2: #84)

So its been awhile since we actually watched this, but it was a great movie. I'm actually surprised it's not higher up the list. I originally expected it to be a lot more similar to Shawshank than it was, but this movie shows the prison story from the guards perspective and also has a slightly more surreal theme than Shawshank does. They both have there own benefits and drawbacks. I think The Green Mile did a better job at leaving me with something to think about than Shawshank Redemption did, but Shawshank is more connectible for more people I think, which is probably why it's number 1.

"Mostly I'm tired of people being ugly to each other. I'm tired of all the pain I feel and hear in the world everyday. There's too much of it. It's like pieces of glass in my head all the time? Can you understand?"

- Zac




The only reason that I can think of as to why this movie is not higher up on the list would be because it has a tiny bit of a fantasy element to it.  I agree with Zac about why the Shawshank Redemption is higher up than The Green Mile, but I liked The Green Mile more.  Both movies have a lot in common, but the reason that I liked The Green Mile more was because I felt liked it moved quicker and that there was always something happening; whereas in the Shawsank Redemption I didn't get that feeling until the end.


"This is a shocking experience!"


-Megan

Full Metal Jacket (List 2: #85)

Movies on recent wars turned out to be a topic of conversation after dinner. Why are there so few movies that deal with war during war? Why doesn't someone make a movie on the situation in the Middle East? The only answer we could fathom is that it would be to politically unfavorable. Anyway, when the time came to procrastinate and make progress on the list, we naturally decided to choose a war on the Vietnam war. Big mistake. Full Metal Jacket was split into two completely separate parts with very little connecting the parts. It left me confused and waiting for the big dramatic connecting moment. Watch it only if you're desperate for a war movie, and even then I would suggest re-watching Saving Private Ryan.

"The dead only know one thing: it's better to be alive."

-Zac




I completely agree with Zac, and would only add that both halves had the potential to have their own good plots, but when put together all they accomplish is completely confusing anyone who is watching it.


"I'm in a world of shit... yes. But I am alive. And I am not afraid."


-Megan

Free Massage at Cutler (List 1 # 55)

Well luckily our second attempt at a "stress free finals" event was more successful than our first. We easily found the free 5-minute massages located in the Coe room. I would say this was one of the more awkward things to ask for a picture of, but definitely worth it.  We are both hoping we win the raffle for the full hour massage that we entered in.

Zac and Megan's Adventures

So we've recently decided to expand this blog to also include interesting encounters that we have. So here goes: Since this is finals week, the University is offering something called "stress free finals" where they offer fun breaks from stressful studying. Today, they were offering free ice cream in the Union from 2-4 and Megan and I decided to go get some. We tried to encourage other friends to get ice cream with us but to no avail, we were the only fatties in the group. Once we got to the Union we realized we had no idea where this free ice cream was located, and proceeded to wander around for about 10 minutes looking for it. Our searches found us wandering aimlessly around hallways, up and down all three floors multiple times, staring blankly into many meetings, and even interrupting a private Christmas party all in search of ice cream. Finally, we accepted that we were going to have to buy our own free ice cream. Upon buying the ice cream we realized the comments our friends would have to our buying free ice cream. So we did the natural thing and made a cover up story: "They ran out of free ice cream so they bought us Ben and Jerry's." It worked. Now the question is, which of our friends is our most loyal blog follower and will comment first?

The Princess Bride (List 2: #186)

The Princess Bride. Everyone's favorite love story. If I said anything negative about this one I probably wouldn't have a girlfriend for much longer. This movie is unique in that it's a love story that contains an appropriate amount of fantasy, love and action, and it's not so fantastical that it's considered a child's movie, but still has many qualities of a Disney movie that appeal to the child inside each of us. Someone mentioned earlier this week that it's also a satire on excessive European government. Interesting idea. Anyway, great movie, if you haven't seen it you should.

"Farm boy...fetch me that pitcher."

"As you wish."

- Zac




So the reason that Zac can't say anything bad about this movie is because he is in wuv, and wuv, tru wuv, will fowow you foweva... 


Why are you smiling?
Because I know something you don't know.
And what is that?
I... am not left-handed. 
Oh, there's something I ought to tell you.
Tell me.
I'm not left-handed either. 


-Megan

Inception (List 2, #6)

I was surprised that Inception was already in the top ten of the top movies ever, but I agree that it should definitely think that it should be. Everything was done extremely well, and there was only part of the movie that I thought should have been different. It is a very overwhelming movie, and is better the second time around, when you can notice and appreciate all the minute details.

"Don't you want to take a leap of faith? Or become an old man, filled with regret, waiting to die alone!"

- Megan

I've seen this movie twice now, and it continues to impress me. It's the only movie I've ever seen that you can watch, not have a clue as to what happened, but know that you loved the movie. Not only does this happen once, but upon many subsequent viewings as well. I still don't fully understand the movie, but I definitely like it, and want to see it again. It will take at least one more viewing to understand, and many more to fully catch all the details and subliminal pieces.

" You're waiting for a train, a train that will take you far away. You know where you hope this train will take you, but you can't be sure. But it doesn't matter - because we'll be together."

- Zac

Fight Club (List 2 #17)

This is probably one of, if not, my favorite movies ever. Everything done in this movie was done with extreme detail, and executed perfectly. I think that everyone should see this movie, and would not understand why anyone wouldn't like it.


Favorite quote "Marla's philosophy of life is that she might die at any moment. The tragedy, she said, was that she didn't."

- Megan

Well, don't know how to follow up that cheery quote but my opinions were

"The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is: you DO NOT talk about Fight Club!"

That about sums that one up.

- Zac

The Shawshank Redemption (List 2 #1)

I thought it was a very well written movie, and appreciated that it could have actually happened. I liked the plot twist at the end, and wants to see it again to recognize the foreshadowing. I would definitely recommend you see it if you haven't yet, but would not say that it is the best movie of all time.

"Get busy living, or get busy dying."

- Megan

Personally, this is one of my favorite classic movies. I really like the theme of the acceptance of fate that the movie brings up. However, it wasn't as good the second time watching it as I remembered it to be, and certainly didn't live up to how much I talked it up before hand. Regardless, after seeing this and the Green Mile, I think I need to get some Stephen King to read over vacation.

"I mean, seriously, how often do you look at a man's shoes?"

- Zac

List 1 things that we have done so far

# 90

# 93

# 84

# 84

# 82

# 74

# 73

# 72

# 32

# 49

# 64

# 48

# 49

# 29

# 28

# 15

# 9

# 8

# 7

# 7

# 5

# 5

List 2: Top 250 movies of all time

The list is constantly changing, so we are going by the list that was present when we created the blog (December 12, 2010).
After watching each movie we plan to post our reactions about the movie.

Rank	Title
1.	The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
2.	The Godfather (1972)
3.	The Godfather: Part II (1974)
4.	The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
5.	Pulp Fiction (1994)
6.	Inception (2010)
7.	Schindler's List (1993)
8.	12 Angry Men (1957)
9.	One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
10.	The Dark Knight (2008)
11.	Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
12.	The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
13.	Seven Samurai (1954)
14.	Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
15.	Goodfellas (1990)
16.	Casablanca (1942)
17.	Fight Club (1999)
18.	City of God (2002)
19.	The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
20.	Rear Window (1954)
21.	Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
22.	Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
23.	Toy Story 3 (2010)
24.	Psycho (1960)
25.	The Usual Suspects (1995)
26.	The Matrix (1999)
27.	The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
28.	Se7en (1995)
29.	It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
30.	Memento (2000)
31.	The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
32.	Sunset Blvd. (1950)
33.	Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
34.	Forrest Gump (1994)
35.	The Professional (1994)
36.	Citizen Kane (1941)
37.	Apocalypse Now (1979)
38.	North by Northwest (1959)
39.	American Beauty (1999)
40.	American History X (1998)
41.	Taxi Driver (1976)
42.	Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
43.	Vertigo (1958)
44.	Saving Private Ryan (1998)
45.	Amélie (2001)
46.	Alien (1979)
47.	WALL·E (2008)
48.	Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
49.	The Shining (1980)
50.	Spirited Away (2001)
51.	Paths of Glory (1957)
52.	A Clockwork Orange (1971)
53.	Double Indemnity (1944)
54.	To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
55.	The Pianist (2002)
56.	The Lives of Others (2006)
57.	The Departed (2006)
58.	M (1931)
59.	City Lights (1931)
60.	Aliens (1986)
61.	Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
62.	Requiem for a Dream (2000)
63.	Das Boot (1981)
64.	The Third Man (1949)
65.	L.A. Confidential (1997)
66.	Reservoir Dogs (1992)
67.	Chinatown (1974)
68.	The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
69.	Modern Times (1936)
70.	Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
71.	Life Is Beautiful (1997)
72.	Back to the Future (1985)
73.	The Prestige (2006)
74.	Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
75.	Raging Bull (1980)
76.	Cinema Paradiso (1988)
77.	Singin' in the Rain (1952)
78.	Some Like It Hot (1959)
79.	The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
80.	Rashomon (1950)
81.	All About Eve (1950)
82.	Amadeus (1984)
83.	Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
84.	The Green Mile (1999)
85.	Full Metal Jacket (1987)
86.	Inglourious Basterds (2009)
87.	2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
88.	The Great Dictator (1940)
89.	Braveheart (1995)
90.	Bicycle Thieves (1948)
91.	The Apartment (1960)
92.	Up (2009)
93.	Downfall (2004)
94.	Gran Torino (2008)
95.	Metropolis (1927)
96.	The Sting (1973)
97.	Gladiator (2000)
98.	The Maltese Falcon (1941)
99.	Unforgiven (1992)
100.	Sin City (2005)
101.	The Elephant Man (1980)
102.	Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
103.	Oldboy (2003)
104.	On the Waterfront (1954)
105.	Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
106.	Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
107.	Rebecca (1940)
108.	The Great Escape (1963)
109.	Die Hard (1988)
110.	Batman Begins (2005)
111.	Princess Mononoke (1997)
112.	Jaws (1975)
113.	Hotel Rwanda (2004)
114.	Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
115.	The Seventh Seal (1957)
116.	Blade Runner (1982)
117.	Fargo (1996)
118.	No Country for Old Men (2007)
119.	Heat (1995)
120.	The General (1926)
121.	The Wizard of Oz (1939)
122.	Touch of Evil (1958)
123.	For a Few Dollars More (1965)
124.	Ran (1985)
125.	Yojimbo (1961)
126.	District 9 (2009)
127.	Snatch. (2000)
128.	The Sixth Sense (1999)
129.	Annie Hall (1977)
130.	Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
131.	Donnie Darko (2001)
132.	Wild Strawberries (1957)
133.	The Deer Hunter (1978)
134.	Avatar (2009)
135.	Cool Hand Luke (1967)
136.	The Social Network (2010)
137.	Strangers on a Train (1951)
138.	Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
139.	High Noon (1952)
140.	The Big Lebowski (1998)
141.	Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
142.	It Happened One Night (1934)
143.	Platoon (1986)
144.	The Lion King (1994)
145.	Into the Wild (2007)
146.	There Will Be Blood (2007)
147.	Notorious (1946)
148.	Million Dollar Baby (2004)
149.	Toy Story (1995)
150.	Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
151.	Gone with the Wind (1939)
152.	Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)
153.	The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
154.	The Wrestler (2008)
155.	Trainspotting (1996)
156.	Ben-Hur (1959)
157.	Scarface (1983)
158.	The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
159.	The Graduate (1967)
160.	The Big Sleep (1946)
161.	Groundhog Day (1993)
162.	Life of Brian (1979)
163.	The Gold Rush (1925)
164.	The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
165.	Finding Nemo (2003)
166.	Amores Perros (2000)
167.	The Terminator (1984)
168.	Stand by Me (1986)
169.	How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
170.	The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
171.	Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
172.	The Thing (1982)
173.	Casino (1995)
174.	The Kid (1921)
175.	V for Vendetta (2006)
176.	Twelve Monkeys (1995)
177.	Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
178.	Ratatouille (2007)
179.	The Secret in Their Eyes (2009)
180.	Gandhi (1982)
181.	Ikiru (1952)
182.	Star Trek (2009)
183.	The Wages of Fear (1953)
184.	Diabolique (1955)
185.	8½ (1963)
186.	The Princess Bride (1987)
187.	The Night of the Hunter (1955)
188.	Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)
189.	The Incredibles (2004)
190.	My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
191.	The Hustler (1961)
192.	Good Will Hunting (1997)
193.	The Killing (1956)
194.	In Bruges (2008)
195.	The Wild Bunch (1969)
196.	Network (1976)
197.	A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
198.	The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007)
199.	La Strada (1954)
200.	The 400 Blows (1959)
201.	The Exorcist (1973)
202.	Children of Men (2006)
203.	Stalag 17 (1953)
204.	Persona (1966)
205.	Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
206.	Ed Wood (1994)
207.	Dial M for Murder (1954)
208.	The Battle of Algiers (1966)
209.	Let the Right One In (2008)
210.	All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
211.	Big Fish (2003)
212.	Magnolia (1999)
213.	Rocky (1976)
214.	The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)
215.	Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
216.	Fanny and Alexander (1982)
217.	Mystic River (2003)
218.	Manhattan (1979)
219.	Barry Lyndon (1975)
220.	Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
221.	Mary and Max (2009)
222.	Patton (1970)
223.	Duck Soup (1933)
224.	Rosemary's Baby (1968)
225.	The Celebration (1998)
226.	Kick-Ass (2010)
227.	In the Mood for Love (2000)
228.	Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
229.	Roman Holiday (1953)
230.	Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
231.	The Truman Show (1998)
232.	Infernal Affairs (2002)
233.	Black Swan (2010)
234.	Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
235.	Crash (2004/I)
236.	His Girl Friday (1940)
237.	Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)
238.	Harvey (1950)
239.	Three Colors: Red (1994)
240.	Nights of Cabiria (1957)
241.	The Philadelphia Story (1940)
242.	A Christmas Story (1983)
243.	Sleuth (1972)
244.	King Kong (1933)
245.	Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring (2003)
246.	Rope (1948)
247.	Monsters, Inc. (2001)
248.	The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
249.	Castle in the Sky (1986)
250.	Mulholland Dr. (2001)

The formula for calculating the Top Rated 250 Titles gives a true Bayesian estimate:

 weighted rating (WR) = (v ÷ (v+m)) × R + (m ÷ (v+m)) × C

where:

•                R = average for the movie (mean) = (Rating)

•                v = number of votes for the movie = (votes)

•                m = minimum votes required to be listed in the Top 250 (currently 3000)

C = the mean vote across the whole report (currently 6.9)