Posted February 12, 20205 yr While we struggle through the winter break thought I would share my current top movie list and a few comments why I like them. No particular order and stopped at ten. LA Confidential Lot of stars in this though love the way the tension builds as three detectives that don’t like each other realize senior cops are corrupt and are hiring ex-detectives to bump off the criminal gangs and take over the crime businesses themselves with the aid of corrupt judges. Excalibur Thought the Merlin character in this was superb as was the final battle scene as the mists descend negating numerical advantage for a ringing clash of arms and armour between good and evil. Get Carter The gritty and stark film with a story of family revenge against the Newcastle crimeworld that let his brother get murdered. Enjoyed the scene where Michael Caine wears nothing but his birthday suit as he fronts off against two armed criminal holding a shotgun as the kids band goes marching by. Blade Runner The sci-fi movie with a bleak futuristic setting with humanoid robots becoming killers and the detective sent to kill them finds himself at the mercy of the last renegade. Great photography with appropriate sullen music. The Insider First film I saw with Russel Crowe as he plays the Whistleblower Jeffrey Wigand against the Tobacco industry. Al Pacino is good in this too as a weather-beaten reporter. You see the cost of standing against powerful interests as he is targeted professionally and with death threats and gag orders and his family leave him. Thought some of the music score was superb as the Crowe character battles emotionally to hold it all together. Bridge Over the River Kwai Probably my favourite war film, the US sailor escapes from a Jap prisoner of war camp and assumes an identity of a US officer while recuperating at allied headquarters when British Special Operations decide they need his help. Despite all attempts to say he is not suited to the task he finds himself being cajoled into being a reluctant volunteer. Great photography and sounds in the rain forest and drama as the twists and turns of fate result in the reluctant US sailor finding himself cast in the major heroic do or die act of the film. Zulu Liked this film for the action based on historical events with its characters pitting old aristocracy against newer progressive officers and the mix of personalities of the British and Welsh soldiers in the adversity of trying to hold a small outpost against thousands of victorious Zulu warriors. The tension builds nicely as the drunken priest shouts, ‘You are all going to die, you are all going to die’ as he is physically removed form the outpost. North by NorthWest Enjoyed this older film as Cary Grant playing a successful businessman suddenly finds he is in danger as criminals confuse him with someone else. Loved the bit in the busy lift as he tells his mother, ‘they are the men that kidnaped me,’ she looks on in disbelief and announces to all the occupants of the lift, ‘my son thinks those men are trying to kill him.’ and giggles and the rest of the lift occupants laugh along too. Last of the Mohicans Great opening scenes as Daniel Day Lewis and his friends hunt in the forest with their muskets. The music and photography combine wonderfully to create an evocative film with a good dramatic story via trying to save the British general’s visiting daughters from the renegade Huron Indians. A poignant ending as the old Indian warrior after seeing his sons killed says, ‘I am Chingiscook last of the Mohicans.’ The Impossible Based on true events surrounding the tsunami in Thailand as a family relaxing by the pool get swept and split up as the waters crash in. Shows the horror and despair of situations like that as well as compassion of strangers. Great photography giving a realistic impression as the characters get bumped and dragged by the currents.
February 12, 20205 yr Author 1 hour ago, Munkworth said: Top Gun, Top Cat and Top Banana in that order. Top Banana is a new one on me ?
February 13, 20205 yr Well, or course, I call them FILMS, or FILLUMS if I am taking in my native tongue. None of the American expressions in my vocabulary! However, I agree with you on LA CONFIDENTIAL. In no particular order: AT PLAY IN THE FIELDS OF THE LORD THE DEPARTED THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY RYAN'S DAUGHTER ZULU THE RAILWAYMAN (in stark contrast to Bridge over the River Kwai) ROB ROY (John Hurt and Tim Roth are superb in it) LAWRENCE OF ARABIA WHISKY GALORE
February 14, 20205 yr Author 12 hours ago, moi said: Well, or course, I call them FILMS, or FILLUMS if I am taking in my native tongue. None of the American expressions in my vocabulary! However, I agree with you on LA CONFIDENTIAL. In no particular order: AT PLAY IN THE FIELDS OF THE LORD THE DEPARTED THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY RYAN'S DAUGHTER ZULU THE RAILWAYMAN (in stark contrast to Bridge over the River Kwai) ROB ROY (John Hurt and Tim Roth are superb in it) LAWRENCE OF ARABIA WHISKY GALORE Haha, yes I used movies rather than films, the Yanks are taking over! I am a little younger than yourself so possibly more exposed to Hollywood and used to work for a global US company. I recall a short while back the French language guardians were getting upset over the increasing use of English words and then recently heard TV chefs talking about the origin of words for food we have and quite a bit being Norman-French. I see you have two David Lean films and I generally like his movies including the ones above and Dr.Zhivago. Agree about Tim Roth in Rob Roy great performance.
February 15, 20205 yr Have given this some thought and have left out a few films otherwise my list would go on for ever. Some Like it Hot. One of the funniest films I've ever scene. A great cast including the lovely Marilyn Monroe. Whisky Galore. The 1949 version and a wonderful film about the finest drink in the world. Zulu. A great film which despite a few historical inaccuracies (e.g. most of the British soldiers weren't Welsh) conveys the immense odds against the defenders against the occupants of Rorke's Drift. Went the Day Well. Made in 1942 and depicts what would happen if a detachment of German soldiers invaded a village in Britain. The Wicker Man. The 1973 version. A very chilling film and something that could easily happen. 12 Angry Men. A superb film with a terrific cast and great story line. The Lady Killers. The 1950s version. Again a great cast with some wonderful humour. The Dam Busters. One of the great war films. Some of the cast e.g. Richard Todd had served in WW2. And as for the music, superb. Lawrence of Arabia. One of Lean's finest films. I read an interview with Steven Spielberg and in it he said that before he starts on a new film he watches Lawrence of Arabia for inspiration and ideas. Praise indeed. Ice Cold in Alex. A superb war film set in the desert of North Africa. My Dad did part of his National Service in the desert in the 1950s and said that the film accurately portrayed the scenery and vastness. Schindler's List. A powerful and moving film. Das Boot. A brilliant film about a German submarine crew. Also made into a TV series. Does a brilliant job of depicting the hardships of submariners. The Magdalene Sisters. A very powerful film about so called fallen women and the lives they had in Ireland in the sixties. Absolutely terrible the lives they had. The ending left me stunned and shocked. Edited February 15, 20205 yr by Boyne
February 15, 20205 yr Author 40 minutes ago, Boyne said: Have given this some thought and have left out a few films otherwise my list would go on for ever. Some Like it Hot. One of the funniest films I've ever scene. A great cast including the lovely Marilyn Monroe. Whisky Galore. The 1949 version and a wonderful film about the finest drink in the world. Zulu. A great film which despite a few historical inaccuracies (e.g. most of the British soldiers weren't Welsh) conveys the immense odds against the defenders against the occupants of Rorke's Drift. Went the Day Well. Made in 1942 and depicts what would happen if a detachment of German soldiers invaded a village in Britain. The Wicker Man. The 1973 version. A very chilling film and something that could easily happen. 12 Angry Men. A superb film with a terrific cast and great story line. The Lady Killers. The 1950s version. Again a great cast with some wonderful humour. The Dam Busters. One of the great war films. Some of the cast e.g. Richard Todd had served in WW2. And as for the music, superb. Lawrence of Arabia. One of Lean's finest films. I read an interview with Steven Spielberg and in it he said that before he starts on a new film he watches Lawrence of Arabia for inspiration and ideas. Praise indeed. Ice Cold in Alex. A superb war film set in the desert of North Africa. My Dad did part of his National Service in the desert in the 1950s and said that the film accurately portrayed the scenery and vastness. Schindler's List. A powerful and moving film. Das Boot. A brilliant film about a German submarine crew. Also made into a TV series. Does a brilliant job of depicting the hardships of submariners. The Magdalene Sisters. A very powerful film about so called fallen women and the lives they had in Ireland in the sixties. Absolutely terrible the lives they had. The ending left me stunned and shocked. Interesting point about Spielberg in reference to Lawrence of Arabia. The Wicker Man was unsettling as was the later film, the Omen. Both good films I won't watch now. My father loved Das Boot and I liked 12 Angry Men for it's practical points of what could happen and how you might be able to challenge them. I have watched a lot of films yet you can only remember a portion on an exercise like this, in a years time it might well be different.
February 15, 20205 yr On 13/02/2020 at 22:46, moi said: WHISKY GALORE As someone who has been known to be partial to a glass of the crater... how on earth have I never seen this??
February 15, 20205 yr 11 hours ago, PloKoon13 said: As someone who has been known to be partial to a glass of the crater... how on earth have I never seen this?? You are too young, my pet. Here it is On other matters - I hated Dr Zhivago, apart from the Tom Courtney role and the scenery. All that slushy Omar Sharif stuff too sick making for words. And I was absolutely terrified b y The Wicker Man.
February 17, 20205 yr On 15/02/2020 at 23:38, moi said: You are too young, my pet. Here it is On other matters - I hated Dr Zhivago, apart from the Tom Courtney role and the scenery. All that slushy Omar Sharif stuff too sick making for words. And I was absolutely terrified b y The Wicker Man. I expect it was all a bit too close to home for you scotch women ?
February 17, 20205 yr My top ten. 1. Shawshank Redemption : I have watched this several times. A real feel-good film, despite the personal tragedy and harsh surroundings. Loved Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman's velvet tones 2. The Usual Suspects : A superb thriller with a brilliant non-famous cast where I genuinely did not see the twist coming. Bryan Singer's directing was flawless 3. The Godfather (1) : My favourite ever gangster movie, a tour de force of a cast, with my first noticing Pacino and then Brando. Kubrick called it "possibly the greatest film ever made" 4. One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest : pretty much anything with Jack Nicholson in is ok with me, but with Christopher Lloyd and Danny DeVito too and a disturbing story, Unsurprisingly Won 5 Oscars 5. Reservoir Dogs : The first Tarantino film that literally grabbed me. It was a heist film that was just so cool, very violent but very cool 6. Apocalypse Now : Another from Coppola. My favourite war film, which realistically plumbs the depths of the Vietnam war. Martin Sheen (36) suffered a near fatal heart attack making the film but still came back to finish his job. 7. No Country for old men : A Coen Brothers masterpiece, which paints Javier Bardem as the villain (it wont be the last time) in a film that examines how a human can remain good when there is so much evil in the World 8. Forrest Gump : Just a brilliant heart warming story told by Robert Zemeckis, through the slightly child like Tom Hanks. I loved him after this and still do. This beat both Shawshank (my No.1) and Pulp Fiction to the Oscar 9. Singing in the Rain : Another feel good film for every generation. My kids and Grandkids still love it as much as I do. Gene Kelly is still my favourite dancer of all time. 10. Good Will Hunting : One of my heroes, Robin Williams stars in a film written by 20 year old would be actors Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. they won a screenplay Oscar as did the wonderful Robin Williams
February 17, 20205 yr Author @coombsie I've seen all the above except Usual Suspects and hopefully will get around to it. My favourites in the list above are No Country for Old Men (read a few of his books since seeing the film too) and One Flew Over the Cuckoos nest, Nicholson was superb in that film.
November 8, 20204 yr @coombsie I will attempt to pick a top 10 from various genres so it’s not all similar movies. 1) Good Will Hunting - my favourite movie of all times. I remember seeing a clip of Robin Williams after his passing where they asked how he can change from the usual funny guy to a depressive teacher and he replied ‘easy, in Good Will Hunting, I wasn’t acting.’ Absolute shame and clearly a cry for help. Still makes me sad even typing it. 2) Shawshank Redemption - just an absolute classic. It’s made even better by the fact it was poorly received at Box Office and tanked. Morgan Freeman has discussed it often about how unique the movie is due to how poorly received it was initially yet is now commonly referred to as the best movie of all time and remains number 1 on IMDB. 3) Batman Begins / The Dark Knight I refuse to separate these as they are both masterpieces in my opinion. It really set the tone for future superhero movies and tv shows to become dark and more violent. Nolan seriously took things to a new level. 4) Jaws - I had to add a horror movie and what better than Jaws. A horror movie with sharks really shouldn’t age well with the new technology available, but Jaws is every bit as enjoyable now as it was when I was a child. It’s scary to think that Jaws is now 45 years old. Let that sink in. 5) The Lion King - I am trying to include various genres and I will have to include The Lion King as my animated movie. I did love Aladdin too but I can’t overlook The Lion King. The music and the movie with Timon and Pumba, just perfect. 6) Gladiator - Another movie which may not make it into most lists but I have watched this numerous times and I simply cannot overlook it. There is the action, the drama and the emotion involved in his fight for justice and it was a magnificent piece. 7) Independence Day - I’m a sucker for these type of movies and I do not expect it to be mentioned again. It’s the sort of movie where rational thinking goes out the window and you just sit back and enjoy yourself. Too many similar movies have attempted a similar spectacle however Independence Day hit the nail on the head. The science, the graphics and the cast were all spot on. The humour was also good throughout. 8.) Home Alone - As it’s November I have to add a Christmas movie. Home Alone, in my opinion, is untouchable. A movie most have seen 5+ times. Not much else I can say. 9) The Usual Suspects - As mentioned above, I also did not see the twist coming. Actually I remember being so amazed I watched again to look out for hints. I won’t give anything else away as it ruins the best movie twist in history. I often find movie twists predictable but this was screenplay gold. 10) Jurassic Park - Again, see Jaws. A movie that has aged extremely well with a fantastic cast and some memorable quotes. I have probably seen this more than any other movie on my list.
November 16, 20204 yr On 08/11/2020 at 09:08, MayosNoun! said: @coombsie I will attempt to pick a top 10 from various genres so it’s not all similar movies. 1) Good Will Hunting - my favourite movie of all times. I remember seeing a clip of Robin Williams after his passing where they asked how he can change from the usual funny guy to a depressive teacher and he replied ‘easy, in Good Will Hunting, I wasn’t acting.’ Absolute shame and clearly a cry for help. Still makes me sad even typing it. 2) Shawshank Redemption - just an absolute classic. It’s made even better by the fact it was poorly received at Box Office and tanked. Morgan Freeman has discussed it often about how unique the movie is due to how poorly received it was initially yet is now commonly referred to as the best movie of all time and remains number 1 on IMDB. 3) Batman Begins / The Dark Knight I refuse to separate these as they are both masterpieces in my opinion. It really set the tone for future superhero movies and tv shows to become dark and more violent. Nolan seriously took things to a new level. 4) Jaws - I had to add a horror movie and what better than Jaws. A horror movie with sharks really shouldn’t age well with the new technology available, but Jaws is every bit as enjoyable now as it was when I was a child. It’s scary to think that Jaws is now 45 years old. Let that sink in. 5) The Lion King - I am trying to include various genres and I will have to include The Lion King as my animated movie. I did love Aladdin too but I can’t overlook The Lion King. The music and the movie with Timon and Pumba, just perfect. 6) Gladiator - Another movie which may not make it into most lists but I have watched this numerous times and I simply cannot overlook it. There is the action, the drama and the emotion involved in his fight for justice and it was a magnificent piece. 7) Independence Day - I’m a sucker for these type of movies and I do not expect it to be mentioned again. It’s the sort of movie where rational thinking goes out the window and you just sit back and enjoy yourself. Too many similar movies have attempted a similar spectacle however Independence Day hit the nail on the head. The science, the graphics and the cast were all spot on. The humour was also good throughout. 8.) Home Alone - As it’s November I have to add a Christmas movie. Home Alone, in my opinion, is untouchable. A movie most have seen 5+ times. Not much else I can say. 9) The Usual Suspects - As mentioned above, I also did not see the twist coming. Actually I remember being so amazed I watched again to look out for hints. I won’t give anything else away as it ruins the best movie twist in history. I often find movie twists predictable but this was screenplay gold. 10) Jurassic Park - Again, see Jaws. A movie that has aged extremely well with a fantastic cast and some memorable quotes. I have probably seen this more than any other movie on my list. ???
March 11, 20214 yr Threads i dare anyone to watch it as you will be scared for life afterwards . it was first and only time screened by the bbc back in 1981 i think it was . The full movie pops up on you tube every now and again ,but then gets taken down and now you can only Get short Clips . amazon do sell it on dvd for £7.99 or £6.99 and i will be more than happy to refund your money if the said film does not effect you . Dont watch it on your own . dont let your kids watch it . dont sit in a dark room to watch it . enjoy
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