[81] When Harry Met Sally...

Director:  Rob Reiner

Cast: Meg Ryan, Billy Crystal, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby

Thoughts:

I loved it.  Absolutely loved it, and probably because I think I really needed to see a great romantic comedy.  I especially loved that it was made within the 80s, as I believe the 80s was a great time for films.  

The plotline is great, it's more realistic.  It's one of those romantic comedies that don't get the guy and the girl together after two weeks.  No, it takes much longer, and we see much struggle to get to that point, various things happen etc etc.  

I loved Billy Crystal as Harry.  He has so many fantastic lines, most of them I'd heard before, but as I'd never seen the movie, I didn't know where they'd come from. 

Apart from this, I don't really have anything to say.  I imagine a lot of people have seen this already, and if not, and you're in the mood for a Romantic Comedy, then this is your film. 

Rating: 8.5/10 

[80] Braveheart

I watched this movie, and I should really do a proper review, but truthfully, I don't think it needs one.  This film is on the list for a reason.  I agree that you should see it, and it deserves its spot.  

It's quite a fine piece of film from Mel Gibson.  I believe the acting is quite well done, the action is supurb and the scenery is great.  

All in all this is a rubbish review, for a great film that everyone should watch.  I give it a 9/10 for great action, and an allround great film.  

Also, this is a poor review for my 80th movie, which is quite an achievement, because it means another percent has been covered for.  Moving into the 8th percent, I will be viewing some potentially exciting films, and reviewing them in a proper fashion.  I would review this properly, but it's so hot at the moment, and I just got home from work.  I viewed this film last night. 

Anywho, that's really all I have to say on Braveheart, go watch it if you haven't, although I imagine you have by now.  

[79] Into The Wild

Director: Sean Penn

Cast: Emile Hirsch, Jena Malone, Vince Vaughn, William Hurt, Kristen Stewart, Catherine Keener, Marcia Gay Harden, Hal Holbrook

Thoughts: 

Now this is my kind of drama film.  It has everything to do with living, giving it a go, living the dream etc etc.  Christpher McCandless ran away, after graduating college.  He roamed America, on his feet, meeting eccentric, yet kind, people along the way.  The story of Christopher a.k.a Alexander Supertramp, is an amazing, inspirational one.  In the two years that he roamed America, he lived more than some people live in their lifetimes.  

Emile Hirsch plays the role of Christopher McCandless perfectly.  He's an amazing actor of whom I hope great things come to in the future.  You may also know him from such films as Speed Racer, Milk, Lords of Dogtown and several others.  At the moment, I would regard this role as his most notable though. Well, at least until Milk takes off.  It has a January release here, in Australia, so I won't be able to see it until then.  

Into the Wild was nominated for two Academy Awards, Best Editing, and Best Actor in a Supporting Role, for Hal Holbrook, who plays Ron, an old man who becomes inspired to live, by Christopher. 

The film also won 11 awards, and had a further 34 nominations, making it a noteworthy film, across the awards circuit.  

This is one of the most recent additions to the list, and I hope it stays on updated editions of the list. All in all a great film, and well worth a spin in the DVD player.  Not a free download though, because they are not legal, and I do not condone such practises.  

Score: 9/10 

[78] The Royal Tenenbaums

Director: Wes Anderson 

Cast: Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Bill Murray, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Danny Glover

Thoughts:

The Royal Tenenbaum's wasn't exactly what I was expecting.  Had I of actually realised this was directed by Wes Anderson, I would have expected something different.  This has a similar type of humour to The Darjeeling Limited (2007), or, The Darjeeling Limited had similar humour to it.  Either way, I love the way that Anderson styles his comedy movies.

I completely understand why this was on the list.  For one, it is a heartwarming story of a completely and utterly dysfunctional family who don't really get along very well, hide secrets from one another, etc etc.  The parents in the family, played by Gene Hackman and Anjelica Huston, separated when the children were quite young.  There are three children in the family.  Margot Tenenbaum, who was adopted, and the father always made a point of this.  She became a playwright.  Chas Tenenbaum, who was an entrepreneurial genius.  The last one is Richie Tenenbaum, a master tennis player who later retires.  

As they grow up, Margot is played bye Gwyneth Paltrow, Chas by Ben Stiller, and Richie by Luke Wilson.  An interesting thing about this film is that Owen Wilson, brother of Luke Wilson, plays his good friend, Eli Cash.

A lot happens in this film, and the pace is quite quick.  Despite this, it's fun, entertaining yet still manages to be heartwarming.  All in all, a great movie, and great performances from all the actors and actresses who take part.  

Score: 8.5/10 

[77] Ikiru

Ikiru is the tale of one man who has spend almost thirty years working hard, never taking a day off, and as the movie puts 'passing time but not living'.  Kanji Watanabe is his name, and early on in the film, we learn that he has stomach cancer.  He knows that this is going to kill him, and for a short time he reflects on the time he has wasted.  He then goes on a journey, learning to enjoy himself and do something right for the world before he departs it.  

Watanabe looks incredibly creepy in this movie, especially when he is just sitting still.  He looks a bit like the living dead.  I'm not sure whether it was because the film is in black and white, or it was just the way the actor, Takashi Shimura, looks, but there was definitely something haunting about him.  I do get the feeling that that was the way he was meant to appear though.  

The lesson that this film seems to teach is that one should live their life to the full, everyday of their life, so as not to regret it when they are old, and now incapable of truly living.  It's a great message, and one that is wonderfully portrayed through this film.  

I give this film an 8/10.  Yes, in case you were wondering, it is spoken in Japanese, minus two songs, one of them being Happy Birthday.  

That's all I really have to say on this film, go watch it if it sounds like something that would interest you.  Lets not let the films of the past be left behind, in the wake of 21st Century special effects.    

[76] Gigi

Ok, so I just watched this movie, and I'm incredibly tired at the moment, so I'm probably going to go to bed soon.  I'm just going to say that I gave it a 7/10 on imdb, after watching it.  It was good, but it wasn't great.  Despite me saying that, it won Best Picture in 1958, at the Academy Awards.  Oh, and it won eight other oscars.  None of those went to aciting, though. 

Anywho, not the best musical I've seen.  The songs were a bit repetitive, and the first one just concerned me a little.  

Interesting fact, Gigi was originally a novella, by Collete, before being turned into a musical film.  Incase it wasn't obvious, it is the tale of a french girl teenager.  Various things happen, so that various outcomes occur.  Much like every movie. 

I know this is quite a fail review, but I am quite tired.  Here is a trailer for the film: 

Enjoy. 

Now I flee, because bed sounds like a marvellous idea right now. 

[75] La Vie En Rose

This is a movie about French singer, Edith Piaf, and her life.  The movie takes us through the different stages of her life, flashing backwards and forwards as we see her childhood, then her later years, and back to other parts of her childhood, and so on.  As a child she lived a life of poverty, until she was discovered singing on the street for money.  

The movie is in French, with English subtitles.  Unless you are French, then you clearly don't need the subtitles.  I enjoy listening to movies in other languages, because sometimes it fits more than hearing English.  French is a nice language to listen to.  I have not watched many foreign films before, but I know there are a fair few on this list, so it will be interesting to hear various languages spoken.

On another note, the acting in this is supurb.  Marion Cotillard, who plays Edith Piaf through her later years, won Best Actress at the 2008 Academy Awards for her role.  She took the role and made it her own, well executing it throughout the whole film.  The children who play Edith in her younger years are also to be commended for their work.  Excellent acting on their part, as well.  

I don't think I can really do justice to describing the life that Edith Piaf led, so you should probably go check that out by either watching the film, or searching the internet for something that could better tell you.  

One of my favourite parts of the film was the songs, so beautifully sung, of course by Edith Piaf.  There were a couple of other songs, but of course she was behind most of them.  

Many of her songs have featured in such films as Wall-E, Saving Private Ryan, The Bucket List and fifty or so others.  Mostly the song 'La Vie En Rose' features in these. 

I give this film an 8/10, and if you're interested in Biopic type films, then you should definitely check this out if you haven't. 

Edit: I forgot to add this amazing quote from the film, one that will stick with me for a long time. 

American Journalist: If you were to give advice to a woman, what would it be? 

Edith Piaf: Love. 

American Journalist: To a young girl? 
Edith Piaf: Love. 
American Journalist: To a child? 
Edith Piaf: Love. 

That is all. 

[74] My Fair Lady

Now as some people know, but probably not now that I think about it, I am a great fan of musicals. There is rarely an outburst of song or dance that I despise. That said, I absolutely adored this movie. From the first song I was enthralled by it all. This film is funny, beautiful and romantic.

It tells the story of Henry Higgens (Rex Harrison), a man who has great knowledge in the ways of speech. He is able to know where a person came from, just from hearing the words from their mouth. He proposes a challenge to change Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn) from being a common flower girl, to someone who could be mistaken for a duchess.

As far as acting goes, I'm on really going to speak on Audrey Hepburn. I've only seen one other film she's in, Breakfast At Tiffany's. As great as that film is, I did enjoy My Fair Lady much more. Audrey Hepburn's accent is fantastic in the beginning, as a common London flower girl. Her exclamations, the way she moves, it's fantastic. Then, as she changes, she is fantastic in a different way. She is then seen as something beautiful and lovely. An actress like Audrey Hepburn is rare in these days. I'd probably give it to someone like Cate Blanchett as being the Audrey Hepburn of the current ages. The way she looks, speaks, moves, they're all amazing. I'm surprised she wasn't nominated for a best actress oscar in 1964, for this film. This does make sense though, because the winner of this was Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins, a role that is quite astounding.

I would like to point out that Rex Harrison won a Best Actor oscar for his role as Henry Higgins. An achievement he was certainly worthy of.

The film, however, did win Best Movie, in the year 1964, an honour it was very deserving of. I wonder what it was up against. Ok, I have looked it up on a website of some sort, and it was up against Becket, Dr Strangelove, Mary Poppins and Zorba the Greek. An interesting year for films, no doubt, but I'd say that in voting that year, I would have had a hard time deciding between Dr Strangelove, Marry Poppins and My Fair Lady. I can't say anything for the other two as I haven't seen them.

That said, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Although it may not be for everyone's tastes. My sister, before I watched it, told me it was boring. I however, didn't think so.

I give it a 9/10 and realise I should really have some sort of ratings sytem that makes sense to myself, let alone everyone else.

[73] The Great Train Robbery

Back in 1903, I'm sure this film eluded class. It was a magical wonder of their time, something new, exciting, something I'm sure someone said was just a fad, and would never continue on. I know many people said that about television and computers, but they're still going, quite strong in fact.

I was fortunate enough to find that someone had posted this on Youtube. I don't think that's illegal, because I am quite certain the copyright expired a while ago, much like A Trip to the Moon.

This is the second film on the list, meaning it's the second earliest to be made. A Trip to the Moon is the first, incase I hadn't made that clear. This is a film revolving around, as you'd expect, a great train robbery. It was a train robbery performed by Butch Cassidy and his gang. The black and white, grainy film quality makes it hard to tell what is going on. It really does help to either know the backstory behind Butch Cassidy, or to watch the Paul Newman film, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid appears on this list, and I've seen it before. Great film, well worth watching.

Parts of this are quite hilarious. Scenes where people are shot, and a punch-out scene that involves someone being thrown off a train, evoke enjoyment, because after the film quality we see in this day and age, you can't help but laugh.

It only goes for twelve minutes, and therefore it's a winner, so I give it a 9/10, for its revolutionary style, ability to make me lol, and the fact that it doesn't take too long.

[72] Sideways

In 2004, a little film called Sideways came out. Now, before the Golden Globes, I wasn't really aware of this film at all. Director, Alexander Payne, hasn't got a name that is likely to stick into my mind. Although, despite that, I have seen both Election and About Schmidt, both of which are on that poster above. Both of which were great movies, that I enjoyed.

This movie troubles me. I don't know whether to say I liked it or not. I can't say I was able to relate to the characters in anyway, because they had been through things I have not had the chance nor the time to go through. Divorce, marriage, that kind of thing.

The movie is centred around two friends, one of them about to get married. The other one takes this one that's about to get married, on a wine tasting journey. They then meet a couple of women, the one getting married does something he shouldn't have with one of these women, and the plot thickens from there.

It has some quite funny, laugh out loud type moments, although I didn't find enough of them as I hoped for. It gets funnier near the end, but for the most part I just felt that it dragged on.

I will have to give it a 7/10, because as much as I'd love to give it a good approval rating, I don't feel I can at this point in my life. Maybe twenty years down the track I will see it as something else, but at the moment really can't.

Next on the list? Hmm, well I did find No Country for Old Men, but I am also about to go hunting the library catalogue for some to put on hold. At least I've gotten two out of the way tonight, both of which were movies that I have been meaning to see for a while. Blogs are so motivational!

[71] Jurassic Park

1993, starring Sam Neill, and that nerd from Independence Day, Jurassic Park is the story of a fictional theme park that features real living dinosaurs.

Various things go horribly wrong when the the power gets shut down, thus turning off the electric fences. There is then a great issue with a Tyrannosaurus Rex, people get eaten, that kind of thing. I think that most people should have seen it by now, so I really don't think I need to go into great plot detail. Also, that'd be spoilers for those who haven't.

It is pretty much the quintessential dinosaur movie, unless of course you have enough time to watch the entirety of Dinotopia.

Actually, I take that back. This film is a little bit ridiculous. Anyway, it's a fairly good adventure film. It's on the list, so apparently you're meant to see it before you die. I'm glad that I have finally seen it. I may watch the other ones one day.

In case you were not aware, this film is directed by Steven Spielberg, which really isn't all that surprising. You wouldn't expect anything less than an epic from that guy. He's produced some pretty amazing movies over the years. None of them really in this decade, but rather of the 70s, 80s and early 90s.

I will kindly grant this film a 7.8/10 and be done with it, that is a rating I use from my special ratings system. 7.8 seems fairly random though.

Anywho, reasonably good film, deserves its spot on the list, because it's quite good for its time.

Hopefully the fourth one, coming out in 2010 or so, will not be a giant cock up.

Thank you and goodnight.

The List so Far:

The following is a list of films that I have seen so far, from Steven Jay Schneider's book, '1001 Movies YouMust See Before You Die'. I imagine it'll be a fair few more than the number of books I've read (http://katdoesthe1001.blogspot.com)
Hoping to watch and review all the ones that I am yet to see, in the future, on this blog.

Here is the list so far:

1. A Trip to the Moon
2. The Wizard of Oz
3. Pinocchio (Disney)
4. Dumbo
5. It's a Wonderful Life
6. Singin' in the Rain
7. Animal Farm
8. Breakfast At Tiffany's
9. West Side Story
10. To Kill a Mockingbird
11. Dr Strangelove Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
12. The Sound of Music
13. The Jungle Book
14. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
15. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
16. Deliverance
17. The Rocky Horror Picture Show
18. Star Wars IV: A New Hope
19. Close Encounters of the Third Kind
20. Grease
21. Monty Python's Life of Brian
22. The Muppet Movie
23. Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back
24. Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
25. Gallipoli
26. Fast Times at Ridgemont High
27. E.T. - The Extra Terrestrial
28. Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi
29. This is Spinal Tap
30. Ghostbusters
31. The Breakfast Club
32. Back to the Future
33. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
34. A Room with a View
35. Top Gun
36. The Princess Bride
37. Big
38. Grave of the Fireflies
39. Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
40. Rain Man
41. Edward Scissorhands
42. Strictly Ballroom
43. Groundhog Day
44. The Piano
45. Schindler's List
46. Forrest Gump
47. The Lion King
48. Four Weddings and a Funeral
49. Muriel's Wedding
50. Babe
51. Toy Story
52. Clueless
53. Se7en
54. Princess Mononoke
55. Titanic
56. Fight Club
57. The Matrix
58. The Sixth Sense
59. Meet the Parents
60. Amelie
61. Moulin Rouge!
62. Spirited Away
63. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
64. The Pianist
65. Crash
66. Little Miss Sunshine
67. The Departed
68. The Queen
69. Rebel Without a Cause
70. Independence Day


The last two are obviously out of order, because I missed them. I knew there was something wrong when I hadn't added Rebel Without a Cause to the list.

I found the list here: Steven Jay Schneider - 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die

So, up to 70. That's 7%, which isn't too bad for 18 years old. Hopefully going to knock a few off quickly.