Rating: 6
Genre: Action
This movie stars Will Smith as Hancock, a super hero with a bad attitude. He eventually hooks up with Ray (Jason Bateman), a PR man who tries to help him clean up his image.
I liked the 1st half of this movie but the second half splits off into a weird plot involving Ray's wife (Charlize Theron) and gets away from being a comedy and becomes an action movie. I personally think it should've stayed a comedy.
Pretty good special effects and nice concept but left me a bit disappointed.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Run, Fat Boy, Run
Rating: 7
Genre: Romantic Comedy
This movie starred Simon Pegg (from Hot Fuzz & Shaun of the Dead) and Thandie Newton (Crash & Pursuit of Happyness). It's a comedy about a guy who is afraid of commitment but when he finds out his ex-fiance (and his son's mom) is dating another man, he decides to prove himself by running a marathon.
The movie had some very funny parts and, although it ends predictably, is one of the better romantic comedies I've seen in a while.
If you liked Hot Fuzz or Shaun of the Dead, don't expect the same kind of movie. Some British humor to be sure but this one is more of a 'date' movie than those were. Not recommended for kidos.
On a side note, this movie was directed by David Schwimmer (of Friends fame) - he makes a much better director than an actor!
Genre: Romantic Comedy
This movie starred Simon Pegg (from Hot Fuzz & Shaun of the Dead) and Thandie Newton (Crash & Pursuit of Happyness). It's a comedy about a guy who is afraid of commitment but when he finds out his ex-fiance (and his son's mom) is dating another man, he decides to prove himself by running a marathon.
The movie had some very funny parts and, although it ends predictably, is one of the better romantic comedies I've seen in a while.
If you liked Hot Fuzz or Shaun of the Dead, don't expect the same kind of movie. Some British humor to be sure but this one is more of a 'date' movie than those were. Not recommended for kidos.
On a side note, this movie was directed by David Schwimmer (of Friends fame) - he makes a much better director than an actor!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Fred Claus
Rating: 5
Genre: Family
This was a Christmas movie about Santa’s brother Fred. It had some pretty quality actors (Kevin Spacey, Kathy Bates, Rachel Weisz, and Paul Giamatti) but I am not impressed with Vince Vaughn who played the lead role of Fred. He plays the same role in this movie as he does in many others: shallow yet practical instigator who ends up endearing and heart-warming. Yawn.
The only movie I really liked Vince Vaughn in was ‘Into the Wild’ because his character actually had believable depth. And I think that’s just it – he taints movies with his smarmy attempts at comedy but his sarcasm is just not that genuine or funny to me. He’s very similar to Ben Stiller that way; I can pretty much tell what their next move will be.
I don’t expect a lot from Holiday movies, and if you’ve read my other reviews you know that predictability is a huge factor in what I think makes a movie good or bad. So this one, while it had a few good moments, could’ve been much better with a less predictable actor in the lead role.
Genre: Family
This was a Christmas movie about Santa’s brother Fred. It had some pretty quality actors (Kevin Spacey, Kathy Bates, Rachel Weisz, and Paul Giamatti) but I am not impressed with Vince Vaughn who played the lead role of Fred. He plays the same role in this movie as he does in many others: shallow yet practical instigator who ends up endearing and heart-warming. Yawn.
The only movie I really liked Vince Vaughn in was ‘Into the Wild’ because his character actually had believable depth. And I think that’s just it – he taints movies with his smarmy attempts at comedy but his sarcasm is just not that genuine or funny to me. He’s very similar to Ben Stiller that way; I can pretty much tell what their next move will be.
I don’t expect a lot from Holiday movies, and if you’ve read my other reviews you know that predictability is a huge factor in what I think makes a movie good or bad. So this one, while it had a few good moments, could’ve been much better with a less predictable actor in the lead role.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
August Rush
Rating: 7
Genre: Drama
August Rush is a movie about a boy who was orphaned as a baby and grows up with constant music in his head (played by Freddie Highmore who also had the lead role in Spiderwick Chronicles). He has an instinctual belief that his parents are out there somewhere trying to find him. Well, they aren’t.
OK, just kidding – of course they are! It’s a Hollywood movie, after all. But, so I don’t ruin the story for you, I won’t go into the details. The important thing is that the music he hears guides his journey. The movie is endearing and full of wonderment and ends far better than most other movies. Like a great symphony, this movie ebbs and flows with interjecting tones chiming in at specific points of the piece to accent the mood. It hits major and minor keys, and changes pace several times, finally ending on a full-on crescendo.
Keri Russell (who played in one of my favorite movies – Waitress) plays the mom and does a great job. The dad is played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Terrence Howard plays the social worker.
Overall, the movie was pretty good – albeit predictable in parts. Pretty cool guitar parts. Robin Williams plays the role of a crazy street dad to homeless kids. He dresses like he raided Bono’s wardrobe. He’s pretty much a freak in the movie but does have one of its best lines:
“You know what music is? God's little reminder that there's something else besides us in this universe, a harmonic connection between all living beings, every where, even the stars.”
On a side note, the boy reminds me of myself in many ways (except for the musical genius orphan part… however, I hear music in my head all the time, I am adopted into God’s family, and will sing before God in Heaven one day - so there’s the similarity!). Also check out this link and you may be able to see why I connected with this movie: http://writingsofroyce.blogspot.com/2008/12/challenge.html
Genre: Drama
August Rush is a movie about a boy who was orphaned as a baby and grows up with constant music in his head (played by Freddie Highmore who also had the lead role in Spiderwick Chronicles). He has an instinctual belief that his parents are out there somewhere trying to find him. Well, they aren’t.
OK, just kidding – of course they are! It’s a Hollywood movie, after all. But, so I don’t ruin the story for you, I won’t go into the details. The important thing is that the music he hears guides his journey. The movie is endearing and full of wonderment and ends far better than most other movies. Like a great symphony, this movie ebbs and flows with interjecting tones chiming in at specific points of the piece to accent the mood. It hits major and minor keys, and changes pace several times, finally ending on a full-on crescendo.
Keri Russell (who played in one of my favorite movies – Waitress) plays the mom and does a great job. The dad is played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Terrence Howard plays the social worker.
Overall, the movie was pretty good – albeit predictable in parts. Pretty cool guitar parts. Robin Williams plays the role of a crazy street dad to homeless kids. He dresses like he raided Bono’s wardrobe. He’s pretty much a freak in the movie but does have one of its best lines:
“You know what music is? God's little reminder that there's something else besides us in this universe, a harmonic connection between all living beings, every where, even the stars.”
On a side note, the boy reminds me of myself in many ways (except for the musical genius orphan part… however, I hear music in my head all the time, I am adopted into God’s family, and will sing before God in Heaven one day - so there’s the similarity!). Also check out this link and you may be able to see why I connected with this movie: http://writingsofroyce.blogspot.com/2008/12/challenge.html
Friday, December 5, 2008
The Geat Debaters
Rating: 8
Genre: Drama
This movie was set in 1935 and based loosely on a true story about the Wiley College debate team. Wiley College was a small all-black college in Texas during a time when segregation was not just prevalent, but standard. This story shows how this group of college students and professors used their words to debate inequality and justice and opened eyes to the plight of the African American who lived in America without those rights.
Denzel Washington plays the professor who is captain of the debate team, and Forest Whitaker plays the part of Dr. James Farmer, Sr., a Wiley College professor who's 14 year old son is one of the 4 members of the team. Denzel Whitaker (who was named after Denzel Washington and no relation to Forest) plays his son, James Farmer, Jr. The role of Samantha Booke is played by Jurnee Smollett; she plays a great part on the debate team and her emotion shows on-screen as genuine passion. Henry Lowe, played by Nate Parker, is the most experienced and crafty debater on the team. He is torn between the life of debauchery he grew up in and the genius and power in his mind. Often reacting on habitual instinct instead of doing what he knows is right, he throws a few interesting twists into the story.
The story comes to peak when the debate team from Wiley College eventually finally gets a chance to challenge the debate team at Harvard University. This story made me angry when I saw the lynchings and ignorance that went on, but it also showed the piece of history that helped pave the way for human rights activists like Martin Luther King, Jr.
Overall, this was a very inspiring movie with quite good acting.
Genre: Drama
This movie was set in 1935 and based loosely on a true story about the Wiley College debate team. Wiley College was a small all-black college in Texas during a time when segregation was not just prevalent, but standard. This story shows how this group of college students and professors used their words to debate inequality and justice and opened eyes to the plight of the African American who lived in America without those rights.
Denzel Washington plays the professor who is captain of the debate team, and Forest Whitaker plays the part of Dr. James Farmer, Sr., a Wiley College professor who's 14 year old son is one of the 4 members of the team. Denzel Whitaker (who was named after Denzel Washington and no relation to Forest) plays his son, James Farmer, Jr. The role of Samantha Booke is played by Jurnee Smollett; she plays a great part on the debate team and her emotion shows on-screen as genuine passion. Henry Lowe, played by Nate Parker, is the most experienced and crafty debater on the team. He is torn between the life of debauchery he grew up in and the genius and power in his mind. Often reacting on habitual instinct instead of doing what he knows is right, he throws a few interesting twists into the story.
The story comes to peak when the debate team from Wiley College eventually finally gets a chance to challenge the debate team at Harvard University. This story made me angry when I saw the lynchings and ignorance that went on, but it also showed the piece of history that helped pave the way for human rights activists like Martin Luther King, Jr.
Overall, this was a very inspiring movie with quite good acting.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
I Am A Promise: The Children of Stanton Elementary School
Rating: 8
Genre: Documentary
This documentary was shot in Philadelphia in 1992 at an inner city grade school. It follows moments in the lives of various students, teachers, and the principal.
The crux of the movie is the clashing struggle between potential and the existing socio-economic conditions. The principal points out the inequality she faces daily; the fact that her school is allocated $4,000 per child while suburban schools are allocated up to $16,000 per child, etc. She was an extremely caring lady who went way above and beyond just to give these kids as fair of a chance at life as she possibly could.
Some of the kids in the movie were so stinkin’ cute that you just wanted to hug them, feed them, and take them to the safety of your own home. Most of the students’ parents were single moms and many of the parents are either ex-convicts, drug addicts, or both. One girls parents were so messed up that she just started going home to a different place; the man who’s house she went to (she calls him grandpa) said she was like a hide-e-cat who just showed up at his doorstep and when we opened the door she came in and didn’t leave. This kind-hearted man took her in and raised her and kept her safe from the danger she faced from her parents crack-head lifestyle.
One of the teachers was an amazing role models for boys who had no other male role models. He taught them about overcoming racial barriers, not getting into drugs and alcohol, and how to respect themselves and others.
The movie, which won an oscar in 1994, was crushingly depressing at times… but was also charming and hope-filled. As the children’s choir sings this song at the end of the movie you can't help believe the words will come to fruition:
I am a promise
I am a possibility
I am a promise with a capital "P"
I am a great big bundle of potentiality
And I am learnin' to hear God's voice
And I am tryin' to make the right choice
I am a promise to be anything God wants me to be.
I can go anywhere that He wants me to go
I can be anything He wants me to be
I can climb the high mountains
I can cross the wide sea
I'm a great big promise you see!
Sadly, in our distracting world, much of the potentiality will be unrealized. Even the genuinly loving principal quit – she was so invested that she burned out due to the lack of internal (help from parents) and external (financial basics) support. I would’ve loved to see a ‘where are they now’ segment to find out how much these students were impacted by the people who tried so hard to build a solid foundation for them to stand upon.
Genre: Documentary
This documentary was shot in Philadelphia in 1992 at an inner city grade school. It follows moments in the lives of various students, teachers, and the principal.
The crux of the movie is the clashing struggle between potential and the existing socio-economic conditions. The principal points out the inequality she faces daily; the fact that her school is allocated $4,000 per child while suburban schools are allocated up to $16,000 per child, etc. She was an extremely caring lady who went way above and beyond just to give these kids as fair of a chance at life as she possibly could.
Some of the kids in the movie were so stinkin’ cute that you just wanted to hug them, feed them, and take them to the safety of your own home. Most of the students’ parents were single moms and many of the parents are either ex-convicts, drug addicts, or both. One girls parents were so messed up that she just started going home to a different place; the man who’s house she went to (she calls him grandpa) said she was like a hide-e-cat who just showed up at his doorstep and when we opened the door she came in and didn’t leave. This kind-hearted man took her in and raised her and kept her safe from the danger she faced from her parents crack-head lifestyle.
One of the teachers was an amazing role models for boys who had no other male role models. He taught them about overcoming racial barriers, not getting into drugs and alcohol, and how to respect themselves and others.
The movie, which won an oscar in 1994, was crushingly depressing at times… but was also charming and hope-filled. As the children’s choir sings this song at the end of the movie you can't help believe the words will come to fruition:
I am a promise
I am a possibility
I am a promise with a capital "P"
I am a great big bundle of potentiality
And I am learnin' to hear God's voice
And I am tryin' to make the right choice
I am a promise to be anything God wants me to be.
I can go anywhere that He wants me to go
I can be anything He wants me to be
I can climb the high mountains
I can cross the wide sea
I'm a great big promise you see!
Sadly, in our distracting world, much of the potentiality will be unrealized. Even the genuinly loving principal quit – she was so invested that she burned out due to the lack of internal (help from parents) and external (financial basics) support. I would’ve loved to see a ‘where are they now’ segment to find out how much these students were impacted by the people who tried so hard to build a solid foundation for them to stand upon.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Leatherheads
Rating: 7
Genre: Comedy
This movie was about Pro Football in the mid-1920s, so while it was a comedy it also had an historical note to it that I really loved - especially since I'm a huge football fan.
George Clooney is at his best when he plays a character who has an overtly faulty, everyday man quality, while at the same time is extremely sharp-witted and clever as he did in O Brother Where Art Thou. Such was the case in this movie too. Renee Zellweger plays the female lead, a newspaper journalist who shoots fiery quips right back at Dodge (Clooney). The two have a great on-screen chemistry that made this movie much better than it should've been. John Krasinski (Jim Halpert on The Office) played the other lead part and does a much much better job than he did in License To Wed.
The story was pretty fun and only slightly predictable. It reminded me of A League of Their Own with more wit and a bit deeper story.
Genre: Comedy
This movie was about Pro Football in the mid-1920s, so while it was a comedy it also had an historical note to it that I really loved - especially since I'm a huge football fan.
George Clooney is at his best when he plays a character who has an overtly faulty, everyday man quality, while at the same time is extremely sharp-witted and clever as he did in O Brother Where Art Thou. Such was the case in this movie too. Renee Zellweger plays the female lead, a newspaper journalist who shoots fiery quips right back at Dodge (Clooney). The two have a great on-screen chemistry that made this movie much better than it should've been. John Krasinski (Jim Halpert on The Office) played the other lead part and does a much much better job than he did in License To Wed.
The story was pretty fun and only slightly predictable. It reminded me of A League of Their Own with more wit and a bit deeper story.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Iron Man
Rating: 7
Genre: Action/Adventure
This was a Super Hero movie so it was very unbelievable; however, this was different from most super hero movies. Primarily, the super hero used gadgets and electronic devices rather than super-powers so that alone made this better than most. And, Robert Downy Jr. plays the part of a filthy rich genius who is a cynical, egotistical, yet self-deprecating smart-ass to a T.
Gwyneth Paltrow did a great job playing his assistant. She has a way of portraying humility that can charm your socks off.
The plot was pretty far-fetched but at least it didn’t deal with aliens, zombies, etc. It had enough element of feasibility to it that you could place this into the fairly near future without too much of a stretch.
What really made the movie good was the acting of Robert Downy Jr. This would’ve been a much worse movie without his presence. The action shots were done well and the robot in his garage had some of the funniest lines in the movie. Overall, I enjoyed the movie.
A word of caution: don’t waste your time watching the deleted scenes, they were pretty bad. I am very glad they didn’t include them in the movie.
Genre: Action/Adventure
This was a Super Hero movie so it was very unbelievable; however, this was different from most super hero movies. Primarily, the super hero used gadgets and electronic devices rather than super-powers so that alone made this better than most. And, Robert Downy Jr. plays the part of a filthy rich genius who is a cynical, egotistical, yet self-deprecating smart-ass to a T.
Gwyneth Paltrow did a great job playing his assistant. She has a way of portraying humility that can charm your socks off.
The plot was pretty far-fetched but at least it didn’t deal with aliens, zombies, etc. It had enough element of feasibility to it that you could place this into the fairly near future without too much of a stretch.
What really made the movie good was the acting of Robert Downy Jr. This would’ve been a much worse movie without his presence. The action shots were done well and the robot in his garage had some of the funniest lines in the movie. Overall, I enjoyed the movie.
A word of caution: don’t waste your time watching the deleted scenes, they were pretty bad. I am very glad they didn’t include them in the movie.
The Guardian
Rating: 5
Genre: Drama
This movie starred Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher as Coast Guard swimmers… the guys who jump out of Helicopters into the ocean to save potential drowning victims. Overall this movie was pretty predictable and the acting was not that great.
I think a documentary movie on the subject would be better because the subject itself is pretty amazing. Guys who risk their life in treacherous oceans to save people they don’t know. They are the oceans version of firemen. The movie did a pretty good job at showing the danger level that they deal with but the story itself was too “Officer and a Gentleman” for me. I think they tried too hard to add relationships into it when the real relationship should’ve been between the swimmers and the death they face so often. What drives people to put their life on the line like that? In its better moments, the movie touched on that but spent far too much time with macho bravado crap.
Genre: Drama
This movie starred Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher as Coast Guard swimmers… the guys who jump out of Helicopters into the ocean to save potential drowning victims. Overall this movie was pretty predictable and the acting was not that great.
I think a documentary movie on the subject would be better because the subject itself is pretty amazing. Guys who risk their life in treacherous oceans to save people they don’t know. They are the oceans version of firemen. The movie did a pretty good job at showing the danger level that they deal with but the story itself was too “Officer and a Gentleman” for me. I think they tried too hard to add relationships into it when the real relationship should’ve been between the swimmers and the death they face so often. What drives people to put their life on the line like that? In its better moments, the movie touched on that but spent far too much time with macho bravado crap.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Kung Fu Panda
Rating: 8
Genre: Animated
This animated movie was a fun and funny take on kung fu movies. Po, the panda, is played by Jack Black. He brings a kooky level to this movie that you don’t see in most animated movies. He is great at making his voice tell a visual story. It is pretty much what I had hoped Will Ferrell would bring to the Curious George movie but didn’t.
Po is a Kung Fu fan but is stuck slopping noodles in his dad’s restaurant. He dreams of being the ultimate Kung Fu warrior someday. Then, predictably, he happens into the role of Dragon Warrior… a long foretold legend speaks of a dragon warrior how will save the entire kingdom from sure destruction.
While the outcome is predictable, the characters are done very well and the animation is good too. The other characters don’t drag the movie down either. As a side note- David Cross (who plays Tobias in Arrested Development) is the voice of the crane.
It’s not as funny as the 1st Shrek, but if you like Finding Nemo, Flushed Away, Madagascar, Hoodwinked, or even School of Rock, then you’ll probably enjoy this too.
Genre: Animated
This animated movie was a fun and funny take on kung fu movies. Po, the panda, is played by Jack Black. He brings a kooky level to this movie that you don’t see in most animated movies. He is great at making his voice tell a visual story. It is pretty much what I had hoped Will Ferrell would bring to the Curious George movie but didn’t.
Po is a Kung Fu fan but is stuck slopping noodles in his dad’s restaurant. He dreams of being the ultimate Kung Fu warrior someday. Then, predictably, he happens into the role of Dragon Warrior… a long foretold legend speaks of a dragon warrior how will save the entire kingdom from sure destruction.
While the outcome is predictable, the characters are done very well and the animation is good too. The other characters don’t drag the movie down either. As a side note- David Cross (who plays Tobias in Arrested Development) is the voice of the crane.
It’s not as funny as the 1st Shrek, but if you like Finding Nemo, Flushed Away, Madagascar, Hoodwinked, or even School of Rock, then you’ll probably enjoy this too.
Get Smart
Rating: 7
Genre: Comedy
This movie was based of the Get Smart TV series from the 1960s. It’s pretty much a spoof on spy movies… very similar (as my brilliant wife pointed out) to Pink Panther… or the Austin Powers movies. I think Steve Carell did a great job portraying Maxwell Smart (agent 86), the bumbling agent for Control who is out to save the globe from the evil terrorist group Chaos and its agents.
In the original Don Adams played agent 86 and Barbara Feldon played agent 99. In the latest movie, Anne Hathaway plays agent 99. She did a great job playing the role of the savvy, smooth part of the duo. At the beginning she was a little more smug than the Barbara Feldon character was but comes around to being a helpful, likeable partner by mid-movie.
Alan Arkin plays the chief and did a great job. He brings a touch of class to the movie… Chief is less disgusted with Max in this movie than he was in the series and is his mentor and coach… a very refreshing portrayal of modern management skills.
Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) plays another Control agent and has a few funny parts too. James Caan, Patrick Warburton, and Bill Murray have bit parts.
This isn’t a deep movie but was a fun and witty action-comedy. If you liked the original series at all, you’ll like this movie too.
Genre: Comedy
This movie was based of the Get Smart TV series from the 1960s. It’s pretty much a spoof on spy movies… very similar (as my brilliant wife pointed out) to Pink Panther… or the Austin Powers movies. I think Steve Carell did a great job portraying Maxwell Smart (agent 86), the bumbling agent for Control who is out to save the globe from the evil terrorist group Chaos and its agents.
In the original Don Adams played agent 86 and Barbara Feldon played agent 99. In the latest movie, Anne Hathaway plays agent 99. She did a great job playing the role of the savvy, smooth part of the duo. At the beginning she was a little more smug than the Barbara Feldon character was but comes around to being a helpful, likeable partner by mid-movie.
Alan Arkin plays the chief and did a great job. He brings a touch of class to the movie… Chief is less disgusted with Max in this movie than he was in the series and is his mentor and coach… a very refreshing portrayal of modern management skills.
Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) plays another Control agent and has a few funny parts too. James Caan, Patrick Warburton, and Bill Murray have bit parts.
This isn’t a deep movie but was a fun and witty action-comedy. If you liked the original series at all, you’ll like this movie too.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Lost Boys of Sudan
Rating: 10
Genre: Documentary
Lost Boys of Sudan is a documentary about teenage boys who were once part of the Dinka tribe in Sudan. They were a peaceful cattle and goat herding tribe until Muslim radicals came into Sudan and started killing anyone who wasn't Muslim; burning villages, killing entire tribes including women and children. When the Muslim radicals came to the Dinka tribe, many of the young boys who were out in the fields tending to the herds were able to flee on foot and made it to a refugee camp.
Hundreds of the boys spent ten years in the refugee camp before some were given an opportunity to go to America where they hoped to receive an education so they could one day come back to Sudan and build their war-ravaged country back up again.
The movie follows two specific boys' journey from Africa to America and gives an inside look at this transitional time in their lives. The movie gives a great look at America, both good and bad, from an outsiders perspective.
I would recommend this movie to anyone who liked Blood Diamond or Hotel Rwanda. This movie is much different than those but the theme of genocide is prevalent in all 3. This movie, however, is not just based on a true story, it is one. It adds far more feeling and emotion knowing the heart of these boys and following them through joy and hardship. Great movie!
Genre: Documentary
Lost Boys of Sudan is a documentary about teenage boys who were once part of the Dinka tribe in Sudan. They were a peaceful cattle and goat herding tribe until Muslim radicals came into Sudan and started killing anyone who wasn't Muslim; burning villages, killing entire tribes including women and children. When the Muslim radicals came to the Dinka tribe, many of the young boys who were out in the fields tending to the herds were able to flee on foot and made it to a refugee camp.
Hundreds of the boys spent ten years in the refugee camp before some were given an opportunity to go to America where they hoped to receive an education so they could one day come back to Sudan and build their war-ravaged country back up again.
The movie follows two specific boys' journey from Africa to America and gives an inside look at this transitional time in their lives. The movie gives a great look at America, both good and bad, from an outsiders perspective.
I would recommend this movie to anyone who liked Blood Diamond or Hotel Rwanda. This movie is much different than those but the theme of genocide is prevalent in all 3. This movie, however, is not just based on a true story, it is one. It adds far more feeling and emotion knowing the heart of these boys and following them through joy and hardship. Great movie!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Category Explanation
I broke up my favorite movies into sub-categories because it was way to hard to compare almost 400 against one another without splitting them into similar groupings. Many of the movies could've gone into multiple categories but I put each one into the category that seemed most logical to me. Here are the categories and my explanation for each:
Action / Adventure:
This category includes movies in which the characters are moving throughout most of the movie. Car chases, battles, sci-fi... that kind of thing.
Family / Drama / Documentary:
These movies are focused on the telling of a story and are usually full of word heavy, low-action shots. Not all of these are family movies so be careful! I also included several documentaries, including a few about rock bands.
Mystery / Thriller:
This category is made for the plot twist, seat-edge, keep-you-guessing style of movie. Some are scary or startling, some are not.
Comedy:
Movies that are meant to be funny first and foremost.
Romantic Comedy:
Comedies where the central plot revolves around a man and a woman falling in love and the hilarity that ensues.
Animated:
Full-length animated movies.
PS. If you think I missed a glaringly obvious movie that should be on one of my lists, please leave a comment and let me know.
Action / Adventure:
This category includes movies in which the characters are moving throughout most of the movie. Car chases, battles, sci-fi... that kind of thing.
Family / Drama / Documentary:
These movies are focused on the telling of a story and are usually full of word heavy, low-action shots. Not all of these are family movies so be careful! I also included several documentaries, including a few about rock bands.
Mystery / Thriller:
This category is made for the plot twist, seat-edge, keep-you-guessing style of movie. Some are scary or startling, some are not.
Comedy:
Movies that are meant to be funny first and foremost.
Romantic Comedy:
Comedies where the central plot revolves around a man and a woman falling in love and the hilarity that ensues.
Animated:
Full-length animated movies.
PS. If you think I missed a glaringly obvious movie that should be on one of my lists, please leave a comment and let me know.
My Favorite Drama / Family / Documentary movies
Here are my favorite family / drama / documentary movies in order:
- O Brother, Where art Thou?
- Passion Of The Christ
- Schindler’s List
- Big Fish
- A Family Thing
- Finding Forrester
- Stranger Than Fiction
- Nativity Story
- I Am Sam
- Amazing Grace
- Saving Private Ryan
- King Of California
- Forrest Gump
- Hotel Rwanda
- One Night With The King
- A Christmas Story
- Akeelah And The Bee
- Labyrinth
- Amistad
- Young At Heart
- Dead Poets Society
- Once
- Awakenings
- Million Dollar Baby
- Good Will Hunting
- The Cast Away
- Benny And Joon
- Drugstore Cowboy
- The Defiant Ones
- Freedom Writers
- The Bucket List
- Chaos Theory
- Dan In Real Life
- Field Of Dreams
- Hurricane
- The Mission
- Finding Neverland
- What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
- Apollo 13
- Bridge To Terabithia
- LA Story
- Hook
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
- Edward Scissorhands
- Dances With Wolves
- A Beautiful Mind
- Blow
- Into The Wild
- Eight Below
- Facing The Giants
- How To Eat Fried Worms
- It’s A Wonderful Life
- Spanglish
- Masada
- The Motorcycle Diaries
- Flyboys
- Miracle On 34th Street
- The Namesake
- Pay It Forward
- March Of The Penguins
- The Pursuit Of Happyness
- White Christmas
- Faith Of Our Fathers
- Big
- Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
- The Who – The Kids Are Alright
- In Good Company
- Glory Road
- Three Dog Night – Tennessee Symphony
- Remember The Titans
- Invincible
- Lightning In A Bottle
- The Parent Trap
- Lemony Snicket’s Series Of Unfortunate Events
- We Are Marshall
- Pump Up The Volume
- Charlie Wilson’s War
- Broadcast News
- Matilda
My Favorite Action / Adventure Movies
Here are my favorite Action / Adventure movies in order:
- Braveheart
- Lord Of The Rings Trilogy
- Holes
- Indiana Jones – The Last Crusade
- Indiana Jones – Raiders Of The Lost Ark
- Pirates of the Caribbean – Black Pearl
- Secondhand Lions
- The Princess Bride
- The Count Of Monte Christo
- Master and Commander
- The Boondock Saints
- The Patriot
- Rob Roy
- Gladiator
- 300
- The Last Samurai
- National Treasure
- The Chronicles Of Narnia – The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe
- Jurassic Park
- Indiana Jones – Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull
- Kingdom Of Heaven
- The Mummy
- Once Upon A Time In Mexico
- The Matrix
- Pirates of the Caribbean – Dead Man’s Chest
- Troy
- Pirates of the Caribbean – At World’s End
- Robin Hood – Prince Of Thieves
- The Mask Of Zorro
- The Spiderwick Chronicles
- Glory
- Kill Bill – Volume 1
- Journey To The Center Of The Earth
- King Arthur
- Reign Of Fire
- The Man In The Iron Mask
- A Bridge Too Far
- Enemy Of The State
- Kill Bill – Volume 2
- The Fifth Element
- Blood Diamond
- 3:10 To Yuma
- National Treasure 2 – Book Of Secrets
- The Italian Job
- The Legend Of Zorro
- Gone In Sixty Seconds
- The Three Musketeers
- Con Air
- Catch Me If You Can
- Shooter
- Hidalgo
- Spider Man
- The Great Escape
- Ronin
- Batman Begins
- Long Kiss Goodnight
- Despardo (El Mariachi)
- The Postman
- The Poseidon Adventure
- X-Men
- Young Guns
- Crimson Tide
- Spiderman 3
- James Bond - Casino Royale
- The Chronicles Of Narnia – Prince Caspian
- Curse Of The Golden Flower
- Apocalypto
- Die Hard
- The Rock
- Last King Of Scotland
- The Fastest Indian
- Stardust
- Romancing The Stone
- Armageddon
- Back To The Future
- Goonies
- Joan Of Arc
- James Bond - Goldeneye
- The Dirty Dozen
- Shanghai Noon
- Wild Wild West
- The Bounty
- Broken Arrow
- James Bond - Tomorrow Never Dies
- Grosse Point Blank
- The Brothers Grimm
- Shanghai Knights
- Jumanji
- Westworld
- Face-Off
My Favorite Romantic Comedies
Here are my favorite romatic comedies in order.
- Say Anything
- Waitress
- Music And Lyrics
- Juno
- When Harry Met Sally
- The Wedding Singer
- Sleepless In Seattle
- 50 First Dates
- While You Were Sleeping
- Meet The Parents
- Mamas Boy
- Housesitter
- Something About Mary
- Along Came Polly
- No Reservations
- Love Actually
My Favorite Mystery / Thriller Movies
Here are my favorite mystery / thriller movies in order:
- The Usual Suspects
- Shawshank Redemption
- Fight Club
- Sling Blade
- Pulp Fiction
- Fried Green Tomatoes
- Flatliners
- Les Miserables
- Memento
- Mystic River
- Crash
- I Robot
- The Sixth Sense
- The Green Mile
- In Bruges
- Witness
- The Seventh Sign
- The Prestige
- Enemy At The Gates
- Flawless
- Silence Of The Lambs
- The Illusionist
- Stand By Me
- LA Confidential
- Cape Fear
- Angel Heart
- No Country For Old Men
- The Departed
- The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
- A Time To Kill
- Se7en
- Unforgiven
- The Fugitive
- The Bourne Identity
- Minority Report
- Delores Claiborne
- Sneakers
- Secret Window
- True Romance
- The Score
- Kiss The Girls
- The Pelican Brief
- Fallen
- The Firm
- Inside Man
- Ocean’s Eleven
- Wild Things
- Sleepers
- Backdraft
- Along Came A Spider
- Timeline
- The Fisher King
- Nick Of Time
- Four Brothers
- We Own The Night
- Vantage Point
- Inside Man
- Foxy Brown
- Seraphim Falls
- Pan’s Labyrinth
- Matchstick Men
- Identity
- The River Wild
- Copycat
- Reservoir Dogs
- Frequency
- Being John Malkovich
- The Bourne Ultimatum
- Goodfellas
- The Bourne Supremacy
- American Gangster
- Perfect Stranger
- Hunt For Red October
- Entrapment
- The Chamber
- A Simple Plan
- The Presidio
- Premonition
- The Negotiator
- Stir Of Echoes
- Apocalypse Now
- Repo Man
- Ocean’s Twelve
- Runaway Jury
- Ocean’s Thirteen
- Deliverance
- The Rookie
- Heathers
- Swordfish
- The Net
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
My Favorite Comedies
Here are my favorite comdies to date, ranked in order:
- Top Secret!
- Office Space
- Naked Gun
- Wayne’s World
- Monty Python And The Holy Grail
- A Mighty Wind
- Elf
- Airplane
- National Lampoon’s Vacation
- Dumb And Dumber
- Napoleon Dynamite
- Austin Powers – International Man Of Mystery
- Big Trouble
- Me, Myself, And Irene
- Best In Show
- RV
- Brian Regan – Standing Up
- Jim Gaffigan – Beyond The Pale
- Anchorman - The Legend of Ron Burgundy
- Happy Gilmore
- The Mask
- Evan Almighty
- Kicking And Screaming
- Bruce Almighty
- School Of Rock
- Ace Ventura – Pet Detective
- The Man With Two Brains
- This Is Spinal Tap
- Hot Fuzz
- Weird Science
- Blazing Saddles
- Tommy Boy
- Old School
- Anger Management
- Raising Arizona
- Planes, Trains, And Automobiles
- Liar Liar
- Fun With Dick And Jane
- High Fidelity
- A Fish Called Wanda
- Caddyshack
- The Jerk
- Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
- Billy Madison
- Without A Paddle
- Shaun Of The Dead
- I Married An Axe Murderer
- Austin Powers – The Spy Who Shagged Me
- Austin Powers – Goldmember
- National Lampoon’s European Vacation
- Jerry Seinfeld – I’m Telling You For The Last Time
- Better Off Dead
- Hot Shots
- Blades Of Glory
- Big Daddy
- Rat Race
- We're No Angels
- The Ref
- Click
- Robin Hood: Men In Tights
- Beverly Hills Ninja
- Night At The Museum
- Steve Martin – A Wild And Crazy Guy
- Black Sheep
- Summer School
- Fletch
- Wild Hogs
- Bill Cosby – Himself
- Breakfast Club
- City Slickers
- Waterboy
- Talladaga Nights
- Scrooged
- Mr. Deeds
- Grumpy Old Men
- Innerspace
- Analyze This
- National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation
- Throw Momma From The Train
- Uncle Buck
- Easy Money
- National Lampoon’s Animal House
- Spies Like Us
- Blues Brothers
- Young Frankenstein
- Taxi
- Groundhog Day
- Let's Do It Again
- Back To School
- Revenge Of The Nerds
- Opportunity Knocks
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
My Top 25 Animated Movies
Here are my 25 favorite full-length animated movies, including my Royce-rating (1 to 10):
1. Jungle Book (10)
2. Shrek (10)
3. Jonah – Veggie Tales (10)
4. Cars (9)
5. Monsters, Inc. (9)
6. Wallace and Gromit: Curse Of The Were-Rabbit (9)
7. Flushed Away (8)
8. Wallace & Gromit – A Close Shave (8)
9. Hoodwinked (7)
10. The Incredibles (7)
11. Ratatouille (7)
12. The Emperor’s New Groove (6)
13. Toy Story (6)
14. Madagascar (6)
15. Shrek 2 (6)
16. Finding Nemo (6)
17. The Lion King (6)
18. Shrek 3 (5)
19. Fern Gulley (5)
20. The Prince Of Egypt (5)
21. A Bug’s Life (5)
22. Iron Giant (5)
23. Bee Movie (5)
24. Alladin (4)
25. The Fox And The Hound (4)
The last few would've scored higher if they weren't so predictable. Curious George almost made the list but it just wasn't very funny or clever - just very cute (which is why Fox and the Hound dropped so far). The Grinch Who Stole Christmas almost made it too but I've seen it so many times that it is boring to me now.
1. Jungle Book (10)
2. Shrek (10)
3. Jonah – Veggie Tales (10)
4. Cars (9)
5. Monsters, Inc. (9)
6. Wallace and Gromit: Curse Of The Were-Rabbit (9)
7. Flushed Away (8)
8. Wallace & Gromit – A Close Shave (8)
9. Hoodwinked (7)
10. The Incredibles (7)
11. Ratatouille (7)
12. The Emperor’s New Groove (6)
13. Toy Story (6)
14. Madagascar (6)
15. Shrek 2 (6)
16. Finding Nemo (6)
17. The Lion King (6)
18. Shrek 3 (5)
19. Fern Gulley (5)
20. The Prince Of Egypt (5)
21. A Bug’s Life (5)
22. Iron Giant (5)
23. Bee Movie (5)
24. Alladin (4)
25. The Fox And The Hound (4)
The last few would've scored higher if they weren't so predictable. Curious George almost made the list but it just wasn't very funny or clever - just very cute (which is why Fox and the Hound dropped so far). The Grinch Who Stole Christmas almost made it too but I've seen it so many times that it is boring to me now.
Monday, October 6, 2008
TV Shows
Here are my...
Top 10 Favorite TV Shows of All Time:
1. Arrested Development
2. The Office
3. Scrubs
4. Corner Gas
5. Police Squad
6. Freaks and Geeks
7. My Name Is Earl
8. The Adventures Of Young Indiana Jones
9. Iron Chef America
10. Bob Newhart
Top 10 TV Shows (if calculated by number of hours I’ve invested):
1. Brady Bunch
2. Happy Days
3. Gilligan’s Island
4. Three’s Company
5. Love Boat
6. The Nanny
7. Scooby Doo
8. Dukes Of Hazard
9. Cheers
10. Full House
Top 5 Reality Shows:
1. Next Food Network Star
2. Kid Nation
3. Next Iron Chef
4. American Idol
5. Survivor
Of course these lists do not include sports events, which makes up the bulk of my TV viewing life. In fact, if the Blazers are on TV, they are top priority. Monday Night Football comes in 2nd.
At some point, I may review my top 10 favorite TV shows. Stay tuned for more…
Top 10 Favorite TV Shows of All Time:
1. Arrested Development
2. The Office
3. Scrubs
4. Corner Gas
5. Police Squad
6. Freaks and Geeks
7. My Name Is Earl
8. The Adventures Of Young Indiana Jones
9. Iron Chef America
10. Bob Newhart
Top 10 TV Shows (if calculated by number of hours I’ve invested):
1. Brady Bunch
2. Happy Days
3. Gilligan’s Island
4. Three’s Company
5. Love Boat
6. The Nanny
7. Scooby Doo
8. Dukes Of Hazard
9. Cheers
10. Full House
Top 5 Reality Shows:
1. Next Food Network Star
2. Kid Nation
3. Next Iron Chef
4. American Idol
5. Survivor
Of course these lists do not include sports events, which makes up the bulk of my TV viewing life. In fact, if the Blazers are on TV, they are top priority. Monday Night Football comes in 2nd.
At some point, I may review my top 10 favorite TV shows. Stay tuned for more…
Top Secret!
Rating: 10
Genre: Comedy
This is one of the great Zucker Brothers spoof movies. It came out in 1984 (after Airplane and the Police Squad series, but before Naked Gun). It mocks spy movies, 50s rock and roll, European high society, WWII Germany, etc.
As for the plot, it follows Nick Rivers (Val Kilmer), an American rock star who gets caught in the middle of a foreign espionage debacle when he meets a young woman whose father is being held captive by the Germans. The father is a scientist who is working on a top secret project (hence the name of the movie) and the Germans hope to use it to take over the world.
This movie has some of the funniest gag-lines and plays on words of any movie… ever!
Knee slapping goodness like this... “Thanks for the phony dog poo.” “What phony dog poo?” HAHA HAHAHA!! Plus, any movie that starts out with a music video of Skeet Surfin’ can’t miss in my book.
If you like movies like Airplane, Naked Gun, or Hot Shots, you should watch this movie.
Genre: Comedy
This is one of the great Zucker Brothers spoof movies. It came out in 1984 (after Airplane and the Police Squad series, but before Naked Gun). It mocks spy movies, 50s rock and roll, European high society, WWII Germany, etc.
As for the plot, it follows Nick Rivers (Val Kilmer), an American rock star who gets caught in the middle of a foreign espionage debacle when he meets a young woman whose father is being held captive by the Germans. The father is a scientist who is working on a top secret project (hence the name of the movie) and the Germans hope to use it to take over the world.
This movie has some of the funniest gag-lines and plays on words of any movie… ever!
Knee slapping goodness like this... “Thanks for the phony dog poo.” “What phony dog poo?” HAHA HAHAHA!! Plus, any movie that starts out with a music video of Skeet Surfin’ can’t miss in my book.
If you like movies like Airplane, Naked Gun, or Hot Shots, you should watch this movie.
Young At Heart
Rating: 7
Genre: Documentary
This documentary is a look at the singing group Young At Heart. Young At Heart are a group made of elderly (70+) folks who tour Europe and America singing rock and roll songs. Their take on David Bowie, Talking Heads, The Clash, Coldplay, James Brown, etc. is both hilarious and poignant.
Lyrics tend take on a whole new meaning when delivered by this age group, and the gravity of impending and recent death of its members adds a weightiness and depth to songs while contrasting with the spirit they each have to live life to the fullest as long as they can.
The groups manager and song leader is a very determined, patient, and compassionate man named Bob Cilman. He keeps the group on track and pushes them for their best effort while maintaining a genuine caring attitude and thoughtfulness toward each of them.
The personalities of the members are funny and quaint, spunky and sad, somber and hopeful. I hope I am this full of thought when I am their age.
The highlight of the movie, for me, comes when the group performs at a local prison and conveys hope and relief to a group of men who society has forgotten. The prisoners’ mid-show tears and post-show hugs prove that their one-time lapse in judgment does not invalidate their humaness. One of the most inspiring pieces I’ve ever watched.
A couple segments in the movie were not that great, however, including the poor decision to go with Sonic Youth’s Schizophrenia, a song that contains the B word and did not seem very appropriate to sing to audiences that include children. Also, there were a few minor mentions of sex, which may be a reality in that age group but a reality that I don’t think I need to know about until I learn it for myself.
Overall, I liked this movie and agree with the movie's theme: singing youthful songs is a great way for old people to stay… young at heart.
Genre: Documentary
This documentary is a look at the singing group Young At Heart. Young At Heart are a group made of elderly (70+) folks who tour Europe and America singing rock and roll songs. Their take on David Bowie, Talking Heads, The Clash, Coldplay, James Brown, etc. is both hilarious and poignant.
Lyrics tend take on a whole new meaning when delivered by this age group, and the gravity of impending and recent death of its members adds a weightiness and depth to songs while contrasting with the spirit they each have to live life to the fullest as long as they can.
The groups manager and song leader is a very determined, patient, and compassionate man named Bob Cilman. He keeps the group on track and pushes them for their best effort while maintaining a genuine caring attitude and thoughtfulness toward each of them.
The personalities of the members are funny and quaint, spunky and sad, somber and hopeful. I hope I am this full of thought when I am their age.
The highlight of the movie, for me, comes when the group performs at a local prison and conveys hope and relief to a group of men who society has forgotten. The prisoners’ mid-show tears and post-show hugs prove that their one-time lapse in judgment does not invalidate their humaness. One of the most inspiring pieces I’ve ever watched.
A couple segments in the movie were not that great, however, including the poor decision to go with Sonic Youth’s Schizophrenia, a song that contains the B word and did not seem very appropriate to sing to audiences that include children. Also, there were a few minor mentions of sex, which may be a reality in that age group but a reality that I don’t think I need to know about until I learn it for myself.
Overall, I liked this movie and agree with the movie's theme: singing youthful songs is a great way for old people to stay… young at heart.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Caddyshack
Rating: 7
Genre: Comedy
Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Bill Murray, Ted Knight, and a mechanical gopher star in this 1980 comedy about life and golf at a country club. To me, Chevy Chase elevates this movie to classic status. If you just watch his eyebrow movements alone you will bust up laughing.
Rodney Dangerfield (Al Cvervik) is a rich doctor who does not come from a long line of wealth like Ted Knight’s character (Judge Smails) does. Their contrast in taste and etiquette are a great sub-plot to the movie.
Bill Murray plays Carl, the groundskeeper, who seems like he spent far too much of his time in Vietnam in the poppy fields and subsequently has less of an IQ than a gopher. He does have some great one-liners though and his 'me vs. vermin' mentality hits close to home for me since I spent countless hours trying to rid our yard in Oregon City of gophers.
This movie also has a good soundtrack, including the only good Journey song ever made, Any Way You Want It, Kenny Loggins’ I’m Allright, and a great synthesized horn tune by Hilly Michaels called Something On Your Mind (plays when Rodney Dangerfield is wreaking havoc at the Yacht Club).
Brian Doyle-Murray plays the part of Lou Loomis, head caddy. You may know him as Noah Vanderhoff (owner of Noah’s Arcade) from Wayne’s World. Turns out that he and Harold Ramis co-wrote Caddyshack.
One of the best gags in film history is the Baby Ruth floating in the pool. If you like physical, cornball comedy, this movie ranks among the best.
Here are some great quotes from Caddyshack:
- "Oh, this your wife, huh? A lovely lady. Hey baby, you must've been something before electricity."
- " … I mean, he's been club champion for three years running and I'm no slouch myself…. Don't sell yourself short Judge, you're a tremendous slouch."
- "This steak still has marks from where the jockey was hitting it."
- "In the immortal words of Jean Paul Sartre, 'Au revoir, gopher'."
- "Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now, about to become the Masters champion. It looks like a mirac... It's in the hole! It's in the hole! It's in the hole!"
- "A flute without holes, is not a flute. A donut without a hole, is a Danish."
- "I was born to love you / I was born to lick your face / I was born to rub you / but you were born to rub me first /... What do you say we take this out on the patio?"
- "You're rather attractive for a beautiful girl with a great body."
- "Whoa, did somebody step on a duck?"
- "You'll get nothing, and like it."
- "My uncle says you've got a screw loose." "Your uncle molests collies."
- "My enemy, my foe, is an animal. In order to conquer the animal, I have to learn to think like an animal. And, whenever possible, to look like one. I've gotta get inside this guy's pelt and crawl around for a few days."
Holes
Rating: 10
Genre: Adventure / Family
This movie came very close to making my all-time top 5 list. Shia LeBeouf plays Stanley Yelnats (the 4th) AKA Caveman in this masterfully done tale of teenage delinquents.
Wrongfully accused and sent to a work camp for boys, Stanley befriends Hector Zeroni (Zero), a homeless boy from the same neighborhood he came from. The boys at Camp Green Lake are forced to dig holes all day for the camp warden, who's secretly looking for the treasure of stage-coach robber Kissin' Kate Barlow. The plot follows a duel path of Stanley's experience and the experience of Kissin' Kate Barlow (and her chance meeting with Stanley's great-great-great grandfather).
The story keeps you guessing and has some hilarious lines and the suspense of deadly poisonous spotted lizards to keep you on edge. It, like Shawshank Redemption, is a story of the redemption of someone wrongly accused. Plus, the part of Stanley's dad is played by Henry Winkler - AAAAYY!!! - so of course it's a great movie!! It also has Jon Voigt, Sigourney Weaver, Tim Blake Nelson, Eartha Kitt, Patrica Arquette, and Siobhan Fallon Hogan. Great casting job!!!
Here are some great quotes from the movie:
"I ain't on stupid pills!"
"Yeah, my no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather, that's who it is."
"I can fix that."
"It smells like puke from a mule been 'ruminating on asparagus for two weeks."
"Everyone in my family names their son Stanley, 'cause it's Yelnats backwards. It's this little... tradition."
"You take a bad boy, make him dig holes all day in the hot sun, it turns him into a good boy. That's our philosophy here at camp green lake."
Genre: Adventure / Family
This movie came very close to making my all-time top 5 list. Shia LeBeouf plays Stanley Yelnats (the 4th) AKA Caveman in this masterfully done tale of teenage delinquents.
Wrongfully accused and sent to a work camp for boys, Stanley befriends Hector Zeroni (Zero), a homeless boy from the same neighborhood he came from. The boys at Camp Green Lake are forced to dig holes all day for the camp warden, who's secretly looking for the treasure of stage-coach robber Kissin' Kate Barlow. The plot follows a duel path of Stanley's experience and the experience of Kissin' Kate Barlow (and her chance meeting with Stanley's great-great-great grandfather).
The story keeps you guessing and has some hilarious lines and the suspense of deadly poisonous spotted lizards to keep you on edge. It, like Shawshank Redemption, is a story of the redemption of someone wrongly accused. Plus, the part of Stanley's dad is played by Henry Winkler - AAAAYY!!! - so of course it's a great movie!! It also has Jon Voigt, Sigourney Weaver, Tim Blake Nelson, Eartha Kitt, Patrica Arquette, and Siobhan Fallon Hogan. Great casting job!!!
Here are some great quotes from the movie:
"I ain't on stupid pills!"
"Yeah, my no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather, that's who it is."
"I can fix that."
"It smells like puke from a mule been 'ruminating on asparagus for two weeks."
"Everyone in my family names their son Stanley, 'cause it's Yelnats backwards. It's this little... tradition."
"You take a bad boy, make him dig holes all day in the hot sun, it turns him into a good boy. That's our philosophy here at camp green lake."
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
My Top 5 Movies of All Time
I will eventually try to rate (1 to 10 scale) and comment on every movie I watch, but I wanted to start off with the best of the best...
1. Braveheart:
Rating: 10
Genre: Action
This epic movie captures my love for medieval Europe and served to further boost my passion for the strategy of historic military battles. The swordplay and era-specific costumes are phenomenal. The struggle of the social classes appeals to my humanitarian side and the love story gets me every time (I'll never look at a thistle flower the same!). Longshanks (Patrick McGoohan) is so evil that you begin to feel evil (he makes you want to throw him out a window). Also, the movie is full of timeless and deep lines that give you chills, such as:
2. O Brother, Where Art Thou:
Rating: 10
Genre: Adventure / Comedy
A re-telling of The Odyssey set in midwestern America during the Great Depression of the 1930's, this movie is part comedy, part drama, and part social commentary. It is one of those movies that raises the bar for all movies to come. Everett's (George Clooney) intellectual meanderings are hilarious and smack soundly against the southern drawl of the two men who share his shackles. All of the actors and actresses, and especially the 3 main characters, were cast perfectly. The Cohen Brothers script is matchless in wit, the only negative being that they needlessly use the Lord's name in vain. The southern bluegrass/gospel/blues soundtrack parralels the movie in quality.
Some of my favorite quotes:
Rating: 10
Genre: Action / Adventure
This is technically 3 movies but they go hand-in-hand so I am lumping them all together for my list. A journey through a fantastic world with characters both likeable and relateable. The books are better of course, but the essence of the books are portrayed so well by director Peter Jackson that none can fault the final product. The scenery and CGI in this movie are tops.
The struggle between good and evil shows in a large and an individual scale. Tolkien's storytelling puts you in the soul of the adventurers and sweep you away from this world into that one, all the while revealing to us the subtle truths and contradictions we all experience in life.
The battles are amazing and the hugeness of the landscape and flurry of emotions of the is off the charts. The depth of the charcters and the attention to detail make this the ultimate fantasy epic.
In my opinion, this is the ultimate epic movie series. As for those who would argue for Star Wars instead... I say Star Wars is shallow and trite in comparison. Tolkien stories are the best. Period. Can't wait for the Hobbit!
4. The Usual Suspects:
Rating: 10
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
No other movie keeps you guessing like this one. There are others movies, like Memento and Pulp Fiction, that use a similar style of editing to keep you in suspense, but the actors and script of Usual Suspects are superior. Kevin Spacey, Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio Del Toro, and Kevin Pollack all play mercenaries in search of a huge pay-off... but at what cost? This is one of those movies that blows you away at the very end of the movie so much that you have to watch it again immediately.
5. The Shawshank Redemption:
Rating: 10
Genre: Drama
Since I have been redeemed myself, I am a sucker for the whole concept of redemption. This movie is a classic tale of righting wrongs. Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins deliver this gripping story of empathy and conviction in gritty realism. The suspense and cleverness, along with the yearning for freedom this movie creates makes this an all-time great.
Rounding out my top 10 are: Holes, Office Space, Top Secret, Naked Gun, Passion of the Christ
1. Braveheart:
Rating: 10
Genre: Action
This epic movie captures my love for medieval Europe and served to further boost my passion for the strategy of historic military battles. The swordplay and era-specific costumes are phenomenal. The struggle of the social classes appeals to my humanitarian side and the love story gets me every time (I'll never look at a thistle flower the same!). Longshanks (Patrick McGoohan) is so evil that you begin to feel evil (he makes you want to throw him out a window). Also, the movie is full of timeless and deep lines that give you chills, such as:
- "Every man dies, not every man really lives."
- "Not the archers.... Arrows cost money. Use up the Irish. The dead cost nothing."
- "I know you can fight. But it's our wits that make us men. "
- "Your heart is free. Have the courage to follow it."
- "It's all for nothing if you don't have freedom."
- "I am William Wallace!.... fight and you may die. Run, and you'll live... at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin' to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FREEDOM!"
2. O Brother, Where Art Thou:
Rating: 10
Genre: Adventure / Comedy
A re-telling of The Odyssey set in midwestern America during the Great Depression of the 1930's, this movie is part comedy, part drama, and part social commentary. It is one of those movies that raises the bar for all movies to come. Everett's (George Clooney) intellectual meanderings are hilarious and smack soundly against the southern drawl of the two men who share his shackles. All of the actors and actresses, and especially the 3 main characters, were cast perfectly. The Cohen Brothers script is matchless in wit, the only negative being that they needlessly use the Lord's name in vain. The southern bluegrass/gospel/blues soundtrack parralels the movie in quality.
Some of my favorite quotes:
- "You two're just dumber'n a bag of hammers."
- "We're in a tight spot!"
- "It's a fool that looks for logic in the chambers of the human heart."
- "Them syreens did this to Pete. They loved him up and turned him into a horny toad."
- "Well, ain't this place a geographical oddity. Two weeks from everywhere!"
- "You ain't no kind of man if you ain't got land."
- "Mrs. Hogwallop up and R-U-N-N-O-F-T."
- "Care for some gopher?... No thank you, Delmar, one third of a gopher would only arouse my appetite without bedding it down.... Oh, you can have the whole thing. Me and Pete already had one apiece. We ran across a whole gopher village."
- "What'd the devil give you for your soul, Tommy?... Well, he taught me to play this here guitar real good.... Oh son, for that you sold your everlasting soul?... Well, I wasn't usin' it."
- "C'mon in boys, the water is fine."
Rating: 10
Genre: Action / Adventure
This is technically 3 movies but they go hand-in-hand so I am lumping them all together for my list. A journey through a fantastic world with characters both likeable and relateable. The books are better of course, but the essence of the books are portrayed so well by director Peter Jackson that none can fault the final product. The scenery and CGI in this movie are tops.
The struggle between good and evil shows in a large and an individual scale. Tolkien's storytelling puts you in the soul of the adventurers and sweep you away from this world into that one, all the while revealing to us the subtle truths and contradictions we all experience in life.
The battles are amazing and the hugeness of the landscape and flurry of emotions of the is off the charts. The depth of the charcters and the attention to detail make this the ultimate fantasy epic.
In my opinion, this is the ultimate epic movie series. As for those who would argue for Star Wars instead... I say Star Wars is shallow and trite in comparison. Tolkien stories are the best. Period. Can't wait for the Hobbit!
4. The Usual Suspects:
Rating: 10
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
No other movie keeps you guessing like this one. There are others movies, like Memento and Pulp Fiction, that use a similar style of editing to keep you in suspense, but the actors and script of Usual Suspects are superior. Kevin Spacey, Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio Del Toro, and Kevin Pollack all play mercenaries in search of a huge pay-off... but at what cost? This is one of those movies that blows you away at the very end of the movie so much that you have to watch it again immediately.
5. The Shawshank Redemption:
Rating: 10
Genre: Drama
Since I have been redeemed myself, I am a sucker for the whole concept of redemption. This movie is a classic tale of righting wrongs. Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins deliver this gripping story of empathy and conviction in gritty realism. The suspense and cleverness, along with the yearning for freedom this movie creates makes this an all-time great.
Rounding out my top 10 are: Holes, Office Space, Top Secret, Naked Gun, Passion of the Christ
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