Best Film of 1981 (ongoing survey)

[JonTurner]

A quick note:

Some people are now saying it's before their time, so they haven't seen enough to vote... If you've seen even one film that you really liked from the year, and thus you consider it the best you've seen (even if it's the only one you've seen), go ahead and vote. Heck, I was born in '82, so yeah, it's before my time too, but I've still got a favorite from most years back at least through the 70s, even if I've just seen 2 or 3 from the year.


I know we've got polls like this all the time around here, but I figure this one will be a little more comprehensive and perhaps even informative.

This thread will be for your pick for best film released during 1981 (think Oscar considerations for what's eligible). I'm not making it a poll because whether you like it or not, that would influence some people's choice.

Results will be posted in this thread, and all subsequent threads for each year, and they will be ongoing... so you can still vote here even weeks after other year's polls have begun.

Please start your post with your #1 film from 1981 (try to limit it to one - after all, that's the point - two at the most (I'll split the vote)), and yes, discussions are more than welcome!

Current Leader -- Raiders of the Lost Ark

All Years:
2000 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=169768) -- Requiem For a Dream*
1999 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=170274) -- Fight Club*
1998 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=171440) -- (currently) Saving Private Ryan
1997 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=172054) -- (currently) Boogie Nights
1996 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=173057) -- Fargo*
1995 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=174141) -- (currently) Braveheart
1994 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=175192) -- Pulp Fiction*
1993 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=176491) -- Schindler's List*
1992 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=177944) -- Unforgiven*
1991 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=179517) -- Silence of the Lambs*
1990 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=182060) -- Goodfellas*
1989 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=183974) -- (currently) Do the Right Thing
1988 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=186578) -- Die Hard*
1987 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=189840) -- Full Metal Jacket*
1986 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=193610) -- (currently) Ferris Bueller's Day Off
1985 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=195894) -- Back to the Future*
1984 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=197576) -- (currently) Ghostbusters
1983 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=199215) -- Return of the Jedi*
1982 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=201052) -- (currently) E.T.
1981 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=202653) -- Raiders of the Lost Ark*
1980 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=204201)

If you haven't voted on the previous years, feel free to go back and do so.

*Poll closed, winner declared.

[JonTurner]

I've only seen 4 films from the year, but my favorite, by a long shot, is:

Body Heat - 10/10

Siskel:
1) Ragtime
2) My Dinner with Andre
3) Raiders of the Lost Ark
4) Mon Oncle d'Amerique
5) Gates of Heaven
6) Bye Bye Brazil
7) Prince of the City
8) Melvin and Howard
9) Body Heat
10) The French Lieutenant's Woman

Ebert:
1) My Dinner with Andre
2) Chariots of Fire
3) Gates of Heaven
4) Raiders of the Lost Ark
5) Heartland
6) Atlantic City
7) Thief
8) Body Heat
9) Tess
10) Reds

[Sunday Morning]

1981

a no brainer...

#1. raiders of the lost ark

02. tess
03. reds
04. modern romance
05. body heat
06. prince of the city
07. who am I this time?
08. diva
09. blow out
10. an american werewolf in london

11. the decline of western civilization
12. christiane f.
13. meantime
14. the woman next door
15. arthur
16. escape from new york
17. superman 2
18. polyester
19. endless love
20. my dinner with andre

of note:
american pop
brooklyn bridge
excalibur
the french lieutenant’s woman
gates of heaven
gregory’s girl
the hand
mon oncle d’amerique
ms. 45
on golden pond
mephisto
pennies from heaven
the postman always rings twice
quartet
southern comfort
taps
time bandits
vernon, florida

[Robert]

<b>Raiders of the Lost Ark</b>

[Scot1458]

RADIERS OF THE LOST ARK

[Geofferson]

Raiders of the Lost Ark
An American Werewolf in London

[randy1320]

Without a doubt:
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

[LBPound]

<b>My Dinner with Andre</b>

[Goat3001]

Raiders of the Lost Ark

[Johnny Zhivago]

Might as well go ahead and close this... Raiders will win in a landslide.

That said, since these are starting to turn into "my favorite film" from each year instead of "best film" from said year... I'll vote for An American Werewolf In London.

Best film though was Chariots of Fire...

[ToddSm66]

1. Raiders of the Lost Ark
2. Time Bandits
3. Chariots of Fire
4. Excalibur
5. Stripes
6. S.O.B.
7. Victory
8. Arthur

[Jeremy517]

Poll closed, winner declared ;)

Raiders of the Lost Ark

[Sierra Disc]

Raiders it is.

[cineman]

Raiders of the Lost Ark

[garmonbozia]

While I am really tempted to vote for Polyester since it is my favorite John Waters film, I'm gonna go with Peter Weir's Gallipoli.

[DVD Smurf]

Mephisto :) This is acting!

[Mountain Biker]

Raiders of the Lost Ark hands down.

[funstan]

By partaking in this concert you are consenting to have your ugly f*****g likeness used in a motion picture. Now f**k off!!!!

First line of my fave from that year, "The Decline of Western Civilization."

[Gdrlv]

Raiders of the Lost Ark...what else? :)

[evanmd]

Raiders of the Lost Ark :) DUH

[evenflow]

Originally posted by Johnny Zhivago


That said, since these are starting to turn into "my favorite film" from each year instead of "best film" from said year...



I agree. I still can't believe Return of the Jedi, the worst of the original trilogy, won for best film of 1983.
My worthless vote goes to Time Bandits, BTW. Nowhere near Gilliam's best but better than the other movies that came out that year, IMO. Runner up would be Raiders of the Lost Ark.

[RobCA]

Arthur

[Eddyhazkel]

Stripes !

[Tuan Jim]

Chariots of Fire
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Gallipoli
Time Bandits

Tuan Jim

[Hulkabrgr]

Raiders of the Lost Ark
Strpies
Chariots of Fire

[TCG]

Raiders...
History of the World
Clash of the Titans

[Jaymole]

Atlantic City inching out Prince of the City & Raiders of the Lost Ark

[dave955]

Body Heat, though Raiders is certainly a worthy movie as well (unlike the film that won in 1983)

[B.A.]

raiders of the lost ark, with gallipoli and time bandits close behind

[DVDAnt]

Definitely

Raiders of the Lost Ark

[swamptours]

Has to be The Raiders of the Lost Ark. One of the best movies ever made.

[Johnny Zhivago]

Bump ^

Think this one was pretty obvious from the start... Time for 1980?

[explosivej]

Stripes

[Damfino]

In before the close and because somebody had to vote for...

Chariots of Fire

[JonTurner]

Yeah, pretty obvious from the get-go... I usually wait a full week between years, but if I get a chance tonight, I'll go ahead and start '80, and of course, have this one closed.

[Jango Fett II]

Raiders of the Lost Ark

[DarthMarino]

Raiders of the Lost Ark

[cortan]

Originally posted by DarthMarino
Raiders of the Lost Ark

I can't believe no one has mentioned Raiders yet!

I figured on this forum surely someone woud have by now.

Oh well, I'll just start the trend then.

Best and only picture I remember seeming to remember seeing that I recall that I for sure saw was Reinduhrs fur teh fast ork

[JonTurner]

We have a shocker! Who'd've guessed it, but Raiders of the Lost Ark, or something like that (don't ask me, it's not on DVD so I haven't seen it ;)), has come out of nowhere to take it!

1) Raiders of the Lost Ark (21 votes)
2) Body Heat / Chariots of Fire / Stripes (2 each)

Alright, with the biggest landslide yet out of the way,

1980 should be much more interesting: (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=204201)

Obviously, this one's been begging to be closed, so as soon as I can IM a mod or one sees this, it's history.

[GeoffK]

closing thread at request of thread starter