Favorite director?

[Gorn Captain]

I was trying to figure out who my favorite director was.
You could say Spielberg (for Raiders and Jaws en Close Encounters).
Or Scott, for Alien and Blade Runner.
Cameron, for Terminator and Aliens.
Miller, for his Mad Max movies.
McTiernan for Die Hard and Predator.

But none of them have impressed me much in the last 20 years. I think Del Toro is the most consistent, during his whole career. He may not have made my all-time favorite movies, but he never disappoints. All of them are well-directed and well-written, and look amazing.
Hard to make a choice...

Any suggestions?

[thunderbolt]

Del Toro would be at the top of my list, I would love to see half the stuff he'd been attached to made. He wanted to do Frankenstein, that would be something to see. And I really wish Hellboy 3 would happen.

[Mikey]

Tarantino

[Hedji]

Gorn Captain, you always seem to post what I was about to say. Del Toro is my favorite modern. I'll also throw in a vote for Tim Burton, but he too has made some real stinkers in the last decade or so.

I just ordered a truckload of Akira Kurosawa blu rays because Amazon had them 50% off, so maybe I'll let you know if he delivers the goods.

A few others I enjoy:

Joe Dante - Actually highly underrated. It's too bad he can't seem to get big studio backing to return to his glory days.

Tobe Hooper - Salem's Lot warped my brain. Texas Chainsaw speaks for itself. Lifeforce is a fun romp. Funhouse is ... fun. And he was involved with Poltergeist.

Sam Raimi - This dude knows how to have fun. I even enjoy Spider-Man 3. His most underrated - Drag Me to Hell

Mario Bava - I just really appreciate the way he uses color and cinematography. Even when he's in black and white, his shots are gorgeous.

George Romero - What can I say? His original Dead trilogy and Creepshow are some of my favorite films ever. His later Dead movies? Not so much.

Michael Dougherty - He's the Charles Schultz of Horror. With Trick 'R Treat and Krampus being his only major film efforts, it's clear he loves to twist the holidays. Can't wait to see him tackle Easter. This guy shows promise.

George Lucas - There. I said it. Oh sure, he's not an "Actor's Director", but the man knows what he wants and he finds a way to get it on the screen. Pick the Prequels apart all you want, you can't deny that he made precisely what he wanted.

[CrimsonGhost]

The majority of my all time favorite movies were directed by the great John Carpenter.

And the rest were directed by Tarintino.

That's not really true, but it's not far off!

[Hedji]

How could I forget Carpenter?!?!?!

But like so many, he had a golden period that was a while ago.

[jwyblejr]

My vote goes to Mel Brooks.

[alex]

Maybe not my favourite movies, but I know I will always enjoy his stuff, and thats Ron Howard.

[Hedji]

Yeah, he's sort of like Robert Zemeckis and Richard Donner. They can usually turn out quality work.

[sprytel]

Tarantino

Agreed. Quentin Tarantino is my vote for the greatest director who is still doing important movies and at the top of his game.

I'll also throw out there Spike Jonze and the Cohen Brothers.

[pmwasson]

I like everything Duncan Jones has done.

[Blue Meanie]

Luc Besson. I'd see anything he does. Still have to get Lucy. Started for me with La Femme Nikita when it came out on video. Great movies that followed :

The Professional (Still have to get the extended cut called Leon)
The Fifth Element
Transporter

There are so many films of his I haven't seen like Taken, District 13 and a few others. One I have on VHS somewhere is Subway with Christopher Lambert. Didn't know that he did Ong-Bak.

Here's his filmography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luc_Besson_filmography

He was also married to Anne Parillaud AND Milla...It's good to be the Director

[Starroid Raiders Dagon]

Sam Raimi as I think I've re-watched his films more than any other director
Ridley Scott his movies have the ability to blow my mind.
Guillermo del Toro definitely captures my imagination and the visuals are outstanding
Zack Snyder
Stephen Sommers Mummy, Deep Rising, Van Helsing, GI Joe
Chris Columbus

[Hector]

Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese.

[Hector]

Maybe not my favourite movies, but I know I will always enjoy his stuff, and thats Ron Howard.

Apollo 13 is one of my all time favorite movies...seen it at least 20 times, if not more...