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Three Great Movie Sites

The Internet Movie Database
Rotten Tomatoes
Roger Ebert

My Top Ten Movies

1. Vertigo
Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece is probably his greatest and most misunderstood film. It is about a man (Scottie, played by James Stewart) who goes on emotional journey as he falls in love with a mysterious woman. Unfortunately, the critics trashed it, and audiences were left baffled. Left unseen for many years, upon it's rerelease it has since regained its status as one of the greatest achievements in cinema. When I saw it when I was about 12 or 13 I had no idea what was going on. But as I actually watched it a few more times I came to see what depth and power the film has. Though I cherish many Hitchcock films (Lifeboat, Rope, North By Northwest, Psycho) this is one that I can watch and still be entranced by the images.

2. The Wizard Of Oz
L. Frank Baum's timeless fantasy that follows the adventures of Dorothy and her companions on her journey to get back home. A movie that I continue to watch and be moved by, even at my age. I don't care what others might say: This is one of the greatest movies ever. On the surface, it's just a simple kiddie film. Beneath that lies the ingredients to what makes all movies fun and interesting: A fantastic story, believable acting, special effects, surreal scenery and costumes, suspense, and wonderful songs. I can't put my finger on what exactly the film means to me. It is probably the fact that the movie is what I think is the purest distillation of cinema, or the germ that gave me the filmmaking bug, way back when I was two years old.

3. Star Wars
Roger Ebert claims that every few decades, a film comes along which synthesizes every technique learned up to that point. In 1915, it was Birth of a Nation with it's use of clever editing and montages. In 1941, it was Citizen Kane which blended camera tricks, new special effects, and a non-linear story. In 1977, Star Wars combined cutting-edge optical effects, space opera, and a fast-paced story. This is where the movies and filmmakers of today originate from, as far as I'm concerned. With George Lucas' amazing blend of adventure, romance, mysticism, and sci-fi thrills, he launched the movie industry into what some call the "Blockbuster" mentality. At first glance just a simple story of good vs. evil, it's message is far more complex to take in. An entire generation has been affected by the film, which not many films you can say that about. I can always remember that dreary morning after Christmas when I sat and watched the whole trilogy non stop and was hooked instantly.

4. The Godfather Trilogy
Written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola with brilliant acting by all the leads, this film cycle chronicles the rise and fall of an Italian-immigrant's family into the world of crime. The audience isn't asked to pass judgement on what they do, they are invited to observe and become emmersed into the world of the characters and into the layers of detail and continuity. I never watch just one part of the film, treating the three films as one continous movie. Even though many disown the third film, I think it is a great epilogue to the original.

5. Raiders Of The Lost Ark
The action-adventure film to end all action-adventure films. George Lucas' story combined with Steven Spielberg's inspired directing make this one not to be missed. In classic "serial"-like storytelling the film tells of the journey of Indiana Jones' journey to find, you guessed it, the Ark of the Covenant. Harrison Ford's nuiansed performaceOne of those that you wish could just go on and on. Followed by two sequels and a TV series prequel.

6. Pulp Fiction
I could pick any Tarantino movie but I have to pick this one, as it was really the first film that I ever saw of his. I love his way of taking over-familiar genres and cliches and blending that with his own irreverent take on life. Almost like a pop-culture blender. Scene after scene is filled with witty dialogue, mostly inconsequential to the plot, that mirrors the way that actual real life is.

7. Almost Famous
Cameron Crowe's genius semi-autobiographical story of his days on the road as a rock journalist. Another gem that creates a mood of what it was like in the early 70s rock scene. And of that, it is very realistic. The music is kickin', the visuals are incredible, and the acting is brilliant. Check out Crowe's Directors cut, which restores almost 40 minutes back into the movie. Highly recommended for anyone's film collection.

8. Gone With The Wind
Directed by Victor Fleming with wonderful performaces by all the leads, this epic of the south's fall an. A very cliched choice, but the film is so breathtaking and epic in every sense of the word. Wonderful writing, music, and acting make it a movie not to be forgotten. The thing that keeps me interested throughout is Gable's performance as Rhett Butler: Charming and harsh,

9. Saving Private Ryan
A modern day masterpiece that is probably the greatest war film of all time. The first thirty minutes, which consists of the Omaha Beach invasion, are the possibly most graphic yet most thrilling thirty minutes of all time. Spielberg once again reinvents what a movie can do to an audience. After seeing this movie most war movies seem tame and can never capture the spirit of brotherhood, heroism, and the hell of war.

10. American Graffiti
This movie documents George Lucas' teenage world of late 50s-early-60s dating rituals: Cruising, freshman hops, drive-in burger joints, and wall-to-wall music. Great story with use of the then unique way of weaving together several plotlines into one story! Believable performances by Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Cindy Williams, and Charles Martin Smith make the story all the more credible. Followed by a mediocre sequel.

Honorable Mentions
The Matrix
Singin' In The Rain
The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
The Shawshank Redemption
Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2

My Top Ten Favorite Comedies

1. Young Frankenstein
Near perfect spoof of old Frankenstein movies concieved by Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder. Dr. Fronk-en-Steen is summoned to Transylvania by his grandfather's will, and just happens to get seduced by the idea of creating another monster... with the usual mishaps going wrong. Hilarious gags and one-liners delivered by the perfect comedy cast. The jokes never seem to get old, one of things that make it perfect. Highlight gags include the lecture by the doctor, Eye-gor's introduction, and the creature meeting the blind man.

2. Annie Hall
Woody Allen's Oscar-winning breakthrough is still one as hilarious as it was almost thirty years ago. It depicts Allen's romance with the title character through an ingenius use of several types of filmmaking, even animation, to tell the story. Great moments include the cocaine sneeze, Alvy and Annie's first drink together, and the trip to Hollywood.

3. The Odd Couple
Based on Neil Simon's play, this gut-buster stars Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau as Felix Unger and Oscar Madison, friends who move in together after Felix's wife kicks him out. Felix is a compulsive cleaner with allergies and Oscar is a slob who has no ability to save money. Film shows how they cope with each other in hilarious fashion. Highlights include the opening poker game, Felix's allergy attack, and Oscar declaring his hatred of Felix's habits.

4. Blazing Saddles
Mel Brooks' second best movie is just a hilarious parody of all aspects of Hollywood westerns. It centers around the adventures of a black sheriff who is appointed by the governor because of a land-snatching plot made by one of his aides. Has some of the funniest gags ever committed to film. Favorite highlights include the opening scene with the rail workers, the introduction of the Waco Kid, the campfire scene, and the climactic battle that spills out of the town and into Hollywood itself.

5. This Is Spinal Tap
Rob Reiner's near-perfect parody of 70s and 80s hard rock bands is filled with also on-the-mark jokes about almost anything that can befall a rock band. Being lost backstage, not being able to get out of stage props, no one showing up for record signing. All of these are highlighted in such a fashion as to be both sympathetic towards the band but also highlights their stupidity. Other great moments include band visiting the grave of Elvis, Nijel displaying his guitar and amplifier collection, and the band playing Stonehedge.

6. Arsenic And Old Lace
Frank Capra's insanely directed adaptation of the play stars Cary Grant as a drama critic who on his wedding day discovers his two sweet old aunts are murderers. Film is more macabre and looney than horrific. John Alexander is a must-see in his role as Grant's brother who thinks he is Teddy Roosevelt. Peter Lorre and Raymond Massey are creepy as two murderers with connections to both Grant and his aunts. Inspired lunacy at it's best.

7. When Harry Met Sally...
The best 80s-90s romantic comedy that hits the nail on the head on the way that relationships really work. Billy Crystal's Harry is the perfect leading man: flawed but charming, somber by funny. Meg Ryan's Sally perfectly matches him in her sort of eccentric yet sweet and hilarious role. Witty dialogue reflects the way that mean and women really feel about each other. The highlight moment for me is what I consider the most romantic scene in all of film: A depressed Harry slowly starts running to where Sally is.

8. It Happened One Night
The blueprint for all screwball comedies, this loveable Capra movie hasn't aged a day since it was first released and still is charming, brilliant, and heartwarming. Claudette Colbert plays a spoiled rich girl who runs away from her menacing father to marry an aviator. Clark Gable plays a newspaper journalist who crosses her path and travels with her, slowly setting her straight. Slowly but surely they fall for each other but other circumstances come into play to try and snatch her away. Great moments include the long bus ride, the "Walls of Jericho" scene, and the classic hitchhiking scene. Great entertainment, even if it is over 70 years old.

9. Animal House
One of the greatest movies about college life, and certainly the funniest. Director John Landis and the cast spared nothing in trying to make the movie as hilarious as possible. Great characters like Otter, Bluto, Flounder, and D-Day. Boy, if college life was really like this! Perfect moments include the drunken sing-along, the date out of town, and the climactic parade.

10. The Birdcage
Anchored by great comedic performances by Robin Williams and Nathan Lane, this hilarious farce about gays is funny from start to finish. Though the characters are flamboyant and a tad stereotypical you have to love this movie. Whether you agree with the life style or not, it's sure hilarious to watch.

Honorable Mentions
Wayne's World
Moonstruck
Duck Soup
Monty Python and The Holy Grail

Coming Soon - Top Five Movie Musicals and Top Five Most Underrated Movies

Favorite Film Directors

Stanley Kubrick

Films Include: Paths of Glory, Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, Eyes Wide Shut

One of the most visionary directors ever whose films, while extremely sophisticated for the average movie watcher, can appeal to a person on many levels. He created a new way to look at cinema through his use of editing, lighting, camera movement, music, and script writing. All of his films are worth repeated viewings. Each film that he made built upon a theme or idea from his previous work, which brings most of his output to be linked in a theoretical way. Now if you look at his work from a newcomer's point of view you might see someone that lacks thematic consistency (Someone who doesn't stick to one theme or tone of work). But if you go below the surface, you can see a way that his work is very similar. Only the genius of Kubrick could tie together film plots that range from a nuclear destruction comedy to an 18th century melodrama, or an evolutionary space adventure to a psychological examination of Vietnam soldiers. All done in less than forty years!

If you are to watch Kubrick's films, I would watch them in a particular order. You will probably get the best introduction to the world of Kubrickian filmmaking with Dr. Stangelove, 2001, and A Clockwork Orange. Those films basically illustrate all of his trademarks and the signature themes of his work. Then move onto the more stylistic films of Paths of Glory, Barry Lyndon, and Eyes Wide Shut. Then, for extra insight, watch The Shining, Lolita, and Full Metal Jacket.


Trademarks and Key Themes:
Creation / Destruction of Mankind
Dark Side Of Humanity
Breakdown of Technology
War
Closeups
Adapting Books to Film
Zooms In and Out
Three-way Conflicts
Classical Film Score

Alfred Hitchcock

Film Highlights Include: The Lodger, Blackmail, Lifeboat, Rebecca, Saboteur, Notorious, Rope, Strangers On A Train, Dial M For Murder, Rear Window, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Vertigo, North By Northwest, Psycho, The Birds, Torn Curtain, Family Plot

Everything you hear about Hitchcock is true, he was the master of suspense. His films are really something else. When I was younger, I was not always interested in viewing older movies with people I did not recognize or without color. But I remember always being hooked into seeing a Hitchcock film like Rear Window, The Birds, or Lifeboat. A master of his craft, he churned out critically and commercially successful movies the majority of his life, basically changing the way we think about movies. For a great overview of his entire body of work pick up the book Hitchcock by the noted French director Francois Truffuat.

If you think about it, he broke new ground and was an innovator in many ways. Many of his films have a unique approach or effect that actually works to serve the plot rather than to be a Wow! effect that serves no purpose. Some of my favorite examples:

Lifeboat - Almost the entire film takes place on one tiny set, duh, a lifeboat, which was the smallest set ever used in film history.

Spellbound - One of the first mainstream films to deal with psychoanalysis. Has an amazing dream sequence created by Salvador Dali.

Rope - One of my favorites of his, it is probably his most experimental. The whole film takes place in real time and is a series of about eight to ten minute takes, with the scenery of the outside world actually changing as time goes on, with no fade outs into the next scene.

Dial M For Murder - Filmed in 3-D, which explains the way desks, lamps, and other low angle objects are put in front of the actors.

Rear Window - The one set was probably the most complex ever built, because it is basically an actual apartment complex, with actual working water and artificial sunlight.

Vertigo - His crowning achievement, he developed the famous forward zoom and reverse tracking shot to simulate a feeling of vertigo and the music has a swirling effect in your mind, but that's just a few of the great things he pulled off for this one.

Psycho - Still one of the most terrifying movies of all time that is still as important today as it was then. It was actually required for the audience to be on time to see the picture from start to finish. The benchmark thriller.

Trademarks and Key Themes:
"Wrong Man" or "Mistaken Identity"
Cameos or Appearances in Most
Scenes in a Bathroom
Close-ups of Women's Hair
Extreme Closeups
Suave Villians
Blonde Female Leads

A cool graphic which mixes the titles of Alfred Hitchcock movies.

They are (From Left To Right, Top To Bottom):

Strangers On A Train, To Catch A Thief, Psycho, The Trouble With Harry, Rope, The Birds, Frenzy, Marnie, Shadow Of A Doubt, Vertigo, Rebecca, North By Northwest, Dial M For Murder, and Notorious

Steven Spielberg

Film Highlights Include: Duel, Jaws, Close Encounters of The Third Kind, Indiana Jones Trilogy, E.T., The Color Purple, Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, A.I., Minority Report, Catch Me If You Can, The Terminal, The War Of The Worlds

Another fantastic filmmaker who probably will go down as the greatest and definitely the most successful of all time. His films always seem to be what I like to call on the pulse of the nation's filmgoing habits. Like Hitchcock, he has made impressive commercial films that also advance the medium of film. By just looking at his film list you can tell how brilliant he his, from the terror that is Jaws to the wonder of Jurassic Park, to the glory of Saving Private Ryan and the comedy of Catch Me If You Can. Many of his movies I have grown up with and will continually enjoy for a long time to come. Trademarks or Key Themes:
Music by John Williams
Shooting Stars
Often Has Fathers as Reluctant, Absent, or Irresponsible
Children in Danger
References to World War 2
Ordinary People in Extraordinary Circumstances