My Favorite Movies

*SPOILERS*

According to Flixster's 'More Like This' section, you should check out Romancing the Stone. Yes, because these are very similar movies, aren't they? I guess they both contain a kind of butchering; one butchers women, the other butchers alligators. I digress...

The Silence of the Lambs is still in my all time favourite list, and has been for almost 20 years. I remember being about 9 / 10 years old, and my dad said that his mate had leant him a video and asked me if I wanted to watch it with him. "What kind of film is it daddy?" I asked. He said something along the lines of "It's about a cannibal." Well, I was sold!

When most people think of this movie, they instantly think of Dr Hannibal 'The Cannibal' Lecter. I guess this is ok to a certain extent. He is played with such charismatic, terrifyingly unflinching acting by Hopkins so it's hard to not think of him. However, this is Clarice Starling's movie. Foster is in almost every scene of this movie, where as Hopkins only has limited (but effective) screentime.

The story goes like this... Clarice Starling is a trainee FBI agent with a passion for behavioural science. She is asked to run an 'interesting errand', to interview incarcerated psychiatrist Dr Hannibal Lecter, a serial killer with a taste for human flesh. The FBI are struggling to find another serial killer known as 'Buffalo Bill', who is skinning parts of the women he has killed. They are hoping Lecter will offer insight to the killer. Lecter offers cryptic clues to Clarice in exchange for sharing memories from her childhood. As another woman goes missing, Clarice only has a short time to solve the clues, and must share memories that she's kept inside for years.

The first scene shared by Hopkins and Foster is incredible, which is set in a dungeon like part of the mental hospital that is Lecter's permanent home. The chemistry between the two, the way it makes you feel part of the scene, the intellectual and spine tingling dialogue; it makes the scene so special and iconic. Clarice's confrontation with Bill is another great moment, the tension and fear oozes from the screen and puts you in Clarice's shoes. At this moment that is somewhere you really don't want to be. Finally; the great escape. The way in which Lecter becomes a free man once again is both ingenious and maniacal.

So there I was, 9 / 10 years old watching this scary movie about a cannibal with my dad. It gets to the end. Am I disappointed at the lack of cannibalism? No! I feel disturbed, exhilirated, and a part of me feels that i've watched something so special that i'll never forget it. Kudos to my father for letting his little boy watch something that a little boy really shouldn't watch.

Compared with todays gorno / OTT violent movies, Lambs may not look so bad. Actually the violence in this movie is very sparse, with a more suggestive approach which I find more effective than leaving absolutely fuck all to the imagination.

The Silence of the Lambs is a timeless classic, terrifying and psychological, and without a doubt the greatest 'Lecter' movie by far.

Original, inspiring, funny, sad, beautiful, incredible.

Tarantino's masterpiece that changed cinema forever! Ok, it might not have been made had it not been for the movies that he loves, but how many other movies wouldn't exist if this had not been made? Lots!! Love it!

If you haven't seen Alien yet, stop reading now and watch it, I demand that you do! I had another watch of this last night after a recent conversation about the Alien Quadrilogy. This is by far the best in the series for me. I love everything about it. The sense of solitude, the claustrobhobia, the simple dialogue. It's all about the atmosphere! Another thing I love is you can tell from the start that Ripley is a survivor. Considering there are only 2 women out of the 7 crew members of the Nostromo, Ripley proves that it's not just a mans world. The last 30 minutes are extremely intense and exhilirating. Ripleys frustration at Mother makes me shudder everytime.

Ripley - "Mother, i've turned the cooling units back on... MOTHER"

Mother - "Ship will automatically destruct in T minus 5 minutes"

Ripley - "YOOUU BITCH"

You really feel her fright at the end when the alien has managed to blend in brilliantly with the surroundings of the ship. She sings over and over to herself "you are my lucky star, you are my lucky star.." The HR Giger set designs are fascinating, as is the actual alien design with its phalic like head. I wonder if this has any deeper meaning?

This has to be one of my, if not my absolute favourite Disney movie. It's actually between this and Dumbo. It's not just the enchanting story and brilliant songs, but the animation is incredible. Disney do dark so well, and this is no acception. The ending will melt the coldest of hearts.

A genuinely terrifying masterpiece. The amount of effort that went into the making of this is incredible. It is said that it took no less than a year to make, and actress Shelley Duvall went through various stages of stress and illness due to the role of Wendy Torrance. It's proof that a movie does not need to have gore and cliche 'jump' scares to be terrifying. One of the finest movies ever made.

I think this possibly could be the very first slasher movie I watched, and it terrified the fuck out of me! No other part of the 'Nightmare' series has come close to bettering this in terms of scares. The acting is not great, but come on - It was the 80's! Freddy Krueger is the ultimate psycho in this movie. Terrifying to look at, deep sinister voice, original killing tool (the glove is ingenious). It's a shame that Krueger became more of a comedian in the latter movies. But this will always have a special place in my heart, for all the sleepless nights I had in the subsequent months of viewing this little terror of a movie. Thankyou Mr. Craven...

*Spoiler alert*

Who am I kidding? To leave this movie with such a plain and simple review for the sake of everyone else almost made me lose sleep. However I won't post it to all you guys on my friends list, because there's no need. I can see that almost everyone has either seen it and recommended it already, or has set it to 'Want to see'.



Dark by name, dark by nature... From the very start of The Dark Knight, the Batman logo emerging from electric blue flames to an almost silent score (it sent shivers down my spine) you know this is not gonna be like any ordinary cinema experience. The camera pans in towards a huge building with black windows, when one of them suddenly smashes. The adrenaline is already pumping as a group of men in clown masks start a bank heist. It is here that we first meet The Joker. As he toys with the bank managers life (we can see how maniacally twisted The Joker is from the start) he quotes "I feel that whatever doesn't kill you, only makes you... Stranger!" This is no ordinary criminal. He may look like a clown, but his motives are far from funny...



One of the major things that stands out in The Dark Knight is the realism. This is no ordinary comic book / Superhero movie. Afterall, Batman is a real man, he has no super-human powers. He has nerves of steel, but can still be injured and can still make mistakes. That goes for Gotham City too. It's just like any other ordinary city, and the fact that over 90% of the movie was shot on location in real cities shows. It feels like you're watching something factual, that this could really happen.



A warm introduction to the new characters, and in the naturally beautiful Maggie Gyllenhaal's case; new actress but same character, Rachel Dawes. The extremely handsome Aaron Eckhart plays the newly appointed DA Harvey "The White Knight" Dent. I was surprised to see Eric Roberts as a new crime boss, Salvatore Maroni. And of course Heath Ledger as The Joker.



This has to be the most gritty Batman movie yet, and with a 12A rating i'm surprised it got away with the high body count and the violence, even though most of it was suggested rather than seen. The Joker is evil to the core, and the fact that he has no fear makes him even more terrifying. Remorse is something he doesn't feel, and he will kill at will. Look out for the disappearing pencil act... Incredibly vicious yet darkly comical at the same time. There are moments when you will laugh along at The Joker's antics, afterall he is The Joker, yet most of his screen time is incredibly serious - It seems his name is supposed to be ironic? We never actually know how he got his Chelsea smile scars. He tells different stories to different characters. Part of me assumes he did it himself, that is how twisted he is!



Harvey Dent, The White Knight, is the saviour with a face that Gotham has needed. He is a hero, but not a vigilante. He is trusted by the good people of Gotham, including Bruce Wayne, Lt. Gordon, and is having a relationship with Rachel Dawes. It is common knowledge to fans of the Batman series that Dent eventually becomes Two Face. It is hinted throughout the movie. For one, he has a coin with a head on both sides that he keeps for luck. Also, during a speech he quotes "You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become a villain." Dent's change into Two Face is gruelling. The moments leading up to it are horrific, with Batman being given the most evil of choices by The Joker.



I was shocked by a lot of this movie. At first by the violence and high body count. But there are many developments in the story that shocked me too. You won't believe how dark this movie becomes until you see it for yourself.



It feels like I haven't mentioned enough about The Dark Knight himself. For me, the villains owned this movie. The ending surprised me though. It'll be interesting to see how the next movie follows on, and i'm excited about what villains lie in store for Batman. I just hope that Christopher Nolan returns. His vision is absolutley incredible, and it wouldn't be the same without him.



The Dark Knight deserves nothing less than 5 stars!

Hitchcock had this incredible talent of making the most mundane of scenes exciting and watchable. For example, in The Birds - The conversation in the pet store, the drive from San Francisco to Bodega Bay, the boat ride across the river.. It has an incredible feel to it. The scene where Melanie Daniels is smoking and one by one, birds land on the climbing frame - Chilling! Forget the dated special effects, The Birds is a brilliant classic

Surreal and beautiful. Carrey does serious so well. Amazing performances by all, and great Direction by Gondry.

Incredible!

A throwback to the 80's slasher movies, set the tone for many more to come. Some good, some bad, but none match this for it's mix of scares and the ability to poke a bit of fun out of the horror genre.

A-fuckin-mazing! As far as glossy superhero movies go, this is definately my favourite. It is so good on all levels, and I love the little horror tributes that Raimi throws in. Usually love stories bore me, but the love story here is perfect and I couldn't help but want PP and MJ to get together. Great villain, and some excellent action pieces - Especially the building climb with Aunt May!! Love it... Such a shame about Spiderman 3, but I will not let it ruin the first 2

For some reason this was listed as 'not interested'... Fuck that, this is a classic! Ok, the acting is pretty bad, but this is a terrifying movie. I love the fact that it's a slasher but there's hardly, if not any blood on screen. The music really makes it though, such a simple score but it really gets under your skin. The only movie in the franchise that's worth seeing..

Astounding cinematography, a beautiful movie.

The best Brat pack movie ever, watch it now!

This movie is incredible. I can't believe I waited so long to see it! The way it was shot is beautiful, using mostly dark imagery with hints of light. The story, although a scenario that has been done countless times before, remained original and the suspense high. The only reason I am giving this 4.5 stars and not 5 is because of Jude Law. I can't stand him, although his character is crucial to the story.

Possibly the most underated Tarantino flick, yet one of his best in my eyes. I saw this on opening day back in the 90's and I was blown away! It's unique in the fact that it was adapted from a novel, it's not an original idea by Tarantino. I'm intrigued as to how similar it is to Elmore Leonard's 'Rum Punch'. I love the way it all comes together in the mall, seen from 3 different view points.
The performances are amazing. I love Grier and Jackson, Forster plays it cool, De Niro keeps it simple and Fonda plays that annoying beach bunny to a T. Did she deserve her fate? I'm not sure about that, but you can sure feel De Niro's frustration in the mall car park!
Music plays a big part in all of Tarantino's flicks, and this is no acception. The first song you hear is Bobby Womack's '110th Street' and that certainly sets the tone. The soundtrack is incredible! I can't help but sing along with every track that's played. Minnie Ripperton, Randy Crawford, The Brothers Johnson... Motown / Soul at its best. Jackie Brown deserves to be more than the often overlooked movie it is.

Amazing! A stellar cast and gripping storyline. Violent, but not gratuitous in any way. Loved it!

Superb!!

Made me want to work in a record store, love it!

I just watched this again for the 30-something + time... It's trashy, sleazy, hideously bad-taste, hilarious and ultimately fucking brilliant!! Black comedy at its best! Waters is the trash king :D

A werewolf movie with a difference. I love its mix of horror, coming of age drama and dark humour.

As sweet a film as they come. Beautiful, Funny, Sad... A rollercoaster of emotions with a great soundtrack. Love it!

Stephen King adaptations can be very risque, but this one is spot on. It's one of the only movies to make me cry with every watch. Incredible!

Not many people know, but this is based on a short story by Stephen King. Powerful, moving and inspiring, a must see for everyone.

Some words that could be used to describe Lynch's masterpiece are:

Unconventional, surreal, intriguing, beautiful, terrifying, thrilling, mysterious, romantic, artistic, quirky, funny, sexy, psychotic, infuriating...

This is why I am in love with Mulholland Drive..

A very conventional movie as far as Cronenberg ones go, but this is his masterpiece! Gritty and thrilling, with the violence being more subliminal than I thought it would. Amazing!

I thought that after A History Of Violence, Cronenberg would struggle to better or even match what he accomplished. A History.. was superb, but so was Eastern Promises! The style was incredible, and I loved the very British feel. The Cronenberg / Mortensen teaming is a great one!

Set in London, Naomi Watts (an excellent performance and great British accent) is caught in the middle of a shocking revelation involving a dead girl's newborn baby and organised crime at the hands of a notorious Russian family. Viggo Mortensen (another amazing performance) is the family's 'driver' who is expected to take more onboard than the average driver would. The movie is full of thrilling and disturbing revelations, and I was gripped throughout! It has a fair bit of graphic violence as you'd expect from Cronenberg, but it's done in such a way that you will experience minimal squeem... Unless of course you really can't deal with violence! A big admiration has to go to Mortensen for the sauna fight scene. It was a very brave thing to do, you will see what I mean when you watch it. An ultimately brilliant movie that very almost matches A History.., which in my eyes is Cronenberg's masterpiece!

A genuinely terrifying movie, and you don't even see the Shark much until the end! Made me and many others scared of the ocean. This is a timeless classic. I don't care if the Shark looks a bit fake, it looks much better than the more recent Jaws: The Revenge... What a pile of shit that was!

15 years on and it still gets me everytime. When you see the T-Rex for the first time... Incredible! I'm reminded of sitting in the cinema with my jaw hitting the floor. The effects are actually better than some more recent movies. Jurassic Park will always have a place in my heart as the first movie that blew me away on the big screen.

Hard hitting, Spielberg can go from doing family movies to dramatic movies like this so well. Amazing!

One of my fav Disney movies. Beautiful, and really touches your heart. I love you Dumbo.

My favourite Disney / Pixar movie. It gets the balance of adult / child entertainment to a T. Spectacular!

Considering one of the main storylines in this ensemble piece is about a woman who has never experienced an orgasm, I can honestly say that this movie had real heart. It was incredible, and at some points I was close to tears. Maybe i've become de-sensitised to sex (and not from excessive porn watching) because the graphic sex scenes didn't shock me at all. It is full of great humour, you can't help but laugh at some of the sex scenes because although they are 'real', they are mainly done in a comical way. I admire the actors who bared all for this movie, and boy - they can act! I understand that this will not appeal to all because of the subject matter and the images on screen. Lets just say that heterosexual, homosexual and bisexual sex are fully covered, so that will instantly put the majority of people off, BUT... This is not pornography! It depicts real sex but you never once feel it's sleazy, and it's far from cliché. Keep an open mind and enjoy this beautifully touching, funny, controversial, creative indie flick.

The first was horror, this is all action! A great movie, and Weaver shows a Woman can play the tough guy!

Creepy sci-fi horror that's a little bit too clever for it's own good, but watchable

I walked into the cinema thinking I wasn't going to enjoy this as much as The Life Aquatic or The Royal Tenenbaums, but I was pleasently surprised and genuinely touched in places. Throughout the whole movie, I had a feeling of total relaxation. It is very subtle, and quirky as you'd expect from Anderson. Beautifully shot and acted... Wilson, Brody and Schwartzman are amazing. The preview movie, 'Hotel Chevalier' seemed a bit pointless, but did make me laugh with the 'view of Paris'... You'll know what I mean when you see it. Natalie Portman, Angelica Huston and Bill Murray have only very minor roles. Keep an open mind and you will enjoy The Darjeeling Limited for it's escapism. I will definately be viewing again soon!

Some of the most original shots ever to grace the silver screen. Imagery so beautiful it could kill... San Fran's golden gate bridge anyone? Maybe this was Woody Allen's inspiration for the classic poster shot from Manhattan? This has to be one of cinemas greatest romantic mysteries. A timeless classic that leaves me with goosebumps everytime