ROTTEN TOMATOES: Five Favorite Films with Roland Emmerich

Five Favorite Films with Roland Emmerich

The director of 2012 reveals his inspirations.

by Alex Vo | November 10, 2009

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Roland Emmerich

We're fairly certain Roland Emmerich's movies hold the record for combined body count. Such a feat is the result of a career built around movies like Independence Day, Godzilla, and The Day After Tomorrow, bombastic, crowd-pleasing disaster movies that frequently leave the planet in ruins. His latest effort is 2012, opening this Friday and starring John Cusack, Amanda Peet, and Chiwetel Ejiofor as survivors in a world tearing apart at the seams and submerging in water. Rotten Tomatoes spoke to Emmerich to get his Five Favorite Films, and on the following page you can read our interview, where he discusses the upcoming 2012 television show, his thoughts on Avatar, and creating popcorn movies on a global scale.

Lawrence of Arabia (1962, 98% Tomatometer)

It has the most incredible images. The only movie [from] the 60s that you can look at today and [have] it feel totally modern and real.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977, 95% Tomatometer)

[Thematically,] it's very much like my movies. Extraordinary tasks placed on regular people.

Cinema Paradiso (1989, 91% Tomatometer)

Then, Cinema Paradiso, because it's about a director and his dreams. Very close to my heart. It deals with just a kid who kind of falls in love with somebody in film, and film is also the relationship with a projectionist.

Another one of my favorites is La nuit americaine by Truffaut. I kind of enjoy movies about movies. I'd never really wanted to become a director. I wanted to become a production designer. You know, certain movies had better production design than others, and that was driving me for the longest time.

The Godfather (1972, 100% Tomatometer)

I have to say The Godfather. [Laughs] Incredible movie. The performances, how it's told. That's the longest opening scene in film history -- an hour or so. The whole wedding, and then the movie starts.

Citizen Kane (1941, 100% Tomatometer)

And then comes Citizen Kane. And that's just how it's put together, how it's structured. It's just a modern film. Sometimes I wish movies like this still get made. It's just super radical in every aspect.

Next, Emmerich talks about creating movies for a global audience, 3D movies, and his thoughts on Avatar.

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(1-20 of 79 posts) | Reply

tomwaitsjr writes:
on Nov 10 2009 06:02 PM

Oh, surprise. The Godfather. . .

(Reply to this)

Armond White Sucks writes:
on Nov 10 2009 06:25 PM

Wow, could he have been more brief with his explanations?

Somebody has a short attention span. Makes sense considering the types of films he makes is geared towards those with short attention spans.

(Reply to this)

tomwaitsjr writes:
on Nov 10 2009 06:32 PM

I actually find it debatable who is a worse director, him or Bay. . .

and I gather 2012 is revered as a comedy. . . so I actually might watch it in theaters for some chuckles.

(Reply to this)

AntonChigurh writes:
on Nov 10 2009 06:53 PM

There classic films but if you say godfather and citizen cane are your all time favorites, your a hack. It's just such a canned choice, say something new.

(Reply to this)

Jonny Hero writes:
on Nov 10 2009 07:05 PM

You just can't please some people I guess...

*cough* I'm defending Roland Emmerich; pardon me as I leave the room quietly...

(Reply to this)

Josh G. writes:
on Nov 10 2009 07:10 PM

I can't believe how he compared Close Encounters with his films. "Extraordinary tasks placed on ordinary people", as though his movies were actually focused on people.

(Reply to this)

rebranded001 writes:
on Nov 10 2009 07:46 PM

I like that movie of his where stuff blows up.

Also Robocop is good so at least he's not completely awful.

(Reply to this)

DanielthePhantasm XIX writes:
on Nov 10 2009 07:49 PM

emmerich had independence day at least

(Reply to this)

John N. writes:
on Nov 10 2009 07:58 PM

In reply to this comment (#2560223)
AntonChigurh did you fail elementary school english or what? Their/there and your/you're, you should check out the differences.

I defend most directors when they pick a movie like Godfather. Because hell, it really is that good and can be appreciated by anyone alive as one of the best ever. But when ONE LIST has Kane, Godfather, Lawrence, AND A SPIELBERG movie.... I draw a line. Emmerich you suck

(Reply to this)

De Alpha Trigga writes:
on Nov 10 2009 08:14 PM

"movies that frequently leaves the planet in runs"

look at dat a spelling mistake.

(Reply to this)

De Alpha Trigga writes:
on Nov 10 2009 08:16 PM

and ye rowland is like micheal bay, he makes huge films that earn huge moneh but get damn ugly reviews.

(Reply to this)

De4ective Detectiv3 writes:
on Nov 10 2009 08:24 PM

The Godfather, Cinema Paradiso, Citizen Kane - confused now, I didn't know the title of the article was 5 trendiest films.

(Reply to this)

csworky writes:
on Nov 10 2009 08:38 PM

In reply to this comment (#2560236)
Good news. You can consider him completely awful because he didn't direct Robocop. That was Paul Verhoeven.

(Reply to this)

Escapefromalcatraz writes:
on Nov 10 2009 08:54 PM

Boy oh boy Verhoven had a run there for a while didn't he? RoboCop (1987)Total Recall (1990) Basic Instinct (1992) Showgirls (1995) Starship Troopers (1997)

(Reply to this)

yoda87960 writes:
on Nov 10 2009 09:08 PM

So far, the most interesting five favorite movies have been Sasha Grey's. Was she the only one who prepared in advance?

(Reply to this)

manalozeus writes:
on Nov 10 2009 09:11 PM

This list does not reflect anything he had made. Fanciful and insincere i may say this list is.

(Reply to this)

tomwaitsjr writes:
on Nov 10 2009 09:13 PM

I agree about Sasha Grey's list being good.

(Reply to this)

tomwaitsjr writes:
on Nov 10 2009 09:30 PM

Have you caught this insult? He actually says this:

"The only movie [from] the 60s that you can look at today and [have] it feel totally modern and real."

REALLY? REALLY? No movies from the 60s feel as "modern" or "real" as the historical film about Lawrence of Arabia?

What a douche-bag.

(Reply to this)

Weed17 writes:
on Nov 10 2009 10:03 PM

i dont understand why everyone feels aversion towards admitting that the godfather was one heck of a movie. Fair enough, I understand that everybody says the same thing, and all these people who work in the industry always declare that its the greatest movie ever made in their opinion, but have you thought about why everybody says the same thing? It truly was an amazing film. enough said. leave aside what everybody says about it, and base your opinion on what you think for a change about the movie! how's that?

(Reply to this)

ledawg1138 writes:
on Nov 10 2009 10:06 PM

In reply to this comment (#2560218)
Bay is worse. Because Bay wins by an extra "Bad Boys".

Emmerich could learn something from these films.

(Reply to this)

Lawrence of Arabia (1962, 98% Tomatometer)

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977, 95% Tomatometer)

Cinema Paradiso (1989, 91% Tomatometer)

The Godfather (1972, 100% Tomatometer)

Citizen Kane (1941, 100% Tomatometer)

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