"Official" IFM All Time Top 5/10/12's of absolutely anything

ravenbarber2046 · 16-11-09 10:40:45

I don't know if such a thread has ever existed on IFM, but because I find folks on this forum generally so intelligent and insightful, I'd like to start this thread on some of the things that folks hold closest to their heart. It should make for fascinating reading.

The lists can fall into the Top 5, Top 10 or Top 12 format ('cause I got a thing for dozens), or any other variant (Top 33's are welcome too). There's no rules, apart from the one that I will impose here (if I'm permitted to impose rules, blissed): You have to talk about your selections; give us some details and why your selection is so close to your heart. I'm sure there will be some pretty obscure selections, and I for one would like to know a little about the things that people like, so that I might wanna check it out myself.

These lists can include anything and everything from the usuals, like Movies, Music (favourite albums, songs, artists), Books, Comics, TV Shows, IFM clips to more esoteric fare like Travel Destinations, Websites, Muffins, Stone Fruit, Sexual Positions, All Time Favourite French Actors etc. Hopefully we'll get some action.

I'll start things off below.

ravenbarber2046 · 16-11-09 12:51:45

My Top 12 movies. I’m looking forward to other people’s lists. I don't know what this list says about my tastes. I just know I love all of these movies wholeheartedly. No matter how bad the day, I'll always smile thinking of any one of them. To follow: my top 12 albums.

1. Mulholland Dr.
Insanely sane and beautiful, irresistibly ugly at times, Mulholland Dr. is a film that breaths true and is as perfect and fulfilling a modern movie as can be. You could say it is the ultimate Vertigo tribute, or the ultimate Sunset Boulevard tribute, or the ultimate Persona or Gilda tribute, or even Chinatown, and it is all of those things, but what is so remarkable about it is that it stands on its legs as well because of its pure emotional force. It shows that you don’t have to feel beaten down by the weight of the original things that came before you, and that to be revisionist, you don’t have to be nostalgic. As someone who still harbours hope of one day completing something creative, it is just deeply inspirational. Just thinking about it makes me dizzy. I probably think about it at least once every day. I’ve read David Lynch described as pre-speech in an article, and that is true: this film is just primal.

2. My Neighbor Totoro
Movies impress me essentially for their sensuality, and this children’s movie is among the most beautiful I have ever seen. It imbues in one a child’s appreciation for the moods and textures of the everyday world as well as remind one of the time in anyone’s life when the large aspects of life became vivid. It is almost dreamlike in its vividness.

3. Tristana
Luis Bunuel is one my favourite directors, and although you could describe him as a surrealist, I think he goes far beyond that. I think he was ultimately invested in the comedy that is human aspiration. I love almost all of his movies, and next to him, the fetishistic macho aesthetic of so many obsessive movie "crafstMEN" look like old balls. This movie confounds at every turn. I’d call it bottomless: you might wonder what the purpose of it is while watching it. Cheeky but also deeply serious, it is just serious fun. I just love the scenes where Fernando Rey prunes and primes himself in the mirror to look younger than he is. The vain, dandy fuck.

4. Kiki’s Delivery Service
Another Miyazaki. Any movie in which one of the action set pieces is two old ladies and a young witch racing against time to finish a herring pot pie will get my undivided attention. This might be the only movie with such a scenario, though.

5. Lost In Translation
One of those deceptively simple movies that endure in the memory. Bill Murray is flat out fantastic. I don't even know if what he is doing is acting. And Scarlett Johansson’s performance is almost as great. Will she ever be better? I just love the pure sensation in this film.

6. Chimes At Midnight
If you loved the grand thrill of the Lord Of The Rings films, check out the daddy that inspired all of them. Possibly the only Shakespeare film you ever need watch, it also contains one of the greatest battle scenes you’ll ever see. And it was made in the 60s. Just shows you don’t need special effects. Only imagination. Orson Welles is cinema’s only true genius, with everything, good and bad, that word entails.

7. Going Places and Get Out Your Handkerchiefs
These sex comedies by Frenchman Bertrand Blier is tremendous fun. Gerard Depardieu and Patrick Dewaere is a comedic team for the ages. These movies just rock and roll with the differences between men and women and the ludicrousness of “romance.”

8. Lacombe, Lucien
Pauline Kael described this film as demonstrating the banality of evil. It will disturb you for many reasons, almost all of them thematically. All throughout, making sense of the motivations of the blank-faced protagonist given to us will eat at you like a balled up fist churning in your gut. A genius film by Louis Malle.

9. Ratatouille
I just love that scene where Remy the rat talks about us humans, and how we are not just motivated by pure survival, but also create and thrive and try and create beautiful things. For a moment, it will make you feel that maybe our species is one to be proud of after all and that our lasting legacy might not only be exaggerating the differences between us for warmongering and exploitive effect. It would take a rat to point that out to us.

10. Basic Instinct
At this point, my love of mid 90’s, B-sleaze needs to be aired. Can a movie like this even be made today? It just hits home on almost every level. It is pure trash, but it is thrilling trash. I’ve never done cocaine, nor do I intend to ever use it, but you can just feel the cocaine in every frame. It is beyond decadent and fucked up (what’s up with all the evil lesbians?), but c’mon, what about that leg crossing scene with Sharon Stone? Isn’t that just balls-to-the-walls brilliant? And Stone is brilliant and Michael Douglas ridiculous and hilarious. All of that grimacing on his part is funny as fuck.

11. Grindhouse
How great is Planet Terror and Death Proof? It takes a special kind of movie love to create two movies so trashy yet artful and heartfelt. And Kurt Russell is awesome in Death Proof.

12. My Night At Maud’s
Another French film. Check it out. It is mysterious and fun and true to life and just mega. That’s all I can say really. I can’t really explain it. You just need to get it while watching it.

Honorouble mention: Letter To An Unknown Woman. This 1948 melodrama from Max Ophuls is one of the very few perfect movies and a devastating treatise on the ridiculousness and danger but also the plucky heroism of romantic infatuation. Check it out. It rocks.

Last edited by ravenbarber2046 (16-11-09 12:57:34)

artist_charlotte_v · 16-11-09 23:50:46

ravenbarber2046 wrote:

5. Lost In Translation
One of those deceptively simple movies that endure in the memory. Bill Murray is flat out fantastic. I don't even know if what he is doing is acting. And Scarlett Johansson’s performance is almost as great. Will she ever be better? I just love the pure sensation in this film.

This is a film I keep trying to rent to show my partner but it's always out (testament to it's brilliance!).

I don't know if I'm ready to commit to a Top 5 anything yet. However, I will mull things over and return to this thread when I am ready.

ravenbarber2046 · 17-11-09 09:14:39

artist_charlotte_v wrote:

This is a film I keep trying to rent to show my partner but it's always out (testament to it's brilliance!).

Just buy it. Most older DVD's are cheap nowadays. You can try and find a second hand copy on ebay for next to nothing. Don't deprive your partner of seeing this movie because the movie is continually out at the rental store. Or try your local library. Libraries usually have a very decent selection of movies on DVD, usually the critical darling type stuff, but also some popular stuff too.

artist_charlotte_v wrote:

I don't know if I'm ready to commit to a Top 5 anything yet. However, I will mull things over and return to this thread when I am ready.

I'm looking forward to seeing what some of your favourites are, Charlotte. Your list needn't even be as rigid as a Top 5 or anything. It can be any list you want it to be. But yeah, please return when you're ready. I found it quite fun sorting through my brain, trying to make sense of the movies that have left a lasting impression on me. I wouldn't even describe myself as a movie buff, but movies do mean a lot to me. That probably means I'm a movie buff, I guess.

Anyways, with the exception of perhaps my Top 3, not even my list is ground in stone, although it is probably pretty ground in stone. I mean, I don't even have Vertigo on there, or Rear Window, and both those movies mean a whole lot to me.

Maybe you can chip in with a list of your favourite snack foods in the mean time. I enjoy your junk food review on your blog.

Liquid · 21-11-09 10:27:38

After pondering for a while, I have decided to list the 11 rock concerts I have been to from most favorite on down to the least.

1. Iron Maiden in Vancouver 2008......Words almost cannot describe the experience of seeing Iron Maiden live. The energy, spectacle, and theatrics just were incredible. My buddy had entered a fanclub contest won so we were able to be right up at the barrier....intense with all the people behind crushing in. The crowd noise was unbelievably loud, both cheering and singing along with them. And man can Bruce Dickinson still belt them out! The last time Iron Maiden played Canada was like 15-20 years ago, so this was a once in a lifetime
opportunity, and I am so glad I got to see them live. They released a documentary about the first leg this tour on DVD a little while ago called "Flight 666". Check it out and you will see what I mean!

2. Def Leppard with guests Styx in Vancouver 2007... Def Leppard is my all time favorite band, and I have seen them 3 times in concert but this show didn't quite match the energy and theatrics of Iron Maiden. That being said the energy at this show was still incredible, and this show sounded the best of the three Lep concerts. They played some older songs from their High N Dry album, which I never thought I would get to hear. Opening act Styx was actually much better that I was expecting, probably because Larry Gowan was in the group. A very enjoyable show.

3. Nightwish in Vancouver 2008... An incredibly talented symphonic rock group out of Iceland. I never thought I would get to see them here. They played a smaller venue, almost a community hall. They were on a small stage and we were able to get quite close as the hall capacity was 900 and it was about half full. The sound quality was incredible, it was like listening to a studio recording, they were that good. They were fantastic at interacting with the crowd, telling stories and whatnot. This band usually plays over in Europe, so it was great to see them here.

4. Alice Cooper with guests Econoline Crush in Kamloops 2008... What can I say about the legendary Alice Cooper, another artist I never thought I would see. Had a spot right up near the front of the stage so I could see everything. Again a very theatrical performance, and he sure can still sing even though he's pushing 60. His band was incredible as well, sounded awesome. Econoline Crush was better than I expected again, very hard rocking.

5. Def Leppard in Kamloops 2005ish... My second fave Def Lep show. They sounded great in our local arena, the crowd energy was awesome, and they promised they would be back...(haven't been yet, though).

6. Collective Soul in Kamloops 2009.. Just saw this show a few weeks ago. I was up in the reserved seating but still could see and hear everything very well as they had set up the stage to only use 1/2 of the arena. I saw them live on a tv show about 10 years ago and I remember thinking that it would be awesome to see them, as they were so good. They did not dissapoint. High energy, and incredible musicality. They even did a 4 song encore. A great show!

7. Lawrence (Larry) Gowan at Uncle Chuck's 1995... an extremely intimate solo show at a local nightclub where Gowan had just a keyboard and acoustic guitar. The man is an incredible performer and singer. He did an awesome cover of Alanis Morissette's "Ironic". He played 2 and a half hours solid. After the show I got to shake his hand and have him sign a CD. He released a couple of live shows from this time on CD, one of which is called "Au Quebec". If I ever want to relive this show I just have to listen to this CD.

8. Bif Naked in Kamloops 2004ish... this was an impromptu outside show that was announced just days in advance. It was set up off the back of our local arena and was free to anyone who cared to watch. The stage was quite high but you were able to see quite clearly. The sound was awesome considering it was outside. Also it was raining that day, but a lot of people still showed up to watch so there was a great atmosphere.

9. Def Leppard with guest Joan Jett in Kelowna 2002ish... The first Lep concert I went to. Back then I thought it was awesome as I was finally going to see my fave band but after the other shows it didn't stack up as well. The arena in Kelowna had very poor acoustics compared to Kamloops and Vancouver. Also the crowd didn't seem as into it as in the other cities. Just an okay show.

10. Weird Al Yankovic in Kamloops 1996ish...Yes, the man famous for his parodies did come here for his "Bad Hair Tour". It was an okay show. We were sitting on the floor almost directly in front of a bank of loudspeakers so we could feel the vibration in our chests..it was almost too loud. The merchandise was very pricey as well.

11. Motley Crue in Kamloops 1999ish.... I remember being very excited about this show as Motley Crue were one of the biggest acts back in the eighties. It did not quite live up to expectations however. The band sounded pretty good but we almost couldn't hear the lead singer at all....we thought there was a problem with the microphone. We found out later that apparently Vince Neil was sick and his voice wasn't that great so they had turned down his mic. They were scheduled to play in Kelowna the next night as well but cancelled that show. So, a bummer.

One show that I had bought tickets for but it ended up being canceled was for Queensryche: Operation Mindcrime II a couple of years ago. I have a feeling that show would have been up near the top on my list.

ngaio · 23-11-09 07:30:00

Ok, I'll do top 5 colours. If I had to exist in a universe that only had five colours - colours that could never mix to make other colours, here are the ones I would choose.

Red.
Tuquoise.
Gold.
Lime green.
Fuchsia.

That was incredibly difficult off the top of my head and I already regret my choices. The 5 colour universe I would inhabit would be a terrible, terrible place to exist within. I hope it never comes to be.

Last edited by ngaio (23-11-09 07:31:26)

Liquid · 05-12-09 02:08:10

I've thought of another top ten.... My top ten most memorable IFM videos. These vids have something about them that sticks in my memory, and are thought of often.

1. Frauline- "Oral Fixation" This is a one of a kind video on this site, depicting hetero sexual intercourse beautifully and tastefully, while in keeping with the site's premise. This video is just so erotic, and well, one of a kind, that it gets top spot on my list.

2. Liandra and Lylac- "Indulgence 1 and 2" In addition to the lovely ladies, what really makes this vid memorable is the music. So sensual and it fits what's going on perfectly. I remember seeing some threads in the forum asking about it, so it captured people's attention.

3. Tink- "Icy Pole" Tink has many lovely vids but this one where she uses an Icy Pole brand popsicle as a dildo is just amazing. I had never seen this before and was blown away. It gives my goosebumps whenever I watch it.

4. Kit Kat- "Love Nest" Her incredible outpouring of emotion after her climax is what makes this so memorable. Again, one of a kind and I was honored to have witnessed it.

5. Gladys- "Paragon" What makes this vid so memorable is that we get to see a part of female sexuality that is usually only whispered about...menstruation.

6. Kesia- "Up Close" I think Kesia was one of the first ladies filmed in this style. and I was hypnotized while watching. Kesia is pretty memorable just by herself, but combined with this style just makes it so much more so.

8. Minka- "Hello Kitty" In addition to Minka, who is breathtakingly beautiful, and the cat which is a cute co-star, it's Minka's ultra strong climax, and the series of aftershocks, which continue for some time, that are so memorable in this vid.

9. Immie- "Up Close" A recent vid, I know I will remember it easily because of Immie's passion and her LOUD climax that seems to go on and on....

10. Bobby- "Sultry Stillness" Bobby is sooo lovely in this. I love the dreamlike quality as well. What makes it memorable is how Bobby holds her breath for what seems like eternity. So little yet so much happening. I remember thinking "Breath, Bobby, breath!" when I watched this.

Honorable Mentions: Brigitta "3am"- I love the dark sensuality of this vid...
Strawberry "Crie De Coeur " Incredible cries of pleasure during climax...
Gala "Fourth Wall" striking visuals and of course the FE.

#1 16-11-09 10:40:45

"Official" IFM All Time Top 5/10/12's of absolutely anything

#2 16-11-09 12:51:45

Re: "Official" IFM All Time Top 5/10/12's of absolutely anything

#3 16-11-09 23:50:46

Re: "Official" IFM All Time Top 5/10/12's of absolutely anything

#4 17-11-09 09:14:39

Re: "Official" IFM All Time Top 5/10/12's of absolutely anything

#5 21-11-09 10:27:38

Re: "Official" IFM All Time Top 5/10/12's of absolutely anything

#6 23-11-09 07:30:00

Re: "Official" IFM All Time Top 5/10/12's of absolutely anything

#7 05-12-09 02:08:10

Re: "Official" IFM All Time Top 5/10/12's of absolutely anything

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