Recommended Movies

Posted by Elliot

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Sure, there are lots of movie review sites. And if you’re looking up something particular, they’re a great help. But if you don’t know what to watch, you need trustworthy advice to heighten the signal/noise ratio. Welcome to etg Design’s database of worthwhile movies.

The few hundred films included focus mostly on classic movies, which today probably need a little extra help getting the attention of younger viewers. These recommendations are brought to you by Elliot and Steve Grant, longtime movie buffs who are relatively open-minded about what constitutes a good movie.

To get second opinions, you can choose to display only movies that made the AFI’s 400 nominations for Top 100 movies (62K PDF) or FilmSite.org’s 200 Greatest Films. NB: Both these lists exclude foreign films; the AFI 400 was finalized in 1996.

Steve’s list includes roughly 100 movies and also excludes foreign films. To continue the pattern of 50% greater exclusivity, Elliot’s list attempts to capture the approximately 50 most important films. Within those 50, I’ve tried to cover as many genres, cultures, eras, and themes as possible. Don’t write to me complaining about the choices—it’s subjective, it’s an impossible task, and it’ll probably change over time. Finally, the intersection of all four lists is approximately 30 movies.

(If you want a larger list, take a look at the New York Times’ Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made.)

To display films, simply select the appropriate search criteria below. You can filter the search by genre, rating, or inclusion on the various lists mentioned above.

Movie Ratings

Movies are rated on a system devised by my movie-watching cabal based on the simple question: How much worth your time and/or money is seeing this film?

There are six levels of ratings. They’re easy to remember, and they even proceed in alphabetical order:

  1. A (Advance Showing): Some films are such must-sees that they’re worth paying extra and going out of your way to catch—as you might do for an advance (a.k.a. special sneak preview) showing.
  2. F (Full Price): A film rated Full is worth seeing on its intital run in the theaters, even though you’ll have to pay the full ticket price. It’ll be worth it.
  3. M (Matinee): Matinee movies are worth seeing in the theaters, but only if you can get a discount on the ticket price. They’re good—usually a lot of fun—but probably not worth seeing more than once.
  4. R (Rental): Rental flicks have redeeming qualities, but they’re ones you definitely won’t mind catching on video. The screen may be small, but you don’t want to pay even a matinee ticket price for this kind of film.
  5. TV: A movie that gets a TV rating isn’t worth spending any money on. If it comes on TV, you probably wouldn’t mind spending a few hours to catch it, but otherwise you can avoid it with a clear conscience.
  6. W (Worthless): This bottom category is exactly what it says. A Worthless film is one that you should skip even if it comes on TV and you have nothing better to do.

Recommended Movies

Movie Genre Rating Lists
Bad Day at Black Rock

Spencer Tracy is the only man to get off the train in Black Rock in years. His questions about a local Japanese farmer light a hidden keg of resentment, guilt, and fear.
Mystery
F
FilmSite200
Movie Genre Rating Lists
Ball of Fire

Barbara Stanwyck is a gangster’s moll who hides out with seven bachelor scholars writing an encyclopedia.
Comedy
A
SAG100
Movie Genre Rating Lists
Band Wagon, The

One of the last great MGM musicals, with the singing and dancing of Fred Astaire, the legs of Cyd Charisse, and the comedy relief of Jack Buchanan and Oscar Levant. The extended gangster-style dance routine is one of Fred’s best.
Musical
M
SAG100
Movie Genre Rating Lists
Batman

Michael Keaton pulls off a surprisingly good take on the Bruce Wayne/Batman split personality, and the tone as a whole is welcomely dark, not campy. A pity the obligatory romance falls so flat.
Action
M
AFI400
Movie Genre Rating Lists
Batman Returns

A movie with decent moments that could have been much better by cutting out the Penguin (Danny De Vito). Michelle Pfeiffer steals the show.
Action
M
AFI400
Movie Genre Rating Lists
Beauty and the Beast

Engagingly theatrical feature has some wonderful characters and sparkling tunes.
Musical
F
AFI400
Movie Genre Rating Lists
Ben-Hur

It’s long, but it’s also a stirring saga of honor, betrayal, and redemption in ancient Jerusalem and Rome. And that chariot race. . . .
Drama
A
ETG50
Movie Genre Rating Lists
Best Years of Our Lives, The

One-of-a-kind drama of returning GIs who have to adapt to a fast-changing post-WW II world. Harold Russell’s poignant performance won the best supporting actor Oscar. The scene when Frederick March comes home to wife Myrna Loy is guaranteed to bring tears to your eyes. Dana Andrews is also excellent, as are Teresa Wright and Virginia Mayo.
Drama
A
SAG100
Movie Genre Rating Lists
Big Chill, The

The apotheosis of college-reunion movies, this Lawrence Kasdan film offers a terrific ensemble cast and a classy soundtrack.
Drama
F
AFI400
Movie Genre Rating Lists
Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure

Two California senior dudes are given a time machine so they can pass their history course, graduate high school, form a rock band, and bring peace and enlightenment to all mankind. Enormously goofy but good-natured fun.
Comedy
M
AFI400