My Favorite Movies

This is a movie I love to revisit. Spirited Away was my first exposure to Studio Ghibli and has left an indelible mark on the way I view movies.

Before Spirited Away, movies were a source of entertainment, go to the cinema, pop in a DVD and enjoy (or not) what's presented to you. What Miyazaki showed me was that movies have the power to affect you emotionally as well as transport you new and wondrous worlds. Of course, when I previously watched movies I knew this, but Miyazaki's film largely amplified this sentiment.

There are no straight answers I can give to why I love Spirited Away so much, other than transporting me to a place I've never been before. Everything was so new to me; there wasn't much I've seen before.

The easiest way to explain it was that I was voyeur for 2 hours. I peaked into a sliver of Chihiro's life, albeit a very important sliver of life. And was completely lost in what she experienced. Everything that happened moved the story along, acquired my interest and involvement with the characters that Miyazaki created, and kept me entertained.

Spirited Away reminds me of Totoro. There really aren't any bad guys in the movie. There is a clear antagonist, but Yubaba can't really be considered evil. But the lack of conflict that Totoro has is what Spirited Away includes. Watching Chihiro go through these adventures is what the movie is built on. And I gladly rewatch her err and succeed.

"Once you've met someone, you never really forget them. It just takes a while for your memories to return."

This line, spouted by Zeniba, is how I feel about this movie. It gives hope that things will be okay. It's something familiar, yet it's wrapped up in a distinct package. It's a comforting movie to watch. It's having a talk with a close friend, relaxing on the grass with the sun beating down on you, the first snowfall of the year. Spirited Away is something I'll never forget.

No matter how messed up their lives were and all the crap that they had to go through, I seriously envied them for the 90 minutes watching STAND BY ME.

This small section in the four of the kids' lives is the apex of childhood adventures. I know when I watched it, it brought me back to the times when I was 6 or 7, out with my friends going on expeditions that never actually existed. It'll never be like that ever again, there will never be a time where I could have less cares in the world than just having a good time as much as I did as I was a small kid. There are too many worries that the future holds for everyone. And this movie just transports me back to those times.

It's a great, but saddening movie. It's about a lot of things. There's the teen angst, and the search for the body, but it delves into deeper topics such as the struggles of they go through. It's very easy to pick and choose which character someone can relate to, and it's even possible to relate to all of them.

It's easy to see yourself as the creep with no friends with the crazy family, or the kid that's as stupid as he is fat, or the troublemaker, or the disappointment. But to be them, it's hard to see the good that exists. And that is the big point that everyone in the movie misses. These kids are good kids in a bad setting.

The message it depicts on the surface is just an ordinary camaraderie flick, but it really reaches profound levels. Just like anyone's childhood, theirs can never be relived. And Gordie, chooses this moment in his life to share. He doesn't care to mention his birthdays or the first time he had sex. What he does mention though: the death of his brother, his disapproval from his father, the strong bond between his friends. Why? Because they are important. And to create a whole story about it, solidifies how important this event in his life really was.

It's a character driven movie, and each actor plays his part perfectly. Undoubtedly, this movie will be remembered for River Phoenix, but for me, none of the four leads outshine the other. However, I don't know if this movie would have such a cult following if it weren't for River.

What will I remember of this movie, for the most part is the relationship the four of them shared. Next would be the amazing acting the movie contains. And of course, the story that causes this whole event to happen. What can be more intriguing than a movie that starts off with the words "wanna see a dead body?" Classic.

One ridiculously good movie 10/10

So, I've been thinking about this move a lot lately, and even rewatched it--give it another try, and the second time, absolutely beautiful.

I remember complaineing about the romance subplot, doesn't really matter anymore. REAR WINDOW deserves a good rating just on it's camerawork. Hitchcock is a master technician. The visual component and style deserves recognition. It's so distinct and unique, that it's copied a lot.

The huge set was great as well. So many colours to work with, the lighting, the atmosphere of it all. Perhaps one of the first mystery movies to have the "suburbia not as nice at it seems" kinda plot? Maybe not.

That's a huge chunk of the movie that really caught me, I'm a huge fan on nice camera angles and stunning visuals.

I can say that people in the 50's would have definately been screaming at the screen. I know that even, though it was made over 50 years ago, I felt a little suspense during the near end, when I expected not to fell anything at all. Just goes to show how masterful HItchcock is.

Though I think the story isn't anything to throw your hands in the air about, it's still nice. The acting also didn't do much for me, I know they are two of the biggest screen legends, but really, any other two lead actors may have done the same. Not saying the acting was bad, just not as spectacualr as I thought it would be.

Anyways, to finish REAR WINDOW is definately one of the best movies ever made. It's not for everyone of the new generation though. Many people will be bored by it, although understandable. But it's weathered 50+ years and will last much longer than that.

10/10

One of my favourite movies, and one of the best movies ever made.

Yea, bold statement, but it's true. It's one of the only movies that continuously features the same people doing nothing but talking, very realistically too.

Not much to say but great writing and excellent acting. It is what really carried the movie. Without the strong performances, the movie could have easily imploded and been boring to watch. Fortunately, John Fonda and Cobb, totally did enough to keep it alive, everyone else did great too, but these two performances stood out the most.

And finally really, really good directing. Not many people can do what Lument did with a singal room, and 12 old men, but he did it.

It's just a really great movie, whether you agree or disagree with the final outcome of the movie, it's not about that. It's about the flaws in the judicial system and I think it was handled well.

10/10

I watched this with my sister for her English class and I really liked it. One of my favourites, one of the best of its time.

Up until I watched AVATAR, I had not seen a movie so willing to please the eyes. I'm still contemplating if AVATAR or THE FALL had a more splendid visual palette.

Getting on with the review, I can earnestly admit that this movie made me feel like no other movie had before. It has the creativity of a Myazaki film and the know-how of legendary directors. You can't deny that Tarsem is talented. It's a very simple story that tells itself in the form of THE PRINCESS BRIDE.

Roy (Lee Pace) tells Alexandria (Catinca Untaru) a fantastical story, and the audience is shown it through Alexandria's eyes. And in the eyes of such an imaginative child and the words from a potent storyteller, a richly beautiful, but dark film emerges.

Metaphors and symbolism plays a role in this movie quite a bit (although that can be said for every single movie ever made). But the juxtaposition of the fairytale images that pour into Alexandria's head and the not-so-spectacular reality that she and Roy live in is brilliant. But the dark aspect of the film is not the grizzly deaths that occur along the way, however they do add to the misery, but the fact that Roy is deceiving Alexandria who just wants to hear an awesome story is the real crime. Roy only tells this story because he wants Alexandria to do something for him (and it's not a perverted movie, so it's not any sexual favour ....lol..)

Acting is great in it. Lee Pace at times seems out of character, but does really well as the crippled stuntman (haha doesn't that suck?). His character is very likable, but at the same time very despicable. And Catinca is pure bliss. When she's on screen, she puts a stupid smile on your face. She's charismatic and has the presence needed for movie actress, and she's just a plain good actress. The movie and acting benefits hugely from the improvisation between the two leads.

A lot of critics complained that the story was just too blah, and that it was style over substance, which I can appreciate, I do see how people can view it that way. I, very often, let the visuals of a movie take precedent over story, so for a movie like this, a groundbreaking story wouldn't be needed. However, I did enjoy story. I don't fully understand how the story was 'wooden' because I thought it was quite complex--though not in a Kaufman kinda way.

Roy is toying with innocence. Manipulating a small girl who genuinely likes this guy and wants to pretty much stay friends forever with him. And all he wants are some pills. But his morals get questioned and well, he stops his deception and becomes a real friend. Not the best summary, but the way things are handled, the story of the fantasy world, and reality, the line that separates the two become blurred that no longer are things easy to decide. I like how the story tests the mental strength of the characters.

It's one of my favourite movies of, 2008, the decade and all-time, 10/10. If this doesn't make you want to create something artistic like a poem, painting, or dance, then holy shit man, imagination is not your friend. Plus, I can't believe all the awards it DIDN'T win. I know it wasn't going to win BP or writing, but the costumes were crazy cool and the cinematography was holy shit good. In my opinion, very overlooked

Aside from how the movie looks and sounds, you'd never really know that it came from the 50s.
REBEL pretty much sums up what life of a teenager is like. Not necessarily the exact actions that Jim, Plato, and Judy went through, but the rebellion that comes along with it.

In REBEL, I do not think just one of those three is considered a ?rebel?. They all rebel against an authoritative figure and have gotten into a predicament one way or another in the past and now. The title REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE is very ironic since they have a cause to rebel against.

Jim whose father has been emasculated by his mother, Judy who can never find the affection she seeks from her father. And Plato, whose parents have neglected him and left him in the good care of their maid, no matter how great the maid cares for him, it?ll never be enough to replace his parental figures.

It deals with a lot of the issues that teens struggle with today: he feeling to belong, being more ?grown-up?, and friendship. With more underlying messages that concern many people and what they are afraid to admit to or share.

Everything is good in the movie, the writing and dialogue are convincing and the ACTING!

Most noticeably with teen angst personified ? James Dean. He just blends with his character, not as if you were just watching him but with him. He creates that person that you know of, that outcast in your school, at your work, even at home. He gives us this three dimensional character, that it?s hard not to relate to or feel for. James Dean is truly a legend.

Superb movie, very influential, it?s a classic. And considering from the era it was made, still rings true today. And no, it?s not outdated.

9.8/10

Miyazaki is an anime legend, my favourite director of all-time, no competition.

The movie went by so quickly that I wanted another one just like it.

Before Sunset is the only movie (apart from documentaties) that is so real, that speaks what we have on our minds all the time. It's not afraid to say anything.

After 9 years of seperation, Jesse and Celine have finally met up again in Paris, the city of love. As in the first, they discuss life. But now, they are more wiser, and don't plan to do stupid things like never writing to eachother or calling etc.

The acting is as real as it gets and the writing is great and gauranteed to make you think.

9.5/10

It's your basic coming out/self-discovery story, told ever so simply, but it's done very effectively.

The story centres around two teenage boys, their dysfunctional families, and their growing affections for each other. The two boys are Jamie, quiet and bullied, living with his single mother, Sandra, and Ste, popular and athletic, housed with his abusive brother and father. One night, after being beaten up, Sandra finds Ste crying outside their building complex and lets him stay the night. Through the nights spent sharing Jamie's room and bed, the boys realize their feelings for each other are nearly impossible to ignore. However, if word gets out that the two are gay, it's very likely they'll be ostracized by their surroundings.

Though Ste and Jamie are the central characters, the supporting characters play a huge role in the movie, not only in furthering the story, but adding comic relief and action. It's really through Jamie's mom, her new boyfriend, and their friend Leah that the movie takes off. They're eccentric characters that really offset the intimate, demure, and relaxed demeanor that is exhibited by Jamie and Ste's story.

And although I greatly appreciate the boldness of the three, Jamie and Ste's story, for me at least, is what I focus on. To be honest, the subplots of the movie almost take away from the main story arc. While interesting, they don't really prove to go anywhere.

The two most dynamic characters, Sandra and Leah, steal each scene they're in, almost as if it's them who should have a movie dedicated to them (I would definitely watch those, if they ever did have a spinoff). And although that is a largely negative criticism, the central story is just too damn engrossing.

The boys' story is presented so intimately. The most personal scenes of the movie are when Jamie and Ste are alone. The scenes in Jamie's bedroom introduce us to their latent feelings and soon directly expose us to their desires. I really appreciate that the most personal of confessions take place where privacy is most important. Their connection is amplified by their isolated settings. For the moment, it seems like only these two people matter, it's almost a violation of their privacy that we're witnessing their sexual awakening.

Their story is so damn sweet. The movie is very emotionally arousing, which is why I loved watching what was on the screen. Although the movie has its pitfalls, the emotional connection to these characters was too strong for the movie's flaws to deter me from groaning at all the farcical elements of the movie. I'm certain you could spot the flaws if you watch the movie yourself.

The boys are acted perfectly, much like all the characters I should add. But really, Jamie and Ste aren't clichés. Yes, the dysfunctional family situation (single and tough but loving mom, abusive dad etc.) are clichéd, but the boys themselves are true teenagers. Real feelings emanate from them. It's amazing what MacDonald was able to get out of Berry and Neal. It's not forced, they're actually very subdued, acting in the moment and not trying to create drama.

Another point is that the movie tries to avoid the starkest movie clichés, which is does reasonably well. That's why when I was waiting for the climactic reveal, it never really reached full out drama. Again, the conflict is there, but the way it's presented is not over the top.

Quite honestly, the movie isn't perfect, nor would it even qualify as a splendidly written movie. Many things can be fixed, but the acting is amazing and I loved the emotional experience that Beautiful Thing provided me with. It's a sweet, touching story that had me smiling throughout and lamenting with the characters. As a gay themed movie I highly recommend it. It's one of the better ones I've seen.

I can't get it off my mind, every time I think about it, I feel compelled to watch it. 10/10 though I sure a perfect score is very debatable.

This is just... too much for words.

What hooked me was it's story (obviously) but really. Japan's youth is rebelling becoming very violent and the government is sick and tired of it. To remedy the angsty teenage problem is... killing them!! That's right. Randomly pick a classroom all across Japan and drop off those kids at an isolated island. Prep them by showing them a hilariously dark informational video, that provides them with the requisite details they'll need in order to survive and let them battle it out. Oh yea, last one alive wins.

At first I chuckled when I heard this, and was kinda appalled that someone could come up with such an idea for entertainment. Funny and appalling are two words that are great at describing this movie. And it's essential that you have some sort of humour, or else you'll miss the humourous parts of the film and/or you'll feel very depressed and maybe even paranoid that this would happen in reality future.

Of course, this would never happen. But what is so controversial about this film is the depiction of kids killing kids. All due to unruly teenagers who like to skip school and run-amok. But to solve that problem is not to exterminate teenagers. The parallel I draw from it is clearly the loss of innocence. There are obvious reasons for this, but for the less brash reason that teenagers are growing up fast, and it's because of the pressure that everyone puts on them. The expectations are to go to school, get good grades, go to college get a diploma and get a good job; then go have a family and hopefully you'll be able to support your parents when they are in their old age. But instead of waiting for a whole lifetime to allow kids to be kids, and then realize the harsh realities of the world, the gov't wants them to realize the kind of shit they're pulling. And that their actions do have dire consequences both outside in inside the BR act.

The realism BATTLE ROYALE is able to pull off for such a far-fetched story is amazing. This is mostly due to the great acting done by pretty much every school kid. Although there are the Asian cinematic moments there, that don't quite translate over to the Western world that well. But the balance of realism and the outlandish is kept at a nice equilibrium. The action sequences of course may go over the top, but that's just to be expected.

Anyway, this movie is just intense and ruthless and a little bit scary--seeing a girl with an arrow through her neck isn't really appealing. But that's not even the worse death. The brutality of the deaths surpass anything I've seen in a Jason/Freddy/any other 70s & 80s horror movie. But the cruel images that come from BATTLE ROYALE are weighed out very effectively with the morality of the characters.

The are quite a few types of characters in the movie: the crazies, the angries, the ones that do anything to survive, the ones that believe working together will be the best way to live etc, the pacifists etc. Such a wide variety of characters and states of mind. It's a very haunting film, and stayed with me long after it's chilling credits rolled. Chilling not because it were scary, but because of the simplicity of it--it's only a class picture of the aforementioned class.

The images of their dead bodies are unwelcome but stay, and it's very easy to attribute their deaths to the innocent faces that are focused on during the credits. It's the most effective scene out of the whole entire movie.

10/10

This is truly the best anti-war movies made. And what more perfect setting than in Japan with two homeless children fending for themselves after lthe death of their mother and who knows what could have happened to their father in the naval fleet? It's definately up there with best of the best.
After an airbombing that has killed their mother, Seito and Setsuko, stay with their bitch of an aunt. She hardly cares about them. Sheis clearly upset that she is stuck with them, cooking for them, cleaning after them and all the time she is wasting with them.. WHATEVER. Refers to them as brats, pests and other demeaning things .She is in my books of most hated movie characters ever. Until finally Seito has enough of her and they move out of the shelter of their aunts and live on their own. They set their house up in some sort of hidden shelter and supply themselve with the ¥7000 left in their mothers account. Living on their own seems great for a little while. Soon after we find that the two come into problems with food (not enough of it). But then Setsuko, Seita's younger sister, develops dysentery, but her body refuses to digest food fast enough for her to get better.
This movie pretty much sums up how I feel about war. Not to sound likea hippie or anything, but I really don't like war and after watching this, poeple will change their perspective on wars. Looking at the aftermath of the innocent, not only the explosions. And if this film doesn't leave an impression on you, it's certain you have no heart.
Very depressing and simply put, a tear-jerker. Do not watch the english dubbed version, as it does not have the effect as the Japanese version because it does sound weird.

Wow, Jim Carrey, like I've never seen before. I prefer him in a more serious role than his usual comedy.

Awesome! This movie can make you laugh and cry at the same time. Very well sricpted and acted, especially from Bell.