One question people always ask is what are the greatest films of all-time. There is a lot of different criteria that goes into coming up with a list and it all depends on your taste mainly due to all film being subjective and everyone liking or disliking the same/different things. I've decided to do a new series in which I try to decide what I think are the greatest films of all-time. One way to help do that is by deciding what the best films of each decade are. Each month until October I will choose what I think are the best films from each decade and in November I will take the number one films in each decade and put them into a top 10 greatest films of all-time list. Now the list will bot be based on scores or my own personal lists, but based off the popularity of each film and how much of an effect it has had or is having on film today. For example my favorite film of all-time is The Dark Knight, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I think it is the greatest film of its decade. For this month I'm going to bring you the top 10 films of the 1970's. So without further ado...
10. Superman
Superhero films are all the craze now and while they have gotten better in acting and effects, none of them would be unless it was for this film. Superman was the first superhero to get a big screen adaptation and while it is very campy, it pioneered the genre and it showed that superhero films could be successful. Its sequel is much better, but this is the original and when you start a genre you have to be on the list.
9. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
While other horror films have changed the genre for the better, this film started a sub-genre that completely changed film. This film created the slasher genre and it introduced an iconic figure in Leatherface and guys like Michael, Jason or Freddy wouldn't be around. The film was banned from a lot of theaters due to the gruesomeness in the film which had never been seen before on the big screen. It's a film that will stand the test of time and it will always be considered to be one of the greatest horror films of all-time.
8. Apocalypse Now
We all know that this film is marvelous for a lot of different reasons. From the acting, to the set pieces, to the entire message of the film. However the films bright spots often get overshadowed by the production problems such as the the beautiful set pieces getting destroyed, several cast members nearly dying during production and the problems Marlon Brando caused. The reason why the film has Redux version is because Coppola had so much footage that he wanted to use, but couldn't due to the runtime. Coppola has been back and forth on what he thinks about the film, but the film is an iconic one for various reasons and it deserves a spot on the list.
7. Blazing Saddles
Mel Brooks is a fantastic genius and this might be the crowning jewel of his entire filmography. This film is a complete laugh-out-loud comedy that has joke after joke that ends up being memorable. It's also a film that can get away with be racist as it even makes fun of racists and what they stand for. It's just all a big joke for Brooks and it works well. When a film can make a few African-Americans laugh at some racist jokes, then you know you've made a great film.
6. Rocky
This film is the all-time great sports film. At it's heart the film is an underdog tale giving people the encouragement that you can do whatever you want and just ignore that people that tell you you can't do it. It was the first and only sports film to date to win the Best Picture Oscar and it made a star in Sylvester Stallone. It also created one of the most beloved sports film franchises of all-time and it is the ultimate underdog tale.
5. Alien
Just like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre created the first slasher in Leatherface, this created one of the most horrifying creatures of all-time in the Xenomorph. Not only did it create the Xenomorph, it also created one of the great film heroes ever in Ripley played brilliantly by Sigourney Weaver. The film is nonstop suspense and it is the one of the most terrifying films due to the unexpected nature of the film. It's also the film that jump started the career of one of the greatest directors ever in Sir Ridley Scott.
4. The Godfather
What else can be said about this film that hasn't already been said. Some consider this film to be one of the greatest films of all-time and some people can't often choose between this and Part 2. The film perfectly depicts the mafia scene in the 1950's and it has some of the greatest performances of all-time. It dominated the Best Supporting Actor category by having 3 of the 5 spots filled with actors from the film. It revolutionized both the gangster film and film noir genres. It also has a unique way of storytelling and character developing and making the main character seem like both a hero and villain. It is a cinematic achievement in filmmaking that so many filmmakers have been inspired by.
3. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Now some of you are probably going to roll your eyes that this film is this high on the list mainly becasue of my undying love for Star Wars. Well this isn't based on the films I like so that can't be the case. This film changed film forever by it's use of visual effects which were revolutionary at the time. The story was simple, but yet very effective and it introduced what many consider the greatest villain of all-time in Darth Vader. It mixed two genres in the Epics and Sci-Fi to create the Space Opera genre and it along with Jaws are the first two major blockbusters and that influence has trickled down to where we get 5 or 6 blockbusters a year compared to 1 or 2 every 2 to 3 years.It's a film that basically changed the game in so many ways and it will have an everlasting legacy.
2. Jaws
Along with Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope this film invented the Summer blockbuster. It also made yo very scared to go in the water as it made a Shark the main villain and it forced you to be on your guard when swimming. It's one of the most suspenseful films ever as you as you never knew when the shark would attack. Also John William's crafted a perfect film score that is one of the most haunting pieces of work ever done for a film. While he had other films before this one, this was the coming out party for the greatest director of all-time in Stephen Spielberg and the film as a whole is just a cinematic masterpiece.
1. The Godfather Part 2
Much like its predecessor, this film changed the cinematic landscape forever. This was able to the show the rise of power from the two main characters of the franchise and serves as both a prequel is seeing the rise of Vito Corleone and as a sequel continue the story of Michael Corleone as he rises to prominence. It has one of the most iconic scenes in film history along with the best betrayal portrayed on screen. It is a crowning jewel of the 1970's as well as one of the best films ever made. The legacy of both films is tainted by The Godfather Part 3, but both this film and its predecessor stand on their own as cinematic masterpieces.
So ladies and gentlemen what do you think of the list, what films should be added or deleted and what do you think is the greatest film of the 1970's? Let me know in the comments section below and let your voice be heard.
Jonah Sparks
10. Superman
Superhero films are all the craze now and while they have gotten better in acting and effects, none of them would be unless it was for this film. Superman was the first superhero to get a big screen adaptation and while it is very campy, it pioneered the genre and it showed that superhero films could be successful. Its sequel is much better, but this is the original and when you start a genre you have to be on the list.
9. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
While other horror films have changed the genre for the better, this film started a sub-genre that completely changed film. This film created the slasher genre and it introduced an iconic figure in Leatherface and guys like Michael, Jason or Freddy wouldn't be around. The film was banned from a lot of theaters due to the gruesomeness in the film which had never been seen before on the big screen. It's a film that will stand the test of time and it will always be considered to be one of the greatest horror films of all-time.
8. Apocalypse Now
We all know that this film is marvelous for a lot of different reasons. From the acting, to the set pieces, to the entire message of the film. However the films bright spots often get overshadowed by the production problems such as the the beautiful set pieces getting destroyed, several cast members nearly dying during production and the problems Marlon Brando caused. The reason why the film has Redux version is because Coppola had so much footage that he wanted to use, but couldn't due to the runtime. Coppola has been back and forth on what he thinks about the film, but the film is an iconic one for various reasons and it deserves a spot on the list.
7. Blazing Saddles
Mel Brooks is a fantastic genius and this might be the crowning jewel of his entire filmography. This film is a complete laugh-out-loud comedy that has joke after joke that ends up being memorable. It's also a film that can get away with be racist as it even makes fun of racists and what they stand for. It's just all a big joke for Brooks and it works well. When a film can make a few African-Americans laugh at some racist jokes, then you know you've made a great film.
6. Rocky
This film is the all-time great sports film. At it's heart the film is an underdog tale giving people the encouragement that you can do whatever you want and just ignore that people that tell you you can't do it. It was the first and only sports film to date to win the Best Picture Oscar and it made a star in Sylvester Stallone. It also created one of the most beloved sports film franchises of all-time and it is the ultimate underdog tale.
5. Alien
Just like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre created the first slasher in Leatherface, this created one of the most horrifying creatures of all-time in the Xenomorph. Not only did it create the Xenomorph, it also created one of the great film heroes ever in Ripley played brilliantly by Sigourney Weaver. The film is nonstop suspense and it is the one of the most terrifying films due to the unexpected nature of the film. It's also the film that jump started the career of one of the greatest directors ever in Sir Ridley Scott.
4. The Godfather
What else can be said about this film that hasn't already been said. Some consider this film to be one of the greatest films of all-time and some people can't often choose between this and Part 2. The film perfectly depicts the mafia scene in the 1950's and it has some of the greatest performances of all-time. It dominated the Best Supporting Actor category by having 3 of the 5 spots filled with actors from the film. It revolutionized both the gangster film and film noir genres. It also has a unique way of storytelling and character developing and making the main character seem like both a hero and villain. It is a cinematic achievement in filmmaking that so many filmmakers have been inspired by.
3. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Now some of you are probably going to roll your eyes that this film is this high on the list mainly becasue of my undying love for Star Wars. Well this isn't based on the films I like so that can't be the case. This film changed film forever by it's use of visual effects which were revolutionary at the time. The story was simple, but yet very effective and it introduced what many consider the greatest villain of all-time in Darth Vader. It mixed two genres in the Epics and Sci-Fi to create the Space Opera genre and it along with Jaws are the first two major blockbusters and that influence has trickled down to where we get 5 or 6 blockbusters a year compared to 1 or 2 every 2 to 3 years.It's a film that basically changed the game in so many ways and it will have an everlasting legacy.
2. Jaws
Along with Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope this film invented the Summer blockbuster. It also made yo very scared to go in the water as it made a Shark the main villain and it forced you to be on your guard when swimming. It's one of the most suspenseful films ever as you as you never knew when the shark would attack. Also John William's crafted a perfect film score that is one of the most haunting pieces of work ever done for a film. While he had other films before this one, this was the coming out party for the greatest director of all-time in Stephen Spielberg and the film as a whole is just a cinematic masterpiece.
1. The Godfather Part 2
Much like its predecessor, this film changed the cinematic landscape forever. This was able to the show the rise of power from the two main characters of the franchise and serves as both a prequel is seeing the rise of Vito Corleone and as a sequel continue the story of Michael Corleone as he rises to prominence. It has one of the most iconic scenes in film history along with the best betrayal portrayed on screen. It is a crowning jewel of the 1970's as well as one of the best films ever made. The legacy of both films is tainted by The Godfather Part 3, but both this film and its predecessor stand on their own as cinematic masterpieces.
So ladies and gentlemen what do you think of the list, what films should be added or deleted and what do you think is the greatest film of the 1970's? Let me know in the comments section below and let your voice be heard.
Jonah Sparks
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