The Undefinitive list of films you must watch

So I am told - 'people try to find time for the movie they want to watch, not forcefully try to find a movie to watch'.Kinda sad, because I always thought movies were magic. Every movie, good, bad, downright derogatory had the right to be watched. Every movie had to be seen for its merit to be believed (or disbelieved, whatever the case may be). Every aspect of the process sunk in and tasted on your palate and finally allowed to slide down your senses.
I find everything about movies and film-making and acting so without-a-doubt delicious, that I think, perhaps, I don't watch the same movie the same way as people I know. Maybe that is the reason that movies I consider brilliant, mind-blowing, fantastic, scrumptious and even orgasmic are generally slandered by everyone else.
Anyway, I am by self-proclamation (and by general consensus as well) a 'movie-buff'. You should see my face light up when someone else agrees with my thoughts on a movie - no really, you instantly become my bff.
So here it is, a list that is by no means complete and by no stretch of imagination exhaustive, though one thing's certain, each of these movies has a certain something that makes it a treat for the senses.

Pulp Fiction
Directed by Quentin Tarantino and starring Samuel L. Jackson, John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis, Christopher Walken among others, this film definitely deserves all the attention it receives. Random, slick scenes, funny, satirical conversations, brilliant multi-story direction - drop all other movies and watch this one first!

Fight Club
Based on the novel, this movie directed by David Fincher stars Brad Pitt and Edward Norton and is one helluva ride with hidden meanings and secret frames inserted throughout the movie (hint: 4 flashes of Brad Pitt before his first appearance that you have to pause at the right moments to see). Watch it, watch it, watch it.

A Clockwork Orange
Again, based on the novel by the same name and directed by Stanley Kubrick, the movie is a dark, funny, satirical, maniacal, violent, brilliant piece of work set in future England. See it, just don't squirm in your seats during the controversial scenes (which is pretty much most of the movie). Also for anyone interested in film-making, I must suggest this film for the handling of its direction and camerawork.

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
A fast-paced, funny, quick-witted heist movie directed by Guy Ritchie. Watch it, but make sure you concentrate to understand the Brit accents or you'll miss most of the punchlines. :)

Snatch
Directed by Guy Ritchie, everything said for the previous movie holds true. More so for Brad Pitt... check out his 'pikey' Irish accent. One of Pitt's finest performances.

Scent of a Woman
Watch it for Al Pacino playing a blind, retired officer and his now-famous 'Who-ha'... Chris o' Donnell is good too, but hell - 'Who-ha'!

Edward Scissorhands
Enter the dark, yet morbidly funny mind of director Tim Burton. Of course it helps that the movie stars Johnny Depp.

Everyone Says I Love You
If you are ready to enter the world of Woody Allen, this movie is the best starting point. Clearly the best of his movies, according to me. Don't believe me, watch this musical/ comedy and decide. And yes, it stars Julia Roberts, Drew Barrymore, Tim Roth, Goldie Hawn, Edward Norton, Woody Allen and many more (have I got your attention yet?)

Help!
A silly but insanely hilarious comedy starring none other than the Beatles themselves, yes all four of them (Paul, John, George and Ringo). Don't expect technical brilliance, just flow with a legendary time of the world :)

A Hard Day's Night
Read the previous description again!

Full Metal Jacket
In my honest opinion, the best war movie ever made. Director Stanley Kubrick, sheer brilliance.

School of Rock
Don't understand rock music? Think this movie is not for you? Think again. Jack Black is awesomely funny and takes you through a complete tour of what rock music really is all about!

High Fidelity
John Cusack and Jack Black star in this romantic comedy - one of my favorite romantic movies. The dialogues are a treat to listen to - crisp and funny.

Serendipity
Another John Cusack romantic movie, this time with Kate Beckinsale. Watch it with that special someone, my personal guarantee - you'll get lucky that night.

50 First Dates
I am not really a Adam Sandler fan, but for some reason I like the concept of this movie (Drew Barrymore helps too). Like the idea of what you would do for love.

Taxi Driver
Directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro, this movie is a classic. Direction, acting, camera-work, everything about this movie reeks of genius.

The Godfather trilogy
Don't let anyone tell you part 2 is not up to the mark or part 3 is so-so. Three words - Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro... watch all three movies (part 1 and some of part 2 is based on Mario Puzo's book). One of the rare cases where I thought the movie was better than the book. Watch, period.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy
I am not even going to describe this. Directed by Peter Jackson, based on the books by J. R. R. Tolkein, the books are cult, the movies are cult, the concept is cult. One suggestion, watch all three at once (in their extended editions of course)!

The Matrix trilogy
Again, Reloaded and Revolutions don't live up to the expectations, bah humbug. Shove your expectations. Watch all three and appreciate Keanu Reeves in the only role he was meant to / can play. It's cult, it's classic, you need to watch all three to get your concepts straight... and make sure you watch them again to revise what you learned.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Based on the book by Ken Kesey, this movie stars Jack Nicholson and features a mental asylum with assorted characters. The funny part is, I still don't know if Nicholson's character was mentally unstable! :)

To Kill a Mocking Bird
Staring Gregory Peck, this adaptation of Harper Lee's book of the same name always leaves me scared of the ol' days and at the same time makes me want to live in those times.

Rain Man
Dustin Hoffman at his best and Tom Cruise supporting him well. Except perhaps for Daniel Day Lewis, no one in my opinion has played an autistic person better.

Finding Neverland
Johnny Depp as the playwright J. M. Barrie and Kate Winslet make this biographical film a must watch. It's touching, sad and uplifting. It makes you cry and then wipe your tears and clap all at the same time.

Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy
Johnny Depp as a pirate, Kiera Knightley looking hot and Orlando Bloom... well Bloom should have stayed in LOTR. This movie made me want to get on a ship and sail the seas... and without the modern GPSs and satellite navigation... just Captain Jack Sparrow's compass.

The Englishman Who Went Up the Hill but Came Down a Mountain
Based on a true story of a Welsh village, this simple movie is so endearing and funny, that I ended up remembering the names of almost all the characters in the film. Hugh Grant does a perfect job of being the Englishman who went up the hill but came down a mountain.

Notting Hill
Hugh Grant again, with Julia Roberts. Famous hollywood female star, looserish, Brit bookstore owner. They fall in love with each other. Nope, cannot go wrong with that. Some wine, dim lights, your date and the line 'I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her'. Jackpot night mate.

I am Sam
I think Sean Penn (one of the actors I admire) overdid his character a wee-bit, but then, hey, the movie makes you cry, makes you laugh, makes you cheer for Sam. So job well done in the end I guess.

Gangs of New York
Directed by Martin Scorsese, this is a historical film, starring Daniel Day Lewis, Cameron Diaz and Leonardo DiCaprio. It deals with natives and immigrants and territory in the good ol' days. With Scorsese at the helm and a starcast like that, how could it possibly be not good?

The Aviator
Martin Scorsese strikes again with Leonardo DiCaprio. This biopic is based on the life of Howard Hughes, a pioneer of the aviation industry. DiCaprio as the compulsive disorder suffering Hughes is at his finest.

Kill Bill I/II
Uma Thurman wants revenge. Quentin Tarantino directs this satirical, violent, funny spoof. Both the parts are near awesome and totally unique in their own way. Technically, the two parts are so differently treated, it's a visual treat.
Vertigo
Alfred Hitchcock's greatest film ever. Acrophobic detective, desirable wife... Hitchcock is the greatest story-teller of suspense and horror.
In Bruges
Hitmen and dark comedy. Beautiful locales. I love this obscure piece of work starring Colin Farrell.

The Men Who Stare at Goats
Satire... my favorite form of comedy. Most people did not understand this movie. Make sure you watch it carefully, listen to the dialogues and find out hidden, deeper meaning to everything said and done - it's really funny and contemporary then. Otherwise, it's just about the government using people with psychic powers in the army. Oh yes, it stars George Clooney and Ewan McGregor.

Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?
This George Clooney movie set during the Great Depression is a satire again (yay) and is supposedly based in Homer's Odyssey. I haven't read Odyssey completely to pass that judgment, though I can say for sure it's a kick-ass satire.

Pretty Woman
Rich guy meets and later falls for a hooker. Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. This movie had to be in this list. It's a romantic comedy, isn't it?

Oceans Eleven/ Twelve/ Thirteen
Slick, fresh, quick, funny conversations, great chemistry between actors. Some reasons why these 3 movies should be watched. The star cast is too huge to be listed here. Please do a quick Google search!

Matchstick Men
Con-men con everyone... and I mean everyone... Nicholas Cage as a con-man suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder is brilliant and Sam Rockwell supports him well.

Lord of War
Nicholas Cage again, as an arms dealer this time. One of his finest if you ask me and a really slick movie with lots of captivating scenes. Also stars Ethan Hawke

Catch Me If You Can
A game of cat and mouse between Tom Hanks and Leonardo Dicaprio. Steven Spielberg, though not really subtle in his direction, does manage a captivating movie.

Back to the Future trilogy
Steven Spielberg and Michael J. Fox create magic in these three movies going back and forth into the past and the future. Worth watching for the concept which still seems fresh and animation that still seems more realistic than some other movies.

Boondock Saints
William Dafoe stars in this movie about ordinary men becoming the saviors of mankind.

Dead Poets Society
Robin Williams plays a professor of literature who urges the young male students to live life the way they want to and go against the conformed norms. It also stars a young Ethan Hawke.

Finding Forrester
Directed by Gus Van Sant, this movie stars Sean Connery and deals with an African-American student's relationship with a reclusive author.

Last Days
Another one by Gus Van Sant movie depicting the last 4 days of Kurt Cobain (not officially acknowledged). This one is not for the faint of heart. Watch it only if you are interested in the nitty-gritties of film-making. Minimal dialogues, long winding scenes, mumbled sentences. Check out the soundtrack though, Michael Pitt, who plays a Cobainesque rockstar belts out a couple of nice dark, morbid compositions.
The Doors
This one is actually pretty much Jim Morrison, more than the Doors. Directed by Oliver Stone, Val Kilmer plays Morrison better than Morrison himself! Meg Ryan also stars as Pamela Courson.

Taking Woodstock
This movie is directed by Ang Lee and is a fun biopic about Elliot Tiber, in whose motel the famous Woodstock '69 organizers stayed. The brilliance of the movie is that in spite of being a Woodstock movie, it depicts no rockstars, or concerts and all the concert songs are just heard far-off in the background.

Star Wars IV/V/VI/I/II/III (in that order)
Watch, watch, watch, watch, watch, watch... in the order mentioned together, in one day if possible. Great movie watch, we must. Well you'll get the pun once you watch the movies.

Fracture
Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling star in this murder mystery cum crime thriller. A game of playing hopscotch with the law and some good acting by Sir Hopkins.

Good Will Hunting
The story of an intelligent, confused kid directed by Gus Van Sant. This is the movie that made Matt Daemon and Ben Affleck overnight millionaires and superstars. Apparently Matt and Ben wrote the script of this movie over a period of time when they were struggling actors. The moment they finished the script, studios lined up to buy it. However, they had one condition, they would act in it too. Later they did win an Academy for the best original screenplay. Of course it also Robin Williams.


Some other movies worth watching:

Frost/ Nixon
The Great Train Robbery
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
Interview with the Vampire
Into the Wild
A Kiss Before Dying
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Officer and a Gentleman
Phone Booth
The Pianist
The Prestige
Chaplin
Seven
About a Boy

And here's a list of Bollywood Essentials:

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge
The movie that made Shah Rukh Khan a superstar and defined the way Indian cinema should look in the post 90's era.

Andaaz Apna Apna
For some reason audiences refused to accept this movie when it was released. It's now a cult movie and is definitely in my top 5 comic movies of all time.

My Name is Khan
No matter what people say, this movie is one of the finest films to emerge out of commercial Bollywood. Technically, it is flawless. Brilliant direction and acting, and not because I am an SRK fan (look closely, I have less than a percent of SRK movies in this whole list).

Apu trilogy
Salaam Bombay
Hey Ram
Daasvidaniya
Swades
Chak De!
Darr
Sarfarosh
Hera Pheri
Sholay
Anand
Dil Se
Zanjeer
Firaaq

And that's that. I have missed out like a thousand and one other good movies, but watch these movies, you must, and immerse yourself in an art form that I consider one of the best legacies we shall leave behind for future generations - the magic of films.

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