Archive: Finest Films of the 70’s
Following up my previous lists from the 80’s and 90’s, I have now scientifically broken down a list of the finest films of the 70’s (because obviously the 70’s comes after the 90’s. Don’t ask me how science works.) These are the top movies that have been walking fine lines for over three decades, and still kick ass for their time.
10. Saturday Night Fever (1977)
You know that pointy-finger dance move you always do when you and your friends start bouncing around to “Staying Alive?” You do it because of this movie. I only watched about 20 minutes of it, but that’s all I needed.
9. Duel (1971)
Steven Spielberg’s first film, and all it is is one guy getting chased by a truck for 90 minutes. We don’t even ever see the truck driver – “Jaws” was really a step backwards in that aspect.
8. National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978)
Ah, remember when National Lampoon was cool? This movie does. Everything we ever need to know about college life (we, being people who actually didn’t go to college,) we owe to this film.
7. Star Wars (1977)
“Star Wars” is a very successful fluke considering George Lucas had no faith in it, the critics originally panned the film, and Luke Skywalker looked like a fourth member of the Bee Gees. Nevertheless, we still got Wookies, robots that go beep, and one of the most memorable Christmas specials of all time out of the deal. I think it’s earned a spot on this list.
6. The Muppet Movie (1979)
Kermit the Frog is one of the finest actors of all time. In “The Muppet Movie” alone, his emotional range is off the charts as he explores depression, happiness, anxiety, fear, rage, self-loathing, romance, excitement, humility and comes full circle several times. And never once does he blink. Even Johnny Depp could take lessons from that hand-in-a-sock.
5. Superman III (1983)
4. Blazing Saddles (1974)
Ugh, so many Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks movies to pick from, but I have to go with this one. “Blazing Saddles” is a very epic western parody. The movie references pop culture, has song and dance numbers, gets away with hundreds of racial slurs, and show us cowboys farting around the campfire while keeping a straight face. Even when the characters literally break down the fourth wall at the end, the story and it’s actors just keep on going. That’s hardcore film-making right there.
3. Shaft (1971)
I didn’t actually see this movie, but it should probably be on this list anyways.
2. Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
To be honest, I was going to make this whole list nothing but Burt Reynolds movies, but the gag didn’t seem worth it after finding out both Cannonball Runs came out in the 80’s. Still, his mustache deserves acknowledgment (it is a very fine mustache.)
1. Enter the Dragon (1973)
It’s Bruce Lee. Need I go on? Yes. Just about everything Bruce Lee is in should be in this spot, but this is the one most people have heard of and it showcases everything he’s about. And why does that matter? Let’s put it this way: Jackie Chan can jump off buildings and get run over by vehicles, and even he admits Bruce Lee is better. Even Tony Jaa, the guy who can jump-kick streetlights and beat the crap out of elephants, acknowledges that Bruce Lee is THE MAN. Chuck Norris, the guy whom we like to imagine can roundhouse-kick the sun’s ass, can be seen getting his own ass kicked here by Bruce Lee (and has actually admitted he’s no match for the guy.) So if “Enter the Dragon” is a lasting testament to the raw might of Bruce Lee – the best human ever – it might arguably be not only the finest film of the 70’s, but the greatest movie in existence.
For my next trick, as we enter 2010, I’m going to assemble a special team for next month’s list to determine the finest films of this last decade.
February 07 2010 08:33 pm | Movies, Reviews