Note: I enjoy all of the films listed, even though it may not seem that way. Obsessed fans beware
5. Raging Bull
I like this movie a lot, actually; it is one of my favorite films Martin Scorsese has ever made. To me, Robert De Niro (who won his second Oscar for his part) and Joe Pesci (who received his first Oscar nomination for his part) portray one of the best brother duos in film history, and arguably the best of the 80s. The only problem is, it is not immensely special like many say. There are plenty of other Scorsese films that I find better, for example Goodfellas and The Departed. AFI ranked it the fourth best movie in cinema history on their 2007 Best Movies list, and that is a bit stretched in my opinion.4. Vertigo
This is another movie I like - maybe not as much as Raging Bull, but nevertheless a great film. It has lots of thrills, excitement, passion, and everything you traditionally find in a Hitchcock classic. The art-direction and cinematography blow me away, and makes this film even more gorgeous than it is. The problem is, it suffers the same as stated before: there are better films. Again mentioning the AFI, it is ranked number one in the mystery genre, and voted the eighth best film of all time. It feels like Jimmy Stewart's other classic, Rear Window, but without a wheelchair and more quiet lover. Great film, but not the best.
3. The Godfather
I have no problem with this movie at all; it is a very fine film. Its pacing is fine, the storyline is unique enough to have any moviegoer intrigued, and is a revolutionary pioneer in the "gangster" genre. Many people will not like what I say, but I find many other films that could easily be considered the greatest film of all time, as many say, that are not the Godfather. The part when Michael and his family travel to Italy, felt way too slow to appreciate. The most exciting part of the film, however, has to be the incredible climax at the end of the film; there are few endings I can appreciate more.2. The Dark Knight
As I stated, there are parts of the Godfather that just feel too slow for me. Usually, having a film being slow isn't a problem for me, but here, half of the whole film is just plain boring. Half of the time it is just talking, talking, and occasionally you see the Joker (Heath Ledger) become exciting, which is the best part of the film. In my opinion, it in no way compares to the original classic directed by then new at the time Tim Burton. The Batman (Christian Bale) and Joker in the 2008 version just do not seem as fresh as in the original, when it was unheard of to see Batman (then played by Michael Keaton) have a dark, grim story, besides the original comics created by Bob Kane.1. Inception
It makes me cringe when people praise this movie to such a high extent. It is by no means revolutionary - it feels exactly like Avatar but with more people. And do not argue that Avatar wasn't about dreaming, because Sam Worthington's character did fall asleep to enter the other world. Getting back on topic, it just felt like director Christopher Nolan wanted to show off his imagination by having lots of well-done visual effects, make money, and have a unique twist on the thriller genre. The gun-violence action shown felt like watching Bonnie and Clyde in a snowy, modern setting. The characters were flat, too; Joseph Gordon-Levitt had done way better in 500 Days of Summer, what I consider, a modern-day romantic comedy classic. And do not get me stated on Leonardo Dicaprio. Solid film, nothing revolutionary.
Well, this list was a bit of a downer, but I had to vent my anger. All respect is due to Christopher Nolan, as I do appreciate him and his work.
