Riot71

So far it looks like Caddyshack isn’t going to make it. And the reasons are disappointing. A lot of people blaming their age. But i hate the whole “it’s a millennial thing.” I don’t buy that. I know plenty of millennials who quote Caddyshack as much as my friends and I did as kids. Like MP/Grail, Caddyshack is iconic. Is it all over the place? Yes. That’s the type of comedy that it is and it set the standard for the comedies of today. Also, we shouldn’t be talking about plots or narrative unless it’s a vs. episode due to the fact that The Room’s in the Canon and that film is straight trash. Not niche or a curiosity. Just garbage. But like Alex pointed out, the writers knew exactly what they were doing from the start. The slobs vs. snobs narrative was set when the pristine greens and the classical music were bum rushed by Kenny Loggins and the gopher. And although the racial politics was only hinted at, the people of the post Tiger Woods era forget that if you weren’t a WASP, you were not welcomed at most golf courses. I also thinks it’s unfair to not vote a film in because something similar has already been canonized. What’s that? Are we only voting in one thriller or drama from a certain era? If we already have a French horror film in the Canon is that it for French horror films? Maybe I just don’t understand the rules. I’m voting yes for Caddyshack for it’s iconic status and for being the best of the 80’s silly sophomoric comedies. (Airplane is the best comedy of the 80’s. But that was straight satire). Here’s hoping Caddyshack comes in under par.

Keeping this short and sweet, my vote automatically goes to The Excorcist. I’ve watched III a couple of times and even though it succeeds in a few effective scares, it still comes off as cheesy in a few parts. I agree that Brad Dourif is fantastic. But the original film still holds up today as a disturbing horror film with brilliant writing, performances, directing, cinematography, and music. Oh, the music.

I’m a little late to this party. But I voted yes. Only because I figured we would never get another super hero movie up for vote inThe Canon and The Avengers was a triumph in what Marvel started w/ Iron Man In 2008 by creating an extended universe and bringing those elements together. Hopefully, this won’t be the last time we get this since imo super hero action is a genre of cinema like romantic comedy or crime drama. We wouldn’t pick “just one” of those. So we shouldn’t limit super hero movies. They’re based on literature and most have cultural significance. As Stan Lee would say, “excelsior!”

With work, school, and kids it’s hard to get out and watch everything. But so far the top 3 on my best of 2017 is Coco, Get Out, and Dunkirk. Coco is genuinely heartwarming, funny, and really speaks to the importance of family, communication, and understanding. Get Out for its sharp, satirical edge, strong performances, and taking appropriation to a whole new level. Finally, Dunkirk for its edge of your seat suspense, visuals, and story structure. I’ll get back to this when I view more films.

Jesus Amy. If Starship Troopers gets in, that means no Robocop? So unfair. Robocop is a much better movie and the foreshadowing of trash TV to the militarization of the police should automatically elect the film for canonization. I didn’t like ST when it first came out and still don’t care for it. The movie does have its B movie charms. But it’s still not a great film. At least not worth being in The Canon.

BTTF one still holds up, minus the racist Libyan subplot and the rape stuff, as a movie with heart & charm. BTTF 2 was utterly ridiculous and 3 jumped the shark and was just a shell of a film. So my vote is for BTTF only.

I agree with Amy that the humor was out of place and the music was goofy. However, I didn’t mind the special effects. For a low budget movie they were pretty good (except for the fire scene). Also, the movie was beautifully shot. In fact there are a lot of gorgeous scenes in this film. With all that said, I don’t believe this movie deserves to be canonized. But it does deserved to be watched.

I vote a hard no on The Matrix going into The Canon. I didn't like The Matrix the first time I saw it. And after repeated viewings I still don't like it. It doesn't help that Keanu Reeves is one of the worst actors steadily working in Hollywood. But it came off as pretentious pseudo-intellectual trash then and it still does. Yes, as Cameron pointed out, the film has a diverse cast which is something that Hollywood movies to this day still have a problem with (it's getting better). But it isn't enough to get past the goofiness of the film and the feeling that if The Matrix were a person it would be that annoying kid that took one philosophy class and now thinks he's Albert Camus. The queer theory analysis is interesting and I may take a look at the movie again through that lens. But it won't be enough to change my mind.

Friday was a breath of fresh air when I first saw it. I was in my 20's in the 90's, so it spoke to me as a youth growing up in a black, working class neighborhood. As much as I enjoyed important "hood" films like Boyz and Menace, it was nice to see a comedy for a change that reflected the lives of people in my community. Yes, it did have cartoonish elements and some people were written as caricatures. But for me, that was part of Friday's charm. I could have done without the side plot of Smokey owing money to Big Worm. But I guarantee the suits at New Line needed a drive-by scene to "appeal to the urban movie goers." But Craig finally sticking up for himself and his community against Deebo was needed and, contrary to Ben's assessment, was Craig's arc. It also brought to mind that during Jim Crow we use to police our own communities and look out for each other. And I believe the film was sending the message that we should get back to that. One thing that wasn't mentioned in the discussion was the soundtrack. Friday had a spectacular soundtrack. It had the greats of Hip Hop like Dr. Dre, Cypress Hill, Scarface, and of course Ice Cube. It also had classic artists like Rose Royce, Rick James, Roger Troutman, and The Isley Brothers. It was the sound of my neighborhood and others like it. Friday isn't perfect. But it's impact on culture is still felt today. It's highly quotable, follows in the footsteps of Blaxploitation comedies of the 70's with crazy characters, and levels up with a great soundtrack. Like the teen comedies that came before it (American Graffiti and Fast Times), Friday is a time capsule. This is why it belongs in The Canon. Take note that I didn't mention the weed smoking. I don't consider this a stoner comedy like Half Baked. Drugs were just a small part of the story just like drugs don't define an entire neighborhood.

This must be our punishment for dissing Jerry Maguire. Both Top Gun & Minority Report are movies undeserving of canonization. As Tom Cruise movies go, Born On The Fourth July or Risky Business would have been a better face-off. Yes, Top Gun speaks to the zeitgeist of 80's culture. But it was corny then and it's corny now. As far as Minority Report goes, it didn't age very well and it's not even that old. Also, it's one of Steven Spielberg's worse movies so why should it even be up for a vote? I know how Amy feels about the neither vote, but this will be a no vote for me. May the best/worst movie win?

The first time I saw The Stepford Wives I was really young. It had to have been on television when KTLA or KCOP were having one of their "strange movie" theme weeks. And I remember being horrified. I didn't know anything about feminism or patriarchy at the time, but my father was an ordained Baptist minister and liked to prattle on about how the man was the "head of the household" and women were there to serve. The film really stuck w/ me. I've watched the movie numerous times since and even though it's dated (not by much), the dark, satirical edge of the film is still sharp today as it was in 1975. I'm voting yes for those reasons plus the impact it's had on other films as well as inspiring the surperb "Get Out" and the goofy, but fun Stepford Teens movie from the 90's "Disturbing Behavior."

I examined whether my bias is the reason why I voted yes in favor of Raising Arizona to be in the Canon, it being the first Coen brothers film I ever watched. However, recent viewings have confirmed that this isn't only the best of the Coens, but one of the best comedies/films in the history of cinema. The camera work, as Amy mentioned, is exceptional. The zaniness of the film and the performances are comical, but never over the top. Also, I have to call bullshit on Ira's claim that he's a Coen brothers fan. Raising Arizona is quintessential Coen's. If you don't like this film, you can't be a true Coen brothers fan.