Brazil

I was adding to our Netflix list and I put Brazil on there.

I've always heard how polarizing it is. I'm a Python fan but not necessarily a Gilliam fan. I'd say of the films of his I've seen, 12 Monkeys is my favorite -- mostly by default. I've been more bewildered than entertained by his other stuff (the exception being Holy Grail but it was a co-directed effort so I kind of put it in another category). For example, I made my dad take me to see Time Bandits (I was nine) and I remember the whole audience just sitting there dumbfounded at the end, myself included.

So have you seen Brazil and what do you think? Does it grow on you? Do I need to have a certain expectation or preparation in mind when I sit down to watch it or should I just be open to "whatever?"

And if you don't have much to add on Gilliam/Brazil, what directors or writers do you just not get the appeal of?

Steven Spielberg

I've been thinking about Spielberg recently, and thought I'd open it up for discussion here. Spielberg is inarguably one of the most accomplished and celebrated directors in the history of film. That's not to say he hasn't done some stinkers. That's also not to say he's on everyone's favorite list -- there are definitely people who, on the whole, aren't fans of his. However, I'd bet most everyone could look at his body of work (I'm talking as a director) and find at least one movie that, if you didn't love, you liked a hell of a lot.

So what's your favorite Spielberg movie and why?
Top five?
Least favorite?
Where does he rank for you in the pantheon of famous directors?