watch the AFI Top 100 movies

When I decided to complete the list, I had seen 54 of 100. After watching “Duck Soup” this evening, I’ve made it through all 100. Some dogs… some new favorites. It was most interesting to see which older films still held up, and which ones clearly offered something edgy at the time, but whose time had evidently passed. The enthusiasm I felt as I broke into the last 15 was great, and the sensation of completion is awesome.

After just watching “The Deer Hunter” I am just 2 films away from completing the AFI 100. I should be able to achieve this goal over this weekend, finishing off the list with “The French Connection” and “Duck Soup.”

86 down now, after finishing One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

The next 3 in hand, either on DVD or on my DVR. Gonna finish this goal. The finish line is almost in sight!

After watching yet another, completing “All Quiet on the Western Front” this evening, I am now 76% complete.

When I decided to complete watching all 100, I had 46 to see (or re-see, because if I couldn’t remember for certain if I had seen it, it probably needed another screening). I also didn’t want to push too hard, with any marathon screening sessions, since there is still normal life to be lead.

As I begin 2008, I only have 29 left, having checked off 71 of 100 films. The last two I’ve seen were “Gone with the Wind” and “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

I’ve found that going to the nearby public library has been a great source for borrowing the classics, and watching 1 or 2 per weekend is a pretty doable rate.

When I decided to finish off my list, I was wondering if I would actually see anything that I would end up considering to be a favorite.

The first two that I watched since starting towards completion were “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “Godfather II.” Both excellent, but I can’t say I’d make the effort to watch either again.

Then I watched “The Apartment.” Fantastic. I wouldn’t mind owning it, in fact. Jack and Shirley are really outstanding.

I followed that with “The Manchurian Candidate” which was also really enjoyable. Amusingly, the remake was on cable this weekend, and it was interesting to see how closely or loosely they stuck to the original.

And lastly, I just watched “The African Queen.” I had seen most of it before, but never the first act. Now it feels complete.

In the cue on my DVR… “Jankie Doodle Dandy” and “High Noon” (which I also think I’ve seen, but I think I enjoyed it and want to see it again all the way through).

My buddy Mike has also hooked me up with “Dr. Strangelove.”

Well, after just watching “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (#50 on the list) this weekend, I’ve only got 45 to go. (Only? Oh boy.)

Anyway, I think I had actually seen it before, but perhaps long ago, and probably not the whole thing.

Now… what shall I watch next? Hmm… (I was going to aim for working from the top down, but it might be a more enjoyable outcome to work my way up.)

(Make that 56… I watched “The Godfather II” before the night was through.)