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Empire readers kind of dig Seven Samurai

Empire Magazine, which I find a useful source of information only because whatever movies they like I usually hate and vice versa, has polled 50,000 people to find out what the “best” film out there is. I am now glad to report that Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai only just made the top 100 of this list which is headed by George Lucas’s early cinematic masterpiece Star Wars. Seven Samurai was in fact 93rd.

The top 10 can be seen here, in case you are interested. To be honest, I actually quite like two of the films on that list (numbers 5 & 6), and have nothing particular against three others (7, 9, 10).


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Jeremy Quintanilla

The Shawshank Redemption is the only movie, I feel holds a rightful position. I do like the films mention on the top 10, but none I feel have any business on there, some no business even on the top 100.

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Ben

Uh yeah, OK… This is why I sometimes really hate the majority of people and want to act like a film snob who wants to know better… Donnie Darko??? I think I know what crowd they polled, especially when Babel and Borat appear on the list.

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Vili Maunula

Do you guys actually get the Empire Magazine over at the western side of the Atlantic?

It’s probably the biggest selling movie magazine in Europe (I could be wrong about this), and widely loved by film buffs who consider George Lucas, Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez to be the greatest living directors, and who mourn the demise of John Woo.

One reason why I personally keep an eye on what is written on the cover pages of Empire is so that I know which films I probably should avoid. This is a bit like taking a quick look at the Q Magazine, a British music magazine also published by EMAP, whose music tastes are totally different from mine. Sometimes it is even more valuable to know what not to waste your time with than what you should go and see or listen.

As for Donnie Darko, I think it is actually a fun little film, and although it has no place in a top 10 of anything, I really quite like the way that it captures the mood (real or imaginary) of the late 80s teen world. I’m therefore quite looking forward to Richard Kelly’s second film Southland Tales, if only he gets it out from the very troubled post-production phase.

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Jeremy Quintanilla

No, am not aware of Empire Magazine being available in America. Although there are magazine stores that could get it monthly upon request.

Theres not any popular movie magazine in the states am aware of, there are many celebrity magazines, but movies are rarely given much attention unless to mention what a celebrity is wearing in the movie.
There was one magazine I used to enjoy- Cinematographer Monthly, but in the past 2-3 years it has gone downhill. Around the time they started considering M. Night Shyamalan a movie god, I canceled my subscription. As for music, I generally avoid anyone on the cover of Rolling Stones.

I like Donnie Darko, despite seeing many times and still not able to figure out what the hell the movie was about. Such a movie however getting top 10 credit, destroys the creditability of the list for me.

I must admit, I think the list is better then what, I think the American masses would pick. Old movies like Seven Samurai and Rear Window would mostly likely never be mentioned. Modern foreign films like Amelie or City of God(I think both deserve mention around the bottom of the 100) would likely not be mentioned as well. I would guess the America masses’ top 10 would likely include “300” in the top 3, to give you an idea of the current taste.

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Ben

Yes sir, Jeremy you have a point there about how an American list would differ.
Empire is actually available in the U.S
Everywhere I have ever lived Borders books has it.

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