Listmania!
Movies You Probably Haven't Seen - But Should
By an Amazon.com customer
Andrei Rublev (Criterion Collection Spine #34)Andrei Rublev (Criterion Collection Spine #34)
Buy new: $27.99 / Used from: $19.90
Slow and meandering like a stream, or a snowflake falling... but powerful redemption before it's over. Also see "Stalker" and "The Sacrifice".
Black Narcissus - Criterion CollectionBlack Narcissus - Criterion Collection
Buy new: $27.99 / Used from: $24.41
Superb and unusual film with truly gorgeous cinematography. Also see "The Red Shoes".
The Day the Earth Caught FireThe Day the Earth Caught Fire
Buy used from: $18.00
One of cinema's finest screenplays ever. For those who like their science fiction realistic and serious.
Queen Margot (La Reine Margot)Queen Margot (La Reine Margot)
Buy new: $11.49 / Used from: $4.00
Difficult first-time viewing because it's not easy to keep track of who is who - but compelling and rewarding, I promise.
The Ninth ConfigurationThe Ninth Configuration
Before Blatty wrote "The Exorcist" he wrote "Twinkle Twinkle Killer Kane", and much later made this brilliant film of that book. One of the most quotable movies ever - with delicious dialogue.
HeavenHeaven
Buy new: $13.49 / Used from: $2.00
The ending ranks way up there among movieland's finest.
EmmaEmma
Buy new: $9.99 / Used from: $4.42
Gwyneth Paltrow - who is a very good actress - in her BEST performance. And the rest of the cast is terrific too.
Doctor X [VHS]Doctor X [VHS]
Buy used from: $1.95
Tense, moody, and very very creepy early color horror film with the legendary Fay Wray.
The Picture of Dorian Gray [VHS]The Picture of Dorian Gray [VHS]
Buy used from: $3.43
A measured pace, wise casting and some great shock moments make this an outstanding Oscar Wilde adaptation.
4D Man4D Man
Buy new: $5.49 / Used from: $4.25
Robert Lansing delivers one of the best performances I've ever seen anywhere. Seriously.
AnastasiaAnastasia
Buy new: $13.49 / Used from: $4.94
Try to take your eyes off the screen during that one scene near the end, go ahead, try. You can't.
KundunKundun
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $3.79
Do I dare say this is Martin Scorsese's best film? Yes. I dare.
Random Harvest [VHS]Random Harvest [VHS]
Buy used from: $3.83
One of the most romantic and emotionally charged films, simply beautiful.
Tale of Two Cities [VHS]Tale of Two Cities [VHS]
Buy used from: $3.95
Ronald Colman (also in "Random Harvest" above) in a top-notch adaptation of the Dickens classic.
The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. TThe 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T
Buy new: $10.49 / Used from: $3.86
Whimsical, musical, practical, whacktical fun from Dr Seuss. Live action, no less!
The Quiet Earth [VHS]The Quiet Earth [VHS]
Buy used from: $1.94
Quiet and understated end of the world story. Let me know if you need me to explain the ending to you.
The Seventh Victim [VHS]The Seventh Victim [VHS]
Buy used from: $3.56
One of the finest horror film examples of "show, don't tell - but don't show very much".
The Deep EndThe Deep End
Buy new: $9.98 / Used from: $1.50
Tilda Swinton gives a terrific (and overlooked) performance.
Hard Eight (Special Edition)Hard Eight (Special Edition)
Buy new: $13.49 / Used from: $3.12
An actor's textbook. Fantastic through and through.
Whistle Down the Wind [VHS]Whistle Down the Wind [VHS]
Buy used from: $19.98
A little girl befriends Jesus. Or so she thinks. Why must Jesus hide in a barn, though?
Princess CarabooPrincess Caraboo
Buy used from: $7.14
A rare treat - a movie you don't have any expectations for, that turns out to be excellent.
The Importance of Being Earnest - Criterion CollectionThe Importance of Being Earnest - Criterion Collection
Buy new: $26.99 / Used from: $17.98
Talk about quotable - of course the play is brilliant, and here fortunately we have a film adaptation that lives up to it.
The Second ComingThe Second Coming
Buy new: $22.49 / Used from: $3.34
Okay, a cheat, because this was made for television. But it's still one of the best things you'll ever see.
The Set-UpThe Set-Up
Buy new: $17.99 / Used from: $2.99
Intense real-time film about a washed-up boxer trying to triumph just one more time against all odds - even his friends no longer support him. I don't like boxing films, but this one enthralled me.
On Borrowed Time [VHS]On Borrowed Time [VHS]
Buy used from: $13.98
Lionel Barrymore is Grampa to a little boy. When Death comes to visit Grampa, they manage to play a trick that sticks Death up an apple tree with no way of getting down...and deaths cease worldwide.