And so, another thread comes to an end...
MOVIE #61
Shrykespeare
Horton Hears a Who! (2008) – Directors: Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino; starring Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Carol Burnett and Seth Rogen. Who’d’ve thought that a movie based on a Dr. Seuss story could be so entertaining for adults as well? Carrey and Carell recapture their
Bruce Almighty magic in the roles of lovable elephant Horton and the microscopic Mayor of Who-ville. Quite corny, to be sure, but also quite endearing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIQFTBsGccA
silversurfer
Cape Fear (1962) - J. Lee Thompson. Robert Mitchum, Gregory Peck and Polly Bergen. Robert Mitchum really was one of the most captivating and fearsome villains ever to appear on screen. Whether it was hunting little children down in
The Night Of The Hunter or as the menacing ex-con wreaking havoc on the lawyer who sent him down in this, he was always a brutally terrifying actor who would literally become the embodiment of evil. His duel with Peck in
Cape Fear makes this one of the most gripping suspense movies I've ever seen, it holds you attention like you've been strapped to the chair with it's tension. It's a chilling cat and mouse affair, where Mitchum stalks and threatens to harm Peck and his family, but always just within the law. But despite these flaws in the judicial system, which Thompson is keen to point out, Peck is definitely his equal, the family man holding stalwart despite his fear, as he attempts to lure Mitchum to his own doom at his remote boathouse. The climax is full-throttled and adrenaline-fuelled, keeping you on the edge of your seat, and that is complemented by a delightfully moody score. Quite possibly one of the greatest suspense movies Hitchcock never made.
(2nd appearance)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73lZPln-A2I
thegreenarrow
Up (2009) – Directors: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson; starring Edward Asner, Jordan Nagai and Christopher Plummer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkqzFUhGPJg
transformers
300 (2007) - Director: Zach Snyder; starring Gerard Butler, David Wenham and Lena Headey;
300 is one of those films that gets a huge split reaction. Personally, I love this film. When it comes to huge action flicks I really can't think of too many better.
300 is a grand scale visual fest. The visuals add such a cool element to the film. On top of the action and visuals, the story is actually pretty intriguing. Zack Snyder did a great job with this film and continued to solidify himself as one of the most impressive directors of this generation.
(2nd appearance)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNqiSkd1M6k
(this isn't the actual trailer, it's a really funny parody of it)
englishozzy
Gangs of New York (2002) - Director: Martin Scorsese; starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cameron Diaz, Jim Broadbent and Brendan Gleeson. This is actually the first film I ever watched that was directed by Scorsese and still remains one of my favourites. A film that comes across as a great big muddle is actually tied up well by the time you finish it. Classic Scorsese recreating a dark, violent look at 19th Century America and democracy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_CDJiYux1A
Ron Burgundy
A History of Violence (2007) - Director: David Cronenberg; starring: Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, Ed Harris and William Hurt. Easily my favourite Cronenberg film, and I wish I could have squeezed another of his films in here but he just missed out, might have had 3 or 4 entries if it were a top 200. But this is just special, Viggo Mortensen shows he can do more than just Aragorn, and the supporting cast are pretty much on the same level or even better in some parts. I love the ending too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBerc2JwN4I
Buscemi
The Killer (1989) - Director: John Woo; starring Chow Yun-Fat, Danny Lee, Sally Yeh and Kenneth Tsang. Graphic but beautiful, violent yet meaningful, this was the film that launched Woo and Yun-Fat to international stardom. The film takes the usual "one last job" premise and really works wonders with it. The premise is simple (hitman takes one last job to help girl he accidentally blinded), but the Melville and Scorsese-inspired style is the main reason to watch it. The over-the-top violence is one reason why it is so good but also it is a meaningful film about the code of honor and works as a companion film to
Le Samourai and
Mean Streets (interestingly enough, John Woo also based his lesser film
Paycheck off of
Le Samourai). And yes, this is the film where John Woo started using the dove symbols (Woo does this to represent spirits, somewhat fitting in with Woo's deeply religious views).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c1JPPkE08w
Chienfantome
JSA: Joint Security Area (2000) – Director: Park Chan-Wook, starring Song Kang-Ho, Lee Byung-Hun and Lee Yeong-Ae. Korea’s back in my Top, again. This time with the film that revealed the undeniable talent of Park Chan-Wook as a filmmaker, before his mesmerizing vengeance trilogy. I’ve seen all of Park’s films, and I can tell you, you don’t need to waste time seeing the two crappy ones he made in the 90’s.
JSA is the one where it all begins. It takes place on the border between South and North Korea. A tragedy happened. Guards of the border were killed on both sides, and a neutral investigator arrives to find out what happened. By flashback, we are then told of the unlikely friendship between northern and southern guards. More than just the suspenseful drama it already is,
JSA is a remarkable, engaged look at the feelings uniting South and North Koreans. What’s amazing in Korean cinema is how such directors as Park Chan-Wook or Bong Joon-Ho can at the same time entertain with high cinematographic qualities and deeply touch us with a thoughtful and well crafted story.
JSA launched the new wave of Korean cinema ten years ago, and it remains of the most important Korean films there is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3zOZL5nl2w
numbersix
Amelie (2001) - Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet; starring Audrey Tautou, Matieu Kassovitz and Serge Merlin. I'll never forget attending a seminar on French cinema, hosted by a French lecturer, who scoffed at
Amelie, stating that he could show us a Kylie Minogue music video that offered a more accurate portrayal of Montmartre. What a jerk, assuming that social realism is the only form of storytelling (I think I quit his seminar afterwards). But for me there is a social point to the film, for is it not a story about a person's struggle to retain the magic of the imagination while engaging with reality? The film shows them as almost mutually exclusive, and the plot is really her journey to merge the two, by ultimately giving herself to another, but while still being able to retain what makes her a unique and creative individual. There's more going on than just pretty images and coy moments. Indeed, it is one of the best films about growing up without having to give in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHIUGLEQ3hs
Banks
Toy Story (1995) - Director: John Lasseter; starring Tim Allen, Tom Hanks, Don Rickles and Jim Varney. One of the first cartoon films I’d seen when I was little, the original
Toy Story will always stand out to be as one of the best animated films Pixar – or anyone for that matter – has ever done. Who would’ve thought that Tim Allen and Tom Hanks would be a comedy team for the ages?
(2nd appearance)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYz2wyBy3kc
BarcaRulz
Requiem For a Dream (2000) - Director: Darren Arronofsky; starring Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto and Jennifer Connolly. This was my introduction into the genius of Aronofsky. A truly well-made movie that takes us into the gritty and not-so-pretty world of drug addiction. Also worth noting is that this film has by far my best soundtrack, Clint Mansell does a terrific job and I believe it has a lot to do with how well this movie sets up its mood and builds suspense.
(2nd apperance)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgo3Hb5vWLE
Geezer
Sin City (2005) - Director: Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez; starring Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen and Bruce Willis. It’s been a while since I've sat down and watched this, and thus its fallen quite a few spots since my last installment, but it still rates very highly for me. This film had a profound impact on me. I had never seen anything like it. The visuals were stunning. The way the film was laid out was unique and original. The stories themselves were thoroughly engaging. Mickey Rourke and Bruce Willis kick so much ass. How come the sequel hasn't arrived yet???
(3rd appearance)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwIlEu7o9ZM
leestu
Barton Fink (1991) – Director Joel Coen and Ethan Coen; starring John Turturro, John Goodman and Judy Davis. My favourite Coen Brothers movie. A great dark thriller about a screen writer with writer’s block. An great, intelligent story and John Goodman was surprisingly incredibly good in this movie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WK0WjWlVO9w
W
The Lion King (1994) - Director: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff; starring Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones, and Jonathan Taylor Thomas. For my money, the absolute best animated Disney film of all time. There's a great story, great secondary characters, and great voice actors including maybe the best voice of all-time, James Earl Jones... And the music is top notch. Pretty much every song in the movie was a classic the second it hit the theaters.
(2nd appearance)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejEVczA8PLU