The perfect film?

[Warped9]

I'm posting this here even though it could just as easily have been in TV & Media. But since any genre can be discussed I figured it fit here best.

I can't think of any film that escapes criticism, and even before it's actually been released. So that begs the question:

Have you ever seen a perfect film? I mean a film where you walked away completely satisfied and found yourself thinking, "I wouldn't change a thing."


I think perhaps a lot might have to do with how much you have invested in the film (in terms of expectations and biases). There are films I love and I can still have quibbles over.

At least a few do come immediately to mind:
L.A. Confidential
Gladiator
The Shawshank Redemption
Unforgiven
Master And Commander
The Godfather
The Great Escape

But when it comes to genre and science fiction it starts to get dicey. I'm really feeling pressed to name genre films I found flawless. Maybe I just have to think about it more. The only ones that come immediately to mind are the original Planet Of The Apes, Alien, Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Terminator 2 and Aliens.


So anyone have a film they think was note perfect?

 

[sojourner]

The Hunt for Red October is pretty pitch perfect to me. Not a sci-fi film, but it is one of the few movies I prefer over the original book.

 

[Warped9]

The Hunt for Red October is pretty pitch perfect to me. Not a sci-fi film, but it is one of the few movies I prefer over the original book.

Agreed. The book makes more sense, but it would be a bitch to film with so many characters. And, yeah, I can't really think of anything to criticize in the film.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

Two films that are about as close to perfect as I can imagine are The Fellowship of the Ring and The Empire Strikes Back.

 

[Agent Richard07]

I recently saw Prisoners. It's really good.

 

[theenglish]

One film that comes to mind is the original Matrix. I had no idea what the movie was about going in and was completely wowed. Also, and this may be my age, but the theatrical version of ET was a perfect movie-going experience for me.

Also, if your question is about how a person "feels" when leaving the cinema rather than the technical execution of the film, then the list increases substantially. I felt great about the entire Star Wars OT for example and never really looked for flaws in the films until watching them on VHS later on. I can say the same about several of the Star Trek films.

 

[Harvey]

There are plenty of films that I enjoy from start to finish, but a "perfect" film? No such thing exists. It's too complicated an art form made by too many people for such a thing. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[MacLeod]

I think I have to agree with Harvey, there is no such thing as a 'perfect film', sure they are many films that I do enjoy, I think what the OP means , 'what films wouldn't you change'. It doesn't mean that they are perfect films but you are happy with them as they are.

 

[Agent Richard07]

One film that comes to mind is the original Matrix. I had no idea what the movie was about going in and was completely wowed.

That was my experience too.

 

[Gaith]

There are plenty of films that I enjoy from start to finish, but a "perfect" film? No such thing exists. It's too complicated an art form made by too many people for such a thing. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

It's rare, but it does happen sometimes.

(Okay, so there's a certain matter of a nightgown that could be nitpicked, but that'd just be ungrateful. )
​

 

[BigJake]

Though Harvey's point is well-taken at a certain level, yes, I can think of a number of films which -- whether or not they're "perfect" in some elusive Platonically-ideal sense -- nevertheless answer to this description:

a film where you walked away completely satisfied and found yourself thinking, "I wouldn't change a thing."

For non-genre films:

Goodfellas
The Godfather, Pt. II
Better Luck Tomorrow (a little-known indie film whose director is now, a bit tragically, doing G.I. Joe movies)
Waltz with Bashir
Jackie Brown, Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs
Mulholland Falls
The Conversation
Ikiru
Barry Lyndon
City of God
Spartacus
The Big Lebowski

... and I would agree with your list with the possible exceptions of Gladiator and Shawshank Redemption (both fine films nevertheless).

But when it comes to genre and science fiction it starts to get dicey. I'm really feeling pressed to name genre films I found flawless.

The Incredibles (perfectly crafted from so many different angles that it's almost miraculous)
The Thing (John Carpenter's version, obviously)
The Princess Bride
2001: A Space Odyssey
Solaris (the original Tarkovsky film, although Clooney's adaptation is good as well and underrated)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Being John Malkovich
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
District 9
Alien and Aliens
... and I'm tempted to say Avatar (not that original, but perfectly crafted beat-by-beat for what it's doing)

You're right, the genre list is tougher.

 

[The Old Mixer]

"The perfect film" is my nickname for Raiders of the Lost Ark.

 

[BillJ]

A film where I wouldn't change a thing? 2010: The Year We Make Contact.

Just something about it works on every level for me.

 

[Timby]

"The perfect film" is my nickname for Raiders of the Lost Ark.

That's usually my fallback, along with Alien, Ghostbusters and especially Jurassic Park.

 

[1001001]

I think Field of Dreams is just about perfect.

Other candidates:

LOTR (all three)
The Empire Strikes Back
Jurassic Park
Pulp Fiction
Gladiator

 

[Harvey]

Well, if we're going with films where I wouldn't change a thing...

North by Northwest
2001: A Space Odyssey
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Alien
Jackie Brown
Starship Troopers

Of course, following that definition, there's another class of films that I have no choice but to let through without change as well:

The Room
Plan 9 From Outer Space
Sleepaway Camp

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

The Hunt for Red October is pretty pitch perfect to me. Not a sci-fi film, but it is one of the few movies I prefer over the original book.

Agreed. The book makes more sense, but it would be a bitch to film with so many characters. And, yeah, I can't really think of anything to criticize in the film.

I always thought there was a big mistake that James Earl Jones knew that the Dallas had found the Red October ("the sub we had tracking her radio'ed in") but then later they make a big deal of Ryan figuring out that the Dallas found her.

That, and Skip should not have both legs..


Otherwise, yes, it's perfect.

 

[Gaith]

Y'all are forgetting an important one:

 

[BillJ]

Y'all are forgetting an important one:

Ugh.

 

[sidious618]

I agree with Harvey about no film being perfect and I'm not sure that I've ever thought, 'I'd change nothing," although I was pretty close to that after seeing All Is Lost, but I'd have to see it again to be sure.

The closest I can come to are:

-Mulholland Drive
-Star Wars
-The Shining
-Taxi Driver
-Fargo
-Airplane!
-The Innocents (although I need to see it again to be sure)
-Alien