100 Years-100 Movies: Intro

Here's the story:

In 1998, the 100 year anniversary of the advent of motion pictures, the American Film Institute polled 1500 actors, film critics, directors and Hollywood dignitaries as to the 100 greatest films in the history of cinema.

Once the list was finished, a lengthy TV special was produced to unveil the honorees. Once in awhile various cable channels will rebroadcast the special and on a particularly slow night my wife and I stumbled upon in. After watching for a while we were appauled at how many of the movies we hadn't seen. We talked casually about the possibility of someday watching all the movies on the list but never really discussed it after that. Last week we revisited the idea and decided to just jump head first into it. I've ordered the first 3 on the list and we are getting started this evening.

A little more background:

1) We have decided the list is best watched in ascending order from #100 to #1 (the one exception will be "The Godfather" 1 & 2- as watching part 2 first seems counter-productive, thus the two films will switch spots in the rotation.

2) Even if we have seen the movie before we are watching again, there are VERY few films on the list that both of us have seen anyway.

3) We are going off of the original 1998 List rather than the revamped 2007 list for several reasons:

A) We didn't like the criteria for the updated list, specifically the need to include films based on the merit of technological advancement and box-office success.

B) We also felt that factoring in a movie's performance at awards shows diminishes the point of the original list, particularly when you look at how many films and stars have been notoriously snubbed by awards shows in recent years.

C) We didn't want to watch "Toy Story."

The blogging process is something I decided to do just for my own reference but also because a few people have expressed to me that the idea might be interesting, especially with a lot of film buffs out there who are interested in cinema but don't have the kind of free time to commit to a project like this. The goal is to be finished with all 100 movies within one year. A pace of 2 movies per week is very realistic and still gives some breathing room to accomodate busier weeks.

I don't want this to be me reviewing 100 movies, and anyone reading wouldn't want that either. Rather I would just like to talk a little bit about them, my initial expectations of the films and how they did or didn't live up to them and why I believe the movie made the list. I think it could possibly be interesting to anyone who is as fascinated with motion pictures and history as I am and when I say I "invite" you all to follow my blog and read about my progress I actually mean "beg."

I know I am looking forward to this endeavor, I am looking forward to being cultured and I am even looking forward to getting over some of my cinematic prejudices, as I have to watch a lot of movies I swore I'd never watch on this list ;)
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"This is my life! It always will be!... Just us, the cameras, and those wonderful people out there in the dark!" (Norma Desmond, "Sunset Boulevard")