C'era Una Volta il West (1968)

Trailer

How can you trust a man who wears both a belt and suspenders? The man can't even trust his own pants. 
So basically: On the day his new wife is due to arrive from New Orleans, a farmer and his three children are slaughtered. Mrs McBain, now a widow, arrives to find her family slaughtered and two men, Cheyenne and Harmonica, team up to help her and find whoever is responsible.

I have to be honest and say that I’m studying for exams and did not pay the utmost attention to this movie. Mostly because I don’t like Westerns. And I don’t have a very memorable experience of this film from the last time I saw it, so I doubted, even with paying full attention, that this film would get a seal of approval. But, I hold Sergio Leone in high esteem as a director and as such I can appreciate this film – it was very beautiful and the score was exciting, it did get annoying by the end, but I come to expect this from Westerns. I can’t really say anything else, because of the reasons given, but this film did not catch my fancy.

Despite all the bias on the IMDb page – seriously! in the synopsis (both of them, since they changed the lay-out) the writers lace them with their own review. HELLO! That is what the review section is for! I expect to get an unbiased rundown of the movie, thank you! I don’t need to hear your input! – I can’t say that this deserves to be on the list. But, it’s definitely worth any Western/Sergio Leone fans to watch.

Ziggi seal of disapproval!

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Trailer

Good evening, Clarice.
So basically: FBI student Clarice Starling is hired by Jack Crawford to talk with infamous serial killer, Dr Hannibal Lector. Crawford believes Hannibal’s psychology knowledge and insight will help the ongoing investigation on “Buffalo Bill.”

Firstly, homg Jodie Foster is awesome. And I love this movie. Exactly what I want out of a film about serial killers. It’s also one of those movies I saw after everyone else, and is always on T.V. so after the first time, I saw this about a thousand times. So I hadn’t seen it in awhile before this. I was oh so very excited. And I wasn’t disappointed. This movie takes you in and doesn’t let go until the last seconds – and a very hilarious line by Anthony Hopkins!

Defs deserves to be on the list.

Ziggi seal of approval!

The Matrix (1999)

Trailer

Throughout human history, we have been dependent on machines to survive. Fate, it seems, is not without a sense of irony.
So basically: Thomas Anderson is a computer hacker by the name of Neo. He questions his reality and what The Matrix is, which leads the authorities after him. He is contacted by legendary hacker Morpheus who tries to explain what The Matrix is, giving Neo a choice of the blue pill, to go back to ignorance, or the red pill. Neo chooses the red pill and is taken into the real world, a world overrun by machines, using humans as an energy source. Morpheus believes Neo to be The One, the one with the capabilities to overpower the computers and free humanity.

I forgot how epic this film was! Before I had seen this film, and after everyone else had, I got into my head that it was a bad movie. Not, like, a terrible flop-type movie, but that kind of film where everyone makes fun of, y’know? Quentin Tarantino was like that as well. (I think my mother is a bad influence when it comes to movies.) Yeah, so is there anyone who hasn’t seen this film? Because it is epic. And amazing. And I can’t get mad at the floating people like I do regular martial arts movies – that ALWAYS bugs me – because they came up with a valid reason, yey!

I wouldn’t go see the sequels – this is from word of mouth, ‘cause I refuse to see them – but this one defs deserves to be on the list. And look, it’s Morpheus all grown up!

Ziggi seal of approval!

Se7en (1995)

Trailer

You're a fucking t-shirt, at best.
So basically: Veteran Detective Sommerset is about to retire and Detective Mills has transferred to take his place. Before he leaves, however, the two are paired together for one last murder. This one murder reveals itself to be the first of a serial killer’s message to the masses. The man was punished for one of the Seven Deadly Sins – Gluttony – and the victims continue the pattern: Sloth, Lust, Greed, Pride, Envy, and Wrath. Detective Sommerset pushes back his retirement in order to solve the crimes and discover the motive of the killer

I was really looking forward to watching this film and when I finally did … I gotta say, I was expecting more. I like my serial killer movies a bit more messed up. But, that’s just me. Aside from my disappointment, it is a good movie. It’s basically Saw, but with a biblical twist. John Doe totally trumps Jigsaw. Anyone who says otherwise is lame.

I don’t have much to say, mostly because I’m supposed to be studying for exams … But, this is definitely one to check out. I don’t it should be this high, tho.

Ziggi seal of approval!

Memento (2000)

Trailer

Remember Sammy Jankis.
So basically: After the rape and murder of his wife, Leonard suffers from short-term memory loss. He writes himself messages, carries photos of people, and tattoos himself with clues to find his wife’s second attacker, who the police don’t believe exist.

I’ve seen this movie at least 3 times, this might have been my fourth, and I still don’t have it figured all out. Which is what I love about it. It’s like a new film every time. I hope one day I’ll figure it all out, but I rly am in no rush. The order. Oh the order of the film is fabulous, I thought. It really makes you invested into the film and adds to the experience – or confuses the hell out of you! Watch it again if you don’t understand. I promise it’s worth it!

Defs deserves to be on the list.

Ziggi seal of approval!

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Trailer

I owe everything to George Bailey. Help him, dear Father.
So basically: The town of Bedford Falls is all but belonging to one Mr Potter, a selfish money mongering type. The only thing standing in his way is George Bailey, who runs a small building and loan company. When Bailey’s uncle looses $8,000, it is picked up by Mr Potter. This sets up a series of unfortunate events, landing Bailey in jail and paving the way for Mr Potter to take over the town. Thinking his family would be better off without him, George contemplates suicide, but an angel appears to try and convince him that he shouldn’t do it.

People are going to be so mad at me when I say this movie doesn’t deserve to be on the list!! It’s a classic Christmas film, it’s Frank Capra, and it has Jimmy Stewart being awesome. You would think I would like this film, right? I found the whole thing rather boring, and I guess I don’t get all nostalgic like most people who grew up with this movie – I just saw it a few years ago for the first time. I dunno, the pace is slow and there are some charming moments, but the film on a whole falls flat.

If you’re a fan of heart-warming Christmas films, or Jimmy Stewart, watch this. If not, you probably won’t like it. But, I do believe every film lover/people interested in the world of film should see this, if only on principle since it’s so well known. But, regretfully, I don’t believe this should be on the list.

Ziggi seal of disapproval!

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Trailer

The battle of Helm's Deep is over; the battle for Middle Earth is about to begin.
So basically: The Fellowship split up and stroll their separate ways, but they are still on epic strolls.

I know one of them has to be the lowest on the list, but I am very upset that this is at the bottom. (I can’t decide which should actually be the lowest, because I love them all). Merry and Pippin are, obviously, my favourite characters and this film really lets them shine as they are separated from the group and go into Fangorn (the Ents are pretty awesome, as well). Also, it has Helm’s Deep, how epic is that scene, rly?!

The epicness of the first film continues into this one (duh! They were filmed continuously) so that is why this deserves to be on the list.

Ziggi seal of approval!

Sunset Blvd (1950)

Trailer

All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.
So basically: A small-time Hollywood writer, Joe Gillis, has some car trouble and stops at a large mansion to use the telephone. He meets Norma Desmond, a famous silent pictures star. When she discovers he is a Hollywood writer she employs him, albeit slightly against his will, to help her finish a script starring herself. She keeps him held up at her mansion and begins to fall madly in love with him as she waits to hear back from Paramount Studios.

Does Sheldon Cooper remind anyone else of Buster Keaton? Especially when he talks in this film? This also means, YOU GET TO SEE BUSTER KEATON TALK! How epic is that? Okay, done fangirling over Buster Keaton. The actual film is epic as well. Gloria Swanson is brilliant as Norma Desmond! Srs. This movie is worth it for her performance alone! And, if you’re a big movie buff – which I’m assuming you are – the subject matter is fascinating as well. The rest of the cast do not get overshowed by Swanson, either, which is awesome. And, the voice-over feels natural in this film.

Defs deserves to be on the list!

Ziggi seal of approval!

Dr Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

Trailer

Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room.
So basically: During the Cold War, Brigadier General Jack D Ripper has a theory in his head about “natural fluids”. To him, the Russians have poisoned the American water supply. To counteract this “attack”, Ripper has deployed a series of bombers into Russian territories to drop Nuclear Bombs. He is also the only one who knows the codes to recall the attack and has shut off all communications. The government gets ahold of this information and are on a frantic campaign to stop it, before the Doomsday Machine is set off, even so far as to alert the head of the Russian government, Demetri.

I saw this movie twice before this, and I still remember the first time I saw it – I don’t even remember if I watched it because it was the only thing on or because it was on telly and on the list, so yey! – and I instantly fell in love. I wasn’t even a Kubrick fan at the time, so yey bonus! I have to admit that I wasn’t paying the fullest attention at this viewing and did not pick up on all the funny, but I still enjoyed the hour and a half I spent with this film on. It’s really hilarious! And awesome!

Defs deserves to be on the list! I wouldn’t say the best Kubrick film – I’m biased to Full Metal Jacket and A Clockwork Orange – but defs one of the better ones.

Ziggi seal of approval!

North by Northwest (1959)

Trailer

I think I’d like to meet these killers.
So basically: Roger O. Thornhill, a New York advertising executive, is thrown into the world of spies when he is picked up by foreign agents thinking he’s a Mr Kaplan. Thornhill travels to the midwest as a fugitive, after mistakenly being called a murderer, and meets a beautiful woman, Eve Kendall. Together, they have to discover the mysteries revolving around Kaplan.

I definitely like this film better than most Alfred Hitchcock films. That being said, I don’t think this film is all that great. It lacks any sort of depth. Yeah. I didn’t feel any connection to the story, the bad guys didn’t anger or frighten me or do anything they’re supposed to do, or anything. The scenes are pretty, though, and they’re very memorable, but I think that’s all this film has going for it.

No, this doesn’t deserve to be on the list, sorry folks.

Ziggi seal of disapproval!