This film changed my life literally.
Growing up in Colorado I had never heard of something called British Comedy. So my parents sat me down and made me watch old episodes of Monty Python's Flying Circus. It wasn't until I was in High School when some of the upperclassmen in my classes would go around clapping their hands and pretending to be on a horse. I remember asking them what they were doing and they had this look that said "you need to go see this film."
So I went to the local store and rented this gem.
This film is still a classic today. It's Monty Python in their finest. The premise is King Arthur and his Knights of the Roundtable must find the Holy Grail. Along the way they meet some interesting characters, Knights who say "Nit", as well as a diabolical vampiric bunny, and something called a Holy Hand Grenade.
Even though this film came out in 1975 it's still a classic to this day.
-A-
Saturday, November 24, 2007
13 of 1001 Reservoir Dogs
Again Quentin Tarantino at his best.
The premise of this film is simple enough. A group of criminals break into a bank and steal money. One of the men is an undercover cop who infiltrates the group and gains everyones trust. Instead of using their real names everyone is designated a color. Orange, Brown, Pink, etc.
Famous line "Why do I have to be Mr. Pink?" said rather convincingly by Steve Buscemi. Good point, because other colors are on another job.
The best scene in this film and you'll understand why when you see it, is the scene with the cop tied to a chair and the strains of "Stuck in the Middle With You" by Gerry Rafferty playing in the background. I won't give away what happens, but I will say this, you'll never listen to that song the same way again. The imagery is very intense.
I liked this film, I thought it worked on many levels. I cared about Mr. Orange and whether he'd be found out as the undercover cop. I liked the gore, and the conversations between the men. We never see the bank robbery all we know is that something went terribly wrong. This film is Quentin Tarantino's answer to the Rat Pack films of the 1950's (ala Ocean's 11).
-A-
The premise of this film is simple enough. A group of criminals break into a bank and steal money. One of the men is an undercover cop who infiltrates the group and gains everyones trust. Instead of using their real names everyone is designated a color. Orange, Brown, Pink, etc.
Famous line "Why do I have to be Mr. Pink?" said rather convincingly by Steve Buscemi. Good point, because other colors are on another job.
The best scene in this film and you'll understand why when you see it, is the scene with the cop tied to a chair and the strains of "Stuck in the Middle With You" by Gerry Rafferty playing in the background. I won't give away what happens, but I will say this, you'll never listen to that song the same way again. The imagery is very intense.
I liked this film, I thought it worked on many levels. I cared about Mr. Orange and whether he'd be found out as the undercover cop. I liked the gore, and the conversations between the men. We never see the bank robbery all we know is that something went terribly wrong. This film is Quentin Tarantino's answer to the Rat Pack films of the 1950's (ala Ocean's 11).
-A-
12 of 1001 The Producers
Ever tried to fail at something so badly you actually end up succeeding?
That's the premise of this film. Two producers one played by the talented Zero Mostel and the other played by Gene Wilder. Devise a plan to write the worst Broadway play ever in hopes of scamming little old ladies out of their money. The problem? The play is so successful due to the antics of the the actor playing none other than Hitler himself.
This film is one of Mel Brooks biggest hits. It's gone on to be a Broadway play with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. I'm still a big fan of the original with Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder. Two heavy weight comedians doing what they do best, making us laugh at the absurdity of the situation while making us wish for their success in fooling everyone.
Great film that everyone should see if you love Mel Brooks, go rent "The Producers." You won't be disappointed.
-A-
That's the premise of this film. Two producers one played by the talented Zero Mostel and the other played by Gene Wilder. Devise a plan to write the worst Broadway play ever in hopes of scamming little old ladies out of their money. The problem? The play is so successful due to the antics of the the actor playing none other than Hitler himself.
This film is one of Mel Brooks biggest hits. It's gone on to be a Broadway play with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. I'm still a big fan of the original with Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder. Two heavy weight comedians doing what they do best, making us laugh at the absurdity of the situation while making us wish for their success in fooling everyone.
Great film that everyone should see if you love Mel Brooks, go rent "The Producers." You won't be disappointed.
-A-
Friday, November 23, 2007
11 of 1001 Alien
I was about 7 when I saw this film for the first time. I remember watching much of it through my fingers. Who can forget the baby alien spurting out of the person's stomach and scurrying across the floor? Great imagery that again sticks in our psyche and refuses to go away.
This film works well on our fears. Going up against something we don't understand while being trapped in a ship and the feeling of claustrophobia. Combine the two and you have a film that works on two levels. The horror of the alien plus no escape. Fight or Flight in it's glory.
This film still scares me to this day, yet I find it a true horror film. I personally prefer the psychological horror films instead of the blood and gore horror films. This is a great film to pop in on Halloween, sit back with a bowl of popcorn and enjoy.
-A-
This film works well on our fears. Going up against something we don't understand while being trapped in a ship and the feeling of claustrophobia. Combine the two and you have a film that works on two levels. The horror of the alien plus no escape. Fight or Flight in it's glory.
This film still scares me to this day, yet I find it a true horror film. I personally prefer the psychological horror films instead of the blood and gore horror films. This is a great film to pop in on Halloween, sit back with a bowl of popcorn and enjoy.
-A-
10 of 1001 Jaws
Who can forget this film who has seen it?
This film scared me yet I found myself mesermized by the story. Of course for a while I was afraid to go swimming. To this day I'm afraid of going to a beach and swimming in the ocean, lest I become Shark food.
Even though we hardly see the shark for most of this film, the soundtrack and the acting builds the suspense of this film. Even to this day if you hear the opening strands of the theme song "Dum Dum...Dum Dum..." You instinctivly know what's going to happen. Someone is going to be eaten.
A scary film, yet a film that sticks in our psyche and we never look at water the same way again. That's the power of film to make us never forget the film years after we see it.
-A-
This film scared me yet I found myself mesermized by the story. Of course for a while I was afraid to go swimming. To this day I'm afraid of going to a beach and swimming in the ocean, lest I become Shark food.
Even though we hardly see the shark for most of this film, the soundtrack and the acting builds the suspense of this film. Even to this day if you hear the opening strands of the theme song "Dum Dum...Dum Dum..." You instinctivly know what's going to happen. Someone is going to be eaten.
A scary film, yet a film that sticks in our psyche and we never look at water the same way again. That's the power of film to make us never forget the film years after we see it.
-A-
9 of 1001 Kill Bill Vol. 1
Ah yes, Quentin Tarantino's answer to the Samurai genre of films. What I love about this film is how beautiful it is. I love Uma Thurman's character and her thirst of revenge for almost being killed. My favorite sequence is the fight between Uma and the mob of black clad fighters all in black and white. It takes away the goriness and leaves the beauty of the fight. Granted we still see arterial spray but we are numbed to it just like the main character. We understand her cutting through the fighters like a warm knife through butter.
My second favorite sequence is the sword fight in the snow at the end of the film. It's mesmerizing, it's elegant, it's daring, and it's beautiful to behold.
I was never a big Quentin Tarantino fan until I saw this film. This is one film I will be adding to my film collection very soon. Quentin has an eye for detail and understands genre's of film. Just like "Reservoir Dogs" was a homage to the Rat Pack films of the 50's. "Kill Bill" introduces movie goers to the world of the Samurai and revenge.
-A-
My second favorite sequence is the sword fight in the snow at the end of the film. It's mesmerizing, it's elegant, it's daring, and it's beautiful to behold.
I was never a big Quentin Tarantino fan until I saw this film. This is one film I will be adding to my film collection very soon. Quentin has an eye for detail and understands genre's of film. Just like "Reservoir Dogs" was a homage to the Rat Pack films of the 50's. "Kill Bill" introduces movie goers to the world of the Samurai and revenge.
-A-
8 of 1001 Top Gun
"Top Gun" is a good film. Good acting, good soundtrack, yet I don't think it belongs on this list. Yes it was the film that shot Tom Cruise into the stratosphere of "big celebrities" but I just don't understand why I must see this film before I die.
It's about flying and regaining your courage to fly after a traumatic event. Loss and Love are the two emotions this film runs on. Losing a friend, and falling in love.
Good fight sequences in the F-15's and Tom Cruise is very believable as a flying ace. I just don't need to sit and rewatch this one again.
Interesting choice from this book, of which I disagree in that I don't think not seeing "Top Gun" is a crime. Either you're a fan of Tom's or you're not. That's just my two cents, take it or leave it.
-A-
It's about flying and regaining your courage to fly after a traumatic event. Loss and Love are the two emotions this film runs on. Losing a friend, and falling in love.
Good fight sequences in the F-15's and Tom Cruise is very believable as a flying ace. I just don't need to sit and rewatch this one again.
Interesting choice from this book, of which I disagree in that I don't think not seeing "Top Gun" is a crime. Either you're a fan of Tom's or you're not. That's just my two cents, take it or leave it.
-A-
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