Citizen Kane (1941)

Trailer

Rosebud.
So basically: Charles Foster Kane is super rich and owns a lot of newspapers. He is loved by a lot of people and hated by just as many. On his deathbed, he whispers Rosebud, which sets off an investigation by one journalist to discover the meaning, to hopefully shed light on the man’s life. The journalist talks to his second wife, his ex-best friend, his manager, and others to make sense of his life.

This is like the ultimate cinema sin, but I’m not in love with this movie. I think maybe if I hadn’t known the twist – and I mean, who doesn’t at this point, it’s the most well-known, quoted twist in film – it would have been pretty interesting. But I did know. The curious part came in how they figured it out, which was a big rip off, let me tell you. The film itself wasn’t boring or anything and it was well paced and put together. It was just kind of douchey and I didn’t really want to know Kane, I just couldn’t care. But, that was to be expected from “the greatest movie ever.”

So, you should definitely check this out, just to say you have, but … I don’t even want to say it. It was, however, better than I was expecting. So, yey for that.

Ziggi seal of disapproval!

Léon (1994)

Trailer

Is life always this hard, or is it just when you're a kid? 
So basically: Twelve year old Mathilda lives in New York with her family, who she doesn’t get on well with. Her little brother is the only one she has a connection to. One day, when she is out shopping, a corrupt policeman shows up, angry at her father, who supplies them with drugs, for giving them an unsatisfactory stock. She witnesses her family being murdered and quickly takes refuge in her neighbour’s apartment. She discovers that her neighbour, Léon, is a professional assassin and asks for his help in exacting revenge for her baby brother.

I think this movie is pretty epic. Natalie Portman is fabulous (it’s very lovely not seeing her as Padmé!) in this film. I can’t think of any other 13 year old who could act that brilliantly – and I don’t think I’d want to see anyone else try, the world of kid actors has really sucked lately. Jean Reno was also awesome as Léon. And of course, who doesn’t love movies about assassins, really?

I kno I just raved about the actors, but the story is really good, too. So, defs deserves to be on the list!

Ziggi seal of approval!

Apocalypse Now (1979)

Trailer

I love the smell of napalm in the morning.
So basically: Captain Benjamin Willard is known for doing off the record missions during the Vietnam conflict. His next mission takes him up the Nung river on a Navy Patrol Boat into Cambodia. He was given classified files on Colonel Walter E. Kurtz, who he must assassinate at the end of his journey.

HOMG MORPHEUS IS IN THIS MOVIE!!!!! Ok, done, now onto actual review. Vietnam is one of those settings that most directors/writers/producers/what-have-you love to use for films about human nature. (Basically look at every Vietnam conflict movie on this list and you’ll know what I mean). This story wasn’t even set in Vietnam when it originally came out, instead being set in the heart of Africa (good book, please check it out, especially if you like this film, and even if you didn’t). But, the story translates so well into Vietnam it’s really no question of why the filmmakers adapted it to this settings, especially given the time. So no, this film is not about Vietnam, it’s not a pro-war or an anti-war film, it’s about human nature. Yeah, I think that is what makes the movies about Vietnam so fascinating and why a lot of them have ended up on this list. And I know I’ve said I hate voice-overs, but it does work in this film (and yes, I know I keep referring to the book, but the voice-over is very familiar from it) and adds to the atmosphere.

Defs deserves to be on the list.

Ziggi seal of approval!

Forrest Gump (1994)

Trailer

Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.
So basically: This film chronicles the life of Forrest Gump, a simple minded boy from Greenbow, Alabama. Forrest sits at the bus stop and tells his life story to whoever is going to listen to him: from when he was a little boy and befriended Jenny, to when he went to Vietnam during the war, and when he ran back and forth across the country. Forrest Gump, then, has a small role to play in many major events in American History, even so far as to teach Elvis how to dance!

I want to hate this movie! I rly rly do! It’s just one of those movies that seem very overrated, but as soon as you watch them you can’t help but fall in love. Ok, maybe not fall in love because some parts of this movie annoy me or I find boring, but on the whole, this is a really good film. I do have to watch it at least once a year, not that I purposefully do, it just ends up that way. It was also one of those movies I watched after everyone else started quoting “run Forrest run” so I kind of had a hatred for it. But, I got over it, and Tom Hanks is pretty awesome.

Defs worth checking out … is there still people who haven’t seen it? I guarantee you will at least like some segments of this movie – since there are so many different parts, right? And yes, it is a bit long and kind of drags at some points, but it’s those good parts – your favourites – that make it worth it (like, I’m a big American History nerd, so this movie has a lot of interesting parts for me, but there are many others!).

Ziggi seal of approval!

American Beauty (1999)

Trailer

I feel like I've been in a coma for the past twenty years. And I'm just now waking up.
So basically: Lester Burnham lives the typical suburban life: boring job, picture-esque wife, rebellious teenager daughter. From the outside, his life is pretty average, but when Lester spirals down into depression, he reaches the breaking point. He falls in love with his daughter’s beautiful best friend, starts taking drugs from the boy next door, quits his job, and basically turns his life upside down.

This movie is fucked up. But what else can you expect from Kevin Spacey? He takes on the role brilliantly, like srs. He was basically made to play the role of Lester. I kno I’m being slightly hypocritical in my praise of this movie, since it is one of those artsy-type movies that I’ve generally regarded as crap. But, sometimes they are done well, and I think this one is. I mean, this film rly makes the audience go ‘ew, creep-out factor.’ It creates such a strong reaction in the audience and I think that was the point.

This film will make you squirm in your seat and feel uncomfortable, but it’s so worth it. Maybe watch it with someone you are very comfortable with!

Ziggi seal of approval.

American History X (1998)

Trailer

Has anything you've done made your life better?
So basically: Danny Vinyard is a highschool student and neo-nazi living in America. His principal, concerned with Danny’s anger and racism, has him write a paper on his older brother, Derek Vinyard. Derek has just been released from prison after murdering a black man. Through writing the paper and the return of his idolized brother, Danny learns valuable lessons about life and hatred.

My summary sucks. Basically this movie is about Derek being released from prison with a new outlook on life; namely that bigotry, hatred, and racism are pretty lame. Once he’s released, however, he finds his little brother is following in his footsteps to becoming a major member of the local neo-nazi organization. Everyone around him is worried, and Derek tries to get his brother to understand what happened to him in prison. The themes are pretty simple enough and we’ve all heard them before, but the way in which it’s presented is pretty new. I can’t think of another movie like this one. Not to mention Edward Norton and Edward Furlong are pretty epic actors.

Defs check this one out. It’s a bit violent, but it’s totally worth it!

Ziggi seal of approval!

Taxi Driver (1976)

Trailer

You talkin' to me? 
So basically: Travis Bickle is a Vietnam War vet living in New York City. Working as a taxi driver during the night due to insomnia, he witnesses the lowest of humanity and is disgusted. During the day he watches porn videos and Betsy, one of Senator Palatine’s campaign workers. As he gets to know Betsy, he is convinced he must clean up the city and starts with a young prostitute.

Taxi Driver is one of those movies that everyone quotes but rarely ever know what they are quoting, like A Few Good Men or In The Heat of the Night. And of course, like these movies, everyone should see them. Even if it’s just to be able to knowledgably quote films! But, other than that, I think this is a fabulous movie. It’s just one of those movies that you don’t want to end, y’kno? Robert De Niro is, like most of the time, flawless and I do believe this is one of his better roles – yey he’s not playing a gangster!!! I’m so relieved.

Yup, so defs deserves to be on the list and where it’s at, too. Go check out this movie!

Ziggi seal of approval!

Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)

Trailer

Hasta la vista, baby.
So basically: Several years after the events of the first move, Sarah Conner has faced a lot of hardships because of what she knows. Her son, John Conner, future leader of the resistance, is now a teenager and living with foster parents. This time, a new, more powerful, terminator is sent back in time to destroy John, instead of Sarah. A modified terminator, resembling the terminator who tried to kill Sarah, is also sent back by the resistance to protect John.

This is the most memorable Terminator movie for me (well, sort of. I’ve never actually seen the third one!) and my favourite. I think Eddie Furlong was brilliantly cast as a young John Conner and does not take away from the awesomeness that is Sarah Conner! The story can get a tad confusing with all the time-travel, but that’s only if you think about it too much, like me! So really, even non-sci-fi fans can enjoy it.

Defs did not suffer the curse of the sequel and does deserve to be on the list.

Ziggi seal of approval!

Vertigo (1958)

Trailer

Only one is a wanderer; two together are always going somewhere. 
So basically: An acrophobic police detective, John “Scottie” Ferguson, quits his job after a terrible accident. An old college friend begs him out of retirement to tail his wife, suspecting her to be the victim of possession. Reluctantly, Scottie agrees, and begins to follow Madeleine. When he jumps into the San Francisco Bay to save her, they become friends and, eventually, lovers. Madeleine is clearly troubled, but she won’t tell Scottie what it is.

I don’t understand. I’m sorry. I was hoping rewatching this would help me to better understand why this is considered a classic, one of Hitchcock’s best. But, I honestly don’t get it. I know I’m not the biggest fan of Hitchcock – and you all know it – but I can appreciate most of his movies. This one just didn’t flow with me. I didn’t care at all about Madeleine or why there was a girl running around who looked like her, or about the possession or whatever – I didn’t like that part of the plot, either. The one praiseworthy thing is Jimmy Stewart, not only is he awesome [duh!], but his character. Sure, it’s like “dude, you’re kind of an asshole to Judy,” but at the same time, he’s a refreshing lead character.

Sorry, but this doesn’t deserve to be on the list.

Ziggi seal of disapproval!

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Trailer

We can't all be lion tamers.
So basically: An account of the life of T.E. Lawrence. As a young man, he was stationed in Cairo during World War 1. Soon after, he is sent into the desert to “assess the situation” of the Arab revolt against the Ottoman Turks. There, he launches a 2 year campaign to defeat the Turks.

The movie is much more complex than the little synopsis I wrote. And It’s brilliant. I can say that because I don’t like epics or biopics, but I LOVE this film. T.E. Lawrence never ceases to amaze me with what he does and the secondary characters are all brilliant, as well. Yeah, so go check out this movie if you have an extra 3 ½ hours!

It might be a bit long for some, but it’s totally worth it and deserves to be on the list.

Ziggi seal of approval!