The Great Movie Tournament: Overall Event Overview

[Iwritecode]

I have maybe 15 or so movies to nominate. Plus another 20 or so that are pretty popular that I've seen parts of but never had the urge to really sit down and watch all the way through.

[Ricky]

It's happening!

[Still Servant]

Ready! The 70's is probably the best decade of film ever. The sheer amount of amazing films released during that timeframe is simply staggering.

Not to mention you had greats like Hitchcock, Lumet, Kubrick, Coppola etc., all operating during that era and its clear it was a pivotal decade for cinema.

I don't know, there are way too many superhero films and sequels.

[RUBE]

So here we are, good folks and people! We're finally at the final for the 2010s decade. Quite an unexpected, or perhaps expected, match-up. Either way, I always feel it is the journey, not the destination, and once we're done, as usual I'll post our overall ranking of all the entries.

I also want to take this time to thank everyone, once again, for your continued support and voting and healthy discussions! This particular portion of the tournament coincided with my mom's decline and passing, and even though that was difficult to deal with, coming back here always brought a little solace. Thank you! And here's to a happy and safe Thanksgiving and the rest of the merry holidays coming up!

But it's also time to think about the future! The next step of our Great Movie Tournament will be the glorious decade of the 1970s, often called the greatest decade of the movies! With the 1970s we'll start our fifth decade, which means this whole project will be at its halfway point! As usual, I've prepared some handy links to help you prepare your lists, jostle your memory, and just give you some food for thought:

• The 140 Essential 1970s Movies
• 33 Great 70s Films That Time Forgot
• The 21 Best Movies of the 1970s
• The Best 1970s Movies, According to Critics
• 50 Best Sci-Fi Movies of the 1970s
• The 1970s – The Best Era In Cinema History?
• 10 Great Overlooked Films From The 1970s
• The Best '70s Horror Movies
• The 30 Most Underappreciated American Movies of The 1970s
• 15 Most Underrated 1970s Movies You Must See
• Best Movies of the 1970s: Top 30 & Top 100 Films of the Disco Era
• 100 essential thrillers: 1970s
• 50 Furious Films: The 1970s
• Rediscover these 20 obscure horror films from the 1970s
• The 32 Best Movies From The ’70s
• 50 best movies from the 1970s

After reading through some of these "articles," I realize there are quite a few movies I need to watch from the 70s to really participate in this tournament.

I also realized that the websites these are from must not employ editors. I know that no one is perfect but there are way too many simple things wrong in some of these pieces. For example, one of them used the word "witch" in place of "which." Another used "atypical" numerous times in place of the word "typical," like the author didn't know that the two words are opposites. I probably sound like a curmudgeon but it bothers me that people just throw something together and publish it without any thought of proofreading it first.

[Ricky]

There are maybe 5 movies I want to nominate from the 70s.

[divemaster]

I jotted down 83 off the cuff. There are abut 40 that I'm sure would get nominated by any number of people here. I mean, if The Sting, The Outlaw Josey Wales, The Omen, and Young Frankenstein don't get nominated, then we're in bizarro world. The other 40 or so, well, I'm probably on my own. I doubt most are even on the click-bait links from above. Any bets on if anyone would second Terrifying Girls' High School: Lynch Law Classroom?

I didn't think so.

[amd013]

So here we are, good folks and people! We're finally at the final for the 2010s decade. Quite an unexpected, or perhaps expected, match-up. Either way, I always feel it is the journey, not the destination, and once we're done, as usual I'll post our overall ranking of all the entries.

I also want to take this time to thank everyone, once again, for your continued support and voting and healthy discussions! This particular portion of the tournament coincided with my mom's decline and passing, and even though that was difficult to deal with, coming back here always brought a little solace. Thank you! And here's to a happy and safe Thanksgiving and the rest of the merry holidays coming up!

But it's also time to think about the future! The next step of our Great Movie Tournament will be the glorious decade of the 1970s, often called the greatest decade of the movies! With the 1970s we'll start our fifth decade, which means this whole project will be at its halfway point! As usual, I've prepared some handy links to help you prepare your lists, jostle your memory, and just give you some food for thought:

• The 140 Essential 1970s Movies
• 33 Great 70s Films That Time Forgot
• The 21 Best Movies of the 1970s
• The Best 1970s Movies, According to Critics
• 50 Best Sci-Fi Movies of the 1970s
• The 1970s – The Best Era In Cinema History?
• 10 Great Overlooked Films From The 1970s
• The Best '70s Horror Movies
• The 30 Most Underappreciated American Movies of The 1970s
• 15 Most Underrated 1970s Movies You Must See
• Best Movies of the 1970s: Top 30 & Top 100 Films of the Disco Era
• 100 essential thrillers: 1970s
• 50 Furious Films: The 1970s
• Rediscover these 20 obscure horror films from the 1970s
• The 32 Best Movies From The ’70s
• 50 best movies from the 1970s

After reading through some of these "articles," I realize there are quite a few movies I need to watch from the 70s to really participate in this tournament.

I also realized that the websites these are from must not employ editors. I know that no one is perfect but there are way too many simple things wrong in some of these pieces. For example, one of them used the word "witch" in place of "which." Another used "atypical" numerous times in place of the word "typical," like the author didn't know that the two words are opposites. I probably sound like a curmudgeon but it bothers me that people just throw something together and publish it without any thought of proofreading it first.

Welcome to "journalism" in the age of the internet. Its ironic with all the proofing tools available, the mistakes seem to increase. I think making deadlines is much more important to them now than correctness.

[mae]

Hey, everyone! The first post has been updated with the schedule for the 1970s tournament! We begin Monday after next!

[mae]

Just a quick reminder, voting begins on Monday! Has anyone watched any nominated movies already?

[webstar1000]

Just a quick reminder, voting begins on Monday! Has anyone watched any nominated movies already?

Mae I really want to this weekend. COULD you give me a couple that are on Prime or Netflix that you would think I would like? Still Servant is really good at this..... hahah

[webstar1000]

Ready! The 70's is probably the best decade of film ever. The sheer amount of amazing films released during that timeframe is simply staggering.

Not to mention you had greats like Hitchcock, Lumet, Kubrick, Coppola etc., all operating during that era and its clear it was a pivotal decade for cinema.

I don't know, there are way too many superhero films and sequels.

see post above this my friend

[Still Servant]

Well, I'm not sure which ones you've seen. I'm pretty sure you've seen most of the really popular ones, so I will refrain from saying stuff like Jaws. If you're into comedies, I would recommend anything directed by Mel Brooks.

A few off the top of my head:

Serpico - Only available for rent
The French Connection - Streaming on Starz
Dog Day Afternoon - HBO Max
The Warriors - Only available for rent
Mean Streets - Hoopla (If you have a library card, you should be on Hoopla and Kanopy)
The China Syndrome - Only available for rent
The Getaway - Only available for rent
Play Misty For Me - Only available for rent
Death Wish - Amazon Prime
The Omega Man - HBO Max

Sorry more of those weren't available on the normal streaming services.

[webstar1000]

Well, I'm not sure which ones you've seen. I'm pretty sure you've seen most of the really popular ones, so I will refrain from saying stuff like Jaws. If you're into comedies, I would recommend anything directed by Mel Brooks.

A few off the top of my head:

Serpico - Only available for rent
The French Connection - Streaming on Starz
Dog Day Afternoon - HBO Max
The Warriors - Only available for rent
Mean Streets - Hoopla (If you have a library card, you should be on Hoopla and Kanopy)
The China Syndrome - Only available for rent
The Getaway - Only available for rent
Play Misty For Me - Only available for rent
Death Wish - Amazon Prime
The Omega Man - HBO Max

Sorry more of those weren't available on the normal streaming services.

Amazing. Thanks will watch some this weekend!

[mae]

Here are some nominated films on Netflix:

Taxi Driver
Mad Max
A Clockwork Orange
A Bridge Too Far
Monty Python's Life of Brian
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin
Enter the Dragon
Five Deadly Venoms (The Five Venoms)
Fiddler on the Roof
The Castle of Cagliostro

And Prime:

Grease
Phantasm
The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane
Escape From Alcatraz
Interiors
The Mechanic
Chinatown
Convoy
Benji
Charlotte's Web
Walking Tall
Death Wish
Hair
The Bad News Bears
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
Harold and Maude
Black Sunday
Fritz the Cat
The Parallax View
The Crazies
Deep Red
Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes
Don't Torture a Duckling
Aguirre, The Wrath of God

There might be more but Prime is difficult to browse. So, anyway maybe Still Servant can recommend some from these.

[Still Servant]

Walking Tall
Death Wish
The Mechanic
Escape Alcatraz
The Crazies

[amd013]

Just a quick reminder, voting begins on Monday! Has anyone watched any nominated movies already?

I did watch the Parallax view about a week ago. It is available on Prime.

It was definitely an atypical thriller. probably won't vote for it past 1st round or two.

Some other movies I may try to watch, if available somewhere: (listed in order of being seconded)

The French Connection
All The Presidents Men
The Outlaw Josey Wales (have it on DVR, has commercials though)
Marathon Man
Escape from Alcatraz
The Andromeda Strain
The Kentucky Fried Movie
Black Sunday
Coma
Play Misty for me (maybe)
High Plains Drifter
High Anxiety (may have already seen, but not sure)
Three Days of the Condor
Murder on the Orient Express - (I did watch the recent remake, so knowing the ending may lesson the enjoyment)
Two Mules for Sister Sara
The Day of the Jackal (saw the remake with Bruce Willis?)
The Eiger Sanction
The Abominable Dr. Phibes (maybe, not sure what its about)


Wow, that is a lot more then I thought, obviously some are more important. I probably will only watch 2-5 of them by the time the tournament is over.

[Tommy]

The Abominable Dr. Phibes is available on Youtube for free....

[Tommy]

There is a part 2 that's really good as well. I also recommend Theatre of Blood. I really miss Vincent Price but thankfully he left behind a lot of wild horror movies.

[Tommy]

Here are some nominated films on Netflix:

Taxi Driver
Mad Max
A Clockwork Orange
A Bridge Too Far
Monty Python's Life of Brian
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin
Enter the Dragon
Five Deadly Venoms (The Five Venoms)
Fiddler on the Roof
The Castle of Cagliostro

And Prime:

Grease
Phantasm
The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane
Escape From Alcatraz
Interiors
The Mechanic
Chinatown
Convoy
Benji
Charlotte's Web
Walking Tall
Death Wish
Hair
The Bad News Bears
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
Harold and Maude
Black Sunday
Fritz the Cat
The Parallax View
The Crazies
Deep Red
Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes
Don't Torture a Duckling
Aguirre, The Wrath of God

There might be more but Prime is difficult to browse. So, anyway maybe Still Servant can recommend some from these.

Don't Torture a Duckling and Deep Red are on Shudder as well.

[mae]

And the first polls of Round 1 of the 1970s are up and running, people!

[Aremag]

And the first polls of Round 1 of the 1970s are up and running, people!

This could be very interesting. Will the "obvious" choices make it to the final rounds or will we have dark horses. I know like in every tournament I will be saddened in many rounds by movies that get knocked out.

[mae]

Yes, that always happens with me. Personally, I consider Barry Lyndon not just the best movie of the 1970s, but the best movie ever made. But I'm sure it will not go far, sadly.

[mae]

I have one small favor to ask of everyone. As these movies get older and older, it's becoming more difficult to find good quality trailers. I think I did a pretty good job this time, but if you happen to find a better trailer than what's featured in the poll, for any movie, please drop it in the thread and I'll update it going forward!

[Heather19]

Yes, that always happens with me. Personally, I consider Barry Lyndon not just the best movie of the 1970s, but the best movie ever made. But I'm sure it will not go far, sadly.

Barry Lyndon is one of the few remaining Kubrick films I still have yet to see. I'll see if I can find it streaming somewhere and watch it.

Mae have you seen Filmworker, I believe it's on Netflix. It's about Leon Vitali who starred in Barry Lyndon, but then quit acting and became an assistant to Kubrick. It was really interesting.

[mae]

I'm aware of it, but I haven't seen it yet. Thanks for reminding me! And Barry Lyndon is streaming on HBO Max, if you have it.