Best Film of 1994

[Yonathan Gal]

Meethinks it was like this:

1. Shawshank Redemption
2. Pulp Fiction
3. Forrest Gump
4. Leon

shawshank is my favourite of all time, and fiction would coem in my top 5... gump in my top 30 or something... pretty strong year formovies then, at least as far as I'm concerbned.. what about u all? post ya favs of 94 here! I bet Pulp Fiction will get the most votes, or maybe Shawshank, and Gump will get loads of abuse! Just my predicitions :)

[Tob]

1.) Pulp
2.) Leon

[Robby]

Pulp, Speed, Gump.

[Yonathan Gal]

Oh yeah, I forgot about Leon!

[Joe Pasquale]

Obvious ones:
Pulp Fiction
Leon
Shawshank

How About:
Airheads
Serial Mom
Ed Wood
Natural Born Killers

To choose a best... um, gotta be Pulp Fiction. :)

[charlie angel]

In no particular order -

Once Were Warriors
Pulp F
Leon
Lion King
Clerks

[Vinyl-Pants]

tell me something, on your way in did you see a sign saying dead ****** storage?

^that whole scene/chapter is one of the best ever imo.

oh, for the uninformed - my vote would be for Pulp Fiction

[Kradical]

Ed Wood

[Michael Brooke]

Just to swing the pendulum away from the inevitable English-language mainstream bias...

English: <I>Ed Wood</I> (by miles)
French: <I>Three Colours Red</I>
Danish: <I>The Kingdom</I>
Czech: <I>Faust</I> (Jan Svankmajer version)
Cantonese: <I>Iron Monkey</I>
Italian: <I>Dear Diary</I>
Russian: <I>Burnt By The Sun</I>

I haven't seen <I>Forrest Gump</I> (and have no intention of ever doing so), but I think <I>The Shawshank Redemption</I> and <I>Pulp Fiction</I> are <U>painfully</U> overrated.

[Ben Martin]

out of the movies i have seen from that year it would have to be the following in this order:

leon
the shawshank redemption
clerks
pulp fiction

[Bapapapa]

Another vote for Ed Wood.

Top movie. :D

[sampath]

Originally posted by Michael Brooke
I haven't seen <I>Forrest Gump</I> (and have no intention of ever doing so)

Surely it can't be that the highly respected Mr Brooke is passing judgement on a film he hasn't actually seen? Tell me it ain't so?? :confused: :p

I'd vote for Pulp Fiction, although I also think Speed deserves a mention for being probably the best action film to come out of Hollywood for the last 6-7 years IMO.

[Michael Brooke]

<B>Surely it can't be that the highly respected Mr Brooke is passing judgement on a film he hasn't actually seen? Tell me it ain't so??</B>

The only judgement I've passed on it is that I don't want to sit through it - too many of my friends have done, and advised me that I'd loathe it, and going from plot summaries and especially descriptions of its political stance, I suspect they're right.

<I>Speed</I> is a good choice, though - I have a huge amount of time for that, largely because it delivered exactly what it promised with no pretensions whatsoever.

[Tob]

Originally posted by Michael Brooke
but I think <I>Pulp Fiction</I> are <U>painfully</U> overrated.

Oi! This is the best, not most overrated thread!:D

[cirrus888]

Having recently seen forest gump on DVD ... I have to say its still a brilliant movie ... much better than castaway.

[GK]

Speed is an absolutely excellent film - indeed, Anthony Lane in The New Yorker that year called it the best film of the year (though this was on release, and I suspect he changed his mind at year's end.)

Forrest Gump is up there with Ghost, Men at Work and Innocent Lies on my list of most miserable cinema experiences. It's a howler. I was particularly impressed with Mark Cousins when he 'did' Tom Hanks on Scene by Scene earlier in the year. The restraint he showed re: that film was a masterclass in self-discipline, he so obviously hated it.

[Michael Brooke]

<B>indeed, Anthony Lane in The New Yorker that year called it the best film of the year (though this was on release, and I suspect he changed his mind at year's end.) </B>

Thanks for the memory-jog - you can add <I>32 Short Films About Glenn Gould</I> to that list. (Anthony Lane personally raved about it to me - before he went to New York he was a regular at the cinema I used to manage)

[Madm@tt]

Well,

Pulp Fiction is the best film ever made. Period.

The Shawshank Redemption is the third best film ever made. Period.

Leon is the best assassin film ever made. Period.

Speed is good... But not brilliant.

and
Natural Born Killers apparently makes no sense in the theatrical cut - but if you count the Directors cut it definately deserves a mention.

[GregB]

Originally posted by Michael Brooke


Czech: <I>Faust</I> (Jan Svankmajer version)


I remember seeing that at my local arthouse cinema. What a great film although it was a bit difficult trying to persuade my work colleagues most of whom were your average Saturday night blockbuster cinema goer.

Looking at other films mentioned 94 does seem to have been quite a good year.

[Vegalman]

Stargate!!!

[RoboCop4]

I'd have to give another vote to both Pulp Fiction and Shawshank. But I'd have to go against the flow and say that I didn't like Leon <u>that</u> much, and as for Forrest Gump.... :rolleyes:

I also think that The Crow and Bullets over Broadway deserve a mention, if only because I remember them as being far better than expected.

I must admit that I haven't seen Ed Wood, or The Hudsucker Proxy, both of which were released in '94, and both of which are generally considered to be excellent.

[Ol' Blue Eyes]

Clerks :D

[nc]

For me, 1994 was the best ever year in cinema!
Action - Speed
Comedy - Ace Ventura
Horror - Crow
Drama - Shawshank

And 2 of my favourite films of all time - Leon and Pulp Fiction

[Steve_S]

Can I squeeze Chungking Express in ? Released in Hong Kong in '94 but didn't make it over here untill '95 (I think)

[sidebog7]

Either Quiz Show or The Madness of King George

(Edit - I didn't realise that The Madness of King George was released in the USA so far advance of the UK, almost 4 months:confused: )

[GK]

This is an interesting thread. Not because 1984 means anything to me, particularly, but because some of the films mentioned reinforce the notion of viewing a film in a particular context. What I mean is, while I found, say, Pulp Fiction diverting and 'enjoyable' enough at the cinema back then, a couple of subsequent viewings left me more than cold. Away from the hype, I'm bored by the shallow, fake cool, the dull referential posturing and still amazed that its supporters hold it up as an almost untouchable pantheon of all that is cool and, well, acceptable about modern films. I remember a piece in the Independent (a paper whose actual review, incedentally, slagged it enthusiastically) saying that at least it had got people talking about films again (when did they ever stop ?) and I thought that rather than doing that it had simply got people quoting from films again. I don't, personally, see a great deal below the artistry. I think it's far from being the best film ever made, but my own parameters for such an outlandish claim would be based on elements that a film such as Pulp Fiction doesn't really bother with. Off the top of my head, it doesn't expand my world view, make me laugh, make me cry or make me give two hoots about its characters. It's an exercise in manufacture and (not particularly complex) styling, and while this is as valid a template for film-making as as any other, I need more of an emotional centre to the films that I'd send to the top of my favourite lists.

Similarly ... others would need more excitement, physical thrills-per-second, whatever and would probably argue that the films that stir me in this way (Oh ... Hannah and her Sisters, The Double Life of Veronique, You Can Count on Me) are boring, or mawkish.

My point ? Oh I forget now ...:)

[01keith]

I think Stargate, Speed And True Lies were the best films of 94.

I love Action films.:D

[Michael Brooke]

The basic problem with <I>Pulp Fiction</I> is that if you've seen the same films that Tarantino has, it's essentially a patchwork quilt of bits nicked from other, usually better films - and at 154 minutes, it's hellishly self-indulgent, self-regarding and overlong.

I don't dislike it as such - Tarantino's dialogue is undoubtedly superb, and some set-pieces are sensationally accomplished - but I'm genuinely baffled as to why people rate it quite so highly. As GK says, it's mostly surface and very little substance, and although the surface might be striking at times, that's not enough.

[Steve_S]

Pulp Fiction isn't even Tarantino's best film, IMO.

[Madm@tt]

Pulp Fiction isn't even Tarantino's best film, IMO. I'm glad you put "IMO" on the end there:
Because you're wrong!




Not that QT's other films aren't good - they're brilliant:

Best to worst - IMO:

Pulp Fiction
True Romance - directed by Tony Scott
Jackie Brown
Reservoir Dogs
Natural Born Killers: DC - directed by Oliver Stone
From Dusk 'Till Dawn - directed by Robert Rodriguez

[Steve_S]

I'd go for Jackie Brown myself. Characters with depth who aren't just a walking collection of quotable lines.

[kerbcrawler]

Three Colours Red then probably Exotica.

[Yonathan Gal]

Hmm.. Interesting thread... You're right, Speed is great... for an action film. I've never been much of an action film fan but Die Hard and Speed are exceptions... they're really great, despite the fact I think Keanu Reeves is a bad actor, he was ok in that... He was also good in the more recent "The Gift"... :)

[George vader]

1-Shawshank Redemption
2-Clerks
3-Pulp Fiction

Runners up....
Leon,NBK Once Were Warriors,Ed Wood,A Bronx Tale ,Last seduction ,Night Before Christmas,Hudsucker Proxy,Carlito's Way,Music Of Chance,Serial Mom ,Quiz Show ........

[kat23]

Clerks and Leon were both great.
Shawshank wasn't. It's ok but nothing special.
Speed is a great action film.
Ed Wood was a surprise! Brilliant!
Pulp Fiction was great too (at the time, worn off a bit since though)
Crow is a great comic horror film.

Oh and Music Of Chance is great! Forgot all about that film.

So best of '94? Probably Clerks simply because it's the one I watch the most :D

[urruri]

Pulp Fiction

[Narshty]

Some of my faves that I thought would have turned up by now:

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Mute Witness (not hugely original, but terribly exciting!)
Heavenly Creatures
Three Colours White (my favourite of the trilogy)

[Mike]

Taking this as films released in the UK in 1994, I'd go for:

"Carlito's Way"
"The Age Of Innocence"
"Shadowlands"
"In The Name Of The Father"
"Short Cuts"
"London"
"L'eau Froid"
"Geronimo: An American Legend"
"Dazed And Confused"
"Pulp Fiction"

[neilsona]

Pulp Fiction
End of discussion.

[Yonathan Gal]

Mike: Carlito's Way was 1993... And probably the film of '93 as well :) an amazing film! :)

[mr_woo]

Originally posted by Mike
Taking this as films released in the UK in 1994, I'd go for:

"Carlito's Way"



Even though i'm pretty sure that this was released in 1993 i must say you have great taste, one of my favourite films of all time!!

'I'm Reloading!!' :)

[Chief Brody]

Strange........ no mentions at all for CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER. I thought this was by far and away the best of the Jack Ryan series. A cracking good yarn that crams in numerous subplots, twists, betrayals and counter-betrayals without ever once becoming confusing, and the action scenes (especially the ambush in the alley) were amazing. A top demo disc to this day! Just thought i'd show my support for it anyway. :) Oh , and as for a top ten :

1. THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
2. FORREST GUMP
3. CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER
4. ED WOOD
5. PULP FICTION
6. SPEED
7. CLERKS
8. QUIZ SHOW
9. LEON
10. THE LION KING

[Mike]

Originally posted by Yonathan Gal
Mike: Carlito's Way was 1993... And probably the film of '93 as well :) an amazing film! :)

Released in the UK on January 7th 1994, so I thought I'd sneak it in. Point taken though.

[McD]

I can’t be bothered to check out what was released, so taking everyone’s suggestions at their word…

1. The Music of Chance
2. Pulp Fiction
3. Shawshank Redemption
4. Short Cuts
5. Heavenly Creatures
6. Shadowlands

Films that were good but hardly earth shattering: Clerks, Ed Wood

OK if you like that sort of thing: Leon, Speed (could have been a lot better tho)

Films that were overrated or just plain awful – The Age of Innocence, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, In the Name of the Father, Forrest Gump, Quiz Show

All IMHO.

[Yonathan Gal]

whats IMHO mean? :)

[Ghost Dog]

In My Honest/Humble Opinion - There you go.

[McD]

'humble' in my case, as always.

[Grumpy]

1) Heavenly Creatures
2) Ed Wood
3) Shawshank Redemption
4) Leon
5) Pulp Fiction
6) Forrest Gump

It was a good year for films ( Sorry but I felt a bit of nostalgia creeping in then)

[William Shatners Wig]

I agree with most that have been stated so far, but I think that these should be mentioned as well:

Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The
God Of Gamblers 2
Dumb & Dumber
Mary Shelly's Frankenstein
The Game
The Husucker Proxy
Drunken Master 2
Killing Zoë
Mute Witness

[Yonathan Gal]

I only agree with The Game on that list. Dumb ad Dumber was fun, but hardly a "film of the year" and Frankenstein was terrible! Apart from De Niro, who is always good...

[sampath]

If it's David Fincher's "The Game" you're talking about, it wasn't released until 1997...

...but it's a good film all the same, just not as good as Fincher's other work (yes, including Alien 3! :p )

[Yonathan Gal]

Y;know, I thought it wsn't released til later than 94!