I found this on theforce.net on the greatest films of all time by Empire Magazine voted by its fans. Now I don't agree with all the films in the top 10, cause that is always up for debate, but is it a coincidence that many of us here feel that the two best Star Wars films are the original & ESB, and they are both in the top 5, and none of the other 4 SW movies are even close.
Empire Magazine's Greatest Films Of All Time
Posted By Dustin on January 28, 2006 Fan of TheForce.net Stehpen hall writes in:
In the latest of Empire Magazine's periodic polls of the greatest films of all time, Star Wars found itself dislodged from the no. 1 spot by The Shawshank Redemption, but The Empire Strikes Back came in at no. 2 with Star Wars at no. 4.
The full top 10 consists of:
1. The Shawshank Redemption 2. The Empire Strikes Back 3. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring 4. Star Wars 5. The Godfather 6. Pulp Fiction 7. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 8. Fight Club 9. GoodFellas 10. The Matrix
Other notable entries were Raiders of the Lost Ark at 15, Revenge of the Sith at 40, and Return of the Jedi at 48.
I not really surprised them two are voted in the top ten of all time, me personally I would put the original Star Wars before any of the others including Empire, and this and other many polls seem to prove that they are the genuine classics of the series as seen by film fans and by some Star Wars fans in general. Sith has done well to come in at no 40 and in one way surprised it got higher than Jedi,considering the reaction to the quality of Prequels by sections of film fans
Fucking teenagers voting again, The Matrix, Pulp Fiction, Fight Club (that'll be the girlies voting there) and those god awful LOTR films in the top 10!! Where the fuck are films like Jaws, Close Encounters, Psycho, Wizard of Oz and other classic groundbreaking movies like that.
I agree with you about the list, it isnt a good representation of the greatest of all time films and dont agree with the list myself, but do think Star Wars and Empire deserve to be placed among the greatest films ever made.
Originally posted by: Mr Bungle I agree with you about the list, it isnt a good representation of the greatest of all time films and dont agree with the list myself, but do think Star Wars and Empire deserve to be placed among the greatest films ever made.
I believe that movies like Pulp Fiction and possibly Fight Club will stand the test of time, but I don't think Fight Club or LOTR deserve to be in the Top Ten. As said before, movies like Psycho, Casablanca, Metropolis, etc. deserve a higher than those movies. Shawshank Redemption at No. 1? I dunno, it has been one of my favourite movies in the past, but it doesn't seem like a groundbreaking classic. It all depends on the criteria and such.
EDIT: Not to mention the fact that ESB beats Shawshank hands down! MTFBWY. Always.
I agree with everyone here that some of the top ten movies here are not a good representation of the greatest movies of all-time, but I think it is good to read after the PT and all the revisionism of the SW saga being now a 6 movie story and it is story of Anakin that the same 2 movies that were considered classics before the PT are still considered classics after the PT. Whatever the top 10 greatest movies are, I really don't care, as long fans who are not diehard SW nuts, still look at Star Wars & ESB as classics. I know we are all not crazy here for our views of the SW movies, but in other forums when people say TPM is a great movie, and ROTS is the better than ESB, you know they are out of the mainstream of movie goers.
By the way, I agree with Mr. Bungle as much as I love ESB, I still think the original Star Wars should rank alittle bit higher: 1. Star Wars 2. The Empire Strikes Back, that is how my list always starts.
So.. The Matrix... is better than Casablanca, or Citizen Kane. “Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering
I've really enjoyed "The Shawshank Redemption" but, me too, I don't think it deserves the 1st place. BTW, this film is 2nd on the IMDB 250 Top, just after "The Godfather" as #1. LOTR3 is #4. Concerning SW, ESB is #9 and Star Wars is #10. Pretty interesting... if you wanna take a look
I find the IMDB top 10 a better guide to the all time greatest film ever than this Empire mag poll to the greatest film ever, though again i would place the original Star Wars movie above The Empire Strikes Back and definatly above ROTK and with a higher ranking than 10
Any "of all time" film ranking is based on the lifespan and experience of the participants. If you've never seen Citizen Kane, it's easy to put LOTR higher on the list. This applies to older generations also. People who grew up watching the classics might not fully appreciate films like A Clockwork Orange or Donnie Darko, even if they're worthy of recognition on such lists.
In short, top film lists are 100% bullshit. Forum Administrator
Originally posted by: Jay Any "of all time" film ranking is based on the lifespan and experience of the participants. If you've never seen Citizen Kane, it's easy to put LOTR higher on the list. This applies to older generations also. People who grew up watching the classics might not fully appreciate films like A Clockwork Orange or Donnie Darko, even if they're worthy of recognition on such lists.
In short, top film lists are 100% bullshit.
I agree. And the fact that we are actually in the "big-entertainment" era (in every form of art) doesn't help much...
Originally posted by: Jay Any "of all time" film ranking is based on the lifespan and experience of the participants. If you've never seen Citizen Kane, it's easy to put LOTR higher on the list. This applies to older generations also. People who grew up watching the classics might not fully appreciate films like A Clockwork Orange or Donnie Darko, even if they're worthy of recognition on such lists.
In short, top film lists are 100% bullshit.
True to a point, but a film that has legs will always be seen unless it is ALTERED in some way ( colorization, overdone CGI ). Has anyone watched The Mark of Zorro w/ Tyrone Power lately? Captain Blood w/ Errol Flynn- on and on. The main reason I can't watch the digital versions of the Trilogy is the imprint that was originally put on me at the theatre- to change that breaks focus. My stuff. LOOK OUT!
I'd certainly agree that a truly good film is universal and timeless, but no one can agree on what that means. Some people simply don't like modern films because they're modern, and some people don't like older films because they're old.
I have a healthy appreciation for all fine film, at least I like to think so. When I look back on how I felt the first time I'd seen The Adventures of Robin Hood with Errol Flynn, which was only just last year, it makes me smile. Made decades ago, but still a wonderful and amusing adventure film. And I love the colors from that era of filmmaking. Forum Administrator
Originally posted by: Jay Any "of all time" film ranking is based on the lifespan and experience of the participants. If you've never seen Citizen Kane, it's easy to put LOTR higher on the list. This applies to older generations also. People who grew up watching the classics might not fully appreciate films like A Clockwork Orange or Donnie Darko, even if they're worthy of recognition on such lists.
In short, top film lists are 100% bullshit.
I TOTALLY AGREE. EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN TOP TEN FILM LIST.
yeah i donno, i am a big lotr fan but i dont think i would go as far as to put any of the lotr movies in my top ten, people seem to get mixed up about these movies. they were probably one of the great accomplishments in cinima, but they probably wouldnt make the top 20 all time best movies jsut cause there are so many movies that were better then them. to turn lord of the rings into movies was insanely difficults and to do it well, even harder, and that was done and its why these movies are great, but looking at them objectively they are not even in the top 20 all times best movies made, or rather shouldnt be.
Obviously these lists are mostly pointless, but it does give us some idea what films the magazine assistants and their families like
Creator of Star Wars Begins, Building Empire and Returning to Jedi
Follow me on twitter @jamieSWB. Please support me at - http://www.patreon.com/jamiebenning/
