23. Thunderball
1965
D: Terence Young
**********
It’s Raw Footage:
The Movie. Extremely dull, even though it starts out strong and has a good theme.
22. El Cid
1961
D: Anthony Mann
**********
I only heard of this movie because it’s apparently one of
my mother’s favorite films.
Unfortunately, I found it poorly paced and dull. I was heartbroken when I reached the end of
the disc and realized I had to flip it around and sit through more movie. I don’t want to pull a Hayden Christensen on
Sophia Loren because this is the only role I’ve seen her in, but she is
terrible in this movie.
21. From Russia with Love
1963
D: Terence Young
**********
I know this is a classic Bond movie that introduced some
of the iconic elements from the franchise, but I found it boring. I seem to have this problem with most 60’s
action movies. Despite assertions to the
contrary, they generally have terrible pacing.
I’m not one of those people who automatically assumes that slow pacing
is bad, but action movies that lack cerebral or dramatic tone should move fast. Also, action scenes back then were extremely
underwhelming, and this movie is no exception. I will point out that the
novel focuses more on character development, which the movie sorely lacks.
20. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
1969
D: Peter R. Hunt
**********
While this was an early attempt to add character to the
protagonist, it fails due to some cheese as well as a weak performance from
George Lazenby. I still think he’s a
better Bond than Roger Moore, though.
Pretty good theme song.
19. Spartacus
1960
D: Stanley Kubrick
**********
A well-done 50’s-style historical epic, but it mostly
lacks Kubrick’s artfulness. I couldn’t
help finding the Roman characters more engaging than the protagonists, though. Sometimes I want to get through some of
Spartacus’ scenes so I could see Peter Ustinov being a lovable fat man.
18. It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
1963
D: Stanley Kramer
**********
It’s a comedy that predates Bullitt by five years and it still has more impressive car
stunts. Funny in parts, but at 2:40, it’s
WAY too long for a slapstick comedy (the original cut is an even more absurd
3:30).
17. True Grit
1969
D: Henry Hathaway
**********
A good Western in which Johne Wayne gives a good
performance, but I like the Coen Bros. remake more.
16. Planet of the Apes
1968
D: Franklin J. Schaffner
**********
Despite (or maybe because of) the cheesy premise, it’s
still a classic, bolstered by great makeup, memorable moments, and Charlton
Heston’s performance. It’s still
surprising that it was made by the same director as Patton, though.
15. Goldfinger
1964
D: Guy Hamilton
**********
I’m not the biggest fan of earlier Bond movies; I find
them lacking in characterization and the action is cheesy and dated. Still, this one has just enough gimmickiness
to be classic.
14. 101 Dalmations
1961
D: Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, Wolfgang Reitherman
**********
One of the many nostalgic Disney cartoons of the time
with a memorably over-the-top villain.
13. The Jungle Book
1967
D: Wolfgang Reitherman
**********
Memorable songs and classic characters.
12. Dr. No
1962
D: Terence Young
**********
A good introduction to the series with a memorable
villain.
11. The Sword in the Stone
1963
D: Wolfgang Reitherman
**********
Another nostalgic Disney movie, and it has a fat dragon!
10. The Manchurian Candidate
1962
D: John Frankenheimer
**********
A good Cold War thriller with some satirical moments.
9. Lawrence of Arabia
1962
D: David Lean
**********
A very well-done epic with amazing cinematography
8. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
1969
D: George Roy Hill
**********
A great Western with two memorably rascally protagonists.
7. Coolhand Luke
1967
D: Stuart Rosenberg
**********
Great performances from Paul Newman and Strother Martin
6. Batman: The Movie
1966
D: Leslie H. Martinson
**********
Though it’s not faithful to the dark roots of the
character, it’s still extremely funny. If
the Joel Schumacher movies had jokes this creative, I would have liked them.
5. Psycho
1960
D: Alfred Hitchcock
**********
4. Dr. Strangelove
1964
D: Stanley Kubrick
**********
One of the best comedies of the time.
3. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
1966
D: Sergio Leone
**********
Possibly the best Western ever made.
2. Doctor Zhivago
1965
D: David Lean
**********
A great story with excellent cinematography. The theme song is romantic.
1. 2001: A Space Odyssey
1966
D: Stanley Kubrick
**********
Good symbolism.
Beautiful cinematography. Special
effects that still hold up. Kubrick at
his best.
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