So what makes a good movie?
Although I studied English Language, Literature and A Level English at school there is no ‘checklist’. But what is paramount is the skill of the writer, author, or director to draw you in, get you interested immediately and keep you there.
Better still is when you leave the Cinema begging for more or you are left talking about it for days – years – later. And when you see a bit on TV you just have to sit there again and see it right the way through. That is a sign of a great movie.
Movies are about Fantasy. Dreams. Escape. What would you do in that situation? How would feel is that was you? Have you been through that yourself? Do you wish you were he or she? Can you imagine being in that position? I wonder how this is going to turn out – I have no idea but I’m really looking forward to it… That’s what it is all about. For me.
I want to come out feeling alive. Like I’ve been on a rollercoaster ride. Like I’ve experienced something. Like I’ve learned something about life, or myself, or about how to treat others.
There is no right or wrong of course. I like mindless trash just as much as the next person – and there are some in there – but the ones that really stand out tend to mean something.
I thought I’d do a Top Ten but when I started thinking about it the list just grew and grew and I’m sure there’s still a few which have escaped the net! On that basis I reserve the right to review my decision at a later date…(!)
I have only considered movies that I have actually seen. For example, I haven’t seen the Godfather movies so they are not here. In any event I get the horrible feeling they will appear corny anyway now after all this time and after so many parodies.
With this in mind I bring you my Top 100 Favourite Movies with a little explanation when it comes to the Top Ten…
100
Meet the Parents
99
Pearl Harbour
98
Gone in 60 Seconds
97
Gladiator
96
Apollo 13
95
Ben Hur
94
Predator
93
Airplane!
92
Grease
91
Liar Liar
90
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
89
Mary Poppins
88
Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone
87
Austin Powers: Goldmember
86
The Dambusters
85
Bedknobs and Broomsticks
84
Charlie's Angels
83
Die Hard II
82
Lord of the Rings II: The Two Towers
81
Jurassic Park
80
Scarface
79
Last Action Hero
78
Return to Oz
77
Blade II
76
The Matrix
75
The Colour of Money
74
Beetlejuice
73
Die Hard
72
The Long Kiss Goodnight
71
Pretty Woman
70
Finding Nemo
69
First Blood Part II: Rambo
68
Amazon Women on the Moon
67
Superman II
66
Beverly Hills Cop
65
The Last Samurai
64
Scrooged
63
Beverly Hills Cop II
62
Back to the Future
61
Metro
60
Roxanne
59
Hang em High
58
Superman: The Movie
57
The Terminator
56
8 Mile
55
The Meaning of Life
54
For a Few Dollars More
53
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
52
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
51
The Mask
50
Coming to America
49
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
48
Titanic
47
Minority Report
46
The Man With Two Brains
45
Cold Mountain
44
Toy Story
43
Aliens
42
Bowling for Columbine
41
Blazing Saddles
40
Escape from Alcatraz
39
Die Another Day
38
Clash of the Titans
37
Jason and the Argonauts
36
Some like it Hot
35
Raiders of the Lost Ark
34
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad
33
Sleeping with the Enemy
32
Heaven Can Wait
31
The Great Escape
30
The Lion King
29
A Fistful of Dollars
28
Goldfinger
27
Psycho
26
Mission Impossible
25
Back to the Future II
24
Life is Beautiful
23
Phone Booth
22
Jagged Edge
21
Groundhog Day
20
Star Wars
19
Beautiful Mind
18
American Pie
17
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
16
Men In Black
15
American Psycho
14
Pirates of the Caribbean
13
Dumb & Dumber
12
Twins
11
The Empire Strikes Back
So here it is. THE TOP TEN:
10.NOTTING HILL
I never really liked Julia Roberts. Nor Hugh Grant. But put them together in this context and throw in the manic but magical Rhys Efans and you’ve got a great love story that you feet you are a part of. Can you imagine…? Supported by a magnificent signature tune this is a heart-warming feel good movie – ‘you say it best when you say nothing at all’. Tear in my eye just thinking about it…
9. JAWS
Classic Spielberg thriller. The greatest piece of Direction ever. Who else could have given the shark such an ominous presence without it even being there? Pure genius. Superb and deserves to be in here somewhere.
8. LORD OF THE RINGS: RETURN OF THE KING
Straight into the Top Ten. How can you ignore this epic masterpiece? What a massive movie. It has everything. A huge huge movie that deserves everything it gets apart from criticism. Although it was 3½ hours long I was amazed, excited, moved, thrilled and am still talking about it today. I need to see this again – several times – cos I’m sure I’ll see something fresh and new each time. Forget the other two. This is magnificent.
7. CASTAWAY
Fantastic (but old) idea brilliantly executed. Brilliant script, brilliant acting. I was there. I felt the effects of that plane crash. I was alone on that island with a ball called Wilson. I made fire. I hunted. I made that boat for months on end. I survived. And I made it back. I lived. Fantastic cinema.
6. BIG
Tom Hanks again. What a boy. Either he picks great movies or he’s just really great. I think he is just really great. How can a guy who looks so ordinary be so endearing, compelling and skilful. This in my view is his best movie. What a challenge. The child inside every man on the planet. He pulls it off ‘big’ time. Once it starts I gotta see it through…
5. MEET JOE BLACK
Another great novel idea. Based on the book ‘Death takes a Vacation’ Brad Pitt plays a charismatic pretty faced young man who is killed in a car accident. Death decides to try out life as a human and steps into his body. He haunts the superb Anthony Hopkins who pays a business tycoon – in my view his best performance ever. Throw in a plot to bring down a cocky board member, Hopkins’ pretty daughter as the love interest and you have a gripping, intriguing movie with suspense and love mixing your emotions up. But it’s nice. I love this movie.
4. TRUE LIES
What a terrific movie. Thrills, spills, humour, special effects, quality script, great ideas, quality cast, quality director – what you expect? I wish I was ‘Haaerrrry’. I wish I could do that. Great support cast too.
3. MEMENTO
I’ve said it all before. I still go on about it now. Terrific idea brilliantly executed. Guy Pearce superb. And this Director is my new top man. James Cameron better watch out…
2. BRAVEHEART
Yes, it’s a shock I know. Hands up those of you that thought this was my Number 1? It is extremely close. If it was about Welsh history then it would have been more personal and would have got there. But there is something else that is much closer to my heart coming up…
When you go to see a movie about history this is what you want to see. Brutal and to the point. This is really fantastic stuff with superb performances, not least by Patrick McGoohan (an Irishman!) as the King of England.
SO HERE IT IS…
MY GREATEST MOVIE OF ALL TIME…
1. GHOST SHIP (YEAH !!!)
No not really.
IT IS….
ARE YOU READY?…
BE AFRAID…
BE VERY AFRAID…
NO IT’S NOT ALIENS. THAT WAS NUMBER 43…
JUST A BIT MORE…
ALMOST THERE…
HERE IT COMES…
NOT SO MUCH TIME WASTING THIS TIME…
IT IS…
1. GRAND PRIX (1966)
Ok. Stop moaning. “What a surprise. It has cars or bikes in it.” Not the case at all. In fact the racing gets in the way.
This is a 1966 Oscar-nominated masterpiece about life. Everyone’s life. The only decent motor sport movie there has ever been and probably ever will be. It is superb.
It has everything. It is not just about going round in circles this is about the ups and downs we all go through in our lives. It has triumph, tragedy, deceit, corruption, arrogance, greed, confidence, self interest, determination, national differences, commerce, travel, conspiracy, money, blackmail, politics, love, affairs, everything. It is very touching, moving and uplifting.
They say the Formula One circus is a microcosm of the real world and this it in celluloid form. It is the story of the top drivers in the World and their families. You follow each of their lives during a Grand Prix season and it is amazing that despite their common goal to succeed the way they live their lives is so different. And the impact someone’s life has on others.
It also has some fantastic camera work and special effects for its time. No CGI around then and for me CGI is so obvious these days it’s starting to look naff. I still don’t know how they did some of these effects.
It has a great cast too including 60s legends James Garner, Yves Montand and Eva Marie Saint. You’d know them if you saw them.
I have it on tape. I really do recommend it. This is not just for petrol heads. I believe it was only beaten to the Oscar by something like ‘Ben Hur’. It is a masterpiece out of what is in cinematic terms a very boring subject. I can’t stand car and bike movies because they’re always so bad. This is the only exception.
EPILOGUE:
I hope you enjoyed my ‘lists’. Its not easy to do and took about two weeks in between work breaks. There were plenty which just missed the cut and I’m sure there are some I’ve forgotten about but you get the idea. It was fun to do!
If you want to pass comments please do so. Then I’ll sue you!
Ciao.
Mike the Bike ;-)
Thursday, 20 August 2009
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)