Empire Strikes Back. Oh, sorry, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. Heavy sigh. I do not approve of George Lucas retitling the entire series. Anyway, there really isn't much argument to be made here. Empire is far and away the best. It's like the Godfather II of the series, or the later Harry Potter movies. It's when things--to crib a phrase from The Real World--stopped being silly, and started getting real.
Star Wars was of course the best movie ever when I was a kid. But watching it now, the pacing is really slow, the dialogue is atrocious. and Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) kinda, sorta sucks at acting. Like a lot. I still dig it, but it doesn't totally hold up. The third movie, Return of the Jedi, is pretty much required viewing for males who grew up during the '80s (mostly due to Carrie Fisher being in a metal bikini for half the movie), but the casual viewer will probably get bored by the long space battles and those furry little dancing cannibals the Ewoks. (What? They were totally going to eat Han and Luke. They had a stewpot going and everything.)
And, yeah, I'm not a fan of the recent prequel movies. Episode I: The Phantom Menace has the borderline racist alien you mention, an annoyance by the name of Jar Jar Binks who speaks with a weird faux-Jamaican accent and generally gets in everybody's way. The third installment, Revenge of the Sith, has its moments, but overall the whole prequel trilogy is pretty unwatchable.
This question brings up something interesting I've noticed: a lot of women I know (like my girlfriend for instance) have never seen the Star Wars, Back to the Future, Ghostbusters or Indiana Jones movies. I get why a woman might have missed Star Wars and Indy (particularly if they were born before, say, 1985). But Ghostbusters? That movie is on TV all the time. And Back to the Future is a classic '80s flick that appeals to guys and girls alike. (Plus, it's Michael J. Fox at his peak.)
Am I alone on this? I have never met a guy who hasn't seen these movies. Although I did once meet a guy who'd never seen The Matrix. I think he might have been an evil sentient machine in disguise sent here to enslave us all.
Star Wars was of course the best movie ever when I was a kid. But watching it now, the pacing is really slow, the dialogue is atrocious. and Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) kinda, sorta sucks at acting. Like a lot. I still dig it, but it doesn't totally hold up. The third movie, Return of the Jedi, is pretty much required viewing for males who grew up during the '80s (mostly due to Carrie Fisher being in a metal bikini for half the movie), but the casual viewer will probably get bored by the long space battles and those furry little dancing cannibals the Ewoks. (What? They were totally going to eat Han and Luke. They had a stewpot going and everything.)
And, yeah, I'm not a fan of the recent prequel movies. Episode I: The Phantom Menace has the borderline racist alien you mention, an annoyance by the name of Jar Jar Binks who speaks with a weird faux-Jamaican accent and generally gets in everybody's way. The third installment, Revenge of the Sith, has its moments, but overall the whole prequel trilogy is pretty unwatchable.
This question brings up something interesting I've noticed: a lot of women I know (like my girlfriend for instance) have never seen the Star Wars, Back to the Future, Ghostbusters or Indiana Jones movies. I get why a woman might have missed Star Wars and Indy (particularly if they were born before, say, 1985). But Ghostbusters? That movie is on TV all the time. And Back to the Future is a classic '80s flick that appeals to guys and girls alike. (Plus, it's Michael J. Fox at his peak.)
Am I alone on this? I have never met a guy who hasn't seen these movies. Although I did once meet a guy who'd never seen The Matrix. I think he might have been an evil sentient machine in disguise sent here to enslave us all.
I was born in 1980 and I saw all the movies you mentionned. I find it weird that gals born in the 80s hasn't seen all these, actually. I'll have to do a small survey among my friends to find out if what you stated above is true for them...
When I was a child, my favorite Star Wars movie was "Return of the Jedi". I loved the Rancor, the sarlac, the pursuit in the woods, and the ewoks. Growing up, "The Empire strikes back" quickly became my fav. But can you really watch it without watching the first one?
Dude, yeah. Women are stupid. I say this because most women dont have the sence to watch these amazing films. Though I have to say any person, not just women, who hasn't seen these movies are missing something great. Especially the Star Wars movies or the Indiana Jones triology( I say triology because the fourth film was a snoozer).
And yeah, The Empire Strikes Back is the best. Though when I was little I used to like The Phantom Menace best.
That's strange, I don't know anyone that hasn't seen all of those movies. Of course, liking the movies is a different matter (except for Ghostbusters, that movie is a masterpiece and anyone that doesn't love it is clearly wrong in the head). I've never cared for original Star Wars movies, so the prequels sealed the whole franchise firmly in my "dislike" file. I always liked Star Trek better, anyway, so my friends and I argue over who our favourite Captain was rather than this A New Menace versus The Jedi Strikes Back gobbledygook.
Ghostbusters is the greatest movie ever made.
Hi, I was born 1969, which makes me 40. I've seen all of the movies discussed.
What!? There are people who haven't seen Star Wars? Unheard of! I've absolutely seen all these movies...& know most by heart. But maybe it's because my only sibling is a brother. Further, my intro to art history, my discipline, was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. My little brother had the van, the sewer, AND THE BLIMP!
You're right about The Empire. Not so much about The Godfather II, though!
Hmm, I've never seen Back to the Future. I was born in 1988, that is my excuse.
As to Star Wars, I always liked Return of the Jedi the most, although Phantom Menace comes in close behind. Darth Maul is freaking AWESOME, and Ewan McGregor is just beautiful, and 'fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to suff-A-riiing'.
Oh and Attack of the Clones had some of the most beautiful clothes for Natalie Portman, I went to that movie for my 14th birthday, and while the movie was horrifyingly boring... the clothes totally made up for it. Which I understand is probably just a girl thing.
I'm a girl and I've seen ALL of the movies mentioned and that fact doesn't earn me much street cred. My conclusion is that I'm just way more awesome than the 'guys' I hang out with. I really don't know why most girls haven't seen these films. Indiana Jones- come on! If you're not into the amazing action you've at least got sexy Harrison Ford. Oh and Jess I totally get what you're saying about Darth Maul's bad-assness and Portman's costumes. It's definitely a girl thing with the clothes, but we're proud of it no? ;) Godfather II.. the heavens open up and sing, although I still am very much in love with the first one and I like to imitate Appollonia frequently. And Back to the Future and Ghostbusters!?!? Why? Why wouldn't you watch those? They. are. awesome. The whole Matrix thing blows my mind, especially since a GUY hadn't seen it. I try to get my girlfriends to watch The Matrix but it just ain't happenin.
I don't think the comment that most women haven't seen Indiana Jones is at all true. Who doesn't love Indiana Jones?! He is pretty much perfect. Guys can talk about Leia in that bikini all they want, but Indie was epic hotness at all times.
It might be an age thing. My girlfriend was too young for Ghostbusters and Star Wars during the '80s, and then when she was older she was busy watching stuff like 10 Things I hate about You and going to punk rock shows.
But everyone, no matter their age, should see Ghostbusters and Back to the Future.
I was born in the early 90's and I've seen all of those movies. You can't beat the classics, and you can't beat Michael J. Fox being frustrated with time. Or Bill Murray kicking ghost ass. There are some of us that aren't 80's kids who have seen the good stuff (though there are far too few of us. I can't talk about Thundercats with my friends! It's horrible!)
Now I feel like watching the entire Star Wars set.
I was kind of traumatized by the Ghostbusters theme song as a child and never got around to actually seeing the movie, but I'll make a note to see it at some point, haha.
Anyway, I agree wholeheartedly with you - ESB is totally the best, because it has everything: action (obviously), romance (Han and Leia are one of my favorite movie couples of all time), suspense (Han's fate)... it's just a good film. Although the part where Luke and Leia kiss squicks me out to all hell, even though you don't find out they're related until the next film. Still. Ick.
I have the entire Back to the Future box set....and the entire Karate Kid box set, yes, even with The Next Karate Kid featuring a teenage angst ridden Hillary Swank.
But I've come to terms I might be an oddity when it comes to women. That number seems to be growing, which I'd say it's a major plus for all the good looking geek guys.
Yes. Back to the Future and Ghostbusters might well be two of the greatest movies of all time.
But any love for Tim Burton's original Batman? Anyone? Anyone?
Hello?
It's cold. And the wolves are howling.
tim burton's batman, and batman returns, are two of my all time favorite movies. i hope i don't offend nick or the only geek chic boys, but i am not feeling the new ones at all.
Tim Burton's Batman is one of my favorite movies of all time. I can basically quote that one, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Say Anything and Ghostbusters verbatim.
Also like Batman Returns a lot. I do love Dark Knight though, in a completely different way than the Tim Burton movies. Batman Begins I can take or leave.
Batman 1989 is my favorite one. With a soundtrack by Prince and an insane Jack Nicholson, you cannot go wrong.
Batman Begins just seems broken to me. I found the animated series to be more compelling than that one.
I am heartened by all the Burton Batman love.
What kind of a town is it, that a man dressed up like a bat steals all my press?
THIS TOWN NEEDS AN ENEMA!
Wow. I just dorked out. I need to inhale a protein shake and watch some porn...
*other.
Here's an interesting piece on watching Ghostbusters for the first time as an adult, and why you shouldn't necessarily demand viewing of certain childhood films from people.
http://www.avclub.com/articles/ghostbusters,35378/
The article mentions Goonies with which I whole heartedly agree, but another one I think does not work well viewing as an adult was Princess Bride.
Blasphemy! There is no age at which the Princess Bride is a bad movie. I hope that I'm watching it on my death bed. My final words will be "Anybody...want...a..........peanut?" -croak-
lol...I was born in 1978 and get interesting looks from guys when they realize I watch sci-fi and anime. I watched all these movies and grew up on Star Wars, Star Trek, Lost in Space, Battlestar Gallactica etc...
And yes Keaton as Batman was just perfect...course loved him as Mr Mom also :-)
I grew up w my dad at home and he didn't watch soap operas...we watched cartoons and sci-fi stuff....anybody rem Lancelot Link?? Weird I know, but I rem that as a kid...
I have seen all of these movies and love all of them and I was born in 85. Now I have a 6 year old son and I'm introducing them all to him. He loves A New Hope. I can't help but love the Hero's Journey, classic Jesus story told over and over and over again. Gotta love it.
I was born in '92 and I love Star Wars, the movies and the books. I like the older movies more than the newer installments and the Empire Strikes Back is easily the best. A second Death Star? What were they thinking?... I love the first three Indiana Jones movies too. But I'm not very fond of Back to the Future, whenever I tried to watch it, it didn't hold my interest for long. I don't think I've ever seen Ghost Busters though, probably due to my age. My interest in Sci-fi helped quite a bit with the guys, not that I needed it. I won the hearts of nearly all the smart/geeky guys in school. None of my girl friends ever watched or cared for any of these movies, which I found odd, as I had grown up watching them. For some reason, most girls just don't like sci-fi, which is a shame.
I know!! What the hell was with that second death star??!!? They couldn't have brain stormed something else?
I was born in the early 90s and I love Star Wars, the movies and the books. I like the older movies more than the newer installments and the Empire Strikes Back is easily the best. A second Death Star? What were they thinking?... I love the first three Indiana Jones movies too. But I'm not very fond of Back to the Future, whenever I tried to watch it, it didn't hold my interest for long. My interest in Sci-fi helped quite a bit with the guys, not that I needed it. I won the hearts of nearly all the smart/geeky guys in school. None of my girl friends ever watched or cared for any of these movies, which I found odd, as I had grown up watching them. Sadly not enough girls are into sci-fi, which is a shame.
Um, dude, they aren't cannibals. They would only be cannibals if they were eating Ewoks.
:)
I thought all those movies were prerequisite to living a happy, fulfilling life. How does a person who hasn't seen them function in society? Those films are a basic part of modern culture. I get seriously baffled when someone doesn't at least know the basic plot to the Star Wars series, or understand a Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man reference I slip into casual conversation. And I wasn't even alive when any of this came out. Maybe I'm just extremely geeky, but intentionally not watching any of those movies seems criminal.
Return of the Jedi. The best Star Wars movie. Followed closely by The Empire Strikes Back though. Also, I am a woman and love Star Wars as do many of my female friends.
Return of the Jedi followed closely by The Empire Strikes Back
It pretty much causes pain in the region of my heart when I find out people have never seen Star Wars, Indiana Jones or Back to the Future..I find myself asking 'what kind of sad childhood did you have if you missed out on these, the building blocks of life?'
I love all these comments!
What do you guys think is the Star Wars/Back to the Future/Indiana Jones of today? The thing that kids now will remember in 10,15, 20 years?
I would say Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. Also maybe the Batman movies, though they aren't super kid friendly.
Harry Potter is definitely the first to jump to mind...Possibly Transformers as well...however my nephews were thoroughly grossed out by the whole humping dog scene in Revenge of the Fallen...
I know a guy who very recently watched Star Wars (he watched them all within a few days) for the first time and another who still has never seen any Indiana Jones. I was amazed.
Empire Strikes Back is the BEST.
Who else enjoyed the Family Guy version? Whew. What a hoot.
Also I'd like to mention the most "BA" villian is Darth Maul, or General Grievous.. I would Say it's a toss up.
I have to say that for the last few of hours i have been hooked by the impressive posts on this website. Keep up the wonderful work.
hahha I agree