A film that eveybody on the forum likes

[Vemsie]

I'm wondering if there's a film that everybody on this forum agrees on is good to brilliant. I was shocked to see people dislike great stuff like the LotR trilogy or both volumes of Kill Bill but so be it.

But perhaps there are films we all like. If you don't please tell why. And we need convincing arguments or you opinion won't count.

I'll begin with a film everybody should like. Robocop.

Why? It's well acted, has one of the best villains of all time, is highly quotable, has a fantastic score, has drama/suspense/black humour, stupendous Rob Bottin make-up and it's more than just a great sci-fi flick. It's also a smahing satire about a society where corporations have all the power, the media means nothing, money is all that matters and people are either a consumer or a product.

Verhoeven and Neumeier did it again years later with Starship Troopers, which is great but not as good as Robocop.

[Farsight]

Finding a film that everyone likes is virtually impossible, even on a tiny niche place like an internet forum where often everyone shares at least some common likes (ie videogames in this case). One man's water is another's poison, as they say.

To be honest I love it how every film can be adored and hated at the same time by different people. If there was a film everyone liked it would just feel.... wrong to me. It's almost satisfying knowing there are people out there with an opposing view (to me anyway).

Anyhow, I think Robocop is fantastic. Perhaps the satire is applied a little too thickly at times, but overall it works very well, I think it's one of those films I saw as a kid and loved for one set of reasons, and as I got older I started appreciating it in other ways too.

The scene with the ED-209 in the boardroom is great, especially on the Director's Cut.

"For god's sake will someone call a paramedic!" (probably haven't quoted that exactly right).

[Vemsie]

Finding a film that everyone likes is virtually impossible, even on a tiny niche place like an internet forum

I know. But let's find out if it can be done.

[Goose]

What about Back to the Future or The Goonies?

What's not to like?

[Vemsie]

What about Back to the Future or The Goonies?

What's not to like?

The Goonies is a film I've seen once as a kid and can't remember much of. I certainly love Back to the Future. Raiders of the Lost Ark, surely everybody likes that one? Even if it's not your fave Indiana Jones movie.

[DoctorK]

As a kid I loved The Goonies but when I saw it recently I wished they'd all stop fucking shouting for five minutes!

Robocop gets my vote! It's still an absolute classic all these years later, shame about the sequels.

[Vemsie]

Robocop seems to be the one to beat. B)

[Wickedkitten]

What about Back to the Future or The Goonies?

What's not to like?

Anyone that doesn't like the goonies has no soul

purefax

[Hawkeye]

Anyone that doesn't like the goonies has no soul

purefax

The Goonies was fine when I was a kid, but having seen it recently it was cringe worthy.

Robocop is alright, nothing great though.

[Jumble Jumble]

Robocop and Back To The Future are fine with me,

Also, surely nobody actually dislikes Kane?

[Vemsie]

Also, surely nobody actually dislikes Kane?

I don't dislike it, but I do think it's overrated.

[Hawkeye]

Also, surely nobody actually dislikes Kane?

Never heard of it, never mind dislike it.

[Vemsie]

Never heard of it, never mind dislike it.

Citizen Kane?

[Hawkeye]

Citizen Kane?

Oh that, not a fan of it myself.

[nohsa]

Robocop is crap, I love back to the future.

Surely everyone likes apocalypse now and rocky.

[taiAtari]

Robocop is great. I don't think anyone can find fault with Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb either.

[BossSaru]

Anyone who dislikes Casablanca or Lawrence of Arabia is just plain wrong. Same goes for Its A Wonderful Life.

I think to find a truly universally great film you have to go back at least 30 years. Is this an indicator of the quality of modern film making? Why do we have so few genuine classics these days?

[Vemsie]

Robocop is crap

Why?

[Dukesy]

It's Charlie and the chocolate factory

No one can hate this film

[Razz]

The answer is obvious:

Donnie Darko

[elmo]

Lock Stock? It's racist NOT to like it

[CrispinG]

I'd say Chinatown. It's the greatest film noir made since The Third Man (which would be my first choice, but I doubt many people have seen it), has one of the most convincing performances ever from Jack Nicholson, one of the greatest scripts ever written, one of the most shocking, bleak endings in any Hollywood movie ever made and is immensely quotable and funny.

I've never heard of anyone that was disappointed by The Good, The Bad & The Ugly, either.

And just to add my two penneth, I despised Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, I thought Donnie Darko was a bit smug and obnoxious, but it was entertaining, Citizen Kane is boring, nobody in history has ever disliked Back To The Future Parts I and II (but not III, obviously - that one's rubbish), Robocop hasn't aged well and I've never seen It's A Wonderful Life. The end!

[SeanR]

I'd go with robocop simply because it HAS aged well

Robocop didn't feature hovercars, like say, Bladerunner...

[CrispinG]

You can't possibly be trying to argue that the claymation ED mecha hasn't dated. It looks like one of the monsters in the Sinbad films.

[Robo_1]

Robocop is crap, I love back to the future.

HEATHEN

Robocop was perfection for it's time, and still stands as one of the finest examples of action cinema, there has ever been. ED209 stands the test of time better than you'd think too.

[Ebisumaru]

You can't possibly be trying to argue that the claymation ED mecha hasn't dated. It looks like one of the monsters in the Sinbad films.

Possibly, but on the other hand, would you prefer a Lucas-esque 'polishing' (read 'barstardization',) of Robocop instead? After all, the majority of sci-fi is, (somewhat ironically, somewhat obviously,) a product of its time.

[danryu]

The answer is obvious:

Donnie Darko

[Farsight]

I think the stop-motion used for the ED-209 (and Kane in Robocop 2) give the robots a strange eerie quality that is quite unique and works well, setting it apart from the ultra-smoothness of CG. Sure it's aged and doesn't look 'convincing', but it has it's own style which I think works in it's favour instead.

Everytime I see the 209 whirr to life anc come clanking into the boardroom I think of how it just would not have quite the same effect if it was flawless CGI.

[SeanR]

I think the stop-motion used for the ED-209 (and Kane in Robocop 2) give the robots a strange eerie quality that is quite unique and works well, setting it apart from the ultra-smoothness of CG. Sure it's aged and doesn't look 'convincing', but it has it's own style which I think works in it's favour instead.

Everytime I see the 209 whirr to life anc come clanking into the boardroom I think of how it just would not have quite the same effect if it was flawless CGI.

exactly, and all the minutae on the legs that remains after murphy blows one away upon his return to the OCP headquarters

[CrispinG]

Possibly, but on the other hand, would you prefer a Lucas-esque 'polishing' (read 'barstardization',) of Robocop instead? After all, the majority of sci-fi is, (somewhat ironically, somewhat obviously,) a product of its time.

Certainly true, and if anything, it just adds to the kitsch value of watching dated sci-fi. I don't rate Robocop that highly, though. I was never struck with the idea that I was watching a masterpiece of sci-fi action, I just thought it was a good movie.