Favorite and least favorite movies in The Canon

[j_scanlon 59]

Name your favorite and least favorite movies that have made it in.

Likewise, what are your favorite movies that failed to make The Canon?

Full list here:

https://en.wikipedia..._Canon_episodes

 

 

 

Favorite in the Canon: EVIL DEAD II

Least Favorite: ANIMAL HOUSE

Favorite that didn't make it: THE FLY

 

Edit: also you can say which movie you're most happy failed to make it in

[macshordo 112]

Fav: Evil Dead II

Least: Chi-Raq

Didn't make it: The Empire Strikes Back

[HoldenMartinson 221]

Favorite induction: Battle Royale, though I have to give a shoutout to Cannibal Holocaust

Least favorite induction: Rocky Horror Picture Show

Should have made it in: Broadcast News, OR Empire Strikes Back

[Muthsarah 124]

Favorite: Star Wars (though Grand Budapest was RIGHT THERE, so close!)

 

Least Favorite; Either There's Something About Mary or Election. When comedies don't work, it's painful.

 

Didn't make it: Empire Strikes Back. I've bitched so much about its exclusion. It never helps. The pain...festers.....And I really do think less of Devin and Amy as carbon-based lifeforms that both of them seem to to think it's utter crap. Which I don't wanna do, because I love them both. But still. They hate this movie. And so a part of me hates them.

[Threshold 93]

Favourite: Grand Budapest Hotel

Least Favourite: Working Girl (Still feeling really shitty about that)

Didn't Make it: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

[HoldenMartinson 221]

Didn't make it: Empire Strikes Back. I've bitched so much about its exclusion. It never helps. The pain...festers.....And I really do think less of Devin and Amy as carbon-based lifeforms that both of them seem to to think it's utter crap. Which I don't wanna do, because I love them both. But still. They hate this movie. And so a part of me hates them.

 

You should really hate Elijah Wood, because he chose Jurassic Park on the grounds that the film "is Speilberg!!!" Sorry, Elijah. We already had E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, and more on the way. Never. Forget.

[TKFopp 14]

Favorite in the Canon: The Thing

Least Favorite: Fury Road/Grand Budapest Hotel/Chi-Raq (see below)

Favorite that didn't make it: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

 

I personally don't think that any movie in the year of it's own initial release should be considered for the Canon. Don't get me wrong, I love and own Grand Budapest Hotel and Mad Max Fury Road (haven't seen Chi-Raq yet), but part of what makes a film Canon worthy is its impact and influence in the years to come. Sometimes it takes while for an audience to find a film, and that audience might not even exist when the film was released. There are lot of films in this Canon already that wouldn't have made it in if the decision was made within the 6 months of its original release. We can all find "Best Picture of the Year" winners that sank like a stone into waters of cinema history without leaving a ripple, or a memory of why people were so worked up about it at the time.

 

I'm not saying saying those films I listed wouldn't have made it into the Canon, (Fury Road is a slam dunk), I just think the time is needed to weed out the hot flashes of the moment we all can find ourselves a part of just because something's new or of the moment. I don't think that applies to any of the three movies I listed, but it may one day. 2-3 years since its initial release would be ideal, but that's just me.

[joel_rosenbaum 1269]

I'm surprised to find myself writing this, but my favorite might be Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

 

My least favorite is probably Rocky Horror Picture Show -- never had much feeling for camp, personally -- although I recognize its widespread influence/importance.

 

I don't really feel like any movies have been unfairly excluded. But my favorite non-inductee? Probably Mad Max.

[JonHillman 40]

Favorite: Apocalypse Now, followed closely by The Godfather, Freaks, Evil Dead II (still wish the first had made it in as well), and Annie Hall

 

Least Favorite (of the ones I've seen): probably Working Girl, although Superman will probably take that spot since it looks like it's going to win the newest versus, and Slacker will certainly take this spot if it gets in. I remember not liking Sex, Lies, and Videotape too much, but it's been too long since I've seen it to make a fair call.

 

Favorite that didn't make it: Easily American Beauty, followed by The Fly and Aliens

 

 

You should really hate Elijah Wood, because he chose Jurassic Park on the grounds that the film "is Speilberg!!!" Sorry, Elijah. We already had E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, and more on the way. Never. Forget.

I feel bad that I voted for Jurassic Park. At the time it was so close that I literally just flipped a coin for my vote, but after rewatching Empire recently, I realized that I like it much better. To think, my one vote could have changed everything.

[j_scanlon 59]

Didn't make it: Empire Strikes Back. I've bitched so much about its exclusion. It never helps. The pain...festers.....And I really do think less of Devin and Amy as carbon-based lifeforms that both of them seem to to think it's utter crap. Which I don't wanna do, because I love them both. But still. They hate this movie. And so a part of me hates them.

 

I dont think Devin hates it at all dude

[Llewellyn_Wells 47]

Favorite: Double Indemnity/Star Wars

Least: Blade Runner (I can't say how relieved I was when neither of them liked it, but I get why it's Canon worthy)

Didn't Make It: The Empire Strikes Back/Close Encounters/Manhattan (VS. episodes kill me)

[gene_shallot 79]

Ooh this sounds fun:

 

Favorite in the Canon: The Thing

 

Least Fave in the Canon: tie - Animal House & Cannibal Holocaust

 

Favorite that didn't make it: Mission: Impossible

 

(Edit: it was fun!)

[gene_shallot 79]

Didn't make it: Empire Strikes Back. I've bitched so much about its exclusion. It never helps. The pain...festers.....And I really do think less of Devin and Amy as carbon-based lifeforms that both of them seem to to think it's utter crap. Which I don't wanna do, because I love them both. But still. They hate this movie. And so a part of me hates them.

Whoa, what? When did either of them say they hated it? (Unless this is an elaborate joke? In which case, haha, good one!)

[j_scanlon 59]

Could also do the film youre most glad didnt make it - which for me is a hard tie between ROMEO + JULIET and PRETTY IN PINK

[Muthsarah 124]

Most happy not to get in: Lolita. Imagine if there was only one Spielberg film in The Canon, and it was "The Terminal".

 

...OK, it's not THAT bad. Imagine if it was "Hook".

[Marsellus_H 118]

Favorite: All About Eve.This is a film I've seen about 2 years ago, and rewatched it for the particular episode. I've revisited since then at least 10 times, it's become what Devin would call "my background movie". I even love listening to the dialogue, when I go skating or drive the car to work. It always gives me a big smile. However, the probably best-crafted film in the Canon at this point would be Sunrise, in my opinion.

 

Least Favorite: Grand Budapest Hotel. I know, it's a beloved film by many in here, and I guess I should give it another shot. But I was so severely underwhelmed by this flick when I watched it in the cinema, it nearly hurt phisically: The predictability, the cartoonish characters, the "look at me, I'm directing!"-filmmaking, and the boarderline racist depiction of Eastern Europe didn't help. Once you get over the pretty charming performance by Ralph Fiennes, you'll detect that the narrow-minded, child-like ignorant perspective of this film comes with some big issues.

 

Favorites that didn't make it: The Fly, and I wanna give a shout-out to First Blood.

[davhahn 4]

Favorite: The Thing

 

Least favorite: (tie) Working Girl, Sex, Lies and Videotape, Waltz with Bashir, Casino Royale - they are all fine, but the continual debasing of the Canon for such middling movies is going to bring it all crashing down (as if it really means that much anyway)

 

Favorites that didn't make it: Romeo + Juliet (this has been the biggest travesty of a movie not making it so far in the Canon) Guardians of the Galaxy (only in relation to it not making it vs. Grand Budapest Hotel), The Goonies, Creed

 

Movies that I'm glad did NOT make the cut: The Hurt Locker (again, it's ok, but I don't want these mediocre movies hanging around all the cool kids), Jerry Maguire, Broadcast News

[beezyharps 125]

Favorite: It's A Wonderful Life

Every year I watch it on Christmas Eve, and every year I cry. The story of George Bailey just gets better as a I get older, and Jimmy Stewart gives one of the great acting performances of all time.

 

Least: Clerks

I understand the importance, but other than 2 or 3 scenes I do not understand the appeal of this movie at all. 'Dogma' and 'Chasing Amy' are both better Kevin Smith movies in my opinion. I just do not get this one. It bores me.

 

Favorite that didn't make it: Romeo + Juliet

Once again, I understand why this didn't make it, but I f*cking love this movie. The performances by Claire Danes and Leo are phenomenal, and their chemistry alone makes this one of my favorite onscreen Shakespeare adaptations of all time. Also you guys really should do another Shakespeare film soon.

[bri-witched 60]

Favorite: Alien. One of my favorite films of all time.

 

Least favorite: Working Girl or Chi-Raq. For a workplace 80's comedy about women, I think 9 to 5 is a much better film. And I hated Chi-Raq, I don't think Spike Lee's directed anything worth a damn post The 25th Hour.

 

Favorite that didn't make it: Empire Strikes Back.

[AlexChristianLovendahl 34]

Favorite in: Alien

Least Favorite In: E.T.

Favorite Out: Manhattan

[Shrek & Donkey Kong 4336]

Favorite: The 400 Blows

 

Least Favorite: Blade Runner

 

Favorite Out: Manhattan

[j_scanlon 59]

few seem to be happy with Chi-Raq in the canon. i think they goofed not letting Tangerine happen.

[Muthsarah 124]

few seem to be happy with Chi-Raq in the canon. i think they goofed not letting Tangerine happen.

 

It was available on Netflix. At the time of that episode. I know 'cuz I watched it the same day I heard that episode.

 

Yeah. They (EDIT: Devin) goofed. They were both pretty good movies, but, given the production restrictions, Tangerine was the more impressive movie. And...also the more enjoyably watchable.

[Muthsarah 124]

Least Favorite: Grand Budapest Hotel. I know, it's a beloved film by many in here, and I guess I should give it another shot. But I was so severely underwhelmed by this flick when I watched it in the cinema, it nearly hurt phisically: The predictability, the cartoonish characters, the "look at me, I'm directing!"-filmmaking, and the boarderline racist depiction of Eastern Europe didn't help. Once you get over the pretty charming performance by Ralph Fiennes, you'll detect that the narrow-minded, child-like ignorant perspective of this film comes with some big issues.

 

I hope you do give it another chance, and, moreso, that you find more to enjoy the second time. I'm one of the many who feels that THIS was the movie where Wes Anderson finally came together to produce something more than just cute and twee, but actually meaningful and timeless.

 

Out of curiosity, how do you feel about Anderson's other films? As far as stageyness goes, what about Fantastic Mr. Fox in particular? I find it hard to wrap my mind around how anyone could like that film (which I consider one of his weakest) but not ADORE Grand Budapest. Sure, the latter is a very setpiece-based film, enormously stagey, a love letter to a time the filmmaker could never have known himself, based on the work of someone long dead who actually did understand his past, even as he struggled to understand his present. But....it's of a time long ago. How could any of us (fairly) young people hope to understand such a time, without indulging in some amount of either shallow fancy, or passive acceptance? Zweig's a fascinating author (do read "The World of Yesterday" if you have any interest in what must have been running through Anderson's mind when he came up with this movie), but "Grand Budapest" must exist as half-second-hand-memoir and half high-fantasy romance, in every sense of that word. It's a story all about a time that has almost completely faded away. Almost every impression is going to be second-hand now.

 

As a compulsive devourer of the culture of bygone days, I couldn't have resisted this movie if I tried. It was MADE for me. There's my bias.

 

However, I must take exception to something you said in this post. Borderline racist depiction of Eastern Europeans? I don't want to get into a broad/vague/pointless discussion of what races are or what it means to have negative perceptions of anyone different from you, but....you had clear heroes, clear villains. Very old-fashioned, that. But everyone (with the possible exception of Agatha, I'm not sure I remember what her story was) was Central/Eastern European in some way. In a fictional way, of course. Where was the Lobby Boy from? Turkey? Probably. Played by a guy with an Italian name. The others? Hungarian? Russian? White or Red Russian? Polish? Austrian? Does it matter? I prefer to think it didn't, at least to the author (the author-within-the-movie) especially since the clear sentiment of the film was based on a (as the film pointed out) bygone sentiment that such notions as nationality didn't need to matter. Not that they didn't, to some. But that, at least to the heroes, they didn't. The historical backdrop to the movie was the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Which, sadly, was not a multicultural utopia where everyone lived in harmony regardless of their religion or the culture they accepted as their first. But, also sadly, was a more multicultural and tolerant state than the various nation-states that succeeded it, where anyone - Hungarian, Austrian/German, Romanian, Czech/Slovak, Serbian, Croat, Italian, Jewish, others - who found themselves living in a successor state where they weren't of the majority...ethnicity?...were certainly worse off in their new "modern" nation-state than they were in the old one. It's not a co-incidence that most ended up going full-on fascist during this period.

 

Long story short (too late), Grand Budapest is an elegy to an age that, while it certainly wasn't the acme of civility and tolerance, being very socially rigid and tradition-bound, it nonetheless "officially" held such civility in high esteem (as Fiennes' character represented)., and was, once, wistfully looked back upon by many in Europe who lived during the most savage and tragic time of the 1930s and 1940s. Things were inconsolably bleak at the time (Zweig committed suicide in distant Brazil before World War II even ended), and, in that light, the old days couldn't help but seem like an Elysium, whatever faults it had paling in comparison to the manifest sins of their present.

 

It's a movie about nostalgia. Partly rose-colored, but partly not. About missing more innocent days, if only because modernity can sometimes be worse. And, most of all, missing the idealism and innocence of a time that wouldn't know how to tell the difference between the two, because it hasn't even conceived of how much worse things could be, but which we, the readers/viewers know better from hindsight. I don't think you have to be necessarily wistful of the past to feel an emotional pull from "Grand Budapest". I think, maybe, it's enough to appreciate innocence, to think that there maybe were SOME advantages to living in an earlier time, when things weren't necessarily worse than they are now, even if that innocence was based in a necessary ignorance of the future. Or at least, to be able to empathize with those who were necessarily tinged with this innocence and ignorance, given the time they lived in.

 

You're absolutely right that the film is based on ignorance. At least the flashbacks are, the way Future Zero tells most of the story, it's clearly framed to put the viewer in the 1930s, and not the 1960s looking back on the 1930s. Had these characters (in their younger days) known what was to come of their communities in the years following the main part of this movie, they probably would have acted very differently in their time, if they could even have believed it (and it's quite likely they couldn't have, I think, given the example of actual witnesses of the time, who couldn't believe what they were witnessing). But that's nonetheless what the film's about. It doesn't advocate the idea that the past was necessarily better. Just that the future isn't necessary better for being closer to our present, and that intolerance of any kind, in any time, is always with us, and, one hopes, always worth fighting against, even if it doesn't work out in the short term. Just the example of standing up for one's sense of standards, of decency, it can leave a mark on the future. It can inspire. And, one day, perhaps that bygone sense of civilization can flourish again, once they are rediscovered.

[HoldenMartinson 221]

Tangerine would have won, and deservedly so. I almost want to make an unofficial poll to see if it gets in or not. Alas, this would not be wise.