59. Duck Soup

What it's about
The president of Freedonia declares war over the love of a woman.

What I thought
I thought Firefly was very funny.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "Loved this one. It's just one whole lot of surrealism courtesy of the Marx brothers. From physical comedy, the insults, the one-liners... they had so much influence on future cinema/comedy." 
What Dad thought

First time for Dad. "This film was hilarious. I loved the slapstick and comic elements. There are many comedies today that aren't anywhere near as funny or as clever as this movie. Genius."

58. The Gold Rush

What it's about
A man goes looking for gold.

What I thought
I liked the music and the Tramp was funny.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "Iconic scenes, particularly the 'dancing rolls', and I can see why this film makes the list. A blend of comedy, romance and drama and, of course, Chaplin in his most famous role. From a personal point of view, I've never been a big Chaplin fan despite his influence, although I did enjoy City Lights. Gold Rush was okay."

What Dad thought

First time for Dad. "Sorry to say I just couldn't stomach another silent movie. Didn't appreciate it."

57. Rocky

What it's about
A boxer gets to fight a champion.

What I thought
I loved the music... Risin' up, back on the street... Did my time, took my chances...

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "Despite it being a 'boy's film', I love it. Romance, drama, not bad acting and a good storyline. What more can I say? It's Rocky."

What Dad thought
Dad has seen this one before. "Rocky is such a cool film. It's all the better when you consider Sly actually wrote the piece. He plays Rocky very well, the ending fight is superb. A boy's film, but one I still enjoy."

56. Jaws

What it's about
A hunt for a killer shark.

What I thought
I liked the music and the fish was pretty.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "There's nothing to really criticise here, yet I can't say it's a film I love or even like all that much. Best thing about it had to be my youngest daughter's reaction, who found the leg being bitten off then floating in the water hilarious. She now asks to watch it whenever she's asked what DVD we should put on."

What Dad thought

Dad had seen this one before. "I've seen this film man times before. I enjoy it, I love the scenes with the characters on the boat as they search for the shark. It's one of my favourite examples of character development and doesn't seem as if it's forced in just to give them some background. I do feel it is over-rated."

55. North by Northwest

What it's about
A man gets mistaken for a government agent.

What I thought
I loved the planes.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "How can I explain why this is my favourite Hitchcock? It's probably Grant's character, Roger 'O' Thornhill. What's the O stand for? Nothing. The script is witty, the dialogue and situations purposefully exaggerated by Hitchcock. It's a James Bond film directed by Hitchcock - particularly if you take into account that Fleming was thinking of Grant's on screen persona as he created Bond and that Grant was the first choice to play Bond."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "Really enjoyed this movie. I find that Hitchcock can be very hit and miss. I didn't enjoy Vertigo but did enjoy Rear Window, The Birds and North by Northwest. Hitchcock is a matster of suspense of course, and this lends itself very well to a spy film. The mistaken identity plot device has rarely been done better. As much as I hate to say it, great acting, great direction and a great script combine to make a great film."

Dexter is 1 today!

The past year has gone very quickly, I can't believe we've not added more blog posts to here since September! It's been so busy here with work and such. Adding a post today because my gorgeous little boy is 1 today. 

Happy birthday, Dexter!

54. M*A*S*H

What it's about 

People who work in an army hospital.

What I thought
I really liked the song and Hawkeye was funny.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "I struggled with this one. Although I have seen it before, I guess most of my memories of MASH were from the TV series instead of the film. The film wasn't as polished as I remembered, the editing needed work, the scenes seemed to jump from one another. The sound and script too, again wasn't as polished as I recalled. Having said that, it does include some brilliant characters bought to life by some amazing actors. The script is well written. Gritty, grim, offensive, but overall a charming look at the insanity of war."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "I vaguely remembered MASH from the TV series but didn't really know what to expect. I did enjoy this film, some scenes were masterful. I loved the scene in which they treat the baby against orders, and how they escape punishment."

53. The Deer Hunter

What it's about
It's about how some men cope with life after fighting in a war.

What I thought
I liked the music, but I thought it was a bit boring.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "It is long, but I don't think it would have worked nearly so well if it had been cut. The film is very much character driven and while some scenes may not progress the plot at all, they do provide a deeper insight into the characters themselves. Brilliant performances from all the cast."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "I was wary going into this film. I thought I wouldn't enjoy it. The general consensus on the net was that it was looonnng.

I really enjoyed it. This film was split nicely into thirds, I loved the scenes where the boys showed their playfulness. The scenes in Vietnam were excellently done and the ending was great.

Happy to have watched but I will wait a while until watching again."

52. Taxi Driver

What it's about
It's about a man who drives a taxi.

What I thought
I liked the man's hair when he cut it.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "I remember really liking this film. I blame Peter for this, but it seemed to drag this time. It's always tricky watching a film with someone you know isn't enjoying it. Great acting, as usual, from De Niro, and Foster is brilliant despite her young age. De Niro's character is an awkward one as he is not used to 'normal' life after life in the Marines, so much so he thinks a first date should involve taking Cybill Shepherd to a porn film. One of Scorsese's finest films. I've never made my mind up which interpretation of the ending to believe."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "I was quite looking forward to this film and I'd heard a lot of good things about it. Unfortunately, while the performances were great, I did not like the direction. I felt the pace of the film was slow and, for example, the scene where the camera pans to an empty corridor as Travis is talking to Betsy on the phone, prevented me from being able to connect with the film."

51. West Side Story

What it's about
Romeo and Juliet with music, set in 50s New York.

What I thought
Loved the music

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "Gotta love a musical. Especially one as dynamic as this one. Some good acting in there, just watch it and let the music and dancing lead you through this tragic story. First time my daughters had seen it and it took some comforting to calm my youngest girl down at the end of it."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "To be fair, I like this version of Romeo and Juliet. Songs were good, the choreography were all right. I didn't love it, I liked it. It was okay. No nuns or Nazis in it though."

50. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring.

What it's about
Lots of walking and a ring.

What I thought
The parents watched this one without me. Not sure why.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "LoTR drinking games are fun. This film is not. Oh, how I hate Peter Jackson. From forgetting it was also Frodo's birthday at the start to... well the list is too long. Bean's death scene being a great example of Jackson's ability to screw over decent scenes. Slow motion plus sad music does not equal a sad scene."

What Dad thought
Dad had seen this one before. "If I'd have watched this before reading the book, I wouldn't have hated it. It has all the ingredients to be a fantasy I should love. Unfortunately, Jackson's choices whilst adapting the book for film were not ones I would agree with. I've had to reread the books to get the taste of the film out of my mouth. Overall 2 rings out of 10."

49. Intolerance

What it's about
Intolerance.

What I thought
The music was nice.

What Mum thought
First time for Mum. "I feel pretty bad for this, but I struggled. I can understand why it's there, for Griffith to cover such a topic in 1916 in this way, was very ambitious and... well... epic. But it seems to me to appreciate it fully you have to be a fan of the silent movie to watch it. Some scenes are spectacular, particularly within the Babylon storyline and it certainly has an impressive list of actors. But I'm more relieved we got the shorter version of it."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "I get the feeling some of these films are on here, not because people have watched them and decided they should be, but because of the blurb and name behind it. This film did not grab me in any way."

48. Rear Window

What it's about
A man thinks he sees a neighbour kill his wife.

What I thought
I thought Grace Kelly was pretty and I liked the music.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "Kelly, Stewart and Hitchcock. A winning combination and another film I've seen a few times before. Whilst this isn't my favourite Hitchcock film (North by Northwest if anyone is wondering) it's certainly in my top 3. I love the illusion of voyeurism, only seeing things from Stewart's POV, the smaller, quite touching stories of the other neighbours. Of course, I mustn't forget Thelma Ritter as the brilliant and witty Stella."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "Really enjoyed this film. I've seen this parodied so many times and have always wanted to see it. Liked the script, the camera work, and the extraordinary ability to create atmosphere just from a guy looking out a window."

47. A Streetcar Named Desire

What it's about

A strange woman goes to stay with her sister and very angry brother-in-law.

What I thought

I didn't really like this one. I like the Paper Moon song though.

What Mum thought

Mum had seen this one before. "I really like this one, but one I wouldn't watch all that often. Great performance from Brando, who really makes the film for me. Leigh does a great job as Blanche, but Blanche is quite an annoying character. What makes the film, and the play, quite difficult is that there doesn't seem to be anyone to connect to. Hunter's performance seems overshadowed by Leigh and Brando, even Malden. The violence towards women within the story is quite brutal, particularly for its time. It certainly deserves its place on the list, yet it'll be a while until I watch it again."

What Dad thought

First time for Dad. "I really did not like this movie. Firstly, I couldn’t understand the accents! This wasn’t a hardship to me as I can watch, and enjoy films, reading subtitles but this is a play that never should have made it onto the screen. Brando gave a strong performance but it was the only thing I enjoyed about this film."

46. It Happened One Night

What it's about
A lady runs away and meets a man she thinks is annoying.

What I thought
I like Clark Gable.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "Another one I love. The Walls of Jericho scene, the hitching a ride scene, Gable staying behind as Colbert misses her bus... he might not have a huge part in it but I have to say Ellie's Dad makes the ending for me. Capra created a brilliant RomCom with aspects you can see again and again as newer film-makers try to make something as good as this."

What Dad thought

First time for Dad."Do you love her?

Yes but don’t hold that against me, I’m a little screwy myself.

This was a fantastic film. Not only did it have the great performance and witty script that we have come to expect from most of the films on this list it was genuinely laugh out load funny and heart felt.

I loved the development of the relationship between Peter and Ellie, the one liners and the happy ending. Great film."

45. Shane

What it's about
A man just wants the quiet life and tries to settle down on a farm.

What I thought
Shane was great, I liked the little boy too. I like cowboy films - I get to wear cowboy hats!

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "It's a proper Western with the good guys in white and the bad guys in black. Ladd is brilliant, as are Jean Arthur and Palance. Sentimental and well worth watching again."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "Lovable ex gunfighter Shane gets work as a farm hand in this cool understated good vs evil Western. The scenery is beautiful and there are some really nice touches. The scene where Shane and Joe take on the ‘something’ gang in a classic bar room brawl is great and there is a split second shot where the two characters are fighting back to back and  briefly catch each others eye and smile. This symbolises the understatement of the show, this one smile showing that they have tried being reasonable but, at some point, it just feels good to punch your problems."

44. Philadelphia Story

What it's about
A lady is about to get married when her ex-husband turns up. 

What I thought
I liked Dexter a lot, and I wanted the model boat, it was yar.

What Mum thought
Mum has seen this one lots of times. "Hepburn, Grant and Stewart so of course I'm going to like it. Hepburn is marvellous, the script is brilliant, great supporting cast. Love it."

What Dad thought

First time for Dad. "Another classic with great witty dialogue and good performances.  *Yawn* It seems that an unforeseen side effect of watching films from this list is that I have seen so many good films that films that would have stood head and shoulders above most others fall into obscurity when compared to others on this list. It wasn’t Sunset Boulevard and it wasn’t Some Like It Hot, but it was a good film."

43. Midnight Cowboy

What it's about
It's about two friends who live in New York.

What I thought
I liked the music and Ratso.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "Another one I can appreciate but wouldn't watch all that often. Brilliant performance from Hoffman, Voigt does well as the naive Joe. The cinematography is good, and I do like the dream sequences. Ratso is the best thing about the film. "

What Dad thought
Dad had seen this one before. "'I’m walking Here!'
A film stealing performance by Dustin Hoffman (he’s on this list a lot!) Ratso/Rico is my favourite thing of about this film. I never really took to Jon Voight’s character, he just seems to be an idiot. I understand that the film is about the yin-yang relationship of Rico’s bitter streetwise knowledge and Joe’s hopeless naivety and optimism but I really didn’t care about Joe."

42. Bonnie and Clyde

What it's about

A man and women who love to rob banks.

What I thought
I liked the banjo music.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "This helped shape the 60s anti-hero so well while completely ignoring the Hays code. Whilst it isn't a film I'd want to watch too often, I can certainly appreciate many aspects of it, particularly the performances."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "I really enjoyed this film. The performances from the title characters were exceptional, I really empathised with the characters and while I knew it wouldn’t end well the violence of the ending really shocked me.

The characters spiral to their inevitable doom was totally out of their own hands, after the first robbery there wasn’t much else they could do, this film was a great tragedy.

The directing was also really great. It was subtle but professional and every now and then you would have a scene that was framed so artistically it looked like a painting."

41. King Kong

What it's about

A big monkey is taken away from his home :(

What I thought
I liked the big monkey and dinosaurs!!

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "Love it! Sooooo much better than Peter Jackson's. Only downside to it is just how much Fay Wray screamed."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "Preferable to Peter Jackson's. I really liked it, mostly because of how influential it has been on films within its genre."

40. The Sound of Music

What it's about

Lovely lady looks after lots of children, there is singing and Nazis.

What I thought
I really liked this one, my mum and sisters were singing along. I loved the kids, especially the little girl.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "Nazis, Julie Andrews, lots of memorable songs, good direction, story and great characters. May not be my number 1 musical, but it's definitely one of the best. Peter is a bit of a fan too, but doesn't want to admit it."

What Dad thought
Dad had seen this one before. "Nazis and nuns, where else are you going to get a film with both in with singing too. There are worse musicals."

39. Dr. Strangelove

Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room.

What it's about

A man starts a war.

What I thought
I liked the planes and the uniforms. I loved the music too!

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "Great performances from Sellers, Heydon and Scott. Over the top performances, which are hilarious and still manage to ring true. Absolutely timeless, brilliant direction, cinematography. Love it!"

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "I LOVE this film. It's one on the list I've been looking forward to. I was a little nervous after my disappointment at Mr Smith, but this didn't just match my expectations it exceeded them The dialogue was superb, the exchanges such as -

'Okay. I'm gonna get your money for ya. But if you don't get the President of the United States on that phone, you know what's gonna happen to you?'
'What?'
'You're gonna have to answer to the Coca-Cola company.'

An excellent soundtrack, a brilliant premise and beautiful performances. This film really made my day."

A big plane like a '52... varrroom!

38. The Treasure of Sierra Madre

What it's about

Some men go looking for gold!

What I thought
Not much here for me to like, but the old man was funny.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "Not more Bogart! Luckily, Huston completely steals the spotlight on this one. A wise old toothless codger who just kicks his heels up and has a good time. Apart from Huston and, of course, 'Badges? We ain't got no badges...' it drags."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "OMG this was long! While it's a competent film, I don't understand why it's on the AFI list. I found it predictable and whilst there are some snappy exchanges and excellent writing, it couldn't raise it to the level of classic for me."

37. The Best Years of Our Lives

What it's about

Some men come back from war and have to get used to living normal lives again.

What I thought
I really liked Homer, but I got a little bored.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "I think the best praise of all for this came from Capra who said it deserved every award Wyler could get for it. This film beat It's a Wonderful Life, and although I love that film, I can see why this did so well. In particular, Harold Russell, who won two academy awards for his portrayal of Homer Parrish. Although quite slow paced, it is a well written and directed character-driven story."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "I quite enjoyed this film, although I agree it was slow. It was ambitious to show the ex-service men returning to normality after World War II. It expertly portrayed them returning to a life which had remained the same when they had changed so dramatically. Harold Russell stole the film with an excellent performance. A little disappointing that he didn't go on to do a lot more film. Overall a brave film."

Joe's Journey

We've been a bit behind with the film updates. Mum, Dad and I have watched a couple more of the AFI list, but we haven't gotten the photos done yet. I will get Mum to put up some more posts very, very soon.

While you wait, could you please go and visit this little boy's website. It's called Joe's Journey.

Joe is 4 years old and has Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy and uses a Kaye Walker and wheelchair to get around.  He finds getting around extra hard and gets upset he can't be like his sister and friends.

If you have any spare money to give, they have a special donate button. Or, if you live near to them or around the Midlands, keep an eye on the events page.

Thank you,

Dexter 

36. The Bridge On The River Kwai

 

 

 

What it's about

Some men make a bridge.

What I thought
I really liked the theme tune and Alec Guinness.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "Great performances from Holden and Guinness, not forgetting Hayakawa. Beautifully filmed, its only flaw is to claim to be a portrayal of true events."

What Dad thought
Dad had seen this one before. "This is another awesome film! I've loved this film since i watched it as a child. Guinness performance is exemplary as the stiff upper lipped officer who bargains with nothing and wins concessions from the Japanese officer in charge of the camp.
Guinness's characters pride in the bridge grows as it becomes a symbol for one of the few things that he can actually control.
Great film, great acting and an awesome ending. "

35. Annie Hall

What it's about

It's a love story, kind of.

What I thought
Boring.

What Mum thought
Mum can't remember whether she has seen this one before. "This film has a lot of strengths. A few A list cameos, some cartoon work, some breaking of the fourth wall, interesting subtitles... Allen used every gimmick available to make this film unique, and it won him some Oscars. Having said that, I giggled a bit at a few of the jokes, but then, as I am often found doing with Woody Allen films, I got bored. The film may be one of the shortest on the list yet it felt like it went on forever. Keaton was very good, I just find Allen annoying, and his films kind of end up being mashed together into one for me, that's why I can't remember whether I've seen it before or not."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "I was pleasantly surprised by this film. I was wary of Woody Allen films as he's usually portrayed as a character of himself. I didn't know how much of the neurotic I could take but at just over 90 minutes, Annie Hall was just the right length.
I enjoyed the breaks in the fourth wall and the insane bits such as Snow White animation or when he was standing in line at the cinema.
Overall I thought this is a good romantic comedy."

34. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

What it's about
Evil step-mum wants to kill Snow White. Snow White escapes to live with 7 dwarfs.

What I thought
I really liked this, especially the singing and the dwarfs.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "Snow White is my least favourite Disney princess. Although for its time, brilliant animation etc... I find it boring."

What Dad thought
Dad had seen this one before. "Not a fan."

33. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

What it's about

It's about a man, who's a little strange and the people he's in hospital with.

What I thought
This one wasn't really for me. Time for my nap!

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "I've read the book and seen the film a fair few times. I love it, I love the performances and Chief is amazing. It alternates between being utterly uplifting to downright depressing. Superb story."

What Dad thought
Dad had seen this one before. "Fantastic film! I've seen this one before and Nicholson's performance never fails to stun me. The energy he exudes as he plays McMurphy, like bottled lightening and can't help but have an effect on the other patients.

The scenes where he goes up against Nurse Ratched are some of the most powerful in cinematic history. I love this film and I'm very pleased it's on the list."

32. The Godfather Part II

What it's about

It's two stories, one about how the dad found the business and one about how the son ran the business.

What I thought
I liked when the band played Pop Goes The Weasel, but like the first one it's probably a film I'll like more when I'm older.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "It's better than the first part, I love this one. The use of flashbacks really works and Robert De Niro is superb, as is Pacino. Michael can never come to terms with the fact his father's empire was built on love and respect, his on fear and violent treachery. Instead of being a mafia film, this is one which depicts brilliantly a man's struggle with himself and those around him. Brilliant, atmospheric cinematography; this film shows just how good Coppola is."

What Dad thought
Dad had seen this one before. "It is a great film. However, I wasn't in the right frame of mind to sit through it again. Why, oh why, are 90% of these films over 3 hours long!"

31. The Maltese Falcon

What it's about

Everybody wants a statue of a bird.

What I thought
I liked Peter Lorre.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "I'm not a big fan of Bogart, however, he is Sam Spade. Some witty writing and good performances. Not the best film of its genre on the list, still, it is pretty good."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "It's a cool film. The pace worked really well and a witty script. Bogart is uber-cool and great supporting cast."

30. Apocolypse Now

What it's about

A man goes on a boat trip.

What I thought
I loved the soundtrack and the helicopters.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "It has some great scenes, memorable quotes, great cinematography and I'm always surprised this made it to being a film. 16 months filming, Brando turning up overweight and knowing little about what he was there to do, the helicopters used were fighting in a war at the same time as filming was taking place, certainly a lot of work went into the film making it what it is. Having said that, it's just far too long, especially the Redux version we watched with the extra scenes which quite frankly ruin the film. Worst one has to be the scene in the parked helicopter and the Playboy playmates. Ugh."

What Dad thought
Dad had seen this one before."Apocalypse now? More like Apocalypse wow! I last saw this film about a decade ago and while I liked it at the time I was more impressed with the action scenes then any characterisation or plot. This time I found myself greatly impressed with the story of descent into madness.

The characters were so vivid and bigger then life. The surfing Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore is one of my favourite characters, not just in this film, but ever. I would actually follow him to war. Probably wouldn’t last long but it would be an adventure.

Sheen’s performance as he heads to meet his target is deeply moving and the closing scene is almost haunting. Though I had to watch the film in two sittings (its bloody long) I loved it.

If I had to make a criticism it would be with the version I watched, Redux, there is an added scene on a French Plantation half way up the river. This return to civilisation just when he is on the road to damnation really jarred and didn’t add anything to the film. It should have been left on the cutting room floor.

Ultimately an excellent film and probably my favourite war movie."

29. Double Indemnity

What it's about

A man and a woman manage to get money through killing her husband.

What I thought

I was chatting so missed a lot of this one. I did like watching the people and the music though.

What Mum thought
First time for Mum. "Loved it. Snappy, witty script written with a little help from Raymond Chandler. Brilliant performances from Stanwyck, Macmurry and Edward G. Robinson. In sharp contrast to All About Eve, there are periods where not a lot happens yet it never gets boring."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "Another good film, incredible script, really fast paced witty dialogue. The characters gave awesome performances (especially Barbara Stanwyck) and the story, while not incredible original, is done really well."

28. All About Eve

What it's about

A young lady becomes friends and some theatre folk in order to become a star herself.

What I thought
I got bored and went to bed instead.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "Although I have seen this one before, it was quite a while ago. I'm afraid I can see why I couldn't remember much about it. Baxter does a decent enough job, as does Davis, but none of the performances stand out for me. The only slightly interesting thing about it is the circular aspect of the story. The script is slow paced and far from the kind of thing that makes me laugh."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "Mmm, I must admit it annoys me when a film on the list of the top 100 films doesn’t reach my expectations. This film should have it all, its got a great cast and a good story but it doesn’t do anything with them.

I’m not going to go on about it in detail but it could have been so much more."

27. High Noon

What it's about

A Marshall stands up against some baddies and everybody else in the town hides.

What I thought
I really like the song in it.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "This is one of my favourite Westerns, very pleased to see it on the list. I love this film for a number of reasons. Firstly, Cooper's performance is brilliant, Kane has a remarkable amount of inner-strength and morality which enables him to uphold the law at all costs, even if it means losing his new wife. I love the song, although perhaps Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling is played a little too often in it, also the cinematography is brilliant, in particular the crane shot and the clocks as the movie counts down to noon."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad.(Contains spoilers)

"OMG! This film was amazing! I loved all of it! The fact its filmed in real time (or as close as to not bicker), the performances of all the characters and the soundtrack.

“Do not forsake me oh my darling.”

The film tells the story of a sheriff looking for help in dealing with a pose of criminals but every where he turns he just gets embarrassed looks and weak excuses. In this respect it seems realistic. People don’t want to get involved, they want to be looked after but don’t want to get there hands dirty.

The ending was classic as well, with him just leaving the town to their fate and riding off with his wife. Loved it."

26. Mr Smith Goes to Washington

What it's about

A very nice man gets to go work in Washington where other people lie about him.

What I thought
I like James Stewart a lot, I smile when he's on telly. I got a little bored with this film though.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "I'm a big fan of both James Stewart and Frank Capra, and this partnership doesn't disappoint. Stewart is brilliant as the awestruck, naive yet stubborn Jefferson Smith and I love the filibuster scenes. Jean Arthur is also fab as the savvy assistant. A classic film in which, as the story itself is a rather stylised statement concerning US politics, the characters really make the difference."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "This should be a good film. This should be a film that I rate very highly indeed. David versus Goliath with Goliath being a corrupt government and David a naive but patriotic man? This should be right up my street. But its not.

Stewart doesn’t really impress me with his performance. I didn’t feel moved by his filibuster and the situations were ridiculous. Grown men beating boy scouts to stop them getting the story out? The government just believing this guy was trying to screw the scouts? I was thoroughly disappointed.

Sorry, I really wanted to like this one."

25. To Kill a Mockingbird

 

What it's about
A little girl tells the story of her very brave and kind father.

What I thought
I thought the kids were lovely, I wanted to be there friend. I liked Atticus a lot too.

What Mum thought
Mum hadn't seen this one before. "I've read the book but never seen this film. Peck is Atticus Finch, a brilliant portrayal as well as excellent performances from the rest of the cast. A timeless classic everyone should see."

What Dad thought

First time for Dad. "This was a decent film dealing with some serious issues. Atticus is a cool main character, far ahead of his time in dealing with his children (they don’t call him dad, how cool?) and his attitudes.

His bravery in standing between a lynch mob and the innocent Tom with nothing but a smile and a book is a true piece of cinema history. John Wayne may have sought justice with a six shooter and his fists but here is a man who uses debate and rhetoric to defend people. Oh, and he just happens to be the best shot in the county anyway!

Ultimately I find the subtle heroes much more impressive then those who enter stage left with guns blazing and this coupled with the themes of the film lead me to believe it deserves its place on the AFI list. If anything it could be a little higher."

24. E.T.: The Extraterrestrial

What it's about
An alien gets left behind, he's befriended by a little boy.

What I thought
I liked this one. The alien made cute noises and I liked the little girl.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "This is a film that should be watched as a child, then never, ever again. I had fond memories of it. Watching as an adult, it is a sickly-sweet pile of rubbish. ET is far from cute. And, as someone who gets quite emotional during films, not even the slightest tug at my heart when ET died. The positive points - I still like the bond between Elliot and ET (such as Elliot screaming when ET was scared by the umbrella) and watching my daughters watch ET was pretty cool.

Oh, and why did the guy in the spacesuit try and get in through the window? And why did they have spacesuits on? Re-watching it has caused me pain."

What Dad thought
Dad had seen this one before. "To be honest, this was disappointing. I loved this film as a child but as an adult... all I'm thinking is somewhere a race has developed faster than light travel but not the passenger manifest.

Elliot's a bit of an idiot but Spielberg plays on our emotions. Who doesn't get a bit choked up when his pet alien dies? The bike chase is still cool and some of the gags bring a chuckle but overall this film took up a place on the list that should have gone to the Goonies. The kids will love it; we'll put up with it."

23. Grapes of Wrath

What it's about
A poor family travel across America to find a new home.

What I thought
I wasn't too keen on this one and fell asleep.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "Brilliant black and white cinematography and great performances. Despite a number of hardships befalling the family, it's still an uplifting story. A little comic relief in it, but overall I just found it to drag. Read the book instead."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. ""

22. Some Like It Hot

What it's about
Some men see a murder so dress up as women and join a band to escape.

What I thought
I really liked the singing in it, and I liked Sugar.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "This film is great fun. Lemmon and Curtis both do a superb job in their roles and have a lot of witty lines. I love them as men, as women and Curtis in his Cary Grant millionaire role. Monroe is gorgeous too and perfect for the role of Sugar. It's a real gem and a classic comedy that definitely deserves to be on the list."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "My first Monroe film! This was a fantastic comedy, a precursor to films such as Nuns on the Run and Tootsie. I loved this film, another gem found on the AFI list. There were fantastic sets, the dialogue was snappy and hilarious. Marilyn was beautiful and excellently cast as the naive band member with a penchant for sax players."

21. Chinatown

 

What it's about
A private detective investigates murder and the LA water supply.

What I thought
 I liked the man's car and I liked the sound of the water.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "The direction, the screenplay, the acting, the cinematography and the soundtrack combine to make a convincing and atmospheric noir film. I can't say it's something I'd chose to watch again or class as a favourite, but certainly well made"

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "A classic noir detective story. Nicholson gives a strong performance as a private detective on the case of a missing person. There are some great shots in the film, at one point a great shot filmed in the car's wing mirror.

This film can be considered excellent but coming so close of the heels of Sunset Blvd means I can't rate it as highly as I would have done."

20. It's a Wonderful Life

 

What it's about
An angel shows a man what would happen if he was never born

What I thought
I really liked Clarence and the snow looked lovely.

What Mum thought
Mum has seen this one many, many times before. "I love this film so much, Stuart and Reed are both wonderful. It's one of my go to films when I need cheering up or just because. One everyone should watch."

What Dad thought
 Dad has seen this one before. "A nice, feel good movie."

19. On The Waterfront

What it's about
A man stands up against the unions.

What I thought
I liked the pigeons and the boats. There wasn't much else I liked though.

What Mum thought
First time for Mum. "This is precisely why we are doing this challenge. This was a brilliant film and I can't believe I'd not seen it before. An amazing cast with Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint... I think Karl Malden pretty much made the film for me, particularly his crucifixion speech. Acting, scripting, cinematography; everything is perfect."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "A thoroughly enjoyable underdog story. Good acting, good script. One to watch again."

18. The General

What it's about
They steal the man's train and so he goes to get it back.

What I thought
I really liked the piano music, and I want to drive a choo choo!

What Mum thought
First time for Mum. "I'm a fan of Keaton, particularly the shorts. Some of the stunts were funny enough, if a little repetitive at times. Overall, the civil war serves only as a backdrop for a pretty dull story."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "This film had some great sets and excellent stunts. Unfortunately I faded in and out. I'm an 80s child and a silent film just couldn't keep my attention. I've heard that Keaton has better films. It was interesting to watch but should it have been included on the top 100 list? I think not."

17. The Graduate

"Elaaaaiiiiine!"

What it's about
A man has an affair with an older woman, then falls in love with her daughter.

What I thought
I really liked the songs in this one. Mum sang along with a couple of them and I smiled lots. The man in it looked a bit like Dad, so I liked him.

What Mum thought
Mum's seen this before. "Another one I love. Hoffman is, as always, brilliant in his awkwardness. Great script too, with a lot of very funny lines. The film is timeless and will always be one people can identify with."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "Loved this film. Hoffman looks so young and gives a wonderful portrayal of an innocent young man corrupted by the older woman. Some of the techniques in filming are groundbreaking, it also has an awesome soundtrack.

The early scenes of Benjamin and Mrs Robinson together are excellent with some real laugh out loud moments. Some of Hoffman's attempts to flirt were very familiar to m. This film really belongs on the list and is one I shall be watching again."

16. Sunset Blvd.

What it's about
A writer meets a mad old woman who gives him lots of pressies.

What I thought
I liked the man's voice. I also liked the organ music Max played.

What Mum thought
Mum's seen this before. "I lurve this film. Swanson's character is fabulous, totally lost in her own world, she's incredible. Max, Erich von Stroheim, is a wonderful character too who is so protective of Desmond.

It had been so long since my first viewing of this that I'd forgotten how brilliant the writing was for it. So many quotable lines and Holden's narration is full of dry wit."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "I loved this film. The narration reminded me of Raymond Chandler and I've always had a soft spot for that genre. The language used is amazingly simple yet poetic. The performances were strong (some might say over-the-top but that's the point, isn't it?) and the actors had a great story to work with. Decades before American Beauty we have a fantastic twist and some of the most quotable lines in cinematic history."