The 100 Modern Classic Movies Meme

Noble Savage ventured far and wide, over rough seas, through treacherous forests, across barren deserts, and atop the highest mountains to bring this meme back to the Queen o' Memes. She’s about to be thrown in the dungeon for her efforts, because she has most definitely proven that the Old Queen, who claims never to have seen any movies, is nothing but a liar. As a matter of fact, if one compares the typical number of books she's read on any of those book lists memes to the number of movies seen on this list, one would get the idea that the Queen spends more time in theaters than reading books.

Anyway, here you go. The directions are to bold the titles you’ve seen.

1. Pulp Fiction (1994) – still think John Travolta’s and Uma Thurman’s dance scene is one of the best modern movie dance scenes ever
2. The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-03) – yep, seen them all, despite my dislike of Tolkien (it’s called having a husband who doesn’t like to go to the movies alone). Must say, I loved them all. If only I could say the same about the books.
3. Titanic (1997) -- best part of that movie is the beginning when the submersible goes down and tours the wreckage of the real Titanic. The rest is ridiculous. Greatest love story with only one night of love? Give me a break.
4. Blue Velvet (1986) – so very disturbing, but so very well done. I can still visualize scenes from that one, and I haven’t seen it since it came out.
5. Toy Story (1995) – I love Buzz Lightyear
6. Saving Private Ryan (1998 ) – a little predictable and typecast, but still, I enjoyed it when I saw it
7. Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) – I know I saw it, but I don’t remember a thing about it
8. The Silence of the Lambs (1991) – still scares me to death, and I’ve seen it numerous times
9. Die Hard (1988 ) – I hate Bruce Willis, but that didn’t keep me from watching this one, years ago, when my roommates brought it home one night
10. Moulin Rouge (2001) – thought I hated it at first, ended up loving it by the end
11. This Is Spinal Tap (1984) – I know, I know. I can’t believe I haven’t seen it either
12. The Matrix (1999) – had no interest in seeing it; was coerced by husband; fell hook, line, and sinker into how cool it was
13. GoodFellas (1990) – another one I barely remember, except for odd things like the slicing of the garlic while cooking in prison (that was Goodfellas, right?)
14. Crumb (1995) – never even heard of it
15. Edward Scissorhands (1990) – didn’t everyone who was in love with Johnny Depp in 1990 see this one?
16. Boogie Nights (1997)
17. Jerry Maguire (1996) – despite the fact I hate Tom Cruise, I really liked this one
18. Do the Right Thing (1989) – seeing this movie was the right thing to do when it came out
19. Casino Royale (2006) – what fun!
20. The Lion King (1994) – saw it, and then dragged Bob to see it on a date, in the days before I was completely anti-Disney
21. Schindler’s List (1993) – this was what Bob and I saw on our first date, which tells you all you need to know about us
22. Rushmore (1998 )
23. Memento (2001) – such a fascinating movie for someone like me who is obsessed with the brain and how it works
24. A Room With a View (1986) – saw it, but again, don’t remember a thing about it
25. Shrek (2001)
26. Hoop Dreams (1994)
27. Aliens (1986) – what about Alien? Anyway, seen both. I like Alien better.
28. Wings of Desire (1988 )
29. The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
30. When Harry Met Sally… (1989) – despite the fact I don’t like either Meg Ryan or Billy Crystal much, I’d still watch this one if I were flicking through the channels and found it was on. I just love it.
31. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
32. Fight Club (1999)
33. The Breakfast Club (1985) – one of the few teen movies I really like
34. Fargo (1996) – sort of. I’ve seen bits and pieces of it.
35. The Incredibles (2004) – just plain fun
36. Spider-Man 2 (2004) – haven’t seen this, but I did see Spider Man. Again, why Spider Man 2 and not Spider Man 1?
37. Pretty Woman (1990) – see the part about flicking through channels under “When Harry Met Sally” I do like both Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, though.
38. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) – had no idea what to expect but probably consider this to be my favorite movie of the past few years
39. The Sixth Sense (1999) – completely surprised me, and I still love it
40. Speed (1994) – saw it, but again, barely remember a thing except ridiculous maneuvers on a speeding bus that no one in real life would survive
41. Dazed and Confused (1993) – wanted to, but never did
42. Clueless (1995)
43. Gladiator (2000) – another for the “husband-coerced-me-into-watching-it-and-liked-it-more-
than-I-Thought-I-Would” list
44. The Player (1992)
45. Rain Man (1988 ) – liked it, but it was the movie that made me decide Tom Cruise just plays the same character over and over
46. Children of Men (2006) – really, really good and one of the few movies I’ve seen without reading the book first. Gotta read this one some time.
47. Men in Black (1997) – saw it, but don’t remember it
48. Scarface (1983)
49. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) – loved it, loved it, loved it, loved it. Oh, and did I say: I loved this one?
50. The Piano (1993) – enjoyed it, but was not as blown away by it as everyone else. I like Holly Hunter better when she speaks (love that Southern drawl she hasn’t been forced to lose).
51. There Will Be Blood (2007) – don’t even know what this is. See? I am out of it, really, when it comes to movies.
52. The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad (1988 ) – yes, but these movies (Airplane, Naked Gun, etc.) all run together for me
53. The Truman Show (1998 ) – extremely interesting premise
54. Fatal Attraction (1987) – very annoying, but that didn’t keep me from seeing it twice
55. Risky Business (1983) – before I knew Tom Cruise was going to play the same character in every movie
56. The Lives of Others (2006) – oh wait a minute, maybe THIS was the best movie of the last few years. Brilliant. Just flat out brilliant. What all movies ought to be.
57. There’s Something About Mary (1998) – was stared at by grouchy old lady in the movie theater who didn’t seem to understand how I could practically be rolling around in the aisles (have no idea why she went to see it)
58. Ghostbusters (1984) – again, don’t remember much, and I know I’ve seen it more than once (well, we drank a lot and did a lot of drugs when I was in college)
59. L.A. Confidential (1997) – again, don’t remember it (and by then, I was way past the drinking a lot and doing a lot of drugs stage. Must be all the brain cells I killed in college)
60. Scream (1996)
61. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
62. sex, lies and videotape (1989) – has anyone ever been sexier than James Spader in that movie? I love this one and have seen it numerous times.
63. Big (1988) – still think it’s a cute movie
64. No Country For Old Men (2007) – I really want to read the book first before I see this one
65. Dirty Dancing (1987) – second, third, fourth, etc. best dance scenes ever in a modern movie (after Pulp Fiction)
66. Natural Born Killers (1994) – hated it. Don’t know why we went to see it (oh yeah, husband had read great review somewhere)
67. Donnie Brasco (1997) -- never heard of it
68. Witness (1985) -- must see it again now that I’m living where it was filmed
69. All About My Mother (1999) – thought it was going to be funny, which it wasn’t at all. Still thought it was great.
70. Broadcast News (1987) – now here’s a Holly Hunter film that I love
71. Unforgiven (1992) – but don’t remember a whole lot
72. Thelma & Louise (1991) – is there any woman my age who hasn’t seen it?
73. Office Space (1999) – again, never heard of it
74. Drugstore Cowboy (1989)- meaning to for years but never seem to get around to it
75. Out of Africa (1985) – I just remember the fabulous scenery and the sexy way everyone smoked (or so it seemed)
76. The Departed (2006) – didn’t expect to like it as much as I did (that seems to be a common theme, doesn’t it?)
77. Sid and Nancy (1986)
78. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) – only due to a date (which is why I saw the first one as well), not because I had any interest. I must say, unlike some movies I was dragged to on dates that held no interest for me (think most Clint Eastwood movies), these I liked.
79. Waiting for Guffman (1996)
80. Michael Clayton (2007)
81. Moonstruck (1987) – more than once. I love Nicholas Cage and Cher.
82. Lost in Translation (2003) – terrific, terrific, terrific
83. Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987)
84. Sideways (2004) – so funny! And it made me wish I knew more about wine
85. The 40 Year-Old Virgin (2005) – accidentally. It was on TV one night when we were flicking through channels at my father-in-law's house right after he died, and we decided to watch it. Turned out not to be so bad.
86. Y Tu Mamá También (2002) – no, but want to. I had this one confused with All About My Mother when I decided to watch it
87. Swingers (1996)
88. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
89. Breaking the Waves (1996)
90. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
91. Back to the Future (1985) – still think it’s great fun, despite a lot of flaws
92. Menace II Society (1993)
93. Ed Wood (1994)
94. Full Metal Jacket (1987) – despite my love of Stanley Kubrick. Just couldn’t stomach yet another war movie, especially having a pretty good idea what Kubrick might do with a war movie
95. In the Mood for Love (2001)
96. Far From Heaven (2002)
97. Glory (1989)
98. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
99. The Blair Witch Project (1999) – scared the crap out of me
100. South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut (1999)

And here’s my big question: where, oh where, is Cinema Paradiso? Surely it’s a modern classic. I mean, it’s one of my all-time-favorite films. And what abut Babe? Or A Fish Called Wanda? I mean, Natural Born Killer over these? However, I'm very glad to see that Oliver Stone doesn't dominate the list.