| Movies that you must see and why... |
| Anyone who knows me knows I love nothing better than a stack of cassettes and a wide screen tv. (Even better, a stack of those Digital Versatile Disc thingys... my VCR's rubbish). I pride myself on my wide taste, and my ability to watch and take in everything. And so I thought I might share my views on what should be part of everyone's diet...the movies are not in any particular order, as I just add to the list when I recall something new. |
| Citizen Kane - Simply one, if not the, greatest film of all time. It transformed the cinematic industry back in the 1940's, and deserves your full and upright attention as it takes your breath away. The Godfather - Yeah, the whole series is great. But the original remains the best gangster movie ever. Screw Goodfellas, this is the one that all that followed were, and still are, judged by. Taxi Driver - I was a bit torn here, between this and "Raging Bull" as De Niro's finest work. I went for "Driver" as it as supplied millions of adolescent boys with "Are you talking to me?". That, and the iconic poster with Travis Bickle sticking it to the man with both fingers. As for the film, relax and watch a master actor at work. Psycho - Another big decision: which was Hitchcock's best? But in the end the story of the happenings at the Bates motel will forever stand out. Forget the remake, the original sweep of the shower curtain remains the best. Apocalypse Now - "I love the smell of napalm in the morning..." Highlights the true brutality of war, along with... Full Metal Jacket - Also to be watched. I prefer "Jacket" but both are stunning. Fight Club - Possibly one the movies I've enjoyed watching the most. It messes with your head in a million different ways, and has the best twist ever - period. Brad Pitt is the man... he's no ponce, he is the man. Dogma - Controversial, I know. But I personally stand by Dogma, and not just because it contains by two favourite dope dealers on the planet. Kevin Smith's project on Catholism has many highlights towards great flaws in the way people treat the Christian faith. It shows how people get bogged down in tradition, and forget to celebrate what God has done for them. And with Ben and Matt's struggle as Loki and Bartleby, the doomed angels, Smith shows the delicate sides of the fall on man and the fact that "You humans don't seem to be able to accept that God could forgive you for all your grevious sins..." I love it. Pulp Fiction - The best written film ever. Period. Ever. Tarantino gets every aspect of this film right. But not to be undermined is... Reservoir Dogs - Quentin's other masterpiece, where he perfectly creates the claustrophic feelings of all the characters and transmits them to a captivated audience. Both films are also done well by the fantastic acting from the lead characters. A Nightmare on Elm Street - Gives me the willies every time. There's something about this film that makes it all so tangible, so real. It permutes indefinitely into the real fear of what could happen do us as we are asleep. Terrifying. Jeepers Creepers - This is a goodie, but only if you don't know the twist. If you don't, it hits you like a speeding train. If you do, it ruins it. American Beauty - Creepy, surreal, funny, brilliant. The very touching story, perfectly told by Kevin Spacey. A must see. Speaking of Spacey... The Usual Suspects - Who the flip IS Kaiser Soze? Another dark film noir, with a great twist. Brilliantly laid out. Perfect actors. Perfect script. A great night's viewing. The Shawshank Redemption - Having talked about a few films with great twists, it's only right to mention the grandaddy of them all. Shawshank made me cry with happiness. Fear can hold you prisoner, but hope can set you free. Dracula 2001 - A weird inclusion. A little known tale of a modern day vamp tale, but with a very recognisable cast of Gerard Butler (Tomb Raider 2) and half the cast of Star Trek: Voyager, among others. Romping adventure, with a couple of pant-wetting moments. Speaking of which. The Omen - Screw "Exorcist" - which is about as scary as "Super Mario Bros". This is the real deal, the good shiznit. Toddler on tricycle is worth the rental fee alone. Spiderman - A comic book movie, yes. But one for everyone. There;s something about this simple tale that grabs me every time. I think it may be Tobey Maguire's perfect portrayal of this troubled youth both blessed and cursed with his powers. Manhunter - I love Anthony Hopkins as Lecter, but his overuse in "Red Dragon" ruined it. So return to the original tale. Not much Hannibal Lecktor, but plenty of the actual story, as this one remains very true to the chilling book. The best Hannibal tale, even though he's only in it for about 10 minutes. Shrek - Never gets old. Best animation ever. If the animated Legend of the Woogies is ever even half as good, I'll be over the moon. Hey, people thought Mike Myers was mad when he insisted on spending $7 million redoing Shrek with a Scottish accent... he was right. And a great supporting cast makes this a brilliant caper for all ages. Gangs of New York - A late entry, but Scorcese's scorching, searing tale of criminal revenge, love and war is truely gruesome but heart-rendering. Was nominated for 10 Oscars, won none. An absolute disgrace. Mind you, there was one it shouldn't have got... The Pianist - I don't care what Polanski's done, give the man a flipping cartload of Oscars for crying out loud. This tale of Jewish persecution, along with Adrian Brody's breathtaking and amazing lead just made my day. If you have a soul, watch it. |
| Any disagreements? Feel something should have been included? You know where the message board is... |