My Favorite Movies

All I can say about this film is that it should be viewed by everyone.

This is why films exist. Stories like that of George Valentin and Peppy Miller. This callback to the 1920s brings with that era all the magic and savvy it's known for. Combining this with the crispness and architecture of modern film making, Michel Hazanavicius' The Artist is a must see film for anyone. Here we have a case in which trying to find any flaw present is simply reduced to nitpicking and hair splitting. This. Movie. Is. Perfect. Conceptually. Tonally. Actually. Jean Dujardin shines as the lead, perhaps ripped right from the period the film is set. If there's any discernible difference between his Valentin and actors of the day I couldn't see it. Berenice Bejo is elegant and funny and every other positive word I can't commit to this review right now. It's been a long long while since a film got me this invested in it and I knew I'd be in for a treat from the very beginning, when the aspect ratio didn't take up the entire widescreen. Just like in the 20s.

What a masterpiece! There isn't enough positive words for a film like this. It's intelligent, funny, and tragic all at the same time. Clint Eastwood should tie up the entire award season with this. What is key here is the storytelling. Walt Kowalski is a fully realized character through and through, the driving force of the entire film. He brings the supporting cast to his level rather than going down himself. The cinematography is great, even when I broke away for a bit and came back I was still sucked into it. I was laughing and mourning for this movie, a rare feat for any film. I'll remember this when I say that the modern movie doesn't cut it anymore. I'm so glad to be proven wrong. With the right stuff, today's films can be ranked up there with the classics. Thanks, Clint Eastwood.

Genious adaptation of the vague Clue storyline. I love how much they pulled from the simple setup. I hold this film as the epitome of quick witted comedy. It's the funniest film I've ever seen. Took me a few consecutive viewings to get all the jokes, and I bet I'm still missing some. The entire cast is great, even the small parts, but Tim Curry steals the show (he always does). Why can't there be more comedies like this?

Tarantino's best work. This is writing at it's best. All the characters are unique, fully realized thanks to the combined efforts of Tarantino and his remarkable cast. Parts are sharply funny and others garishly dark and nothing feels out of place. I tend to appreciate movies that can summon up a range of emotions rather than just one or two. What I can't get over is how memorable every damn line in this movie is. The cadence, the inflection, the dialouge itself. It's all come together in a fantastically told story about a botched jewel heist. In the crime genre, the top dog is easily Reservoir Dogs.

The ensemble cast compliments the style director Beatty brought from the strip. It's really interesting how this movie works as the end of a trilogy of stories (told in comic book form). Beatty had a great deal of material they could have adapted, but decided to begin with the end. At any rate, it's an underrated film that deserves a second chance at greatness.

Best monster movie ever? Yeah.

Perfect down to the most subtle components. Never did it betray its source material and in this day and age that is a true feat. The film is also a good example of an appropriate use of CG effects mixed with make up effects. Neither overshadows the other. Overall this is a gloriously gritty translation of Frank Miller's art.

Jason Voorhees' single greatest romp through Crystal Lake. He's finally undead (thanks, Tommy) and ready to kick totall ass. It's very rare that a sequel trumps the original, but in case you ever need an example, look to this one.

The single greatest giant anything movie! It mixes realistic effects with kooky anamatronics in such a way that just can't be done nowadays. A true classic.

Bruce Campbell is great as always.

I have so much praise for this film...I'm gonna need a bigger text box.

Ronny Yu does a satisifying job bringing two horror legends together. Ken Kirzinger does not do well as Jason though. Where's Kane Hodder?

Bob Hoskins' defining role.

Weaver prooves women can kick alien ass, too. In fact, I'm lead to believe that men suck when they're called on to handle any alien related situation.

Greatest make up effects I've ever seen (excluding Tom Savini's work).

A billiant script interpreted flawessly by Clooney.

I simply do not know where to begin. This movie is immortal, plain and simple. Don Siegel and Clint Eastwood are at their A game. The whole running time they had a twinkle in their eye and a smirk on their face. They knew with complete metaphysical certitude that Dirty Harry was a winner. If they didn't they should have. This is not a movie that emphasises plot because it really doesn't have to. Things happen like they way they should. It never feels "hollywooded up" if you will. Instead, Siegel relies on the abiities of his actors and cinematographers to craft a loose cannon cop on the edge story. Any criticisms of cliche material are unfounded. I hold that this movie invented that whole damn genre, or atleast revolutionized it. What's even more impressive is the tid bits of social commentary you can choose to listen to. Uh, that's so hard to do, too. Being subtle about a statement in a movie. It's either in your face or half assed. Not so here. Dirty Harry is, and forever will remain, a classic. It even includes one of my favorite lines in all of cinema. "Well, I'm all broken up about that man's rights."

Upon seeing this words are pretty much useless in describing how marvelous a tale is crafted here. It's witty, tragic and funny. From the very beginning you feel for these characters because so many of our insecurites and equalities are reflected through them. I see now how irrevocably important it is to identify with the people were watching. Mary and Max will forever live in my thoughts as one of the greatest animations ever made. Even from just the cinephile standpoint, one must stand back in awe of every shot. The way it's set up, narrated, colored, scored. It's absolutely flawless. Max's voice is provided by none other than Philip Seymour Hoffman. I've always liked him but this solidifies him as one of the best actors of our generation and feel priviledged to have seen his rise to fame. His portrayal of Max Horowitz brings this all together. He has such a natural warmth to the dialouge, a realism of true benality that resonates with us all. If you choose to let it wash over you, Mary and Max is a touching human story fit for the most picky cinephile.

Agatha Christie's best book makes for a great film.

Go watch this movie. It's got a death curse!

Here we see difinitive Ash in all his gore-hound glory.

Bub and Capt. Rhodes make Day a great watch. I've always considered this to be Romero's greatest triumph in his zombie series. These over the top characters are fun and engaging. If the viewer is willing to extend their suspension of reality to accomodate for them this movie becomes near perfect. Some of the greatest make up work I've ever seen, too. Everything in Dr. Frankenstein's lab was done remarkably well, with enough juciness to make even the most jaded horror fan cringe. Perhapse that's what some saw as the film's major flaw. It wasn't scary. I hold that it never really was meant to be. It's actually quite funny, but has enough apocalypse and destruction to make you think about what you would do in an outbreak. That's its greatest achievment, though, the dialouge. There's enough quotable one-liners to have hours of fun with later. This movie is running this monkey farm now!

Sam Raimi explodes onto the scene with an ultimate classic gore fest!

I am baffled why fans of Indiana Jones are so harsh towards this movie. What is so damn different from the others? This is, infact, my favorite of the four. That mine cart chase may be one of the greatest action scenes in cinema. Thinking about the scale of this film really gets me. The action never actually stops. Pacing is flawless. We're taken from a fancy diner to a indian jungle without missing a beat. So what if Kate Capshaw was annoying as hell? She's not suppose to be focused on anyway, and I'm of the opinion she provided some pretty good comic relief. Of course, the heart of this movie is in the action. Indiana Jones vs. Mola Ram on the bridge? Epic stuff. Like I said, I don't know why this one is looked down on in comparison to the others. This is Indy at his prime.

If adventure has a name...it must be Indiana Jones!

The most hilarious movie of all time.

Romero's direction and Ken Foree's action are flawless! The cold start of this film sucks the viewer into Romero's world and never lets go until the credits roll. There are some pacing issues, but that is a minor issue compared to how awesome the rest of the movie is.

Bill Murray's deadpan style drives this film all the way.

You leave the movie experience feelings intelligent. Regardless if you agree with the film's message (which can be interpreted accurately several different ways) it manages to fall back on how damn funny it is.

Peter Falk and Peter Sellers compliment a brilliant script.

Yet another marvelous film from Clint Eastwood. The man knows how to tell a story and, more remarkably, from all points of view. In front and behind the camera he just knows what to do. It's astounding. He can craft a comedic excange between likable characters and then take you down to this intense showdown that has your heart racing. The cast, the cast. What can't I say about the cast? I guess I can't say they were terrible. Impressive work from all sides. Even with all that said the thing that brings it all together is how classic the story is. How it sets up the drama that unfolds just how you want it to, with characters just like they should be. Truly exceptional work.

This is one of them rare, timeless classics that, before you see it, you hear dubious ammounts of praise and hype. Well, without a doubt, this film lives up to all that hype. It unashamedly deserves every last bit of its massive fanbase, memorabelia, vidja games, and copycats. See, what makes it so great is, like any epic movie, it delivers what it promises. That promise is Al Pacino as Tony "Scarface" Montana. The man lives his life for us on camera without waivering or faltering in any way, shape, or form. I'm glad De Palma directed this instead of Stone. Oliver's got some talent at the writing desk, no question, but when he directs he ends up usually making mistakes with pacing and the like. Brian is a guy that, from what I've seen, always has his shit together. There's no denying the cultural impact of this movie. I betcha everyone in the free fuckin' world knows a guy who's got the movie poster or some parody of it plastered on something, a t-shirt, a notebook, a lighter, anything. This is what the cinephiles call definative movie making, and they don't come more highly recommended.

This movie is so much more than a romantic comedy. It is the apex of physical comedy. The whistle gag had me laughing so hard I cried. The dramatic scenes are also done to perfection, so it's not a string of skits put together in movie format. It is a truly realized masterpiece.

I would go so far as to call this a work of art. It may be painful to look at and twisted to enjoy it, but by definition it is art. Leatherface is completely realistic. He doesn't have any rediculous backstory because he doesn't need it. I was surprised I was gravitating toward this movie's cannon fodder almost more than the Sawyer family. Buncha freaks. The characters are likable, all of them, and I don't think anybody hammed it up. Each set up is done fantastically. I never saw it coming, though I really should have. There's a reason this film has endured. The only thing that feels dated is the fashion.

Clever B-Movie-esque film that knows not to take itself seriously.

Fantastic example of exploitation films. If you didn't see it in theaters (or don't live in America) you simply missed out on the greatest modern day film going experience. How movies should be made!

What a concept. Kids vs. the old universal studios monsters. This is yet another chassic they've created.

Definitive B-Movie horror in A-Movie quality!

A film that oozes style and substance. The writing is brilliant. Diehard fans of the manga and newcomers to the story alike will find this version of the story on par, if not superior, with the others, As far as I can tell, the acting is spot on. Each character is literally and truly realized in live action. Ryuk looks great, to top it off. One of my favorite films.

Everything you'd want in an action film.

Bronson triumphs, shooting everyone in his way.

Simply the greatest animated movie ever made.

John Carpenter single handedly starts the slasher craze later in the 80's.

It's difficult to find an entire cast so packed with talent and chemistry.

Romance done right.

Tom Cruise's only good movie, only because Tim Curry is there to save him.

Phenominal modern day noir. Cheers for Bob Hoskins.

DAMN!

Disney's single greatest movie.

I don't care what you say, it was awesome.

A fantasticly crude gorefest! Jeffrey Combs simply nails the part of Herbert West. For a horror movie, the story had a lot going for it. It was unique in that West is the villain of this story but doesn't end up being the main antagonist. They don't get much better than this.

Easily one of the funniest movies I've had the pleasure of seeing. Such an intense subject matter handled with crassness and humor. It's great to see these kind of films post-Columbine and laugh at how ineffably accurate it was. All that aside, the cast is brimming with enjoyable performances. I've always liked Winona Ryder and I'd consider this her best work. Each quirk in the movie makes it unique and enjoyable, and I saw nothing that brought me out of the story. People may have their brat pack movies to hold onto, but this was the real brat pack. Satire in pristine form.

A marvelous film that takes a look at how far the execs will go for ratings, truly shocking in its final act. I wonder if they handed oscars out to the entire cast, they sure earned them. I love the messages it confronts and the themes it purveyes. Not many movies have that and maintain their pure entertainment value. It is also an exhibition of some of the most well written dialouge I've ever heard. Oh, and that "Mad as hell scene"? I believe I can safely say that it is one of the best scenes in all of cinema.

Charile Chaplin's first talkie belongs on everyone's favorite movie list.

I've never been much of a Ron Howard fan, but this film might change that. This is a film executed with pitch perfect precision. No scene is overplayed, no actor is out of place. Granted, both Langella and Sheen have had years with their respective characters. It really does show. Langella acts his ass off as Nixon. You believe every word he says, and hopefully he'll be recognized for his efforts in this movie. Some may say that it's slow getting into it but to really expect a movie of this calibur to move along quickly would be silly. You'll be missing out if you let Frost/Nixon pass you by.

Fantastic action movie with a style all its own.

The old addage "sequels will never ruin the original" doesn't hold true here. While I can still see how great it is, the subsequent Saw films take away the power Jigsaw has. This horror film has a moral to it and it doesn't tell it through haplessly slaughering teens who drink. When you get down to it, this film is great. Any naysayers clearly miss the point or get wrapped up in the copycat films made after it (which don't have a point). Tobin Bell triumphs as Jigsaw in a brilliant mind game.

It seems that every anime movie ever made is expected to be an action masterpiece. What Ghost in the Shell lacks in excitement it makes up for in story. Oh it's very convoluted and marred with psychadelic philosophy that may go over most people's heads. The beauty of it is that it must've been intended to be that way. They weren't gonna dumb it down to any extent and tried as hard as they could to jam all the manga story they could into an hour in a half. Certainly no small task, and it was accomplished to a degree of success. If something worth watching again more or less requires watching it again I see no issue there. This is beautifully animated and beautifully told. What little action there is is worthy of note. It just doesn't get any more cyberpunk than this.

Good god. A remarkable and groundbreaking thriller. What else could you expect from Alan Arkin and Audrey Hepburn though? The beginning is a little confusing but after the ball gets rolling the whole things damn near flawless. Nary a beat is missed. What this film gets more than perhaps any other is the art of the "set-up". The audience is left entranced by the cast's wonderful performances, batting well written dialouge back and forth. Each scene builds on the last as things are slowly revealed to be more than they appear. Plus, all those scenes with Alan Arkin just standing around silently. Damn creepy. This simply wouldn't have worked without Audrey Hepburn. Her poor blind woman turned strong willed blind woman was amazing. It all culminates in a true movie climax, one that makes it seem like the rest of the movie stood still. This is an absolute thriller, one not to be missed.

A great follow up to a great movie. The story comes to aatisfying conclusion and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Misa is a cool character and welcome edition to the core cast. Some fans may be put off at it's condenced version of the anime, but it's not much difference than our short versions of Iron Man or Spider-Man.

A good follow up to Reservoir Dogs. Bruce Willis steals the show.

A movie that created a horror icon. NOBODY will replace Robert Englund!

An engaging and spectacular story. Moon will have you thoroughly invested in what's going on. From the skillful acting of Sam Rockwell to the plain emotion on GERTY's screen, this is high class stuff. I was extremely impressed with the attention to detail, the beautiful moon surface, and the working ideas. Somehow, Duncan Jones' directorial debut has slipped under everybody's radar. No best oscar nommination? What a shame. 2009 had quite a few gems in it and this may b e the biggest of them all. Moon may be a bit "out there", if you'll forgive the pun, for some viewers but it's not impossible to wrap your head around. Rockwell gets under your skin with a powerful performance opposite Kevin Spacey's tender, yet distant, voice. This is perhapse the king of one-man shows. I find it remarkable that he can support the whole damn thing pretty much by himself. This is not cheesy sci-fi crap. This is inventive, engaging, and beautiful. I have to take a moment to applaud the amazing score by Clint Mansell. The theme will stick with you for a while.

A big budget B-Movie? They don't get better than this. Elfman's theme is great.

Keaton and Ryder make an excellent team.

Forest Whitaker earns his award for best actor.

Tim Burton's best movie and it isn't even his. Sure it's in the title, but Henry Selick is workin' some serious magic as the director. The music pieces are fantastic, Danny Elfman is working overtime composing them and occasionally singing them (I wonder if Chris Sarandon tried singing before Elfman). The animation is nothing short of breathtaking. I've been a sucker for claymation for as long as I remember and this is done to the nth degree. Not a pumpkin out of place. The worst part of this movie is deciding weather to watch it for Halloween or Christmas. I gave up a long time ago, and now it's my favorite thanksgiving movie.

Simply a slice of fried gold.

Damn good vampire movie. Maybe the best I've seen. The concept alone earns those 4 stars. George Clooney, Tom Savini and Harvey Keitel vs. hundreds of vampires. Is there a movie genre Clooney can't do? I think not. Tarantino's screenplay treatment is amazing. He just works so well with Robert Rodriguez. Speaking of that director, he just seems to be able to work well with every actor in hollywood and on a large scale. I love the cast. I love the creatures. I love the set. They even threw in a Graeme Revell score for brownie points. A staple in any horror aficionado's collection.

Simply fantastic film. Kevin Spacey is one of the best actors of our time and he proves it with this character. Funny, suspenseful, dramatic, all kinds of genres are incorporated into this single flick. They don't come much better than this. Oh, would you please pass the asparagus?

Best fight scene ever.

Anthony Hopkins has an inablitiy to be a bad actor. Everything he does is just brilliant. Baldwin, while not as flawless, does carry his weight in this one. The Edge is perhapse the best survival-type movie ever made.

Tim Burton's directorial debut is perhaps his best. Paul Reubens has created a timeless character with a remarkable adventure to go with it. A hilarious journey all to get back a very special bike. I love the cast of supporting characters Herman meets on his long journey. There is never a down time or slow part of the film. It's always quick, sharp, and very funny. I know you are but what am I?

WHAT?!

In a deep, dark pit of mucky remakes and "reboots" shines the bright light of Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon's The Cabin in the Woods. A triumph of horror harkening back to what I would affectionately refer to as "the good 'ol days". This, of course, is not scary. The age of actual horror is long gone. This is a wonderfully comic and polished romp through horror cliches. Some say it's been done before and will hold onto Scream and its sequels (which I love, as well) but what I love about this is that it goes out of its way to explain the why of a horror film. I can't go into much detail without spoiling all the surprises. In summation what I can say is this is definitively a thrillride, which I hardly ever use to describe any film.

Quite possibly the best super hero movie ever made. Doc Ock is a great villain.

A fantastically crafted history lesson. I'm into this era of history and was always a fan of Edward R. Murrow's work. I believe this to be an accurate portrayal of the McArthy incident and an entertaining one at that. David Strathairn should have gotten that oscar, he acted his ass off. George Clooney does a fine job bothin infront and behind the camera. He works best when he has total control of a scene (or he's in a Coen bros. film). Comes highly reccomended to noir fans as well. This is the movie Bogie would have starred in if he were alive today.

The graphic novel version of this groundbreaking story is quite frankly unfilmable. The complexities of Dr. Manhattan, details of conversations, all exceedingly hard to commit to film. Yet, Zack Snyder, that summbitch, managed to get very close. It's as close as anyone could ever hope to get to the source material. A painstaking attention to detail has been paid in hopes of pleasing its core fanbase, which I commend heavily. What I don't get is how they can justify being exactly accurate in some areas and cut corners in others. Subplots had to be removed, dialouges shortened, and characters unexplored. I don't know weather to criticize or praise. Each character left me wanting more, and after investing 2 and a half hours, I was fully prepared to sit another 2 or 3 to take it all in. Really, it could have been a little longer, it's theatrical cut feels incomplete. Maybe only because it must be ready for mass consumption by the movie going public, and even then, this might be a bitter pill to swallow for the nonreader.

A triumph of classic cinema. Claude Rains has such intensity on screen even when he's not! The script is pretty damn close to the source material which I respect. Cast is top notch, save for that dreadful Una O'Connor and her shrill at the beginning of the movie. Jack Griffin is so delightfully mad. I don't know weather to laugh or cringe at his mannerisms. This is truly fantastic science fiction adapted from the master himself. It does the novel justice.

Greatest holiday film ever made. It deserves a "major award!"