Yeah, this is another list of non-book and non-writing related stuff. But deal with it, ok. This list was gonna come at some point.
So, I've seen a lot of movies. And I've enjoyed most of them. Now there are some that I thought were just kinda stupid (not that I'm gonna mention any names Ghostbusters) but here are (so far) my top ten favorite movies:
#10: Jurassic Park (1993)
Writer: Michael Crichton
Starring: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough
Summary: A genius dude finds dinosaur DNA, replicates it, and makes real dinosaurs. Then a jerk tries to steal the DNA and accidentally lets all the dinosaurs loose on the island that contains them, allowing them to run amok and forcing the visitors to try and escape.
Why I Like It: First of all, it's Steven Spielberg. Second of all, well, it's got dinosaurs. Third of all, well, JEFF GOLDBLUM! In all seriousness, the concept was brilliant, the acting was great, and it was just so well-paced.
Best Scene: When the T-Rex first appears.
Quotes: Richard Attenborough-- "Welcome to Jurassic Park!"
Samuel L. Jackson-- "Hold on to your butts."
Rear-View Mirror-- "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear."
#9: The Help (2011)
Director: Tate Taylor
Writer: Tate Taylor, Kathryn Stockett
Starring: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer, Jessica Chastain
Summary: In the early sixties in Mississippi, an aspiring journalist lady writes a book from the point of view of the racially mistreated Help.
Why I Like It: Octavia Spencer, for one thing. I mean, she one an Oscar for it! But they REALLY got this film right, and the acting made it superior. Great job, Tate!
Best Scene: When Minny gives Hilly the "chocolate pie." :)
Quotes: Bryce Dallace Howard-- "Have you lost your mind?"
Octavia Spencer-- "No, but you 'bout to."
#8: Avatar (2009)
Director: James Cameron
Writer: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang
Summary: Dances With Wolves + Pocahontas, the story of a bunch of humans who go to the most epic planet of all, Pandora, to mine some little rocks. But then there are the Navi, the blue kitty people of the planet, who act like monkeys and try to fight off the humans. Then the humans make this technology that makes them look like the Navi, and it all just gets complicated.
Why I Like It: Yeah, yeah, whine all ya want, but this was one of my favorites. It was visually and audibly STUNNING, and the world that Cameron created was AMAZING! The characters were pretty cool, especially Sigourney Weaver's, and it was just...breathtaking.
Best Scene: When Trudy attacks the baddies with her copter (which has war paint on it) and shoots the crap out of them.
Quotes: Michelle Rodriguez-- "You're not the only one with a gun, b----."
Stephen Lang-- "You're not in Kansas anymore. You're on Pandora."
Sigourney Weaver-- "See? They're just p---ing on us without even the courtesy of calling it rain."
Zoe Saldana-- "You don't thank for this."
#7: Les Miserables (2012)
Director: Tom Hooper
Writer: William Nicholson, Victor Hugo
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, Helena Bonham-Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen
Summary: A fugitive during the student uprising of France in the 1800s, Jean Valjean tends to the lost and abused girl of a dead lady while being chased by a jerk named Javert.
Why I Like It: Songs=Amazing, Acting=Amazing, Amount of Tears From Me=Amazing. It was just AWESOME, and if it doesn't take home Best Picture at the Oscars, then I will cry. Seriously. And yes, Russell Crowe's singing was fine. Deal with it.
Best Scene: I Dreamed a Dream. Duh.
Quotes: Anne Hathaway-- "I dreamed a dream in time gone by..."
Hugh Jackman-- "God on high, hear my prayer..."
Cast-- "Will you join in our crusade? Who will be strong and stand with me?"
Cast-- "ONE DAY MORE!"
#6: The King's Speech (2010)
Director: Tom Hooper
Writer: David Seidler
Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter
Summary: An unexpected heir to the British throne during the world wars has trouble speaking. He's screwed, unless Geoffrey Rush has anything to say about it.
Why I Like It: Freaking. Geoffrey. Rush. And Colin Firth won an Oscar, just FYI. And OH! IT WON BEST PICTURE!
Best Scene: When Bertie and Lionel first meet.
Quotes: Geoffrey Rush-- "Do you know any jokes?"
Colin Firth-- "Timing...isn't my strongsuit."
Geoffrey Rush-- "Why should I spend my time listening to you?"
Colin Firth-- "BECAUSE I HAVE A VOICE!"
Geoffrey Rush-- "Yes you do."
#5: Doubt (2008)
Director: John Patrick Shanley
Writer: John Patrick Shanley
Starring: Meryl Streep, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis
Summary: So there's this Catholic school in da Bronx. And there's like this really evil nun principal lady. And then there's this priest who might have had a...tickle fight...with a child. And then the evil lady goes all, "I'M GONNA GET YOU OUTTA HERE!" on this priest guy. And then another nun tries to make peace, and it just gets outta handish. Yeah.
Why I Like It: BEST ACTED MOVIE I HAVE EVER SEEN HOLY FLYING MACKERELS. Meryl Streep is brilliant. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is brilliant. Amy Adams is brilliant. Viola Davis is brilliant. And they were all nominated for Oscars. The cinematography was great, the writing was great, it was so suspenseful, and the ACTING WAS LIKE...WICKED COOL.
Best Scene: When da Priest and the Evil Nun are facing off. Which is pretty much...the whole movie. But when she explodes at him. Epicosity in a Parish.
Quotes: Meryl Streep-- "Cut your nails."
Meryl Streep-- "I WILL STEP OUTSIDE THE CHURCH IS THE DOORS SHOULD SHUT BEHIND ME! I WILL DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE!"
Phillip Seymour Hoffman-- "You haven't the slightest proof of anything!"
Meryl Streep-- "But I have my certainty!"
#4: The Sixth Sense (1999)
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Writer: M. Night Shyamalan
Starring: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment
Summary: A kid freaking sees dead people, and a psychologist tries to help him. NO SPOILERS IN THIS POST.
Why I Like It: Well, it's creepy as crap, and it's brilliantly conceived, and there's an ending that TOTALLY MAKES YOU WANNA PUNCH THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU. But it's amazing.
Best Scene: The little game thingy that Malcolm plays with Cole that involves moving forwards and backwards.
Quotes: Haley Joel Osment-- "I see dead people."
#3: Signs (2002)
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Writer: M. Night Shyamalan
Starring: Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin, Abigail Breslin
Summary: A guy who lives on a farm with his brother and two kids begins to realize that an alien invasion is happening, all while mourning the death of both his wife and his faith.
Why I Like It: THE SUSPENSE IS KILLER. It is SO dang well-built and paced that it demands I love it. The story is wonderful, the characters are great, and of course Mel Gibson ain't too shabby, either. It's amazing, so if you aren't easily scared, WATCH IT!
Best Scene: The baby monitor.
Quotes: Abigail Breslin-- "There's a monster outside my room, can I have a glass of water?"
Cherry Jones-- "What kinda machine can bend a stalk of corn over without breaking it?"
Joaquin Phoenix-- "Move, children! Vamanos!"
#2: Lord of the Rings (2001-2003)
Director: Peter Jackson
Writer: J.R.R. Tolkien, Fran Walsh
Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Sean Astin, Viggo Mortensen
Summary: Oh, gosh, no. Go look it up. Otherwise I'll be here all day.
Why I Like It: ACTING=EPIC WRITING=EPIC CINEMATOGRAPHY=EPIC NINE ENDINGS=EPIC STORY=EPIC SETTING=EPIC CHARACTERS=EPIC TO AWESOME DOES NOT COMPUTE. And it's J.R.R. Tolkien. These guys nailed the books.
Best Scene: The part where Gandalf goes all boss on the Balrog on the Bridge of Khazad Dum.
Quotes: Ian McKellen-- "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!"
Sean Astin-- "I wasn't dropping no eaves, sir!"
Sean Bean-- "One does not simply walk into Mordor."
Billy Boyd-- "Great! Where are we going?"
Sean Astin-- "I can't carry it, but I can carry you!"
And finally..........
#1: Inception (2010)
Director: Christopher Nolan
Writer: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard, and MICHAEL CAINE, BABY!
Summary: Some guy with a creepy dead wife can go into people's dreams and steal their thoughts and ideas for business espionage. But there his more to his job than meets the eye....
Why I Like It: The concept is BRILLIANT! Holy gerbubblesons! And the acting is great! And Paris was flipped over, for Pete's sake! And wow, it was confusing. But wow, it was awesome.
Best Scene: When Ariadne makes Paris fold over on itself. BOSS.
Quotes: Tom Hardy-- "We mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling."
Leonardo DiCarprio-- "Dreams feel real while we're in them. It's only when we wake up that we realize something was actually strange."
Leonardo Dicaprio-- "I have it under control."
Joseph Gordon-Levitt-- "I'd hate to see out of control."
Ellen Page-- "What's happening?"
Joseph G-L-- "Your subconscious is looking for the dreamer. Quick, give me a kiss."
Ellen Page-- "They're still looking at us."
Joe G-L-- "Yeah, it was worth a shot."
Leo Di-- "That price on my head, was that dead or alive?"
Tom Hardy-- "I don't know. See if he starts shooting."
Ellen Page-- "They're going to attack us?"
Leo Di-- "No. Just you."
MICHAEL CAINE BABY-- "Come back to reality, Dom."
Honorable Mentions: Lincoln, Up, Batman Begins, Hunger Games
Thanks for reading! Any movies you really love? Put them in a comment!
c. Taylor Ward 2012. All rights reserved.
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