Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-2009

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Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-2009

Post by Markgway »

I've tried to strike a balance between films I really like and films I really admire.

Naturally I reserve the right to substitute titles as and when I see fit. :cool: :D

In alphabetical order:

1980
Airplane
The Big Brawl
The Blues Brothers
The Changeling
Cruising
Dressed to Kill
The Empire Strikes Back
Eyes of a Stranger
Friday the 13th
Raging Bull

(Honourable mentions: The Hunter)

1981
Blow Out
Body Heat
Deadly Blessing
Escape to Victory
The Evil Dead
For Your Eyes Only
Mad Max 2
Nighthawks
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Road Games

(Honourable mentions: Hell Night, Outland)

1982
Conan the Barbarian
Death Wish II
The Entity
Evil Under the Sun
48 Hrs.
The King of Comedy
Poltergeist
Rocky III
Tenebrae
The Thing

(Honourable mentions: The Wicked Lady)

1983
Bad Boys
The Dead Zone
The Man with Two Brains
Octopussy
Psycho II
Return of the Jedi
Silkwood
Sudden Impact
10 to Midnight
Trading Places

(Honourable mentions: The Initiation, Lone Wolf McQuade, Risky Business)

1984
Beverly Hills Cop
Body Double
Ghostbusters
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
The Karate Kid
The Lonely Guy
Missing in Action
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Teachers
The Terminator

(Honourable mentions: All of Me, C.H.U.D., Fear City, Finders Keepers, Flashpoint, Heaven Help Us, The Hit, Micki + Maude, The Naked Face, Police Academy, Revenge of the Nerds, Scream for Help, A Soldier's Story, Trancers)

1985
Back to the Future
The Breakfast Club
Clue
Invasion USA
Missing in Action 2 - The Beginning
Rocky IV
The Sure Thing
Witness
Year of the Dragon

1986
Aliens
Brighton Beach Memoirs
Bullies
F/X
Friday the 13th, Part VI: Jason Lives
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
The Hitcher
The Karate Kid, Part II
Platoon
Salvador

1987
The Bedroom Window
Full Metal Jacket
Lethal Weapon
The Living Daylights
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
Predator
The Principal
Robocop
The Untouchables
Wall Street

(Honourable mentions: Best Seller, In the Mood, Nuts, Someone to Watch Over Me)

1988
Braddock: Missing in Action III
Child's Play
Coming to America
Die Hard
A Fish Called Wanda
Frantic
Heathers
Midnight Run
Mississippi Burning
Working Girl

1989
The Abyss
Born on the 4th of July
The 'Burbs
Casualties of War
Crimes and Misdemeanours
Glory
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Lethal Weapon 2
Licence to Kill
Road House

(Honourable mentions: Drugstore Cowboy, A Dry White Season, Jacknife, Sea of Love)

1990
Back to the Future, Part III
Dances with Wolves
Edward Scissorhands
Die Hard 2
The Hunt for Red October
Kindergarten Cop
Misery
Pump Up the Volume
Quick Change
Total Recall

1991
Cape Fear
City Slickers
Dead Again
JFK
The Last Boy Scout
Out for Justice
The Rocketeer
The Silence of the Lambs
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Toy Soldiers

1992
Basic Instinct
Batman Returns
Diggstown
A Few Good Men
Glengarry Glen Ross
Gladiator
The Last of the Mohicans
Reservoir Dogs
Sister Act
Unforgiven

1993
Carlito’s Way
Cliffhanger
Dazed and Confused
Falling Down
The Fugitive
Groundhog Day
Hard Target
In the Line of Fire
Judgment Night
So I Married an Axe Murderer

1994
Clerks
Disclosure
The Hudsucker Proxy
Leon
Mute Witness
Quiz Show
The Shawshank Redemption
Speed
Wes Craven's New Nightmare
Wolf

1995
Casino
Dead Presidents
Die Hard With a Vengeance
Get Shorty
Goldeneye
The Hunted
The Last Supper
The Quick and the Dead
Se7en
Strange Days

1996
Bound
The Frighteners
The Long Kiss Goodnight
Mission: Impossible
Ransom
The Rock
Scream
A Time to Kill
2 Days in the Valley
Unforgettable

1997
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
Copland
Donnie Brasco
The Edge
Gattaca
Jackie Brown
L.A. Confidential
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
The Rainmaker
Red Corner

1998
American History X
Dark City
The Faculty
The Mask of Zorro
The Negotiator
The Thin Red Line
The Truman Show
U.S. Marshals
Who Am I?
Wild Things

1999
American Pie
8mm
Go
The Green Mile
The Insider
The Matrix
Payback
The Sixth Sense
Sleepy Hollow
The World is Not Enough

2000
Frequency
Gladiator
High Fidelity
Hollow Man
Mission: Impossible II
Return to Me
Shaft
Thirteen Days
What Lies Beneath
What Women Want

2001
Along Came a Spider
Anti-Trust
Frailty
From Hell
Kiss of the Dragon
The Majestic
The Others
The Score
Shrek
Training Day

2002
The Bourne Identity
Collateral Damage
The Count of Monte Cristo
Die Another Day
The Four Feathers
Jason X
Minority Report
Panic Room
Road to Perdition
Spider-Man

2003
The Cooler
Gothika
The Last Samurai
The Live of David Gale
Lost in Translation
Matchstick Men
Open Range
Out of Time
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
28 Days Later

2004
The Butterfly Effect
Cellular
Collateral
The Manchurian Candidate
Mean Girls
Million Dollar Baby
Shaun of the Dead
Spartan
Spider-Man 2
The Terminal

2005
Batman Begins
The Constant Gardner
Crash
Four Brothers
Good Night and Good Luck
The Interpreter
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang
Munich
Red Eye
Sahara

2006
Apocalypto
Blood Diamond
Casino Royale
Hollywoodland
The Illusionist
Inside Man
Mission: Impossible III
The Prestige
Running Scared
Thank You for Smoking

2007
Death Proof
Death Sentence
Gone Baby Gone
In the Valley of Elah
Live Free or Die Hard
The Mist
No Country for Old Men
The Orphanage
We Own the Night
Zodiac

2008
The Bank Job
Body of Lies
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
Gran Torino
Iron Man
Pride and Glory
Quantum of Solace
Rambo
Valkyrie

2009
Bandslam
Crossing Over
500 Days of Summer
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Knowing
A Perfect Getaway
Taken
Terminator: Salvation
Up in the Air


NB: Honourable mentions are for films that I rated the same as the least entry in each top ten.
Last edited by Markgway on 12 Aug 2015, 03:29, edited 19 times in total.
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Re: Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-1999

Post by RetroRobot »

Nice... we have a lot in common. And quite a few there that were in the running or just missed my cut by hair, like Death Wish 2, Breakfast Club, Sure Thing, Year of the Dragon, Avenging Force, F/X, Dream Warriors, The Principal and Child's Play.

And YES... a fellow 'Burbs fan. Fucking hell I love that movie. "I wanna kill... everyone, Satan is good... Satan is our pal" I can almost quote every line of that movie.
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Re: Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-1999

Post by Markgway »

Arrow are releasing The 'Burbs on BD in June.

I found the first half of the 80s really tough to find 10 titles and the second half of the 80s tough to narrow down to only 10 titles.

There are titles on the 1980-1984 lists that definitely wouldn't have made it had the been made a few years later.

It was tough to lose personal faves like Road House and Tango & Cash (1989) but it was about striking a balance.
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Re: Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-1999

Post by RetroRobot »

I had a similar problem. For me 80 and 81 were the toughest for that decade. While 85 and up was hell, cuz of all the gems I had to leave out. It was the exact opposite for the 90's.

Don't do BD, but honestly, 'Burbs might be the clincher. If it has some cool extras im down.
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Re: Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-1999

Post by Shingster »

Ah so you're the guy who loves The Big Brawl! I knew you had to be out there somewhere! :D
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Re: Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-1999

Post by Markgway »

Shingster wrote:Ah so you're the guy who loves The Big Brawl! I knew you had to be out there somewhere! :D
Nah, it's just OK. But like I said I really struggled to find 10 good films from 1980.
RetroRobot wrote:Don't do BD, but honestly, 'Burbs might be the clincher. If it has some cool extras im down.
Arrow usually try their best with extras, nothing been announced yet though.

Can I ask why you're not into BD? You seem to LOVE movies. ;)
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Re: Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-1999

Post by RetroRobot »

For various reasons. First of all, I know that if I start down that road, I will be buying all the same fucking movies for the third, fourth or fifth time. I have the collector gene. I can't just have a couple BDs standing at the end of my DVD shelf. Well, I can, but it will irk me.

Secondly, I actually don't really like the über clean and clear look. At least not for older movies, which is what I watch most of. I have watched a handful of 80's films on BD and I just didn't like the look. On some there is little difference from DVD to BD, and on others there is huge difference, but either way, I prefer DVD.

Third, I never thought BD would have a very long lifespan, and it seems I was right. They're still here allright. But they will be the last tangible movie media we get, and im not gonna bother collecting the few of my faves that are released before they pull the plug on it, and go 100% streaming or whatever is coming.

With that said, im not opposed to BD as such. But buying a player for ten or twelve flicks is just not worth it for me, when im perfectly happy with DVD. Im not as anal with A/V quality as I am interested in the actual movie itself.

If I stumble onto a cheap player, there are a couple of titles I might pick up. Like if 'Burbs has an audio commentary. But other than that, im quite content with DVD.
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Re: Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-1999

Post by HungFist »

1980 wasn't too bad IMO

1. Virus
2. The Empire Strikes Back
3. Raging Bull
4. The Shining
5. Maniac
6. Shogun Assassin
7. Cannibal Holocaust *
8. The Last Hunter *
9. The Blues Brothers
10. The Fog

* IMDb is listing English as the language for both, though Italian productions.
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Re: Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-1999

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2, 3, and 9 are on my list, but --

1. Virus - haven't seen
4. The Shining - massively overrated
5. Maniac - crap
6. Shogun Assassin - dubbed version of two Japanese movies
7. Cannibal Holocaust - no chance
8. The Last Hunter - no chance
10. The Fog - mediocre Carpenter.

Not a good year for me.
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Re: Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-1999

Post by HungFist »

Markgway wrote: 1. Virus - haven't seen
You should. The best disaster/post apocalyptic movie ever made IMO!
Markgway wrote: 6. Shogun Assassin - dubbed version of two Japanese movies
It's a bit more than just dub and re-edit. The new soundtrack is awesome, and the great dubbing actually features a brilliant addition that isn't in the original movie: Daigoro (the kid) counts how many men his father kills so that he knows how many souls he should pray for.

I still prefer to the originals which are just unbeatable, but Shogun Assassin is a lot more than your usual dubbed and butchered US version...
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Re: Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-1999

Post by luckystars »

No one picked Elephant Man for 1980?
2010 - The return of the HK movie industry :)
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Re: Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-1999

Post by RetroRobot »

You can.... if you make a list :)

It's a fine film, but not a fave of mine.
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Re: Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-1999

Post by Masterofoneinchpunch »

luckystars wrote:No one picked Elephant Man for 1980?
Wait till I get there, it has a chance :).
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Re: Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-1999

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HungFist wrote:You should. The best disaster/post apocalyptic movie ever made IMO!
Better than The Towering Inferno?

Could that have anything to do with it being Japanese? ;)
It's a bit more than just dub and re-edit. The new soundtrack is awesome, and the great dubbing actually features a brilliant addition that isn't in the original movie: Daigoro (the kid) counts how many men his father kills so that he knows how many souls he should pray for. I still prefer to the originals which are just unbeatable, but Shogun Assassin is a lot more than your usual dubbed and butchered US version...
Perhaps it's done with more skill than usual... but I remember it as a compilation of VERY bloody encounters with no real story.
luckystars wrote:No one picked Elephant Man for 1980?
Never had any desire to see this one.
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Re: Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-1999

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I'm still working on 90-99 so please don't comment yet.
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Re: Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-1999

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OK, I'm done!

Comment away!!! :D
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Re: Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-1999

Post by RetroRobot »

22 in common for the 90's. No Boogie Nights for '97? hmmmm..... :icon_suspect:

And hey.... Who Am I? doesn't count.... cheater :)

Titles you had that fell just short of my cut but were in the running....

Pump Up the Volume, Silence of the Lambs, Batman Returns, Judgment Night, Austin Powers, Copland.
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Re: Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-1999

Post by Markgway »

RetroRobot wrote:No Boogie Nights for '97? hmmmm..... :icon_suspect:
Not a fan of Boogie Nights or PTA.
And hey.... Who Am I? doesn't count.... cheater :)
How come? It's English language. :?
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Re: Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-1999

Post by luckystars »

I'm realising now I'd struggle to find 10 films a year I care that much about!!

If it was a worldwide list I'd be fine tho
2010 - The return of the HK movie industry :)
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Re: Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-1999

Post by Markgway »

luckystars wrote:I'm realising now I'd struggle to find 10 films a year I care that much about!!
Some years were tough.

It made me realise that the 1987-1997 is probably my favourite 10 year period.
If it was a worldwide list I'd be fine tho
I'd need a separate list for Hong Kong Cinema.
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Re: Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-1999

Post by saltysam »

The Fog is a classic and i love The Shining.
working class blu-ray fan
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Re: Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-1999

Post by Shingster »

To echo Hung, 1980 wasn't bad at all, each film here is worthwhile:

Airplane!
Altered States
Battle Beyond the Stars
Blues Brothers
Brubaker
Caddyshack
Changeling
Elephant Man
Empire Strikes Back
Flash Gordon
Fog
Friday the 13th
Heaven's Gate
Long Riders
Ragng Bull
Shining
Stir Crazy
Virus

(I'd also acknowledge Maniac and Superman 2, even though I'm not a nassive fan of both)

Virus is fantastic, we're thinking of eeventually covering Apocalyptic films in the podcast I take part in & I should hopefully get to sing its praises!
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Re: Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-1999

Post by Markgway »

Updated to 2005.
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Re: Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-2009

Post by Markgway »

Updated to 2009
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Re: Markgway's Top Ten English Language Films from 1980-2009

Post by RetroRobot »

You must really love Mission Impossible II since you had it twice..... (payback for Police Academy 5 :D )
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