Films people like to pretend they've seen

[pokerfan]

I've never heard of people pretending to have seen films. Books, sure. A book takes active effort and a lot more time. But pretending to have seen a movie? When all you have to do is sit slack-jawed on your couch fo a couple of hours? :shrug: (I happen to have seen them all and I expect that many Loungers have as well.)

A new survey conducted by British video rental service LOVEFiLM affirmed what we already knew, but don’t necessarily like to admit: People lie about having seen films they haven’t. The poll surveyed Brits to find out whether they’d ever lied about seeing movies they hadn’t — and if so, which movies they’d fibbed about watching. 80% of respondents confessed to having fudged the truth about their cinematic knowledge at some point, with Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather topping the list of movies people pretend to have seen.

1. The Godfather
2. Casablanca
3. Taxi Driver
4. 2001: A Space Odyssey
5. Reservoir Dogs
6. This Is Spinal Tap
7. Apocalypse Now
8. Goodfellas
9. Blade Runner
10. The Great Escape

http://www.slashfilm.com/the-godfather-tops-list-films-people-pretend

[fizzgig]

1. i have seen only one of those movies

and it was on cable, so it was pretty much useless

[pokerfan]

2. Really?

At least go rent The Great Escape and Blade Runner.

[Richardo]

13. Funny - those are the only two I *haven't* seen

:D

[Keith Bee]

52. 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9.....

...with Apocalypse Now and Blade Runner tied for best of the bunch.

[Brickbat]

3. I have not seen Taxi Driver or Reservoir Dogs off that list. Casablanca was on in a room where I was

drunk and saying disgusting things after every line, so I don't really count that one either.

[pokerfan]

5. For me, Taxi Driver is the weakest of the ten

and Reservoir Dogs will depend upon the individual. If you liked Pulp Fiction, you will like RD.

[NewJeffCT]

4. I've only seen

Godfather, This is Spinal Tap & Goodfellas.

I've yet to see Blade Runner or any of the others in the list of 10

[pokerfan]

6. I recommend The Great Escape

Great cast: Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasence, James Coburn, etc. PBS' Nova devoted an http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/greatescape/harry.html">episode to the true story:

[sarge43]

25. One of the best guy flicks ever. n/t

[siligut]

61. Netflix has Blade Runner on instant view

That and Ronin are Mr. Gut's favorites, so I have seen Blade Runner several times and it is always enjoyable.

[Moondog]

7. Interesting list.

I hadn't seen 2001 in years, and recently caught it on cable. And I wondered why I had liked it the first time through. I don't think it has aged well.

I've never seen Spinal Tap. And I have never managed to get all the way through Taxi Driver.

Liked the rest of them, though.

[pokerfan]

9. too slowly paced for a modern audience

With one arm tied behind his back JJ Abrams could edit that sucker down into a twenty minute short.

And add in some CGI lens flares while he was at it.

[MrScorpio]

8. Except for Spinal Tap, I've seen every one of them

Plus, I saw Apocalypse Now (Twice) and Blade Runner in the theater. I have 2001 and Apocalypse Now (Director's cut) on DVD. And I've seen all of them (Except for Spinal Tap) multiple times.

But then again, I'm a movie nut

[pokerfan]

10. You'd probably enjoy Spinal Tap

and if memory serves...

Theater:
- 2001: A Space Odyssey
- Apocalypse Now
- Blade Runner
- Taxi Driver

Video:
- The Godfather
- Reservoir Dogs
- This Is Spinal Tap
- Goodfellas
- The Great Escape
- Casablanca

[Initech]

18. I dont know anyone who doesn't like Spinal Tap.

[Orrex]

45. Then, sir, I submit that you do not know me.

[Kablooie]

72. I liked the movie but not the procedure.

[jmowreader]

43. If you have a Blu-ray player, it's worth upgrading Apocalypse Now

It's a two-disc set. Disc 2 has all the extras you'd expect on a modern video release.

Disc 1, tho, has high-res versions of BOTH the original release and the "Redux" director's cut. This is good if you sometimes don't feel like sitting through the three added things in the "Redux" version (the extended surfing scene, the French dinner party and the Streetgang crew screwing the Playboy bunnies).

[WolverineDG]

62. You've never seen Spinal Tap?

:wow: :wtf: really?

dg

[MrScorpio]

76. Really!

[Initech]

11. I've seen and own at least half those.

[IcyPeas]

12. 4 out of 10

godfather
this is spinal tap = (it cracks me up that this is in the list)
apocalypse now
goodfellas

mafia
spoof
war
mafia....

and I am not pretending :-)

[Demoiselle]

14. I've never seen, pretty much intentionally:

Taxi Driver, Reservoir Dogs, Apocalypse Now and Goodfellas. I don't pretend to be an inconoclastic movie critic...they just don't sound like my cup of tea, as it were.
All being, I am given to understand, violent, more than a little nasty.

I've seen bits and pieces of The Godfather and find it tedious, humorless, and overblown. I saw 2001 years ago....and hated it.
That leaves me with Casablanca, Spinal Tap, Blade Runner and The Great Escape as big big favorites. Does this say something profound about my shortcomings?

[MilesColtrane]

26. "I've seen bits and pieces of The Godfather and find it tedious, humorless..."

Are you waiting for Godfather: The Musical?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeJj9k851R0

[Demoiselle]

40. Nah....I guess I hoped for a bit of sardonic humor with all

the rough stuff. Maybe I just didn't get it. And I guess the truth is, to my eyes, no amount of fine tailoring and cinematography can make these guys anything other than thugs.

[csziggy]

67. My list of never seens is similar to yours

I saw Reservoir Dogs once and wished I had not. I've never seen The Godfather other than clips shown on other programs. I really don't like watching movies or TV about people I would not want to meet. I'll never watch Silence of the Lambs, for instance.

While I can appreciate the humor of Spinal Tap, I really, really never intend to watch again if I can help it. I've seen it several times, hoping I would enjoy it more with repetition. I did not.

The ones I enjoy watching over again are Casablanca, Blade Runner and the Great Escape. I like 2001 but these days I tend to fall asleep somewhere around the time Hal gets testy.

[blueamy66]

15. 4 for me

I won't lie.

[MorningGlow]

16. I've seen 'em all*

* I could be lying. ;)

Actually, I HAVE seen them all except for 2001: A Space Odyssey. I tried to get through it once (on cable) when I was a teenager, but I failed. I confess.

[lunatica]

17. I've seen them all except Reservoir Dogs and Spinal Tap

[tishaLA]

19. Haven't seen Great Escape, but I have seen the rest

I thought the list would include Battleship Potemkin, Metropolis, and things like that.

[WinkyDink]

21. "TGE" is AWESOME.

[petronius]

29. Films can't be lied about if they're not being talked about at all

:)

Which is unfortunate, of course, in the cases you mention (although I confess I've not gotten around to Metropolis)...

[tishaLA]

31. the restored version of Metropolis is really amazing

and I'm really not a fan of silent films.

[pokerfan]

32. I'm surprised Citizen Kane isn't on the list

supposedly The Greatest Film of All Time and one I haven't seen...

edit: because I misspelled Kane.

[WinkyDink]

20. I freely own up to "classics" I haven't watched. E.g., "Wizard of Oz."

Do. Not. Care.

[LiberalAndProud]

77. It may be embarrasing to admit this, but I adore the Wizard.

My mom is a true Judy Garland fan, so maybe I had no choice.
:blush:

[one_voice]

22. I've seen all except...

The Great Escape.

[Duer 157099]

33. Same here. And multiple times each, too

Those are all great films, why would anyone not want to see them?

[Bucky]

23. The film everyone pretends they know about is Rashoman. Constantly referred to.

I finally saw it, but it turned out to be nothing at all like that episode of Good Times in which the apartment caught on fire, but JJ, Thelma, & Michael each remembered the story of how fire got started completely differently. In my opinion they need to re-edit Rashoman to make it more like Good Times.

[sarge43]

24. Except for Reserrvoir Dogs, seen all of them

Have six in my DVD collection. Seen seven on them on initial release.

[MilesColtrane]

27. I'd think anything by Bergman would be on that list,...

among a certain type of pseudo-intellectual hipsters.

[QED]

28. I've seen 5

Godfather, Casablanca (like a million times - it's my favorite!), 2001 (yawn), Spinal Tap (Harry Shearer a.k.a. Mr. Burns!), and The Great Escape.

I was just searching Netflix for something to watch tonight and had settled on some Marx Brothers - Duck Soup and A Night in Casablanca. Just need to make the popcorn.

[Paradoxical]

30. I've seen all but the Godfather.

[Incitatus]

34. 1. The Godfather , 5. Reservoir Dogs 7. Apocalypse Now 8. Goodfellas The Great Escape nt

[chollybocker]

35. Scorcese and Coppola make up half the list.

Including The Great Escape at #10 is a real clunker.

Citizen Kane, Metropolis, The Maltese Falcon, Gone with the Wind, Grapes of Wrath; all would fit onto this list.

[MrScorpio]

36. I first saw The Great Escape for film class in HS

Loved it ever since.

[Paladin]

37. Every One Of Those Movies Is Worth Seeing. Multiple Times. (n/t)

[PassingFair]

38. Worst on the list: The Godfather -- Best on list: Tie Between Goodfellas and Spinal Tap

I've seen them all.

[BrendaBrick]

39. You Talkin' To Me? ;-) nt

[stuntcat]

41. only seen five of those, I think

I saw Apocalypse Now just last year, and that was not an easy movie to watch ;(

I've watched Blade Runner and Casablanca over again a lot of times!!

[nuxvomica]

42. I've seen all of them except "Taxi Driver"

These are some really good movies. People are missing out.

[Orrex]

44. I've seen them all, and I own seven of them

I honestly don't care that much for The Godfather or This is Spinal Tap, though.

[Inchworm]

46. Never even HEARD of The Great Escape

So, since I've seen all but it and Spinal Tap and liked most, I'll look it up.

Hehe, there is always that possibility that I've seen it and never knew its name. :dunce:

:hi:

EDIT: I realized I never really saw Spinal Tap lol.. guess I lied initially :rofl:

[RandomThoughts]

48. The great escape is a classic.

Really good movie.

[pokerfan]

55. It's worth a rental

Written by James Clavell based on the book by Paul Brickhill based on the true story and directed by John Sturges (Magnificent Seven).

Fun fact: James Clavell as well as several cast members had been actual POWs during World War II. Clavell by the Japanese, Donald Pleasence by the Germans, Hannes Messemer in a Russian camp and Til Kiwe and Hans Reiser were prisoners of the Americans. When Pleasence kindly offered advice to the film's director John Sturges, he was politely asked to keep his "opinions" to himself. Later, when another star from the film informed John Sturges that Pleasence had actually been a RAF Officer in a World War II German POW Stalag camp, Sturges requested his technical advice and input on historical accuracy from that point forward.

Great theme song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbsuAbTTsV8

[Inchworm]

63. Hehe- seen it

Thanks for the link. I was too lazy to actually look it up :blush:

:thumbsup:

I'll pass on Spinal Tap :rofl:

:hi:

[trackfan]

47. My list....

1. The Godfather - never seen all the way through
2. Casablanca - seen many times
3. Taxi Driver - never seen all the way through
4. 2001: A Space Odyssey - seen once
5. Reservoir Dogs - never heard of
6. This Is Spinal Tap - seen once
7. Apocalypse Now - never seen
8. Goodfellas - never seen
9. Blade Runner - never seen
10. The Great Escape - seen many times

[Iggo]

49. I've never been able to sit through Spinal Tap.

The rest of 'em are great, though.

[Lucinda]

51. I love Spinal Tap.

And all of the other films that those guys have done together since ST. They crack me up.

[Lucinda]

50. Not only have I seen them all...I've seen a few multiple times

Blade Runner is one of my fella's favorite movies. :)

[bikebloke]

53. Never saw Spinal Tap

I finally saw Blade Runner all the way through recently. Before that, I think I saw a bit at a hostel somewhere while travelling.

Didn't much care for Reservoir Dogs of Goodfellas. But seeing films first on VHS, then a repeated viewing on DVD they improve.

I'm curious as to how 2001 hold up.

The Great Escape, Casablanca and Godfathers (I & II) are some of my all-time greats.

[geardaddy]

54. I've seen them all

yeah... that's right... all of 'em.

:hide:

[charlie and algernon]

56. only saw 1, 7, 8, and 10

[arbusto_baboso]

57. I've never been able to sit thru #s 1 & 8.

The rest, I've seen.

[blogslut]

58. Okay, here I go

1. The Godfather

I freely admit that I deliberately avoided this film for 35 years. When that Puzo book came out, my parents and older brothers would not. shut. up. about it. In a classic self-sabotaging rebel move, I declined their offers to take me along with them when the film came out. Instead, my father took me to see "Cabaret" and I chose my side in the family Oscar battle. I danced the happy dance every time one of the people from "my" film picked up their statuette. I was righteously pissed that my film did not win best Oscar.

35 years later I made a bet with a friend that if he would rent and watch "Cabaret" I would rent and watch "The Godfather". He never came through on his end but I did. "The Godfather" was a brilliant film and I regret it took me so long to see it. Then again, 35 years gave me a perspective that I did not possess at 12. Just the same, I rented and watched "Cabaret" recently and it was better than I remembered. It too, is a brilliant fucking film and people who blow it off because it's a musical or because of Liza Minelli are fools.

2. Casablanca

I have not seen this film from beginning to end but I have watched almost every scene by catching parts of it on televised broadcasts and clips played via film retrospectives. I need to sit down and watch it.

3. Taxi Driver

I rented and saw this when it first came out on DVD. To me, the end of this film was its saving grace. Without that cynical (and I think tacked on) ending, this would just been a very unpleasant movie about totally unlikable characters.

4. 2001: A Space Odyssey

I went to see this when it was re-released in 77, the same year I discovered the wonders of marijuana. The opening sequence blew my damned mind but for the life of me, I totally blocked out the rest of the movie. I rented and watched it a couple of years ago. That opening sequence is still one of the finest segments ever committed to celluloid. I very much liked the rest of the film up until that last part which I thought was silly and very much inspired by drugs much stronger than pot.

5. Reservoir Dogs

I love the opening sequence at the cafe but I just can't handle the bit with Michael Madsen torturing that cop.

6. This Is Spinal Tap

They played bits from this at a video bar I worked at in the 80's so often it feels like I've seen the whole film. I have not and I need to.

7. Apocalypse Now

I saw this during its initial theatrical release. It was good but I liked "The Deer Hunter" more.

8. Goodfellas

Seen it. Seen it again and again. It's what got me hooked on Scorcese. I can't imagine why anyone would choose to live that kind of life but this a mesmerising film.

9. Blade Runner

I saw this when it came out in theaters. I liked it but I never joined the cult of "Blade Runner". The sci-fi film that chunked my salsa in the 1980's was "Videodrome".

10. The Great Escape

I loved this film from the first time it was broadcast on national television. Every time I watch it, I just know Steve McQueen is gonna make that jump.

[bigwillq]

59. I've seen six of those 10 (nt)

[Swede]

60. I've seen them all.

Some of them multiple times,some only once a long time ago.

[deutsey]

64. I've seen all but Goodfellas

For some reason, I just haven't gotten around to seeing it.

I think all the others are great films.

In particular, I've seen The Godfather I (and II) several times. A great American tragedy about how a good person gains the world and loses his soul, imo. I've only seen Godfather III once and will probably keep it that way. I love the first two parts and prefer to pretend the third one doesn't exist.

I've also seen Spinal Tap and Apocalypse Now numerous times.

[kedrys]

65. OK...

1. The Godfather - never seen it
2. Casablanca - saw it on cable 6 months ago for the first time
3. Taxi Driver - never seen it
4. 2001: A Space Odyssey - saw it when it came out, own it, and have seen it at least 40 times
5. Reservoir Dogs - never seen it
6. This Is Spinal Tap - saw it when it came out, don't own it but watch it when it's on cable
7. Apocalypse Now - saw it once, that was enough, thank you
8. Goodfellas - never seen it
9. Blade Runner - saw it when it came out, liked it but evidently didn't really get it until years later - a masterpiece
10. The Great Escape - never seen it all the way through

[Kat45]

66. Interesting list. Why do people consider it important to have seen those films?

I've also never heard of people lying about seeing movies, but I have to wonder why they'd feel they have to lie about those movies in particular.

I've seen all but three. I intentionally did not see Reservoir Dogs or Apocalypse Now because they're too gross/violent for me. Blade Runner didn't interest me at the time, but I've become curious about it recently and I'll probably check it out.

[Lyric]

68. I've seen Reservoir Dogs, but I don't remember it well.

The part with Michael Madsen and "Stuck in the Middle" haunts my brain. The others I've never seen.

[jcboon]

69. I've seen them all

Multiple times.
I consider most of them essential to Baby Boomer cultural literacy.
I could have live without seeing Reservoir Dogs or even Apocalypse Now.
I thought the end of Apocalypse Now was just bad--overblown and overacted.
I lie about having seen "Das Boot"--only seen part of it.
I have seen "Metropolis" and "Nosferatu" (the weirdest movie ever)

[ButterflyBlood]

70. Seen 4

Taxi Driver, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Reservoir Dogs and Goodfellas.

[jcboon]

71. People lie about seeing them

mostly 'cause they get tired of their friends acting them out and saying "Dude! you haven't SEEN. . . .??? At some point you get sick of the shit and nod knowingly, like "yeah--it was awsome. .. " Yawn

[BOG PERSON]

73. how do you not see the godfather

it's on tv almost all the time. you have to actively avoid watching it. like whenever it comes on you have to scramble for the remote to change the channel or you have to run out of the room. it takes a lot of effort.

[Fire Walk With Me]

74. I've seen all of the top ten listed above excepting Casablanca.

[hifiguy]

75. I've seen 1, 3, 6, 7, and 9

all in theaters. Saw the live Spinal Tap tour and my guess was about 10% of the audience wasn't even totally in on the joke. Still got that t-shirt someplace...

Apocalypse Now and the unlisted "Mulholland Drive" are the only films I've ever seen that were still rattling around in my head a month after seeing them.

"It's a fine line between genius and stupidity...."