When I say chills, I'm not necessarily speaking of scary scenes. I mean when the hairs stand up on the back of your neck and you get goosebumps, all due to the energy of a scene. That raw energy and power that comes from intense performances by actors, the buildup of a perfect music score, and the way everything comes together can fill you with "it." "It" stays with you weeks after watching the film. You'll be telling everyone about "it" and still be feeling the effects of "it." "It" is why you watch these films again and again, so you can see and feel "it" once more.
And now, my favorite part, the explanations:
1. Storming the Beach
2. Revelations
3. The Battle of Helm's Deep
4. Private Pile Snaps
5. Disposing of the Thieves
6. "You Want Answers?"
7. El Tango de Roxanne
8. "I Don't Love You"
9. Jackson Takes the Stand/ McConaughey's Closing
10. Opening Credits
That's it. There's a lot I could've put on this list. But these ones I think sum it up nicely. Everything from action to drama to just the background music. Aren't movies wonderful...
War films have been around since the dawn of the medium itself, but after Saving Private Ryan no film was the same. From films like Gladiator to Traffic the effects of Spielberg's stylistic approach to realer-than-realism changed the what we can expect to see in a film, and (literally) blew our expectations all to hell. No one will argue that this is the most intense film ever made.
The mystery and who-done-it films are also older than dirt, and it's hard, especially with this kind of story, to do somethign knew. This one did, and the buildup that begins in the first half elevates the story and film to new heights. In the end, not only are you drawn into the story, but you'll do something like smile like a schoolboy or jump up and down as you're swept up in the energy of it all. No one will argue that their reactions to this scene were unique, for lack of a better word.
The only reason this is not number one on this list is because I haven't seen it as many times as the other two, so I can't be 100% positive that the intensity will last throughout multiple viewings... but I'm pretty damn sure that it will. This may not be the most intense film ever made, but the buildup and the depth and the sheer number of people and characters and elements involved in this scene is unparallelled. It's also the longest single battle scene I've ever seen in a film (what is it like the entire last 3rd of the film) and it's not drawn out at all. It never dulls, not even to let you catch your breath.
I'm not exactly sure why or how Vincent D'Onofrio didn't become the biggest actor in the world int he late 80s, or how he didn't win an Oscar (and still hasn't), but anyone who's seen this (you'd be surprised how many people haven't) knows the truth. D'Onofrio was f**king awesome in this movie, this scene in particular, as was Lee Ermey as the Drill Instructor. Thsi scene is probably the most remarkable, and the most haunting, in a truely remarkable film. Kubrick may have been shunned because Platoom came out first, but this is still an incredible piece of work.
In the role of his already awesome career, Edward Norton delivers one of the most intense and frightening openings to any film in the history of films. Name one other movie where in the first 10 minutes you get this kind of performance, this kind of energy, this kind of message, and this kind of horror. Not to mention, this is one of the only scenes where I've ever had to involuntarily cringe and turn away from certain aspects of the violence (it's the sound effects, too damn realistic), and I have a pretty good stomach for even the most gory stuff. Good luck to anyone who sees this for the first time trying to get these images out of your head. Incredible.
Okay, how many people don't knwo these lines? And it's not because this is cheesy stuff that can easily assimilate itself into pop-culture, but because everyone knew that when they saw a young and naive Tom Cruise go head-to-head with Jack Nicholson in the top of his form, what they were seeing was nothing short of electrifying. The look on Cruise's face when Nicholson asks in his most smug and condescending way "Don't tell me that's all you have?" is priceless. People know these lines they they know the back of their hands because they are great, and it's the way in which they are delivered that really drives 'em home.
What begins as a semi-comical dance scene with some serous undertones quickly launches into a powerful musical extravaganza that builds and builds and builds. When McGregor's haunting vocals kick in layered overtop of the rest, and the dancers are getting more intense with their body movements... jesus, man, what a rush. In the midst of this insane Tango lesson, we have Nicle Kidman's brutal and emotional 'tango' with the Duke. When I first saw this scene in the theatres I knew that this was the scene that would make any of the Oscar skeptics forget about the off-beat humor and the "Like a Virgin" scene and realize that what they were watching was cinematic genius, also known as movie magic.
This film was a huge surprise, being one fo the first of the modern-day-versions-of-a-classic-novel, not to mention that the other two film versions (Valmont and Dangerous Liassons) were both incredible films, this seemed to be doomed from the start. But instead it pulled it off beautifully, with perfect casting of some of the best young actors out there. Who'd have thought that half the cast of I Know What You Did Last Summer would have turned in performances that rank up there with the best. This scene is by far one of the most emotional scenes I've ever seen, and from what I remember from the cast interviews, alot of the emotion comes form real life feuding between the real life lovers. It's an amazing high poin in an already amazing film. Peopel who shrug this off as just another teen movie don't know what the hell they're talking about.
I couldn't decide between these two scenes so I decided to just include them both. Samuel L. Jackson's breathtaking portrayal of a grieving vengeful father opposite the likes of Matthew McConaughey, Kevin Spacey, Kiefer Sutherland, Donald Sutherland, etc etc, is in my opinion one of the best things he's ever done next to Pulp Fiction. In this scene he's being bombarded by Spacey's slimy prosecuter and he just erupts with emotion. It's just incredible. The second scene involves McConaughey's closing argument/speech as he leaves his jury to contemplate the fate of his client. I cry every damn time I watch this part. It's pathetic, I know, but it really is a powerful scene, and its all because of McConaughey's performance, the way he tells this story to the jury, his reactions, their reactions, Jackson's reactions (hey, that rhymed). As many times as McConaughey seems to make these romantic comedy things where he always plays the same guy, these roles (A Time to Kill, Frailty, Lone Star) show how great of an actor he can be. This entire movie is powerful, but in these key scenes, Jackson and McConaughey shine.
Now you may be wondering how the hell this ended up on here, because it's just the credits. Well, first of all, the way a film opens can sometimes make or break a film. If a film like Seven had a plain old normal opening credits scene, it would've lost the mood and momentum it had already established. Also, the credits to Batman & Robin were a good indication that the movie was going to be way over the op, and in the end it would suffer for it (big time). But really, this is on the list for one reason... because it gives me chills. Always has, always will. One of the greatest feeling in the world to me is to put this movie on, turn the sound up (if you have surround sound or even a stereo its a major plus), and when the opening theme build and the gong hits and it then picks up... it's a rush that rivals most rollar coasters. Seriously. Danny Elfman is a music god, and the interesting shadows we seem to be moving through are cool, 'cause you've gotta have something to watch. There's a reason (similar to the lines of A Few Good Men) that almost everyone can hum the Batman theme. Because it f**king rocks!
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