Emily FinlayThe First 10 Movies I Watched This Year
October 19th 2007 03:20
So anyhoo, since this is a movie-based blog, you're probably going to want to know my opinions on some movies. Conviently I have watched quite a few of them this year, and kept a list, because...I'm a bit of a nerd that way, I guess. Here's the first 20 and what I thought (or, failing that, some form of sarcastic, smartarse remark):
Rocky Balboa
A lecturer of mine at Uni once called Fight Club 'a movie about being a man in the 90s'. Rocky, I always felt, was very much a movie about being a man in general, and Rocky Balboa is about being that same man, only 30 years later when you're all saggy and your wife is dead and your son doesn't respect you and all the critics are saying "Stallone, please, please don't make another Rocky movie". So it was a surprise to everyone, especially me, when the movie turned out to be almost suspiciously excellent, even without Mr T pitying any fools. This is a hell of a fine movie, true to the Rocky formula, and well worth your time and money.
300
It's gay porn, but for hetrosexual men. Also, it has the best trailer ever. Seriously, I wasn't big on the final product (it was going well right up until all those monsters starting appearing), but that trailer is amazing. Youtube it and then inevitably find yourself buying the DVD.
Hot Fuzz
When this movie is raised in conversation, the first questioned asked is generally "Is it better than Shaun of the Dead?" I say its not, but I say that about most movies, so thats not really a criticism. I bought it on DVD just yesterday, actually.
The Last King of Scotland
Forest Whitaker is absolutely, without question, The Man. This is actually on his resume now, right between 'Actor' and 'King of Scotland'. Also, pretty fantastic movie. Don't worry, we'll come to a movie I didn't like soon enough. And some older stuff, too.
Children of Men
If you took all your acheivements in life and combined them, you would come no where near acheiving what this film manages in 3 minutes. Compared to this movie, you suck. Easily 2006's best film.
Babel
Finally, a movie I didn't like. The usually enigmatic Pitt was wooden, the plots were all very uninteresting, the Japanese girl annoyed me, and frankly I'm irritated that I can't think of anything witty to say here, like "bukka bukka" or "wooza wozzle" (anyone who becomes a regular reader will notice that 73% of my jokes are blatantly stolen from The Simpsons).
Metropolis
They didn't talk much in the 20s, did they?
.....what I meant to say is, fantastic film. But you all already knew that, right?
Letters From Iowa Jima
I'm a bit sick of movies telling me that war is bad. I'm well aware that war is bad, because movies keep telling me about it. And I can't help but sit there during a movie like this and try to way up whether the movie is biased towards either side (this one wasn't). It's a strong movie, but not one I went around raving about afterwards.
Bride of Frankenstein
Curious observation: they were making fantastic horror films in the 30s, 40s and 50s (although I use horror in the loosest sense, because they're generally not all that scary). This one is really more of a horror/comedy, but damn is it funny. Frankenstein's love of a fine cigar, his "SMOKE! GOOD!" decleration, it'll melt your heart, and maybe that of the lady sitting next to you. Assuming you're watching this with a lady-friend. And you're into ladies. Point is, whoever you are, watch this movie with a loved one and they will love you more than they did before. A lot more. I'm rambling.
Pan's Labyrinth
I wrote an essay on this movie and Children of Men and got a High Distinction. I think it may have been more because my tutor loved the movies than the actual quality of my essay. But The Pale Man is the best....thing ever. Hell, there'd be a picture of him right here if I'd....worked out the image bit of this blog yet.
So hopefully that gives me a little cred....somehow. I'll probably discuss my Top 10 favourite movies....later.
Rocky Balboa
A lecturer of mine at Uni once called Fight Club 'a movie about being a man in the 90s'. Rocky, I always felt, was very much a movie about being a man in general, and Rocky Balboa is about being that same man, only 30 years later when you're all saggy and your wife is dead and your son doesn't respect you and all the critics are saying "Stallone, please, please don't make another Rocky movie". So it was a surprise to everyone, especially me, when the movie turned out to be almost suspiciously excellent, even without Mr T pitying any fools. This is a hell of a fine movie, true to the Rocky formula, and well worth your time and money.
It's gay porn, but for hetrosexual men. Also, it has the best trailer ever. Seriously, I wasn't big on the final product (it was going well right up until all those monsters starting appearing), but that trailer is amazing. Youtube it and then inevitably find yourself buying the DVD.
Hot Fuzz
When this movie is raised in conversation, the first questioned asked is generally "Is it better than Shaun of the Dead?" I say its not, but I say that about most movies, so thats not really a criticism. I bought it on DVD just yesterday, actually.
The Last King of Scotland
Forest Whitaker is absolutely, without question, The Man. This is actually on his resume now, right between 'Actor' and 'King of Scotland'. Also, pretty fantastic movie. Don't worry, we'll come to a movie I didn't like soon enough. And some older stuff, too.
If you took all your acheivements in life and combined them, you would come no where near acheiving what this film manages in 3 minutes. Compared to this movie, you suck. Easily 2006's best film.
Babel
Finally, a movie I didn't like. The usually enigmatic Pitt was wooden, the plots were all very uninteresting, the Japanese girl annoyed me, and frankly I'm irritated that I can't think of anything witty to say here, like "bukka bukka" or "wooza wozzle" (anyone who becomes a regular reader will notice that 73% of my jokes are blatantly stolen from The Simpsons).
Metropolis
They didn't talk much in the 20s, did they?
.....what I meant to say is, fantastic film. But you all already knew that, right?
Letters From Iowa Jima
I'm a bit sick of movies telling me that war is bad. I'm well aware that war is bad, because movies keep telling me about it. And I can't help but sit there during a movie like this and try to way up whether the movie is biased towards either side (this one wasn't). It's a strong movie, but not one I went around raving about afterwards.
Bride of Frankenstein
Curious observation: they were making fantastic horror films in the 30s, 40s and 50s (although I use horror in the loosest sense, because they're generally not all that scary). This one is really more of a horror/comedy, but damn is it funny. Frankenstein's love of a fine cigar, his "SMOKE! GOOD!" decleration, it'll melt your heart, and maybe that of the lady sitting next to you. Assuming you're watching this with a lady-friend. And you're into ladies. Point is, whoever you are, watch this movie with a loved one and they will love you more than they did before. A lot more. I'm rambling.
Pan's Labyrinth
I wrote an essay on this movie and Children of Men and got a High Distinction. I think it may have been more because my tutor loved the movies than the actual quality of my essay. But The Pale Man is the best....thing ever. Hell, there'd be a picture of him right here if I'd....worked out the image bit of this blog yet.
So hopefully that gives me a little cred....somehow. I'll probably discuss my Top 10 favourite movies....later.
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Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
I must say I loved The Last King of Scotland too. Forrest Whitaker was utterly compelling and the story was set out so it seemed to slowly gain in momentum. Terrifying to think of what Amin did though.
Babel I enjoyed, though it was very different to what I thought it would be like. I reckoned the representation across cultures was done better, and more realistically here than in Crash.
Iwo Jima was a beautiful movie, Clint is a master and he pulled off showing the other side to Flags really well.
Nice post.
Michaelie
Comment by Jickle
Clint is a great director (as long as you discount The Green Berets), but I think war movies in general are just....getting a bit old for me. I get a bit of a 'been there, done that' feel with them, because so many of them seem to have the same basic message in mind. The compelling angle in this one, the insane Japanese mentality during the war, was probably handled better in Grave of the Fireflies, I thought (an incredible movie about two orphaned Japanese children during WWII and their struggle to survive).
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD