My #1, Training Day is one of the three films I consider to be as close to perfection as you can get. Absolute top tier.

Alonzo is one of the greatest movie villains and one of the greatest movie characters. His charisma is endless, for a long time he has everyone believing his warped sense of morality and justice. That's because he's not entirely wrong, but as the movie goes on you realise, at the same time as rookie cop Jake realises, that he is taking his beliefs way beyond a reasonable conclusion and using them to justify his own selfish agenda.

I've always found Ethan Hawke to be a very underrated actor, perhaps because he doesn't take many leading roles, at least not in big budget type movies. But he's excellent here, a perfect foil, easily relatable because for most of the movie, everyone would behave more or less how Hawke behaves in the face of the juggernaut that is Alonzo Harris.

Recently, from the What Did You Think of the Last Movie You Saw? thread:

Jun 12, 2020 3:25:56 GMT 🤯 said:

Sometimes I forget just how good Training Day was

Wasn't last movie I saw

Just thinking about it

That near miss execution-via-vatos scene

I like LOTR, but I can’t believe 2 of them made this list.

Also finally watched Training Day a few months back with System I loved the movie, was super enjoyable/performances were amazing. I can definitely understand why people love it, but this didn’t come close to making my list.

For the record, I'm still bodyslam-ing this countdown.

Training Day was my #2.

As stated, the story is just amazing. The acting is incredible. You ever get your SHIT pushed in?! Just an amazing movie.

Jun 14, 2020 15:24:01 GMT 🤯 said:

For the record, I'm still bodyslam -ing this countdown.

Every countdown someone has to do it. If he ever gets tired of being referenced he should rename himself to scoopslam.

Jun 13, 2020 19:05:17 GMT KING KID said:

It’s insane that LOTR is going to have 3 top 10 movies.

Why? They are incredibly popular movies. Made a shit ton at the box office. #7, #10 and #15 on IMDb. They are demonstrably some of the most beloved films of all time.

Jun 11, 2020 18:55:51 GMT thereallt said:

Two Towers is the better overall movie but Return of the King is brilliant in it's own right. The Oscar was really more for the trilogy as a whole because the first two films got jerked by the Academy.

Yeah, as standalone films, Fellowship is hurt by feeling like a beginning. Return is hurt by taking an hour to wrap up a 3 and a half hour film because its wrapping up all of it. Two Towers is clearly the best standalone for me as well, yet lowest on IMDb. Opens with Gandalf fighting the Balrog and we get the excellent Helm's Deep battle as the climax before a little Frodo/Sam/Gollum scene at the end to set up what is to come.

But it is really one giant film and I only ever don't think of it as such for lists like this, because it would sort-of be breaking the rules. But it is unlike other sequels or series. You make a film and people like it, so the studio wants you to make a sequel, so you go away and work on a new script and then make a second film. This is how most sequels happen. Or you can have a planned series like Harry Potter, based off a book series, but they are clearly distinct movies with separate productions, with the director and team changing at different points.

The Lord of the Rings was one giant production. It was all planned out as a single thing, with production design beginning in August 1997 and (excluding pick-up shots) filming taking place between October 1999 and December 2000, with the three films released in December of the three subsequent years. Therefore, each film had basically a full year spent on its post-production, editing and pick-up shots (there was a single pick-up shot post-ROTK theatrical release in 2004 for the extended edition). Them being released individually obviously makes sense practically (most people aren't going spend half a day in the cinema) and financially. And I agree that the Academy as a whole realised this and waited for the concluding chapter and gave it all the awards for the totality really, which is admittedly a tad unfair to the other films released in 2003.

And what is up with all you nerds not liking Lord of the Rings? It is fantastic. A plethora of great characters, quotable lines, memorable scenes, incredible music (for range of memorable pieces, up there with anything really), effects that hold up very well for the most part, great cinematography, sound design, sets, make-up, everything. Because it has great almost everything, the acting gets slept on a bit and barely received any nominations, but it is pretty great across the board, with a few standouts. It does feel like most are starting to acknowledge Andy Serkis' Gollum as a great acting performance and that motion capture can be thought of as essentially deep make-up. But the animators can obviously add things, so there is a grey area, making it understandable why it is easier just to not consider those roles for awards and the like.

------------------------------------------------------

Training Day is a very good film with a classic Denzel performance. I feel like it would be closer to #100 than #1 on a 00s list for me. Would actually probably be one of the first films I'd think of if asked to name a "very good but not quite great" film. When I think about films in terms of rankings, I often use terms quite strictly to distinguish between the cream of the crop. You could probably make that "great but not quite classic" film to make it work with how most people would use those terms.

Down to 5, with nothing but missed, great flick though. Denzel at his best.

I really hope the last LOTR's movie makes it, that shit will be hilarious as fuck.I didn't send in a list, but all three films would have made it.

I had Training Day at 14, Denzel more than earned his Oscar, a tremendous performance.

Jun 15, 2020 3:41:14 GMT Lony said:

I really hope the last LOTR's movie makes it, that shit will be hilarious as fuck.I didn't send in a list, but all three films would have made it.

Fellowship made it, I’d be surprised if Two Towers doesn’t.

I’ve only seen Training Day once. Thought it was okay but no interest in rewatching it. Wouldn’t come close to my list no matter how good Denzel is in it.

The list will resume tomorrow. Sorry guys.

5. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl 

She's safe, just like I promised. She's all set to marry Norrington, just like she promised. And you get to die for her, just like you promised. So we're all men of our word really... except for, of course, Elizabeth, who is in fact, a woman. ~ Jack Sparrow 

Released 

2003 

Credits 

Director: Gore Verbinski 

Writer: Ted Elliot 

Writer: Terry Rossio 

Cast 

Johnny Depp (Jack Sparrow)

Geoffrey Rush (Captain Barbossa)

Orlando Bloom (Will Turner)

Keira Knightley (Elizabeth Swan)

Jack Davenport (Norrington)

Critical

8.0/10 (IMDB)

79% (RT Critics)

86% (RT Audiences)

Box Office

Domestic: $305,413,918 

Worldwide: $654,264,015 

At the Oscars

- Nominated for Best Leading Actor 

- Nominated for Best Makeup 

- Nominated for Best Sound Mixing 

- Nominated for Best Sound Editing 

- Nominated for Best Visual Effects 

Never got into the Pirates series , but I do always think I should and then get distracted by something else. It's hard to get into a franchise that started off strong when you hear all the downside that comes later and know that ahead of time. Still was surprised to see it make the list this high.

Is this the first? Because I saw it with a friend. Liked it, but not enough to see the rest. Also no idea why @tommy didn't like Keira. She's like Portman but better.

Jun 17, 2020 13:46:00 GMT UT said:

Never got into the Pirates series , but I do always think I should and then get distracted by something else. It's hard to get into a franchise that started off strong when you hear all the downside that comes later and know that ahead of time. Still was surprised to see it make the list this high.

More or less how I feel about PotC.

I feel like we shouldn't be surprised at the first one ranking so highly. We gotta remember the times. It was PotC and LotR driving all the girls wild back then. Cap'n Jack Sparrow was to Johnny Depp what Tony Stark was to RDJ.

Thinking on it more... PotC was kinda like a cross between LotR and MCU. Part prehistoric swashbuckling, part dream team uniting to meander through a never-ending series of adventures, all awash in fantasy elements galore.

I actually saw one of the Pirates and enjoyed it. Can't remember which one, but obviously this did not make my list.

You guys are killing me. How did it rate this high and yet none of you like the franchise or have seen it. I’m hurt, really. This movie was my number 1 pick, so I’m ecstatic that it made it so high, but I’m just in amazement.

I love the POTC franchise. Admittedly 4 and 5 were pretty weak in comparison to the main trilogy, but Johnny Depp is amazing as Jack Sparrow. I love the humour of the franchise even though it can be repetitive. Storytelling and the cast were fantastic. Really need to give all the movies another watch, and convince System to give them a second chance - because like you guys, he hates it as well

Pirates of the Caribbean has brought nothing but pain & misery to my life.

Jun 17, 2020 14:34:19 GMT System said:

Pirates of the Caribbean has brought nothing but pain & misery to my life.

So dramatic... it can bring you 12 hours of happiness now 😁

This would have been a late cut.

I considered it for it's significance. This sounded like a horrible idea for a movie in the 00s, but there was just so much talent involved it made it's mark as the best adventure movie of the decade.

The movie was also a blessing and a curse for Depp. Leading into Pirates, Depp had a fantastic filmography filled with diverse roles, genres and collaberations that made each of his films worth seeing. He had plenty of famous roles, but overnight Sparrow became his most iconic and launched him into the mainstream. From that point on, it seemed like producers were only offering Depp these big roles and a lot of the smaller interesting roles became less and less. It didn't help that one of his collaberators Tim Burton also became creatively bankrupt at this time leading to a lot of forgettable dross.

Also like Back to the Future and the Matrix, you could watch Black Pearl and forget the rest.

EDIT: :lol: this thread. This is all I can think about right now:

To PotC's credit, I recall the first movie actually being really good and highly entertaining. I forget the exact story arc, but I wonder if the first movie could've worked as a standalone if need be? Can't say the same about the first entry in the LotR series! I just assume the PotC gang just kept going back to the same old well with every follow-on until they jumped the shark. Does that sound about right?

Jun 17, 2020 14:43:44 GMT 🤯 said:

To PotC's credit, I recall the first movie actually being really good and highly entertaining. I forget the exact story arc, but I wonder if the first movie could've worked as a standalone if need be? Can't say the same about the first entry in the LotR series! I just assume the PotC gang just kept going back to the same old well with every follow-on until they jumped the shark. Does that sound about right?

It pulled a BttF and Matrix where parts II and III were interlinked.

Then the rest became cash-grabs where they'd film them on the Gold Coast and our Minister for Agriculture had to give Johnny an old fashion booting for violating our quarantine laws.

So here we go again!

Everyone dislikes the movie (some even hate it!) yet it LOTRs on us and makes it in the top 10, wait top 5!

Don't worry Kid, the Notebook is going to make it.

Trust.

4. Lord of the Rings Two Towers

3. The Notebook

2. Step Brothers

1. Departed

Unless the Dark Knight comes and bounces it off.

Still you got ironmaiden, pi, wife, sandylea, System to help you out.

Jun 17, 2020 15:18:29 GMT Big Pete said:

Don't worry Kid, the Notebook is going to make it.

Trust.

4. Lord of the Rings Two Towers

3. The Notebook

2. Step Brothers

1. Departed

Unless the Dark Knight comes and bounces it off.

Still you got ironmaiden, pi, wife, sandylea, System to help you out.

Wife gave no fux about this countdown and didn't submit a list.

Notebook is fucked and it's all KING KID's fault.

I seriously underrate/overlook both The Lonely Island and Michael Bolton.

Big Pete, that was amazing. And the Forrest Gump pivot felt especially on point for PW!

Look, I really liked The Notebook when I eventually bought into the hype and finally watched it, but it’s not on my list. Only 3 movies from my list have made it so far, and I’m definitely expecting another one I put on my list to make it. Otherwise I’ll eat my hat 🤷🏻‍♀️ BUT only one, maybe two (or 3 if you want to argue about it) was a love story on my list haha

Jun 17, 2020 15:18:29 GMT Big Pete said:

Don't worry Kid, the Notebook is going to make it.

Trust.

4. Lord of the Rings Two Towers

3. The Notebook

2. Step Brothers

1. Departed

Unless the Dark Knight comes and bounces it off.

Still you got ironmaiden, pi, wife, sandylea, System to help you out.

I forgot about Step Brothers and Dark Knight. Only DK will make the list. Probably finish #2.

There's one movie I really hope didn't get forgotten about but I don't want to spoil it yet unless it's not #3 or #4.