I recently rewatched The Warriors after seeing John Wick 4. It was the first time I'd seen it since I was a teenager and I was blown away by how well it holds up, even to an adult watching it. Even just from an aesthetic perspective it's absolutely beautiful, and in terms of subject matter it's a perfect antidote to feminism.
Escape from New York is another great film with similar themes. It can be really thought-provoking in some places, but also features an unapologetic badass as the main character.
They Live is increasingly relevant in today's climate, although for reasons somewhat opposite to John Carpenter's own motivations. It is a really interesting watch.
I'd also recommend Cool Hand Luke to anyone who hasn't seen it. It has very little action, but it's also a film that every man needs to see at least once.
And if anyone's looking for a more recent film that bucks the woke trend, Greyhound is a fantastically tight, perfectly structured, no-nonsense war film. There's none of the boring psychodrama or political messaging: it's just very good.
I never expected Hollywood to release a movie like Greyhound in 2020. A no bullshit adaptation of a 1950s book.
In greyhound the only female character is the protagonist 's love interest, which is briefly shown in the beginning to humanize him and give the viewer a sense of "what he's fighting for".
I wouldn't be surprised if the woman isn't mentioned at all in the book (which I haven't read), but I don't mind having this kind of wallflower character in a movie adaptation. They did the same thing in "In the Heart of the Sea", where Owen's wife and family are briefly shown in the beginning to flesh him out as a character (the good family man).
The Straight Story is great, Lynch does weird one off films like this and the Elephant Man that turn out fantastic.
I recently watched Lawrence of Arabia and it is a beautiful, meditative film with incredible visuals and an unreal amount of extras. It is really a strange film but if you have a big screen or projector the visuals are worth it just by themselves. It is a lot different from modern films and war films in general, I know many people haven't watched it due to the excessive runtime but it is worth the time investment.
I also recommend the Kurosawa classic Ikiru, an uncompromising film about death that still holds up today and is his best work. Really hits home for the 40+ crowd but a classic film for a reason. I was extremely surprised by how relevant and relatable it is today.
And, as always, if you haven't seen The Thing (1982) you are doing yourself a huge disservice.
I saw Lawrence of Arabia at the Cinerama in Seattle shortly before it closed, and it was an incredible experience I don't think I'll ever forget. Easy Top 5 movie for me.
Heaps of great suggestions all over this thread already! Here's a few more. My tastes vary from the 1930s through today but I'll focus on more recent stuff. I'll try to avoid the most popular titles even though pre-woke takeover they were often the best.
The Vanishing (1988)
Frailty (2001) - was an undiscovered gem for a long time but is now starting to get some recognition.
Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
Solaris (2002) - Went by without anyone noticing, but is a deep and profound unrecognised classic IMO.
Somewhere in Time (1980) - One of very few romance movies I've liked.
Tombstone (1993) - Great movie set in the Wild West, and Val Kilmer's best performance.
High and Low (1963) - Will straight up beam you into 1960s Japan where you will witness a kidnapping and ransom.
Bloodsport (1988) - The best martial arts movie ever made.
Dead End Drive In (1986) - A fun and little-known Australian movie that's just surreal enough to be eerie.
Dersu Uzala (1975) - Don't read anything about it, just watch it.
Day of the Jackal (1973) - A hitman is hired to take out a high profile target.
Excalibur (1981) - Captures the myth really well.
BREAKING NEWS! There have actually been a few good, non-pozzed movies released in recent times. Here are a few:
Under the Silver Lake (2018) - Somehow this movie found its way to release in spite of having an anti-Rainbow Regime message.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017) - Weird and unusual in a good way.
Thanks! I’ve only seen one of those. I’ll check out the rest. I have one you may like…. The Best Years of Our Lives about three WW2 vets returning to their town after the war. From 1946
I need to rewatch it, but I really was moved by it. I was in the Air Force but I seem to have an affinity for military movies I guess due to growing up in a military family
A personal favorite of mine, and one completely unalike anything on your list but still worth recommending just for the uniqueness of it:
Funny Games. Has both a German original and a nearly exact replica English remake. I'm more of a fan of the English just due to incredibly minor body language differences in the main character (cocky amusement vs cold "going through the motions" emptiness). But its a movie designed to "subvert expectations" in a way that, while still insulting, isn't doing so to push a political point but to philosophize.
As in, its a horror movie asking you "what kind of person actually enjoys this?" So it denies you everything you'd like in a horror movie like violence and gore and sex, and then asks why'd you even want that. Why you'd want to watch innocent people suffer, why'd you want to see a kid destroyed like that, why would you enjoy that?
Which makes it incredibly amusing to watch, especially with someone else. It just keeps almost playing tropes and cliches straight and then immediately subverts them just to laugh at you for expecting it. So you'll either get cucked hard and be angry, which by its theme is asking "why are you upset at this?," or get a kick out of just how anticlimatic and downright realistic it feels. Its hard to explain without straight up spoiling major scenes, but you'll just get it once its done.
But, on topic, its the least woke movie possible. Every single character is a blonde-ish upper class white person without a single bit of attention drawn to that. There are no politics, no moralizing beyond the single main theme, and just a simplicity to it that no movie in its genre has. None of the homoeroticism or moral cliches about virgins and girl power.
Apocalypse Now. Redux is worth the extra time. Just have to find the time to watch it. One of the early signs I wasn't quite with the program was when I discovered that I agreed with Col. Kurtz and most of the people I was around thought he was crazy.
Absolutely great list. I have a soft spot for "The Man Who Would Be King", since it's one of 20th century adventure movies that sort of vanished after the turn of the century.
And funny enough, even though it's fiction (based on a work by Kipling) you'll be surprised if you start researching the backstory and the place where it happens. Kafiristan was (still is) a crazy place, kinda lost in time.
A lot of these are really good.
If we're all contributing suggestons:
I recently rewatched The Warriors after seeing John Wick 4. It was the first time I'd seen it since I was a teenager and I was blown away by how well it holds up, even to an adult watching it. Even just from an aesthetic perspective it's absolutely beautiful, and in terms of subject matter it's a perfect antidote to feminism.
Escape from New York is another great film with similar themes. It can be really thought-provoking in some places, but also features an unapologetic badass as the main character.
They Live is increasingly relevant in today's climate, although for reasons somewhat opposite to John Carpenter's own motivations. It is a really interesting watch.
I'd also recommend Cool Hand Luke to anyone who hasn't seen it. It has very little action, but it's also a film that every man needs to see at least once.
And if anyone's looking for a more recent film that bucks the woke trend, Greyhound is a fantastically tight, perfectly structured, no-nonsense war film. There's none of the boring psychodrama or political messaging: it's just very good.
I'll give Cool Hand Luke a shot. Have you seen The Sting or The Verdict?
The Sting is an absolute classic. I haven't seen The Verdict, but I'll check it out.
Cool Hand Luke is the most formative movie of my youth.
It taught me the most important lessons about myself and my place (or lack) of it in the world.
There's always bosses, outside, inside. Rules and bosses. And even the people who love you to obsession won't ever See.
And nothing will ever work how it could. That's just the way it is.
What we have he-uh is a fayl-yuh to communicate!
I first watched that movie in highschool. Immediately loved Luke for his attitude... but The Man With No Eyes for the style.
I never expected Hollywood to release a movie like Greyhound in 2020. A no bullshit adaptation of a 1950s book.
In greyhound the only female character is the protagonist 's love interest, which is briefly shown in the beginning to humanize him and give the viewer a sense of "what he's fighting for".
I wouldn't be surprised if the woman isn't mentioned at all in the book (which I haven't read), but I don't mind having this kind of wallflower character in a movie adaptation. They did the same thing in "In the Heart of the Sea", where Owen's wife and family are briefly shown in the beginning to flesh him out as a character (the good family man).
Seconding Cool Hand Luke! Insane how well it holds up… it’s also a really good Christ allegory if you’re on the fence and weren’t aware.
The Straight Story is great, Lynch does weird one off films like this and the Elephant Man that turn out fantastic.
I recently watched Lawrence of Arabia and it is a beautiful, meditative film with incredible visuals and an unreal amount of extras. It is really a strange film but if you have a big screen or projector the visuals are worth it just by themselves. It is a lot different from modern films and war films in general, I know many people haven't watched it due to the excessive runtime but it is worth the time investment.
I also recommend the Kurosawa classic Ikiru, an uncompromising film about death that still holds up today and is his best work. Really hits home for the 40+ crowd but a classic film for a reason. I was extremely surprised by how relevant and relatable it is today.
And, as always, if you haven't seen The Thing (1982) you are doing yourself a huge disservice.
I saw Lawrence of Arabia at the Cinerama in Seattle shortly before it closed, and it was an incredible experience I don't think I'll ever forget. Easy Top 5 movie for me.
My favorite movie. Anthony Quinn absolutely stole it out from underneath the two dazzling leading men.
I loved when they took Acaba and he discovered there was no gold, just paper fiat. He threw it out the window.
"The Taking of Pelham 123" is fantastic, especially if you're not used to Walter Matthau in non-comedic roles.
Heaps of great suggestions all over this thread already! Here's a few more. My tastes vary from the 1930s through today but I'll focus on more recent stuff. I'll try to avoid the most popular titles even though pre-woke takeover they were often the best.
The Vanishing (1988)
Frailty (2001) - was an undiscovered gem for a long time but is now starting to get some recognition.
Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
Solaris (2002) - Went by without anyone noticing, but is a deep and profound unrecognised classic IMO.
Somewhere in Time (1980) - One of very few romance movies I've liked.
Tombstone (1993) - Great movie set in the Wild West, and Val Kilmer's best performance.
High and Low (1963) - Will straight up beam you into 1960s Japan where you will witness a kidnapping and ransom.
Bloodsport (1988) - The best martial arts movie ever made.
Dead End Drive In (1986) - A fun and little-known Australian movie that's just surreal enough to be eerie.
Dersu Uzala (1975) - Don't read anything about it, just watch it.
Day of the Jackal (1973) - A hitman is hired to take out a high profile target.
Excalibur (1981) - Captures the myth really well.
BREAKING NEWS! There have actually been a few good, non-pozzed movies released in recent times. Here are a few:
Under the Silver Lake (2018) - Somehow this movie found its way to release in spite of having an anti-Rainbow Regime message.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017) - Weird and unusual in a good way.
Good Time (2017) - A very well made thriller.
Hereditary (2018) - A great horror/mystery film.
I mentioned Dogtooth to someone else, I'm a big fan of Lanthimos.
Thanks! I’ve only seen one of those. I’ll check out the rest. I have one you may like…. The Best Years of Our Lives about three WW2 vets returning to their town after the war. From 1946
I need to rewatch it, but I really was moved by it. I was in the Air Force but I seem to have an affinity for military movies I guess due to growing up in a military family
A personal favorite of mine, and one completely unalike anything on your list but still worth recommending just for the uniqueness of it:
Funny Games. Has both a German original and a nearly exact replica English remake. I'm more of a fan of the English just due to incredibly minor body language differences in the main character (cocky amusement vs cold "going through the motions" emptiness). But its a movie designed to "subvert expectations" in a way that, while still insulting, isn't doing so to push a political point but to philosophize.
As in, its a horror movie asking you "what kind of person actually enjoys this?" So it denies you everything you'd like in a horror movie like violence and gore and sex, and then asks why'd you even want that. Why you'd want to watch innocent people suffer, why'd you want to see a kid destroyed like that, why would you enjoy that?
Which makes it incredibly amusing to watch, especially with someone else. It just keeps almost playing tropes and cliches straight and then immediately subverts them just to laugh at you for expecting it. So you'll either get cucked hard and be angry, which by its theme is asking "why are you upset at this?," or get a kick out of just how anticlimatic and downright realistic it feels. Its hard to explain without straight up spoiling major scenes, but you'll just get it once its done.
But, on topic, its the least woke movie possible. Every single character is a blonde-ish upper class white person without a single bit of attention drawn to that. There are no politics, no moralizing beyond the single main theme, and just a simplicity to it that no movie in its genre has. None of the homoeroticism or moral cliches about virgins and girl power.
If you enjoyed Funny Games you should check out Dogtooth. It is more surreal and less horror but they are oddly similar films in a ton of ways.
I'm not usually a fan of surreal works, due to my lack of imagination, but I'll certainly give it a look regardless.
Apocalypse Now. Redux is worth the extra time. Just have to find the time to watch it. One of the early signs I wasn't quite with the program was when I discovered that I agreed with Col. Kurtz and most of the people I was around thought he was crazy.
Here's one that's hard to find you never see anymore but it's a perfect mid-century time capsule, Auntie Mame.
Rosiland Russel polished Mame on the stage and then made an even better movie.
Complete film - https://moviesjoy.cx/film/auntie-mame-1958/
Bookmarking...these all look great
The Time of Their Lives. It's "that old-time movie about ghosts from a wishing well", and the best movie Abbott and Costello ever made.
Have you seen both Flight of the Phoenix's?
Absolutely great list. I have a soft spot for "The Man Who Would Be King", since it's one of 20th century adventure movies that sort of vanished after the turn of the century.
And funny enough, even though it's fiction (based on a work by Kipling) you'll be surprised if you start researching the backstory and the place where it happens. Kafiristan was (still is) a crazy place, kinda lost in time.
Not only that but the stunts were a lot better because they were allowed to do much more dangerous sequences and didn't have CGI to fall back on.
Kept everything looking so much more realistic and allowed an industry to thrive.