My favorite film of all-time. T2 is the perfect blend of interesting characters, outstanding action, eye-popping special effects, thought-provoking ideas and excellent music. It is still as entertaining as the day it came out and is one of the best sequels ever made. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this film.
IMDb Review
Where do I begin? Terminator 2: Judgment Day is a great movie. It has everything that anyone could possibly want. Spectacular action, state-of-the-art special effects, well-developed characters, a touching story, thought-provoking ideas, and a wonderful cast make this an awesome movie. Easily in my top five.
First and foremost, the action scenes in this movie are, in my opinion, the best ones I have ever seen. Huge explosions, intense chases, awe-inspiring weaponry, and one of the most menacing bad guys I've ever seen are a great reason to see this movie, if nothing else. The chases keep getting better and better, starting with a riveting chase through a canal involving motorcycles and tractor trailer cabs and ending with a 'leaves-you-breathless' chase on a freeway with a S.W.A.T. van, a helicopter, and a tanker carrying liquid nitrogen. The weapons used are wild, most notably the scene when The Terminator obliterates the entire police force with a minigun and an M-79 grenade launcher. I could go on, but you get the idea. The action will blow you out of your seat.
The special effects are, even now, some of the best I've seen on film. The CGI used here is better than half the stuff that's in movies now. The morphing and reforming effects are amazing, especially when The T-1000 gets its head blown in half and it reforms instantly. WOW! I also got a kick out of when its gun gets stuck after it morphs through the jail bars.
The characters are excellent. Schwarzenegger is great in his best-known role and spits out many quotable one-liners, most notably "Hasta La Vista, Baby." Arnold as a cyborg has more charisma than Keanu Reeves. He evokes compassion, sadness, laughter, and had me cheering him on the entire time. Linda Hamilton is terrific as the tough-as-nails Sarah Connor, a major change from her innocent and desperate Sarah in the first Terminator. I'd be scared to even look at her. Edward Furlong is decent as John, and is never fully annoying. My only complaint is that his voice cracks a little too much. Everyone else is fantastic.
The message conveyed in T2 is very strong. We have become so dependent on technology today that it is taking over our lives. It's also developing faster and faster. It just shows you what could happen if we didn't stop to think, 'Hey, maybe we shouldn't create something that thinks just like us, and can learn at a geometric rate?'
But enough preaching.
The Bottom Line:
If you're looking for mindless action (which I'm a big fan of too) or a compelling story, Terminator 2: Judgment Day is a superior film that mixes both of them and yields one hell of a result.
Sci-fi horror perfection. John Carpenter produces a genuinely terrifying film about an alien that can perfectly imitate any living thing. It's a chilling tale with a top-notch cast and some of the best and bloodiest special effects you will ever.
IMDb Review
I watched this brilliant film for the first time on New Years Eve, 2003 and it made an impact on me. It introduced me to John Carpenter. At that time, I hadn't seen any of Carpenter's movies, except for
Halloween, but even then I was about eight. After watch
The Thing, I now own every mainstream John Carpenter movie and love the guy's work. It showcased some spectacular gore, creepy score, excellent performances, and a great story, illustrated with genuine paranoia and fear.
First and foremost, the astonishing special effects in this movie are one reason to watch this movie, even if you don't like horror movies. Rob Bottin and his crew created, in my opinion, the most realistic gore effects second only to Day of the Dead. My favorite is either in the dog kennel or the scene with the defibrillator. WOW! I won't say anymore.
The score, though not composed by Carpenter, is unsettling and creepy. It fits the movie perfectly and doesn't overpower it at all. To this day when I watch it, I am still creeped out by it.
Even though there are 12 guys in this movie, they are so different and well developed that I can name all of them right off the top of my head. Even the minor characters like Bennings, Fuchs, & Nauls are memorable and enjoyable. Kurt Russell gives a fantastic performance here as R.J. MacReady, even rivaling his role of Snake Plissken. This man means business and I would want him to be one my side if push came to shove. Keith David as Childs is wonderfully sarcastic as usual, I mean the man is an expert at playing this role. A. Wilford Brimley plays Blair perfectly. The man can act. The other supporting characters are great too, especially Norris and Clark.
The story, based on the short story "Who Goes There?" is adapted perfectly. The fact that it's set in Antarctica already ups the isolation factor. Add in 12 uneasy, unstable and panicky men with a shape-shifting alien that can imitate anything perfectly, and the paranoia level is cranked up to 11.
This movie is one of the few movies that actually scares me. The movie itself is creepy, but after you watch it, I guarantee that it will stick with you and creep you out. Go out and either rent or buy it. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.
Amazon Review
The Thing is a masterpiece in every regard. The casting, acting, story, setting, music, cinematography, directing, mood, and of course, the special effects are all incredible. It was originally panned upon its release in the summer of 1982 because it had the misfortune of coming out two weeks after
E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial. Because of this, everyone was on an "aliens are friendly and would NEVER hurt us" kick. Don't get me wrong, E.T. is a great film that captures the true magic of filmmaking, but I prefer my aliens to be slimy and slaughter-happy.
Carpenter did a phenomenal job bringing John W. Campbell's story to the screen, sticking more closely to the source material than the original
1951 film (another great film on its own merits). The "thing" in the 1951 version could produce in spores and fed on blood but the "thing" in Carpenter's version (and the original story) can perfectly imitate any living thing. This concept is terrifying in that the "thing" could be anyone; your best friend, your mother, even your dog - and you wouldn't know the difference.
This paranoia is only intensified by the setting of the film: Outpost 31 in the middle of the Antarctic. The film really conveys the sense of isolation and being completely cut off from the outside world. It does it both bluntly (a heavy winter storm, no radio contact) and subtly (watching taped episodes of game shows, having only 14 characters in the entire film). Dean Cundey's cinematography is superb; he lights the outpost with deep blues that really give an alien feel to the surroundings.
The casting and acting is excellent by everyone involved. The actors become the characters, even the minor ones. Most of the actors are no-name guys except for Kurt Russell and Wilford Brimley, so it really gives the movie a feeling of authenticity (or at least as much authenticity as you can get with a movie about a shape-shifting alien). Kurt Russell is one of my favorite actors and he does a fine job here, playing MacReady with a gruff attitude while still being likable and believeable. He's like
Snake Plissken with a beard. Brimley plays himself and it works, while all of the supporting cast is unique and memorable. The character of Palmer is fun and also highly quotable ("They taught the Incas everything they know" and "I was wonderin' when El Capitan was gonna get a chance to use his popgun!").
This marks one of the first and only times Carpenter did not score his own film (another one being
In the Mouth of Madness, a truly underrated Carpenter gem). Ennio Morricone handles the score and gives us one of the most brooding, uneasy, and unsettling scores I've ever heard. It is a simplistic score, but in all the right ways and it compliments the movie perfectly.
Carpenter's directing is top-notch. This was his sixth major film and by now his style was well-established and he knew exactly what he wanted. The film in shot in anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) which really gives the film a large scope and affords some truly beautiful shots. The steadicam is also used to perfection and there are a few excellent tracking shots. I've always loved how the film starts out in the open Antarctic, moves to the outpost and gets more and more claustrophobic as it progresses.
Finally onto one of the huge achievements of The Thing: the special effects. Be warned - there are some truly disgusting scenes in this movie so if you've got a weak stomach, bring a trashcan. Flesh tears, limbs crack, bodies parts fly, heads tear THEMSELVES off, and people and "things" are set ablaze, all with the aid of Rob Bottin's spectacular special effects. They look astonishingly real and actually still hold up well to this day. My favorite scene will always be the "defibrillation scene".
So all in all, this film is masterfully crafted and expertly executed. I'm glad it is finally getting the recognition it so rightfully deserves. Do yourself a favor and watch this film, you will not be disappointed!
DVD Review: From a DVD standpoint, The Thing is a shining example of a great collector's edition. There is a wonderful 83 minute documentary called "The Thing: Terror Takes Shapes" that is both informative and very interesting. There is also an excellent audio commentary from Kurt Russell and John Carpenter. The Thing has been released twice by Universal, once in 1998 and again in 2004, and I own both versions. Each feature all the same material with some slight differences. The original Collector's Edition released in 1998 has the best looking cover and a nice collector's booklet featuring production notes and the scene listings. The above mentioned documentary is also divided into chapters, which is nice for navigation. The only problem is the film transfer is not anamorphically enhanced, meaning the black widescreen bars are always present whether you have a widescreen TV or not. The 2004 release has a better looking anamorphic transfer and better audio mix. Strangely the documentary is not divided into chapters anymore, which is a disappointment. The case for the 2004 release is neat-looking, but features no insert (even though there is a slot for one) and the case's slipsleeve is made of thin plastic that can tear easily. I recommended the 2004 version for the transfer but if you're like me and want the best of both worlds, I recommend taking the 2004 disc and putting it in the 1998 release's case.
My favorite film from my youth holds up extremely well. Spielberg's cautionary tale pitting man against nature is both exciting and scary (how about that kitchen scene?). The characters are great but they're upstaged by the magnificent special effects, which still look amazing to this day. It's a prime example of CGI used properly.
IMDb Review
Back when
Jurassic Park was released, I was obsessed with dinosaurs and was very eager to see it. I went in and as soon as it started, I was in tears when a character gets eaten by a velociraptor. When I finally calmed down, I was enthralled by every aspect of this movie.
If nothing else, the special effects are the reason to see this movie. This movie has, without a question, the best CGI effects I've ever seen in a movie. The Tyrannosaurus Rex is so realistic that up until two years ago, I had thought that the whole thing was done with animatronics/robotics. To see this dinosaur move, it jumps out at you like nothing I've ever seen before. The raptors, which were my personal favorite, are absolutely awesome. I'm glad these things are extinct.
The actors are superb, most notably Sam Neill and Jeff Goldblum, who steal the show. Sam Neill is one of my favorite actors, and he does a fine job here as the sensible Alan Grant. Goldblum is great, as usual, with comic relief as Ian Malcolm. I also loved the game warden, Robert Muldoon played wonderfully by Bob Peck. The real stars here are the dinosaurs, and everyone seems to realize that.
Jurassic Park is scary. Spielberg manages, as he usually does, to amp up the suspense to 11. He uses the setting of Isla Nublar, with its dark jungle and pounding rain to keep everyone on their toes. He uses a normal object to signify the arrival of the T-Rex: rippling water. When the water cups start to ripple, you something bad is going to happen. The T-Rex breaking out of its paddock is one of the most intense and terrifying scenes in film history. The inability to see the dinosaurs or know where they are is very scary. And that kitchen scene with the raptors stalking Tim & Lex still keeps me on the edge of my seat!
The score by John Williams is magnificent, while not overpowering the film itself. I always end up humming it to myself.
The Bottom Line:
A genuinely scary movie with action, laughs, and still awe-inspiring special effects throughout.
#4: Aliens
Damn, James Cameron knows how to make a superior sequel.
Aliens is my favorite in the whole series with likable and memorable characters, a great story, excellent special effects and taut direction. It's more action-oriented then the first film and this change of pace is genius - it never feels boring or stale.
#5: Jaws
A classic in every regard. It's a thrilling tale of man vs. beast that I can watch again and again. Robert Shaw steals the show as shark hunter Quint with his gruff attitude and unstable personality. John Williams' score is simple but amazing and Spielberg's direction is great. The film is a monument in the history of cinema.
Wikipedia Review
Jaws is in a class all its own. It's a timeless film that nearly everyone has seen and I can guarantee that if you ask someone what the "
Jaws music" is, they will start imitating
John Williams' (arguably) most well-known score. On the surface, it's a man vs. nature/killer creature film about a
Great White shark terrorizing the coastal town of Amity. The first half plays out like a
slasher film and some of the scenes are unforgettable. The second half is a man's movie. I don't mean that in a
sexist way, but in both the literal and figurative senses. To me it seems like all men have a certain attachment to this film, usually having seen it at a young age. It is about how men bond and deal with each other's personalities, evidenced by the three main characters of Brody, Hooper, and Quint, played magnificently by
Roy Scheider,
Richard Dreyfuss, and
Robert Shaw, respectively. All three have such radically different personalities and over the course of the film, they accept each other and form a bond to destroy the shark. The noticeable lack of a strong female presence in the film only reinforces this idea of "men being men", but also enhances the theme of
man against nature and the dangerous relationship between them. In addition to creating the "summer blockbuster", I also see
Jaws as a turning point in the film industry, where
special effects began to take over and ushered in a whole near era of some of my favorite films.
On a side note: Ladies, if you're curious as to what us men do when we have a "
guys' night out", just watch the "scar comparison" scene in
Jaws.
#12: Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade
Another perfect trilogy (I'd rather not count Crystal Skull). Harrison Ford plays arguably one of the most iconic characters in the history of cinema: Indiana Jones. All three films are exciting and intense, making for one hell of a fun ride. Spielberg's direction and John Williams' music are superb, and the action and stunts are spectacular.
#13: The Blues Brothers
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"It's 106 miles to Chicago. We got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses. Hit it."
Another amazing comedy from the 80's. John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd have such natural comedic timing and play off each other very well. The film has two of the
best car chases ever filmed as well as an outstanding blues-infused soundtrack and stellar supporting cast. This one comes highly recommended.
The Blues Brothers is one of the best comedies ever made. And while I do believe whether or not something is funny depends almost entirely on personal taste,
The Blues Brothers is one exception. If you don't find this film funny, then frankly you're an
idiot. It's a film where everything just comes together and it has an everlasting, universal appeal – the story, the cast, the jokes, the music, and the
direction by
Landis all combine perfectly into one superb
masterpiece. For me, its strength lies in the story, which really is epic in scope.
Jake and Elwood Blues must get $5,000 to keep the
orphanage where they were raised from
shutting down. Simple enough, right? Wrong. The amount of things that happen to them and all the mayhem and chaos they cause is staggering. I'm still amazed at the sheer magnitude and creativity the film manages to brilliantly balance and execute.
There are so many things going on it'll make yout head spin! To get the $5,000, Jake and Elwood decide to get the band back together, but all the members have since moved on to different things. One of my favorite scenes is when they try to re-recruit their
trumpet player Mr. Fabulous, now working as a
maître d' at a fancy restaurant, by being obnoxious and slovenly patrons. While trying to reunite the band, they run afoul of the
police and take part in an electrifying
car chase through a
shopping mall, encounter a mystery woman who tries to kill them in various elaborate ways – which they fail to notice, make enemies with a group of
Neo-Nazis, procure musical equipment, piss off a
country and western bar owner, and take part in numerous
blues-inspired
song and dance routines.
Jesus H. tap-dancing Christ! It all ends with a groovy blues concert held at the
Palace Hotel and another spectacular car chase with hundreds of police cars through the streets of Chicago. It is such a blast to watch it all unfold and it ties up all the plotlines beautifully.
The Chicago setting is magnificently utilized, showcasing many parts of the city. The car chases are two of the best ever filmed; I'm not even kidding. They're exciting and feature some very impressive stunts. The music is fantastic, featuring blues covers of classics like "
Sweet Home Chicago" and including
cameos by legendary musicians like
Aretha Franklin,
Cab Calloway,
Ray Charles, and many more.
John Belushi and
Dan Aykroyd are fabulous as Jake and Elwood, respectively. They have such natural comedic timing and play off each other very well. The comedy itself is solid gold, ranging from
sight gags, dark humor, dry wit, and genuine hilarity all delivered perfectly, with not one joke missing its mark. I can't commend this film enough, it really is, along with
Ghostbusters, one of my favorite comedies and one of the best comedies of all-time.
#14: RoboCop
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"C'mon Sal! The Tigers are playing...to-night! I never miss a game..."
Pure sci-fi bliss.
RoboCop expertly mixes cool technology and thrilling action with scathing social commentary on crime, consumerism and unethical business practices. The cast is great, with Kurtwood Smith playing an absolute scumbag. The special effects, music and action are sensational and the violence is over-the-top.
RoboCop is just about as close as you can get to the perfect sci-fi action movie. With Paul Verhoeven behind it, RoboCop gives us a gritty and depressing look at a violent future. Speaking of violence, this is an ultra-violent film that is not for the squeamish. Blood, guts, and body parts fly in all directions, which is what we've come to expect from Mr. Verhoeven. The action sequences are wonderfully over-the-top. You couldn't ask for any more huge explosions, intense car crashes, or crackling shootouts (all about the shootout at the cocaine factory). Peter Weller is perfect as RoboCop. No one could've played him better. And that's final. Ronny Cox and Kurtwood Smith are excellent as the villains...you just can't wait for them to get stabbed in the neck. The score is one of the most memorable in movie history and you will be humming it for days. The cinematography is top-notch as well. To sum up: great action, great characters, great story, great music, GREAT FUN! You go Robo!
#15: The Star Wars Trilogy
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The
original trilogy.
Star Wars began in 1977 and has endured for
over 40 years, making it a true cultural phenomenon. It has the most rabid
fanbase with the exception of maybe
Star Trek and is still talked about to this day. Forget about those shallow, asinine toy advertisements known as the
prequel trilogy — my love is for the original trilogy:
Episode IV: A New Hope,
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, and
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. I count them as one entry because it really is one huge story arc that completes itself over the course of the three films. I was introduced to it as a kid and loved all the cool spaceships, robots, and alien creatures. I understood the story but didn't really care about it. At a more mature age, I still love it for many reasons.
My favorite thing about
Star Wars is its epic scope and its melding of nearly every other film
genre into one spectacular story. While it is always classified as
science fiction, its combination with all these other genres and settings makes it feel fresh, even though its core story is one of the oldest around. To explain, let me break it down for you:
- Action: There's tons of action from lightsaber duels and gun battles to aerial dogfights and vehicle chases. Two action scenes in particular remain as sensational as the first time I witnessed them: the battle on Hoth from Empire and the speeder bike chase from Jedi.
- Horror: It has some elements of horror such as the garbage pit scene within the Death Star from A New Hope and the Rancor scenes in Jabba's Palace from Return of the Jedi. And the casting of Peter Cushing alongside David Prowse is no coincidence.
- Comedy: All three films have little bits of comedy, usually stemming from R2-D2 and C-3PO. However, it's Han's interactions with Chewbacca and his banter with Princess Leia that always make me laugh.
- Drama: Drama is a central element throughout all three films, most notably the father-son relationship between Luke and Vader and the love-hate relationship between Han and Leia.
- Western: This one's the most obvious in A New Hope with its desert setting and nearly all the scenes that take place on Tatooine, especially the cantina segment.
- Fantasy: There are numerous fantasy elements such as the vast array of wild creatures and distant planets, but the prime example for me is The Force. Forget that bogus explanation in Episode I.
- Foreign: This one is obvious with all the alien languages and dialogue, but from a thematic standpoint (and this was not a personal observation) it mirrors the Samurai films of Akira Kurosawa.
- War: Very simple – the Galactic Empire vs. the Rebel Alliance, as well as the Jedi vs. the Sith.
The heart of the film is the characters and there are
tons of them. I'd be here all day describing them all to you so I'll just give you my favorites. First is
Harrison Ford as
Han Solo, the badass. He's such a great character with a cool backstory and that trademark sarcastic charm. One of my favorite lines of his comes in
Return of the Jedi where he's about to ambush the bad guys on Endor. The other characters are wary and unsure but Han just smirks and says "Hey, it's me!" Classic.
Mark Hammill is interesting as
Luke Skywalker and his transformation from simple farmboy to kickass Jedi as the story progresses is awesome and, more importantly, believable. And finally,
James Earl Jones as
Darth Vader. He needs no introduction or praise: with that badass outfit and that commanding voice, he's simply one of the best villains of all-time.
The special effects literally revolutionized the entire industry and still look amazing to this day, and the
score by John Williams is one of the best ever composed. Everytime I hear it, I get goosebumps and it puts a smile on my face.
Star Wars was one of my favorites back then and it's still one of my favorites today.
#16: The Cabin In The Woods
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A horror fan's dream come true. It turns the genre's stereotypes inside out with its innovative story, keeping your eyes glued to the screen. I was constantly impressed by the film’s sheer creativity and imagination. The phenomenal cast, wild setpieces, grisly gore, homages and delightful self-awareness all combine to create one of the BEST horror films I have ever seen! Astounding!
#17: Dirty Harry
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Clint Eastwood gives a fantastic performance as Inspector Harry Callahan who shoots first and asks questions later. He's up against
a serial killer played with utter insanity by Andy Robinson. The film is dark and gritty but shot beautifully on location in San Francisco. It's so satisfying to watch Dirty Harry do his thing and get rid of scumbag criminals without breaking a sweat.
WR
| I know what you're thinking — "Did he fire six shots or only five?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I've kinda lost track myself. But, being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya, punk? | ” |
Clint Eastwood is the epitome of badass. The no-bullshit attitude, the one-liners, the calm-under-pressure demeanor, I mean he practically created the
archetype. All the 80s action stars like
Schwarzenegger,
Stallone, and
Willis have him to thank. Eastwood's role of
Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan is an incorruptible symbol of
justice, upholding the law with lethal effectiveness. He's fed up with all the bureacratic bullshit that continues to allow criminals to run free, something that we can all relate to. We see news stories everyday where the justice system is way too lenient with offenders. Dirty Harry lets us vent our frustrations through his actions. A classic exchange between the police commissioner and Harry early on in the film sums it up nicely:
- Commissioner: How do you know he was intending to commit rape?
- Harry: When a naked man is chasing a woman through an alley with a butcher knife and a hard-on, I figure he isn't out collecting for the Red Cross.
A humorous, but honest answer. Another exchange between Harry and the
D.A. ridicules the idea that criminals have more rights than the victims:
- D.A.: Your illegal search renders the rifle inadmissable in court.
- Harry: Says who?
- D.A.: The law.
- Harry: Then the law is crazy.
It's stuff like this that frustrates people and weakens their trust in the justice system. It's Harry who restores that trust. We look at Harry as the one who's not afraid to get things done, regardless of who he's up against. I've always found the "law strikes back" stories to be empowering and relevant. And I know it captures my feelings on the matter – an
eye for an eye; if the offender killed someone, then they should be killed in the same way as their crime.
The film is set and
shot in
San Francisco and showcases the City by the Bay
wonderfully. The grittiness of
Dirty Harry (and also
The French Connection) was new at the time, and afterwards many other films began to emulate its style such as
Serpico and
Death Wish. Eastwood is perfect as Harry Callahan, creating a one of the most
iconic characters in the history of film. He performs effortlessly, with the right amount of sarcasm and toughness. His little smirk during the "Do I feel lucky" scene is classic. While Eastwood owns the film,
Andy Robinson is utterly insane as the Scorpio Killer – based on the real life
Zodiac Killer – and nearly steals the show. He is a highly disturbing character who is completely evil, interesting considering Robinson is a
pacifist in real life. To have him transform himself so drastically really speaks volumes about his acting ability. All the other characters are good, but get overshadowed by Eastwood and Robinson.
Dirty Harry holds up surprisingly well despite being made in
1971. It was followed by
four sequels, some of which are great while others are disappointing. The first remains the best and is still a must-see film. Don't miss it.
#18: Predator
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The first R-rated film I watched when I was about 10. It's a testosterone-filled battle with a chameleonic alien where a group of soldiers get picked off one by one. It's exciting and suspenseful, featuring a great cast and impressive special effects.
Predator was one of the first
R-rated films I saw and it made an impact on me. Up until I was 10-years-old, my world consisted of three films:
Jurassic Park,
Home Alone, and
Twister. So to see all these brawny badasses quipping manly
banter, blowing shit up, and then having to battle a
chameleonic alien was quite a spectacle. At my young age, I liked the
army aspect of it and seeing the cool Predator technology. As I got older, I really enjoyed the characters, the confining
jungle setting, the special effects, and the film's concept. As humans at the top of the food chain, we have no concept of what it's like to be
hunted, so to have an alien use humans as the prey is a nifty
role reversal and a very clever twist on
The Most Dangerous Game. The
pace of the film is tight and with the first-rate score by
Alan Silvestri, it builds up tons of tension that pays off brilliantly. Seeing the Predator stalk its prey but only catching fleeting glimpses of it is highly effective and a good example of the "
less is more" approach. The cast is absolutely classic and overflowing with
testosterone, which is part of the film's appeal.
Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as Dutch and does a fine job. He's supported by the always reliable
Carl Weathers,
Bill Duke, and
Jesse Ventura who has one of the best lines in the film: "I ain't got time to bleed..." The camaraderie between the actors is evident and really enhances the film. The special effects are outstanding and still look great, especially the Predator itself. What else can I say?
Predator still holds up surprisingly well and continues to entertain the living hell out of me.
#19: Dazed And Confused
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A time capsule that takes you back to the 70's and follows a variety of teenagers on the last day school. It's filled with great performances, featuring a number of future stars. It also has a killer soundtrack and captures the freedom and recklessness of youth perfectly.
Remember a time when things were simple? Those care-free
high school days that everyone told us to cherish and that we'd eventually refer to them as "the best years of our lives"? Well,
Dazed And Confused lets us relive that time, capturing the freedom and recklessness of youth perfectly. The film takes place on the last day of school in
1976 and follows a wide variety of different characters and
cliques as the night progresses. Even though it takes place in '76, the story and events that occur feel timeless, transcending generations. Don't believe me? Try describing the movie aloud; it sounds like a typical "been there, done that" night of
partying and
mischief that we've all taken part in at some point in our lives. This "
nostalgia" factor helps the audience identify with the characters and the situations they get themselves into. Many films have utilized this concept before, especially
John Hughes films like
Sixteen Candles and
The Breakfast Club, but for me
Dazed And Confused is the most genuine and the most relatable.
The characters are wonderful, with each one being well-developed and memorably real. That's another part of the film's appeal – the familiarity of the characters. You feel like you've went to school with some of these people: there's the guy that's friends with everyone, the dumb
jock, the bitchy
cheerleader, the
stoner, the
dorks and
nerds, the asshole
bully, and many others. The interesting part is that none of these characters becomes overly
stereotypical and that makes them a lot more convincing. The actors do a tremendous job; the play the person, not the stereotype. I'm not going to list who played who because each actor embodied the role and I feel like I'd be doing the film a disservice. No one actor steals the show, but a few come close.
The
soundtrack is absolutely bitchin'. It features a great mix of 70s classic rock, such as "
No More Mr. Nice Guy" by
Alice Cooper and "
Tush" by
ZZ Top, among many others. The music really completes the film and makes it all the more enjoyable. The film has an underlying
theme of rebellion and the refusal to grow up, something that I can definitely relate to. Though it may get lumped in with the teen comedies, I see it as much more than your standard comedic tripe. I find
Dazed And Confused to be a very comforting film that I watch quite regularly and one that has yet to lose its hypnotizing appeal.
#20: Forrest Gump
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A timeless classic that follows a simple man's journey through some of the most important events in modern history. Hanks is brilliant as Forrest - he deserved the Oscar without a doubt. The story is heartfelt and uplifting with a magnificent supporting cast, especially Gary Sinise. The film's soundtrack is also one of the best ever.
#21: King Kong
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King Kong is a true masterpiece and one of the most well-known films of all-time. It's an exciting adventure that has thrilled millions and inspired many filmmakers, namely Peter Jackson. Its special effects were groundbreaking at the time and its success helped changed the face of cinema. I can't praise it enough.
King Kong is a true masterpiece and one of the most well-known films of all-time. It's an exciting adventure that has thrilled millions and inspired many filmmakers, namely
Peter Jackson. Its special effects were groundbreaking at the time and its success helped changed the face of cinema. I can't praise it enough, so let me tell you what it means to me.
It's two movies in one. The first is a rousing adventure starting on an
island that time forgot and ending up in
New York City. The second is a love story, the classic tale of
beauty and beast. The two storylines intertwine beautifully and the pace of the film is perfect; it never gets boring or feels unbalanced. I love the portion that takes place on Skull Island, it's an rip-roaring adventure that continues to thrill me despite being nearly 80 years old! All the different dinosaurs and creatures are wonderfully designed and animated, with my favorite part being the fight between
Kong and a
T-Rex. The actors do a great job, especially
Fay Wray as
Ann Darrow and
Robert Armstrong as
Carl Denham. The showdown in New York City is equally as exciting, leading to arguably one of the most recognized scenes in film history: Kong's fight atop the
Empire State Building. It's magnificent.
I really don't know what else to say about this landmark film. It's one of the greatest films ever made and everyone needs to experience it. If you're one of those
morons that doesn't like to watch
black and white films, I have some advice for you: Go get a
hammer and hit yourself in the head a few times because you are an
imbecile! Now go watch
King Kong!
#22: Toy Story
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Pixar's first, and best, feature. I grew up with this film and still love it to this day. The voice cast is top notch, the animation is impressive and the story is excellent and relatable (finding your station in life). The sequels are just as good, but for me this is where it all began.
Pixar's first theatrical feature is still my favorite out of all their films. I saw it at a young age and it became one of my favorite animated films along with
Aladdin and
Hercules. It captures the essence of a child's imagination, something everyone (unfortunately) loses as they get older.
Toy Story creates a wonderous world where toys are actually alive and all they care about is making their owners happy.
Woody is Andy's favorite toy and has been "since kindergarten". All of Andy's toys, including
Mr. Potato Head, Rex the
T-Rex, Hamm the
piggybank and
Slinky the Dog, are loved and played with regularly. All is well until Andy gets a new toy:
Buzz Lightyear, who suddenly becomes Andy's favorite. Woody hatches a plan to get rid of Buzz and regain his position as top toy, but the plan goes awry and both toys must get back to Andy before he moves away. The rest of the film is about Woody and Buzz learning to work together and accepting each other, as well as their stations in life.
Though it's considered a kid's movie by general definition,
Toy Story is so much more than that. It's an intelligent, interesting, funny and dramatic film that anyone can thoroughly enjoy, regardless of their age. The characters are lovable, the story is familiar and the comedy is both outright and subtle. There were jokes I never understood as a kid, but found hilarious at a more mature age (one in particular is when Potato Head takes his lips off and puts them near his butt, symbolizing either "talking out of your ass" or "kiss my ass"). The film also has some dark themes and humor, especially in the scenes at Sid's house (the disfigured toys, the obvious lack of child
discipline and psychological instability, etc). I remember the scene where Sid's dog Scud mauls a friendly alien squeeze toy terrifying me as a child. The movie is also filled with great messages about friendship,
self-esteem and
acceptance.
The cast is what really makes the film work. The enthusiasm of both
Tom Hanks as Woody and
Tim Allen as Buzz is infectious. They
become the characters and I can't think of another actor that could replace them. They're supported by an outstanding cast of character actors such as
Don Rickles,
Wallace Shawn,
Jim Varney,
R. Lee Ermey,
John Ratzenberger and
Annie Potts. Every actor is perfect for their character, with the standout being Rickles as Potato Head – he's such a smartass. From a technological standpoint, the film is groundbreaking. It was the first full length computer animated film and its visuals were breathtaking to behold. Nowadays the graphics look slightly dated, especially compared to Pixar's more recent works like
Toy Story 3 (which, on a side note, is the best second sequel, like
ever), but the story and the characters are so heartwarming and fun that you won't even notice.
#23: Grindhouse
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A brilliant throwback to 70's exploitation flicks and 80's splatterfests. The cast is stellar, with Kurt Russell, Freddy Rodriguez and Jeff Fahey being the standouts. The gore and car chases are excellent and the fake trailers are a real treat.
Out of all the works of
Quentin Tarantino and
Robert Rodriguez, I appreciate
Grindhouse the most. It knows its audience and does everything it can to please them. The film is a
throwback to the old
grindhouse exploitation flicks, specifically ones from the 70's. Being a huge fan of these types of movies, I feel like they made the movie just for me. It's a
double feature (and one of the few times I really feel like I got my money's worth at the theater) with Rodriguez doing
Planet Terror, a
zombie action splatterfest and Tarantino doing
Death Proof, a
car chase flick with a unique spin. Both filmmakers treat their respective genre with the utmost love and respect. The cast is huge, with the standout being a badass
Kurt Russell as
Stuntman Mike.
The icing on the cake is the
fake trailers that link the two main features together. They each focus on a different exploitation genre and are directed by other genre-loving filmmakers:
Machete, a
mexploitation action film also by Rodriguez;
Werewolf Women of the S.S., a
Nazi/
sexploitation film by
Rob Zombie;
Don't, a
Hammer Horror-style
Britsploitation film by
Edgar Wright; and my personal favorite,
Thanksgiving, a holiday-based
slasher film by
Eli Roth. The fake trailers make the all-around experience of
Grindhouse even more memorable. I must also note the spectacular music in
Planet Terror; it sounds like a vintage
John Carpenter score and seeing actors like
Michael Biehn and
Jeff Fahey again was a real treat. It's hard to explain the appeal of
Grindhouse and a lot of people I know didn't really "get" it but trust me, it's one helluva good time!
#24: Casino
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I love the glitz and glam of Casino. It shows the opulent Las Vegas lifestyle that I just wish I could be a part of. The story is ambitious and very interesting, especially all the ins-and-outs of the Casino itself. The performances by De Niro, Pesci and Stone are all outstanding as is the diverse, decades-spanning soundtrack.
#25: Demolition Man
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That tagline:
"The 21st Century's Most Dangerous Cop. The 21st Century's Most Ruthless Criminal. The Future Isn't Big Enough For The Both Of Them." sells it from the get-go. I love this gleefully insane film. It really develops its concept in a fun and visually arresting way, providing action, humor and thrills in equal measure. Stallone at the height of his career, colliding with Snipes during his early 90's string of slick action roles makes for an over-the-top but satisfyingly entertaining sci-fi adventure. The supporting cast is well utilized, with Sandra Bullock in a sweet but sincere deputy role and Dennis Leary as a rat-burger-lovin' rebel. The set design, the cryo-facility and
history museum in particular are very cool, and the futuristic gadgets give the film a dash of authenticity. Stallone & Snipes' old school muscle vs. new school technology is well-done, giving the film an edge with a hint of social commentary. It's this combination, all wrapped up in one shiny package, that makes it a pure gem that I wholeheartedly recommend.
#26: Blade II
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One of most potent superhero movies from visual virtuoso Guillermo Del Toro. I used to think I overrated the first two Blade movies (the 3rd one is terrible) but
Blade II has stuck with me and continually impresses me each time I view it. The action setpieces are technical marvels, kinetic, violent and precisely staged. The story expands the universe and technology which is something I personally love; many of my all-time favorites feature unique gadgets. The characters are all memorable thanks to a diverse cast and some great one-liners. The pacing is perfect. The special effects are mostly excellent save for a few scenes where the CGI looks atrocious. Still, it has a undeniable charm and really tries to be as epic as it can, which is admirable. My theatrical experience with this one also makes it special to me. It's a rousing good time!
#27 - Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure [1989]
Yeah, you read that correctly. Bill S. Preston, esq. and Ted "Theodore" Logan's first outing is seen by many as a silly 80's
stoner comedy where two guys use a
time machine to visit various historical periods so they can pass their
history class. However, I see it as more than that. The film's core message is one of great importance, spoken by the characters themselves: "Be excellent to each other and party on dudes!" How simple is that? Treat each other right and have fun. If everyone lived their lives with this mindset, the world would be a brighter place. Bill & Ted are genuine characters and their simple views of the world can be quite insightful. Case in point is a scene where Bill & Ted talk to their
future selves and afterwards Ted questions the advice of their future selves to which Bill replies: "Why would we lie to ourselves?"
Keanu Reeves and
Alex Winter are perfect as the duo and their enthusiasm is quite infectious. Sure, most of it is silly and fun, but to me it conveys the idea of living life with a "chill" attitude beautifully and everytime I watch
Excellent Adventure (and the sequel,
Bogus Journey), it leaves me feeling light and happy.
#28 - Fight Club [1999]
While this may seem like a cliché choice,
Fight Club has a hypnotic quality to it. Trying to explain exactly what the movie (and
the book on which it's based) is about is impossible, you just have to see it and you'll understand what I mean. The film has an
anarchist attitude and deals with themes of
identity and
anti-consumerism.
Brad Pitt gives a spectacular performance as Tyler Durden, making the role his own and
Edward Norton is perfect as the aimless narrator with his dry delivery and black humor. Norton and Pitt play off each other very well, establishing what feels like a real relationship. What I like the most about
Fight Club is that it makes you analyze your own life and question your identity. And that's the best kind of film: one that simultaneously entertains you and makes you think.
#29 - The Dark Knight [2008]
With
Batman being my favorite
superhero, it was tough to choose between
Batman and
The Dark Knight. They're both excellent films that treat the character with respect and admiration, but
The Dark Knight is just more enjoyable for me. It has an epic scope and manages to outdo its
predecessor in nearly every way. The direction by
Christopher Nolan is beautiful, with sweeping shots of
Gotham City and some impressive action sequences, namely vertically flipping over a
tractor trailer from the front of the cab; it's a stunning setpiece. The theme of identity is in full swing here, with the inner struggle between the personas of Bruce Wayne and Batman and the creation of Two-Face. Escalation is another prominent theme. While Batman fights crime, it seems like his existence attracts even more criminals to Gotham. These themes are the meat of the film, giving the characters lots of emotional depth as well as positing a few interesting moral questions.
The showstopper is
Heath Ledger as
The Joker. He deserves every single bit of praise and recognition for his portrayal, giving one of the best performances I've ever seen. He
is The Joker – sorry
Jack. Everytime he appears on screen, his presence is magnetic and you hang on his every word. I love that he is the complete opposite of
Christian Bale's Batman. It's the classic
good vs. evil in the purest sense. Batman represents good while The Joker is utterly evil. Watching him bring the city to its knees while causing mayhem and chaos to see if he can corrupt Batman is as exciting as it gets. And although he is a vicious killer, at times he lives up to his name and can be legitimately funny. Bale is a good Batman, but I think he makes a fantastic
Bruce Wayne, nailing his cocky and aloof attitude.
Aaron Eckhart is charismatic as
Harvey Dent and makes his transformation into
Two-Face believable.
Gary Oldman and
Michael Caine round out the excellent cast as
Comissioner Gordon and
Alfred Pennyworth, respectively.
Many say this film is overrated; I disagree. While it received near-unanimous accolades, made over $1 billion dollars and was further popularized due to Ledger's unfortunate passing, the film really is
that good and all the praise is entirely justified. People seem to confuse popularity and success with something being overrated; like you shouldn't like it because it's popular. Well that is bullshit – you should like something based on its quality and effect on you. Long story short:
The Dark Knight really is a monumental achievement and it deserves the status of "Greatest Superhero Film".
#30 - Almost Famous [2000]
Cameron Crowe captured
lightning in a bottle with this film. I've never been a huge fan of his other directorial works, except for maybe 1993's
Singles. With
Almost Famous however, Crowe blew me away. It takes place in the
1970's and chronicles a young journalist who follows the up-and-coming rock band Stillwater as they tour the country. It sounds formulaic, but Crowe makes it seem so damn authentic. This authenticity comes from the fact that he based the screenplay on his personal experiences as a journalist for
Rolling Stone magazine, touring with bands like
The Allman Brothers,
Led Zeppelin, and
The Who. It comes from the heart and ends up honoring its subject matter with admiration while not condescending to it.
The story is driven by a large group of interesting and well-written characters, played mostly by lesser-known but utterly outstanding actors.
Patrick Fugit nails the role of William nicely, being naïve but also the most sensible person in the group – despite being the youngest.
Billy Crudup does an excellent job as Russell Hammond, the band's
lead guitarist and central story focus. He has a charismatic quality that makes him perfect for the part. Lastly, we have
Kate Hudson as
Penny Lane; she's magnificent, being sweet but also very sexy. Her relationship with William is a great juxtaposition: she is free-spirited and bold while William is introverted and quiet. They play off each other very well. I have to mention
Frances McDormand as William's mother who is incredibly over-protective of her son. Her performance is hilarious but also heartfelt, and her conversation with Russell over the telephone is one of my favorite parts of the film.
The soundtrack is one of the best. It has a nice variety of late 60s/early 70s tracks from
Jimi Hendrix to
Elton John. Crowe also managed to get a whopping five, lesser-known
Zeppelin songs, a real treat for me being a huge Led Head. All of these songs greatly enhance the film and suck you right into the film's atmosphere. There are also homages to numerous iconic/infamous rock and roll moments, such as Russell proclaiming "I am a golden god", mimicking
Robert Plant's famous quote at the
Riot House. And it's these things, the little nuances and references, that make
Almost Famous one of my favorites: a very personal film that only gets better with each viewing.
MORE
COMING SOON
School Of Rock
The Fly
Thief
Inception
Minority Report
Scanners
The Big Lebowski
District 9
