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Chocolat
This
is probably the closest a movie can get to being perfect for me.
The storyline is coherent and lucid, with no gaps or incomprehensible
subplots. The visuals are so stunning and beautiful that the picture
alone lifts me up when I see it. In addition, it satisfies my
personal needs for benevolent and uplifting stories and characters.
An individualistic heroine endeavoring to overcome both the ghosts
of her past and the irrational bigotry of the collective mob which
surrounds her. And she succeeds, without sacrificing her independence
or logical approach to life or benevolence toward the world. A
true modern masterpiece.
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Legally Blonde
I consider
this movie the mainstream, comical counterpart to Chocolat.
Reese Witherspoon plays a heroic and successful college graduate
who endeavors to make it through law school despite the ivory
tower tyranny that surrounds her. Self-reliant and always optimistic,
she finds as the story unfolds that her benevolent approach to
life not only helps her to succeed, but reveals the illogical
faults in the cynical defeatism of others. Her sunny and beautiful
character is a shining symbol of true heroism to us all.
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Cold Comfort Farm
Lighthearted
and hilarious, this movie stars the beautiful Kate Beckinsale
in a wonderful recreation of Stella Gibbon's spoof on Jane Austen.
Beckinsale plays the Emma-esque Flora, who seems to focus her
entire life on managing the flaws of others. Successfully managing
to turn her great aunt's farm upside-down, she gives it such a
revolutionary makeover that it becomes the complete opposite to
the cursed, dreary backdrop it was at the movie's opening. Flora
finishes her job, gets her guy, and they all live happily ever
after. I wish there were more movies with such a wonderful sense
of lightness.
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Hamlet
The only
modern film version of Hamlet to recreate Shakespear's entire
masterpiece word-for-word. Set in a more Victorian era than the
original play, Kenneth Branagh manages to show with more expression
and intensity the true grandeur of of the story and characters.
The stunning visuals amost put this in the background, though,
and the whole slew of cameos by some of Hollywood's biggest names
makes it a true novelty, if not a masterpiece in and of itself.
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All About
Eve is one of the greatest movies of its era. It incorporates
the delightful acting of some of Hollywood's legends with an immensely
intriguingly tight storyline, which keeps you thinking and leaves
no stone unturned. Whilst most popular films endeavor to gear
themselves to a below-average viewer intelligence level, All About
Eve allows one to truly get lost in teh story, being consumed
in the numerous plot intricacies. Eve's character personifies
evil in all of its self-destructive horror, and the trimphant
ending is something we can all feel cheery about.
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Crash
A darker,
more sinister film than I'm used to enjoying, Crash is nonetheless
a treat for the senses. The very probability of the individuals
and events portrayed by the film necessitate a sense of horror
at the psychology of self-destruction, and its practitioners.
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South Park - Bigger, Longer & Uncut
We all
need to unwind ever once and a while, and what better way than
the theatrical premier of the most severly sarcastic television
series ever concieved? Whilst the Simpsons adopted a more subdued
and subliminal method of attack against the popular culture it
portrays, South Park manages to spew the message directly onto
your lap (or into your face, as the case may be). Who couldn't
love a show which basically takes shots at every concievable segment
of modern (and not-so-modern) culture all in one fell swoop. From
race to sexuality to red necks to superstars to Jesus and Satan
and Saddam Hussein, if you walk away unoffended, you're obviously
ready to joing the screenwriting team.
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Dancer in the Dark
A sad,
sad story, made bright primarily by the beautiful face of Bjork,
her magical voice, and dutiful acting. A combination social commentary
and psychological pictoral, Dancer in the Dark looks at the world
through the distorted lenses of a woman on the verge (and finally
under the veil) of blindness. The problems of cenceptualizing
a reality one cannot see are artfully (if not necessarily accurately)
portrayed. The soundtrack alone gives one perfect reason to view
this film, and more than reason to revisit.
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The Fountainhead
An applaudable
rendition of her own Novel of the same name, Ayn Rand herself
composed the screenplay to this movie starring Gary Cooper and
(at the time) introducing Patricia Neal. An individualistic architect
(played passably by Cooper) struggles against the slimy underbelly
of the increasingly collectivist society which wars against him.
An idealist with an unbending character, Howard Roark maintains
his integrity and never betrays the goals which led him on his
path - from egoism to a firm belief in his own abilities, Roark
trimphs against the odds and without the assistance of a single
human being, save the unwaivering love of the woman who originally
set out to bring him down.
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Not Another Teen Movie
Maybe I'm
just sentimental, but this is one damn funny movie. I first saw
it in the theatre on what was (for all intents and purposes) my
first Christmas with David. With campy and silly references to
just about every seemingly serious teen- and frat-age movie since
Less than zero, Not Another takes cracks at such anti-anthemic
tools as Higher Learning, Scream, and even Ferris Beuler. Look
for a connection and you will find it. And you will laugh.
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Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life
Nominated for
the 1996 Best Documentary Oscar, this cohesive and entertaining
look at one of the most intriguing personalities of the 20th century
covers philosophy, politics, Hollywood and sex. Including interviews
and commentary from some of Ayn Rand's closest associates and
most deriding critics. A comprehensive journey through an amazing
person's most amazing life.
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Fargo
An amusing
and crude cosmodrama of a band of murderers, a married couple,
and the quirky population of the north plains, where everyone
has a Norwegian accent (even the Asians) and no one can escape
the wandering eyes of neighbors in towns too small for their
own good. Not for those who need constant action, and worthy
of repeated viewing to catch all the intricacies.
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Habit
Probably the
most realistically made and believable vampire films ever made,
this work is part of Larry Fessenden' Glass Eye Pix series of
psychological horror stories, based on and around the metaphor
as a method of human thought. I haven't seen much of his work,
but Fessenden's acting and directing, as well as superb cinematography
make this an increadibly memorable movie. Fessenden's character
Sam meets the beautiful Anna, whose perverse sexual tendencies
drag him further and further into addiction and dependency.
One never quite knows whether the experiences of Sam and Anna
are examples of real vamirism or merely metaphorical vampirism
(as in human parasitism), but the events themselves make one
truly believe that in some way, vampires do exist, if only as
the ticks and leaches that destroy us at the end of every day...
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Nosferatu
Definately one
of the best vampire flicks ever, even today. For those who have
the constitution to tolerate silent films, this is one of the
most rewarding motion pictures to watch. The ability of screen
actors to express to the silent camera the emotion and meaning
which many can only refect in words is a true lost talent. If
you only see one silent film, this should be it.
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