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Lists
An error has ocurred. Please try againThere is no doubt that a lot of great entertainment has been left off; there are omitted categories and even countries. But that's what happens when the goal is to keep the list to 13 no matter what.
To really complicate the issue, "Foreign Language Films" have been included as well. Why leave them off the list when they are in fact better than other domestic considerations?
Have some masterpieces been omitted? Yes, but only because I believe that every title listed here are more deserving, even if slightly so.
Finally, after formulating The Lucky 13, I somehow had to come up with a way to rank this diverse group. I concluded that the only way to accomplish this is to assess them on the basis of my personal "respect and admiration" for each.
Mature and respectful comments welcome.
An art film (also known as art movie, specialty film, art house film, or in the collective sense as art cinema) is typically a serious, independently made film aimed at a niche audience rather than a mass audience. Film critics and film studies scholars typically define an "art film" using a "...canon of films and those formal qualities that mark them as different from mainstream Hollywood films", which includes, among other elements: a social realism style; an emphasis on the authorial expressivity of the director; and a focus on the thoughts and dreams of characters, rather than presenting a clear, goal-driven story. Film scholar David Bordwell claims that "art cinema itself is a [film] genre, with its own distinct conventions."
(Above is from Wikipedia)
There's also a link to watch the infamous banned episode showing Mohammed. Oh no!
If I've left any off the list please let me know.
You may be interested in my other list '86 Politically Incorrect Titled Films':
[link]http://www.imdb.com/list/jgCvvn6BvNw/[/link]
I suppose some of these shows helped shape me, in who I am today. I've probably watched every show from every title, multiple times.
Titles are listed by watched/liked the most, in order, to the best of my recollection. Making this list has been a trip down memory lane and it was a lot of fun to create. It's been years since I've thought about many of these shows. Thanks to IMDb for having a great database that I could search from!
Feel free to leave comments, and cheers to the great sitcoms of the 1960's!
I had the privilege of hearing him conduct an outdoor concert in Rome on New Years Eve 2006, just up the street from the Trevi Fountain. When he played the Italian National Anthem there were tears flowing from everyone.
The gift of Ennio Morricone is one that captures "Italian passion" within his incredibly moving scores. He is truly blessed.
NOTE: This list includes awards. TV movies not included
From Wiki:
"He is widely acknowledged as one of the most prolific and influential composers of his era, particularly recognized for his film scores. He has composed and arranged scores for more than 500 film and TV productions and is well-known for his long-term collaborations with internationally acclaimed directors such as Sergio Leone, Brian De Palma, Barry Levinson, and Giuseppe Tornatore.
Morricone has received two Grammy Awards (one in 2008 for Best Rock Instrumental, performed by Bruce Springsteen), two Golden Globes, five BAFTAs in 1979–1992, seven David di Donatello, eight Nastro d'Argento, and the Polar Music Prize in 2010. In 2007, he received the Academy Honorary Award "for his magnificent and multifaceted contributions to the art of film music". The composer also has been nominated for five Academy Awards for Best Original Score during 1979–2001."
Born: November 10, 1928 (1928-11-10) (age 82) Rome, Italy
Website: [link] http://www.enniomorricone.it[/link]
The following is a list of all the films that Ennio Morricone has written the musical scores or composed music for.
Documentaries and TV movies/episodes omitted (there's too many to list).
This is the first list of it's kind on IMDb. Do we really need another?
While I find the titles distasteful and offensive, I abhor 'Political Correctness' even more. Read about it's origins, and why it is UN-AMERICAN:
[link]http://www.academia.org/the-origins-of-political-correctness/[/link]
SPECIAL NOTE: This list has just 86 titles listed for a reason. Only a few redundant titles have been omitted. This link has a fascinating discussion on why the number 86 is meaningful:
[link]http://www.ehmac.ca/everything-else-eh/52506-86-where-did-originate.html[/link]
Here's a list of recommended movies, in descending order of ratings, for you young ladies. Women of the 18-29 demographic have awarded each of these films the average of 8.1 or higher.
Q: Why this list?
A: It promotes foreign language film (FLF) overall.
Note: I've seen all these great films, and they are a subset of my "Top Foreign Language Films" list:
[link]http://www.imdb.com/list/qQvbXmXhhCU/[/link]
UPDATED: June 24, 2011
✓ Easter Eggs (free stuff): (7)
Recent Movies Included: (-)
Recent Updated Reviews/Ranking: (1) Golden Door
♒♒♒♒♒♒♒♒♒♒♒♒♒♒♒♒♒
90% of the films on this list are rated (7's) & (8's) by IMDb...
...painstakingly prepared to include (mostly) approachable, exemplary films. More than a few of these 'gems' are rarely found on other lists.
I've watched ALL of these movies and have included brief reviews (with hidden spoilers) for my favorites (rated 7 and higher). Also included is a quick view of the films popularity (while in list-view; see Comments section for details).
Special Feature: For your enjoyment, I've included links to trailers and preview clips for all movies.
The list is in descending order. The majority here have a very high 'replay-ability factor', where you can watch them over and over.
See Comments for additional films, my rank 5 and below.
Watching subtitled films becomes second nature with minimal practice.
NOTE: "Under the Tuscan Sun" is not a FLF but deserves honorable mention, especially for the ladies. [link]http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0328589/[/link]
I welcome your comments.
Please check back often, because...
✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰This is a work in progress, constantly updated!✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰
Reviews
The Real Face of Jesus? (2010)
Engrossing and Convincing
First of all, this is coming from a 'born again' Christian perspective.
I was blessed by this two hour documentary last night. The last History Channel program that I watched was "Quest for the Lost Ark" and I was greatly disappointed in it. This documentary was extremely informative, fascinating, and very convincing.
Years ago, when I first heard about, and studied the information about the Shroud of Turin, I was convinced that it was real. Then came the Carbon-14 tests, the rebuttal to the authenticity of the shroud. I, like most people, then began to have my doubts that the shroud was the real McCoy. The "Face" addresses this, and quite convincingly in my opinion. Furthermore, since I believe God's ways often confound man's ways, I've never been a big believer in Carbon-14 tests anyway. I don't doubt all science, but I have my reservations about Carbon-14 testing.
Another aspect of this 'techie' documentary is the process used to derive the final face of Jesus, graphically, using modern day computers, graphical programs, and even a NASA microscope which is capable of measuring contours on photographs. The graphics engineer then took his final, three dimensional image of Jesus that was generated, and compared it to the two dimensional dimensional image derived from the shroud, and in effect 'proved' that his image was accurate. This is akin to a mathematician proving a new mathematical equation.
Overall, this film delivers enough history, along with it's technical aspects to make this a very interesting documentary indeed. And as I mentioned, the final product, the face of Jesus, comes across as quite convincing after witnessing the entire process undertaken, along with the final 'proof' in it's accuracy.
Highly recommended. 10/10
Jenkins (2009)
Seriously LAME
This short offers nothing creatively. Using a stuffed monkey as the subject, a lone actor attempts to cope with the loss of his real butler named Jenkins. He's replaced the real Jenkins with the doll, as he needs towels and drinks provided to him at his backyard pool, along with help in the kitchen due to his inability to make a sandwich.The little acting there is, for the most part, is deadpan.
This short is over before it starts and leaves the viewer wondering things like "What the hell was that?" and "What did I miss, surely there's more?" No, this film has the complexity of a resounding belch, and there's no need to contemplate any deeper meanings. Except of course to poke fun at it.
The tombstone credits at the end are the best part of this ridiculous joke called "Jenkins'. This flick is so bad, you may find it good.
Les enfants du marais (1999)
A synergism of friendship rarely seen in film
This film delivers. It's a slice of life set in the beautiful French countryside.
It starts out very simple but keeps building, relationships evolving and unfolding into a glorious crescendo. The friendship between Garriss and Riton is a synergy that is not often captured in film. Garriss finds family, one that is missing from his life. Riton is guided, taught about life and social skills, the very things where he lacks knowledge.
While the relationships between the adults in this film are a wonderment, the relationships between the children are heartwarming. This film delivers on both ends of the life cycle spectrum.
A reviewer commented, "I sat through it waiting for something to happen" and was disappointed. I contend that if one watches this film waiting for a shootout, nudity/sex scene, a car chase, an explosion, or any of the other typical Hollywood cliché subplots, he or she will be disappointed. This film stands on it's own, having a morality just as high as the values it depict.
You don't sit through this film "waiting for something to happen". Something happens to you! You're immersed in a world of nostalgia, one that will warm your soul and broaden your notions of what life is really about, and how life really should be.
Amanda Knox (2011)
Disappointing
Hayden Panettiere (Amanda Knox) turns in a brilliant performance which makes this worth watching. Also notable is Vincent Riotta (Guiliano Mignini) as the chief investigator and prosecuting attorney.
The movie comes across as fairly impartial, yet with all of the evidence against Knox I became fairly convinced of her guilt after watching this. Prior to this I had assumed she may be innocent.
The portrayal of the investigation is well done and I think it covers all the aspects of the case. However this movie falls down in it's rushed courtroom trial. It is here that so many questions go unanswered. For example, during the investigation, one of Knox's roommates informed Mignini that Amanda had told her that Kercher's throat had been cut. Knox could not have known this from the murder scene where she only had a glance of the body which was covered in a blanket; only the killer (or one of the killers) would have known that. This key testimony is never brought out by the prosecution in the trial.
Overall, this is a decent TV movie that will get you up to speed about many of the details surrounding this real life crime drama. But If you're already well informed about this international case, you'll most likely find this film shallow and not worth your time.
Quest for the Lost Ark (2008)
Utter Trash
I was lured into seeing this documentary after seeing a preview on the History Channel. Considering the title and my interest in the Bible and Biblical history and archeology, I anticipated watching an account that would remain at least somewhat faithful to the Holy Bible. Was I ever wrong.
For about the first 90 minutes of this documentary I was buying into, and rather enjoying Parfitt's logical journey, following the Ark from it's origin in Israel to where he believes it ended up, in Africa. Unfortunately, this is where the trek becomes anathema.
Somehow Parfitt twisted the detailed, universally accepted description of the Ark of the Covenant that is presented in the Bible, and now he was convinced, and was trying to convince the viewers, that his discovered Ark is actually an African style wooden drum. That's right, a musical instrument made out of wood and topped with animal skin. And this isn't even the original drum according to Parfitt. This one is only 600 years old, having been recreated in what may be a long line of drums since the days of Moses.
How incredibly contrived this documentary becomes during the last 30 minutes. It's hard to believe that this man could actually put forth his "drum" proposition with a straight face. But he does, and in my opinion it confirms that he's delusional.
As a Christian, I felt deceived and violated after having watched this. So I'm warning others not to be deceived into watching this trash. It offers nothing edifying for the Christian, and surely even the unbeliever would most likely consider this documentary to be malodorous rubbish.
Bigfoot Lives (2007)
"Bigfoot Lies" Provides Evidence That Bigfoot is a Scam
This video leaves more questions than it provides answers (and real proof). It digresses toward a ridiculous end, almost as if the most absurd, staged encounters would be more believable after a thorough priming. What a crock.
Here are some of the main issues I had with this documentary:
1) Early in the video we find BF tracks in the mud in a swampy area. Two tracks are side by side, less than shoulder length apart. People don't stand like this when on unsteady footing, why should BF? The viewer is told that there are about "12 tracks" leading up to the spot where the two in the video are seen, but these tracks are never shown to the viewer, and no study is undertaken as to the gait of the BF. This is my main problem with the video; statements are made and there's absolutely no proof provided to back it up.
2) The guy who supposedly shot a BF in Arizona: Biscardi interviews this guy about the shooting, and the scene ends with a BF screaming in pain in the woods (audio added to enhance story). If you've ever hunted, or shot at an animal, you know that the very FIRST thing that you do is go look for the blood trail and try to find what you've shot at. But there was no discussion on this; the scene ends and the viewer is made to accept, at face value, the entire story of the shooting without any discussion of a blood trail, hair, or even tracks. Even if the guy was scared, he could have returned the next day with more people to look for evidence. This account amounts to nothing but a story with no evidence whatsoever to support the shooting.
3) The BF hand: Biscardi claims that the DNA concludes that it is not human, nor from a known primate, but from an unknown species. OK, so where's the proof of this statement? It is never provided. Again, let's just accept Biscardi's word, with no actual physical proof to back it up.
4) Hans Mobius and the BF by the Gator: This is the dumbest Photshop'd image I've ever seen. The BF image is totally black and lacks any dimension and detail whatsoever. And the picture was taken in broad daylight, yet no detail can be made out, even on close inspection. Furthermore, it's an obvious hoax for two reasons. One is that when you closely inspect the picture, it is pixelated, except for the black, dimensionless image. This indicates that the image was drawn, placed on TOP of the original picture (if the image was taken at the same time as the background, everything would be pixelated not just the background). Worse than this, however, is the Bigfoot's arm. Upon close inspection, it's obvious that its arm is not attached but there is a slight separation from the drawn torso. Only a drawn image would show this.
5) Body Parts: Some guy claims his dog brought home pieces of a Bigfoot. But the Fish and Wildlife took them. Then his dog brought home "the other foot", and he "took pictures of it, video of it" (Biscardi displays the picture, which is so poor quality it barely resembles a foot). He kept them in the freezer for a time, "but we finally took it out of there" and buried it (no reason given). Then this guy "tries to locate it (later), but couldn't find it". The video shown in this segment was dramatic but inconclusive. It shows some kind of leg and foot of a small creature (what they claim is a baby BF) but who knows? It's all mangled up and hard to tell, plus Biscardi has no DNA evidence from local testing to talk about, and the evidence was buried after the filming was done and can't be located.
6) The viewer is led to a dig site in the middle of the woods in Paris, TX, where a supposed BF skeleton is being excavated. It's about 2 feet in the ground. Biscardi says that they were going to get it analyzed "and find out what's it's all about". Then the segment ends. I suppose it was better to turn out the video rather than include more unsubstantiated results. But the bigger question is: what led someone to start digging here in the middle of the woods? This obvious question is never addressed, leading me to conclude that the entire dig site is staged.
7) Mike's encounter: LOL, it looks like Biscardi took a page from the Blair Witch Project with this one! The guy in the video claims that he's bumped in the night by a BF while filming, yet he doesn't even scream. This is poor acting and a dumb way to end the video.
So, after watching this video, Biscardi has left me with one big question: if HE really believes in Bigfoot, why would he put out a video that has so many clearly faked encounters in it? If he were a serious BF believer, he would be ashamed of the things in this video. If Biscardi, who has hunted Bigfoot for 30 years, put this out as the best thing he has to show after all this time, I suspect that knows Bigfoot is a myth. This video takes you on a journey for evidence, but in the end the evidence is always elusive and has either disappeared or is unsubstantiated. As Biscardi says at the end "Now it's up to you. You either believe, or you don't". Well, I unequivocally don't! I would rate this video a zero, only I enjoyed the music track, the editing, and the special effects.