My Favorite Movies

Arguably the greatest movie of all time. It's magic for every kid from 4 to 104 and I never get tired of watching it. The story is wonderful, Harold Arlen's score is pure genius and the costrast between the B&W of Kansas and the colours of Oz is inspired. It's not necessary to single any of the actors out for special praise because all of them are absolutely perfect.

My favorite horror movie. Is it the scariest? That depends on the attitude with which you are watching. Some claim that it's so over the top that it's hard to take it seriously. Maybe, but one can make the same argument against the Dracula, Frankenstein, Wherewolf and Zombie movies. In other words, it goes with the territory of the genre. Besides, since The Exorcist is (obviously very loosely - I hope:) based on a 'true story' it has a better case in terms of credibility than most other horror movies. But who cares? It works even if you're a cynic who views horror as comedy. It works on any level. I watch it at least once a year and I still get as big a kick out of it as when I saw it for the first time. Maybe there have been horror movies that are just as good, but I doubt if there is one that I would rank above it. If I'm only allowed to take one horror movie with me to the proverbial desert island, The Exorcist is the one for me.

One of those movies that you can watch again and again, and you never get tired of it. It's energetic, improvisational and experimental, but nevertheless accessible - sorta like the French new wave movies from Godard or Truffaut. Because they all - some more obvious than others - have been hurt in love before, it's easy to feel sympathy for each of the four main characters. Even the mystery lady with the blonde wig who happens to be a drug dealer and murderer has the viewer rooting for her. Even so, it's the sweet little Mamas and Papas loving music nut Faye Wong who truly steals our hearts and makes it nearly impossible not to fall in love with her during this movie.

Highly effective story about human nature: greed, selfishness, communal conservatism and all the other smelly things that makes the human race such a despicable species. Gerard Depardieu, Yves Montand and Daniel Auteuil are all equally brilliant playing the three main characters. Although this is basically a very dark and tragic story there is some humour (partly because Auteuil's character is sort of intrinsically funny) to lighten things up a bit. And the beautiful setting in the French provence brings some relieve also. I really can't imagine anyone NOT liking this movie. But although it can stand on it's own, you really should see the equally impressive part two, Manon des Source also. In fact, if they had been put together to make for one four hour epic I would have given it the full five stars. But you can easily fix that of course and experience one of the most brilliant works of the French cinema the way it should.

This should be viewed as the equally impressive part two of Jean de Florette - the revenge part. The plot takes some surprising, but highly satisfying turns here. Words can't really express how brilliant these two (although they make for really one long epic work) movies are. The script, the cinematagrophy, the acting - it all makes for what can only be described as a masterpiece. You should see both movies to fully understand how great this work is.

The first 'big' movie from arguably the greatest movie maker of all time and definitely one of the best of the silent era - or any other era for that matter. Only Chaplin could have come up with an almost over the top sentimental story like this and not have it resulting in a very cheesy - but genuinely moving masterpiece. There are many memorable scenes, both funny and heartbreaking - and often both at the same time and besides Chaplin's own brilliance the remarkable thing is that Jackie Coogan's performance is every bit the equal of the maestro's. It may very well be the greatest performance of a child actor in history.

On it's way back to Earth the spaceship Nostromo receives an s.o.s. from a nearby planet. When the crew goes out there to investigate the nightmare begins. You seldom get to see the alien in full view, yet one is always aware of it's extremely dangerous presence. The whole vibe of the movie is utterly claustrophobic and very creepy. This science-fiction/horror classic is definitely one of the most scary movies in history. Although this is even more true for part two of the four movie Alien(s) series, Sigourney Weaver became the first female action hero - albeit a far more human one than male counterparts like Stallone or Schwarzenneger who was only effective if he could play a robot. The alien became the most popular non-human movie star since Lassie. Terrific movie.

Great haunted house movie that keeps the viewers on the edge of their seats throughout without any need for the excesses that the horror genre has become known for. Nicole Kidman brilliantly conveys all the changes that her multi-dimensional character goes through and Fionnula Flanagan is the other standout in this very well casted movie. Definitely one of the best horror movies of the decade.

Great film noir with a Kathleen Turner who is so hot that I wouldn't be surprised if global warming began in 1981. William Hurt plays her rather naive victim, but who can blame him? Hard to believe that this self-assured performance which immediately established Turner as THE sex symbol of the 1980's was actually her debut as a movie actress.

Classic adventure movie set in Africa at the time of the first world war. The boorish and gin-drinking Charlie (Bogart) sails down the dangerous waters of the river Congo with the proper and prudish missionary Rose (Hepburn) in his ramshackle boat The African Queen. The goal of their journey is to try to attack a German gunboat. She can't stand his bad manners and drinking - he can't stand her holier than thou attitude. But opposites attract and it ain't long before they fall in love. Exciting, funny and romantic movie with Hepburn and especially Bogart at their very best. The ending requires a lot of goodwill on the part of the viewer to accept the extremely unlikely, but it can't spoil what is otherwise an outstanding movie.