Unforgiven
This is my first Clint Eastwood western. I liked the small touches the humbled the character of William Muney such as falling into the muck while separating the hogs, having trouble mounting his horse, being unable to hit a bottle using a pistol. I did find the idea that Eastwood's previous partner would have been a black man--Morgan Freeman in this case, but I do always relish seeing Morgan on screen. The opening scene with the slashing scene was very reminiscent of old Hollywood--the mix of the high and low angle shots and the focus on the knife, a-la-Psycho.Labels: clint eastwood, five stars, morgan freeman, western
Finally saw E.T and got to experience that piece of 80s Americana. It is surprising how good the animatronics were in late 80s. In the 90s, when the made the change to 1st generation CG, it seems we regressed a bit in the ability to make films that helped suspend disbelief. Since animatronics were expensive, use of them was more restrained and subtle, which is something I wish we could return to contemporary film. On a side note, the mother is criminally negligent. 
A more irreverent look at war than the other selections on this list. Was interesting to see since I've never seen M*A*S*H, the t.v. series, or a young Donald Sutherland. I'm sure at the time the taunting and needling of Nurse Houlihan was funny at the time, but it sort of reeks of sexual harassment. It's also a bit hard to sympathize with the two main characters since they basically bully anyone who doesn't agree with their rampant drug use, drinking, and womanizing. 
I appear not to be a Marx brothers fan. With a title with the word opera in it, I did raise my hopes slightly. I imagine that many of the stereotypes people have about opera--rich, old people watching, ridiculous plots and costumes was partially formed by this film. The two actual singers, the soprano and tenor, are quite good, but had little to actually do or say, aside from being the plot pieces around which the Marx brothers operated.