AFI Top 100 Movies: Spoilers: Post One

Here let me ruin some of the Top 100 movies of all time (according to the AFI, in 1998 - or something like that.  Obviously, this is going to take a little space, so I'm breaking it up into multiple posts.  I may not have the best recollection of some of these titles.  Many of these movies are long, pretentious and kind of boring (to me anyway) and overrated. In general, if the movie has an intermission, i'm not sure it's worth watching.

Cultural significance is what cultural significance if any I see in these movies (references, etc)


Check AFI for the complete list.  I'm a bit hesitant to list the titles, but I will anyway...

1) Citizen Kane: (119 minutes)
Charles Foster Kane dies (the snowglobe rolling out of his hands and breaking is a well-done scene).  After his death people are going through Xanadu (his unfinished estate) looking for valuables and burning the "junk".  Rosebud the sled vs fire is a pretty one sided contest. 

Cultural Significance:
The top-rated movie on numerous lists.  It was ok, but I didn't see it as the "Citizen Kane" of movies. 

2) Casablanca (103 minutes):
Rick sells his place and starts to make plans to leave Casablanca (Morocco), avoiding the Nazis.  Ilsa and her husband leave on a plane, Rick stays behind.  It's been a while since I saw it. There are some decent lines in the movie but they lose something in their delivery coming from Bogart (maybe the pitch of his voice or something like that).  i like it more than Citizen Kane. 

Cultural Significance:
One of the most referenced movies of all time (from cartoons, TV shows, movies, etc). 
"Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine"
"...I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship"
"Here's looking at you, kid"

3) The Godfather (175 minutes):
The Godfather (Don Vito Corleone) dies of a heart attack or something.  Michael Corleone takes over and settles some old scores (some relating to the assassination attempt on the Godfather and some for the murder of his brother).  A new godfather is crowned.  The "family" moves operations to Las Vegas. 

Cultural Significance:
Probably the impetus for more mob shows (like the Sopranos) and movies.  Apparently it has made a decent amount of money (especially return on investment) and spawned 2 sequels. 

4) Gone With the Wind (226 minutes):

An overly long "epic" movie spanning the time before the Civil War until after.  Also a semi-insufferable female character (Scarlett O'Hara) and her struggle to survive.

Cultural Significance

i'm sure it had some, but i just found it one overly long snoozefest. It had the line "Frankly my dead, I don't give a damn".  i guess, one of the early profanities in cinema. Some people from Georgia may like it, some folk won't and want to cancel it - claim it is "racist" (yes, it now has a disclaimer)

5) Lawrence of Arabia (218 Minutes): 

A very long "epic" movie about T.E. Lawrence in WWI era, who united Arab tribes against a common enemy. 

Cultural Significance: 

i'm sure it has some, but none to me. i really don't know why it's rated as high as it is.

6) The Wizard of Oz (102 minutes)

The Story of a unfulfilled girl living in Kansas with her aunt and uncle getting swept up in a tornado and taken to a magical land full of strange characters. She goes on a journey find the wizard who will help her get home. She has to avoid a witch with other plans and flying monkeys.

Cultural Significance:   

Probably more referenced than Casablanca.  "Somewhere over the rainbow", "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore", "There's no place like home", etc.

7) The Graduate (106 minutes):

A college grad in kind of an existential crisis not knowing to do when he gets out of college (been there), gets seduced by and older women - Here's to You Mrs. Robinson.  Then he falls for her daughter. 

Cultural Significance: 

Not sure.  A seduced by an older woman movie. Early Dustin Hoffman. Fairly high grossing. The wedding scene near the end (spoofed by Wayne's World 2).

8) On the Waterfront (108 minutes)

Can't really remember this one, so i'll cheat.  Apparently, a wannabe prize fighter works for a corrupt union boss witnesses a murder and feels guilty about it

Cultural Significance:

"I could've been a contender" taxicab scene 

9) Schindler's List (195 minutes)

The story of some guy named Schindler and his list. Basically some businessman turns a factory into a refuge for Jew during the WWII era. 

Cultural Significance:

 Honestly, outside a certain demographic, i don't know.  Man's inhumanity against man, why should i care? Highly overrated movie. It's been a while though, maybe it isn't as boring and annoying as i remember.

10) Singin' In the Rain (103 minutes):

 As a non-musical lover, this is one of the best musicals of all time - it even has rain in the title.  i like rain. In the late 1920s, the movie studios develop this new technology called the "talkie" and decide to do a musical.  Some people can make the transition, some can't.  Basically, two guys one chorus girl and a silent film star who has an awful voice.

Cultural Significance: 

 Mostly the soundtrack: "Singin in the Rain", "Good Mornin", etc.