S. Evan Townsend's Blog, page 10
January 25, 2024
Favorite 103 Top Movies: The Top Ten List!
This is it, that last of my list of 103 favorite movies. Now we're into the movies I watch over and over again.
Previous entries in this countdown are:
Without further ado, let's get on with my top ten favorite movies:
10: Toy Story 2 (1999)
Yes, this movie is betterthan Toy Story. They get out of the house and have adventures outdoors and in atoy store and an apartment building. Fun from beginning to end (except the sadpart in the middle), this is such an amazing film. And funny, too. I rememberin the theater (I took my kids) laughing out loud at a part that parodies TheEmpire Strikes Back. And Mattel lets them use Barbie to great effect. Availableon Disney+
9: Star Wars: Return of the Jedi(1983)
Now known as "Star Wars,Episode VII: Return of the Jedi," this is the worst of the three main StarWars movies. But still a very good film. The Ewoks are a little too cute andthe final battle where they defeat the stormtroopers is a bit unbelievable (whydo stormtroopers wear that worthless armor, anyway?). The battle in space isalmost too much but Luke finally confronting Vader is amazing (with a greatsoundtrack to accompany it). If you can watch the non-CGI version, do. It'sbetter. Available on Disney+ (unfortunately, only the CGI-ruined version).
8: Fantasia (1940)
I am a huge fan of hand-drawnanimation. And Fantasia is a tour-de-force of that art form. Plus, the music isfantastic. If you want to introduce your children to classical music, this is asneaky way to do it. The ending is a bit overdone and long, but up until then,the dancing hippos and ostriches are worth the price of admission. Available onDisney+
7: The Bridge on the River Kwai(1957)
English POWs, led by AlecGuinness, are held at a Japanese camp in occupied Burma. They are tasked withbuilding a railroad bridge over the River Kwai. Guinness's character is atfirst reluctant, but then gets into the spirt of the thing and decides to buildthe best damn bridge they can. Only at the end of the film does he realize whathe's done by aiding the enemy. Strong performances by Guinness and WilliamHolden as an American POW bind this film together. Available on Max, Sling TV,and Amazon Prime Video.
6: Who Framed Roger Rabbit(1988)
If you're a fan of the goldenage of animation (the 40s and the 50s), you gotta love this movie. Somehow, thefilm makers convinced both Disney and Warner Brothers to use their characters.Want to see Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny on the screen at the same time, this isyour movie. Set in a world where animated characters live and interact withreal life humans. The film has an uninteresting plot and the climax is a bitoverdone. But if you love animation, you'll love this film as much as I do.Available on Disney+
5: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Long, slow, but amazing.Special effects are a highlight of this film, especially for 1968. This movieis this high on the list solely on the strength of its audacity. Acollaboration between Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke, it is simply anamazing film with a bit of a downer message. (Clarke has never been a fan ofhumans.) You have to watch this movie at least once in your life. Available onTubi (free), Max, and Amazon Prime Video.
4: Star Wars (1977)
Now unfortunately known as"Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope," there was nothing ever seen likethis movie when it came out. Science fiction in the 1970s tended to bepessimistic and dystopian (See Soylent Green and Silent Running).But this was fun, exciting, and what great special effects that were amazingfor the time (zero CGI). The climax is so good they stole it for Top Gun:Maverick. Because of this film's success, the Star Trek movies were madeand science fiction movies became fun again, mostly. Available on Disney+(unfortunately, only the CGI-ruined version).
3: Lord of the Rings: Fellowshipof the Ring (2001)
Beautifully shot in NewZealand, this film was simply amazing. Based on Tolkien's book, and sticks tothe novel more than The Two Towers does, it goes from the green, pastoralShire to a final battle by humans and an elf against a band of orcs in a forest.Its action sequences are intense. Who would have thought swordplay could be sopowerful without guns or cars? The extended version is even better with morebackground. And Ian McKellen plays Gandalf perfectly, exactly as I imagined himfrom the books: compassionate, wise, and with a twinkle in his eyes. Availableon Max, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
2: Star Wars: Empire StrikesBack (1980)
"Never tell me theodds!" For more than two decades, this was my favorite movie. Now calledStar Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, this is the best of allthe Star Wars movies. From the battle on Hoth to Luke confronting Vader whenhe's not quite ready, this movie keeps the plot moving fast. And the asteroidfield chase is not only amazing to watch, you have to wonder how they did it in1980 before CGI. Han Solo becomes less of a rogue and more of a sympathetic character.A bit of a downer/cliffhanger ending, though. Available on Disney+(unfortunately, only the CGI-ruined version).
And my number one favorite movies is...
1: Lord of the Rings: Return ofthe King (2003)
Thousands of orcs (CGI, butyou don't care, it's done so well) besiege a huge white city built into amountain. That image is what I remember most from this movie. A powerful climaxto the Lord of the Rings films. Yes, the denouement is way over-long but theyare wrapping up almost nine hours of film. When the 6,000 mounted soldiers fromRohan (CGI) ride toward the orcs, you feel the pounding of the ground. Theemotions of this movie are deep and hard. Peter Jackson knows how to tug atyour heartstrings while exciting you with massive battle scenes. Also better onthe extended version, but even the theatrical version thrills, too. Availableon Max, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
What d you think of my top ten favorite movies? Let me know in the comments below.
January 18, 2024
Top 103 Favorite Moves: #19 - 11
We're getting closer to my favorite all-time movie. But today we're doing #19 - 11.
The previous post with the movies are;
So, here we go on the penultimate countdown blog:
19: On the Waterfront (1954)
A movie about corruption inthe longshoremen's unions. Very well made and shows how the unions keptcontrol. Someone threatens to go to the authorities, and a load"accidentally" falls on him. Has the classic scene with Marlon Brando:"I coulda been a contender." A very good movie that you should watch.Available on YouTube, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video (all paid).
18: The Lives of Others (2006)
You probably haven't heard ofthis movie. Made in Germany about life in the Communist East Germany (GermanDemocratic Republic),this is a powerful film. A writer wants to write about what's happening, but ofcourse, the government won't even allow him to have a typewriter. So, one issmuggled in for him and he has to hide it when he's not using it. Lots oflittle subplots (a singer is being raped regularly by a party official). Thisbuilds and builds to a powerful climax. I should watch this again soon. Availableon YouTube, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video (all paid).
17: Citizen Kane (1941)
Considered by some as thebest movie ever made. It's a little slow by modern standards, but it is stillvery good. Orson Wells wrote and stared in this picture, based on the life ofnewspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst. Contains the classic exchangebetween Kane and his wife: "The people will think…" "What I tellthem to think." Wells does a great job of both playing Kane and directing.Look for a young Agnes Moorehead (Bewitched) as Kane's mother."Rosebud." Available on YouTube, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video(all paid).
16: Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
This movie is huge. Desertvistas and big battles scenes. The story is about an Englishman who helps outthe Arabs during World War I to unite and fight the Turks. The train wreakscene is worth the price of admission. Peter O'Toole plays Lawrence. I need towatch this again. Available on Sling TV.
15: The Godfather (1972)
14: The Godfather Part 2 (1974)
I've decided to treat thesetwo Godfather movies as one (they pretty much are one movie). These are amongthe best films ever made, if not the best. The story of the Corleonemafia family from the 1910s to the 1960s. Al Pacino plays Michael who isdetermined to stay out of the family business, but then is sucked into it byhis need for revenge. Watching hisdescent into crime and callousness is fascinating and heartbreaking. You haveto watch these movies at least once in your life. Available on Paramount+
13: Lord of the Rings: The TwoTowers (2002)
I thought about treating theLord of the Rings movies as one movie, but decided not to. The Two Towers isthe weakest of the three LOTR films. (I thought the book was the weakest of thethree books, too.) Huge battle sequences (with a lot of CGI but you don't care becauseit's done so well), but also the story of Frodo and Sam as they try to get toMordor to destroy the ring with Gollum in tow (sometimes literally). Theextended version is a little better, but still, this movie runs a bit slow evenfor the massive battle at Helms Deep. The movie strays a bit from Tolkien, too,which isn't good. Available on Max, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
12: Toy Story (1995)
Speaking of CGI: this as thefirst completely computer animated feature film. Quite an accomplishment. Butin addition, it has a great storyline with an evil next-door kid (Sid; and weall knew a Sid growing up), a competition between toys for the affections ofthe child who plays with them, and a fun climax. This was Pixar's first movieand one of its best. Available on Disney+
11: The Incredibles (2004)
When I was a kid there was ananimated show called "Jonny Quest." It could never be made today dueto being politically incorrect. But The Incredibles reminds me of it so much.This is Pixar's first film where people die (bad guys, mostly). People withsuperpowers are in hiding after being sued and banned for the damage they causewhile saving people. But Mr. Incredible (aka, Bob Parr) is tired of it and whenan invitation comes to be super again, he grabs at it. That's when theadventure starts. Available on Disney+
Coming up next week, my top 10 favorite movies.
What do you think of my list? Let me know in the comments below.
January 11, 2024
Top 103 Favorite Moves #29 - 20
We're back with my favorite 103 movies of all time. If you want to see the previous entries, they are here:Why 103? Because there were some movies (three) I couldn't just ignore.
So let's continue with the countdown:
29: The Hunt for Red October(1990)
Basedon the Tom Clancy book, this movie is a suspenseful epic. If you like militaryand CIA stuff, you'll love this flick. The one downside, Alex Baldwin stars.But he's young, so it's easier to ignore. A Soviet submarine captain wants todefect with his high-technology nuclear missile boat. But will the Americansunderstand and let him? Sean Connery plays the Soviet with a bit of a Scottishaccent. Still an intense movie. Available on Philo.
28: Jurassic Park (1993)
One of the first movies touse CGI extensively (after Terminator 2). But watching it, you don't care. Thismovie is scary, intense, and fast-paced. Directed by Steven Spielberg withamazing results, the tension builds and builds as carnivorous dinosaurs stalkhumans. Based on the book by Michael Crichton. Jeff Goldblum plays a cynicalmathematician who is not happy to be right. Available on Amazon Prime Video.
27: E.T. The Extraterrestrial(1982)
We have a few Steven Spielbergmovies in a row. E.T. was a blockbuster when it came out. Everyone wanted toknow about the little alien botanist. There's plenty of humor and pathos andkids riding bikes to escape government agents, which was just fun. Featuring avery young Drew Barrymore and other young actors who do a very good job.Suburbia was never this enjoyable. Available on YouTube, Apple TV, and AmazonPrime Video (all paid).
26: Indiana Jones and the LastCrusade (1989)
The chemistry betweenHarrison Ford and Sean Connery is amazing. Why didn't these two men make moremovies together? Ford, of course, plays Indiana Jones and Connery, his father(with a slight Scottish accent). While the climax is a bit dull (after the tankchase), the adventure getting there is amazing. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Iremember seeing this in the theater with a very pregnant wife after waiting inline for two hours in the California sun. Available on Paramount+ and Disney+
(When I revise this list, this is where Oppenheimer will go.)
25: Raiders of the Lost Ark(1981)
The movie that introduced usto Indiana Jones and of course it was directed by Steven Spielberg. The wholepremise (an archeologist hunting for rare artifacts in the 1930) plus evilNazis, plus a love interest plus an evil French archeologist, all adds up tosome of the most fun on film. Ignore the (many) bloopers and plot holes andjust hang on for the ride. Available on Paramount+ and Disney+
24: The Matrix (1999)
Ignore that this movie makesno sense from a thermodynamic point of view. Written and directed by the Wachowskibrothers, err, sisters, this is basically a live-action anime with violence anda smart storyline. Evil computers enslave humanity and keep them"entertained" in a matrix that looks like late 20th century realworld. Again, don't think about it too much. Good fighting and shootoutsequences. Available on Max and Amazon Prime Video.
23: Schindler’s List (1993)
Back to Steven Spielberg.This true story about the Holocaust is brutal and hard to watch at times.Spielberg won an Oscar for this and deservedly so. Schindler is a German whotries to save as many Jews as he can with a list of concentration camp inmates thathe wants to work in his war factory. Shot in black and white (mostly), it's apowerful movie that'll make you say "Never again." Available on AppleTV and Amazon Prime Video (both paid).
22: Close Encounters of the ThirdKind (1977)
Steven Spielberg's follow upto Jaws was this science fiction movie about aliens visiting Earth. At timesmysterious and other times funny, it shows extra-terrestrials to be benign.Well, except for kidnapping humans. Richard Dreyfuss is a man who, after anencounter with a UFO, starts acting strange and building a model of a mountainin his house. It all ends Wyoming with a light show. The special effects arevery good for this era. Doesn't seem to be available on streaming.
21: Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Probably one of the mostrealistic war movies ever made. Director Steven Spielberg doesn't flinch fromthe violence and brutality of combat. The first minutes of this film are nearhorrific as the Allies land on the beach on D-Day. And it goes on from there.Tom Hanks stars and Vin Diesel has a small role. This isn't a feel-good movie,but it's one that you can't stop watching. Available on Paramount+
20: The Right Stuff (1983)
"They all wanna see BuckRogers, and that's us." Okay, this movie is a little long, I admit. Itcould have used a good edit. Like cut out the Australian sequences completely.But if you like planes and space exploration (and I do), this is a great movieabout the beginning of the space race. Based on the Tom Wolfe book (which Iread before the movie came out) there is humor (some of it bathroom humor),excitement, and history in this flick. Available on YouTube, Apple TV, andAmazon Prime Video (all paid).
That's it for this ten. What do you think of my list? Let me know in the comments below.
January 4, 2024
Top 103 Favorite Movies: #39 - 30
Happy New Year!Back to counting down my favorite 103 movies. Why 103? Because there were some movies I just couldn't bear to leave out.
Previous editions of this count down are:
So here we go:
39: It Happened one Night (1934)
The oldest movie on this listand a fun glimpse into 1930s life and culture in the US. Starring Clark Gableand Claudette Colbert, she is a rich woman running away from her father and heis a reporter looking for a scoop. They end up travelling together and posingas a married couple to stay in motels. And when there's only one bed in a room…well, things might happen. Available on Sling TV (free).
38: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off(1986)
If you watch this movieenough, you realize it's not about Ferris Bueller, but about Cameronfinding his courage to stand up for himself and to live his life the way hewants to. There's fun along the way as the dean of students at the high school,Ed Rooney, tries to catch Bueller playing hooky. It reminds me of Wile E.Coyote trying to catch the road runner. And don't worry, the Ferrari was areplica. Available on Netflix.
37: Guy Richie's The Covenant(2023)
This is the newest film onthe list. Set during the Afghanistan War, an interpreter risks his life to savean American soldier. After the American is home and out of the military, hefinds out the Taliban is searching for the interpreter with plans to murder himand his family. The soldier returns to Afghanistan to save the interpreter.Lots of action and good acting, this is an intense movie. It was directed byGuy Richie who usually does British crime caper movies. Available on YouTubeand Vudu (both paid).
36: Ghostbusters (1984)
"Who ya gonnacall?" Who would think a movie about a business to find and eradicateghosts would work this well? Hilarious (mostly due to Bill Murray) and fun. Eminentlyquotable, too. And the movie makes an over-zealous EPA bureaucrat the bad guy. Gotta love that. SigourneyWeaver is a woman who is being haunted both by ghosts and neighbor Louis Tully(played by Rick Moranis). Available on YouTube, Vudu, and Amazon Prime Video(all paid).
35: Lone Survivor (2013)
Back to the Afghanistan War,Lone Survivor is the story of special forces soldier Marcus Luttrell whowas the only survivor of a vicious firefight on a ridge. The combat sequencesare what makes this movie great. They are intense and you can actually tellwhat's happening. The Americans are discovered by some shepherds, and they letthe men go who apparently tell the Taliban where the Americans are. No gooddeed goes unpunished. Available on YouTube, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video(all paid).
34: Braveheart (1995)
Mel Gibson directed andstarred in this movie about freedom. William Wallace (Gibson) leads his fellowScots against the tyrannical English, trying to win their independence. Forgetthat it's historically inaccurate, remember that these people were fighting anddying for freedom 500 years before the American Revolution. Available on Max,Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
33: American Graffiti (1973)
George Lucas's second featurefilm, this one might be a bit hard to understand if you don't know about"cruising." On Friday and/or Saturday night, you'd get in your car(or your parent's car) and drive slowly up and down your town's main drag tosee and be seen. This movie is about one night of cruising but it's more thanthat. Some characters are about to leave for college and some don't know wherethey want to go and some are staying. Watch for a young Harrison Ford (andRichard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Cindy Williams, Suzanne Somers). Available onNetflix.
32: Amadeus (1984)
Not the most historicallyaccurate movie, but the music is amazing. This is the story of the composer WolfgangAmadeus Mozart toldthrough the eyes of a rival, Salieri. Mozart is a buffoon and Salieri is a seriouscomposter envious of Mozart's talent. Salieri tries to sabotage his rival. Anddid I mention themusic? A very good movie. Available on Amazon Prime Video.
31: Grand Prix (1966)
The best film about carracing, ever. The driving is realistic and the wreaks are realistic. I don'tknow about the relationships between the drivers and women, but that might betrue too. This is where James Garner learned to drive fast. The sometimes-artsydirection distracts at times, but if you want the feel of driving an F1 car inthe '60s, this movie is it. Available on YouTube and Amazon Prime Video (bothpaid).
30: Finding Nemo (2003)
Beautiful computer animationmakes you think you are underwater. There are also lots of memorable charactersincluding the over-protective father, Marlin. The sea turtles are worth theprice of admission. Crush reminds me of my cousin Kenny and Squirt ishilarious. Another Pixar triumph, this movie is fun, funny, and touching."Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming." Available on Disney+
That's it. What do you think of the movies on my list? Let me know in the comments below.
December 28, 2023
Top 103 Favorite Movies: #49 - 40
We're counting my favorite 103 movies. The first list was here, the next here, the next here, the next here, and the last one here.49: Aliens (1986)
After The Terminator rippedthrough movie screens, James Cameron moved on to the science fiction actionflick, Aliens. Alien was a gothic horror set on a space ship. Aliens was anaction movie through and through with space marines battling xenomorphs. Andthe twist climax gave us one of the more memorable lines from the movies. SigourneyWeaver reprises her role as Ripley and Michael Biehn (an under-rated actor inmy opinion) is Corporal Hicks. "It's the only way to be sure."Available on Hulu.
48: Sunset Boulevard (1950)
Another Billy Wilder movie(the fourth on our list). Norma Desmond is a washed-up movie star and WilliamHolden plays Joe Gillis, a screenwriter who gets caught up in Norma's net."You used to be big," Gillis says. "I am big. It's the picturesthat got small," Norma replies. But Norma is slowly going mad and thinksshe's going to make a comeback film. When, of course, she isn't. Contains theclassic line, "I'm ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille." Ihaven't seen this is years; maybe I should watch it again. Available on YouTubeand Amazon Prime Video (both paid).
47: Casablanca (1942)
I am shocked, shocked thismovie is only number 47. It's such a good film with Humphry Bogart and ClaudeRains and Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet. Yes, that almost sounds like areunion of the Maltese Falcon cast. Then there's Ingrid Bergman playing Ilsa.The Germans wore gray; she wore blue. So many memorable lines from this movie.Rick is a cynical café owner in Casablanca who has a history with Ilsa. "Ofall the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine,"Rick says. The drama builds from there with Nazis and both turncoats andpatriotic French. "I think this is the beginning of a beautifulfriendship." Available on Max and Amazon Prime Video.
46: Blade Runner (1982)
Harrison Ford as a cop whohunts and "retires" robots that look human (replicants). The only wayto tell them apart is something called the Voight-Kampf test. Which is slowwhen a possibly murderous robot is sitting across the table from you. Directedby Ridley Scott, the movie is visually stunning (again, no CGI) and with ascore by Vangelis (Chariots of Fire), it's an immersive ride that asksquestions about the nature of humanity. There are several versions of the filmout there. Avoid the one where Ford narrates. Based on the Phillip K. Dick bookDo Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Available on YouTube and Apple TV (paid).
45: The Terminator (1984)
Speaking of robots. This wasJames Cameron's second feature film and it made a name for him. For somereason, playing an emotionless robot also made Arnold Schwarzenegger's actingcareer. Interesting trivia: Schwarzenegger's pay for this movie was $500,000.For Terminator 2, it was $15 million. This movie is a fast, pounding, actionfilm with a science fiction plot. There are shootouts and car chases and funlittle bits ("machines need love too"). This movie will keep you onthe edge of your seat. Available on Max, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video
44: Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
Based on the true story of DesmondDoss who, during World War II, refused to touch a weapon or kill people due toreligious reasons. He became a medic and, for his bravery in saving his fellowsoldiers at the battle of Hacksaw Ridge on Okinawa, he won the CongressionalMedal of Honor without firing a shot. Mel Gibson directs this movie withintense, bloody battle sequences. Rated R for good reason. I recently watchedthe beginning of this film and was reminded the hell Doss was put through inbasic training because he wouldn't touch a rifle, but he refused to quit.Available on Sling TV (free) and Amazon Prime Video.
43: Die Hard (1988)
The film that made BruceWillis an action star. With Alan Rickman playing the suave villain, this is afun movie with lots of shootouts, explosions, and tense moments. A movie aboutfamily and redemption and love. Really. Not a lot of plot but lots of action.Watch it at Christmastime with someone you love. Available on Hulu, Fubo, and Sling TV.
42: Back to the Future (1985)
"You built a timemachine out of DeLorean?" This fantasy movie about an 80s teenagertransported to the 50s has a fun fish-out-of-water vibe along with nostalgiaand a bit of romance, unfortunately, with his mother. Christopher Lloyd is the scientist/inventorof the time machine and plays the part with enthusiasm. Forget the sequels,this is the best of the movies. Available on Hulu and Sling TV.
41: Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior(1981)
When this Australian-mademovie came to the US, it was shocking for its violence (these days it would beonly typical). It also made Mel Gibson a star. There are car chases and brutal violenceas people try to find the "precious juice," i.e., gasoline. Theclimax with the tanker truck is heart-pounding. Available on Max and AmazonPrime Video.
40: Rear Window (1954)
Probably Hitchcock's bestmovie. Staring Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly, it's the story of a man laid upwith a broken leg who watches what goes on in the apartments around him throughhis rear window. And did he just witness a murder? How can he find out? Suspenseful and fun. Available on YouTube andApple TV (both paid).
December 21, 2023
Top 103 Favorite Movies: #59 - 50.
Once again into the breach. We're counting down my favorite 103 movies. Why 103? Because there were just some movies I couldn't leave off the list.The first post is here, the next one here, the next one here, and the last one here.
So here we go, with #59 through 50:
59: Aladdin (1993)
Before Disney went all wokeon us, it made great cartoons such as Aladdin. The hand-drawn animation isamazing and the story is one of redemption. Aladdin goes from being a"street rat" to having the princess fall in love with him with thehelp of a genie voiced by Robin Williams. There are enough jokes to keep adultsentertained, too. Available on Disney+
58: The Lion King (1994)
First of all, the hand-drawnanimation is beautiful, especially during the opening. And Simba's story arc isamazing, from "no worries" (hakuna matata) to facing up to his pastand taking responsibility. Jeremy Irons is perfect as the villain, Scar. Youcan hear the evil in his voice. Even the music is wonderful. A real treat towatch. Available on Disney+
57: Dumbo (1941)
Old, classic Disney, withlovable characters and beautiful hand-drawn animation. Catchy songs, too. Thetitle character, Dumbo, never says a word. He doesn't have to, his facialexpressions do it all. The story of someone who took their biggest problem andturned it an asset. This short film (only about an hour), is one of Disney'sbest animated movies. Available on Disney+
56: Twelve O'clock High (1949)
One of the first movies toportray the horrors of aerial combat in World War II. Gregory Peck takes over a"hard luck" B-17 bomber group and through discipline and psychology,gets them into fighting shape. Includes actual combat footage in the final, climacticbattle. Available on YouTube (free) and Amazon Prime Video (paid).
55: The Untouchables (1987)
Written by David Mamet (GlengarryGlen Ross), this is a nearly perfect law-and-order movie. Elliot Ness is movingin on Al Capon in Chicago during Prohibition. Not very historically accurate,it's still not only fun but a good action film. The final scene in the trainstation on the stairs is a classic (parts of it stolen from Sergei Eisenstein).Who doesn't love a good gangsters vs. cops movie? Available on Showtime,YouTube (paid), and Hulu.
54: Star Trek II: The Wrath ofKhan (1982)
My favorite Star Trek film.There's so much that's good here, you ignore some plot holes. Introduced Lt. Saavik(played by a young KirstieAlley) and brought back Khan from the series. The tension of the first spacebattle is thick. We get a little back story on Kirk who, at age 50, is startingto feel old. Sit back and enjoy this space ride. Available on Paramount+
53: Young Frankenstein (1974)
Another Mel Brooks film on mylist, and the best. With laugh-out-loud humor and silly setups, it's just a funmovie to watch. Shot in black and white, it also is a tribute to old horrormovies of the 1930s. Watch out for those "Abby Normal" brains. Availableon Max, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
52: Witness for the Prosecution(1957)
Another Billy Wilder movie!This murder mystery is set in London and stars Marlene Dietrich as the wife ofa man (played by Tyrone Power) on trial for murder his mistress. CharlesLaughton plays the lawyer (solicitor) hired to defend the man. With greatacting and twists, this is a wonderful movie. Available on YouTube, Pluto TV(both free), and Amazon Prime Video (with subscription)
51: Forrest Gump (1994)
"Stupid is as stupiddoes." I'm not sure why I like this movie so much. Tom Hanks plays ForrestGump, a low-IQ man who is dragged along by the events of the 1960s and '70s andhas an influence on history. The Vietnam battle scene is scary and realistic(except when Forrest outruns a napalm bombing). There's no quest and not muchof a plot. And through it all he loves Jenny. Poor Jenny, who is always tryingto find herself and nearly does. Available on Paramount+ and Amazon PrimeVideo.
50: Jaws (1975)
There are a lot of Steven Spielbergon this list and the is the first one. It was Spielberg's second feature filmafter The Sugarland Express. Here Spielberg honed his craft to give us thrillsand chills and characters we want to like (or not). No CGI (too early) and yes,sometimes the shark looks fake. But that doesn't take away from the tautdirection and frightening scenarios. And that John Williams score is amazing.On Tubi (free).
What do you think of my list? Let me know in the comments below.
December 14, 2023
Top Favorite 103 Movies: #69 - 60
Once again we dive into my list of 103 favorite movies. The first part is here, the next part is here, and the last part is here.Without further ado, here's #69 - 60:
69: Dr. Strangelove or: How ILearned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
"Gentlemen, youcan't fight in here! This is the War Room." I don't agree with thismovie's anti-war message, but I admire the way they said it. A comedy aboutnuclear war with Slim Pickens and an early roll for James Earl Jones. Adeparture for director Stanley Kubrick from his usual serious fare. And PeterSellers plays three roles including Dr. Strangelove. Everyone needs to watchthis at least once. Available on YouTube (paid) and Apple TV (paid).
68: Mission Impossible: Fallout(2018)
In the middle of this moviethere's a car chase. And I thought "oh, dear, another boring carchase." But, no, it was an amazing car chase. That's just part of theappeal of this movie. The climax is (nearly) nuclear explosive. The helicopterchase is also astonishing. An action-packed thriller. Available on Paramount+
67: Interstellar (2014)
Earth's ecosystem is failing(never said why, probably climate change). NASA wants to send astronauts to asystem of planets to see if one is inhabitable. But there's a black hole andtime dilation and time travel through the black hole and… it's a veryinteresting movie worth watching. Like a lot of Christopher Nolan movies, it'sdeep, intellectual, and a bit hard to follow. Available on MGM+ and AmazonPrime Video.
66: Seven Year Itch (1955)
A family man with too muchimagination is tempted by Marilyn Monroe while his wife and son are away forthe summer. While his thoughts run away with him, he finally decides his familycomes first before his job, his over-active imagination, and his desires forthe girl. Contains the iconic scene of Marilyn Monroe standing over the subwaygrate and her dress being blown up. It's not as salacious in the movie as theytry to make you think. Directed by Billy Wilder. Available on Tubi and YouTube(paid).
65: Blazing Saddles (1974)
Mel Brooks sends up racism inthis hilarious movie. And westerns and Hollywood. While the end is a littleconvoluted, this flick so funny through most of the film. Cleavon Little playsthe black man sent to be the sheriff of a small town, and the towns peoplearen't happy about it. If the N-word offends you, don't watch this movie. Justan amazing, funny movie. Available on YouTube (paid) and Apple TV (paid).
64: Some Like it Hot (1959)
A classic Billy Wilder comedywith Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, and of course, Marilyn Monroe. Not uproariouslylaugh out loud funny, but just amusing situations as Curtis and Lemmon dresslike women to escape a mobster by joining an all-girls band. Contains theimmortal closing line, "Well, nobody's perfect" which in context ishilarious. Available on Max and Hulu.
63: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home(1986)
This is a lot of people'sfavorite Star Trek movie. And it's one of the better ones. Thefish-out-of-water plot of the crew of the Enterprise in 1986 San Francisco isgood for a lot of amusing moments. It gets a little preachy at times but that'seasily overlooked. And Spock did too much LDS in the '60s. Available onParamount+
62: Ford v Ferrari (2019)
One of the few good moviesabout car racing. It has its accuracy issues (downshifting to pass cars on thetrack), but a compelling storyline and great acting by Matt Damon (as CarollShelby) and Christian Bale. And it explains how the whole Ford GT racingproject was to get back at Ferrari for spurning Ford's offer to buy thecompany. If you enjoy cars, this is a fun movie. Available on Hulu and Sling TV.
61: Top Gun (1986)
This movie was a sensationwhen it first came out. The dogfighting scenes were amazing and, for the firsttime, it seemed, you could understand what was going on. Tom Cruise isMaverick, a hot shot F-14 Tomcat pilot. Kelly McGillis is the love interest andis more believable because she's not a typical anorexic Hollywood actress. Ifyou know anything about the military and/or military jets, you have to ignoresome things, but still, this movie is a wonder. Available on Paramount+.
60: Cars (2006)
I am convinced that thepeople who made this movie love cars and racing. These are so many littlethings like the types of cars the characters are. Michael Schumacherappropriately voices a Ferrari, for example. The plot is a little thin but the funnever stops. And while Lightning McQueen learns how to drift, he also learnshow to care for others than himself. In my opinion, one of the better Pixarfilms. Available on Disney+
That's it. What do you think of my choices. Let me know in the comments below.
December 7, 2023
Top 103 Favorite Movies: #79 - 70
Welcome back to my top 103 favorite movies. The first part is here, the second part is here.
So here we go:
#79: Spider-Man: Into theSpider-Verse (2018)
A Spider-Man cartoon? Yes,and it's amazing. And hard to describe without giving away the story. But thereare a lot of different Spider-Man characters, including one woman. Just a funmovie with a big, bad villain. Available on FuboTV, Hulu, and Sling TV.
#78: Serenity (2005)
A science fiction movie basedon a short-lived series called "Firefly." I always wonder if thewriter/director, Joss Whedon, realizes he made a film with stronglibertarian/conservative vibes. "I aim to misbehave." "Peopledon't like to be meddled with." Plus, the story is good and the action isamazing. Summer Glau beating up a bar full of hoods is only one reason to watchthis. Available on YouTube (paid), Apple TV (paid), and Amazon Prime Video.
77: Mission Impossible III (2006)
This movie is surprisinglyeffective thanks to a smart script and tense direction from J.J. Abrams (yes,the man who ruined both Star Wars and Star Trek). The action is fast and thesuspense is tight. Philip Seymour Hoffman is a scary villain in how calm andcool he is. The bridge scene is worth the price of admission. Available onParamount+
76: Terminator 2: Judgement Day(1991)
Arnold Schwarzenegger is backas the Terminator (a robot from the future) but this time he's been reprogramedto protect John Conner, not to kill him. The machines send the T-1000, a"liquid metal" terminator from the future to kill Conner. This wasone of the first movies to extensively use CGI and it works brilliantly as it'snot overused. Fun to watch with just enough humor to take the edge off.Available on Netflix.
75: The Maltese Falcon (1941)
"You're a good man,sister." The classic Bogart film noir movie about "The stuff thatdreams are made of." Bogart's Sam Spade is an unflappable private eyecaught up in a scheme to find a jewel encrusted falcon figure. Or is it? If youwatch one Bogart movie, this has to be it. Available on YouTube (paid) andApple TV (paid).
74: Batman (1989)
First of all, Jack Nickolsonas The Joker. That should be enough to sell this movie. Then Michael Keaton asBatman/Bruce Wayne. And a lovely Kim Basinger playing Viki Vale. We see TheJoker's backstory, and his pain and his trauma. And Bruce Wayne's pain andtrauma that sent him in a different direction. Occasionally silly, but stillworth watching. And the end leaves a mystery that's never been solved.Available on Max and Amazon Prime Video.
73: Risky Business (1983)
Tom Cruise is a suburban Chicagoteenager left home alone while his parents travel. Rebecca De Mornay is a callgirl he hires. When his father's Porsche goes into Lake Michigan, things getout of hand and he needs a lot of money fast. The call girl has an idea.... Anearly role for Joe Pantoliano as the bad guy/pimp. Not a belly-laughs kind ofmovie, just entertaining and amusing. Available on Paramount+.
72: Shrek (2001)
The first and best Shrekmovie. A featured-length fractured fairy tale with questions of true beauty andtrue love. It's meant for kids but has enough jokes that adults will enjoy.Satires a few movies including The Matrix. For pure entertainment, there islittle better. Available on Peacock and Hulu.
71: Double Indemnity (1944)
Another classic film noirwith Fred MacMurray as the chump and Barbara Stanwyck was the femme fatale.Edward G. Robinson plays the good guy (for once). Stanwyck wants MacMurray tokill her husband to collect the insurance money from a policy that MacMurraysells him without his knowledge. But, of course, it all goes awry. Available onYouTube (paid) and Apple TV (paid).
70: Key Largo (1948)
Edward G. Robinson is the badguy and Humphry and Bacall are the heroes (mostly Humphry). Set in the FloridaKeys, Bogart and Robinson have it out in a climax on a boat. Did I mentionthere's a hurricane, too? Great performances all around. Available on YouTube(paid) and Apple TV (paid).
November 30, 2023
103 Favorite Movies, #89 - 80
And here we go:
89: Airplane (1980)
“Surelyyou must be joking.” “I’m perfectly serious, and don’t call me Shirley.” Amovie that delivers the laughs and doesn’t pretend to be anything else. Partshaven’t aged well but the movie doesn’t care. It’s hilarious. Available on Max,Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
88: True Lies (1994)
Thelast collaboration between James Cameron (Titanic, Avatar) and ArnoldSchwarzenegger, this movie tried hard to be a buddy/action-comedy flick butparts of it are too serious and some are just cringy. Best part: Harrier jetsblowing up a bridge. Available on Tubi (free) and AMC+
87: Dodgeball: A True UnderdogStory (2004)
LikeAirplane, this movie goes for laughs over everything else. A bit more modern,it still has its cringy humor parts, but mostly you’ll laugh. Don’t worry aboutthinking, this movie isn’t about that. And the sports movie parts make youcheer to the heroes. Available on Max, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
86: National Treasure (2004)
Atreasure map on the back of the original Declaration of Independence? The badguy (Sean Bean, who survived the movie) wants to steal the document. So, thehero (Nicholas Cage) decides to steal it first. As clues (many based on Americanhistory) combine to lead the adventures to a possible treasure, the tensionwinds up. A fun, underrated, movie you should watch. Available on Disney+
85: Mission impossible (1996)
Thefirst Mission Impossible movie had such a convoluted plot, it takes at leasttwo viewing to figure out just what happened. But the tension is high as TomCruise has to find the bad guys while evading his own agency. And the climax isamazing (if a bit unrealistic). Worth the two watches, at least. Available onAMC+ and Paramount+
84: Gattaca (1997)
I’veonly seen this movie once (unlike most the others on the list) but it’s animportant film dealing with the ethics of gene manipulation in humans. Somechildren are born natural, others are born enhanced genetically. There isprejudice against the natural born and this leads to many issues for Ethan Huntwho wants to be an astronaut but is natural born. And natural born can't beastronauts. Available on YouTube, Apple TV, and Vudu, all paid.
83: The Wolf of Wall Street(2013)
Basedon a true story, it’s a cautionary tale of what money, drugs, and more drugscan do to a man. If only the hero had been ethical in his money making andavoided drugs, his world might not have come crashing down. Or his yacht sunkneedlessly. Margo Robbie is amazing in this movie, as is Leonardo DiCaprio. Availableon MGM+ and Amazon Prime Video.
82: To Have and Have Not (1944)
The film debut of Lauren Bacall (she was 19) and loosely based on a Hemmingway story. Humphry Bogartleads the cast during World War II intrigue. "You ever been stung by adead bee?" "You know how to whistle, Steve, don't you?" A greatold movie. Available on YouTube and Amazon Prime Video (paid on both).
81: Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
It was 1977 and the worldneeded a hero and Burt Reynolds obliged with a rebel shipping bootleg beerthrough the American Southeast. Sally Fields joins the crew as they race alonginterstate and back road, always on the lookout of "Smokey," i.e.,the police. Nothing intellectual or deep, just fun and exceeding the speedlimit (which was 55 mph nationally at the time). This was the number twohighest grossing film of 1977. Available on AMC+ and Philo.
80: Spaceballs (1987)
Mel Brooks takes on StarWars. While it references a few other science fiction movies such as Alien andPlanet of the Apes, it's mostly a Star Wars parody. Gave us "ludicrousspeed" and "They've gone plaid" (which Elon Musk used in namesfor his cars). Watch it with someone with a good sense of humor. Available onMax, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
What to you think of my list so far? Let me know in the comments below.
Next time, 79 - 70,
November 23, 2023
103 Favorite Movies #103 - 90
Happy Thanksgiving!
Today I am going to start listing my 103 favorite movies of all time. Why 103? Because there were some I just couldn't leave out.
103: Star Trek: First Contact(1996)
Theonly Star Trek: The Next Generation cast movie on this list and the first offive. Directed by Jonathan Frakes (who also plays First Office Riker), theparts on the ship are exciting and claustrophobic as the crew tries to stop aBorg invasion of their vessel. But the parts on the ground and rather silly.Councilor Troi drunk was funny, though. Introduces the concept of the"Borg Queen," which I've never liked but was used in a lot of StarTrek afterwards. Available on Paramount+
102: The World’s Fastest Indian(2005)
“World’s fastest what?” you may be asking. Thisunusual film is based on the true story of a New Zealand man (played byAnothony Hopkins) trying build the world’s fastest motorcycle and test it outat Speed Week at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah in 1967. Watching hisculture shock of 1960s America and his efforts to build the motorcycle makesthis movie strangely compelling. It's fun to watch him try to fix issues withthe motorcycle. When something doesn't work that he thought would, he says,"Who came up with that stupid idea?" In the end, his Indian-brandcycle is the world’s fastest. Available for free on many sites includingYouTube, Peacock, and Pluto TV.
101: Star Trek III: The Search forSpock (1984)
Thisthird Star Trek movie with The Original Series cast is an emotional rollercoaster. Kirk’s devastation at the murder of his son and the destruction of theEnterprise are both unlike any other Star Trek film. The worst part, KirstieAlley isn’t playing Saavikanymore. Christopher Lloyd plays the Klingon commander, chewing up scenery. Itwas obvious he was having a great time. Available on Paramount+
100: Bullitt
Basically, this is on thislist because of that chase scene, one of the best ever filmed. Otherwise, thisis an interesting crime drama starring Steve McQueen. Made in 1968 SanFrancisco, there are bad guys and tough cops and lots of nice scenery. Watchfor the real cop directing traffic outside a restaurant and a very young RobertDuvall driving a taxi. But once you watch that chase scene, there's not muchelse to this film. Available on Max and Amazon Prime Video.
99: The Mummy (1999)
There are no horror movies on this list. I don’t do horror.But this movie is a fun adventure with some horror elements. Brendan Fraserstars and Rachel Weisz is the cute, smart love interest. Early CGI is used, butit works and isn’t over used. Just a fun adventure film set in the 1920s. Notto be confused with the Tom Cruise disaster with the same name. Available onHulu and Sling TV.
98: Monty Python and the HolyGrail (1975)
"What is yourquest?" Irreverent, silly, and hilarious, this first feature-length moviefrom the Monty Python troupe is laugh-out-loud funny. From the coconuts clompedtogether to indicate horses to the peasant spouting Marxist ideas, it'll haveyou rolling on the floor with laughter. "I fart in your generaldirection!" Not as sacrilegious as Life of Brian or as gross as TheMeaning of Life. Available on Netflix.
97: Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Thismovie is huge with cast of thousands. And a lot of them are stars. CGI isrampant but it’s so good you don’t care. You don’t need to watch every MCU filmbefore you view this, but it helps. The combination of the Guardians of theGalaxy and the Avengers is amazing. The final battle is huge as they try tostop Thanos's genocidal plans. If only Star Lord (played by Chris Pratt) hadn'tlost his temper… Available on Disney+
96: Charade (1963)
Idon’t remember how I found this movie but I was glad I did. This is a charmingfilm with suspense, romance, and twists. Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn star andthe chemistry between them is palpable. A very enjoyable time for an old moviewithout shootouts or chase scenes. Available on Pluto TV and Amazon Prime Video(free).
95: Galaxy Quest (1999)
Anaffectionate satire of Star Trek and its fan culture, this hilarious movie isso much fun. Tim Allen (in his best role outside of the Toy Story franchise) and SigourneyWeaver star along with the always wonderful Alan Rickman. If you love or hateStar Trek, you have to watch this movie. It's hilariously funny at times. "Nevergive up; never surrender." Available on Paramount+
94: Star Trek VI: TheUndiscovered Country (1991)
Thelast Original Series cast Star Trek movie. The cast is older and slower, butthey still save the universe. Sulu is a captain of his own ship and arrives inthe nick of time. Can there be diplomacy in the Galaxy? Or will a conspiracyruin it all? The final space battle is amazing. This is the last movie we seeSpock in (he didn't want to be in Generations). A bit marred by a couple ofpolitical statements by the filmmakers. And Klingon blood is not lavender.Available on Paramount+
93: Avengers: End Game (2019)
Youthought Infinity Wars was huge? This is bigger, longer, and has more CGI.Things go from the devastation of Infinity War to hope to a sad ending. Thebest MCU movie so far. And boy, there are a lot of infinity stones in New YorkCity! Available on Disney+
92: To Be or Not to Be (1983)
Acomedy about the Nazi invasion of Poland and the mistreatment of Jews and gays?Yes, and it’s good. Mel Brooks is less manic as the ham leader of a theatertroupe and Anne Bancroft, his real-life wife, plays his wife. Tim Matheson is ahandsome Polish pilot. There’s a 1942 version with Jack Benny, but this one isthe one with Mel Brooks. It's funny, touching, and maybe just a bit manic. Theone criticism: the Nazis are all idiots. Evil usually isn't stupid. Availableon Max, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video
91: Pirates of the Caribbean:Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Thefirst and best Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Keira Knightley is beautiful,Orlando Bloom is brave, and Johnny Depp is… Johnny Depp. It never takes itselftoo seriously and always is fun. There are a few twists toward the end. Whothought a pirate movie would work in the 2000s? Available on Disney+
90: Speed (1994)
Abus that can’t go less than 50 mph or it’ll explode. That’s the plot of Speed.An exciting action film that launched the career of Sandra Bullock and madeKeanu Reeves an action star. Just a good, fast movie. The ending is a bitanticlimactic but that’s okay. Available on AMC+ and Amazon Prime Video.
So, what do you think of my first 14? Let me know in the comments below. More will come...
