Thank you for taking your time on this ranking. Ridley deserves it. There are just 3 of his films I haven't seen, but plan to one day. 1 Kindgom of Heaven DC 2 Gladiator 3 Napoleon 4 Body of Lies 5 Alien 6 Black Hawk Down 7 Last Duel 8 Alien Covenant 9 Exodus G&K 10 Prometheus 11 Thelma & Louise 12 Hannibal 13 Blade Runner 14 The Duelists 15 American Gangster 16 GI Jane 17 The Martian 18 Matchstick Men 19 The Counselor 20 House Of Gucci 21 Black Rain 22 Legend 23 Robin Hood 24 All the Money in the World 25 1492
Amazing epic list James 👌 Love that you gave Black Rain the full respect it deserves. I absolutely love it, the cinematography, the Hans Zimmer soundtrack and the clash of cultures. One of my all-time favorite movies. ❤
Fun video James! I've actually been watching Sir Ridley's filmography recently along with my wife. We're currently on Matchstick Men which was a strange funny movie. I can't wait to watch Kingdom of Heaven! (I hope it gets a 4k release soon!) My current top 5 goes like this: 1. Gladiator 2. Alien 3. Black Hawk Down 4. Hannibal 5. Someone to Watch over Me
I didn't know Ridley drew his own storyboards reminds me of Hitchcock. Thanks for this gem of a dive into Sir Scott's film career. Never seen 'The Duellists' and looks like it's streaming on Pluto so I'm pumped.
Love Ridley Scott’s work but I’ve never seen The Duellists so I’ll have to check that out. Looking forward to you doing this style video for Denis Villeneuve if it ever happens 🙏
Paraphrased from his interview in 'The Times' last week, (when asked about his thoughts about winding down/retirement) “My own definitive plan is that there is no plan,...since Gladiator I’ve made 19 movies - I’m busy.… I get up in the morning and say: ‘Ah great! Another day of stress.’”
Loved the video!!! Glad to see a fellow Duellists fan, I was so happy it made it to your top 3. Mine is the same as yours just in another order: Duellists, Alien, Blade Runner.
Great video; not every film has to be a home run. The question is, where 'Napoleon' will fall in your list. Without the benefit of the rumored 'director's cut,' audience reaction suggests it's a strike-out. For all it's style, no one cares about the protagonists.
I need to get back into reading more of McCarthy. I've read none of his early books that he wrote before 'Blood Meridian', but I loved 'All the Pretty Horses' and 'The Road'.
Thanks for reminding me to watch some RS movies that I never saw before (The Duellists, Black Rain, Kingdom of Heaven, Black Hawk Down) and skip some of the others that didn't work.
White Squall hits that sweet spot for me where the sense of adventure is enough for me to revisit it over and over again…. I guess I just love movies set out on the open sea …. I get goosebumps every time I hear Jeff Rona’s score kick in as Chuck leaves on the bus in the beginning. Also, the original song by Sting… I guess what I’m trying to say is you ranked it too low on your list, haha.
Saw Gladiator when it came out and loved its classic hero’s journey and got to enjoy it all over again more recently sharing it with my son. That speech always gives goosebumps. Of course, the original superhero and a great hero’s journey on film is The Adventures of Robin Hood. It had been on done in silent film but no one has done has done it better. Errol Flynn the action hero. My father saw the film at the cinema as a boy and watching it with him twenty years ago at a BFI showing was a real pleasure so nice to see it mentioned here.
Great list James. I love these director favourites videos. I'd love to see one for the films of Mike Nichols, John Hughes, Danny Boyle, David Fincher, Woody Allen, Jane Campion or Kathryn Bigelow.
I'd love to sink my teeth into all of those filmographies. I know Woody's stuff from the Seventies, Eighties and Nineties really well but I've only seen a handful of his flicks from the 21st century.
Loved this James! Makes me want to go through all of his films again as for some of them it's been a long time. In fact this made me get hold of copies of both Black Hawk Down and the Kingdom of Heaven DC to revisit. Considering how many Director Cuts Riddles has done and how successful most are I'm amazed he never went back to Prometheus, if there was any film that demanded it then it's that! It is a bit sad that everyone's top 3 would most likely be his first three films too, not that it's a bad thing, they are just 3 classics that are hard to beat.
I suspect that some folks would include Gladiator in their top 3 but I'm right there with you. It's to beat that hot streak from early in his career. He came roaring out of the gate with 3 colossal movies.
As for ALIEN and its infamous chestburster scene: Sigourney Weaver explained that the actors knew *what* would happen (they had all read the script), but they did not know *how* it would happen on the set. They just saw John Hurt on the table in his pristine white costume. Veronica Cartwright's reaction is 100% genuine, she didn't expect the fake blood splatter to hit her face. There's behind the scenes footage where she actually falls over from being overwhelmed and unprepared for what just happened.
You with hair! I think Sir Ridley had a film school here but might be wrong. His adaptability is the most impressive quality: Alien and Gladiator by the same director!
Ridley Scott and I have one huge thing in common, and that is we both love Philip Dick. I felt like his Amazon series, "The Man in the High Castle" didn't get nearly the attention it deserved. Excellent adaptation. I would love to see Ridly go back to Dick for what remains of Ridley's career. You asked about "Legend" and our thoughts. "Legend" is Tim Curry and the special effects. Please remember the time period. "Willow" was out. "The Dark Crystal" was out. And heaven help, my beloved Terry Gilliam's trilogy of "Time Bandits", "Brazil", and "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" was shaping my world view in a way that continues to this day. I was in high school, and it was the era of the epic, cinematic fairy tale.
The Duellists is one of my go to movies. If i want to watch something historical & more serious than the Musketeers movies it's my choice. The top 4 are all favourites. The best version of Robin Hood is the 80's brittish tv show Robin of Sherwood. The music was supplied by Clannad. The show starred actors like Ray Winston, Michael Pread, Jason Connery (yes Sean's son) & Clive Mantle who played Little John & was such an expert on the character he was brought on as an advisor for the Kevin Costner film after they deceided against hiring him to play the part.
Misfires aside, I still think Ridley is one of the greatest directors of all time. Also, on the subject of Robin Hood, you should check out Robin Of Sherwood, which ran on ITV in the UK from 1984-86. Best treatment of the legend so far, in my opinion.
Five Best: Alien, Blade Runner, The Duelists, Black Rain, Prometheus Five Worst: Exodus, House of Gucci, Hannibal, Body of Lies, Alien: Covenent EDIT: J Edgar might have Body of Lies beaten for worst Leo performance. That said, I think he was miscast a lot in the 2000s.
First, my Top 10 Favorite Sir Ridley films ranked, followed by some personal thoughts: #01. ALIEN - 1979 (the 2003 Director's Cut) #02. BLADE RUNNER - 1982 (the 1982 International Cut with Harrison Ford narration) #03. LEGEND - 1985 (the 1985 Extended Director's Cut with Jerry Goldsmith score) #04. ALIEN: COVENANT - 2017 #05. PROMETHEUS - 2012 #06. BLACK RAIN - 1989 #07. THELMA & LOUISE - 1991 #08. GLADIATOR - 2000 (Extended Director's Cut) #09. THE DUELLISTS - 1977 #10. SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME - 1987 "Alien" and "Blade Runner" are both absolute 10/10 CLASSICS... Two of the greatest films EVER made... And between 1977 and 1991, Scott was definitely one of the BEST directors out there... All 7 movies that he made during this time period are outstanding. But, aside from "Gladiator", "Prometheus", and "Alien: Covenant", I don't like ANY of his movies made after 1991's Thelma & Louise... NONE of them "do it" for me AT ALL... But, "Man", I love the movies that I listed here!. Regarding my personal introduction to the cinematic work of this master craftsman... I first saw the original ALIEN in the theatre in 1979 when I was 12-years-old... In fact, it was the VERY FIRST R-Rated film that I EVER SAW in a movie theatre... I had to literally FIGHT with my mother and father to get ONE of them to take me to see it... I put up SUCH a temper tantrum that they eventually caved in... My father "lost" the coin toss, so HE took me... During the now-classic ultra-violent chestburster death scene of John Hurt, my father turned to me, worried about the well-being of his young son, and asked me if I wanted to leave... "SHUT UP, DAD... LEAVE ME ALONE!", I angerly whispered back annoyingly under my breath, "I'M WATCHING THE MOVIE!"... Yes, it WAS scaring the hell out of me... But I was ALSO absolutely LOVING it... So we stayed... and that day I saw a cinematic CLASSIC. I was TOTALLY TRANSFORMED by what I was seeing up there on the screen as I sat there in the darkness. I had NEVER seen ANYTHING like that before. "Alien" blew me away in 1979, and it STILL blows me away today... It is simply one of the GREATEST movies EVER made... It is PERFECT...It is ICONIC... It is a MASTERPIECE... (And how about that "badass" Sigourney Weaver? "WOW!"). Additionally, the best cut is the 2003 Director's Cut. I LOVE Ripley's encounter with Dallas at the end... So EMOTIONAL! PS: The same can also be said for "Blade Runner"... ANOTHER masterpiece of cinema... Just as "Alien" had done to me three years earlier, I was BLOWN AWAY when I saw it in the theatre in 1982... And that feeling is EXACTLY the same now, all these years later... (And Harrison Ford is just the COOLEST dude ever!)... BTW, the 1982 versions WITH the narration are the ONLY way to watch it... Great "Sam Spade / Philip Marlowe" vibes! And Deckard is ABSOLUTELY NOT a replicant! I HATE that suggestion in the "Final" cut... SO DUMB! I love Scott, but really... WTF was he thinking? (WHO did he think he was fooling by slapping unicorn outtakes from "Legend" into the film?). Plus, I LOVE the original finale with Deckard and Rachel driving off into the sunset... So EPIC and CATHARTIC! PPS: The ONLY "Legend" version to watch is the Extended Cut with Goldsmith's score... The longer running length enhances the narrative... and that music is GORGEOUS !
Great ranking! The Duelists is an amazing film. Watched it for the first time not too long ago and was blown away. I'm old enough to have seen Alien (and Blade Runner) in the theater. Both are Sci-fi classics - 2 of the all time best. I got thru about an hour of Kingdom of Heaven but it just didnt grab me. Maybe it was Bloom, I dunno. I'm a huge Eva Green guy so it certianly wasn't her. 😉 I haven't rewatched Gladiator in a while. I should. Black Rain is definitely fun. The Counselor was unknown to me. I'll have to try it. Thanks!
I'm intensely jealous that you had a chance to see Alien at the time of its release. There's some great newsreel footage out there of folks being interviewed as they exited the theater in a state of stunned shock.
@geekinwithJamesHancock I was 16 and a sci-fi fanatic. My dad took me and a best friend who was also a sci-fi geek. My friend and I had consumed all the info we could regarding the movie and art direction from magazines like Omni and other sources. We worshipped HR Giger. The alien erupting out of Kane's chest was epic! The theater was filled with gasps and groans and other exclamations. It was pretty much the perfect age to see it on the big screen with a friend.😊
Somehow I've only seen The Martian and Blade Runner haha! I really need to watch more Ridley Scott movies. For some reason I thought Blade Runner was a but slow and boring, but I think it's because I didn't let myself get immersed fully, and now as I understand it was the father of the cyberpunk genre really. Haven't watched the sequel which I know isn't by him but Denis never misses.
Ridley Scott has such an eye for framing He’s had some duds House of Gucci is one of his most vapid pieces Kingdom of Heaven is criminally underrated a quiet powerful epic 😮😮 wow you worked on Hannibal? That’s very cool
@@geekinwithJamesHancock Absolutely Breathtaking And Epic as All Hell It had Scope and Vision Low key one of my Favorites by Scott (The Directors Cut) And the Sound Mix is an absolute Treat for Audiophiles like myself
Great job James! Blade Runner and Alien are absolutely in my top 5 of all time. While I love both, for me, ultimately Alien is just a better overall film given the higher quality of the writing and acting when compared to Blade Runner where some of the dialogue hasn't held up well and the acting can sometimes be a little overdone by Ford in some scenes. I find when I re-watch Alien, it is incredible how realistic and natural the acting is.
I'm sorry you couldn't put A Good Year in a higher slot -- it's one of those movies (yes not perfect) I revisit more often than I care to admit. Maybe it's the looking back on one's life theme and the affection for a relative that's no longer with us. I don't drink wine, drive a little Smart car, play tennis, or dream of a French Chateaux. But I do dream of the quiet peace of a an unsettled heart and soul being tamed in beautiful cinema. I can love it. You don't have to but I thought it deserved more than last place!
I knew going into this that no matter which flicks I chose to start with would end up being movies that other folks enjoy quite intensely. Definitely a testament to the overall strength of his filmography that there is so much room for debate. I hope we found some common ground with my other choices. Have a good one!
I never found Conquest of Paradise boring. The writing has its flaws, but it's a stunning movie, and as soon as Columbus arrives in "America", it's a roller-coaster. But yeah, Moxica is the man. Was the man. Prometheus before American Gangster = you've gotta be kidding me :D Black Rain in your top 5: okay you're more than forgiven. :D Except the action takes place in Osaka, not Tokyo!
Personally, I’d rate THE MARTIAN considerably higher on this list as I thought it was not only Scott’s best film in years, but that it accomplished the neat trick of bettering the source material. That said, I’ll certainly agree with your top three choices. THE DUELLISTS may go down as the best straight-on Conrad adaptation filmed to date. As to ALIEN vs. BLADE RUNNER, it may come down to judging what makes for a more notable work: a huge swing and a very near-miss, or aiming somewhat lower and hitting your target precisely?
Ridley Scott is one of my all time favorite directors. When trying to find other directors who have made so many great films, over such a wide timespan, and in so many different styles, we're getting into the territory of Spielberg, Scorsese, John Huston, and Howard Hawks. He's made some stinkers, sure, and some down-the-middle commercial faire, but how many people have made movies as unrepentantly bleak as The Counselor and as ra-ra crowd-pleasing as The Martian? Blade Runner, Alien, and the director's cut of Kingdom of Heaven are some of my favorite films of all time.
“…and if God does not love you, how could you have done the things you have done?” -Kingdom of Heaven I don’t believe in god but I couldn’t help thinking about this line from Kingdom of Heaven while digesting your ranking of Ridley Scott’s body of work…and what’s going on in the world today. I guess, one of Ridley Scott’s re-occurring themes is Christianity. It’s even a theme in Prometheus, a film that at least tried (but failed) to expand the xenomorph universe.
1. Gladiator 2. The Martian 3. The last duel 4. American gangster 5. Hannibal 6. Alien 7. Robin Hood 8. Bladerunner 9. House of Gucci 10. Prometheus 11. Alien covenant 5.
I don't agree with all of your rankings, but this was a fun video, nevertheless. The director's cut of Kingdom of Heaven would be in my top three. The fact that they actually built a fully functioning trebuchet for the movie speaks to the attention of detail that makes Scott's movies so compelling. I agree that Orlando Bloom is terrible as the lead. They needed an actor with greater screen presence.
I liked A Good Year and Body of Lies. Definitely not incredible movies, but they were decent. They would be higher in my rankings. I remember seeing A Good Year and thinking this was a well done and interesting lighter romantic drama and not knowing it was a Ridley Scott movie at the time. I would easily put that one 5 or even 10 spots higher on the list. Body of Lies was kind of treading familiar ground but it was a decent movie. I think the bottom of my Ridley Scott rankings would be Exodus Gods & Kings. That was the one movie - of the Ridley movies that I have seen - that was just not interesting. Definitely at the bottom. House of Gucci would also be fairly low in my rankings - although it did keep my attention throughout. Some of those other movies I have not seen in ages. I remember really liking White Squall and thought it was a beautiful well done and intriguing movie. I didnt even know that Someone to watch over Me was a Ridley movie. I remember seeing it a long time ago and have vague memories of it being a decent movie... but dont remember much of anything about it except that it had Tom Berenger in it. I have never seen The Duellists, All the Money in the World, or The Last Duel. Although The Last Duel does look very good and is on my watchlist. The Martian was a great movie. I think it would be higher in my rankings. Maybe top 5 of his movies. I really like Blade Runner. It was a great movie for what it accomplished for cinema and the near future sci-fi/cyber punk genre but as much as I love the setting I think the plot could have been more intriguing. Definitely top 6 or 7 of his movies for my rankings. Kingdom of Heaven was a great historical epic. That would also be in my top 6 or 7 of his films. Robin Hood was also decent - I would maybe place it in the top 10 or 12. Although not as good as the Kevin Costner/Alan Rickman movie where the Sheriff of Nottingham stole the show. Thelma and Louise was great - easily in the top 7 of his movies. Alien is one of my favorite movies of all time and it was the first sci-fi horror movie I saw as a kid and it definitely kicked off my love of sci-fi horror. So it is no surprise that it would be in my top 2 Ridley movies. Gladiator is also one of my all time favorites. So both of those would be #1 and #2 in my rankings.
I was born the same year as James and Blade Runner completely got by me as a kid as well, as in I didn't even know it existed... if I were to guess as to why... because it was never on HBO, rather Showtime or Cinemax which I didn't have growing up. I don't know if it was a cable contractual thing or what, but there were movies that were only HBO or Showtime movies and they would never cross platforms or perhaps none of the networks picked it up? Had Blade runner aired on HBO I'm almost certain I would have watched it a gazillion times because they would rerun the ever living shizer out of their movies and then after a year or two some movies would be brought back a reran repeatedly again. Blade Runner just didn't exist in my world. Never even heard a buzz about it, so I never rented it either.
That's not why people didn't see The Last Duel! I wanted to gi, but I work in a hospital and knew how high the COVID rates still were and I'm ask risk, so i was like, I can't! Sorry, Ridley! I jope more people discover Matchstick Men. It proves Ridley can do small, "chamber pieces" as well as epics. 😁
What really annoyed me about The Last Duel was that title card for the last third of the movie that is told from the lady's perspective that explicitly tells the audience it is 'the truth.' So ham-fisted and unnuanced. Rashimon wouldn't be as good if Kurisawa felt the need to tell the audience one of the perspectives was true.
The Counselor was unwatchable. Worked as a projectionist at the time and even while being paid to screen that film for the theater, I wanted to leave 😄 The biggest sin of 1492 was the 'heroic' depiction of Columbus. The real historical man was despicable and committed heinous acts against the natives; the villain, Moxia, commit atrocities in the film version, atrocities that Columbus was actually the culprit behind. But it was the 500 year anniversary of Columbus' travels and you couldn't market the film with a villain as the lead character, so we got what we got.
Love Ridley Scott, I think he is Illuminati, so to speak. About your list it’s interesting that, except Covenant, I haven’t seen nor I have interest to watch all the films listed down from Robin Hood. Only I disagree with Hannibal, I’d put it down in the pit next to Covenant. The rest is very similar to mine, including The Counselor which is under rated IMO. And Blade Runner- that’s a cinephile’s benchmark , it’s a film you learn to love and once you do it loves you back. Good video!
Ranking from best to least favorite I've seen: Alien Gladiator The Martian Blade Runner Thelma & Louise Legend American Gangster Kingdom of Heaven (yes, the Director's Cut) Hannibal Prometheus Robin Hood Alien: Covenant
All of Ridley Scott's movies are technically well made, but just as often I find his work unsatisfying and passionless. He often seems more like an accomplished craftsman than a genuine artist. I admit that while I respect Blade Runner, I have never actually liked it. The atmosphere is powerful and absorbing, but the human story is stolid, dry, and shallow. The atmosphere distracts is from how dull it actually is. It's somewhere between hypnotic and boring, like 2001. Kingdom of Heaven, despite being set in one of the most turbulent periods of history, dominated by strong personalities, is a shockingly boring movie. No, the director's cut doesn't help, either. The script is horrible, politically motivated, ahistorical nonsense. Gladiator is one of the most overrated movies of all time. I can't stand it, myself. The visuals, usually strong in a Scott film, are muddy and horrid. The fight scenes are incoherent and poorly shot. The characters are shallow and the story is dour and humorless. I think Eberr described it as Spartacus on downers. Only the soundtrack and the performances stand out, but mostly to distract you from the shallowness of the story. I remember reading a rotten tomatoes review of Alexander that read "It makes Conan the Barbarian look like Gladiator." The irony, of course, is that I unironically consider Conan the Barbarian to be a better movie. It's better shot, it has more coherent action scenes, a better soundtrack, and it's philosophically deeper and more challenging.
You really liked The Counselor? I respect you but it was one of worst movies I've ever seen. Iol I felt pitty for Michael Fassenber that he was in such a terrible repugnant movie. For Kingdom of Heaven, you are right that it was just too much for Orlando Bloom. Overall I thought the movie had decent parts but I think it needed someone with a stronger presence. Orlando seems like he was going for some sort of underacting poet thing when it needed someone more forceful a la Crowe/Gibson/Farrell. Bear in mind, I have never seen the DC which is probably superior. I was so disappointed by the Theater cut that there's never been a time where I wanted to revisit the movie, even if it's a better cut. Prometheus is a case of it's a movie that I love and I had an amazing experience in the theater but I recognize the flaws. But the thing people have issues with like Charlize running in a line or the scientist touching the snake creature I have zero problems with. Cause humans are going to do stupid things. And it's a small element compared to the awesome moments of the movie. I'm glad you enjoyed Someone to Watch Over Me and Matchstick Men. It's not the usual Ridley creating a big World with big set pieces but it took skills to deliver these movies mainly with character work. STWOM is such a good little atmospheric thriller with great cinematrophy and soundtrack. It was a blast seeing it on the big screen. I remember at the time I wished Berenger would have ended up with Mimi Rogers. But I got it, she was just his fantasy woman.
I wouldn't say I really liked 'The Counselor'. But I liked what it was flirting with trying to be even if I found the final product to be lacking. I get why so many despise it, but also why so many find it fascinating.
@@geekinwithJamesHancock Got it. I guess that was an experiment that did not quite work out. Like an experimental film. It's from a book, right? Some things are just not translatable, I think to Cinema. I remember thinking it's like aliens trying to act like humans.
Incredible how much trash he actually directed. Alien hands down his masterpiece, that's mostly because he had the perfect crew (art directors, actors, artists, etc).
The Duellists doesn't get enough love and has what I would argue is one of the best final shots in a film. Nice list.
I'm a colossal fan. Caught it on the big screen at the New Beverly many years ago and it is always worth revisiting.
Fantastic movie . Now I want to show it with Roland Joffe’s Mission as double feature night for my little movie club.
His first three films were first class and one was a near masterpiece. After them....
Thank you for taking your time on this ranking. Ridley deserves it. There are just 3 of his films I haven't seen, but plan to one day.
1 Kindgom of Heaven DC
2 Gladiator
3 Napoleon
4 Body of Lies
5 Alien
6 Black Hawk Down
7 Last Duel
8 Alien Covenant
9 Exodus G&K
10 Prometheus
11 Thelma & Louise
12 Hannibal
13 Blade Runner
14 The Duelists
15 American Gangster
16 GI Jane
17 The Martian
18 Matchstick Men
19 The Counselor
20 House Of Gucci
21 Black Rain
22 Legend
23 Robin Hood
24 All the Money in the World
25 1492
Amazing epic list James 👌 Love that you gave Black Rain the full respect it deserves. I absolutely love it, the cinematography, the Hans Zimmer soundtrack and the clash of cultures. One of my all-time favorite movies. ❤
Hell yeah. Definitely a movie that feels a little neglected but hopefully I've persuaded a few people to revisit the flick.
Great video as always!
Would love to see more rankings!
Fun video James! I've actually been watching Sir Ridley's filmography recently along with my wife. We're currently on Matchstick Men which was a strange funny movie. I can't wait to watch Kingdom of Heaven! (I hope it gets a 4k release soon!)
My current top 5 goes like this:
1. Gladiator
2. Alien
3. Black Hawk Down
4. Hannibal
5. Someone to Watch over Me
My understanding is that the director's cut roadshow version of 'Kingdom of Heaven' is definitely the superior version to see. Hope y'all enjoy it!
@@geekinwithJamesHancock I'll keep that in mind! Thanks.
I didn't know Ridley drew his own storyboards reminds me of Hitchcock. Thanks for this gem of a dive into Sir Scott's film career. Never seen 'The Duellists' and looks like it's streaming on Pluto so I'm pumped.
Nice! You're in for a special treat. Hope you enjoy 'The Duellists'. I just made my older brother watch it and he sent me a very favorable response.
Loved it James! Looking forward to future videos on other directors.
Many thanks! I love doing these videos. As long as folks keep watching them, I'll keep making them.
I love the length.
My bike ride to work is a little over an hour.
So these deep dives are perfect.
Thanks James.
Love Ridley Scott’s work but I’ve never seen The Duellists so I’ll have to check that out. Looking forward to you doing this style video for Denis Villeneuve if it ever happens 🙏
You're in for a treat. The Duellists is criminally underseen and ripe for rediscovery.
I was happy to discover "White Squall" for myself recently too, tucked in here as a hidden gem.
We need a video where you and Moose recreate the screaming scene between Bridges and Phillippe.
@@geekinwithJamesHancock Who gets to climb the rigging?
Paraphrased from his interview in 'The Times' last week, (when asked about his thoughts about winding down/retirement) “My own definitive plan is that there is no plan,...since Gladiator I’ve made 19 movies - I’m busy.… I get up in the morning and say: ‘Ah great! Another day of stress.’”
I love it. I imagine he gets a lot more out of his Eighties than most folks who just want to reminisce about the past.
Loved the video!!! Glad to see a fellow Duellists fan, I was so happy it made it to your top 3. Mine is the same as yours just in another order: Duellists, Alien, Blade Runner.
High five to a fellow fan of The Duellists. I just persuaded my older brother to watch it for the first time and he was enthralled.
Great video; not every film has to be a home run. The question is, where 'Napoleon' will fall in your list. Without the benefit of the rumored 'director's cut,' audience reaction suggests it's a strike-out. For all it's style, no one cares about the protagonists.
Vangelis’ soundtrack for 1492 is beyond epic. One of his best. Shame the movie could not quite match its awesomeness.
Agreed. Flawed movie but the score is absolutely beautiful.
The movie does though
I love the duellists......its such a manly film.
Great list. The Counselor usually doesn't get enough cred. Top 5 for me. I love Cormac McCarthy so much
I need to get back into reading more of McCarthy. I've read none of his early books that he wrote before 'Blood Meridian', but I loved 'All the Pretty Horses' and 'The Road'.
Worst movie I've ever seen
Thanks for reminding me to watch some RS movies that I never saw before (The Duellists, Black Rain, Kingdom of Heaven, Black Hawk Down) and skip some of the others that didn't work.
You've got some juicy flicks in front of you. The Duellists, Black Rain, Kingdom of Heaven & Black Hawk Down are all well worth hunting down.
Respect for placing Black Rain in the top 5! So underrated imo!
Hell yeah. I just rewatched it for the first time in years and I was blown away all over again.
Great video & dive into the great Ridley Scott. Well done.
White Squall hits that sweet spot for me where the sense of adventure is enough for me to revisit it over and over again….
I guess I just love movies set out on the open sea ….
I get goosebumps every time I hear Jeff Rona’s score kick in as Chuck leaves on the bus in the beginning. Also, the original song by Sting… I guess what I’m trying to say is you ranked it too low on your list, haha.
Totally fair! Jeff Bridges knocked that role right out of the park.
I could listen to you talk for hours. Subscribed.
Definitely watching Legend every weekend on HBO and in the 90s on TBS was a tradition. That film was ahead of its time visually.
I lost track of how many times I watched it on HBO back in the day. I was enthralled.
Saw Gladiator when it came out and loved its classic hero’s journey and got to enjoy it all over again more recently sharing it with my son. That speech always gives goosebumps. Of course, the original superhero and a great hero’s journey on film is The Adventures of Robin Hood. It had been on done in silent film but no one has done has done it better. Errol Flynn the action hero. My father saw the film at the cinema as a boy and watching it with him twenty years ago at a BFI showing was a real pleasure so nice to see it mentioned here.
Great list James. I love these director favourites videos. I'd love to see one for the films of Mike Nichols, John Hughes, Danny Boyle, David Fincher, Woody Allen, Jane Campion or Kathryn Bigelow.
I'd love to sink my teeth into all of those filmographies. I know Woody's stuff from the Seventies, Eighties and Nineties really well but I've only seen a handful of his flicks from the 21st century.
26:51 - Robin Hood: "Russell Crowe and Scott did not get along on this movie and they have never worked together again." Um, Gladiator?!?!
That was before.
Love the video James! Keep em coming!
There goes my afternoon! Nice..
Lol, many thanks! This one is a whopper.
Loved this James! Makes me want to go through all of his films again as for some of them it's been a long time. In fact this made me get hold of copies of both Black Hawk Down and the Kingdom of Heaven DC to revisit. Considering how many Director Cuts Riddles has done and how successful most are I'm amazed he never went back to Prometheus, if there was any film that demanded it then it's that!
It is a bit sad that everyone's top 3 would most likely be his first three films too, not that it's a bad thing, they are just 3 classics that are hard to beat.
I suspect that some folks would include Gladiator in their top 3 but I'm right there with you. It's to beat that hot streak from early in his career. He came roaring out of the gate with 3 colossal movies.
As for ALIEN and its infamous chestburster scene: Sigourney Weaver explained that the actors knew *what* would happen (they had all read the script), but they did not know *how* it would happen on the set. They just saw John Hurt on the table in his pristine white costume. Veronica Cartwright's reaction is 100% genuine, she didn't expect the fake blood splatter to hit her face. There's behind the scenes footage where she actually falls over from being overwhelmed and unprepared for what just happened.
Much obliged for the clarification! Cartwright's reaction belongs in the Hall of Fame. She really sells the scene.
You with hair! I think Sir Ridley had a film school here but might be wrong. His adaptability is the most impressive quality: Alien and Gladiator by the same director!
Loving this long form stuff
Much obliged. A lot more videos like this are definitely on the agenda in the future.
Ridley Scott and I have one huge thing in common, and that is we both love Philip Dick. I felt like his Amazon series, "The Man in the High Castle" didn't get nearly the attention it deserved. Excellent adaptation. I would love to see Ridly go back to Dick for what remains of Ridley's career. You asked about "Legend" and our thoughts. "Legend" is Tim Curry and the special effects. Please remember the time period. "Willow" was out. "The Dark Crystal" was out. And heaven help, my beloved Terry Gilliam's trilogy of "Time Bandits", "Brazil", and "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" was shaping my world view in a way that continues to this day. I was in high school, and it was the era of the epic, cinematic fairy tale.
Looking back at the Eighties, it really was the Golden Age of fantasy and fairy tales on film.
GREAT WORK JAMES!
Thanks for watching!
Ridley is great worker great job❤
Thank you for the great list . I need revisit thelma and Louise because I remember leaving the movie theater and not liking it.
I had not seen it in many years and found myself howling with delight when I revisited the film.
Great video. Thanks
The thanks goes to you for watching!
The Duellists is one of my go to movies. If i want to watch something historical & more serious than the Musketeers movies it's my choice. The top 4 are all favourites. The best version of Robin Hood is the 80's brittish tv show Robin of Sherwood. The music was supplied by Clannad. The show starred actors like Ray Winston, Michael Pread, Jason Connery (yes Sean's son) & Clive Mantle who played Little John & was such an expert on the character he was brought on as an advisor for the Kevin Costner film after they deceided against hiring him to play the part.
I'll be done with my Riddley Scott complete filmography viewing on the 22nd. I'll watch this video then.
Enjoy the ride!
Misfires aside, I still think Ridley is one of the greatest directors of all time.
Also, on the subject of Robin Hood, you should check out Robin Of Sherwood, which ran on ITV in the UK from 1984-86. Best treatment of the legend so far, in my opinion.
Very cool! I'll be sure to hunt it down. I'm currently enjoying some quality British TV watching Alec Guinness in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
@@geekinwithJamesHancock Excellent choice!
@geekinwithJamesHancock boys from the blackstuff , years and years and top boy summerhouse are more good uk TV shows
@@SteKelly-jd8iu GIZZA JOB!
Five Best: Alien, Blade Runner, The Duelists, Black Rain, Prometheus
Five Worst: Exodus, House of Gucci, Hannibal, Body of Lies, Alien: Covenent
EDIT: J Edgar might have Body of Lies beaten for worst Leo performance. That said, I think he was miscast a lot in the 2000s.
I've been avoiding J Edgar ever since it was released. You've confirmed my worst suspicions. I can't handle another Body of Lies.
First, my Top 10 Favorite Sir Ridley films ranked, followed by some personal thoughts:
#01. ALIEN - 1979 (the 2003 Director's Cut)
#02. BLADE RUNNER - 1982 (the 1982 International Cut with Harrison Ford narration)
#03. LEGEND - 1985 (the 1985 Extended Director's Cut with Jerry Goldsmith score)
#04. ALIEN: COVENANT - 2017
#05. PROMETHEUS - 2012
#06. BLACK RAIN - 1989
#07. THELMA & LOUISE - 1991
#08. GLADIATOR - 2000 (Extended Director's Cut)
#09. THE DUELLISTS - 1977
#10. SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME - 1987
"Alien" and "Blade Runner" are both absolute 10/10 CLASSICS... Two of the greatest films EVER made... And between 1977 and 1991, Scott was definitely one of the BEST directors out there... All 7 movies that he made during this time period are outstanding. But, aside from "Gladiator", "Prometheus", and "Alien: Covenant", I don't like ANY of his movies made after 1991's Thelma & Louise... NONE of them "do it" for me AT ALL... But, "Man", I love the movies that I listed here!.
Regarding my personal introduction to the cinematic work of this master craftsman... I first saw the original ALIEN in the theatre in 1979 when I was 12-years-old... In fact, it was the VERY FIRST R-Rated film that I EVER SAW in a movie theatre... I had to literally FIGHT with my mother and father to get ONE of them to take me to see it... I put up SUCH a temper tantrum that they eventually caved in... My father "lost" the coin toss, so HE took me... During the now-classic ultra-violent chestburster death scene of John Hurt, my father turned to me, worried about the well-being of his young son, and asked me if I wanted to leave... "SHUT UP, DAD... LEAVE ME ALONE!", I angerly whispered back annoyingly under my breath, "I'M WATCHING THE MOVIE!"... Yes, it WAS scaring the hell out of me... But I was ALSO absolutely LOVING it... So we stayed... and that day I saw a cinematic CLASSIC. I was TOTALLY TRANSFORMED by what I was seeing up there on the screen as I sat there in the darkness. I had NEVER seen ANYTHING like that before. "Alien" blew me away in 1979, and it STILL blows me away today... It is simply one of the GREATEST movies EVER made... It is PERFECT...It is ICONIC... It is a MASTERPIECE... (And how about that "badass" Sigourney Weaver? "WOW!"). Additionally, the best cut is the 2003 Director's Cut. I LOVE Ripley's encounter with Dallas at the end... So EMOTIONAL!
PS: The same can also be said for "Blade Runner"... ANOTHER masterpiece of cinema... Just as "Alien" had done to me three years earlier, I was BLOWN AWAY when I saw it in the theatre in 1982... And that feeling is EXACTLY the same now, all these years later... (And Harrison Ford is just the COOLEST dude ever!)... BTW, the 1982 versions WITH the narration are the ONLY way to watch it... Great "Sam Spade / Philip Marlowe" vibes! And Deckard is ABSOLUTELY NOT a replicant! I HATE that suggestion in the "Final" cut... SO DUMB! I love Scott, but really... WTF was he thinking? (WHO did he think he was fooling by slapping unicorn outtakes from "Legend" into the film?). Plus, I LOVE the original finale with Deckard and Rachel driving off into the sunset... So EPIC and CATHARTIC!
PPS: The ONLY "Legend" version to watch is the Extended Cut with Goldsmith's score... The longer running length enhances the narrative... and that music is GORGEOUS !
Great ranking! The Duelists is an amazing film. Watched it for the first time not too long ago and was blown away. I'm old enough to have seen Alien (and Blade Runner) in the theater. Both are Sci-fi classics - 2 of the all time best. I got thru about an hour of Kingdom of Heaven but it just didnt grab me. Maybe it was Bloom, I dunno. I'm a huge Eva Green guy so it certianly wasn't her. 😉 I haven't rewatched Gladiator in a while. I should. Black Rain is definitely fun. The Counselor was unknown to me. I'll have to try it. Thanks!
I'm intensely jealous that you had a chance to see Alien at the time of its release. There's some great newsreel footage out there of folks being interviewed as they exited the theater in a state of stunned shock.
@geekinwithJamesHancock I was 16 and a sci-fi fanatic. My dad took me and a best friend who was also a sci-fi geek. My friend and I had consumed all the info we could regarding the movie and art direction from magazines like Omni and other sources. We worshipped HR Giger. The alien erupting out of Kane's chest was epic! The theater was filled with gasps and groans and other exclamations. It was pretty much the perfect age to see it on the big screen with a friend.😊
Somehow I've only seen The Martian and Blade Runner haha! I really need to watch more Ridley Scott movies. For some reason I thought Blade Runner was a but slow and boring, but I think it's because I didn't let myself get immersed fully, and now as I understand it was the father of the cyberpunk genre really. Haven't watched the sequel which I know isn't by him but Denis never misses.
Ridley Scott has such an eye for framing
He’s had some duds
House of Gucci is one of his most vapid pieces
Kingdom of Heaven is criminally underrated a quiet powerful epic
😮😮 wow you worked on Hannibal? That’s very cool
It was a genuine thrill finally catching up with Kingdom of Heaven. That siege sequence toward the end of the movie was just staggering to behold.
@@geekinwithJamesHancock
Absolutely Breathtaking
And Epic as All Hell
It had Scope and Vision
Low key one of my Favorites by Scott (The Directors Cut)
And the Sound Mix is an absolute Treat for Audiophiles like myself
Great job James! Blade Runner and Alien are absolutely in my top 5 of all time. While I love both, for me, ultimately Alien is just a better overall film given the higher quality of the writing and acting when compared to Blade Runner where some of the dialogue hasn't held up well and the acting can sometimes be a little overdone by Ford in some scenes. I find when I re-watch Alien, it is incredible how realistic and natural the acting is.
I'm right there with you. Alien is a strong contender for the best ensemble cast of any movie I've ever seen.
@@geekinwithJamesHancock Absolutely, right up there with The Thing...another movie in my top 5
I'm sorry you couldn't put A Good Year in a higher slot -- it's one of those movies (yes not perfect) I revisit more often than I care to admit. Maybe it's the looking back on one's life theme and the affection for a relative that's no longer with us. I don't drink wine, drive a little Smart car, play tennis, or dream of a French Chateaux. But I do dream of the quiet peace of a an unsettled heart and soul being tamed in beautiful cinema. I can love it. You don't have to but I thought it deserved more than last place!
I knew going into this that no matter which flicks I chose to start with would end up being movies that other folks enjoy quite intensely. Definitely a testament to the overall strength of his filmography that there is so much room for debate. I hope we found some common ground with my other choices. Have a good one!
I never found Conquest of Paradise boring. The writing has its flaws, but it's a stunning movie, and as soon as Columbus arrives in "America", it's a roller-coaster. But yeah, Moxica is the man. Was the man.
Prometheus before American Gangster = you've gotta be kidding me :D
Black Rain in your top 5: okay you're more than forgiven. :D Except the action takes place in Osaka, not Tokyo!
That was awesome. Very much appreciated!
Much obliged Mr. Huck for checking it out!
Shame you missed out on `The Duelists`, it was Ridley Scott's filrst feature film! Why did you not do your research? I love it.
Personally, I’d rate THE MARTIAN considerably higher on this list as I thought it was not only Scott’s best film in years, but that it accomplished the neat trick of bettering the source material.
That said, I’ll certainly agree with your top three choices. THE DUELLISTS may go down as the best straight-on Conrad adaptation filmed to date. As to ALIEN vs. BLADE RUNNER, it may come down to judging what makes for a more notable work: a huge swing and a very near-miss, or aiming somewhat lower and hitting your target precisely?
Well said!
Ridley Scott is one of my all time favorite directors. When trying to find other directors who have made so many great films, over such a wide timespan, and in so many different styles, we're getting into the territory of Spielberg, Scorsese, John Huston, and Howard Hawks. He's made some stinkers, sure, and some down-the-middle commercial faire, but how many people have made movies as unrepentantly bleak as The Counselor and as ra-ra crowd-pleasing as The Martian? Blade Runner, Alien, and the director's cut of Kingdom of Heaven are some of my favorite films of all time.
Totally agree. I have a feeling that folks are going to be discussing and enjoying his flicks for many decades to come.
“…and if God does not love you, how could you have done the things you have done?” -Kingdom of Heaven
I don’t believe in god but I couldn’t help thinking about this line from Kingdom of Heaven while digesting your ranking of Ridley Scott’s body of work…and what’s going on in the world today. I guess, one of Ridley Scott’s re-occurring themes is Christianity. It’s even a theme in Prometheus, a film that at least tried (but failed) to expand the xenomorph universe.
1. Gladiator
2. The Martian
3. The last duel
4. American gangster
5. Hannibal
6. Alien
7. Robin Hood
8. Bladerunner
9. House of Gucci
10. Prometheus
11. Alien covenant
5.
Ok I did it. What a strange and varied career
I don't agree with all of your rankings, but this was a fun video, nevertheless. The director's cut of Kingdom of Heaven would be in my top three. The fact that they actually built a fully functioning trebuchet for the movie speaks to the attention of detail that makes Scott's movies so compelling. I agree that Orlando Bloom is terrible as the lead. They needed an actor with greater screen presence.
Russell Crowe should have saddled up with Ridley for one more and let Orlando play a supporting role.
Yes, that would really have worked much better. Imagine Crowe and Neeson interacting together.
I liked A Good Year and Body of Lies. Definitely not incredible movies, but they were decent. They would be higher in my rankings. I remember seeing A Good Year and thinking this was a well done and interesting lighter romantic drama and not knowing it was a Ridley Scott movie at the time. I would easily put that one 5 or even 10 spots higher on the list.
Body of Lies was kind of treading familiar ground but it was a decent movie.
I think the bottom of my Ridley Scott rankings would be Exodus Gods & Kings. That was the one movie - of the Ridley movies that I have seen - that was just not interesting. Definitely at the bottom.
House of Gucci would also be fairly low in my rankings - although it did keep my attention throughout.
Some of those other movies I have not seen in ages. I remember really liking White Squall and thought it was a beautiful well done and intriguing movie.
I didnt even know that Someone to watch over Me was a Ridley movie. I remember seeing it a long time ago and have vague memories of it being a decent movie... but dont remember much of anything about it except that it had Tom Berenger in it.
I have never seen The Duellists, All the Money in the World, or The Last Duel. Although The Last Duel does look very good and is on my watchlist.
The Martian was a great movie. I think it would be higher in my rankings. Maybe top 5 of his movies.
I really like Blade Runner. It was a great movie for what it accomplished for cinema and the near future sci-fi/cyber punk genre but as much as I love the setting I think the plot could have been more intriguing. Definitely top 6 or 7 of his movies for my rankings. Kingdom of Heaven was a great historical epic. That would also be in my top 6 or 7 of his films.
Robin Hood was also decent - I would maybe place it in the top 10 or 12. Although not as good as the Kevin Costner/Alan Rickman movie where the Sheriff of Nottingham stole the show.
Thelma and Louise was great - easily in the top 7 of his movies.
Alien is one of my favorite movies of all time and it was the first sci-fi horror movie I saw as a kid and it definitely kicked off my love of sci-fi horror. So it is no surprise that it would be in my top 2 Ridley movies.
Gladiator is also one of my all time favorites. So both of those would be #1 and #2 in my rankings.
Definite a testament to the power of his filmography that he has so many flicks open to debate as to how they should be ranked.
I was born the same year as James and Blade Runner completely got by me as a kid as well, as in I didn't even know it existed... if I were to guess as to why... because it was never on HBO, rather Showtime or Cinemax which I didn't have growing up. I don't know if it was a cable contractual thing or what, but there were movies that were only HBO or Showtime movies and they would never cross platforms or perhaps none of the networks picked it up? Had Blade runner aired on HBO I'm almost certain I would have watched it a gazillion times because they would rerun the ever living shizer out of their movies and then after a year or two some movies would be brought back a reran repeatedly again. Blade Runner just didn't exist in my world. Never even heard a buzz about it, so I never rented it either.
It's amazing how Blade Runner was off the radar of so many kids in the Eighties but luckily in the Nineties we made up for lost time with a vengeance.
That's not why people didn't see The Last Duel! I wanted to gi, but I work in a hospital and knew how high the COVID rates still were and I'm ask risk, so i was like, I can't! Sorry, Ridley!
I jope more people discover Matchstick Men. It proves Ridley can do small, "chamber pieces" as well as epics. 😁
Thelma & Louise
Gladiator
Matchstick Men
Black Rain
The Last Duel
GI JANE
A Good Year
Peter Weir would be a good one to rank. And how about James Cameron. I was just thinking what a fantastic one-two punch with Alien/Aliens.
Luckily I still have a few Peter Weir movies left to see. That would be a really fun video to make.
Totally off topic not noticed a review from yourself yet but Scavengers Reign is a must. That's if you haven't already digested it ha
This is the first I'm hearing of it so much obliged for the heads up!
@@geekinwithJamesHancock Scavenger’s Reign is the most original sci-fi I’ve seen all year. Totally co-sign along side Pluto on Netflix
Soz to be that guy but Crowe is a New Zealander
No worries at all! I stand corrected.
the giant nerd in me likes bladerunner and alien the most but his best movie is probably gladiator or thelma and Louise
I revisited Thelma & Louise the other night and I was absolutely blown away. Wild movie.
There is no way that Gladiator is better than Blade Runner and Alien lol
Didn't he direct "clay pigeons" with Vicnce Vahn.
lol, nope but I do remember when that flick came out
Produced, I think. I like that weird movie a lot!
Oh no, not only did you torture your 10 yr old brother with horror sci fi, you enjoyed it! LMAO
Blade Runner > Alien for me, but good list overall.
80 minute's that went far to quickly. Becoming one of my favourite reviewers full stop.
What really annoyed me about The Last Duel was that title card for the last third of the movie that is told from the lady's perspective that explicitly tells the audience it is 'the truth.' So ham-fisted and unnuanced. Rashimon wouldn't be as good if Kurisawa felt the need to tell the audience one of the perspectives was true.
The Counselor was unwatchable. Worked as a projectionist at the time and even while being paid to screen that film for the theater, I wanted to leave 😄
The biggest sin of 1492 was the 'heroic' depiction of Columbus. The real historical man was despicable and committed heinous acts against the natives; the villain, Moxia, commit atrocities in the film version, atrocities that Columbus was actually the culprit behind. But it was the 500 year anniversary of Columbus' travels and you couldn't market the film with a villain as the lead character, so we got what we got.
Love Ridley Scott, I think he is Illuminati, so to speak. About your list it’s interesting that, except Covenant, I haven’t seen nor I have interest to watch all the films listed down from Robin Hood. Only I disagree with Hannibal, I’d put it down in the pit next to Covenant. The rest is very similar to mine, including The Counselor which is under rated IMO.
And Blade Runner- that’s a cinephile’s benchmark , it’s a film you learn to love and once you do it loves you back. Good video!
So is this it now? No podcast anymore? Talk about losing a huge bunch listeners.
Ranking from best to least favorite I've seen:
Alien
Gladiator
The Martian
Blade Runner
Thelma & Louise
Legend
American Gangster
Kingdom of Heaven (yes, the Director's Cut)
Hannibal
Prometheus
Robin Hood
Alien: Covenant
The martian over blade runner LOL
With some notable exceptions my list would flip your’s on its head.
All of Ridley Scott's movies are technically well made, but just as often I find his work unsatisfying and passionless. He often seems more like an accomplished craftsman than a genuine artist.
I admit that while I respect Blade Runner, I have never actually liked it. The atmosphere is powerful and absorbing, but the human story is stolid, dry, and shallow. The atmosphere distracts is from how dull it actually is. It's somewhere between hypnotic and boring, like 2001.
Kingdom of Heaven, despite being set in one of the most turbulent periods of history, dominated by strong personalities, is a shockingly boring movie. No, the director's cut doesn't help, either. The script is horrible, politically motivated, ahistorical nonsense.
Gladiator is one of the most overrated movies of all time. I can't stand it, myself. The visuals, usually strong in a Scott film, are muddy and horrid. The fight scenes are incoherent and poorly shot. The characters are shallow and the story is dour and humorless. I think Eberr described it as Spartacus on downers. Only the soundtrack and the performances stand out, but mostly to distract you from the shallowness of the story.
I remember reading a rotten tomatoes review of Alexander that read "It makes Conan the Barbarian look like Gladiator." The irony, of course, is that I unironically consider Conan the Barbarian to be a better movie. It's better shot, it has more coherent action scenes, a better soundtrack, and it's philosophically deeper and more challenging.
You really liked The Counselor? I respect you but it was one of worst movies I've ever seen. Iol I felt pitty for Michael Fassenber that he was in such a terrible repugnant movie.
For Kingdom of Heaven, you are right that it was just too much for Orlando Bloom. Overall I thought the movie had decent parts but I think it needed someone with a stronger presence. Orlando seems like he was going for some sort of underacting poet thing when it needed someone more forceful a la Crowe/Gibson/Farrell. Bear in mind, I have never seen the DC which is probably superior. I was so disappointed by the Theater cut that there's never been a time where I wanted to revisit the movie, even if it's a better cut.
Prometheus is a case of it's a movie that I love and I had an amazing experience in the theater but I recognize the flaws. But the thing people have issues with like Charlize running in a line or the scientist touching the snake creature I have zero problems with. Cause humans are going to do stupid things. And it's a small element compared to the awesome moments of the movie.
I'm glad you enjoyed Someone to Watch Over Me and Matchstick Men. It's not the usual Ridley creating a big World with big set pieces but it took skills to deliver these movies mainly with character work. STWOM is such a good little atmospheric thriller with great cinematrophy and soundtrack. It was a blast seeing it on the big screen. I remember at the time I wished Berenger would have ended up with Mimi Rogers. But I got it, she was just his fantasy woman.
I wouldn't say I really liked 'The Counselor'. But I liked what it was flirting with trying to be even if I found the final product to be lacking. I get why so many despise it, but also why so many find it fascinating.
@@geekinwithJamesHancock Got it. I guess that was an experiment that did not quite work out. Like an experimental film. It's from a book, right? Some things are just not translatable, I think to Cinema. I remember thinking it's like aliens trying to act like humans.
Incredible how much trash he actually directed. Alien hands down his masterpiece, that's mostly because he had the perfect crew (art directors, actors, artists, etc).