For a description of how I arrived at the list, please see part one of the series.
70. Battle Royale (Kinji Fukasaku, 2000)
This was one of my first exposures to Asian cinema and from the moment I saw it I was forever in its debt as it pushed me hard in the direction of films from that part of the world that has ultimately offered some of the finest I have ever seen. This is violent stuff, with more than a few scenes that would shock the average movie goer, but it also has a strange meaning and legitimacy behind it all. The iconic imagery, of particularly the innocent school kid uniforms, stays with you and this is has justly garnered a cult following. And consider me part of that.
69. Catch Me If You Can (Steven Spielberg, 2002)
Although certainly not Mr Spielberg's finest work, it is arguably my outright favourite of his. The combination of his ability to weave scenes together and to always make things seem fresh, and the performance of Leonardo DiCaprio make this is a thoroughly satisfying watch. And in general I am sucker for con movies; even when they aren't all that great I still get a kick out of seeing a con being pulled off with a nice little twist at the end. This is sophisticated stuff and it always manages to engross me every single time I watch it.
68. Saving Private Ryan (Steve Spielberg, 1998)
Unquestionably, undoubtedly, unequivocally the opening of this is the greatest war sequence in the history of film. That opening 20 minutes is one of the most harrowing, engrossing, and downright scary scenes I have ever witnessed. And granted after that opening sequence the film never quite reaches the same height, but so what? There are so many elements that make this worthy of being on any top 100 film list: the acting, the storytelling, the well-written characters, and the realistic portrayal of World War II in general. Am I wrong in thinking that Spielberg is indeed a master of his craft? I think not.
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