Movies?
What have been your favorite movies of the last year, either on DVD or in the theater?
We haven't seen many at all, and the ones I have seen were not that great. Take, for example, "The Fantastic Four", which we watched last night. Very glossy and shiny and superheroey, but not juch substance. Spiderman is so much better. Then again, it's easier to develop one character than four.
So, suggestions needed!
We haven't seen many at all, and the ones I have seen were not that great. Take, for example, "The Fantastic Four", which we watched last night. Very glossy and shiny and superheroey, but not juch substance. Spiderman is so much better. Then again, it's easier to develop one character than four.
So, suggestions needed!
posted by Jonathan Ziman at
5:15 PM
6 Comments:
Jonathan,
Okay, here is my list for 2005. In no particular order. If I thought about it harder, I'd probably come up with more titles.
7. The Interpretor. Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn. Can you get two better actors? Even if the plot sucked (which it didn't), it'd be worth it to see these two on the screen at the same time.
6. Batman Begins. A darker, edgier telling of this classic super-hero tale. A good plot, solid acting, good character development and a good villain make this one of the best superhero movies of all time.
5. Cinderella Man. This isn't a story about pugilism as much as it is about hope. Russell Crowe is very sympathetic as a man down to his last chance in life.
4. Flightplan. Jodie Foster is astounding in this white-knuckled thriller.
3. Crash. I don't say this about many movies, but I believe that this one actually has the ability to make the world a better place. Crazy powerful.
2. Millions. Not everyone likes it, but it is the movie that made me cry the hardest. Proof that I am moved not so much by sorrow, but by goodness. Plus, it's British. This was my *favorite* film of 2005.
1. Lost Season 1. Just kidding
Hope you haven't seen all these. And by the way, the Fantastic Four made both Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper's list of Worst Movies of 2005. Roeper made an apt comment by saying, "If you're going to have Jessica Alba in a movie, make her the VISIBLE girl."
True.
By
David Tieche, at 5:37 PM
I finally got my list together also! Haven't seen any of the movies David suggests except Batman Begins which was pretty good.
l. Eulogy- an off beat dark comedy. (Veronica loves it)
2. National Treasure- have a walloping good time- it's all adventure but the characters are really fun- they are more developed than in usual adventure movies.
3. Mostly Martha- German film with sub-titles about a top German chef. Very nice warm film.
4. A Perfect Murder- re-make of an old Hitchcock film, I believe? but with Michael Douglas, Paltrow and Viggo Mortensen- interesting
5. Life of David Gale- the movie cliche is "disturbing"- with Kevin Spade- makes you think long after the movie is over.
6. Sahara- Veronica recommends this one- adventure. Entertaining- great if you want to relax and not use your brain- but it's not a "bad" movie
7. Legend of 1900- from the director of cinema paradiso- he's my favorite director of all time and I've not liked only one of his films. He says that all of his films have a common theme- the distinction between reality and fantasy- between reality and idealism.
8. Z- out on DVD for a few years, it's the film made of the military coupe in Greece back in the 70's- the script was smuggled out of a greek prison- named Z because the reigning government banned the letter Z because it represented life. With Yves Montand and others
9. The trilogy by Krzyszlof Kieslowski- Red, white and blue- 3 films that are loosly linked together and very well done- great films.- Red is filmed mostly in red and has to do with passion and anger, Blue, done mostly in blue about depression and White-I forget at the moment- I think it's abour death? Anyway- great films
10. I'm sure you've seen the old BBC production of Jeeves and Wooster- with Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry- they are great- maybe I'll get them for you for Christmas? unless you've seen them- let me know
By
Anonymous, at 7:17 AM
Thanks!
I haven't seen any of the films on Dave's list yet.
On Lee's list I have seen A Perfect Murder, which I liked, and Sahara, which was fun, as was National Treasure. You know, on a side note, whatever kind of person he may be in real life, I have enjoyed pretty much all the Michael Douglas movies I have seen. I mean, we're not talking Oscars here, but still. For example, I actually liked The Game.
Interesting recommendation wrt. Life of David Gale. That looked good when I saw the previews a while ago, but I forgot about it and I don't remember reading any reviews. It's about the death penalty, right?
Of course, I don't know why I am torturing myself like this - we usually only watch one movie every two months so this combined list will more than suffice for the rest of this year!
I also heard that Capote and Hotel Rwanda were good.
By
Jonathan Ziman, at 10:43 AM
Krzyszlof Kieslowski- Red, white and blue
These are from a Polish director who also did a ten part TV series called the Decalogue and are based on the ten commandments. Film buffs love them but I have not been overly impressed.
Red, White and Blue are based on the French colors of the flag and represent Fraternity, Euality and Liberty. Each film is a comment on these. I do love these three films.
By
Anonymous, at 9:05 AM
I've thought more about this. You say you watch a movie every two months. That is not so bad if you are doing other things to relax. So if you have the chance to read a good book, that is great. But if you have so little time to relax because you are too busy with school and kids, then you need to make a change.
What would Jesus do? Jesus had very hectic, draining days but then he went away to a lonely place to be restored. And when he traveled from place to place, he walked. He set off in the morning walking and then sat somewher for lunch. He slept outside under the stars by a fire. He had the chance to think. There is one part in the Gospels where he is walking alone and the disciples are afraid to disturb him.
Paul got the snot beat out of him (ever consider that Tonto has a Paul quality to him?) in town after town but he had time to rest as he journed from place to place.
In our modern world we race from place to place, crossing time zones as if they were bricks in the pavement, and where do we find our rest? School and family are demanding but they and work have to be limited or else they will consume all of us. I include family because sometimes parents overdo parenting and make their own and their children's lives too stressful.
So relax Jonathan. Take time with your wife to go for a walk. Find a country stream and build dams with your daughters. And watch a movie when you are tired of reading good books.
By
Anonymous, at 9:34 AM
Thanks. You've got a good point.
By
Jonathan Ziman, at 8:08 PM
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