Film Analysis: Comparing My 100 Greatest List with the AFI 100 Greatest List

Greatest films. What does it mean to pick the "greatest films of all time"? Is it a list of your favorite films? Should it be more objective? You might pick the greatest films by judging their impact on you or society as a whole. You could judge the greatest films by their overall appeal. Let's look at the list of the most successful films, unadjusted for inflation of course and call that the list of the greatest films. The No. 1 film on that list, Gone With The Wind might not be for everyone. But then, you can argue that Citizen Kane isn't what everyone else considers the greatest film of all time.

Just as I said in the previous article, 100 of the Greatest Films Ever Made, it's all subjective. Your choices for the 100 greatest films should mean everything to you, whether that's Gone With The Wind, Citizen Kane, The Godfather or The Dark Knight. Don't let some organization like AFI (American Film Institute) dictate what movies are the greatest or should be considered the greatest.

In my article, 100 of the Greatest Films Ever Made, I was in a rush to put up my own list for everyone to see. I will freely admit now that I didn't give it enough time and thought. But I stand by most of my selections. To be honest, Titanic would go even higher on my list if I had the chance to do it over again. But I was more concerned about representing other people and not just myself.

Now, let's look at the AFI list and the criteria from which they chose their "100 greatest films" and then, we'll go back over my list. I want to explain why I chose the films I did with even more scrutiny and description. But most of all, I chose my 100 greatest list from the movies that inspired me most. The films in my list made me want to see more movies and also gave me the motivation to pursue my dream of becoming a filmmaker.

"The American Film Institute in Los Angeles, California, in mid-June 1998 commemorated the extraordinary first 100 years of American movies by making a definitive selection of the 100 greatest American movies of all time, as determined by more than 1,500 leaders from the American film community.

"The 400-feature length films were feature-length fictional movies produced between 1912 and 1996 'with the goal of amassing a capsule of the first 100 years of American cinema, across decades and across genres.'"

According to the institute, the 100 greatest films have to meet with the following criteria. Then again, it all depends on the perspective of the viewer.

Feature-Length Fiction Film - narrative format typically over 60 minutes in length

American Film - English language film with significant creative and/or financial production elements from the United States

Critical Recognition - formal commendation in print

Popularity Over Time - including figures for box office adjusted for inflation, television broadcasts and syndication, and home video sales and rentals

Historical Significance - a film's mark on the history of the moving image through technical innovation, visionary narrative devices or other groundbreaking achievements

Cultural Impact - a film's mark on American society in matters of style and substance

Major Award Winner - recognition from competitive events including awards from organizations in the film community and major film festivals

I partly agree with this criteria. You can ignore the "critical recognition" requirement to an extent. In my eyes, even the most despised movies like Battlefield Earth wouldn't be anywhere near my 100 greatest list. Sometimes, the critics are right.

The running time, the English-language, the historical significance and the cultural impact are all musts when putting together this kind of list. If you wanted to list the greatest films, overall, you'd have a lot of foreign films like Amelia on the list as well as movies like Butch Kassidy and the Sundance Kid. So, what kind of film are we looking for? A popular, English-language, historically significant film that is approximately an hour or more in length. Well, I'd like to add one more thing. The greatest film(s) should have the potential for repeat viewings, timeless in essence.

Here is the first 100 Years... 100 Films list by AFI that was aired on TV in 1998. Notice how Citizen is No. 1.

1.CITIZEN KANE (1941), 2.CASABLANCA (1942), 3.THE GODFATHER (1972), 4.GONE WITH THE WIND (1939), 5.LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962), 6.WIZARD OF OZ, THE (1939), 7.THE GRADUATE (1967), 8.ON THE WATERFRONT (1954), 9.SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993), 10.SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952), 11.IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946), 12.SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950), 13.BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI, THE (1957), 14.SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959), 15.STAR WARS (1977), 16.ALL ABOUT EVE (1950), 17. THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951), 18.PSYCHO (1960), 19.CHINATOWN (1974), 20.ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975), 21.THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940), 22.2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968), 23.MALTESE FALCON, THE (1941), 24.RAGING BULL (1980), 25.E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982), 26.DR. STRANGELOVE (1964), 27.BONNIE & CLYDE (1967), 28.APOCALYPSE NOW (1979), 29.MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939), 30.TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948), 31.ANNIE HALL (1977), 32.THE GODFATHER, PART II (1974), 33.HIGH NOON (1952), 34.TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962), 35.IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934), 36.MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969), 37.BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES, THE (1946), 38.DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944), 39.DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965), 40.NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959), 41.WEST SIDE STORY (1961), 42.REAR WINDOW (1954), 43.KING KONG (1933), 44.BIRTH OF A NATION, THE (1915), 45. A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951), 46.CLOCKWORK ORANGE, A (1971), 47.TAXI DRIVER (1976), 48.JAWS (1975), 49.SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937), 50.BUTCH CASSIDY & THE SUNDANCE KID (1969), 51. THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940), 52.FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953), 53.AMADEUS (1984), 54.ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930), 55.SOUND OF MUSIC, THE (1965), 56.M*A*S*H(1970), 57.THIRD MAN, THE (1949), 58.FANTASIA (1940), 59.REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955), 60.RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981), 61.VERTIGO (1958), 62.TOOTSIE (1982), 63.STAGECOACH (1939), 64.CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977), 65.THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991), 66.NETWORK (1976), 67.MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, THE (1962), 68.AMERICAN IN PARIS, AN (1951), 69.SHANE (1953), 70.FRENCH CONNECTION, THE (1971), 71.FORREST GUMP (1994), 72.BEN-HUR (1959), 73.WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939), 74.GOLD RUSH, THE (1925), 75.DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990), 76.CITY LIGHTS (1931), 77.AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973), 78.ROCKY (1976), 79.DEER HUNTER, THE (1978), 80.WILD BUNCH, THE (1969), 81.MODERN TIMES (1936), 82.GIANT (1956), 83.PLATOON (1986), 84.FARGO (1996), 85.DUCK SOUP (1933), 86.MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1935), 87.FRANKENSTEIN (1931), 88.EASY RIDER (1969), 89.PATTON (1970), 90. THE JAZZ SINGER (1927), 91.MY FAIR LADY (1964), 92. A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951), 93. THE APARTMENT (1960), 94.GOODFELLAS (1990), 95.PULP FICTION (1994), 96.SEARCHERS, THE (1956), 97.BRINGING UP BABY (1938), 98.UNFORGIVEN (1992), 99.GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967), 100. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)

Listed below is the 10th Anniversary list that they put together for 2007. Watch how such great films like Casablanca, Gone With The Wind, Lawrence of Arabia and The Godfather get shuffled around with the changes. Here, they have a very different panel of judges. You might argue that its a new generation of critics and filmmakers making the selections below (for example, the addition of Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring and Titanic). But no one seems to be able to look at Citizen Kane any differently.

1 CITIZEN KANE (1941)

2 THE GODFATHER (1972)

3 CASABLANCA (1942)

4 RAGING BULL (1980)

5 SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)

6 GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)

7 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)

8 SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)

9 VERTIGO (1958)

10 THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)

11 CITY LIGHTS (1931)

12 THE SEARCHERS (1956)

13 STAR WARS (1977)

14 PSYCHO (1960)

15 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)

16 SUNSET BLVD. (1950)

17 GRADUATE, THE (1967)

18 GENERAL, THE (1927)

19 ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)

20 IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)

21 CHINATOWN (1974)

22 SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)

23 GRAPES OF WRATH, THE (1940)

24 E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)

25 TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)

26 MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)

27 HIGH NOON (1952)

28 ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)

29 DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)

30 APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)

31 MALTESE FALCON, THE (1941)

32 GODFATHER PART II, THE (1974)

33 ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)

34 SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937)

35 ANNIE HALL (1977)

36 BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI, THE (1957)

37 BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES, THE (1946)

38 THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948)

39 DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)

40 THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)

41 KING KONG (1933)

42 BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967)

43 MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969)

44 PHILADELPHIA STORY, THE (1940)

45 SHANE (1953)

46 IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)

47 A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951)

48 REAR WINDOW (1954)

49 INTOLERANCE (1916)

50 LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, THE (2001)

51 WEST SIDE STORY (1961)

52 TAXI DRIVER (1976)

53 DEER HUNTER, THE (1978)

54 M*A*S*H (1970)

55 NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)

56 JAWS (1975)

57 ROCKY (1976)

58 GOLD RUSH, THE (1925)

59 NASHVILLE (1975)

60 DUCK SOUP (1933)

61 SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS (1941)

62 AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)

63 CABARET (1972)

64 NETWORK (1976)

65 AFRICAN QUEEN, THE (1951)

66 RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)

67 WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? (1966)

68 UNFORGIVEN (1992)

69 TOOTSIE (1982)

70 CLOCKWORK ORANGE, A (1971)

71 SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998)

72 THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994)

73 BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)

74 SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, THE (1991)

75 IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (1967)

76 FORREST GUMP (1994)

77 ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN (1976)

78 MODERN TIMES (1936)

79 WILD BUNCH, THE (1969)

80 APARTMENT, THE (1960)

81 SPARTACUS (1960)

82 SUNRISE (1927)

83 TITANIC (1997)

84 EASY RIDER (1969)

85 A NIGHT AT THE OPERA (1935)

86 PLATOON (1986)

87 12 ANGRY MEN (1957)

88 BRINGING UP BABY (1938)

89 THE SIXTH SENSE (1999)

90 SWING TIME (1936)

91 SOPHIE'S CHOICE (1982)

92 GOODFELLAS (1990)

93 FRENCH CONNECTION, THE (1971)

94 PULP FICTION (1994)

95 LAST PICTURE SHOW, THE (1971)

96 DO THE RIGHT THING (1989)

97 BLADE RUNNER (1982)

98 YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)

99 TOY STORY (1995)

100 BEN-HUR (1959)

Now, here's my list. There are similarities, no doubt. There are major differences too, including the addition of Aliens, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Bambi, and the original, Alien. If you'll notice in the list above, movies like Dances with Wolves were removed in the 10th Anniversary edition and replaced by others. Other films were questionably moved to higher or lower places. But the following is my list and this is how I rate the movies on AFI's list.

1) Citizen Kane

It's been called the "greatest film" so many times for so long, you have to question whether it's overhyped or overrated. First of all, never call a film overrated. Everyone else might call your favorite film "overhyped". Should you believe them? No. Second of all, you really should see this film from a purest point of view. Then you'll realize that you're looking at a film made in 1941 that looks and feels like it was made a year ago. Kane is so beautiful in its photography, it's hard not to be awe-struck by it. Kane's story is so compelling its complexity, it's hard to keep from watching it. The film has inspired many of the filmmakers and will continue to do for years to come. Just how many more years? That's a good question. But for now, Citizen Kane rightful deserves to be rated as high as it is.

2) Gone With The Wind

I was outraged by AFI's lack of respect for this, one of the first color films, one of the longest and most compelling films. Finally, Gone With The Wind has been so beloved by so many people for so long, it's hard not to consider it the "greatest film" or at least anywhere near the top of the list. Unadjusted for inflation, this 4-hour long epic film is the most popular film ever. There hasn't been a film that has sold more tickets in Hollywood history. That's impressive by itself for a film that was made in 1939. But you can't forget the characters, the scenes, the dialogue, all beautiful captured in Technicolor at a time when black and white photography was still being used by the majority of filmmakers.

3) Casablanca

It's hard to describe what makes Casablanca so great. From a screenwriter's point of view, the dialogue for Casablanca is gold. The famous line, "Here's looking at you, kid" may be played like a broken record today, but think about writing that bit of dialogue for the first time. Those writers, the Epstein brothers and Howard Koch had no idea any of their hard work would catch on as much as it has. Then you can't have a great film without great actors to delivery the lines of dialogue on paper. Casablanca has an amazing cast. You've got Bogie, Bergman, Claude 'The Invisible Man' Rains, Lorre and Greenstreet. At a glance, you might call Casablanca simplistic. Surely, the film doesn't look complex but if you watch and listen for the story or stories, you'll discover many layers to this film that it proves itself to be an epic. And a great epic at that.

4) Titanic

As it was said before, no film has ever been comparable to Gone With The Wind or Casablanca until this juggernaut was released in December of 1997. Titanic has got the same beauty, grace and quality of universal emotions. Of course, just like every other film ever made, Titanic has its faults. But when Kate Winslet's Rose declares that she's "flying" on the bow of the great ship and the director, James Cameron swoops around the great ship on a computer, no one can argue how great Titanic is. This one shot changed the direction of film forever, capturing one of the most beautiful moments I've ever seen on film. Then our lovers, Jack and Rose lock lips in what is arguably the greatest kiss scene in film history. Finally, for a climax to end all climaxes, James Cameron wrote, directed and edited the sinking sequence. It was a series of shots and scenes that will leave you stunned and breathless, and bawling your eyes out. There's hardly even words to describe how impactful the finale of Titanic is. From the time the bridge is awash in water to the end credits, we can't help but feel like we're watching something on screen that is greater than ourselves. The real power behind this timeless film lies within its fictional characters and its fictional story, brought perfectly and brilliantly to the screen. Even without Jack, Rose, Caledon Hockley or Ruth DeWitt Bukater, Titanic would still shine as one of the greatest docu-dramas ever made.

5) The Godfather

Mario Puzo wrote the story. He and the director, Frances Ford Coppola scripted the movie. Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, James Caan, Diane Keaton, and Robert Duvall were the players. This film truly made each and every one of them a superstar. They all play a part in this crime saga to end all crime sagas. The Godfather about the Corleone family. The strengths of this film lie within the story, the screenplay and the amazing cinematography. Lines like "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse" stand out in your mind when you consider what that will mean. Frances Ford Coppola's brilliant direction has never shined brighter than it does in The Godfather, Part II. But, he does a great job in capturing all of the other timeless elements of this great story on film. Although, I must admit, sometimes The Godfather is not the most entertaining film ever made. You have to understand the intentions of the film before you can fully appreciate it.

6) The Wizard of Oz

Some consider ET: The Extra-Terrestrial to be the greatest family. While that can easily be said about that Steven Spielberg masterpiece, this timeless film about a girl from Kansas being swept up and dropped in Oz by a tornado still has a special place in my heart. There are times when this movie may seem campy, but I guarantee you that you'll be carried away all over again by this beautifully told tale if you see it on your giant widescreen television. It's been played on TV more times than I can count and I think they not have helped its reputation over the years. But that doesn't the fact that Judy Garland's Dorothy, singing "Over the Rainbow" is one of the greatest scenes with the greatest song ever sung on film. Then you've also got the most timeless characters in The Tin Man (Jack Haley), The Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), The Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), and of course, The Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton).

7) Lawrence of Arabia

This is another film that is genuinely hard to describe why it's so great. The magical cinematography of this film could easily be made with CGI today. But the director, David Lean didn't have CGI. All they could do was search the area, wait for the perfect lighting and film quickly. I don't even think they used a single matte painting used to great advantage in many productions, before and after Lawrence of Arabia came out. When a filmmaker is so passionate about a film, they sacrifice their health and the health of everyone else on set can be called insane or they can be called amazing. Lean was amazing when he opted to make this film naturally. And the character of T. E. Lawrence, played brilliantly by Peter O'Toole is very complex. As it's been said about Raging Bull, you can easily call Lawrence of Arabia the greatest character-study on film. Even after seeing the film more times than I can count, T. E. Lawrence is still a big mystery to me. But the real strength in Lawrence of Arabia is in its photography. When a real mirage filmed over 40 years ago looks more phenomenal than some of the CGI on film today, that's impressive.

8) Schindler's List

If Titanic's ending is a celebration of life after an atrocity, Schindler's List represents a celebration of family. Both films are a testament to love in the face of death. The presentation of love is different in both films, but it's still there. Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) is a truly dynamic hero in the sense that he's out to serve himself throughout the first half of the movie. A selfish hero is hard to believe and hard to sell. But Steven Spielberg and Liam Neeson pull it off with flying colors. And that's where the strange greatness of Schindler's List lies. There is very few shots of color in the entire movie. The few shots are profound and powerful in their sublty. Then you've got Ralph Fiennes in the unscrupulous role of Amon Goeth. You've got Ben Kingsley in the very heartfelt and very human role of Itzhak Stern. There is a lot of true horror found in Schindler's List, yet for some odd reason, the film never becomes too depressing to sit through. This is a testament to the passion and strength director, Steven Spielberg put into the film.

9) Psycho

In my opinion, it's not Vertigo that is Alfred Hitchcock's greatest film, it's that little-known black and white film that starred Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins and Vira Miles. It features one of the most notorious villains in film history. That's right. If you haven't guessed by now, it was Psycho. The film that scared people out of taking showers over 40 years ago can still totally freak out audiences today. You might not be afraid to step into a shower, but you'll be watching out for a Bates Motel the rest of your life. Perkins re-defined acting as Norman Bates. And Alfred Hitchcock and Psycho defined the face of horror forever. Finally, to me, Psycho feels like the last and greatest magic trick up Alfred Hitchcock's sleeve.

10) The Sound of Music

Call me sentamental all you want, but the Hollywood tale of the Von Trapp family singers is the greatest movie musical I've ever seen. Starring Julie Andrews as Maria and Christopher Plummer as Captain Von Trapp, The Sound of Music has some of the most beautiful aerial photography of any country I've ever seen. The Sound of Music features some of the most memorable songs ever sung on film. And despite what critics have said, the story itself is very uplifting. Considering the amount of money The Sound of Music made back in the day, there's a lot of people who would agree with me.

11) The Empire Strikes Back

It's popular to overlook and or bash sequels. The original films introduce the elements that sequels expand on. However, sometimes and there have been very few times in film history when a sequel takes the elements, and expands on them in a much better way than the original. This is just one reason why I consider The Empire Strikes Back the greatest sequel ever made. Star Wars was amazing, no doubt. It opened up a new can of worms for filmmaking. But the sequel was the best, most perfect continuation of this saga. Empire introduced us to Yoda and the dreaded Emperor for the first time. While on a very short list of equally great films like Aliens, T2, The Godfather Part II and The Bride of Frankenstein, The Empire Strikes Back stands above them all in opinion. When Han is lowered into the carbonite, our hearts sink with him. When Darth Vader declares that he is Luke's father, we are stunned in a way that we've never been stunned before or since. Star Wars creator, George Lucas knew exactly what he was doing at the time. He gave us a very powerful and brilliant space opera with The Empire Strikes Back at its heart.

12) Vertigo

The most colorful, the most complex and dynamic Hitchcock film of all still has film-lovers baffled. The film follows a detective, "Scottie" or John Ferguson (James Stewart) as he tails "Madeleine Elster" (Kim Novak) from place to place, only to discover that he's in love with her. After chasing a suspect across rooftops and losing a fellow officer to a deadly fall, John develops vertigo, a traumatizing fear of heights. Then when Scottie loses Madeleine, everything seems to shift in the entire movie, leaving viewers scratching their heads. It's in the confusion and the beautiful photography of Vertigo that still makes it so compelling, and so great. But let's not forget brilliant performances by Stewart and Novak, and Barbara Bel Geddes as Scottie's good friend, "Midge".

13) Aliens

To be honest, I was wrestling with choosing Aliens over The Empire Strikes Back as the greatest sequel ever made. As much as I admire The Godfather, Part II and all of its brilliance, Aliens, Empire, and T2 sit closest to my heart. Aliens features the greatest female action hero I've ever seen on film in Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley. She was written and performed with more humanity than half of the male action heroes on film. Her reasons and purposes are puzzling at times. She's anything but cardboard. And who can forget her most famous line, "Get away from her, you bitch!" This is an action movie inside of a science-fiction film. So, how can I say that this film is great enough to be at #13? It's simple. After countless viewings, the film just seems to get better and better over time. The themes of motherhood are brilliantly captured on film, possibly moreso than the sexual themes of Alien were handled. The themes of arrogance, bravery, cowardice and chivalry are all there. Aliens is quite possibly the greatest science-fiction war film ever made. But, if you look closer, that's not all there is to this masterpiece of a sequel.

14) Star Wars

Let the Force be with you. This is the beginning of the greatest "Space Opera" imaginable. It's the film that made Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia household names. In the world of science-fiction and fantasy, the dialogue is as timeless as that of Casablanca. When George Lucas went back to change things, he threw out character-defining moments that really helped the film earn its respect. Han firing first was just as pivotal as Rick shooting Major Strasser in Casablanca. After changing such things, George Lucas showed how much respect he had for the film and the fans who loved it so much. That has become the biggest fault of this once amazing film. Luckily and this is a testament to the greatness of its sequel, George Lucas couldn't ruin it too badly for fans. And you can't say enough about the timeless score composed by John Williams.

15) Singin' In The Rain

Gene Kelly dances around in the pouring rain, singing. Is there a better example of movie magic in a movie musical than that scene? Of course, to the skeptical eye, you might notice that Kelly's famous scene was clearly shot on a sound stage. But honestly, who cares? It's Gene Kelly and he is literally singin' in the rain. His character, Don Lockwood is so happy he doesn't care about his umbrella, he doesn't care what other people are thinking of him. And Lockwood certainly doesn't care if he gets soaking wet. Don just kissed the woman of his dreams. Just so you know, there are quite a few other great musical and dance numbers in Singin' In The Rain. And it's all wrapped inside of a brilliant story about a movie studio conforming to the era of "talkies" and all the difficulties therein. Donald O'Connor plays Lockwood's best friend, Cosmo Brown and Debbie Reynolds plays the love of Lockwood's life, Kathy Selden.

16) It's A Wonderful Life

The film is the greatest sentimental film of all time. No matter how sweet the concepts, characters and dialogue of It's A Wonderful are, you can't deny that its magic. All of the greatest messages you can have in a film are on screen. When James Stewart's George Bailey loses money to that unscrupulous Mr. Potter, he threatens to kill himself in a river. The powers that be intervene and Bailey is shown what life would be like without him. His town has turned into a kind of Deadwood hell. We don't recognize anyone from George's life. That changes are THAT extreme. Bailey realizes that he wants to live, no matter what, and he's sent back to his life around the time it changed. George is jumping for joy. He's kissing anyone in sight. He even seems to forgive Potter for his evil ways. Then we come to the most legendary scene in the film and possibly one of the most legendary lines in any film. George's daughter, Zuzu points to a ringing bell on the Christmas tree and says, "Look, Daddy, teacher says whenever you hear a bell ring, an angel gets his wings." George is now "the richest man in town" and not just monetarily. We hear the song sung during this scene reach its a climax and we can't help but tear up just a little as we watch George embrace his family with a big smile on his face.

17) Forrest Gump

Tom Hanks gives the performance of a lifetime as the very slow, innocent-eyed and lovable character, Forrest Gump. Everyone calls him stupid but in his own words, you can say, "Stupid is as stupid does." Forrest lives by his mother's philosophy, "Life is like a box of chocolates...." I bet you can finish that timeless line out for yourselves. The film seems to follow this philosophy itself. Every move Forrest Gump makes is almost like finding a new kind of chocolate. And every one is worth sinking your teeth into. This may be director, Robert Zemeckis's masterpiece. It may be the most charming film ever made. Remember Gary Senise's dark, brooding Lt. Dan Taylor? Remember Robin Wright Penn's dark, confused Jenny? And of course, you can't forget Sally Fields's Mrs. Gump. The won Best Picture at the 1994 Academy Awards and it would win Best Picture today. Forrest Gump is movie magic.

18) Terminator 2: Judgment Day

The third greatest sequel ever made is also the single greatest action film I've ever seen. This follow-up to James Cameron's other science-fiction masterpiece, The Terminator features powerful acting from stars Linda Hamilton and Joe Morton. Once again, Arnold Schwarzenegger proves to be the most convincing "cybernetic organism" in film history with the T-101 or T-800 Terminator. Robert Patrick proves himself to be one of the greatest villains as the T-1000 Terminator. James Cameron's sleek direction continues to inspire blockbuster action films today. I don't remember a character introduced in a film as coolly as Arnold was introduced in Terminator 2. George Thorogood's famous song, Bad to the Bone was playing as Arnold walks down the front steps of the bar and surveys the area. It may not have been the first, but it certainly was the greatest introduction of a character in film history. But most of all, the greatest advancement in the use of special effects since King Kong in 1933 can be found in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. For example, a few years later, Steven Spielberg was advised that he should use this new, improved technology to bring dinosaurs to life in Jurassic Park. While many people consider that movie to be the definitive CGI film, it was really Terminator 2 or T2 that made the breakthroughs.

19) 2001: A Space Odyssey

Stanley Kubrick, truly one of the greatest, most visionary artists in film history brought this masterpiece to the screen in 1968. That was before we landed on the moon. This film presented the most realistic vision of our future and the future of space travel that had been seen on film. However, there have been many things about this unique masterpiece that continues to leave us scratching our heads. I don't think these confusing moments were mistakes. Director Kubrick had a purpose for every shot and every scene in 2001. The Hal 9000 computer, the definitive computer in any movie goes crazy, and starts killing off passengers and crew of the spacecraft, Jupiter 1. It's at this moment that the film starts to really take shape. Dave Bowman, played by Keir Dullea does everything he can to kill off the Hal 9000 computer before he's murdered. Then we're thrown into a haze of colors and images. What does it all mean? These are things audiences have to figure out for themselves, especially the origins of the "Monolith" and the meaning behind the final, most timeless shot of the film.

20) Bridge on the River Kwai

I have a hard time choosing between Lawrence of Arabia and Bridge on the River Kwai as director, David Lean's greatest film. In this tale of British naval officers captured and held prisoner by the Japanese during the Pacific Theater of WWII is truly one of the greatest war films ever made. Alec Guiness gives his finest performance as the insanely passionate, Colonel Nicholson. He has a long, arduous stand-off with the warden himself, Sessue Hayakawa's Colonel Saiko, ending up in "the box" for longer than it seems possible. William Holden gives what could be his greatest performance as the American naval officer, Commander Shears. He would escape, and come back to this dreadful island and this deadly prison camp with Jack Hawkins's greatest, Major Warden. Together, they seem to put a cap on the message of this anti/pro war film. The final line of dialogue - delivered by the competent doctor, Major Clipton - can easily explain the characters, the story and war in general. "Madness" was the only word that could come out of his mouth.

21) Jaws

Steven Spielberg had just made Duel and was relatively well-known at the time. The script of a killer shark that stalked the beaches must have intrigued him. Thank god he opted to make Jaws or else the film wouldn't be the entertaining masterpiece it is today. There are thrills and chills galore in Jaws. The film affected audiences so much that it scared people from swimming in the ocean. There are three great performance by three great actors. Roy Scheider leads the all-star cast as Chief Martin Brody. What Brody said after seeing the great white shark, "We're gonna need a big boat" turned out to be one of the most timeless one-liners ever scripted. Robert Shaw gives what could be the performance of his long, amazing career as Quint. His speeches about catching and killing the shark for the townspeople, and the speech about being on board the Indianapolis are still among the best ever filmed. Then there's the fun, funny and pretentious Matt Hooper, played to perfection by Richard Dreyfuss. These three great characters joined together to hunt down the shark and movie history was made. Let's not forget one of the greatest themes to any film by the master himself, John Williams.

22) North by Northwest

Alfred Hitchcock was the only person who could bring this timeless story to the screen. As much as North by Northwest can be seen as a spy movie, it's actually just a masterpiece of entertainment with elements of espionage. Cary Grant in what could be his most famous role plays Roger O. Thornhill, who is mistakenly identified as a man named, George Kaplan. This takes Roger on a long and exciting chase across the country. With great performances by everyone, including Eva Marie Saint and James Mason, North by Northwest offers everything for everyone. In Roger, with his wit and strength of character, Grant created a fitting model for all movie heroes to come. Hitchcock again shows what an expert filmmaker he was in capturing every moment beautifully on celluloid. The film looks almost just as good today as it did in 1959. Obviously, one of the most thrilling chase scenes ever, one of the most timeless moments in the entire film has Roger running away from a crop-dusting plane alongside a huge corn field.

23) Dances With Wolves

This is a western. Is this the best western? Possibly. Is Dances with Wolves the greatest western about Native Americans? There has never been a film that captured the American Indians with more heart and honesty than Dances With Wolves. It's amazing that this was Kevin Costner's first time in the director's chair. He also plays the main character, Lt. John J. Dunbar in his finest performance to date. Dunbar, his horse, Sisko and his pet wolf, Two Socks live together peacefully on the great plains of South Dakota in a sort of mud-hutt. Then a Sioux Indian, Kicking Bird, played to perfection by Graham Green comes along and the foundations for good relations with American Indians start to be laid. This is not as far as their relationship goes. Soon, John is talking Sioux as fluently as anyone else. The threats introduced in the beginning in this cinematic masterpiece soon come to ruin everything John and the Sioux have established. Everything from the amazing soundtrack to Kevin Costner's jaw-dropping eye for photography is extraordinary. And an astonishing sense of authenticity is in the air. In short, Dances with Wolves is one of the most stunningly great films I've ever seen.

24) To Kill a Mocking Bird

Robert Duvall has a very small role in this sweet and homey masterpiece. I'll leave it to you, the reader to watch To Kill a Mocking Bird and find out what character Duvall plays. Gregory Peck is the main star of To Kill a Mockingbird in what might be his best in film history as Atticus Finch. Finch is a father, a widower and a Southern lawyer with great conviction. He believes in equally and liberty. He may be very well be the screen's greatest hero and father figure. Told from the perspective of Finch's daughter, Scout, To Kill A Mockingbird stands as a landmark in the storytelling department. The brilliantly handled racist and anti-racist themes continue to make To Kill a Mockingbird one of the most important films ever made. It rightfully deserves its place at No. 24 on this list.

25) Alien

The chest-burster or the "little beast" popped out of Kane's chest and a screen legend was born. The first installment in the successful Alien series introduced the greatest monster in film history. Directed to perfection by Ridley Scott, Alien delivers tension in the old-fashion way. A creepy atmosphere, ominous set pieces and low lighting provide for a powerful and terrifying experience. As much as I praise the sequel, we wouldn't have Aliens if it wasn't for Alien. The beast is big and threatening every moment its on screen. But it's the detailed and beautiful sculpted Alien suit by H.R. Giger that turned what could've been a B-movie in the vain of the '50s monster movies into an A-quality science-fiction masterpiece of terror. We can easily call Alien Ridley Scott's finest hour. He set out to make the ultimate monster movie and he succeeded. This creation proved that space monsters didn't always look like men in suits. There are strong and disturbing themes of rape inherit in this monster, making Alien an even greater nightmare to behold. And who can forget the introduction of the character that would later prove to be the greatest female action hero of all time in Aliens.

26) The Godfather, Part II

The sequel that made sequels a part of our daily movie-going experience. Back in 1974 when this came out as a follow-up to the masterpiece, The Godfather, I'm guessing director Francis Ford Coppola had no idea what a phenomenon his crime saga would become. In the directing department, The Godfather, Part II is really a gem. In the editing and storytelling departments, The Godfather, Part II is really quite unique. In The Godfather, we never got a chance to see Don Corleone as played by Marlon Brando as anything more than a decaying old man. In the sequel, both the past of Brando's Don Corleone and the next chapter of his son, Michael's reign as Don are interlaced for an experience like no other. Again, Al Pacino, Diane Keaton and Robert Duvall return in the roles that made them famous. Unfortunately, James Caan's character of Sonny didn't make it into the sequel, but if you've seen the films you know why. But to fill the gap, this time around, we have the genius of Robert De Niro as the young Don Corleone. It's a brilliant film, from start to finish. And as before, The Godfather saga may not be everyone's cup of tea. But you really should stop to see art in order to fully appreciate it.

27) Saving Private Ryan

Saving Private Ryan starts out by throwing us into hell. It is probably the closest we'll ever come to experiencing what it to be there on D-Day. After the horrendous battle is done, the Nazis are off the beaches, Tom Hanks in another brilliant performance and his platoon of soldiers are sent off to bring Private James Ryan home to his mother. It seems that all of Ryan's brothers were killed in the invasion of Normandy. The top man in charge, General Marshall found out that Ryan's mother had received the news of her sons' deaths at once. This gave the chief military officer motivation to send someone to find James Frances Ryan, and get him home, no matter what the risk. But is the risk of losing an entire platoon of men to save just one man really worth it? That's just one question purposed and examined in this masterpiece war film by Steven Spielberg. But in that context, wouldn't that make Saving Private Ryan an anti-war film? What really sets Private Ryan apart from all other war or anti-war films is how Spielberg gives us an idea of what it was actually like to be in combat during WWII.

28) The Sting

The cons: Paul Newman and Robert Redford. The mark: Robert Shaw. The cons will do just about anything to put "the sting" on Robert Shaw's Doyle Lonnegan. They'll change their names and identities. They'll act like drunken baffoons if necessary. Paul Newman plays the lead con man or confidence man, Henry Gondorff. Robert Redford plays his apprentice, so to speak, Johnny Hooker. After Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, it is a dream to see Newman and Redford back on the screen. This time, they have a happy ending. And this time around, they use their wits to steal in what is possibly the greatest con man movie imaginable. And just like that previous film with Redford and Newman, The Sting is really a masterpiece of entertainment.

29) Bambi

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs marked the beginning of animated feature films in the US. Does that make it worth the No. 29 spot? No. Bambi deserves this place for so many reasons. We all know and love the story. How can you forget Thumper, Mr. Owl or even Flower. It opened up the term "twitterpated" to a generation and for over 60 years, it's had instant association with Bambi. We all can't help but bawl our eyes out when Bambi loses his mother to "man". The gorgeous photography or gorgeous artwork in Bambi is so life-like at times, it looks better than most of the CGI backgrounds we see today. No other film, live-action or animated has ever captured what nature can look and feel like better than Bambi. And then, there's that beautiful, haunting and amazing score on top of it. You can clearly see the true magic of Walt Disney when you watch Bambi. Don't get me wrong. When Bambi came out, the studio was at the top of its game with releases like Snow White, Pinocchio and Dumbo. Those are all masterful animated features that every child should almost be required to see. But Bambi will always have a special place in my heart.

30) Raiders of the Lost Ark

Harrison Ford plays what could be the greatest action hero as Indiana Jones or Henry Jones, Jr. Indie uses his whip to get out of the most hair-raising scrapes imaginable. When he uses his pistol, the scene is simply unforgettable. A daring and somewhat threatening man in a turban swings his scimitar sword, urging Indiana to fight him. All our hero does is give him a scowl, yanks the pistol of his holster and fires a shot into the threatening swordsmans head. This made Indiana Jones into a screen legend. This shows what Indie's character is capable of. But this wasn't the one and only great moment in this masterful adventure film. The giant rolling boulder is legendary. The following chase to the plane is even timeless. The daring escape from the toom full of snakes has become a classic. And last but not least, when Indiana tries to take back the Ark of the Covenant from the Nazis in the big truck, this may be the single greatest chase scene in film history. What more can be said? Raiders of the Lost Ark or Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark is the greatest swashbuckler adventure in film history.

31) Rear Window

James Stewart plays photographer, L. B. Jefferies who was injured while on the job and his leg was put in a cast. This gives him a lot of time for spying on neighbors in the area. He uses his binoculars and his long-lens camera. His stunning girlfriend, Lisa Fremont as played by Hitchcock favorite, Grace Kelly is of course offended by his peeping-tom behavior. Then L. B. finds out one of his neighbors, Lars Thorwald as played by Raymond Burr may or may not have murdered his wife. Rear Window is one of Hitchcock's more subtle and small masterpieces. The film is actually epic in storytelling, but it's based in one man's apartment throughout the entire duration. You might say this makes Rear Window a very unique and daring film, all around. And like North by Northwest and less like Vertigo or Psycho, Rear Window remains a true masterpiece of entertainment.

32) Pulp Fiction

Several storylines are intertwined into one unusual and ultimately amazing experience. The film that is Quentin Tarantino's greatest work has John Travolta in a stand-off with Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson spouting Biblical passages, Uma Thurman snorting down a line of heroin and Travolta trying to keep her from dying. You also have Bruce Willis in one of the most traumatizing situations imaginable with Ving Rhames, and Harvey Keitel coming to the rescue of Jackson and Travolta when they blow another man's head off. These stories may seem like they have nothing in common. The fact that the film feels like its been put through a blender makes the interlaced stories all the more unique. Somehow, all of the stories lead to a point. In short, Pulp Fiction is one of the most extraordinary films ever made for challenging what we know about the structure of films, and succeeding brilliantly.

33) The Shawshank Redemption

For a film in which Tim Robbins is wrongfully imprisoned for murdering his wife, discovers a new-found appreciation for life and makes a life-long friend in Morgan Freeman's Red, The Shawshank Redemption shines brighter than a lot of films in the 1990s. Its come along way since its release in 1994, earning a lot of praise and collecting of legion of loyal fans. The Shawshank Redemption really doesn't look like anything extraordinary at first. It's a small story about a small man, trying to live life inside the walls of Shawshank Prison. The greatness of Shawshank Redemption resides in the fact that it is so subtly made. Finally, I will take a shot at this and say that I think The Shawshank Redemption may be the greatest film about imprisonment ever made.

34) The Silence of the Lambs

Jodie Foster is Clarice Starling, a young FBI cadet who is specifically chosen for an assignment that requires her to enlist the help of the murdering cannibal, Hannibal Lecter as played to perfection by Anthony Hopkins. "The Cannibal", one of the greatest - if not THE GREATEST villain in film history digs into Clarice, pulling out traumatizing feelings from her past that she forgot along the way. Somehow, by looking into her past, Clarice is able to solve the crimes of Jame Gumb, a murderer who likes to skin his female victims. Not only does Silence of the Lambs give us two of the greatest examples of acting in film history with Foster's Starling and Hopkins's Lecter, but the film stands as a landmark for crime thrillers everywhere. After Silence of the Lambs came movies like Se7en. Even the success of the Saw series can be attributed to this masterpiece thriller. Yes, it's gruesome to watch but it was a benchmark for the '90s. Once you've seen Silence of the Lambs, it's absolutely impossible to get the line, "I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti" out of your mind.

35) The African Queen

A refined woman and a boarish man fall in love on a boat. No, I'm not talking about that timeless story with Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio on the great Titanic. I'm talking about another movie with a lead character by the name of Rose and a different star by the name of Kate on a tiny boat that easily be condemned. I'm talking about the movie with Kathryn Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart. I'm talking about The African Queen. Bogie played Charlie Allnut and Kathryn played Rose Sayer. He was not the most attractive-looking man, having lived without rules for quite some time. She wasn't the most warm woman, being a "lady" of that time. But Rose and Charlie begin to look past appearances, see each other for who they are and fall in love. There's not so much a lot of timeless moments, but The African Queen had a brilliant script, brilliances performances and directed to perfection by the legendary, John Huston. I can't stress enough what a great film The African Queen is and what a good time you'll have watching this, what you might call a sleeper masterpiece of an adventure film. One of the best memories I have of The African Queen is watching Bogie's Charlie Allnut kicking the engine of his boat.

36) Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

The "commies" or the "reds" were terrifying the nation. We were on the brink of nuclear war. Hollywood was fueling the worry and paranoia about the effects of nuclear weapons by giving us movies with giant spiders, preying mantises, and ants. Here comes the great Stanley Kubrick, hot off the success of Paths of Glory, Spartacus and Lolita. He has the idea of bringing a drama to the screen about the threat of nuclear war. Luckily for us, Kubrick changed his mind along the way and decided to make a comedy instead. Dr. Strangelove is possibly the greatest dark comedy ever made. You've got Peter Sellers as Group Captain Lionel Mandrake, President Merkin Muffley and Dr. Strangelove himself. Each of these characters stand out perfectly even though anyone and everyone can tell it's Sellers doing what he does best. You've also got George C. Scott as General "Buck" Turgidson. It may not have been his "best" like Patton but Turgidson is my favorite of all George C. Scott's performances. Just the expressions on his face are laugh-out-loud funny. Then you've also got the great comedy stylings of Slim Pickens as Major T.J. "King" Kong, and the brilliantly steady Sterling Hayden as the psychopathic General Jack Ripper. Look for the brief appearances by the great James Earl Jones, and Keenan Wynn. But the most timeless moment from Dr. Strangelove comes when Major Kong decides to take matters into his own hands. With his hat in hand, his spirits up, Kong whoops and hollers until the nuke between his legs detonates in a bright flash of light.

37) Rocky

They say Raging Bull is the greatest sports movie ever made. In spite of everything that film has to offer, it was the small, low-budget, independently made movie simply called, Rocky that captured the hearts of millions. The story of the nobody, Rocky Balboa soared for many years to come as we well know. But you can't judge this film by its numerous sequels and imitators. Given the fact that writer, Sylvester Stallone and director, John G. Avildsen had less than a million dollars to make Rocky at a time when most movies were made for twenty million, I'd say they were both great visionaries with a great dream. While looking back over the past decade of "realistic" movies, I can't think of one that has felt more real than Rocky, released in 1976. No doubt about it, Stallone and Avildsen produced true movie magic in the form of a boxer with a big heart. You can call it sentimental, but when you hear that timeless and uplifting score by Bill Conti played, it's hard to find anything to complain about in Rocky. Then you've got the infamous montage that ends with Rocky (Balboa) bouncing with his arms in the air at the top of the steps, and of course, the last scene in which Rocky cries out for his girl, "Adrian!" as played to subtle perfection by Godfather star, Talia Shire. It's the perfect tale of a nobody becoming a somebody. And that also goes for the writer/star of the movie. In fact, after thinking about it, I wish I could put Rocky even higher on this list.

38) Unforgiven

Given his legend as The Man with No Name in Sergio Leone's masterful "Spagetti Westerns", it should've come as no surprise that Clint Eastwood would direct and star in another one of the greatest westerns ever made. The strange truth is that as much as Unforgiven is brilliant, the film is also very simple. Relying strictly on the few characters to tell this tale of redemption, we're introduced to some of the most honorable men with the worst of histories as well as some of the most vile of all men. Clint Eastwood plays notorious killer, William Munny, an old man who has tried for many years to right his old evil ways and raise his two children on a ranch or pig farm as a grumpy widower. Money is scarce and the only thing to sustain Munny's family, the pigs may be getting sick. Then opportunity knocks. A scoundrelous cowboy cut up a "whore" in Big Whiskey, Wyoming. The ladies at this bordello want vengence. They put up a reward for anyone who will kill the cowboy(s) responsible. William Munny and his trusted friend, Ned Logan in a terrific performance by Morgan Freeman set off to claim the reward with the help of a half-blind, loud-mouthed kid by the name of The Schofield Kid (Jaimz Woolvett). By the end of Unforgiven, I guarantee you'll believe in the legend of William Munny and you'll also feel as if he's redeemed himself. Unforgiven is not hard to love and it's also not an easy film to call a "masterpiece" either. But, just like The Shawshank Redemption, Unforgiven is a small film with a great big heart that grabs at you every time you see it. Gene Hackman rightfully won an Oscar for his role as the fiendish Little Bill Daggett. And what can you say about Eastwood's William Munny? It's another legendary performance in an already amazing career.

39) Ben-Hur

One of the biggest films ever made is easily one of the greatest epic films released in the late '50s and early 1960s. Judah Ben-Hur as played strongly and powerfully by screen legend, Charlton Heston is a Jewish prince who's best friend, Messala (Stephen Boyd) betrays him. The evil Roman lord sends Judah to serve as a rower in the Roman navy, and sends his mother and sister to die in a dungeon. Judah escapes and seeks his revenge on Messala. Curiously, this simple tale of betrayal and revenge perfectly propels this 4-hour epic drama forward. What makes it even more strange is that the story surrounds the life and death of Jesus Christ, famously peaceful and anti-violent. Ben-Hur could be one of the greatest expressions of good versus evil and everything in between ever filmed. Sets, matte painting, models and almost every other trick in the book cost the filmmakers quite a bit. But what's great about Ben-Hur is that it's all there, dazzling and beautiful, and truly epic. Don't forget, after two or more hours of great acting and great storytelling, you have the greatest race ever filmed. When Judah and Messala stand off in an epic chariot race, you really won't be able to take your eyes off the screen. Finally, I will put myself out there and say, Ben-Hur is the greatest remake ever made.

40) It Happened One Night

Perhaps the greatest romantic comedy came out in 1934. It Happened One Night tells the tale of journalist, Peter Warren, and the rich and spoiled heiress, Ellie Andrews. Clark Gable was Peter and Claudette Colbert was Ellie. With great chemistry, Gable and Colbert created real magic on screen. The funny thing was that Colbert considered It Happened One Night to be the worst film she had ever made before she even saw the movie. Both legendary stars won Best Actor and Best Actress at the Academy Awards, and the film itself took home the Best Picture award. There have been countless imitators of this timeless classic, but none of them have had the grace and charm of It Happened One Night. And that's saying a lot for a film that's 70 years old.

41) Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Paul Newman and Robert Redford play Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, two of the more famous criminals of the Old West. The film kind of jazzes up their legend. But even if the film is historically inaccurate, you can't help but enjoy this masterpiece of entertainment. In what could be the most fun western, apart from certain comedies and musicals, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid sets out to make the audience care about the two lead characters. And the film succeeds gloriously. Paul Newman is perfect as Butch. His dry wit provided the film a feeling of great levity. Redford is equally great as the fast-on-the-draw, serious and cynical, Sundance Kid. The irony is that both actors were originally going to play opposite characters. Now if you ask me, Newman would never be a good Sundance Kid, Redford would never work out as Butch Cassidy and the film would not have become the legend that it is today. I still can't forget Butch's bicycle ride with Etta Place as played beautifully by Kathryn Ross, Sundance's complaints about jumping off a cliff into river rapids. And of course, who can forget the way Newman and Redford's Butch and Sundance went out with guns blazing and their boots on. Truly, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is a masterful film that offers everything you could want in a movie.

42) The Deer Hunter

Not the most timeless masterpiece, but it is my favorite great film about the war in Vietnam. The classic moment in The Deer Hunter is when our hero, Michael (Robert De Niro) plays a few games of Russian Roulette. The first time was simply to escape from a Vietnamese POW camp. The second time, while it appears he's trying to rescue his good friend, Nick (Christopher Walken) is really about his own psychosis from the horrors of Vietnam. This was true for a lot of veterans. They were inexplicably driven back to Vietam for whatever reason, and The Deer Hunter perfectly expresses this strange reaction. That's not the only reason The Deer Hunter is a great film. In this small and subtle masterpiece, you've also got great performances from a stellar cast, including De Niro and Walken, Meryl Streep, John Cazale, and John Savage. You've got some breathtaking cinematography. You've got expert storytelling from director, Michael Cimino. Then I'm also biased, because I personally love the calm and peaceful feeling truly captured as Michael tries to return to his life as a deer hunter in the mountains after living through the hell of Vietnam only to discover that he's not capable of gunning down a buck.

43) The Philadelphia Story

The second greatest romantic comedy is also close to 70 years old, and just so happens to have one of the greatest ensembles of casts ever put together. Cary Grant plays C. K. Dexter Haven, Kathryn Hepburn plays Tracy Lord, and James Stewart plays Macaulay or "Mike" Connor. C. K. Dexter Haven left Tracy in a fit of rage. Tracy went and got herself engaged to a douchebag by the name of George Kittredge (John Howard). Macaulay Connor is a snobby journalist who can't help but hate and distrust the rich. Together, the trio makes an unlikely team, playing against each other with a snappy wit that really hasn't been equaled in the romantic comedy screenwriting world. The ending will surely leave you smiling. Directed by George Cukor, one of the men behind Gone With The Wind and the director of a lot of Kathryn Hepburn films, The Philadelphia Story may be his best work. He perfectly captures the look and feel of the aristocratic society while maintaining a sort of innocence mostly found in Frank Capra films. As it was said before, the writing is absolutely top-notch. The acting by all the players - not just Hepburn, Grant and Stewart is above and beyond. In short, it is the smartest romantic comedy I've ever seen. And just think, The Philadelphia Story was made years before movies like When Harry Met Sally.

44) The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

Humphrey Bogart gives one of his greatest performances as the obsessive and desperate, Fred C. Dobbs. When people talk about gold fever, they literally are referring to the circumstances and situations in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. This film may be the only film to truly capture how sudden riches can affect certain people. Gold can turn good people bad, turn friends against friends and make for a great plot in a masterpiece of a film. Bogart plays the true vehicle for these affects. His two business partners, Tim Holt's Bob Curtin and Walter Huston's Howard are perfectly cast and contribute a great deal. Huston's Howard may be the best prospector put on screen. Holt is great as the solid and heroic Bob Curtin. You really can't hate Bogart's Dobbs. If you've had his kind of luck, you'd be bitter and angry, and desperate for a bag full of gold too. Written and directed to perfection by John Huston, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is still one of the most unique experiences on film. I have had a hard time warming up to this masterpiece but since I have, I can honestly say that it belongs at #44 on this list.

45) Braveheart

In Mel Gibson's masterpiece, he plays William Wallace, a Scottish man who just returned from a long journey to find his homeland under the evil tyranny of King Edward Longshanks. Mel's Wallace wants nothing more than to live a life of peace. But one of the unlawful decrees laid down on the Scottish people keeps him from having the life he wants with the woman he wants. The English slay his new bride as a demonstration of their authority. This sparks such a fury in Wallace that he wages a long, bloody war on England. His perspective changes in the midst of all the fighting. Wallace goes from seeking vengence to wanting freedom for he and his countrymen. The film captures these themes beautifully. Its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. The score by James Horner is one of the most beautiful I've ever heard, truly telling the story with the music. Then Gibson's build-up to these superior battle sequences is awe-inspiring. William Wallace's timeless speech ("And if he were here, he'd consume the English with fireballs from his eyes and bolts of lightning from his arse") is still the best, most effective of its kind I've ever seen and heard on screen.

46) ET: The Extra-Terrestrial

"ET phone home," legendary worlds spoken by the most legendary "squashy" alien in film history. His heart lights up. The end of his index finger lights up. In short, ET is movie magic in its most pure form. When that epic and beautiful score by John Williams rattles through the speakers and into your hearts, you can't help but feel like you're watching true greatness. Then of course, you've got the cuteness of Drew Barrymore as Gertie, and the level-headed Henry Thomas as Elliot. Who can forget that timeless bicycle ride across the moon or the amazing "goodbye" scene in which ET tells his human friend, "I'll be right here"? In closing, I have to say, Steven Spielberg has never made another film like ET and nor has any other filmaker in history.

47) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Two great performances by Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher makes One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest a masterful film. Not only do we care about Nicholson's wild and crazy, R.P. Murphy, but we also can't help but despise Fletcher's Nurse Ratched.

48) The Grapes of Wrath

It was called "the greatest American film" for a long time. When you see this John Ford masterpiece for yourselves, you'll understand why. No other movie captured the hardships and trials of the Great Depression, and poverty in general better than The Grapes of Wrath. In a sense, its subject matter makes the film depressing, but that doesn't hurt the film at all. And Henry Fonda's brilliant performance as Tom Joad helps too.

49) Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Possibly the greatest film about political corruption and it's close to 70 years old. James Stewart as Jefferson Smith is phenomenal in his final speech. When politics can make for very boring subject matter on film, Frank Capra's masterful storytelling makes the story of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington seem to fly by. Claude Rains gives us another great performance as Sen. Joseph Paine. And in one of her greatest performances, Jean Arthur as Clarissa Saunders is stunning. Mr. Smith is not a film for everyone, but I strongly suggest anyone and everyone watch this masterpiece at least once.

50) My Fair Lady

A truly great musical with Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison. The story of a poor flower girl who is used to settle a bet can be called cruel and sexist in nature, but My Fair Lady remains above any criticism. Beautiful songs, powerful acting, and a solid screenplay make this film a legend.

51) L.A. Confidential

A great film about police corruption and the fight against it. Russell Crowe became a star after LA Confidential. But let's not forget the equally great performances of Kim Basinger, Kevin Spacey and Guy Pierce. Many critics compared LA Confidential to the likes of Chinatown. But I prefer LA Confidential.

52) Bringing Up Baby

Bringing Up Baby, another one of the greatest comedies again stars Kathryn Hepburn and Cary Grant. Both legendary stars have undeniable chemistry in Bringing Up Baby. Directed perfectly by Howard Hawks, Hepburn plays the clumsy and absent-minded, Susan Vance, and Grant plays Dr. David Huxley. The craziness that follows these two unlikely people will leave you in stitches. He rips her dress in the wrong place. She drives off with his car. He dresses in drag and proclaims that he "just went GAY all of a sudden!" And it doesn't stop there. Honestly, if you want some gut-busting laughs from an old film, there isn't any better than Bringing Up Baby.

53) The Maltese Falcon

Starring Humphrey Bogart as the private detective, Sam Spade, The Maltese Falcon is one of the greatest film noir pictures of the 1940s. The intrigue and drama behind the Maltese Falcon overshadows the mystery behind the death of Spade's partner. His sudden change of heart in the end always bugs me, but it does make sense. Aside from Bogie, there are great performances from all, including Mary Astor as Brigid O'Shaughnessy, Peter Lorre as Joel Cairo and Sydney Greenstreet as Kasper Gutman. And once again, John Huston proves that he is one of the greatest filmmakers in history.

54) Glory

One of the greatest and most important movies ever made. Matthew Broderick's never been better. And I dare say, Academy Award-winner, Denzel Washington's never been better.

55) The Untouchables

Brilliant acting, brilliant storytelling and everything in between makes The Untouchables a truly great film. Sean Connery's death still gets my eyes watering to this day.

56) All About Eve

What can you say about a film with one of the greatest screenplays ever written. Well, let's just say that All About Eve received a record-setting 14 Academy Award nominations, including one for its screenplay.

57) Shane

Another one of the greatest westerns ever made may also be one of the most heart-warming of its kind.

58) West Side Story

Starring Natalie Wood, West Side Story is one of the greatest and most unusual re-tellings of Romeo and Juliet ever put on film. Not only that, but the film has awesome song and dance numbers.

59) The Great Dictator

My favorite Charlie Chaplin film wasn't a silent film, it was this satire about the Nazis and their hatred for the Jews. Chaplin does an absolutely hilarious imitation of Hitler.

60) American Beauty

Kevin Spacey had already proven that he was a great actor in The Usual Suspects, but he really knocked our socks off with this unusual gem. The film perfectly captures how dull and how strange modern suburban life can be. It blew me away then and it blows me away now.

61) The Ten Commandments

The splitting of the Red Sea was and still is one of the truly greatest effects ever caught on film. But that's not the true miracle of The Ten Commandments. It's how this masterful film can keep our interest throughout its 4-hour duration. Not enough can be said about the acting and set design of this amazing achievement.

62) The Longest Day

Another one of the greatest war films also features the invasion of Normandy. In this masterpiece from the early 1960s, you've got the greatest cast of actors ever assembled for a single movie. John Wayne leads this all-star cast in one of the most truthful and honest pro-war films I've ever seen.

63) Toy Story

It was the first great CGI or 3D animated feature film. You've got the great voice talents of Tom Hanks as Woody and Tim Allen as Buzz. The film is not only great fun for children, but it's also great for adults. The detail this little known company called, Pixar captured on their computers at the time was and still is extraordinary. Toy Story truly is one of the greatest films I've ever seen.

64) Some Like It Hot
65) The Bride of Frankenstein
66) King Kong (1933)
67) The Gold Rush
68) The Exorcist
69) The Sixth Sense
70) The Terminator

For me, the first great film from director James Cameron still holds up as the greatest independently made science-fiction film ever. Since his biggest appearance was in the Conan films, The Terminator turned Arnold Schwarzenegger into an A-list actor and made him a force to watch out for in Hollywood. The same can be said about unknown director, Cameron. His "directorial debut" was in the shameful Pirahna 2: The Spawning. Cameron was desperate to make this ingenius and ambitious story about a cyborg sent from the future to kill a woman by the name of Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton). He even went hungry at one point. But, with the drive and passion found only in the greatest filmmakers, James Cameron did whatever it took to get this independent masterpiece in theaters. Timeless lines of dialogue, from "I'll be back" to "He can't be bargained with. He can't be reasoned with. He doesn't feel pity.or remorse or fear and he absolutely will not stop - EVER - until you are dead" help make this movie the classic that it is today. Arnold truly proves that he is one of the greatest villains in film history as the T-800 or T-101 Terminator. Finally, The Terminator has had countless imitations, but it all comes back to the original greatness of this low-budget gem.

71) A Clockwork Orange
72) Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs
73) The Searchers
74) City Lights
75) Chinatown
76) The Quiet Man
77) Annie Hall
78) Raging Bull
79) American Graffiti
80) Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of The Ring
81) The Apartment
82) MASH
83) Heat
84) Fight Club
85) Goodfellas
86) Tootsie
87) The Matrix
88) A Streetcar Named Desire
89) The Graduate
90) Sunset Blvd.
91) Gladiator
92) How Green Was My Valley
93) Duck Soup
94) Taxi Driver
95) Close Encounters of the Third Kind
96) Apocolapse Now
97) X2: X-Men United
98) Platoon
99) Bonnie and Cyde
100) The French Connection