All Things "Top 5" Thread (Movies, TV Shows, Cities, Countries, Actors, Beers, Restaurants, Athletes, Sporting Events etc.)

top 5 Sergio Leone movies
1. The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
2. Once upon a time in the West
3. Once upon a time in America
4. A Fistful of Dollars
5. For a few dollars more.

Just in case you didn't know - A Fistful of Dollars, which made the "spaghetti western" a hot trend and also gave Clint Eastwood one of his first big movie roles - was a remake of the Kurosawa movie "Yojimbo" which starred Toshiro Mifune as a roving samurai who gets involved in a battle between two warring crime families. Leone changed it to a western setting. Supposedly, Eastwood tore whole pages out of the script so his character - "The Man with no name" - would have less dialogue and come off as more mysterious.
Love Once Upon a Time in the West -it's my favorite western. Seeing Henry Fonda as a baddie is pretty awesome. I've never watched Once Upon a Time in America, I'll have to track it down.
 

Love Once Upon a Time in the West -it's my favorite western. Seeing Henry Fonda as a baddie is pretty awesome. I've never watched Once Upon a Time in America, I'll have to track it down.

Once Upon a Time in America is an epic gangster movie. Robert De Niro and James Woods star as two members of group of friends who start out as kids and grow up to become involved in organized crime.
the story spans decades, and repeatedly cuts back and forth from the past to the present.

Make sure you see the unedited version. there was a shorter edited version that was released on video, but it cuts out so much that what they left makes no sense.
 

Top 5 Derry Girl Characters who are not the Derry Girls or Erin's immediate family:

1. Uncle Colm
2. Sister Michael
3. Katya (Ukrainian exchange student)
4. Bridie (the aunt who drops dead at the wedding)
5. The escaped polar bear
 

Top 5 Baseball movies. (personal favorites - not claiming these are the 'best' movies)
1. Eight Men Out
2. Major League I (sequels blow...)
3. Field of Dreams
4. It Happens Every Spring (goofy comedy from the 40's starring Ray Milland as a college professor
who develops a chemical that repels wood. He rubs it on a baseball
and becomes a star pitcher.)
5. Pride of the Yankees. (co-starring Babe Ruth as....Babe Ruth.)

disclaimer - I am not a fan of "The Natural." It's OK for a comedy to have exaggerated action, but a drama should be more realistic.
 

Top 5 Baseball movies. (personal favorites - not claiming these are the 'best' movies)
1. Eight Men Out
2. Major League I (sequels blow...)
3. Field of Dreams
4. It Happens Every Spring (goofy comedy from the 40's starring Ray Milland as a college professor
who develops a chemical that repels wood. He rubs it on a baseball
and becomes a star pitcher.)
5. Pride of the Yankees. (co-starring Babe Ruth as....Babe Ruth.)

disclaimer - I am not a fan of "The Natural." It's OK for a comedy to have exaggerated action, but a drama should be more realistic.

Agree with you on The Natural, the only baseball movie I disdain more is The Babe (about Ruth, not the hog).

Good choice on Eight Men Out. I am not sure how much cinematic liberties were taken on the plot however, it sure feels authentic. Sneaky slick move by writer/director John Sayles to cast himself as Ring Lardner.
 
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Agree with you on The Natural, the only baseball movie I disdain more is The Babe (about Ruth, not the hog).

Good choice on Eight Men Out. I am not sure how much cinematic liberties were taken on the plot however, it sure feels authentic. Sneaky slick move by writer/director John Sayles to cast himself as Ring Lardner.

Ironically, that is one of the areas where the movie diverts from historical fact. at the 1919 World Series, sportswriter Hugh Fullerton (played by Studs Terkel) was actually assisted by former star NY Giants pitcher Christy Matthewson - not Ring Lardner.

In general, people give the movie fairly high marks for accuracy, but there are a few areas where they take dramatic license.
 

Ironically, that is one of the areas where the movie diverts from historical fact. at the 1919 World Series, sportswriter Hugh Fullerton (played by Studs Terkel) was actually assisted by former star NY Giants pitcher Christy Matthewson - not Ring Lardner.

In general, people give the movie fairly high marks for accuracy, but there are a few areas where they take dramatic license.

It was neat to see Terkel in the movie.

Overall, the casting was fantastic, especially of the players. They all looked like they could actually play, about the only stretch was David Strathairm as Eddie Cicotte. He is a fine character actor though, and the role is pivotal in the off-field action, so his casting was understandable.

Casting Michael Rooker as Chick Gandil, right off the bat you know he's a bad news jerkwad. I also liked John Mahoney as the skipper, Kid Gleason.
 

Top 5 Bands/Musical Acts That Deserve a Spot in Rock & Roll HOF (but probably won't get it):
1. Los Lobos
2. Old '97s
3. Little Feat
4. Wilco
5. Steve Earle
Wilco not yet in the R & R HOF, but did just make it into the Austin City Limits HOF, perhaps just as meaningful to the band. Good company.

 
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Favorite Albums of all-time:

1. All Things Must Pass - George Harrison
2. Loveless - My Bloody Valentine
3. The White Album - The Beatles
4. Rocket to Russia - The Ramones
5. Murmer - R.E.M.
Just finished listening to the 50th Anniversary CD (remixed) version of All Things Must Pass. I can't really compare to the previous mixes, as I only had it on cassette previously and hadn't listened in over 20 yrs, but I will just say this sounds fantastic.
 



This is an excellent thread.

Wes Anderson Films (I know....not for everyone):

1. Rushmore
2. Grand Budapest Hotel
3. Moonrise Kingdom
4. Fantastic Mr. Fox
5. Bottle Rocket

Admittedly have never seen 'Isle of Dogs' or 'The Darjeen Limited'. I feel that 'The Royal Tenenbaums' gets a little more praise than it deserves.
 

This is an excellent thread.

Wes Anderson Films (I know....not for everyone):

1. Rushmore
2. Grand Budapest Hotel
3. Moonrise Kingdom
4. Fantastic Mr. Fox
5. Bottle Rocket

Admittedly have never seen 'Isle of Dogs' or 'The Darjeen Limited'. I feel that 'The Royal Tenenbaums' gets a little more praise than it deserves.
I am surprised I never weighed in with my list.

1. The Royal Tenenbaums
2. Moonrise Kingdom
3. Isle of Dogs
4. Bottle Rocket
5. Fantastic Mr. Fox

The only Anderson movie I found just so-so was Life Aquatic. When you get around to watching The Darjeeling Limited, I highly suggest watching the short Hotel Chevalier beforehand.
 

This is an excellent thread.

Wes Anderson Films (I know....not for everyone):

1. Rushmore
2. Grand Budapest Hotel
3. Moonrise Kingdom
4. Fantastic Mr. Fox
5. Bottle Rocket

Admittedly have never seen 'Isle of Dogs' or 'The Darjeen Limited'. I feel that 'The Royal Tenenbaums' gets a little more praise than it deserves.
I am surprised I never weighed in with my list.

1. The Royal Tenenbaums
2. Moonrise Kingdom
3. Isle of Dogs
4. Bottle Rocket
5. Fantastic Mr. Fox

The only Anderson movie I found just so-so was Life Aquatic. When you get around to watching The Darjeeling Limited, I highly suggest watching the short Hotel Chevalier beforehand.
My top 5 favorite Wes Anderson movies:
1. Life Aquatic
2. Bottle Rocket
3. Fantastic Mr. Fox
4. Royal Tenenbaums
5. Moonrise Kingdom

I know I'm in the minority here and have made this argument on tOTB before. Life Aquatic is just perfect in my opinion. Murray at his deadpan best, excellent supporting cast, unique storyline, plus all the Bowie songs. Not only is it my favorite WA movie, but one of my favorites overall.

Also in the minority in that I didn't really care for Rushmore or Grand Budapest. Fine films on their own, but my WA hierarchy is inverted from most others'. Haven't seen French Dispatch yet.
 

This is one of my favorite threads, bumping to hear more "Top 5's" from you all.

Top 5 Type Cast TV Character/Actors:

1. Cosmo Kramer
2. Screech Powers
3. Dwight Schrute
4. The Fonz
5. Steve Urkel

Go Gophers!!
 



This is one of my favorite threads, bumping to hear more "Top 5's" from you all.

Top 5 Type Cast TV Character/Actors:

1. Cosmo Kramer
2. Screech Powers
3. Dwight Schrute
4. The Fonz
5. Steve Urkel

Go Gophers!!
I don't have ground to stand on, because I have no one to replace them with.

But Screech and Urkel? Really?
 

I don't have ground to stand on, because I have no one to replace them with.

But Screech and Urkel? Really?

For sure, both actors became synonymous for those roles and never really matched that role career wise. Sure Jaleel White has had other work, but mainly single episode's. I guess interpretation of type cast can mean something different, but I look at it like "this actor played this role, and it's hard to imagine her/him in any other role than (xyz)."

Go Gophers!!
 

For sure, both actors became synonymous for those roles and never really matched that role career wise. Sure Jaleel White has had other work, but mainly single episode's. I guess interpretation of type cast can mean something different, but I look at it like "this actor played this role, and it's hard to imagine her/him in any other role than (xyz)."

Go Gophers!!
got it! That context makes more sense. Thank you
 

This is one of my favorite threads, bumping to hear more "Top 5's" from you all.

Top 5 Type Cast TV Character/Actors:

1. Cosmo Kramer
2. Screech Powers
3. Dwight Schrute
4. The Fonz
5. Steve Urkel

Go Gophers!!

Ted Baxter (Mary Tyler Moore show). Yeah, Ted Knight did other shows, but this is the role he is identified with.

George Reeves. Typecast as 'Superman' on TV. couldn't get film roles because audiences laughed when they saw 'Superman' on screen.
 

Ted Baxter (Mary Tyler Moore show). Yeah, Ted Knight did other shows, but this is the role he is identified with.

George Reeves. Typecast as 'Superman' on TV. couldn't get film roles because audiences laughed when they saw 'Superman' on screen.
Have you seen Caddyshack? Ted Knight outshines everyone.
 

Top 5 Movies of the 21st Century So Far...

1. Into the Wild
2. Almost Famous
3. The Royal Tenenbaums
4. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
5. The Lobster

Honorable mention:
Summer of Soul (favorite documentary)
Before Sunset/Before Sunrise parts 2 & 3 of the Linklater/Hawke/Deply trilogy
Any Paul Thomas Anderson or Quentin Tarantino movie (except Grindhouse-Death Proof)
 

This is one of my favorite threads, bumping to hear more "Top 5's" from you all.

Top 5 Type Cast TV Character/Actors:

1. Cosmo Kramer
2. Screech Powers
3. Dwight Schrute
4. The Fonz
5. Steve Urkel

Go Gophers!!
The Fonz doesn't fit IMO. Henry Winkler has done so much since then, from Waterboy to Barry. Arrested Development and Parks & Rec are now how I picture him. Such great roles different from The Fonz.
 

Top 5 One Hit Wonders
1. Harvey Danger - Flagpole Sitta
2. Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know
3. Biz Markie - Just a Friend
4. Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come on Eileen
5. Sugarhill Gang - Rapper's Delight
 

Top 5 Music Video Celebrity Cameos

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.
 

Top 5 One Hit Wonders
1. Harvey Danger - Flagpole Sitta
2. Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know
3. Biz Markie - Just a Friend
4. Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come on Eileen
5. Sugarhill Gang - Rapper's Delight

One Hit Wonders - old school wacky version
1. Zager & Evans - In the year 2525
2. Barry Sadler - Ballad of the Green Berets
3. Napoleon XIV - They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haa.
4. Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting
5, Rick Dees - Disco Duck
 

Using coolhand's "favorite Sideshow Bob's" criteria, here are my Top 5 Sideshow Bob's:

1. Jean Ralphio - Park & Rec

2. Marty Funkhouser - Curb (his scene outside the Palestinian Chicken restaurant was legendary, as is that entire episode, my all time favorite)

3. Troy Mcclure - Simpson's

4. Puddy - Seinfeld

5. Kevin McHale as himself - Cheers (for obvious "one of us" reasons)

Go Gophers!!
 


Using coolhand's "favorite Sideshow Bob's" criteria, here are my Top 5 Sideshow Bob's:

1. Jean Ralphio - Park & Rec

2. Marty Funkhouser - Curb (his scene outside the Palestinian Chicken restaurant was legendary, as is that entire episode, my all time favorite)

3. Troy Mcclure - Simpson's

4. Puddy - Seinfeld

5. Kevin McHale as himself - Cheers (for obvious "one of us" reasons)

Go Gophers!!
The McHale Cheers episode which involved counting the bolts in the parquet court at Boston Garden is a classic.

The other one with McHale against Gary's Olde Town Tavern also is up there.

 



Top 5 "The C__" Bands

1. The Clash
2. The Cars
3. The Cure
4. The Cult
5. The Call
Cheap Trick, Crazy Horse and Creedence Clearwater Revival would like to have a word with you. 😉
 
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