Al's Top 100 Most Favorite Movies Part 3

Part 1, Films 100 - 81
Part 2, Films 80 - 61

60:  Avatar

Sure, it’s a rip-off of Dances with Wolves, Pocahontas, The Last Samurai, Princess Mononoke, and perhaps a jillion other stories. But, you know, if I let this type of thing get in the way, my #2 favorite movie of all time would have to be ranked way further down. Where Avatar lacks in originality, it makes up for tremendously with its fantastic visuals, its epic action scenes, and its immersive world. With state-of-the-art CGI technology, the film brings the world of Pandora to vivid life, so full of color, variety, imagination, and depth. Even though the story comes off as formulaic, it does present a timeless story with a cast of likable characters. It carries some strong (if not somewhat pushy) themes concerning the environment. Ultimately, the film offers everything I enjoy: the seamless combination of spectacle and storytelling.

On disc, there is an extended version of the film available, which offers a very cool and insightful alternate opening sequence. It comes recommended.

Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Good | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
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59:  The Shining

Stanley Kubrick never did believe in the supernatural, so his adaptation of Stephen King’s novel is not quite perfect (they made a Shining miniseries that follows the book more closely, but it is rather cheesy). If its one thing Kubrick did right, it was in capturing the perfect atmosphere, tone, and visuals to make this film a creepy and intense experience. Even though the film focuses so much on Jack Torrance going nuts, it is still a solid and gripping story with strong characters. For its style and visual acuity, the film remains one of the creepiest I’ve seen, and still stands as one of my top favorite horror films.

On Blu-Ray, the film runs for about two-and-a-half hours long, seamlessly incorporating a number of new scenes and dialogue. It comes recommended.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
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58:  Planet of the Apes

The premise of this film may seem ridiculous, but it is a brilliantly-crafted piece of science fiction. It is a strange tale about a planet where everything is backwards: apes are the sentient species and people are dumb. It is a thrilling experience to watch the main character struggle against this simian captors, and ultimately fight for his freedom (in a manner that could parallel the civil rights issues of the 60s). Even though the apes’ makeup effects haven’t aged well (at least when compared to the (rather dull) 2001 remake, or the latest Rise of the Planet of the Apes), the film still shows impeccable craftsmanship and composition, and remains a classic in the genre.

Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
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57:  The Thing (1982)

John Carpenter retooled the classic sci-fi flick The Thing From Another World with extremely chilling results. In this rendition, the Thing is a shapeless, merciless, Lovecraftian monster that erupts out of flesh and bone and consumes everything around it in a crazy bloody rampage. There are quite a few sequences in this film where something insane and unnatural happens, and the results are as jarring as they are gruesome. In spite of this, the film maintains excellent tension, especially as characters start doubting and fighting among one another. With decent acting, solid cameramanship, and an interesting production value, John Carpenter’s remake is still one of the scariest sci-fi movies ever made.

Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
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56:  The Ring

A remake of the Japanese horror film Ringu, Gore Verbinski takes this simple tale and wraps an intriguing mystery around it. Filled with vivid imagery and strange supernatural phenomenon, the film is as gripping as it is stylish. With quality performances and a strong production value, this is one Americanized remake that I believe far surpasses its predecessor. And the results are pretty darn freaky.

Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
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55:  Sleeping Beauty

A classic and endearing fairy tale, filled with really funky imagery, impressive designs, and catchy tunes. Like most other Disney films, it is a simple story that’s well-told and populated by decent characters. Of course, it’s brought to life with quality craftsmanship. It’s also a nice touch that they’ve incorporated Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty waltz into the music.

Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
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54:  The Prestige

This interesting period drama pits magician against magician, and it proves to be a strange and interesting venture. The film is brilliantly-told and has a slick cinematic style. The production has top-notch craftsmanship and superb performances from the cast. The film overall is one fascinating magic trick.

Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
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53:  The Devil's Backbone (El Espinazo Del Diablo)

Before establishing himself with both Hellboy films and the universally acclaimed Pan’s Labyrinth, Guillermo Del Toro exercised his dark imagination and his storytelling prowess in this endearing ghost story. It shares much in common with Pan’s Labyrinth, as both stories revolve around children in orphanages confronting strange and dark forces. In the case of The Devil’s Backbone, the story’s set in an orphanage with an unexploded bomb in its courtyard, establishing a rather interesting dynamic for the story that unfolds. The film overall has a nice boyish charm to it. It’s got quality performances, it’s well-filmed, and overall it’s a film well worth watching.

Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
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52:  Memento

In a bizarre twist, this neo-noir thriller gives you the final scene first, and then works its way backwards to show you its genesis. The film does a brilliant job of drip-feeding the audience information in a way that’ll keep you guessing all the way to its revealing ending. With strong performances, quality writing, and an impressive visual style, Christopher Nolan’s thriller is an amazing trip down memory lane.

Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
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51:  The Matrix Reloaded

I remember the summer of 2003, I was enthralled to witness the coming of the Matrix sequels. With a rip-roaring, gravity-defying highway chase scene, and an epic brawl between Neo and one hundred Agent Smith clones, the action and special effects are extraordinary technical achievements. Not to mention, it makes for one hell of an amazing spectacle. As far as the story goes, it still has excellent focus on philosophical insight, it still explores the Matrix universe pretty deeply, and it still has quality characters. The one weakness that makes this sequel weak, ironically, is the scene that’s meant to put the whole series into perspective: the Architect’s speech, which is so bogged with big words and terminology that it comes off as convoluted. It took me a few viewings to understand what the man was saying, and once I understood it, it was like a revelation. With that insight, this film serves as the cohesive glue that binds the Matrix saga into one cohesive trilogy; it answers some questions that remained unanswered from the first film, while making way for the grand finale in The Matrix Revolutions.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
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50:  North By Northwest

Like many other Alfred Hitchcock films, this one starts off with a simple premise: a man is mistaken for another man, and people try to kill him. This kicks off a thrilling adventure, full of wit, romance, and peril, the likes of which can only be topped by a James Bond film. The story has enough mystery to keep it interesting, and enough twists to keep it fresh with every viewing. With quality acting and production value, North By Northwest remains my favorite Hitchcock feature.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good| Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
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49:  Inception

Christopher Nolan’s dreamscape epic comes off as a rather dull “slideshow” to some folks. But what keeps me enthralled about it will be the phenomenal action setpieces, the MC Escher style special effects, and the complex narrative structure; the latter of which does an excellent job of slowly revealing information that adds background to the characters. It is arguably a fantastic mixture of style and substance.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good| Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
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48:  The Ninja Scroll (Jûbê Ninpûchô)

This quintessential anime feature was (and likely still is) notorious for its abundance of sexuality and excessively graphic bloodshed. While this makes for a rather gnarly (and entertaining) experience, it wouldn’t mean much without a quality story; it’s not a terribly complex story, but it does have quality characters (I have a particular soft spot for Kangero, the woman with poison in her blood, who is tragically doomed to never love anyone intimately). The animation quality holds up extremely well, and the film overall does an excellent job of using strong visuals to accentuate the story.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good| Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
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47:  Finding Nemo

Pixar’s underwater adventure offers a highly entertaining and hilarious mix of comedy, peril, colorful visuals, and some educational insight on marine biology. For the most part, it’s very heartfelt and filled with endearing characters. Using superb animation quality and voice-acting, the film makes a big splash among CGI-animated features.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good| Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
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46:  Iron Man

With plentiful amounts of impressive action scenes, and a lot of witty attitude, Iron Man is one of the most popular and successful superhero films of the decade. This film chronicles the character’s genesis and evolution very effectively; the film has as much heart as it has action. With top-grade production value and a perfect performance by Robert Downey Jr, this is one of the best that Marvel has to offer.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good| Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
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45:  Minority Report

Stephen Spielberg’s sci-fi thriller explores the fascinating possibility where crimes are predicted and stopped before they happen. What follows is a fun and insightful exploration of the future, loaded with action, quality special effects, and amusing comedy. The film shows impeccable direction, surprisingly strong performances, and excellent craftsmanship.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good| Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
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44:  300

A close adaptation to Frank Miller’s graphic novel, 300 is a stylish, fantastic telling of the historic battle of Thermopylae. While the film has been ridiculed for some of its artistic choices (such as having Spartans fight with hardly any armor on), the story and certain elements in it do have a solid basis in history. A combination of strong performances by the cast and fantastic CGI environments help present the story as a mythic spectacle.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
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43:  The Fifth Element

Luc Besson’s futuristic epic is weird at times, stylish throughout, action-packed, comedic, and all around a satisfying adventure. It presents a cast of quality (if not eccentric) characters going through an interesting original story. With strong production value, impressive special effects, and quirky music, the film is easily one of the most enjoyable sci-fi features ever made.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
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42:  Total Recall (1990)

This pulpy sci-fi film toys around with the novel concept of implanting memories into people’s heads, kicking off an adventure that eventually leads the main character to Mars. There are plenty of fun and memorable scenes (including, of course, the woman with triple mammary glands) and lots of action. It is still an interesting story, especially with the film’s last lines, which could put a new spin on the whole movie (even though it wasn’t the director’s intention).

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
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41:  True Lies

James Cameron’s spy adventure has it all: explosive action, steamy sex appeal, hilarious comedy, inspiring special effects, and a quality story. It may come off as a little too insensitive in this day and age, but it’s hard not to enjoy in this adventurous thrill ride that pits an entire family against terrorists.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
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To be continued...

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Al's Top 100 Most Favorite Movies Part 2

Part 1, Films 100 - 81

80:  Laputa:  Castle in the Sky (Tenkû no shiro Rapyuta)

This fantasy anime starts off with the rather unique hook, in which a boy witnesses a girl literally falling from the sky. Their encounter takes them on a thrilling adventure that pits them against sky pirates, an aggressive military force, and ultimately, the remnants of a lost civilization. The story is pretty light, but incredibly fun and full of color. The animation quality is decent, and does a convincing job of bringing this unique world to life. In the end though, I found the film most worthwhile for its Atlantis-style mythos.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very High
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79:  One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Maybe not the most exciting film on my list, but while this movie doesn’t have much action or thrills, it manages to entertain with its complex character interactions. It is always a pleasure to watch McMurphy fool around with the inmates at the mental institute, shaking the system and incurring the wrath of Nurse Ratched (a woman who ranks as one of the best villains ever). The consequences of McMurphy’s actions lead to a sobering and thought-provoking conclusion; it is a superb story told with excellent performances and direction.

Entertainment: Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
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78:  Hero (Ying Xiong)

Of all the films ever made that feature martial arts and quality fight scene choreography, this might be one of the most beautiful. It’s quite awe-inspiring to watch these characters float over a crystal-clear lake, or soar in the air with a trail of autumn leaves behind them. These fights are staged with a level of spectacle, skill, and beauty that remains unsurpassed by any other film. And yet, it still tells an interesting story, using unique narrative techniques.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
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77:  Kick-Ass

This film’s title in itself says it all: it’s a phrase that’s obscene, irreverent, and just seething with attitude. Such is appropriate as the name of the main character, who decides to one day become a superhero. Even though this film has its share of great action scenes and rambunctious comedy, it does provide some interesting insight on the stark realities of masked vigilantism. This is a rare superhero film where the heroes aren’t invincible, or even all that super. It makes for an experience that’s simultaneously dark and funny. Combined with lots of surprises, the film does a great job of entertaining in a rather obnoxious manner.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very High
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76:  The Avengers (2012)

It took five films to build this one movie up:  The Incredible Hulk both Iron Man movies, Thor, and Captain America. That’s how epic it is! All these superheroes, in addition to Nick Fury, Black Widow, and Hawkeye, combine to save the world from an evil threat! That is, unless each of these characters wind up fighting amongst themselves. There is certainly a ton of action to this movie, especially towards the end. But what makes it stand out will be its strong characterization and their complex interactions; the filmmakers did a first-rate job of keeping everything consistent and presenting the Avengers as a type of dysfunctional family.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
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75:  The Matrix Revolutions

When I first saw this movie, the finale to the epic Matrix saga, I was so pleased that I declared it my favorite of the lot for the longest time. For the most part, I was blown away by the action: the Battle of Zion and the final duel between Neo and Agent Smith are fantastic, awe-inspiring sequences. The main complaint about this film, however, is the story; it doesn’t have the same depth or development as its predecessors. I won’t deny that, as time passed, my enthusiasm for this film diminished, and I find myself enjoying the other two films for their in-depth storytelling. I still enjoy this final film for wrapping up the story in an exciting and cohesive fashion.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
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74:  Planet Terror (Grindhouse)

Eeeewwwwww...

This film was released as a double-feature with Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof.  The purpose of both films was to replicate the style and presentation of 1970s exploitation cinema. While Death Proof suffered from pacing and storytelling issues, Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror delivered everything one could ask for from trashy exploitation cinema. The film is quite gross, with lots of gnarly blood and guts! At the same time, it’s so over-the-top, with plenty of funny lines and witty one-liners, that it comes off as a satisfying thrill ride. To make the experience even more endearing, the film was purposefully damaged and discolored to give it an aged, rough-around-the-edges look. Oh yeah, the film may not have class, but it definitely has style. It ranks as my favorite zombie picture of all time.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
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73:  Big Trouble In Little China

This cult adventure film from John Carpenter is quite ludicrous, with its cheesy martial arts fighting (complete with crazy sound effects), its silly dialogue, and its small-scale story. Yet, all these things make the film work in its own unique way. The film is a blast, filled with action and witty comedy. The story still manages to take itself seriously, and it’s easy to get caught up in it.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
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72:  Starship Troopers

Loosely adapted from Robert Heinlein’s novel, Paul Verhoeven (the madman behind RoboCop and Total Recall, which are every bit as fun and bloody as this film) gave us a gung-ho space adventure unlike no other. It has a unique blend of gruesome violence, amusing satire, and over-the-top cheese that keeps the film light and entertaining, despite the heavy-duty themes of war and fascism. The battles definitely entertain, with its fantastic special effects. In the end though, the story and overall presentation are quite appealing.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
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71:  Transformers (2007)

Say what you will, Michael Bay knows how to entertain. He is a master of choreographing endless explosions, awe-inspiring special effects, fast-paced car chases, and realistic military combat into incredibly long and thrilling action sequences. While I find the two Transformers sequels to be even more entertaining, I’m posting this first film in the series because it is more consistently-paced, and still has a fresh story to accompany it. I won’t deny that the film uses some annoying rapid-fire editing, but Transformers is just too much fun for me to complain about.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
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70:  Aliens

The first Alien film is indeed a sublime piece of work; the only reason it doesn’t make my list is because of its pacing. I’ve always felt it was too damn slow! Fortunately, James Cameron takes the material and runs with it his own way; his sequel eschews the horror and pumps up the action, and the results are phenomenal. The conflict between the space marines and the xenomorphs are thrilling. Above all, though, we see Ellen Ripley evolve from a mere traumatized survivor into a butt-kicking heroine (themes of maternity ensue)! As it is with most other Cameron films, Aliens is immersive and highly detailed, expanding greatly on the universe that Ridley Scott established. It’s easy to get caught up in the epic struggle between man and monster.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
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69:  Goldfinger

This might very well be the first James Bond film that would set the pattern for every other Bond film to follow. Even though it comes in after Dr No and From Russia With Love, Goldfinger maintains the perfect pacing, and the perfect combination of style and substance, to offer a thrilling experience that appeals to all audiences. It can be rather ridiculous, with the amount of gadgetry, innuendos, and cheese involved in this film. That doesn’t stop the film from being tremendously entertaining, and from allowing the story to breathe and take itself seriously. Above all, this film features the series’ most memorable scenes: a girl painted gold (to death), a laser beam creeping toward Bond’s crotch, the epic duel between Bond and Oddjob (the short Korean dude with the iron hat), and much more!

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
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68:  Independence Day

This alien invasion flick hasn’t really aged too well (if it had, it would have ranked higher). At its time, though, I was quite taken by the film’s (over)dramatic style, its incredible special effects, and its stirring spirit. It presents a cast of likable characters, and presents a story that covers practically every aspect of its hypothetical situation. Even though alien invasion films seem to be a dime-a-dozen these days, ID4 remains my seminal favorite.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
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67:  X2: X-Men United

Like any quality sequel, X2 took everything great about the first X-Men film and made it better. The action is bigger and more impressive. The story is broader, with bigger stakes. At the same time, the story is still quite sound, with excellent characterizations. It is especially worthwhile to see Wolverine’s backstory revealed (although more can be seen with the X-Men Origins: Wolverine film, there’s enough here to appreciate the character). The story also does a great job of underscoring the continuing conflict between men and mutants, both physical and political.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
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66:  Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

Quoting from Shakespeare, the undiscovered country is revealed to be “the future,” which is appropriate for this final outing from the original Star Trek crew. The film itself explores the uncertainty of the future for the Federation, the Klingon Empire, and all the characters within. As a conspiracy becomes unraveled and the characters are forced to confront many dangers, the film maintains a grim and tense atmosphere. It is a dark and revealing episode in the Trek film universe, and proves to be a solid finale for the classic crew.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
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65:  GoldenEye

This was the first James Bond picture I ever saw, and for the longest time I deemed it my favorite. After a six year gap, Bond returned to the big screen with all guns blazing; with a daring bungee jump off of a damn, a chase scene featuring a tank busting through St Petersburg, and loads of shootouts and fights, the film is easily one of the most exciting Bond films of them all! The future of Bond (both as a franchise and as a character) was practically jeopardized with the end of the Cold War; this film serves to push him into the future, shifting the focus from the old Cold War threats to the modern threats of the modern age. As such, Bond’s character receives decent insight, and is played with style by a cool, suave Pierce Brosnan. The rest of the cast is sensational, especially with Sean Bean’s character. With excellent action setpieces, special effects, and a quality production value, GoldenEye has a license to thrill, and it isn’t afraid to use it.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
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64:  Sucker Punch

Slicing through not one, not two, but three layers of fantasy, this movie has sucker punched many audiences, and not with particularly good results. The movie is often labeled as confusing, messy, too much style-over-substance, and at its worst, misogynistic. It is most memorable for having four fantasy sequences that pit the main characters against giant samurai, steampunk zombies, orcs, dragons, and robots in beautiful CGI-generated environments. Sequences like these appeal to my demographic very well, but leaves most other audiences wondering why women would fantasize about such things. My argument is that these women aren’t prancing around a fantasy world of their own invention: they’re presenting the fantasy to an audience to seduce, trick, and ultimately escape from their imprisonment at the cabaret club (which is not all that it seems either). The plot is pretty tricky to understand, but deciphering it is part of the joy I take in watching it. Now, why is this film called Sucker Punch? The director claimed it was because the main character is not as weak or feeble as she seems. The plot twists could also serve to sucker punch the audience. I would go on to say that the film reaches beyond the screen to sucker punch Hollywood itself, thanks largely to the cabaret club setup the film employs. And if you didn’t understand this film, maybe you’ve been sucker punched!

The extended cut of this movie comes recommended; it features new dialogue and scenes that put the movie into a better context, and is easier to follow overall.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
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63:  The Incredibles

Taking a little inspiration from The Fantastic 4, and perhaps some James Bond films, this Pixar animated film focuses on a family of superheroes just trying to get by. The film has some impressive visuals, great action sequences, and enough good comedy to keep it highly entertaining. It also does a first-rate job of giving the characters life and underscoring their interactions as a family.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
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62:  The Bicycle Thieves (Ladri di Biciclette)

This is a short and simple film: the humble story of a man risking it all to find his stolen bicycle. But with the given narrative and film style, the film emphasizes the stakes and digs up some strong thematic content. It’s not just the story of a man losing his bicycle, but also the story of a man losing his faith and his focus on what’s really important. Using a cast of genuine, down-to-earth laborers rather than actors, and with superb photography, I found this film very classy and endearing.

Entertainment: Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
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61:  Donnie Darko

What a strange picture. It is a dark and mystifying high school drama that somehow ties in quantum physics, theological overtones, and eerie nightmares into one confusing package. It’s a puzzle of a film that requires the audience to find all the clues and piece together the reasoning and logic behind what happens. Even if you can’t figure it out, the ending has a certain “what goes around comes around” vibe that inherently feels cohesive and whole. Populated with strong characters, with some interesting camera composition and music selection, the film comes off as one interesting Rubik’s Cube of a movie.

Two cuts exist for this film. Seeing the Director’s Cut first, I was intrigued by the added special effects and the scenes of added exposition, which help make better sense of the movie. However, I notice that some viewers prefer the Theatrical Cut, rather than having all the answers laid out for them. I’d say, start with the original cut, see the Director’s Cut once, and see what you think.

Entertainment: Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
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To be continued...

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Al's Top 100 Most Favorite Movies Part 1

I love movies. I must have seen thousands on my lifetime, and have thousands yet to see. I've tried quite a few times before to create a definitive list of my favorites, but it is pretty hard to do. Tastes tend to change over time, and I find that sometimes the best films don't get that much play time from me. What always attracts me in films will be how well they weave quality storytelling, entertainment, and craftsmanship, but this list is best refined by how well given films stick with me. The combination of all these attributes helped me compose this list in a proper order, and I can finally say that this list is definitive.

Chances are that my list will not jive with everybody's tastes. My tastes lean pretty heavily toward action, sci-fi, fantasy, and everything nerdy. I don't even think I have any romance films on here. I certainly don't have a whole lot of "classics" or prestige pieces here. You know what? It doesn't matter. These are favorites not because of influence or acclaim, but because I love the whole lot of them. Whether you agree with this list or not, I wouldn't change it for the world. I do encourage you to check out a lot of these films, either for your own enjoyment or enlightenment, but if you don't like these films, then that's your opinion and I can respect that.

Thus, without further ado, here is Al's Top 100 Favorite Movies!

100: Army of Darkness

"You see this? This is my BOOMSTICK!!!"

I’ve never always been an Evil Dead fan (it took a couple of viewings for me to fully appreciate them), but I’ve always loved this third, final film of the Evil Dead series. For better or for worse, it’s nowhere near as gory or freakish as the two Evil Dead films, but Army of Darkness does have all the same manic, cartoony, and hilarious energy that made Evil Dead II so much fun. How awesome is it to watch a 20th century man thrown back to the Dark Ages, armed with only a shotgun, a chainsaw, and an Oldsmobile? Ash (played with perfection by the one and only Bruce Campbell, perhaps the best actor among all B-movies) spends the whole movie kicking butt and spitting out lines that are so absurd and corny that they’re hilarious. The film shows some cheapness, in spite of its age, but for something as absurd as this, it’s quite forgivable. The film overall is a blast.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Good | Resonance: Highest
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99: Sin City

It took a couple of viewings for me to appreciate Robert Rodriguez’s adaptation of Frank Miller’s comic series. It’s one crazy ride, filled to the brim with gut-wrenching brutality, rampant bloodshed, and scenes that are just plain wrong! It uses some really strange and stylish effects; the whole film is done on green-screen, and rendered with black and white photography with occasional bits of color added in to specific elements. With four short stories cut and intercut together, the film comes off as rather convoluted at first glance. However, it is a picture-perfect replication of the original graphic novels. Each of the stories has its share of strengths, and is animated brilliantly by the massive cast. Altogether, Sin City makes for one of the darkest and most decadent pleasures one can have in the cinematic world.

Entertainment: Very Good | Stories: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
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98:  Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom


Indiana Jones’ second adventure sees the hero descending into a figurative Hell, where children are enslaved and people’s hearts are ripped from their bodies before being lowered into a pit of red hot magma. It’s so brutal, it’s the film that caused the creation of the PG-13 rating (for features too rough for PG, but not rough enough for R). Strangely enough, this dark Vedic adventure still has frequent moments of comedy and heart. It makes for a rather strange experience, having such brutal scenes juxtapose to such silliness, but it is a highly entertaining adventure all the same.

Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very High
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97:  Christine


Closely adapted from Stephen King’s novel, John Carpenter’s film offers a dark and brutal tale in which the title characters massacres a bunch of high school kids in the name of love. Did I mention that the title character is really a bright-red antique car? It’s one heck of a unique story; one that entertains, and one that’s presented quite perfectly on film.

Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very High
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96: Equilibrium

Imagine George Orwell’s 1984 with lots and lots of gunfighting! Viola, you have Equilibrium! This sci-fi flick definitely entertains with its wild “gun-katta” fight sequences. Even moreso, the film underscores the importance of human emotion, as the characters discover them for the first time, before going on to rebel against forces of oppression. Maybe not the most original film out there, it has its heart in the right place.

Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very High
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95:  A Bittersweet Life (Dalkomhan Insaeng)

Upon watching this Korean crime drama, it’s hard not to feel for the main character; he is a loyal, immaculate, heartfelt man who finds himself betrayed and struggling to survive. The film offers plenty of thrills as the main character is forced to fight for his life, and eventually to fight for vengeance. It is also poetic in tone, thanks to its delicate filmmaking prowess and quality performances.

Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very High
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94:  I Saw the Devil (Akmareul Boatda)

An epic and brutal struggle between two wicked men: one a serial killer, the other a secret agent seeking vengeance for the loss of his fiancé under the killer’s hands. With this set up, it’s a simultaneously thrilling and chilling experience to watch the two men pursue and confront each other over and over again. It’s quite a bloody ordeal, but a somber and memorable one, filmed with style.

Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very Good
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93:  127 Hours

Danny Boyle managed to do something extraordinary: he took an ordinary subject and presented it in an extraordinary manner. You’d think that a movie about a guy trapped in a canyon would be dull. In the hands of any other director, this simple story could have been really boring or trashy. With Boyle’s interesting cinematic style, 127 Hours is a vivid, gripping, memorable experience that not only entertains, but gives the film a unique life of its own.

Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very High
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92:  Conan the Barbarian


This film offers something rarely seen in fantasy films: an R-rated adventure full of primal brutality and a certain old-fashioned mysticism. It’s enthralling to watch Conan literally crush his enemies, see them driven before him, and hear the lamentations of da women! It’s a blast to follow this story, especially with its endearing characters and its epic film score. Even with the 2010 remake, and movies like The Pathfinder, no other film has come close to replicating the fine balance between hard-edged brutality and high adventure the way this film does.

Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very High
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91:  Brazil


A wacky yet insightful view on what the future could be: a crazy world in which rampant bureaucracy, commercialization, and industrialization turns everyday life into a living hell. At the center stage, Sam Lowry, as a victim of circumstances, winds up rebelling against the powers that be to make his dreams come true and find true love. It is as thrilling of a journey as it is insightful, and at times surreal. It is a must-see for any sci-fi fan (like me).

Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very High
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90:  Lord of War


It’s been said before, but I’ll reiterate: this film does for guns what Scarface did for drugs. Both Scarface and Lord of War are stories about criminals who descend into madness and evil, in their obsessive pursuits over their given vices. In this case, the vice is gun running. It is quite an eye-opener to watch the main character deal and double-deal between the different countries (including our own; I couldn’t tell you if this kind of stuff really happens or not, but it makes you think). Believe it or not, Nicholas Cage delivers a strong performance in the lead role, and the film has the coolest style imaginable.

Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Good
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89: Downfall (Der Untergang)


Perhaps one of the best and most realistic World War II movies available. It chronicles the final days of Adolf Hitler and his top commanders, trapped in a bunker beneath war-torn Berlin. The drama is gripping and intense, as the characters face insurmountable odds, madness, and ultimately death. All of it appears historically accurate. With fantastic performances by the cast, Downfall stands as a must-see for any war movie buff.

Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Good
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88:  The Mist


Taken from the Stephen King novella, with perhaps some influence by HP Lovecraft, this film starts off with a basic yet freakish concept. It remains tense, not only with all the creepy monsters that literally come out of the mist, but also with the primal violence that emerges within the group of survivors. While the devolution of the group serves as a sobering reflection on humanity’s own bestial nature, the film’s ending provides the biggest emotional punch, and stands out as the single most memorable moment in the film. It’s a scene that will leave many either loving or hating the film. I for one love it, for it is like bitter icing on a sweet cake. This bittersweet film comes pretty darn close to being my favorite Stephen King adaptation (but not quite…one other film has that honor…).

Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Perfect| Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very High
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87:  Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi)


This anime feature is a rather odd affair, but one with enough charm and whimsy to match up with most Disney features. Hayao Miyazaki’s picture offers an interesting Japanese fairy tale that’s not only full of heart, but also has enough peril and striking visuals to keep it entertaining. This excellent coming-of-age story is ordained with superb animation quality.

Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
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86:  Gladiator


Despite taking some liberties with the historical events, this movie does an impressive job of bringing the Roman Empire to life on the screen, thanks to its immaculate detail and art design. In the center of the arena, it’s a simple revenge story, but one full of power and heart. The film drags just a little in between the impressive yet bloody action scenes. It’s still mighty impressive for its immersive environments, its vivid style, and its strong performances.

Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
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85:  Psycho


This has got to be Hitchcock’s most famous piece of work; it was purposefully designed to invoke fear by pushing the envelope as far as it could (by 1960s standards). It’s pretty tame by today’s standards, but its shower scene is still iconic. The film does a great job of maintaining tension. It is a piece of work with both style and substance, and it still resonates strongly after all these years.

Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
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84:  Air Force One


Like Die Hard on an airplane, Air Force One presents a thrill ride of nonstop action, depicting a lone man (the President, nonetheless, played with serious machismo by Harrison Ford) picking off terrorists one by one. The shootouts and air battles are sweet! At its core, though, the movie still has a decent focus on building a gripping story and depicting interesting characters. While it may not stand as a great artistic achievement, this film is one of the best action movies of the 90s.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very Good
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83:  Ip Man (Yip Man)

No, Ip Man is not “Internet Protocol” man. This martial arts master was an actual person: he was the one who originally trained the legendary Bruce Lee. This semi-autobiographical film shows Ip Man’s earlier years, however, as a humble man confronting the oppression of Japanese invaders during World War II. It’s quite uplifting to watch the Ip Man spearhead the resistance movement (even though it wasn’t his first choice). Above all, it’s incredible and awe-inspiring to watch the man fight. Donnie Yen shows off some mad martial arts skills as he beats down all his opponents with rapid successions of punches and kicks (in one scene, he even takes down ten different enemies all at once!). Despite the action, the film still has excellent focus on the story and depicting its characters, and they are every bit as strong and compelling as the fighting.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very High
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82:  Wanted

Russian director Timur Bekmambetov’s American debut doesn’t exactly follow the original graphic novel that closely. But I don’t care. From start to finish, this film is just loaded with the most incredible spectacle. It takes the most impossible concepts – curving bullets, cars pulling off gravity-defying stunts, exploding rats, and more – and orchestrates an awe-inspiring ballet of violence and mass destruction. To accentuate the impressive action, the film just seethes with attitude, as if it just wants to tell the audience to frakk off (…in fact, the film does so a couple of times). A lot of people dismiss this film as average or substandard garbage, but I totally dug the characters and the story, no matter how much disbelief it asks to suspend.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very Good
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81:  Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

Of all the Star Wars pictures, this one is probably the most iconic, thanks to a certain twist in the characters that put the whole series into a new perspective. Even without that twist, the film is still quite thrilling with its massive battle on ice planet Hoth, its epic asteroid field chase, and the gripping duel between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. The film is successful at taking the classic characters and throwing them into new types of peril, ultimately laying the groundwork for the series’ epic conclusion.

Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very High
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To be continued...

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