This final entry in my favorite films countdown is going to be different from the others. I would like this one to be as interactive as possible, because I want your input and thoughts. If you have extensive film knowledge, or even if you don't and only know about these 25 movies I've mentioned simply through my reviews, I want to hear what you have to say.
The question I'd like to ask is - what do you think are the common points that connect these films together? What do any of these 25 films have in common, if anything? You don't have to relate all 25 together, but I would like to see what you think even two of these films share. This could be anything from common plot points, to characters, themes, atmosphere, message, tone, production values and anything that you can think of.
And, for those that do have a massive film knowledge, there is an optional question - With these common points in mind, what other movies can you think of that also share those points? Just to give myself some recommendations for the future or to possibly rethink another film in a whole new light.
I'll give this a starting point and talk about the most common type of story throughout my favorite films - the misfit in a world of misfits.
There are several of these twenty-five films that focus on a particularly strange character, for one reason or another, in a world that is either full of characters that are strange of a different variety or characters that contrast the protagonist. At times, his/her behavior is not so different from a passionate and driven individual, but in a world where that is frowned upon, this character is seen as an outcast.
Jefferson Smith was ridiculed by the majority of Congress in "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" for staying far too close to the ideals of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, just like Edward D. Wood Jr. was never taken seriously in "Ed Wood." Both of these characters stayed true to their passions and outlook on life, even when everyone seemed to be against them. In a way, they are both films about fighting the system for ones' beliefs.
Other examples include Marge Gunderson and her husband Norm being the only competent and intelligent people in "Fargo," Tobey Maguire and Resse Witherspoon being literally from a different time in "Pleasantville," WALL-E being the only creäture to have come in contact with Earth for over 700 years, and of course Kanji Watanabe in "Ikiru" daring to challenge the bureaucratic symbol of Japan when he realizes that he has so little time left to live.
We also see this go to opposite extremes with characters like Bruno Anthony in "Strangers On A Train" and Reverend Harry Powell in "The Night Of The Hunter." Two characters that have a lot in common, but are also radically different. They are in love with themselves more than anything else and love what they do. They both have silver tongues, but to varying degrees. Harry Powell can convince just about any body to join his side by using religion and God to his evil benefits, while Bruno is more crazed and people are merely fascinated by his theories.
Characters like Kanji, the Tramp in "City Lights," Marge and George Bailey in "It's A Wonderful Life" are not afraid to challenge what is expected of people. One could say that they live in a world separate from the one they inhabit, and wish to show everyone else the benefit of this other world. One free of hate, greed and selfishness, and instead replaced with self-less passionate people.
Which brings me to the next common theme throughout most of these films - hope.
Perhaps there is a subconscious reason why I chose "Son Of Godzilla" and "Mothra Vs. Godzilla" of all the films in the series to be on this countdown that even I wasn't aware of. Not because I think they're the best Godzilla films, but because they are the two most optimistic of the series. For a series that includes nearly thirty movies of a giant monster destroying Japan, those are the two that choose to show mankind battling these monsters in a whole new way and focus on making a better world for the future.
"Son Of Godzilla" does this through not only the human endeavors to perfect a weather machine and make lands in Africa and South America fertile, while "Mothra Vs. Godzilla" has a theme of removing distrust in the world for the sake of protecting humanity. That a world divided is much more easily conquered and that the biggest threats can only be taken down together.
We see hope shine in so many of my favorite films. Hope for George Bailey and the struggle of man against the industry in "It's A Wonderful Life," hope for the Tramp and to not judge others by their status in life in "City Lights" and hope for the survival of the human race "WALL-E," so that they can understand there is a lot of world out there.
To opposite ends of that, we have films like "Apocalypse Now" and "Ran," which were founded on pillars of hope and kindness, only to watch it all turn sour and rotten. In the case of "Ran," Lord Ichimonji was blinded by pride and love for his sons to see that they were greedy selfish people who wanted nothing more than control over the entire kingdom, even if that meant destroying everything their father worked for. "Apocalypse Now," has hope in the characters that travel down this navy patrol boat, as they want to get this done and over and move on to the next mission. But as they travel further down to the river and into the maws of hell, we see them turn to desperation and drugs, in trying to hide from the tragedies they've witnessed.
But if there was a common type of story told throughout my top 25, it would the tale of a "loner," like Kanji Watanabe or Marge Gunderson, as they put their beliefs and morals on the line, against a threat that is not uncommon. It could be something as simple as cancer or their own greed, like "The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre." And as the film progresses, we learn this loner is not unlike us and their struggle is just as simple.
Or, to put it in the terms of one of my favorite quotes, these characters are realizing they don't want to merely survive, but to live.
Some of these characters knew from the beginning what it meant to live, like Marge, and is content with her life with Norm, despite everyone else in the film trying so hard to get "a bit of money" and failing at it. Others realize it over time, like George Bailey, who is so caught up in his work that he never realized just how big of an impact he had on Bedford Falls until he saw what the town would be like if he never existed. There are even characters that try their best to live, given their surroundings, like L.B. Jefferies in "Rear Window," as he makes up names and back stories for every one of his neighbors.
Then you get characters like Norma Desmond in "Sunset Boulevard" who is merely surviving, but lives in her own twisted world where she is the living the dream and can’t wake up from something that has since turned into a nightmare.
But these characters are fighting for something – the chance to live, and to give this chance to others as well. Whether they are running from giant monsters, hiding from a shape shifting alien or loving every second of the gangster lifestyle, there is something worth fighting for in all of their minds.
Anyway, those are the common threads I noticed between most of my top 25 favorite films. There are a few more obvious ones, like how James Stewart is in four of these films or reoccurring directors like Alfred Hitchcock and Akira Kurosawa, but I decided to go with something a little more interesting.
What do you think my 25 favorite films have in common? I would really like to hear what everyone has to say and I cannot wait to see the varying responses. And remember, if you think there are any other films that aren’t mentioned in my countdown but you think I might enjoy due to those commonalities, be sure to mention those.
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