15 Movies You Should See Before You Die
Part II
June 05, 2007
Earlier this year, I posted a list of 15 movies you should see before you die. I had a feeling I'd be coming back to the topic sooner or later, and sure enough, over time, that topic has generated some very positive feedback from our visitors here.
So much so, I decided to go ahead and make "Part II" - bear in mind, these aren't necessarily my favorite movies of all time. Everyone's got favorite flicks, but there's always going to be some movies you want to check out at least once.
Without further ado, here are 15 more films I'd recommend you check out before you push up daisies... If you have the time, check 'em out:
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982)
Directed by Terry Hughes and Ian MacNaughton
This is Monty Python in their best form - live onstage. After the success of their movies, Holy Grail and Life of Brian, the Pythons brought their Flying Circus sketches to the United States, in a live performance that was filmed and released to theaters and video stores. Out of all the Python flicks, it is probably the least cited, but contains essential staples that you just can't pass up. For the most part, the performances consist of material from the Flying Circus series - but there are newer sketches in there as well. If you've seen the other Python films, you will enjoy this one, and it certainly is one worth seeing.
Yellowbeard (1983)
Directed by Mel Damski
Related to Monty Python, is the cult comedy Yellowbeard, the brainchild of comedy genius Graham Chapman. The film is ridiculous from start to finish, features most of the cast of Monty Python, as well as Cheech and Chong, Spike Milligan, and Peter Cook. If pirates are your thing, this is definitely worth checking out. The film didn't receive a lot of critical praise when it was released, but now, 24 years after its release, it is often pointed to by comedians as a source of inspiration. Forget Jack Sparrow, these are the real pirates worth watching...
The 13th Warrior (1999)
Directed by John McTiernan
Everyone has their favorite period pieces in film. Some of the more well-known medieval films, like Braveheart, are held up as the shining examples... but one film that is rarely held in that light is The 13th Warrior. Featuring Antonio Banderas, The 13th Warrior is a film not laden with overbearing effects or unneccesary dramatic inclusions - it's a very gritty and dark; a very brutal and bloody film, that follows the journey of an Arab warrior with a group of vikings. The tale is very, very loosely based on Beowulf - and truly embraces the mythical archetype of the hero's journey.
Lord of the Rings (1978)
Directed by Ralph Bakshi
Before Peter Jackson put forth the definitive vision of a film version of Tolkien's masterpiece, there was one animated film that was, for us Middle Earth fans, all we had for the longest time. Still regarded as a classic by many, and definitely an influence for certain scenes in Jackson's version, Bakshi's animated take on The Lord of the Rings was creative, innovative for its time, and unforgettable. The film combines The Fellowship of the Ring and half of The Two Towers. Before Peter Jackson brought Middle Earth to life onscreen, fans held on to the hope that Bakshi would return with a sequel, though he never did. Another animation company, responsible for an animated version of The Hobbit, attempted to finish the saga, though it was not the same. Even if you're a fan of Peter Jackson's take, it's well worth having a look at this 1978 masterpiece.
The Toxic Avenger (1985)
Directed by Lloyd Kaufman
While you've been lead to believe from the Internet that Snakes on a Plane was a cult film, the true cult films often get forgotten. One film that was slammed by critics initially, eventually embraced by fans, and enjoyed immense success in its VHS age was The Toxic Avenger, one of the true cult films and a fan favorite. The tag line from the film pretty much says it all "Melvin was a 90lb weakling until nuclear waste turned him into THE TOXIC AVENGER!" It may be cheesy, but it's hysterical - and combines the best elements of popcorn horror flicks with cheesy superhero goodness. Its cult status lead to numerous sequels, though they never touched the outrageous nature of the original. If you haven't seen this movie, go check it out - seriously.
Chopper (2000)
Directed by Andrew Dominik
Chopper Reid was an underground criminal from Melbourne, Australia - who made it his personal and professional obsession to hunt down drug dealers. Imprisoned for his crimes, Reid began writing novels chronicling his actions. This film, Chopper, is based on those novels. It is a disturbing and realistic film, which can be quite numbing to walk away from. The intensity of the film, mixed with its dark humor - and Eric Bana's hauntingly accurate portrayal of Chopper, make this a film you must see. Chopper Reid once said something along the lines of him wanting to go down in history as one of Australia's heroes like bushranger Ned Kelly. In a very real way, he already is, and this film was the beginning of that rise to becoming an Australian cultural icon.
Dirty Deeds (2002)
Directed by David Caesar
One of the most critically acclaimed Australian movies also happens to be the most underrated. Dirty Deeds was very successful in Australia, but unfortunately never caught on in the USA. Despite this, it's well worth a watch: directed by David Caeasar, the film features Bryan Brown, Sam Neill, John Goodman, and Toni Collette. A story about underground criminals in Australia during the 1960's, Dirty Deeds is a showcase of when the Aussie crimelords began meeting and interacting with American crimelords. It's brutal, it's stark, and at times, humorous.
Clash of the Titans (1981)
Directed by Desmond Davis
Before fantasy movies had the advantage of advanced CGI visualization, they were restricted to the tools they had on hand for visual effects. Clash of the Titans, though by today's standard is outdated, was one of the films from the early 80's that stood out in terms of both its storyline, and special effects. Back in the day, these effects were considered to be state-of-the-art. It's worth taking the time to see this just to see how far we've actually come. There is a remake planned fo0r release in 2010, so it would be interesting to see what CGI could do for this film - hopefully, they stay true to the original.
Troy (2004)
Directed by Wolfgang Petersen
While it could be said that this film is very loosely based on the works of Homer, the makers of the film obviously took some liberties in attempting to update this traditional tale for modern audiences. Purists may not like it, but Troy is a winner when it comes to realistic effects, battle scenes, and sword fighting. It is an exciting film, and worth seeing for the sword battle between Hector (Bana) and Achilles (Pitt) alone. Many have criticized the casting and the modernizing of the tale - but it's a film that brings very serious battle sequences to an epic scale.
Darkman (1990)
Directed by Sam Raimi
I have always been a sucker for superhero films, and I remember the days when it was considered uncool to make a superhero film - back in the day when it was against the norm and not the trend of the day. Before Sam Raimi held the reigns on the Spiderman series, and after he had created the world of the Evil Dead, he took on an almost impossible mission: make a superhero film, when it was not considered to be a successful venture. Darkman was an original concept, and though when it was released it only enjoyed moderate success (in comparison to the heroic epics of superhero films now), its story lived on as a cult epic. Even back then, Raimi was planting the seeds for where superhero films would lead, and it is clear that once you start reading between the lines, these movies are not just about superpowers or visual effects, but about morality and choices. & on top of that, Darkman is portrayed by Liam Neeson, so you can't go wrong with that...
Meet The Feebles (1989)
Directed by Peter Jackson
Old school film buffs will know that before Jackson made Lord of the Rings and King Kong, he was more well known for zombie flicks and alternative underground movies. One such film was what you could consider to be his interpretation of the Muppets, called Meet The Feebles. Totally inappropriate, ridiculous, and wrong on so many levels, Jackson delivers the goods in this film as the only puppet movie with sex, drugs, and violence. When the puppets do it, there's puppet nudity... when they get murdered, they don't just die, they get splattered in pure early Peter Jackson style. Guaranteed to offend nearly everyone, if you have not seen this film, you don't know what your missing - this is the cult movie for all Jackson fans. Hell hath no fury like a hippo with a machine gun...
The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
Directed by Ronald Neame
While the modern remake sports realistic effects, it lacks the spirit of the original... The Poseidon Adventure was an immediate success when it was released in the 1970's - and it somewhat spoke to the feelings of American culture at the time. The era was disenchanted and very negative - especially from the political landscape - many movies gravitated towards concepts of disaster. This was one film that speaks volumes of the time. The original also has one more element that the remake lacks: Gene Hackman, who, it could be argued, made this movie pretty much his own. In the same way that Jaws is still popular and has its frightening moments, this film, 35 years later, still captures the elements of a disaster film that many contemporary flicks lack. Oh, and Leslie Neilsen is in this one - possibly the only memorable serious role he's ever taken on board (pardon the pun).
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (1954)
Directed by Robert Fleisher
The Jules Verne classic was brought to life by Disney in the 1950's - but don't let the "Disney" tag detract you from seeing this... This was a movie made back when Disney actually cared about the films they made - and the results show: 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea won 2 Oscars. While, at heart, its a classic sci-fi film, the story is laced with moral choices - and the perfomance by James Mason as Nemo is very memorable. Kirk Douglas heads the cast in this film as well. Perhaps it may be perceived as a children's film and yes, the special effects are very outdated, but the core heart of this film is its story, and the Disney Company of the day clearly put a huge effort into ensuring the story's tragic and parable elements shined through - and the acting is excellent also. There is little doubt that filmmakers will return to this Verne masterpiece at a later date, and while the effects will surely be updated to modern standards, one would hope that the creators stay very close to the example and benchmark set by Disney in this 1954 movie.
The Goonies (1985)
Directed by Richard Donner
Goonies Never Say Die! This film was an instant classic, a moment in cinema history when two geniuses - Richard Donner and Steve Spielberg - joined forces to create this movie. The story is essentially a treasure hunt (another one for you pirate fans) conducted by a group of kids called the Goonies and led by Sean "Samwise Gamgee" Astin - as they are chased by the evil Fratelli family. Many kids who saw this flick back in the 80's have now grown up, and still love the film as adults. Classic scenes include Chunk's truffle shuffle, and Sloth's impersonation of Superman.
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Directed by George Lucas
Being a Star Wars geek, I can't help myself but include one of the movies here. This time, I went for the prequel trilogy. Clearly, the most successful of the prequel films was Revenge of the Sith. It was the film all of the fans for waiting for - the fall of Anakin Skywalker into the dark side as he becomes Darth Vader. This is possibly the darkest of all of the Star Wars films, and features scenes that will become as memorable as those from the original trilogy... such as the battle of the heroes between Kenobi and Vader, the purge of the Jedi during Order 66, and the epic space battle that opens the film. Episode III ties the two trilogies together seamlessly, and despite Episodes I & II receiving harsh criticism from some fans, this film is closest "in feel" to that of the Original Trilogy.
This is 
Related to Monty Python, is the cult comedy Yellowbeard, the brainchild of comedy genius Graham Chapman. The film is ridiculous from start to finish, features most of the cast of Monty Python, as well as Cheech and Chong, Spike Milligan, and Peter Cook. If pirates are your thing, this is definitely worth checking out. The film didn't receive a lot of critical praise when it was released, but now, 24 years after its release, it is often pointed to by comedians as a source of inspiration. Forget 
Everyone has their favorite period pieces in film. Some of the more well-known medieval films, like Braveheart, are held up as the shining examples... but one film that is rarely held in that light is The 13th Warrior. Featuring Antonio Banderas, The 13th Warrior is a film not laden with overbearing effects or unneccesary dramatic inclusions - it's a very gritty and dark; a very brutal and bloody film, that follows the journey of an Arab warrior with a group of 
Before Peter Jackson put forth the definitive vision of a film version of Tolkien's masterpiece, there was one animated film that was, for us Middle Earth fans, all we had for the longest time. Still regarded as a classic by many, and definitely an influence for certain scenes in 
While you've been lead to believe from the Internet that Snakes on a Plane was a cult film, the true cult films often get forgotten. One film that was slammed by critics initially, eventually embraced by fans, and enjoyed immense success in its VHS age was The Toxic Avenger, one of the true cult films and a fan favorite. The tag line from the film pretty much says it all "Melvin was a 90lb weakling until nuclear waste turned him into 
Chopper Reid was an underground criminal from Melbourne, Australia - who made it his personal and professional obsession to hunt down drug dealers. Imprisoned for his crimes, 
One of the most critically acclaimed Australian movies also happens to be the most underrated. 
Before fantasy movies had the advantage of advanced 
While it could be said that this film is very loosely based on the works of 
I have always been a sucker for 
Old school film buffs will know that before Jackson made Lord of the Rings and 
While the modern remake sports realistic effects, it lacks the spirit of the original... The Poseidon Adventure was an immediate success when it was released in the 1970's - and it somewhat spoke to the feelings of American culture at the time. The era was disenchanted and very negative - especially from the political landscape - many movies gravitated towards concepts of disaster. This was one film that speaks volumes of the time. The original also has one more element that the remake lacks: 
The Jules Verne classic was brought to life by Disney in the 1950's - but don't let the "
Being a Star Wars geek, I can't help myself but include one of the movies here. This time, I went for the prequel trilogy. Clearly, the most successful of the prequel films was Revenge of the Sith. It was the film all of the fans for waiting for - the fall of Anakin Skywalker into the dark side as he becomes 
