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WALL·E (2008)
The Most Beautiful Film I've Seen in a Long Time
I haven't commented on many films in a long while, but WALL-E is one I find that warrants comments. The film is beautiful for the visuals, the subtlety, and the deeper meanings. Children will love the film and I sincerely hope the parents follow the film closely. The messages embedded rather obviously in the film speak for themselves.
The animation is breathtaking and so impressive I literally can't recall the music. The visuals, aside from a few things, are just so real. Mankind must find a way to save this planet and protect the precious little we truly have. Hopefully children will appreciate this message in the film...and more importantly the parents who hold the fate of this world in their hands.
The World's Fastest Indian (2005)
Written Thanks to One Helluva Good Movie
I first heard of "The World's Fastest Indian" from movie trailer websites. I watched the trailer and it caught my attention and mentioned someone named Burt Munro. Who was Burt Munro? A short search later I found a movie that I had to see. That being said, I had built up expectations of what I would see, and thankfully they were all surpassed.
There are not many films out there without "a bad guy." This film managed to capture the pure essence of one's dreams, goals, and personal fulfillments. Despite everything thrown at him by the system, Burt Munro through pluck, grace, humor, and hospitality, managed to accomplish his life's dreams. God, how many of us yearn for such a thing to happen to us in life? This is not a film of major action, of special effects, sex, drugs, and rock and roll. It does, however, capture the human spirit and the will for achievement. Rather than turn him away and ignore him, fellow men stop to help an old man and his rickety looking motorcycle. Why? What gain is there for them in terms of physicality? Well, thankfully there was an age when people helped people for the desire to see someone's dreams become a reality, as opposed to helping someone out of personal gain.
The world needs more men like Burt Munro. I'd like to think you will agree after watching an award-winning performance (IMO) by Sir Anthony Hopkins.
Grizzly Man (2005)
The Thin Line Between Genius and Insanity
One must ask why, why does someone go out into "nature," out into an area without man's society and "man's nature" and decide to associate with brown bears? Why? This question I believe is what defined Treadwell and his personal society for 13 years. Ironically, what really killed him indirectly was society, a society in which he did not fit and which found him mentally abnormal.
Was this man abnormal? Clearly, his view on life, nature, and idealism versus reality differ from the rest of us. However, he tapped into a level of personal discovery and spirituality that but a few seem to find in their time on Earth. To find happiness is a tent collapsed by rain, or by shoving his hand in a pile of bear poo clearly asks what does one want out of life? People say it is the little things in life that give us the greatest satisfaction.
I think Treadwell took his life, which he felt needed a change to have meaning, and found it. Needless to say, no one else before or sense has been able to spend such an up-close and personal interaction with wild animals deemed "man-eaters" and find them to be merely ten-foot tall furry neighbors.
Such personal satisfaction with something so seemingly crazy brings up the point of genius and insanity. It is said that they are divided by only a thin line, and that what some people consider pure genius is propped up by a level of insane behavior and a lifestyle which people just shake their head at in disbelief and disgust.
I guess this is why man classifies people into simple to comprehend categories such as liberal, conservative, smart, stupid, normal and weird. Whatever Treadwell intended his legacy and lasting image to be, I view him not as a bad or stupid person, but as someone who found something deep within life that the rest of us cannot find or deduce by watching this film, but can be made aware from this film that man's primordial connection with nature has never left us, but lies buried deep within us, found and used by but a few.
The Big Red One (1980)
A War Epic That Set a Modern Standard
I have seen the original cut of "The Big Red One" and recently purchased and watched "The Big Red One: The Reconstruction." The reconstruction of Samuel Fuller's classic film transforms a decent war film to one of epic status. The story is fleshed out and the chemistry between the Sergeant and his Four Horsemen is now a fluid process as they fight and survive their way from North Africa to Czechslovakia and the end of the war. While many people get wrapped around "Saving Private Ryan" and it's emphasis on brutality, I find myself preferring the story in this film. In particular, how the Sergeant serves as a combat wise man, balancing mental toughness with a compassion towards life and culture that forces his Four Horsemen to examine themselves and find themselves in the madness of everything around them.
War films seem to be sorted into two groups, either emphasizing violence or emphasizing the people caught up in the storm. "Saving Private Ryan" hits its intended audience with tremendous violence and fury. I do not, however, feel for the characters and find them somewhat wooden. "The Big Red One" focuses on the five Americans. The Sergeant, never mentioned by name, seems real to me as a veteran. Tom Hanks is a great actor, but he doesn't seem to create the realism that Lee Marvin achieves.
War films like to show journeys through the conflict. This journey doesn't have the time (or budget) that "Band of Brothers" enjoyed, but it accomplishes its goal with considerable force. The reconstruction truly brings out this journey through the war in Europe that few films can approach. For the shoestring budget Fuller had at his disposal, he created a film that, at least now with the reconstruction, approaches any of the big budget war films and I believes defeats the vast majority with it's unique and powerful story of survival and comraderie.
The Civil War (1990)
The Civil War made "Are" an "Is"
While I was somewhat disappointed with Jazz, I thought Ken Burns did as much justice to the enormity of the American Civil War as the best of historians. The war comes alive to the viewer and seems to open doors to the subconscious national collective of Americans today. Our cultural being today is rooted in this conflict. By skillfully weaving archival information with narration, shots of nature, and period music, Burns mastered a format that all history shows borrow today. It is a shame that this 9-part series has not received more acclaim, for it dwarfs most attempts today at contemplating the war of America's people.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
"Do you know what you are doing?" "Theoretically."
After viewing this movie for the first time, and while simultaneously reading about Robert Leroy Parker, I felt it appropriate to give my two cents. The character development and chemistry between Redford and Newman is excellent. As is the case with their performance in The Sting, the two really excel together as a team. The shootout in the end best demonstrates the comradery and the brotherhood that the two share. I can't figure out why the soundtrack from this movie won so many awards. It wasn't terrible but it sure wasn't spectacular. Oh well, such is politics. The balance of humor and drama was superb, transitioning between each other like clockwork. The sets and the actual geography of the sets was incredible. I think I spent more time marveling at the mountains and the rock formations then the characters at times. If you are looking for a fun film to watch, or a unique western, I suggest this film whole-heartedly.
Lone Star (1996)
In the spirit of O. Henry
I just recently viewed the movie Lone Star and I want to see it again soon. Sayles does an incredible job in weaving together a tapestry of characters from all aspects of Rio County, Texas. The many twists and turns the plot takes allows the viewer to grasp more than multiple sub-plots, but instead gives momentum to the main plot, until the excellent climax. The camera shots and transitions between space and time are superb, keeping the mind and eyes of the viewer alert and refreshed. If you like great stories when you watch a movie, I'd place Lone Star on my short list.
Apocalypse Now (1979)
"Sometimes the Dark Side overcomes the Better Angels of Our Nature."
Why I would like to summarize this film I feel I will only be repeating what everyone else has mentioned. The Movie is a masterpiece in so many ways, the one that I feel it captures the best is the spirit and true ideas in Joseph Conrad's novel HEART OF DARKNESS. This movie captures the exact story and ideal of the novel with immaculate precision. Read the book (it's very short), then watch the film and be amazed. Apocalypse Now takes the viewer where few films, or directors for that matter dare to visit: The evil inside everyone of us. We all harbor an evil, a heart of darkness that waits for something to release its anger and power onto the world. "Every Man has a breaking point." I believe this to be easily one of the best movies of all time, but probably the most intelligent films ever made. You can never watch this film only once, multiple viewings are required in order to truly appreciate one man's vision and masterpiece.
The PJs (1999)
A Great Comedy, Watch Out Simpsons
While the very first episode left me wondering, the rest of the series has been hysterical. The show has great depth with the characters and the sets are amazing, considering the amount of work foamation requires. The humor might offend some but hasn't The Simpsons, King of the Hill, and Futurama done the same? The show seems to have been shafted since it came out and I feel this is a shame. I recommend that anyone who has doubts about the show should watch two or three episodes and see their reaction. I am predicting that they will include it in their lineup.
Das Boot (1981)
Incredible
I believe that this is probably one of the five greatest war films ever made. historically accurate to the second, the set of the film draws the viewer into the hell of the icy Atlantic. The enemy in this movie is the British, a great perspective for one gets to see how the other side faired in war and how deadly the whole business is. The sounds and camera shots are outstanding, the actors totally believable. It is very moving tale and has one of the saddest endings of any movie I have ever seen and I have seen a ton. The Nazi Reich which Hitler gloated as unstoppable finally gets portrayed accurately and this movie as a empire crumbling from the start.
Moon Shot (1994)
A hell of a ride
When I first saw this program on TV I knew instantly that I had to obtain a copy of it and I did. I feel that this is the best space documentary ever made, period. The fact that this documentary draws directly from the original mercury and gemini astronauts tells the story from those who lived in it. A lot of information about the space operations of NASA I had never heard about till I saw this and they were quite amusing. Sadly Deke Slayton died during the making of the film and Al Shepard just recently died. This film is a final tribute in my mind to two great Americans who helped lead all Americans into the unknown depths of space through their pioneering careers as astronauts.
Harvey (1950)
The Good in Everyone
HARVEY has to be one of the best movies ever made due to its inner message. James Stewart gives yet another sparkling performance but the best part of the film was how Elwood (Stewart) finds something good in everyone he meets. Whether the person is bitter at the time, has a poor record in life or just a new face in town, Elwood always gives them his greeting card of friendship and offers dinner to anyone who accepts. In a society of fast paced, ignorant people who feel they are above the law, more people like Elwood are needed. Maybe everybody needs a Harvey to reduce the amount of pain in the world, and besides, everybody can use another best friend.
Star Wars (1977)
The modern "Odyssey"
Star Wars has become what Homer's Odyssey was to generations " a long time ago..." The movie captures the true spirit of the human soul, the concept of good triumphing over evil, David versus Goliath and countless other aspects. When I first saw the film it was a cool movie. But upon enlightenment in the wonders of the world I found how Lucas takes so many classic elements of great stories and combines them to make one fantastic tale. The tale of a nobody in the middle of nowhere gaining the chance for adventure and excitement, teaming up with a wiseman and two scruffy characters to rescue a princess from an evil dark knight, an almost medieval tale by modern standards. Most of all the movie captures the ability to never grow old, in that one can watch the movie countless times, memorize the lines word by word, yet still have one's heart beat faster, bring smiles and cheers and boos and hisses at the sight of Darth Vader. How many films can do this??? The Odyssey, one of the oldest works of literature known to exist does this too, for all of those who have read it in its entirty. Just like the Odyssey, almost everyone has seen Star Wars and like the Odyssey to many, have viewed it over and over again.