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1.The Neverending Story.
2.My Neighbor Totoro.
3.Lawrence of Arabia.
4.Rebecca (1940).
5.The Ten Commandments.
6.M.
7.Blade Runner.
8.A Clockwork Orange.
9.Fearless (1993)
10. 2001: A Space Odyssey.
11. Big.
12. 12 Angry Men.
13. Grave of the Fireflies.
14. North By Northwest.
15. The Maltese Falcon.
16. Being John Malkovich.
17. Superman (1978)
18. High Noon.
19. Arthur.
20. Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs (1938)
21. Kagemusha
22. Raise The Red Lantern
23. The 400 Blows
24. Flash Gordon (1980)
25. Close Encounters of the Third Kind
26. The Guns of Navarone.
27. Enter The Dragon.
28. The Deer Hunter.
29. Under Siege.
30. The Graduate.
31. The Right Stuff.
32. Transformers: The Movie (1986)
33. Gladiator (2000)
34. Jurassic Park
35. Peter Pan (1958)
Reviews
Easy Rider (1969)
A simple good movie
1969 had been one of those years excelling in the time of inventive movie-making (inventing the NC-17 rating. hehe.) With some of the movies such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Midnight Cowboy, Costa-Gavras' Z, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, and They Shoot Horses, Don't They?. But there is one movie that made Hollywood flop its concept of majestic movie-making to simpler, good, low-budget storytelling concepts nobody had made that impact so strong and so envied to date...
...it was Easy Rider.
The story tells about 2 bike hikers Fonda and Hopper, with their budget money traded from drug-selling, cross-countrying their adventures in the long highways of America, come what they may encounter, not freakin' out. Meeting country families, hippie tents in the middle of the desert, small towns who thought they were a threat or a throne,sex and drugs, and even meeting a haywired lawyer, all mixed up in a bag that simply tells what freedom does mean along the way.
It's too good a movie. Excellent backdrops of different types of music hovering along the vast background of America's natural beauty...highly contrasted with the natural instincts of certain Americans met along the way. A place so damn great marred by a somewhat "wrong civilization". I'd never thought of that idea for a story concept. Very inventive. I do not say it relates to it's present situations of hippie culture by that time...but the elements that made the place seem entertaining. Nothing of politics or more intelligent form of story, just plain 'meet along the way' naturally (it's a funny thing they included the 'alien' concept as told by Jack Nicholson's funny role).
A must for movie collectors to keep AND watch. It still packs a wallop to date...just do not compare the costumes to today's setting and just get the idea of the story and feel the 60-70's era (well some of them never change, though).
Papillon (1973)
possibly the original Shawshank Redemption
Papillon is the character played by Steve McQueen. Convicted with life sentence for accursedly killing a young girl, he was transferred to St. Laurent's penal colony of France along with his colleagues of prisoners, where he met Dustin Hoffman, a counterfeiter, and several other inmates and marshalls of different aspects. His motivation to escape the colony led others to follow his trail, and ends up being put in rationed reclusion for every attempt he do...and still survives time.
Although McQueen seemed to be worn out of his "escape" role here, the character role's vital strength of courage amidst the very rough penalties given makes this movie worth watching. Added by the "feeling" style of the reclusion and the seemingly endless integrity with his fellow inmate Hoffman, now you will be impressed with this movie. The only flaws were...he escapes too long and still end up...whatever. Also, the other flaw was the whole tribal meeting that seemed worthless in the movie. But, hey! It still has the lesson that's note worthily same with the Shawshank Redemption: courage and hope.
You might had read this comment or the title I summarized for it, but I recommend you watch it and find why I said it the much more original Shawshank Redemption.
Gangs of New York (2002)
An excellent concept marred by a somewhat "too modern" cinematography and star roles
You know, this is best watched when its a bit outdated and silent enough that no one ever thought it was popular those days, and now i had my couch for it on video.
Gangs of New York is a story about a certain history of 18th century New York, along its backdrafts of gangs and peasants, immigration settlements, popularity voting, and the city's involvement with the Civil War. The lead is DeCaprio, a son of a former gang leader waiting vengeance against the man who killed his father: Daniel-Day Lewis in his very remarkable role as Bill the Butcher. Unexpectedly entwining as his colleague, he learns his secrets and mysteries, until Lewis too learns about his kid.
I must admit, I was VERY impressed by Day-Lewis' role. Very believable, well acted, but...DeCaprio still can't make up his well-actedness in this role (and even in the Aviator) since Gilbert Grape. He seems to have this...fixed form...that directors wouldn't want to forcedly ruin it. Even better roles were Liam Neeson's small role as DeCaprio's father (a much better acted than his role as Qui-Gon Jinn), Brendan Gleeson as the Irish guide with an iron cane, and John C. Reilly as the former gang member who gave it up to being a local police officer.
The concept was very good, even the feel of the activities in its setting...but it's too...colorful...to believe that this is an 18th Century setting. I wish they decreased the camera color tones for this so that I may feel it. Another flaw is the ending. I know U2 made a good expression in his lyrics, but then the ending made this movie seemed oriented to the "patriotism" and not for either factual or entertainment. But, still, I enjoyed this movie (better that the Aviator).
Goodfellas (1990)
somehow unoriginal
Well everyone's telling it and I hadn't tried it once, not even in cable. So here's my two cents worth of it.
Ray Liotta plays an Italian-Irish boy obsessed with becoming a gangster. While seemingly getting close to a certain "main man" in the streets, his dreams suddenly became a reality, getting friends with two gangsters, all the money, a wife and kids, even girls, fame and fortune, all that he wanted to be...until things gone haywire.
I know Scorcese is a great director, but this movie seemed like a Raging Bull reunion with Pesci and De Niro, not to mention De Niro being worn out as a Mafia/local gangster in his role, and Pesci uncontrollable in his role that I can't seem to understand he began and end up that way. If I was a gangster, I never would had liked that guy to be met in the first place...and how did Liotta get close to him? The cinematography is too much pizazz by the 90's edge that it end up being boring in, like, more than 2 hours of it (the way Scorcese make his movies these days). Too complicated idea that Liotta's role end up seeking witness protection against his "friends". The only thing I was impressed is Paul Sorvino's role.
I think Scorcese is starting to diminish his quality movie-making and style with this movie, focusing more on popularity of stars and movie length rather than a stylish, good story movie. I had much fun better watching Taxi Driver, King Of Comedy, Last Temptation of Christ, and my favorite, Raging Bull. I'm sorry for the negative criticisms on this famous movie, but that's how I see it in an unbiased way. Although Pileggi initially wrote the novel good, he edited it with boggleness for the movie, which, err, hadn't got better.
In Good Company (2004)
surprisingly intelligent movie
By the time the 2004 Oscars went up, this entry wasn't even nominated in every list, but I know this has something to say.
Dennis Quaid plays a common magazine salesman exec, interwining his common goal when his company has been bought by some hotshot global conglomerate, her wife getting pregnant at her 50's, her daughter wanting to study at an expensi...I mean, exclusive school,...and his authority being replaced by a new boss whose half his age and looks silly in organizing business.
The mixture of these spices contrasts up with his belief in his own sanity, ranging form decisive measures at home up to the office and his clients. Seldom I had watched a movie that intelligent, specially upon putting relationships with his new boss (which you need to watch this movie how he hated him more as the story develops). The character ideas are well-acted and good. I was impressed with the concept of the movie. Even the ending seemed right and hopeful.
I hope you try this movie. Well, it's not really a great movie like Lawrence of Arabia, but at least you may try it in its own uniqueness of story.
Dôruzu (2002)
a change of Kitano's typical movie-making with this weird movie
Dolls is Kitano's try-out of manifesting a Japanese puppet theater into a live-action movie feel...but it didn't work quite well.
Interlopping stories about a man leaving his marriage to follow his former girlfriend's amnesiac life upon poorness, a blind fan trying to meet his pop idol, a yakuza recalling his forgotten promise of a girl on a park, all upon the fairness of fate of certain...soulmates' destiny.
Am trying to feel the same feeling i had watching a Japanese puppet theater, and possibly interpreting it the Kitano way, but this is one Kitano movie that I may be a bit confused or disappointed. Well, I did get the point of what Kitano was trying to indulge the audiences, but it lacks something...focus of story? He still uses his still background photography though, and that makes the good strong points of this movie with it very beautiful sceneries.
Macross Zero (2002)
confusing prequel to the Macross saga
I've been waiting for another Macross series or movie coming up to reinstate its own strong genre in the anime industry, but i found it disappointing in this new prequel.
1999. The year when an alien craft from space fell on earth, nations tremble upon knowing they are not alone in the universe, and different factions wage war upon the search for the ultimate weapon related to alien technology. Shin Kudo, a Un-Spacey pilot of an F-14-like aircraft fell to an island after having being shot by anti-UN fighter plane/mecha. He met the ancestral villages of a certain island led by Sara Noome as a girl with mystical powers that enable to float organic rocks through a song. After Shin's discovery of the mysticism, certain UN-Spacey troops landed on the island for related underground research that led also to more attacks and casualties by the anti-UN...and an unearthing revelation of a massive organic weapon 10,000 years buried beneath the island that may wipe out the whole human civilization.
There were some points on the need to expand the Macross saga (amidst the non-inclusion of Kawanori's Minmay-Hikaru-Misa trilogy due to the copyright restraints) but it still cannot save the fact about the more details pertaining to one of the most viable weapon used in the whole Macross saga...the SDF-1. There is still no conclusion as to where the detailed origin of the space fortress being inclusive and informed in the prequel, and how the whole world had united to form the defense attacks prior to the first encounters with the Zentraedi. Furthermore, the good points goes to the relation of Protoculture origin through relations with the Mayan Civilization, and to the adaptability of evolving designs that leads to the famous VF-1.
The prequel answers the crave for wanting to watch a new Macross saga, but after watching it, it's still lacks relative detail to the original story.
Midnight Cowboy (1969)
Too modern for a 1969 movie
Normally hearing about this Oscar winner for Best Picture, I might as well try it out.
Jon Voight is a feel-cowboy stud with a gleam past life trying to raise money in the Big Apple, until he met a small-time crook croak-legged homeless Dustin Hoffman, a seemingly mutual friendship amidst the non-reliability of raising money in the hardness of city life.
After watching this movie...I thought it was an 80's movie. It feels like an 80's movie. I might say that Dustin Hoffman has been this versatile in acting and it shows from watching a bunch of his movies with different roles. The story was simple, not like Godfather or Platoon or Clockwork Orange...but I think the thing that makes it for the Best Picture Award is for feeling this film when you're watching it in 1969. It really feels too modern for a 1969 simple story movie. Recommended for movie collectors.
Saturday Night Fever (1977)
I know it's a 70's pop movie but I never thought it's a good story of ethics
After hearing a few shares of comments from my mother's stories, I might as well find out why this movie was so popular in the 70's.
Tony Manero (Travolta) is a guy with little but contented wages from a paint store, a dropout of high school with an elder brother who's a priest, always pointed by his parents to be ridiculed, with a group of friends who plays the fun for living, being envied by girls for his savvy looks and poise, but most of all... he loves dancing, even to the point that he makes practicing perfect. Things became different after meeting a matured girl who tells complicated stories about the intelligent world...an opposing thought for a dropout kid.
The movie is full of excellent scores by the BeeGees and some 70's dance fever hits that's famous when you hear this movie title...but what's the best part of it is about Tony Manero's good ethics against a city life obsession. He doesn't cheat much on his things, he even tries to cheer up his brother after giving up priesthood, he tries to control his friends' abusive tendencies, and practices dancing with seriousness. A look of a good ethics for a city kid. I never thought it could be well made for the movie. At least that saves this movie an entertaining piece of video to watch for it...not just for the music grooves.
The Family Man (2000)
I will exchange my Citizen Kane video for this modern touching movie
While I was looking for something to rent on video, it didn't snap in my mind about one the few Oscar nominated videos such as this movie, so I tried to screen it out.
Nicolas Cage plays a top-class financial executive who stops nothing to meet the odds of strong business...resulting form his 13 years of life after rejecting Tea Leoni's (his former girlfriend) will to just share their lives as a family and continue his internship to London. One Christmas Eve, a close encounter with a black punk with a gun at his head made a turning point of things for him after controlling his situation in the mini-store. Going to his first class condo room to sleep, he suddenly wakes up to find...sleeping with Tea Leoni, with 2 kids, a small house, a rugged job, and waaaaay too far from his real businessman life! Realizing the events that's happening around him, he found out that he was given a 'glimpse' of what MIGHT had happened if he made the choice with Tea Leoni than his intern to London. Now he has to cope on the glimpse for awhile...
I never expected a sentimental touching movie from a director who made Rush Hour & Red Dragon. It was brilliant, executably good in editing (after watching the outtakes, it fits right to cut out the non-important, boring scenes), and a best story i've ever seen for a 2000 movie. Highly recommended, this score's best and you'll gonna love it once you've seen it. I know Citizen Kane packs a great movie, but movies such like these will make you warm your heart for a good reason. Heck, I'm a man and got teared out on this! A must-see!
Les triplettes de Belleville (2003)
An unexpected best animated film amidst the popularity of Japanese anime and CGI animation
I think this deserves the Oscar trophy better on the Best Animated Feature nomination...well Nemo had it though. This is what i believed as a best contender for popular cartoon movies nowadays amidst the popularity of Japanese anime and Pixar/Dreamworks' CGI toon movies.
I hadn't had a good watch again of these type of cartoons other than those Madeline series or those old Sesame Street toon shorts, and this movie had me curious finding it on video...and i was amazed by the old-fashioned style of background drawings, characters, musicals, even the simple plot. Yes, very caricaturish and unrealistic...but that's what cartoons are all about, simply enjoyable for kids and parents alike. Simple, just like watching either Rugrats or Madeline, not much realistic in design. Just a cartoon. There had been an evolution of cartoon enjoyment nowadays, but with this movie, you will feel the same old fun of watching those learning animation features were all about.
A must see movie/animated film. Stands true and deserves to being critically acclaimed.
Zatôichi (2003)
Another Kitano movie, Meiji-era style
Well, what can i say? I'd expect another Takeshi Kitano silent-buff violent comedy style movie...and i was right. Same fun. Minus the paintings though. And of course, the old-style Japanese blood splats.
Takeshi tries to star now as a famous blind swordsman, walking strangely in a normal encounter on a certain old Japan town and slashes efforts on which he deemed needed revengeful assaults for two geishas, a bankrupt guy, an old vegetable vendor, and even the idiot guy running around the vendor's house, all because of a hidden syndicate maltreatment in the town. Added are the pleasant natural background locations, and a final 'celebration' modernizing a commemorative offer to the original series, with a dance choreography by a stick-tap music group resembling those who perform in a Canadian series Just For Laughs.
Another feel-good movie by Takeshi Kitano. Perfect for fans.
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)
Trying to make a Pre-WWII feel movie using (over) modern cinema style and tools
The first time i saw this trailer in theaters, i was a bit curious how they will be making a film noir style movie for a modern cinematography and the feel of science fiction in the 30's style, sort of War of the Worlds.
I was a bit disappointed.
I think Kerry Conran's movie is trying to feel the science fiction resembling those of the Iron Giant or War of the Worlds or old Flash Gordon series.
Well i would say it isn't that bad in concept, but the almost total use of CGI in making a film noir style still doesn't work, even with its B&W or the blurry cinematography. It still feels a bit...fake, seeing the flaws of shadows of cast, lighting, music, movements, fluency of the movable objects, some of it. I've been watching old B&W movies since my favorite, Fritz Lang's M, but I think Sky Captain lacks something to modify the old film buff style into a modern technology-using effects to make it feel like the 30's. It's sad to say in this movie that I would still prefer The Shadow by Alec Baldwin, The Rocketeer, Dick Tracy, or even The Iron Giant, even though they're colored. You still would feel it's 'classicality', either in jazzy music style, heroic buffs, or like some of it.
But the best comment I can give for this movie is that... I would prefer this style of Angelina Jolie's Nick Fury style than David Hasselhoff's movie. It resembles better in her character perfectly...although he's a she. ;-p