What is your favorite movie?

Rhett, Scarlett, who could say more?

Gone With The Wind was the first sweeping epic that I can remember seeing. 31 years after its 1939 release, I can remember an old art house was playing GWTW. My parents took me. There was nothing like seeing this film on a big screen in all its glorious color. Rhett, Scarlett, Ashley, Tara, the Burning of Atlanta, all larger than life. I, like millions of females before me, fell in love with Clark Gable. I was caught up in the costumes, the magnificent plantation houses, the accents..yes, the Southern charm cast its spell upon me. Margaret Mitchell’s words were weaved through every inch of film. Tara’s theme echoed in my ears. I longed for Gable to walk back through that door and into Scarlett’s waiting arms to say “yes Scarlett, I do give a damn.”

I always had an interest in the civil war since I was little. I never knew till I was much older and doing research into my personal history, that I was born at the Columbia Hospital for Women in DC., which was built in 1866 for the wives and widows of civil war soldiers. Maybe that did plant the seed. Going to battlefields of the civil war was always a de`ja` vu experience for me, that is, if you believe in de`ja` vu.

Make no mistake, the Civil War was not glorious. The civil war was not a figment of one author’s imagination, but instead, a very real dark page in our young nation’s history. Brother fought against brother, families were torn apart, the land ravaged by the blood of men: old and young, and humans were enslaved by humans. It is said that more soldiers died in the Civil War than any other war that America has been involved in. A grim reality set amongst the grand story telling of Hollywood.

GWTW is a testimony to the remarkable talents of the early pioneers of a very young film industry and the legacy that they have left behind for the Steven Spielbergs of today’s world.
By: Jolene Jones

GWTW is a timeless international classic. Whenever a lifestyle is oppressed by civil war or any war, this film surfaces. It is also a love story never to be forgotten and the growing-up tale of a belle who has to fight for her life and family.

It was one of the first movies my mother took me to see in a theater. The romance was not as sappy as many are, and Scarlet was one of the first heroines I encountered who could think for herself and live with the consequences. Scarlet changed with the times but stayed true to herself.
By: Jory Marks-Lane

It is a brilliant story about struggle, loss, triumph, and our history. Plus you see Vivian Leigh at her most beautiful.

It just love watching it. It never ceases to amaze me at its essence.
By: Eric Krull

This movie was made from my favorite book.

This movie was made from my favorite book. I read the book 5 times when I was in high school and developed a love of the Civil War era. The movie though different from the book in many ways, furthered my love of the era. This in turn prompted my decision to take a minor in history in college.
By: Andrea Buckley

Every aspect of this film embodies moviemaking at its greatest.

Gone with the Wind, one of the greatest love stories and war epics of all time combines outstanding acting, spectacular visuals, fabulous direction, and a powerful screenplay. Every aspect of this film embodies moviemaking at its greatest. Lastly, 8 competitive Oscars as well as 2 special Oscars speak for themselves.
By: Jeanmarie Youngblood

Set during the Civil War, this film tells the story of headstrong and selfish Scarlett O’Hara, and the blockade running rogue, Rhett Butler.

This is the film that got me in to classic films to begin with. Everything about it is beautiful; from Jack Cosgrove’s painted backgrounds to Max Steiner’s scoreto Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh in the leads. Gone with the Wind is romance, loss, and every emotion in between. It’s themes appeal to people of all generations all around the world and it is deserving of its lasting popularity. This is what epic filmmaking is all about.
By: Kendra Bean

A perfect film that changed my life.

I grew up in a family that always loved the movies. But my own love affair with film began when my parents took my brother, sister and me to see Gone With the Wind upon it’s re-release in the late 1960s. I was so amazed by that single, movie going experience that I immediately started reading about/and watching (not so easy in those pre-VCR/DVD days) other classic Hollywood films. I soon became a lover of film history and a true film buff. And although I’ll admit there have been some wonderful and important motion pictures made before and since GWTW, to me it still remains the greatest of them all.
By: Drew Hallmann

The film stands the test of time. It was and still is hollywood at it’s best. The great epic that still reigns after 67 years.

I love films that not only tella story but paint a broad picture of that story. With lush images that jump out of the screen and pull us into this land of war, sourthern bells, mammy and ofcourse rhett and scarlett. That epic tale of boy meets girl and ends with those immortal words, “frankly my dear, i don’t get a damn.”

My grandmother loved this film and told me that with those words, “i don’t give a damn,” it caused a stir and has left the audience wanting more. Now that’s a movie.

The first major film in color to put the world under it’s spell. THat is Gone With The Wind.
By: Jesus Becerra

This is the pinnacle of “old Hollywood” movie-making, yet still holds up as one great film. Top-notch acting, great drama, beautifully crafted. It IS “Hollywood”.

“Gone With The Wind”,as cliched it sounds to call it the best picture of all time, remains just that. Made before my time, it still ropes me in with it’s great story and that cast of immortals at the zenith of their careers; Gable, Leigh, DeHavilland, McDaniel, Howard- will there ever be another cast like that at the top of their form?
So honored in it’s time, I find it sad that people tend to pass it over as “too easy a choice”, preferring to jump on the “Citizen Kane” bandwagon, or “The Bicycle Thief”.GWTW is a movie’s movie, one that has it all. As for the rest of them; “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.”
By: Jim Carr

A British secret agent attempts to thwart a megalomaniac whose goal is the destruction of Fort Knox.

The pluperfect entertainment for a fourteen year old boy in 1964…
By: Edward Flynn

Gold standard for Action-Adventure cinema.

For action-adventure cinema, “Goldfinger” is the gold standard. This confident stylized film propelled Ian Fleming’s literary character from a popular hero of the decade to an icon of the century. “Goldfinger” cemented the character of James Bond as the first hero of the “baby-boom generation”. Simply put, “Goldfinger” is the original blockbuster. It is my favorite film because it straddles the line of being ultra modern (at least for that time) and being a throwback to classic hero mythology. Every time I watch this film I sit back in amazement at how uniquely and carefully crafted this film is.
By: Andrew Burgess

Wonderful characters with dimension and purpose.

Amazing juxtaposition of 2 fascinating men told in parallel. Wonderful characters with dimension and purpose. Never been repeated…..
By: Jon Goldberg

Brilliantly made…

The movie is perfect.. it flows.. the story . the music.. its fine art for the screen . Never has a cast flowed so well ..
By: Stephanie Brown

A film that everyone should see.

The portrayal of Colonel Shaw by Mathew Broderick conveys a deep sense of meaning and pride that is impressive to watch, and Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington deliver stellar performances on their own.

The conviction of the soldiers and the importance that they represent a turn in the viewpoint of this country makes this a film that everyone should see.
By: Sean Conover

This movie represents everything great in a movie.

This movie represents everything great in a movie, drama, action, visual effects, music, everything comes together to make a great movie.
By: Lee Myers-White

Three scientists get fired from the University and then go into busness as New York’s heroic paranormal investigators and exterminators.

This movie is meaningful because first you have an outstanding story, great characters that everyone likes and state of the art speciel effects that were done before the digital domain of computer graphics. Combining it with hillarious humor and a great kick ass theme song by Ray Parker Jr. makes Ghostbusters a wonderful film.
By: Sean Pultz

Everyone in this film is heroic.

Everyone in this film is heroic. There are no villains, only heroes. How often does one get to view a film like this? All the performances are outstanding, and the music is superb. It hasn’t gotten the attention is deserves for bringing back the epics.
By: Mickey Fisher

Marilyn Monroe aka Norma Jean Baker is the 20th Century rags to riches posterchild. She was sexy and made me feel sexy or like I could be sexy. I like that she chose the nerdy guy in the end who could give her all the diamonds she wanted.

Marilyn Monroe made it meaningful to me. In the future I hope to learn to choose the guy that wants me not the guy that I want. It’s not that Gentlemen prefer blonds because Jane Russell made out pretty well in the story too but men like women who act like women.
By: FM Lyons

A young woman is thought to be haunted by the ghost next door, but its not a ghost, its her husband trying to make her think shes crazy, to cover up his murder from years past.

A wonderful thrilling film noir movie, which leaves the viewer fascinated and in suspense. You never know which way this movie will turn, and every moment is wonderfully exciting. Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer are also fantastic in their roles.
By: Rebecca White

Andrew Largeman is coming home for the first time in nine years. He gets a chance to reacquaint himself with his family, his friends, and possibly himself.

There is nothing about this film that I don’t like. The acting, directing, scenery, soundtrack, characters and choice of actors are so engrossing and perfect. This film touched my heart and sense of humor. It is so enjoyable to absorb and watch the main character move from just watching his life pass him by, to taking charge of his life within a span of days. The quirkiness of the story, and the site gags complement each other so well. I cannot get enough of this story.
By: Shellei Guenther

Amazing actors, great writing.

This movie has all of the great elements that make a movie last for years. The actors bring make you feel like your in 1860’s New York. Humor, revenge, suspense and violence.
By: Spencer Pfeiffer

This movie introduced me to the great Barbra Streisand and it totally blew me away. I became an instant fan!

It is a very powerful movie, and the score is just sublime. One of the best musicals ever made, and what a debute for Barbra Streisand. This is my pick me up movie, whenever I feel low I watch it and feel so much better afterwards.
By: Shona Attridge

Not to entirely sure why it’s my favorite, but my best guess is……..

It just makes me laugh. MY kids, now grown and gone, were forced or rather, subjected to repeat performances of this movie, to the extent that they could repeat ever line uttered. It provided hours and hours of fun with my kids and myself. While not exactly an intellectual movie, it had a special blend of charactors that made it seem like you knew them, or at least, someone like them. If you didn’t know them, you were them.
By: Greg Haller

This is an extremely difficult choice.

This is an extremely difficult choice. However, I think you have to go with a western if you want to say the most about the roots of our culture. The western is our epic poetry. But of all the great Hollywood westerns; the greatest would have to be those of John Ford. Of course Ford always denied all this, but if we have the equivalent of a 20th century Shakespeare he is it. And if you are looking for a modern age Rembrant there is no greater artist in American or world cinema. If you don’t believe me; ask the French. Fort Apache stands out in my mind as the best. It’s the first of the great Cavalry Trilogy. If I could show just one movie that would typify the American film this would be it. It is the finest example of black and white cinematography I have ever seen. Monument valley never looked better. The film is packed with great action scenes. It has all the elements of a typical Ford production including a romance, two dance scenes a few drunken brawls and played to perfection by the usual Ford stock company; including John Agar, Ward Bond and Victor McLaglen. Henry Fonda and Shirley Temple turn in brilliant Performances. It is also one of the first westerns of that era that gave more sympathetic depiction of Native Americans. The final scene, where Duke Wayne, in one of his greatest speeches, covers up the faults of Commander Thursday (Henry Fonda) so as not to slander his legend. This is so typical of Ford who famously said “when the legend becomes fact, print the legend.”
By: Charles Wiebe

Robert Zemeckis is a genius.

Every aspect of this movie is beautifully done. Robert Zemeckis is a genius. You can watch this movie thirty times and still find new amazing details in this modern masterpiece.
Forrest Gump may be technically stupid, but he shows you don’t need brains to follow your dreams and achieve amazing things. Everything is done from the heart, not the brain.
By: Stephen Koontz

The story of a mentally challenged man, played by the brilliant Tom Hanks, who overcomes his mental illness to live a meaningful life. Forrest Gump encounters several historic moments and celebrities. Including the assassination of JFK.

I love this movie because it proves that although somebody has several adversities against them, they can overcome those obstacles and come out on top. Nothing is ever impossible and the film Forrest Gump demonstrates this. You can be the smartest person in the world, but if you don’t possess qualities like determination or heart, you won’t be remembered. Gump has these qualities and lives life to the fullest, he may not be aware of how significant his life is, but he’s played college football, served his country, saved several soldiers, became a ping-pong champion, owned a shrimping boat, became a millionaire, and finally has a family. Many men that do not have mental disorders don’t accomplish any of these in their lives. The film shows what determination can do for a man, nothing’s impossible.
By: Curtis Weimer

Because of all the emotions you feel all at once.

The story of Forrest Gump is of one man’s journey through life as he encounters different instances in modern history. Because of Forrest’s character and all the experiences he goes through, you feel a whole array of emotions all at the same time. You feel happy, sad, you want to laugh, you want to cry, you want to stand up and cheer all at the same time. I believe the feeling you are left with after you watch this movie for the first time is a feeling like nothing else you will experience.
By: David McNeill

Just dynamite.

Made me want to make movies like it.
By: Jason Goldberg

It was the first movie to really have an impact on my movie life.

It was the first movie to really have an impact on my movie life.
By: Christopher Sugar

Fight Club defines a generation.

Fight Club is dark and unsettling commentary on our society at its worst and the greatest film in 25 years at its best. It takes everything beatiful about every aspect of the motion picture and delivers it for your viewing pleasure. In my opinion, this is the finest film of the last 25 years. It is the only movie that has ever changed my life and the way I think about film. It is an all-singing, all-dancing masterpiece!
By: Marc Boucher