Upset movie fans out in force

Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) and Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) in Star Wars. Source: Herald Sun

THE Shawshank Redemption and the original Star Wars movie were controversial omissions from a list of the 100 must-see movies of all time.

Some Herald Sun readers also baulked at The Castle and The Sound of Music's failure to make it into the list.

Compiled by movie guru Leigh Paatsch and published on Saturday, the list was topped by The Godfather parts 1 and 2 and Citizen Kane.

Readers on heraldsun.com.au were passionate about what they thought should have been included.

'Tim G of Australia' wrote: "Star Wars the original missing, yet many films influenced by them included ... this is WRONG!!!''

'Max Power of Melbourne' agreed: "Not a bad list but surprised that Star Wars IV,V,VI didn't make it for sci-fi, The Ring (Japanese version) for horror and Shawshank Redemption for just being a good bloody movie.''

"Someone has lost the plot (pardon the pun). How can Star Wars not rank anywhere let alone not in the top 5 sci-fi of all time????'' 'Bernard of Niddrie' asked.

Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins in a scene from The Shawshank Redemption.

Paatsch said he understood why Star Wars fans would get upset about the omission because it was more than a film series for them.

"Telling a Star Wars fan that their film isn't one of the top 100 films of all time is like telling a Collingwood supporter in any given year that their team is not going to win the premiership. It might be the truth, but they don't want to hear it,'' Paatsch said.

Jen Barry wrote that The Shawshank Redemption was an undisputed classic.

But 'Richard of Melbourne' disagreed: "Gah! Way too many modern era movies for my liking. Drives me nuts when people put in a few 'classic' old movies when there are SO many great ones. Not enough depressing European films! Also: The Shawshank Redemption has no place in a great movies list.''

Paatsch said he would be struggling to put The Shawshank Redemption in his top 500.

"It has its absolute devotees but you can only go on gut feeling with a list like this,'' Paastch said.

Other movies that readers thought should have been included were Ben-Hur and Picnic at Hanging Rock.

Titanic's inclusion on the list was also controversial, some saying it was the worst movie ever.

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