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So after having seen more movies these past couple of months (thank you, Netflix), I've decided to create a new list of my favorite movies. Mind you, my top five are still the same, but a few others have been replaced with much better films. So here they are: my new top 10 favorite films.
#10
Amadeus - I love classical music but sometimes I get tired of having Beethoven movies rule the film world. It's good to see another genius take the stage, and I would have no other than the great Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Though he himself is not the true star of the film, he leaves just as big an impact on you as Antonio Salieri does. However, on to the other good points of this movie besides the incredible acting. Amazing direction, great writing, and a cleverly mercurial atmosphere make this film one of my favorites. Argue that Mozart's voice does sound strangely American while everyone else is pretty European, he was still a very believable character. Though not all of it is historically accurate - Mozart was a hard worker, and there's no proof that Salieri wanted to kill him - it's what makes it work, considering it is historical fiction, which I think people take too seriously sometimes. Overall, it's a masterpiece in film-making, and nobody could tell a better story than this one. Rating: 4 out of 4
#9
The Shawshank Redemption - I won't go into too much detail about why this film is so great to me, so here's the short version of it. Great acting, great direction, great writing (Stephen King's original work, of course), great camerawork, etc. The list goes on. What I love about it most, however, is the accuracy of prison life and the message of the strength of hope. Many people have practically lived in prisons their whole lives, and to most of them that's all they know. If one were to be set free, they wouldn't be able to handle it (a point addressed well, but not overtly). Also, it tells that hope can work wonders for people, especially if they've been wronged. I wouldn't recommend performing some of the actions in this film, but I will recommend that you watch this movie. It's gripping, entertaining, and an instant classic. Rating: 4 out of 4
#8
The Silence of the Lambs - In a world filled with mindless killers who have a fetish for slaughtering innocent teens, The Silence of the Lambs sits as a horror movie that's both effective and realistic. The writing's amazing (Thomas Harris gets full credit for creating this story), the direction's great, and the acting is top-notch across the board. Anthony Hopkins' small screen time is filled with some of the most chilling lines and creepiest moments I've ever seen (he rarely blinks!). Jodie Foster also does a terrific job in her role as an FBI trainee, and she never flinches at the camera. As hauntingly real as it is, people tend to forget that it does follow standard police horror drama, so a few things can be predicted from the get-go. Even so, it still works in giving people the creeps years after it won the Oscars it deserved. Rating: 4 out of 4
#7
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - Many thought it simply couldn't be done; there was too much in the novels to be put into film, television, what have you. However, Peter Jackson had a vision for the story, and it was brought to life magnificently in all three of his films. Excellent visuals, great direction, remarkable cinematography, and an well-thought out ensemble cast gave us the world of Middle-Earth that many fans were excited to see. Viewing this, I felt an atmosphere of adventure and fantasy, along with wonder as trees came to life, wizards battled demons, and a little hobbit set out on an incredible quest to destroy a deadly evil. As one who has read the novels, I will admit that many great characters got lost due to timing constraints, though the ones they did keep performed tremendously. Particularly Andy Serkis as Gollum/Smeagol. Jackson wanted to show us J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece on film, and he didn't at all disappoint me. Rating: 4 out of 4
#6
A Clockwork Orange - A movie as groundbreaking as it is violent, Stanley Kubrick's sci-fi drama put new life into an industry that was creating more smoke than fire. Expert camerawork, brilliant direction, and a great idea put this movie among the best and most ingenious. Malcolm McDowell plays the role of a sophisticated sociopath with both subtlety and power as his escapades lead him through memorable scene after memorable scene. I will admit that the level of violence and graphic sexuality did shock me at first, as movies these days wouldn't dare go that far anymore. However, I look past that and more towards the ideas it had, such as the extent of control over free will and whether it should be viewed as progress towards the greater good or an advance towards totalitarianism. With such an idea brought to life through a true psycho, A Clockwork Orange is a masterpiece in film, and should be required viewing in any film school, in my opinion. Rating: 4 out of 4
#5
The Dark Knight - Super hero movies have their good (Superman) and their bad (Catwoman), but none have pushed the envelope further than The Dark Knight did. With it's brilliant direction and visuals, incredible story-telling, and great detail on the theme of escalation, The Dark Knight edges out the competition with a fierce and stunning blow. The acting is where this movie really shines, however. Christian Bale does the same admirable performance as the vigilante billionaire, as do Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman, but it's Heath Ledger's shocking and terrifying performance as his nemesis the Joker that got everybody's attention. Putting sentiment about his unfortunate death aside, his was easy the best performance that year. For all that was good about it, there was one thing I didn't particularly like, and that's the over-explanatory dialogue. I like that they explained things (the Batman comics are almost notorious for that), but if it were put a little more simply, it might have been a little better. That aside, The Dark Knight is a near-flawless superhero movie, and it has become the standard for which these movies should be made. Rating: 4 out of 4
#4
Inception - This movie had me asking questions all throughout, and each one of my answers was either completely wrong, or right in a different context. That made this movie all the better and all the more enjoyable. With incredible visuals, a daring story, and a deep script, Inception is one of those movies that begged of you to ask questions and make up your own answers as you went along. For every explanation in this movie, there are always a million different questions. The cast made it their goal to seem as if they knew everything about dreams, and they did that effectively. Leo DiCaprio is does a good job as the lead, with many other stars helping him towards his goal inside others' dreams. Revealing anything more about this movie would be giving away too much, but as a thriller, it will have you on the edge of your seat and asking questions even as it resolves itself. Rating: 4 out of 4
#3
Avatar - Love it or hate it, Avatar began a new era for the visual aspect of film. Even though the visuals are stunning beyond belief, they're not the only thing working for this great film. A good story, incredible direction, and master camerawork all make this film something to watch, no matter what your feelings about it are. Sci-fi films are rarely very human, but the love story within it is what helps make you appreciate the visuals of it more and more as the nasty humans try to destroy it. Good points aside, the story is a bit predictable for most, and the acting is only good, and not great like I hoped it would be. Some would argue that it copies way too many films like Ferngully or Pocahontas, but that's all part of what makes it work. It's taking an idea that many people have seen, but putting it into a new scenario that makes it seem original. That, to me, is what helps Avatar. It's also the reason why it's one of my all-time favorites. I cannot wait for the sequels to come out for this. Rating: 4 out of 4
#2
The Matrix series - Again, a movie that made people question it and study it to no end. What if the world you knew wasn't really yours? Does free truly exist in this world? These and more are the questions raised in The Matrix. Along with the great writing that this movie had, the camerawork is genius, the story is deep and philosophical, and the visuals were the innovation of the time. Can't really say much about the acting because these are characters set in a time in the future. We can't know for sure that they'll act the same as you or I do right now. Admittedly though, they are a little bland at times. Emotions do run high, however, and that helps them stay human (aside from the computer programs). Keanu Reeves might be a bore sometimes, but I still hold out that he was excellently cast. Laurence Fishbourne and Carrie Ann-Moss also lead the charge well in this driving action-drama that slams you with blistering fight sequences while leaving you thoughtful as they explain more of their heavily-controlled world. The second film was easily my favorite, as it mixed philosophy and action very well. I'll admit that the last movie did seem to drag on a bit with the resolutions and takes away the philosophy part for more action, but overall it is an ingenious film series that will soon become classics someday (hopefully). Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 4 (for reasons of a slow final film)
#1
Star Wars - Not just the first film either. Every single Star Wars film was just epic to me. Argue the bad points about Episodes I and II (I agree that Jar-Jar was a huge mistake and Hayden Christensen was bad, though not terrible), but Star Wars started on a high note, continued with great story after great story, and ended on a victorious triumph (I'm going chronologically, yes). George Lucas is an underrated genius, and his vision influenced many filmmakers out there as much as his friends Spielberg and Coppola did. Great storytelling, absolutely astounding visuals in all six films for the times, and an all-around excellent cast are the reasons why Star Wars remains my top favorite film series of all time. Addressing the poor quality of the first 2 prequels, I blame that on George Lucas having spent so much time away from the series since Episode VI (26 years is a really long time in the world of film). Episode I did have some bad writing and one miscalculation in casting. Episode II did much better with putting more action, but again, another miscalculation in casting. Episode III stands out for going back to the formulas for which the first three films were famous for, although it was much darker (the PG-13 rating was a little overboard, however). That being said, Star Wars is my favorite film series. To make a list with my favorite films would see all six episodes placing in the top spots. Overall Rating: 4 out of 4
#10
Amadeus - I love classical music but sometimes I get tired of having Beethoven movies rule the film world. It's good to see another genius take the stage, and I would have no other than the great Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Though he himself is not the true star of the film, he leaves just as big an impact on you as Antonio Salieri does. However, on to the other good points of this movie besides the incredible acting. Amazing direction, great writing, and a cleverly mercurial atmosphere make this film one of my favorites. Argue that Mozart's voice does sound strangely American while everyone else is pretty European, he was still a very believable character. Though not all of it is historically accurate - Mozart was a hard worker, and there's no proof that Salieri wanted to kill him - it's what makes it work, considering it is historical fiction, which I think people take too seriously sometimes. Overall, it's a masterpiece in film-making, and nobody could tell a better story than this one. Rating: 4 out of 4
#9
The Shawshank Redemption - I won't go into too much detail about why this film is so great to me, so here's the short version of it. Great acting, great direction, great writing (Stephen King's original work, of course), great camerawork, etc. The list goes on. What I love about it most, however, is the accuracy of prison life and the message of the strength of hope. Many people have practically lived in prisons their whole lives, and to most of them that's all they know. If one were to be set free, they wouldn't be able to handle it (a point addressed well, but not overtly). Also, it tells that hope can work wonders for people, especially if they've been wronged. I wouldn't recommend performing some of the actions in this film, but I will recommend that you watch this movie. It's gripping, entertaining, and an instant classic. Rating: 4 out of 4
#8
The Silence of the Lambs - In a world filled with mindless killers who have a fetish for slaughtering innocent teens, The Silence of the Lambs sits as a horror movie that's both effective and realistic. The writing's amazing (Thomas Harris gets full credit for creating this story), the direction's great, and the acting is top-notch across the board. Anthony Hopkins' small screen time is filled with some of the most chilling lines and creepiest moments I've ever seen (he rarely blinks!). Jodie Foster also does a terrific job in her role as an FBI trainee, and she never flinches at the camera. As hauntingly real as it is, people tend to forget that it does follow standard police horror drama, so a few things can be predicted from the get-go. Even so, it still works in giving people the creeps years after it won the Oscars it deserved. Rating: 4 out of 4
#7
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - Many thought it simply couldn't be done; there was too much in the novels to be put into film, television, what have you. However, Peter Jackson had a vision for the story, and it was brought to life magnificently in all three of his films. Excellent visuals, great direction, remarkable cinematography, and an well-thought out ensemble cast gave us the world of Middle-Earth that many fans were excited to see. Viewing this, I felt an atmosphere of adventure and fantasy, along with wonder as trees came to life, wizards battled demons, and a little hobbit set out on an incredible quest to destroy a deadly evil. As one who has read the novels, I will admit that many great characters got lost due to timing constraints, though the ones they did keep performed tremendously. Particularly Andy Serkis as Gollum/Smeagol. Jackson wanted to show us J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece on film, and he didn't at all disappoint me. Rating: 4 out of 4
#6
A Clockwork Orange - A movie as groundbreaking as it is violent, Stanley Kubrick's sci-fi drama put new life into an industry that was creating more smoke than fire. Expert camerawork, brilliant direction, and a great idea put this movie among the best and most ingenious. Malcolm McDowell plays the role of a sophisticated sociopath with both subtlety and power as his escapades lead him through memorable scene after memorable scene. I will admit that the level of violence and graphic sexuality did shock me at first, as movies these days wouldn't dare go that far anymore. However, I look past that and more towards the ideas it had, such as the extent of control over free will and whether it should be viewed as progress towards the greater good or an advance towards totalitarianism. With such an idea brought to life through a true psycho, A Clockwork Orange is a masterpiece in film, and should be required viewing in any film school, in my opinion. Rating: 4 out of 4
#5
The Dark Knight - Super hero movies have their good (Superman) and their bad (Catwoman), but none have pushed the envelope further than The Dark Knight did. With it's brilliant direction and visuals, incredible story-telling, and great detail on the theme of escalation, The Dark Knight edges out the competition with a fierce and stunning blow. The acting is where this movie really shines, however. Christian Bale does the same admirable performance as the vigilante billionaire, as do Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman, but it's Heath Ledger's shocking and terrifying performance as his nemesis the Joker that got everybody's attention. Putting sentiment about his unfortunate death aside, his was easy the best performance that year. For all that was good about it, there was one thing I didn't particularly like, and that's the over-explanatory dialogue. I like that they explained things (the Batman comics are almost notorious for that), but if it were put a little more simply, it might have been a little better. That aside, The Dark Knight is a near-flawless superhero movie, and it has become the standard for which these movies should be made. Rating: 4 out of 4
#4
Inception - This movie had me asking questions all throughout, and each one of my answers was either completely wrong, or right in a different context. That made this movie all the better and all the more enjoyable. With incredible visuals, a daring story, and a deep script, Inception is one of those movies that begged of you to ask questions and make up your own answers as you went along. For every explanation in this movie, there are always a million different questions. The cast made it their goal to seem as if they knew everything about dreams, and they did that effectively. Leo DiCaprio is does a good job as the lead, with many other stars helping him towards his goal inside others' dreams. Revealing anything more about this movie would be giving away too much, but as a thriller, it will have you on the edge of your seat and asking questions even as it resolves itself. Rating: 4 out of 4
#3
Avatar - Love it or hate it, Avatar began a new era for the visual aspect of film. Even though the visuals are stunning beyond belief, they're not the only thing working for this great film. A good story, incredible direction, and master camerawork all make this film something to watch, no matter what your feelings about it are. Sci-fi films are rarely very human, but the love story within it is what helps make you appreciate the visuals of it more and more as the nasty humans try to destroy it. Good points aside, the story is a bit predictable for most, and the acting is only good, and not great like I hoped it would be. Some would argue that it copies way too many films like Ferngully or Pocahontas, but that's all part of what makes it work. It's taking an idea that many people have seen, but putting it into a new scenario that makes it seem original. That, to me, is what helps Avatar. It's also the reason why it's one of my all-time favorites. I cannot wait for the sequels to come out for this. Rating: 4 out of 4
#2
The Matrix series - Again, a movie that made people question it and study it to no end. What if the world you knew wasn't really yours? Does free truly exist in this world? These and more are the questions raised in The Matrix. Along with the great writing that this movie had, the camerawork is genius, the story is deep and philosophical, and the visuals were the innovation of the time. Can't really say much about the acting because these are characters set in a time in the future. We can't know for sure that they'll act the same as you or I do right now. Admittedly though, they are a little bland at times. Emotions do run high, however, and that helps them stay human (aside from the computer programs). Keanu Reeves might be a bore sometimes, but I still hold out that he was excellently cast. Laurence Fishbourne and Carrie Ann-Moss also lead the charge well in this driving action-drama that slams you with blistering fight sequences while leaving you thoughtful as they explain more of their heavily-controlled world. The second film was easily my favorite, as it mixed philosophy and action very well. I'll admit that the last movie did seem to drag on a bit with the resolutions and takes away the philosophy part for more action, but overall it is an ingenious film series that will soon become classics someday (hopefully). Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 4 (for reasons of a slow final film)
#1
Star Wars - Not just the first film either. Every single Star Wars film was just epic to me. Argue the bad points about Episodes I and II (I agree that Jar-Jar was a huge mistake and Hayden Christensen was bad, though not terrible), but Star Wars started on a high note, continued with great story after great story, and ended on a victorious triumph (I'm going chronologically, yes). George Lucas is an underrated genius, and his vision influenced many filmmakers out there as much as his friends Spielberg and Coppola did. Great storytelling, absolutely astounding visuals in all six films for the times, and an all-around excellent cast are the reasons why Star Wars remains my top favorite film series of all time. Addressing the poor quality of the first 2 prequels, I blame that on George Lucas having spent so much time away from the series since Episode VI (26 years is a really long time in the world of film). Episode I did have some bad writing and one miscalculation in casting. Episode II did much better with putting more action, but again, another miscalculation in casting. Episode III stands out for going back to the formulas for which the first three films were famous for, although it was much darker (the PG-13 rating was a little overboard, however). That being said, Star Wars is my favorite film series. To make a list with my favorite films would see all six episodes placing in the top spots. Overall Rating: 4 out of 4
Last edited by mastermetal777; 01-28-12 at 07:03 PM.
