1) A Celebration of Violence
It was said during the TV broadcast of the Top-100 that “films reflect and define who we are”. Many of the films on the list are indeed excellent but it’s interesting to notice that a very impressive and high number of these Top-100 movies deal with violence, war, mafia, murder, gangsters, etc... Furthermore, many of the film excerpts during the CBS broadcast showed countless gunshots, stabbings, explosions and murders; it was pretty gruesome at times, …yet, all of this has become so “normal”. The fact that so many of these movies are considered “America’s Best” is what’s really revealing and startling. Sadly, these films perhaps reflect the American reality and the top-100 list does assert an obsession & fascination for violence in American culture. Movies and television are America’s mirror to itself and its window to the world. Should we thus be surprised that the rest of the world perceives the USA as violent?

2) Regarding Fargo, well it might be a good movie for some (let’s acknowledge that it was written and shot with originality), but for others it’s just another very gory, gruesome and violent movie. I can't appreciate Pulp Fiction nor any other Tarantino movie for the same reason: facile glorification of gratuitous violence and gore.

3) Brokeback Mountain’s Absence: Surprising!
It's really surprising that Ang Lee's unforgettable masterpiece Brokeback Mountain which has had such an impact around the world and has been the “most talked about” as well as the “most acclaimed & decorated” movie of the last decade didn't make the cut. The reason is that it’s probably still too recent; the movie came out just a little more than one year prior to the vote. BBM instantly became a "cultural phenomenon" worldwide and already stands as a milestone in the history of cinema. A book entitled “Brokeback Mountain – The Impact of a Film” has recently been published, the quote “I wish I knew how to quit you” is the most frequently used since Titanic’s “I’m the King of the world”, the term "Brokeback" is now common terminology and, "Ennis & Jack" are now part of the American literary and cinematic culture. There are still references to this remarkable film in newspapers, on television, on the Internet and in various columns around the world on a daily basis. Brokeback Mountain has attained instant "cult status" and its impact has crossed borders – in short, it was a true "landmark film". BBM will surely stand the test of time and should definitely be included in the Top-100 list next time...should end up in the Top-20 hands down.

Little Miss Sunshine was not eligible...

Anyone who thinks Little Miss Sunshine is a damn good movie really reflects poor judgment and taste in films or basically just love Jon-Bonet freak pageants and kiddie porn or probably find Happy Gilmore is really a masterpiece in cinematic arts...I guess that would include the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences....After Crash winning Best Picture...things just went downhill..sigh!....

Well I would have to say Titanic is better than Fargo....Titanic was a grand spectacle of a movie with a treacly love story to carry it and makes it all the more entertaining...but the sinking of the damn ship was the thrill of it all...Fargo on the other hand...a small dark comedy...is well written but wasn't nearly entertaining...I left the theater after watching it the first time with a shrug...is that's all there is?...the Minnesota accent got very annoying after a while...Plus Fargo really had no business being in the top 100 list in the first place...say amongst a list of 500 greatest films, I would rank it at around 300ish or 400ish...Titanic would actually be amongst the same as well...Please AFI no more Spielberg lovefest on these top 100 lists. Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan are the only two worthy Spielberg works...the other films are all special effects and no substance...

Compare Vertigo to some other outstanding cinematic works and Vertigo would just look too weak...I would've placed Vertigo at around the 50 or 60 range, not at #9...Raging Bull is considered Scorsese's masterpiece. But amongst other deserving works, it should have been placed in the 20-30ish range....And please AFI enough with the Spielberg lovefest already!

I wrote my thoughts on the website that's posted with my name, so check it out on there.

I was also against redoing the list but I think they made soem great choices and they didn't even redo the list.
I basically thought Titanic was a good choice

Oh! I didn't notice that "North by Northwest" is still on the list -I don't know why. But I'm pleased. :P

And I agree with Frankie R. -where is BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN? Isn't it far more deserving than "Forrest Gump", "Rocky", "The Sixth Sense" (to name only a few)????

(Sigh!) Once again AFI's list was a Steven Spielberg lovefest...seriously Jaws is a good movie but time hasn't been good to the shark...after several viewings you can tell the shark is mechanical...just sooo cheesey looking really. And Raiders of the Lost Ark is fun cinema but not Spielberg's greatest achievements. E.T. still has some appeal but there are far more enchanting and better family films than this--like Beauty & the Beast? Also this event turned out to be a Harrison Ford lovefest as well...all that was missing was Witness and About Henry...come on AFI! Blade Runner? it's good but not great...and American Graffiti...great soundtrack but not a great pic really...Also the list was a little heavy on Vietnam theme pictures...two on the list would have been suffice and quite a number of films from the 90s...Unforgiven is a good western but certainly not a great or memorable western like The Searchers, Shane or Red River. And if you want to include great horror/suspense films...come on! The Sixth Sense? Where's The Exorcist? or Halloween? or Rosemary's Baby? Also musicals are an important part of cinema but the gooey, lovable Sound of Music no longer belongs on the list...would have been nice to see either Chicago, Easter Parade or An American in Paris instead...And sadly of the most current films, it was criminal not to include Brokeback Mountain or The Departed....And what's up with Vertigo at #9...It's not really Hitchcock's best....well there were a lot of derserving films that were overlooked....Annie Hall is still on the list..why?...it's such a dated romance comedy. This list and future lists should be re-named something like the Next 100 Greatest Films of All-Time. Well at least Little Miss Sunshine wasn't included...Thank God!

What I find so crazy with these list is that they well must be the same folks who vote for the Oscars..Where is anything with Louise Beavers? Where is Malcom X, Stormy Weather or Porgy and Bess. Do the Right Thing? Yikes. It was alright but the real talent of Spike is shown in films Malcom X and Inside Man.

The Sixth Sense is on the list , I see dead people. The Lady in the Lake at least you can watch again while it may not be Casablanca, that movie reminded me of the Legend of Hell House.
Greatest Film lists should me more like the Cina Scope Magazine reflecting all of America ( or Canada)

And if you are going to have a list why oh why is anything with DW Griffith still on it. I mean is their a DVD around for that print. Can I rent it? Lastly why do they just put the directors name next to the film. As if the director was the sole creator or somehow made the actors, screen-writers, editors etc work any harder at creating a great film. Maybe like those retired singer concerts next year we will have a better list.