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1. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
Bill Hunt Apr 20, 2011 5:23 PM (in response to mdubuque)Matt,
I would cast some of my votes (how many do we get, btw?) for:
Young Frankenstein - Mel Brooks
The Ice Pirates - Stewart Raffill
Raising Arizona - Cohen Brothers (Link capability just broke!!! ) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093822/
Caddy Shack - Harold Ramis http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080487/
Young Doctors in Love - Garry Marshall http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084938/
Hunt
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2. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
mdubuque Apr 20, 2011 5:40 PM (in response to Bill Hunt)Hi Bill, in terms of how many votes you get, there is a strict limitation that only hilarious movies are permitted on one's list.
I've seen both Caddyshack and Young Frankenstein, each of which is truly hilarious! Love the scene in Caddyshack where a terminally confused Bill Murray confides in Chevy Chase that he sometimes wonders whether people are sometimes laughing at Bill Murray behind his back.
To which Chevy Chase promptly replies, "No, of course not, not as far as you know!"
What can you say about Marty Feldman!
Of the three remaining (which I have not seen), what is the funniest?
By funniest, one criteria you may wish to use (but the choice of course is yours) is that film which had multiple scenes that were so funny that your stomach began to hurt and you had to seriously consider averting your eyes until the pain went away.
"Why do they titter so?
Weleath Whodewhick!"Life of Brian, Monty Pyton
Cheers,
Matt
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3. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
Bill Hunt Apr 20, 2011 7:00 PM (in response to mdubuque)Matt,
Of the other three, I will pick Raising Arizona. Nearly every scene has a laugh for me, even if it's a "dark laugh." Though a total farce, it struck a chord - actually many, and I lived in Colorado at the time.
I still do not know if The Ice Pirates was intended as a full-comedy, but again, nearly each scene has something to make me laugh. Some of those elements are out in the open, but many are subtle and are window-dressing, albeit funny window-dressing (to me) ones. Bruce Willis' The Fifth Element is sort of like that, though not at quite the same level - Top 50? Well, maybe not, but certainly well above some of the other Top 100's that I saw listed at various sites.
Normally, I am not a fan of "in your face comedy," but Young Frankenstein did keep me laughing. Perhaps it was some of the "inside jokes? I happened to see this film, and THEN saw Blazing Saddles. [Linking is back ON.] People were still raving about BS, but I found it far, far less satisfying, and far less humorous. It reminded me of one Adam Sandler flatulence joke.
After I replied, I Googled "Best Comedies," to see if I had forgotten something well worthwhile, but just too long ago. I was amazed at some of the Top 100. While I had not even come close to seeing all of those, some were extremely lame in my book. I mean how could any of the Mike Myers' Austin Powers films be listed in the top 10,000? I watched the first one again, on a really bad TV day. There was one line (forget it now, so it must have just stood out from the noise-floor) in the whole thing. Now, I love intentional parody, but it MUST be done right, and well. That was not.
Now, The Huffington Post did have Monty Python and the Holy Grail as #1 (it would probably make my Top 20 list), and also The Hangover as # 2, which was a big surprise, when I watched it on a plane. I had run out of options, and was not sleeping, so I switched over to it. I found it far, far better, than I had ever expected. There were some very weak moments, and it would not be in my Top-100, but still better than I had ever imagined. Much of the rest of the list was dominated by Ace Ventura, and anything with Adam Sandler. Oh well, what can I say. [Shows why I am much more of a fan of FoxNews, than getting my news from the Huffington Post.] If a star had ever appeared on SNL, they were in the Top 100.
Now, my late mother really loved It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. While it had some funny spots, it was not a fav. of mine. However, and in the last month of her life, she laughed the entire film, though she'd seen it a dozen times before. I'd rank it higher, just on sentimental values.
Hunt
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4. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
Todd_Kopriva Apr 20, 2011 7:45 PM (in response to Bill Hunt)I haven't seen it since I was 17, but Kentucky Fried Movie made me laugh until I hurt.
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5. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
Colin Brougham Apr 20, 2011 8:15 PM (in response to Todd_Kopriva)Kentucky Fried Movie made me laugh until I hurt.
Yes. Just... yes. Mr. Loo gets quoted often 'round these parts:
"What--was that? This--is not--a chawade. We need--toto concentwation. Now--once again--this time, with feewing!"
I'm a huge, annoying, quote-every-line Ghostbusters fan, too. Maybe not the funniest movie of all time, but some of the best one-liners ever.
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6. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
Bill Hunt Apr 20, 2011 10:03 PM (in response to Todd_Kopriva)I know the title, but cannot place it. Need to go check on that one.
Thanks,
Hunt
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7. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
Bill Hunt Apr 20, 2011 10:06 PM (in response to Colin Brougham)Ah, Ghostbusters. Like Used Cars, that was a good movie in this genre, that needed an ending. Seems that there is an older thread on such films - good up to a point, and then, "fall off the Earth." Ghostbusters was like a great idea, but then we got to the final act, and it went to heck.
OTOH, and usually not in the comedy genre, there are others, that are junk - until the ending.
Hunt
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8. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
mdubuque Apr 21, 2011 4:34 PM (in response to Bill Hunt)Interesting. I really do need to immerse myself more in the Coen Brothers. I very much liked No Country for Old Men and there are SO many knowledgeable people who recommend them so highly.
Raising Arizona seems like a great place to start!
Have you seen What's Up Tiger Lily?
It consists of false and bizarre subtitles superimposed inextricably upon a cheesy Hong Kong gangster/action film.
the juxtaposition is truly hilarious, continually for me.
That motif (off the wall subtitles superimposed upon inappropriate footage) could be done again to make a very funny movie, in the right hands.
Matt
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9. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
Bill Hunt Apr 21, 2011 5:22 PM (in response to mdubuque)I caught the tail end of Tiger Lily, when it was the final feature, before the New York Art Critic's showing one night. Did not quite know what it was about, but the last 1/4 was funny as could be. It was not for a bit, until I read about it (no Internet in those days), and then I understood. I have never seen the complete film. Another one for the viewing box!
I am struggling to recall the somewhat recent Sci-Fi film, that did about the same, but with dubbing, instead of Subs. I'll keep thinking, and maybe someone else will drop by with the title. Again, and in the same off-the-wall way, was quite funny.
In late '66, or early '67, I saw a spy movie, but the name eludes me again. It was either one of the worst films, along the lines of Plan 9 From Outer Space, or one of the best parodies, that I have ever seen, as there was noting to give the parody away. This was at a time that the James Bond franchise was taking off. Goldfinger and Thunderball had just been released, and sweeping the box offices. This film featured a globe-trotting super-spy, who was a true Renaissance man, and total master of everything. In this film, our star, wore white socks with his dinner jacket, semi-formal attire. The auto chase scene was using slot racing cars on a set with crumbled cork or something. The explosion of a jetliner was actually an old B-29 drone being hit by an air to air missle in Air Force stock footage. These things were so obvious, that I cannot believe that someone's tongue was not firmly in their cheek. However, with most parodies, there is always at least one wink-and-a-nod to the audience. Here, there was none. I'd guess that the budget was about US $ 1,000, in '60s $'s, and most of that went to the US Air Force for the stock footage!
With some research, I believe that it could well have been Secret Agent Fireball. That film was ranked # 1 worst "spy film" for the '60s. Maybe that blows the parody theory.
Hunt
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10. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
mdubuque Apr 21, 2011 5:24 PM (in response to Bill Hunt)Kentuck Fried Movie and Secret Agent Fireball sound like two must see movies! I like that Todd's sides kept hurting.... a very good sign!
and that old plane blowing up in Secret Agent Fireball sounds classic!
Matt
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11. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
Eric Addison Apr 21, 2011 5:41 PM (in response to mdubuque)Airplane...still makes me laugh every time
Old School - LOVE this movie. As a new home owner, I actually found myself answering, when asked what I'm doing this weekend, "Don't know - lot's. Little Home Depot, maybe Target." As soon as the words left my mouth, I thought of Will Farrell in that movie talking to those college kids. If you've seen it, you know the scene. What has my life become?
Fast Times at Ridgemont High - I hope they never try and remake this...so funny!
Lastly, just about anything the Marx Brothers made...Groucho Marx is one of my heroes!
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12. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
eamoncolbert Apr 21, 2011 7:17 PM (in response to mdubuque)Gotta go with these three.
Napoleon Dynamite
O'Brother Where art' Thou?
Tropic Thunder
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13. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
Bill Hunt Apr 21, 2011 9:29 PM (in response to eamoncolbert)I have seen two, of the three, and would also vote for Brother, Where Art Thou. I thought long and hard about that one, but went with Raising Arizona, instead.
I need to get the DVD, as it is cited in two DVD Menu design books, that I have. I have seen the film, but need to get the DVD, just to explore those Menues.
Hunt
PS - while I am probably not in the target demographic, I have recs. for Lemoney Snickets, for some neat authoring touches, so need to buy that one, as well.
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14. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
jeremy d. Apr 21, 2011 10:49 PM (in response to Bill Hunt)There are several categories of funny movie -- three are: the comedy, the so-bad-it's-funny, and the serious movie interspersed with moments of comedic genius.
Funny on purpose:
- Murder by Death
- The group of movies for young drunk guys: Caddyshack, Blues Brothers, Animal House, Stripes
- Young Frankenstein ("that's Frankensteen")
- MP and the Holy Grail
- Kentucky Fried Movie
Funny in a bad way:
- the big disaster movies of the 70's: Airport and its sequels (somebody call Joe Patroni!), The Towering Inferno
- Showgirls
- Waterworld
Serious movies with inspired moments:
- Pulp Fiction
- the new Star Trek movie, but only if you're familiar with the series
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15. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
johnbmx4christ Apr 21, 2011 11:01 PM (in response to mdubuque)-rat race
-better off dead
-16 candles
-shallow hal
-amazon women on the moon (first scene ONLY)
-airplane
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16. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
able123 Apr 22, 2011 6:15 AM (in response to johnbmx4christ)the russians are coming the russians are coming
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17. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
joe bloe premiere Apr 22, 2011 8:07 AM (in response to mdubuque)"TWITTER TIME"
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18. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
mdubuque Apr 22, 2011 9:58 AM (in response to joe bloe premiere)LOL! Never heard of it, never heard of it....
Matt
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19. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
able123 Apr 22, 2011 10:05 AM (in response to mdubuque)is hilarious !
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060921/
carl reiner, jonathan winters, great cast and story and so on...alan arkins first film I think ....
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20. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
mdubuque Apr 22, 2011 11:38 AM (in response to able123)Hi Rob, yes that was GREAT, loved alan arkin in it.... i was referring to
Twitter Time, a funny film that Joe cited.....i had not heard of that one before....
matt
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21. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
Bill Hunt Apr 22, 2011 12:33 PM (in response to mdubuque)Twitter Time? Wasn't that just on Cox Cable On-Demand?
Hunt
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22. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
joe bloe premiere Apr 22, 2011 12:38 PM (in response to Bill Hunt)
It's Pay-Per-View, I think. -
23. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
mdubuque Apr 22, 2011 12:55 PM (in response to joe bloe premiere)hmmmm.
maybe i can catch it at 3am on my local cable community access channel?
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24. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
jeremy d. Apr 22, 2011 1:27 PM (in response to mdubuque)Blockbuster has it on DVD, but not Blu-ray, and only in Czeck.
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25. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
joe bloe premiere Apr 22, 2011 1:49 PM (in response to jeremy d.)only in Czeck.
That might make it easier to understand.
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26. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
mdubuque Apr 22, 2011 2:18 PM (in response to joe bloe premiere)Hmmm. I have a priceless collector's album of Frank Sinatra singing various movie themes in Rumanian.
I think I'll pick up Twitter Time on that Czech dvd, turn off the sound and put on that Sinatra album to see if I can makes some sense out of the whole thing.
I hope I have time for all this.
Generally, if a movie doesn't grab me in the first five or six seconds I usually leave the theatre.
Matt
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27. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
Bill Hunt Apr 22, 2011 3:43 PM (in response to mdubuque)Sounds like a DYI What's Up Tiger Lily?
Hunt
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28. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
mdubuque Apr 22, 2011 4:37 PM (in response to Bill Hunt)Yes, and Age of Gold by Bunuel.
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30. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
joe bloe premiere Apr 22, 2011 6:00 PM (in response to Bill Hunt) -
31. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
Bill Hunt Apr 22, 2011 6:23 PM (in response to joe bloe premiere)Yeah, I gave away my straight razor, and grew my beard, after seeing that in about 1965. I also blink more often, than before.
Hunt
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32. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
mdubuque Apr 22, 2011 7:43 PM (in response to Bill Hunt)I thought Exterminating Angel 1962 by Bunuel was very funny.
It's a "survival epic" about guests at a black tie dinner party who suddenly become unable to leave the dining room. As the drama drags on, they become desperate for water and food as the prospects for rescue from the room grow dim.
A biting satire of the genre of survival epic such as Towering Inferno and Poseidon Adventure before, to my knowledge, that genre of kitsch had even been invented.
Matt
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33. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
juliamiss Apr 28, 2011 2:55 PM (in response to mdubuque)lol fanniest was Just Go With It
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34. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
mdubuque May 9, 2011 6:29 PM (in response to mdubuque)ow about borat and da jerk wif steve marfin?
Mapt
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35. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
davidbeisner2010 May 12, 2011 12:00 PM (in response to mdubuque)I was a big fan of the original Get Smart TV Show and the subsequent movie, Get Smart, Again! Great comedy...
I also enjoyed pretty much anything starring the Marx brothers, but I think Horse Feathers was one of their best.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail gets another vote from me, as does pretty much anything directed by the Zucker brothers.
Robin Hood: Men in Tights and The Producers are both very funny movies, and I've got Blazing Saddles in my Netflix instant queue to watch soon. Mel Brooks is a great director!
I'm also a huge fan of Danny Kaye... one of the best comedic actors of all time, IMHO. Favorites include The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Court Jester and one whose name I can't remember and which I've not been able to find again since I first saw it--it was Danny Kaye directing an orchestra in Carnegie Hall, and instead of facing the orchestra, he faced the audience and demonstrated for the audience what orchestra members go through from their conductors. That was a side-splitting, constant laughing, unbelievable funny film. It wasn't really a movie... more a concert production I suppose.
Jackie Chan's got a lot of really funny action comedy--his remake of The Karate Kid was really funny, and I liked all three of his Rush Hour movies (though the third was a little lame). The version of Around the World in 80 Days with Jackie Chan was also really, really funny. Took tremendous liberties with the book, but great movie for what it was.
I'm also a great fan of The Princess Bride. To me, "Mawwage. Mawwage is what bwingsus togevuh tothay. Dat bwessed awwangement. Dat dweam wivin a dweam" has got to be one of the most memorable and quoted lines of all time.
I must say I'm not too impressed by most of the more recent comedy out there--Adam Sandler and that other guy who's name escapes me... "Cable Guy" guy... they both have to resort to crass humor too often to be funny, and that's not the mark of a true comedian.
As to the funniest... I don't know that I can rate that...
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36. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
Bill Hunt May 12, 2011 5:51 PM (in response to davidbeisner2010)In most of the "funniest of all time" polls, several of the Marx Bros. films are at, or very near the top.
Robin Hood - Men in Tights, featured the first portrayal of Robin Hood with a legit British accent, so said Cary Elwes, and I think that he's correct. Lot of good sight gags, that are not so heavily programmed, as to give it all away. Same for some of the lines - who saw THAT coming?
I also agree on The Princess Bride. Lot of good, subtle humor all around, and much was snuck in. I would imagine that a viewer could see it a dozen times, and still pick up little humorous things, that just zipped by in the other viewings.
I do agree that much of current humor is sophomoric, at best, and gross by many definitions. They all seem to have one thing in common - hit the audience with a joke, then repeat, and repeat, until they are numb, then bring out the flatulence, or scat jokes, until the audience is all zombies.
I like to have to think a bit about the humor, and have no problem if it takes me 30 secs. to "get it." I do not want my comedy delivered in a cast-iron skillet "up side my head."
Now, one recent comedy, that blind-sided me, was The Hangover. Seems that I caught that as the 3rd, or 4th film on an overnight to London. I was not sleeping, and my eyes were tired from reading my Adobe Classroom in a Book, Premiere Pro CS5, so I flipped it on. It WAS uneven, and resorted to base humor in too many places, but I did have to stiffle laughs, so as to not disturb my fellow passengers, often enough. I do not hold out hope for The Hangover II, as I think that the subtlties that endeared (and surprised) me, in the first, will very likely be lost in II. Still, I was surprised by some of the moments in the original, so maybe there will be gems in II?
I'm a bit less of a Danny Kaye fan, but have to admit that "the chalis from the palace, has the brew that's true... " has stuck with me.
I also found Peter Sellers very funny in the original Inspector Clouseau roles. However, in later iterations, it almost seemed that he "phoned in" the part. A Shot in the Dark was rather good, but some of the latter Pink Panther series, iindicated to me, that the franchise went downhill. No other actor has been able to revive it, IMHO.
I do not need to know, or be told when, I should laugh. I can do that on my own. If the part(s) is/are well-acted, the writing is good and the timing right on, I can manage myself - thank you very much. Probably says more about me, than about the comedic movies, so I aplogize.
Actually, George Romero's Night of the Living Dead, while a neat horror flick, caused me to laugh aloud in too many places. Still, I do not feel comfortable calling it a comedy...
Hunt
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37. Re: Funniest movie you've ever seen?
davidbeisner2010 May 13, 2011 7:53 AM (in response to davidbeisner2010)Ha! I found that Danny Kaye music piece I had seen... gotta love imdb!
Anyway, it wasn't at Carnegie Hall, it was the September 23, 1981 show from the Live from Lincoln Center series, and Kaye conducted the New York Philharmonic, at the invitation of Zubin Mehta, in a performance of music by Tchaikovsky. Here's the imdb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298857/
I wonder where one could find that on DVD/VHS?
As an aside, my wife and I love watching the old Cosby Show on Netflix... we saw the episode the other day where they go to the dentist, and I realized half-way through that the dentist was played by Danny Kaye!





