Paths of Glory (1957)

Trailer

War began between Germany and France on August 3rd 1914.
So basically: During WWI, under the command of General Mireau, the French army tries to take The Anthill from the Germans. When the time comes to advance past the trenches, however, the French troops either refuse to leave or retreat, some not even making it past their own wire, as they know the attack is futile. To make an example, three soldiers are picked to stand at a court martial. Colonel Dax sees that Gen Mireau is doing this just to save his own neck and stands as lawyer for the three accused, all innocent and brave soldiers.

This is my least favourite film of Kubrick's that I really like - if that makes any sense. This film tries to show the absurdity of war through the eyes of three soldiers, and I think it does that very convincingly. The protagonists in this film are a little eccentric, but it was necessary to the message and plot of the movie. This movie stirs great emotion from the audience which, I think, makes it such a great film.

Of course this should be on the list!

Ziggi seal of approval!

The Departed (2006)

Trailer

I want my environment to be a product of me.
So basically: Two Boston police officers have ties to the South side and Irish crime and both of them are going undercover, but for two different reasons. Colin Sullivan has been in crime boss Frank Costello's inner circle and has infiltrated Boston PD to feed information to him. Billy Costigan is using his knowledge and roots in the South side to climb the ranks and get into Frank's inner circle for the Boston PD. Both sides are eagerly searching for their rat and the two cops are trying to capture the other.

Usually when I watch a list movie - and now anything - I form an opinion on it and know exactly what I'm going to write in my review. Watching this, however, I didn't really have any strong feelings one way or the other. For a cop drama - which isn't my favourite genre - it's a pretty awesome movie. It does have a bit of stereotyping, but that's a product of the genre. The trick is to get the audience to be able to connect with the characters, and this movie succeeds in that. The plot is good and the dialogue is interesting, also.

Despite the ever so slight annoyance of the Boston accent and the similarity to the leads’ names, this movie is still good. It does deserve to be on the list, but certainly not this high.

Ziggi seal of approval!

The Pianist (2002)

Trailer

I love to see a woman playing the cello.
So basically: Wladyslaw Szpilman is a Jewish pianist in 1930's Poland. He and his family suffer the prosecution of the Nazi party after Germany invades. Reluctantly, his family moves into the Warsaw Ghetto and tries to make a living while still keeping to their principles. When all of the Jews are being transported to concentration camps, Wladyslaw gets pulled out by someone he knows in a place of authority. Now stuck in Warsaw with nowhere to go, he must seek the help of several friends to keep himself alive.

World War Two movies usually work. I think a large part has to do with the sheer absurdity of the genocide, people just can't get their heads around how something like that actually happened. The movies keep audiences watching. That being said, I don't think this is one of the best WWII/Holocaust movies. I think a lot of the things that happened on screen were purely put there for shock value - yes, everything probably did happen just like that (I don't want to say it did just because I don't kno everything myself), but there was one instance of each case. If they had shown things many times, like a women was begging for water for her dying infant, or people fighting over food then eating the scraps on the ground, it wouldn't have as great an impact.

If you like holocaust movies, then check this one out for sure, but it's not one of the greatest movies ever and defs doesn't deserve to be on the list - though Adrien Brody's performance was really good.

Ziggi seal of disapproval!

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

Trailer

Atticus says cheating a black man is ten times worse than cheating a white.
So basically: In Depression-era Alabama, Scout Finch tells of a year in her young life when her father, Atticus Finch, was working on a particularly trying case. A black man is accused of raping a young woman, with Atticus representing him. Scout also tells of her first year at school and a new boy, Dill, spending the summers at her neighbours. The two, along with Scout’s older brother, Jem, get to know the local spook, Arthur ‘Boo’ Radley, a shut-in with rumours circulating about him stabbing his father.

Okay, so before this viewing I had “read” the book in school and the teacher also put the movie on for us … I have to admit, I only saw the second half. And I have to tell you, I found the book boring and the movie wasn’t any better. On this viewing, I learned not to hate the movie so much, but I still don’t think it’s as great as everyone seems to think it is. Okay, so there are some very important lessons on how intolerance and prejudice is wrong, but a lot of stories have that and it’s not anything special to this particular story (it might have been groundbreaking then to have a book/movie deal with it, but that’s no grounds for an amazing story). So yeah, there’s some merit, but the story overall isn’t very interesting and the characters are all boring. I also don’t find Gregory Peck to be a fine actor ...

Don’t hate, but I don’t think this deserves to be on the list.

Ziggi seal of disapproval!

Aliens (1986)

Trailer

Hey, maybe you haven't been keeping up on current events, but we just got our asses kicked, pal!
So basically: Ripley's craft gets picked up after 57 years floating in space. She is brought to a large space station and woken up. When she tries to tell the proper authorities what happened to her, they dismiss it, immediately saying she is mistaken. They then inform her that the settlers on LV-426 have had no complaints about 'aliens'. After several months of labour on the ship, Ripley is contacted by the same people who denied everything asking for her help. Reluctantly, she accompanies a platoon of marines to establish contact with the lost colony.

I don't want to say that this one is better than the first, but it is definitely more hardcore. Where the first one was claustrophobic and slow paced, this one is action packed and more plot focused, rather than relying too much on character as the first one did. Also, Sigourney Weaver is totally awesomer in this one!! There's one thing tho ... Does this movie make James Cameron a hypocrite? This movie is all about humans invading another species' habitat (I kno they're not indigenous to the planet, but they were still there first) and then exterminating them like they're in the right. Then he goes and makes Avatar with the same principle, but from the other point of view. I kno, I kno, the Na'vi were protecting their landsand they were all happy and nature and all that good stuff and the Aliens were "evil" and blah blah blah. Psh! SAME PRINCIPLE! I wouldn't mind it at all because, hey, they're just movies, but isn't Avatar supposed to be all having a political agenda and stuff? I dunno, it's still a pretty awesome movie.

This should defs be on the list.

Ziggi seal of approval!

Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (2001)

Trailer

I remember too, how you fell into me as a child. You had dropped your shoe.
So basically: Chihiro is moving with her parents to the country when they get lost in the woods and go on a walk. In a seemingly abandoned amusement park, they stumble upon streets filled with restaurants and her parents sit down for a meal - which turns them into pigs. Chihiro then wanders into a bathhouse in the realm of gods and has to stay there and work until she can change her parent into humans.

I'm pretty sure this is the most highly praised Studio Ghibli film, and I can definitely see why. Of course the animation is beautiful, that's to be expected, but the world that it created is beautiful, too. The score is also very noteworthy and compliments the atmosphere very well. I think the biggest reason why this movie is so brilliant is all the characters. They're all so wonderful and memorable.

This movie defs deserves to be on the list.

Ziggi seal of approval!

Das Leben der Anderen (2006)

Trailer

The best way to establish guilt or innocence is non-stop interrogation.
So basically: An East German National Security Agent is employed to put a tap on an actress and her playwright boyfriend. During his nights of listening, he becomes attached to the people he is supposed to be spying on and tries to protect them against the socialist regime.

Homg! This movie is so boring. Think about it. It's not even interesting in the summary. Check anywhere. I mean, if the characters weren't dull, the movie would probably be fine. But, they are dull. This movie just seems to drag on and you're like, homg! when is this movie going to end? There's nothing going on and the cinematography doesn't help, either. It's bland, too!

I don't know how this got on the list, either! No!

Ziggi seal of disapproval!

M (1931)

Trailer

...J, K, L, M, N, O, P...
So basically: A murderer is on the loose in Germany. Not only do the dead bodies start piling up, but they are the bodies of little girls. Even worse, the police have no ideas how to catch the guy and are starting to accuse the big name criminals. Fed up of all the raids, the criminals take the law into their own hands and catch the murderer.

Peter Lorre is amazing! He doesn’t get to talk until the very end of the movie and he really doesn’t have to! He’s really brilliant to watch – I almost wanted to stop reading the subs and just concentrate on him. But, I didn’t. Besides him, tho, the movie isn’t really that impressive. I mean, you know it’s him from the start and there really isn’t any suspense or anticipation ... Except for the end, when they’re chasing him around. But that’s only, like, the last 5th or so of the movie.

I’d skip this movie personally. It’s watchable, but not the best.

Ziggi seal of disapproval!

Double Indemnity (1944)

Trailer

Same chair, same perfume, same anklet?
So basically: Experienced and suave insurance salesmen Walter Neff checks in on the Dietrichson account to renew car insurance, but when Mr Dietrichson isn't in, Mrs Dietrichson, a young and seductive women, insists on him staying. She asks about life insurance for her husband, but without him knowing. Getting wise, Neff realizes Mrs Dietrichson is plotting to kill her husband and reap the rewards. At first, Neff refuses to help her, but when her charms lure him in, they set up the perfect plan.

I never got to see the last half an hour of this film the first time I saw it - it was very difficult to get my hands on it in the first place - which sucked. I was instantly hooked by Barbara Stanwyck! It was a brilliant casting choice! I don't think anyone could play the role of Phyllis Dietrichson nor do I want to imagine it. She really makes this picture exceptional. If it weren't for her and her role, the film would just fall into the realm of average.

As I said, this movie - the plot and side characters, even Walter Neff - is kind of average, but Barbara Stanwyck as Phyllis Dietrichson makes this movie worthy of being on the list, although I don't think it should be this high given that fact.

Ziggi seal of approval!

Almost done

Movies reviewed (and posted): 192/250

HOMG! SO EXHAUSTED! Watching this many movies in this little space is totes not recommended. I will be SO glad when it is all over! Which it should have been, I kno. But, real life does tend to drag me away from this stuff.

My mum was on holidays the last two weeks, so I've been totes busy with familying. Still, I am trying my darnest to get all these movies done. My new goal is for before school starts on September 9th, 'cause I really don't want to be doing this with uni, too.

I should be done by then.

Anyway, that's where I am. I'm totes sry for the missing reviews, some of these movies are rly hard to find! (I'm still looking!)

So, yeah, that's the plan.

You should comment! I like comments. Stupid friends (you kno who you are!). Thanks for those who do comment! They make me super happy!

I'd like to say I'm off to watch movies, but I can't. I am going to go off to write some more reviews now, though! Wish me luck.