Stuck on an Uncharted Island?
Yes, we are stuck on that often cited desert isle. The one where we have some hermetically sealed, solar powered nearly indestructible 42" flat screen. This magic* device with magic storage allows us to have a modest library of up to 365 movies. It ONLY allows one viewing per day. Here are mine, please share yours. Comments ARE enabled on ALL lists. Somebody cried and got me "Hall of Shame" list pulled. A person listed left some comments. I left them on, every person on the list was encouraged to respond. That was the point of leaving comments enabled. I doubt it was him, he seemed pretty stand up all in all. No, I think it was over zealous fans of a deceased conman/P.T. Barnum type of character.
ORDER has little bearing. In fact this may end up my 100 favourite movies.
*per the much cited Arthur C Clarke's 3rd "law"
I used to try and watch movies in my mind when spending time in the hole.
ORDER has little bearing. In fact this may end up my 100 favourite movies.
*per the much cited Arthur C Clarke's 3rd "law"
I used to try and watch movies in my mind when spending time in the hole.
List activity
1.8K views
• 0 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
51 titles
- DirectorJames WhaleStarsBoris KarloffElsa LanchesterColin CliveMary Shelley reveals the main characters of her novel survived: Baron Henry Frankenstein, goaded by an even madder scientist, builds his monster a mate.One movie that I can ALWAYS watch, per the list's description. I know the next statement, if it ever is read by anyone, will tick off the wanna be film school crowd. BoF is one of the best movies ever made. I am purposely staying away from the AFI list until this one is done. The sets, the lighting, the acting, even the special effects are all so well crafted and fit together so well that I never grow tired of this movie.
- DirectorMel BrooksStarsCleavon LittleGene WilderSlim PickensIn order to ruin a western town, a corrupt politician appoints a black Sheriff, who promptly becomes his most formidable adversary.This movie helped show just how ridiculous judging anyone by their skin colour really is. Even after its 75th viewing it is still side-splitting. Seeing it as a teen, the Carol Burnette Show with the folks was never the same. Harvey Korman, Madeline Kahn, you name it, Mel got the most out of every member of the cast. Lily Von's musical number is priceless. The irony is that this film could NOT be released today. Comments on that?
- DirectorPaul BartelStarsDavid CarradineSylvester StalloneSimone GriffethIn a dystopian future, a cross country automobile race requires contestants to run down innocent pedestrians to gain points that are tallied based on each kill's brutality.What's not to like? Arguably Roger's best. You can tell everyone is having a blast. The director's cameo was priceless. We love YOU, Mr. President! Frankenstein, a dear friend of mine, has a red hot 'sexpot' for a navigator. Dave Carradine, wishing to shake his 'Kung Fu' image (I'd imagine) took this completely opposite character. Him and his co-stars all got 'nekkid' at the drop of a hat. The commentary tracks with Roger & Calamity Jane are priceless, yet another reason to go get a legit copy.
- 19641h 35mPG8.4 (519K)97MetascoreDirectorStanley KubrickStarsPeter SellersGeorge C. ScottSterling HaydenAn unhinged American general orders a bombing attack on the Soviet Union, triggering a path to nuclear holocaust that a war room full of politicians and generals frantically tries to stop.I took a younger friend to see this at the Harris Theatre in Pittsburgh, PA's cultural district (whatever that is). Having not been really old enough to know about the Cold War, I was wondering how much he would like. He dug every minute. Granted he is smarter than your average bloke, it still made him laugh. If you have seen it, you know why its on this list. If you haven't, get thee to a legit copy of it.
- DirectorFranklin J. SchaffnerStarsSteve McQueenDustin HoffmanVictor JoryA French convict in the 1930s befriends a fellow criminal as the two of them begin serving their sentence in the South American penal colony on Devil's Island, which inspires the man to plot his escape.Detractors can say what they want about Enrie. Just to survive long enough to share those stories makes him a BMF. So a couple MAY have been second-hand told in first person? He did time on Devil's Island and escaped. That has been verified again and again. The movie is awesome. It's liberties with the book make for a much better tale, especially the flow and simplicity. Way back when Pittsburgh's south side could only get 2 to 4 channels, I used to watch this with me dad every year when it was a yearly event on CBS. My younger brothers joined but the rule with dad was you could watch as long as you were quiet. ONE word and you were "off the island". Oh, Steve, Steve, Steve. If only you didn't boink Ali McGraw, you would of got the gold statuette for this performance. Was it worth it? As a guy I am SURE it wasn't.
- DirectorJohn SchlesingerStarsDustin HoffmanJon VoightSylvia MilesA naive hustler travels from Texas to New York City to seek personal fortune, finding a new friend in the process.Man, I love this film. They TRULY do not make them like this anymore. On the last leg of my decent into drug-induced madness, my beloved and dearly departed brother Joe was one of the few folks who would have anything to do with me. We would watch this and think "Ain't there yet..." At least Rico had a friend when he died. I love almost every second of this movie. We keep your stuff nice and safe. House rules
- DirectorJohn HustonStarsHumphrey BogartMary AstorGladys GeorgeSan Francisco private detective Sam Spade takes on a case that involves him with three eccentric criminals, a gorgeous liar and their quest for a priceless statuette, with the stakes rising after his partner is murdered.There are so many classic "must see" flicks that are a huge disappointment. Not his movie by any measurement. A movie I could watch anytime. While watching it for my 50th birthday, I realized something. I had never watched this during my decades of using hard drugs. On a personal level, this is my heroin free movie. I NEVER saw it using. I mean Humphrey is sooooo HUMPHREY in this one, Lorre and Greenstreet are just awesome. A movie I could watch 2x a week and do sometimes.
- DirectorLewis MilestoneStarsFrank SinatraDean MartinSammy Davis Jr.Danny Ocean gathers a group of his World War II compatriots to pull off the ultimate Las Vegas heist. Together the eleven friends plan to rob five Las Vegas casinos in one night.Look, that alleged remake was just a title & a premise. Not a bad heist flick but all those guys are NOTHING when stood next to THE Rat Pack. Get it out of your head and watch THIS MOVIE! Man, could you imagine being a rich guy in 1960 and a real combat vet to boot? There may have been no Internet or Stolen Valour Act, but them old paratroopers could smell a wannabe 20 yards upwind. They would beat up posers on a regular basis. Anyhow, the world would be your oyster in so many ways. Whenever facing a tough decision, ask yourself "What would Duke Santos do?"
- DirectorTod BrowningKarl FreundStarsBela LugosiHelen ChandlerDavid MannersTransylvanian vampire Count Dracula bends a naive real estate agent to his will, then takes up residence at a London estate where he sleeps in his coffin by day and searches for potential victims by night.Do I really need to explain this one? The oft mourned Pittsburgh Playhouse put this on with the original Frankenstein* every Halloween. On the big screen, it is magnificent. My great friend Misha has a version where the film has been scored. Although I always associate Swan Lake with it, the scored version is also worth a look/listen. Up on the big screen, you can feel it as a play. Simply said, it stands the test of time.
- DirectorF.W. MurnauStarsMax SchreckAlexander GranachGustav von WangenheimVampire Count Orlok expresses interest in a new residence and real estate agent Hutter's wife.No, this is not some 'look I am an expert egghead film school wannabe' entry. I saw a clip of it as a kid on David Frost. I think he was interviewing that pompous ass you catch in EVERY History Channel vampire episode. Anyhow, I thought it was real footage of a vampire. Cut me a break, I was like 6 or 7 at the time. As you would guess, it rattled me good. On our island's magic* player, this is a GREAT print with the original score. It is a silent flick that will not only held my interest, it gave me some genuine chills. In a slightly related note, 'Shadow of the Vampire' is AWESOME! SEE IT ASAP! After you watch this then "Shadow", go for the hat trick with Kinski's Nosferatu. You'll thank me later.
*Please see introduction. - DirectorDoris WishmanStarsMariettaWilliam MayerLester BrownA rich rocket scientist organizes an expedition to the moon, which they discover is inhabited by nude women."If you seen one 1960s nudie, you seen them all." Au contraire, mon frer. Although I have never been marooned, I would bet that it involves a healthy amount of self-abuse, once shelter/food issues are addressed. Do NOT go on a 3 hour tour without this gem. The Professor got dibs on Mary Ann, lil buddy & the skipper obviously mirror a certain Hoover and Tolston, and Ginger may give you the gift that keeps on giving. That don't leave much in the way of relief from life. Besides the story/sets/acting being hilarious, the women in this flick are great bordering spectacular. Why? Because every single one of them is a REAL woman. Hollywood can keep all those disposable early 20s surgically enhanced bimbettes. NOTHING compares to a woman in her late 30s up to early 50s, keep your 'girls'. Every pair here is 'real', far more important than size to certain fans. Anyhow, this one. IMHO, is Doris' magnum opus.
- DirectorTerence FisherStarsPeter CushingChristopher LeeMichael GoughWhen Jonathan Harker rouses the ire of Count Dracula for accepting a job at the vampire's castle under false pretenses, his friend Dr. Van Helsing pursues the predatory villain.Bela may have made the role his own, in a regal manner, but Chris Lee was MY Dracula. Watching him on Saturday as a kid was unbearably scary, almost. Picking a favourite Hammer Dracula is as difficult as picking a favourite position (wink), they are all pretty good. Still, this would be the 'doggy style' or even the 'woman on top' of Hammer films. Geez, I hope me kids don't read this.
- DirectorBob ClarkStarsAlan OrmsbyValerie MamchesJeff GillenSix friends in a theatrical troupe dig up a corpse on an abandoned island to use in a mock Satanic rite. It backfires with deadly consequences.I think THIS is my very favourite movie, no joshing. THERE. I said it and I am not ashamed. Most friends still see me as the same person. I saw it as a teen in the 1970s. The title, besides being awesome on its own, is just darn good advice. The first time I saw it was on the incredible "Chiller Theatre w/Bill Cardille", the second on a bootleg Betamax in Panama, and numerous times since. Now that I own it (Thanks, Outback Ray!) and have seen it enough to write a walk-through, I have to say it aged VERY well. The clothes, lingo, and attitudes are PURE early 70s. The kids who pretend to remember this sort of stuff on "I Love the 70s" would do well to study the players in this flick. Anyhow, even after many viewings over the years it is still genuinely creepy. A forgotten gem, if you will. When I was a teen, I felt Terry (Jane Daly) was the smoking hottest women me adolescent eyes ever laid on, second only to Adrienne Barbeau. I still do.
- DirectorAkira KurosawaStarsToshirô MifuneMinoru ChiakiIsuzu YamadaA war-hardened general, egged on by his ambitious wife, works to fulfill a prophecy that he would become lord of Spider's Web Castle.In case you haven't read me other lists, I am a former drug addict . I had seen Shogun as a teenager. It was a school assignment to watch it. Many years later, going through withdrawal, Shogun would make me forget being dope sick for long periods. THIS movie helps me visualize feudal Japan. Being a fan of the Bard and a lover of the play "Macbeth", this movie is a gem. I could watch it again and again and again.
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsRyan O'NealMarisa BerensonPatrick MageeAn Irish rogue wins the heart of a rich widow and assumes her dead husband's aristocratic position in 18th-century England.You are doing yourself a disservice if you have not seen this. Fascinating, perfectly filmed and the acting is superb. It bombed? Really? Well, when has anyone MADE money OVER estimating the American public? Old England and good King George forever!!!!
- DirectorSamuel FullerStarsLee MarvinMark HamillRobert CarradineA hardened sergeant and the four core members of his infantry unit try to survive World War II as they move from battle to battle throughout Europe.This movie and Apocalypse Now had a HUGE part in me picking the US Army Infantry as my branch of service and job. It may be needless to say to vets, but to the civvies Big Red One covers the personalities and the Infantry pretty good. Apocalypse Now was surreal on purpose. If you ever hear some cat talking about "Apocalypse Now" being just like his "tour", he is probably a fake S.E.A.L., too. They also tend to claim to be part Cherokee, as well as having a mutt that is 'part wolf', too. (Technically not the 70s but I was still a freshman).
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsMartin SheenMarlon BrandoRobert DuvallA U.S. Army officer serving in Vietnam is tasked with assassinating a renegade Special Forces Colonel who sees himself as a god.See above (The BR1). Man, what a great parable but it is based on a Joseph Conrad story. The story was set in the Congo, a great place NOT to be in the late 1890s. It has no bearing on the actual Vietnam war.
The movie reminds me of some BS artist going on and on at a bar (way back when I drank) about his PTSD, blah blah blah. When I told him the VA took great care of me, he did the usual 'secret records means I was where we weren't' story. I almost pity those cats. Ladies, if hooked up with some goof that uses some military 'experience' to justify inappropriate behaviour, get thee over to the national archive and ask for his military records.
They will tell you how to get someone's military records. REAL men NEVER hit women or kids. The majority of ex-POWS are overachievers. They are CEOs, retired pilots, and are never mooches in a bar. I am very grateful Recondos were never mentioned in movies. I guess because we were only allowed to wear the patch in units under the auspices of the XVIII Airborne Corps. A room mate who ended up PCSing to a leg unit said they made him take it off, as well as the JOTC patch on the opposite pocket. Whatever. That was over 30 years ago. - DirectorPeter MedakStarsGary KempMartin KempBillie WhitelawThis fact-based movie follows the life of the twin crime-lords in London's '60s underworld.You don't have to be an Anglophile or have UK roots to watch this, but it does help. A strange and fascinating film that stands up to multiple viewings. Sad, scary, and funny alternately, I hope you find it as haunting as I did.
- DirectorE. Elias MerhigeStarsJohn MalkovichWillem DafoeUdo KierThe filming of Nosferatu (1922) is hampered by the fact that its star Max Schreck is taking the role of a vampire far more seriously than seems humanly possible.First rate in every category, you will not be disappointed in any way. Malkovich shows where he got his reputation from and Defoe is amazing as the Count.
- DirectorJames McTeigueStarsHugo WeavingNatalie PortmanRupert GravesIn a future British dystopian society, a shadowy freedom fighter, known only by the alias of "V", plots to overthrow the tyrannical government - with the help of a young woman.OK, so her accent is as bad as a local PBS hack trying to get a pledge out of EastEnders fans. That's easily ignored, really. Hugo manages to play a man in a mask in a convincing, subtle manner. Keep the awesome graphic novel out of your mind and watch this flick all on it's own. Stellar performances by all but one, coupled with believable situations keep this on my list of flicks I can always watch. Stephen Fry is superb, as is Hugo Weaving.
- DirectorRoland EmmerichStarsWill SmithBill PullmanJeff GoldblumThe aliens are coming and their goal is to invade and destroy Earth. Fighting superior technology, mankind's best weapon is the will to survive.Friends and 'serious' movie fans are going to roll their collective eyes over this choice. First, ignore the atrocious science. No one involved expects things outside the immediate story to stand up to scrutiny. Sit back and enjoy the ride, minus the 'stripper with a heart of gold' parts. Even the suspension of disbelief can't get around her, the kid, or their dog. If digitally removed from the film, no apologies would be needed to include it on this list. The actress is great, its what she has to work with for her character. As cartoonish as Hirsch's performance but still, a solid actress.
- DirectorTrey ParkerStarsTrey ParkerMatt StoneMary Kay BergmanWhen Stan Marsh and his friends go see an R-rated movie, they start cursing and their parents think that Canada is to blame.I was never really that into the show until me younger brother got me to watch this. What can be said that hasn't appeared somewhere else? The musical numbers are brilliant, the story great, the humour priceless. The "Sartre" kid gets old, but that's the only ding. Like "Blazing Saddle", it is still funny after 100 viewings. I wish Big Gay Al lived on my street.
- DirectorBill PaxtonStarsBill PaxtonMatthew McConaugheyPowers BootheA mysterious man arrives at the offices of an FBI agent and recounts his childhood: how his religious fanatic father received visions telling him to destroy people who were in fact "demons."Don't roll your yes, Mathews is VERY good in this. So is Powers. It's hard to describe without giving anything away. If you watch until Paxton wakes the kids up. You will be hooked.
- DirectorDaniel MyrickEduardo SánchezStarsHeather DonahueMichael C. WilliamsJoshua LeonardThree film students vanish after traveling into a Maryland forest to film a documentary on the local Blair Witch legend, leaving only their footage behind.Now that a over a decade has passed, its still is a fresh idea that was both well executed and well done. Stands up to multiple viewings.
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsPaul ReubensElizabeth DailyMark HoltonWhen eccentric man-child Pee-wee Herman gets his beloved bike stolen in broad daylight, he sets out across the U.S. on the adventure of his life.Where to begin? How about a personal anecdote? I used to have a terrible penchant for drugs, plain and simple. Fast forward to 7 or so years ago when your (then 'newly') clean narrator got a chance to watch this flick. Was it as funny to a tea totaler as it was when brain was soaked in THC & opiates? The answer is a resounding YES! It may be even funnier. Like 'Blazing Saddles' I now know every word and STILL laugh. It also COMPLETELY changed me tune about James Brolin. Yes, I went from hater to fan with those couple minutes of screen time. Fickle? Possibly, but it is hard to dislike celebrities that have no problem with some self-effacing humour. He was great and Mr. Reuben was on the very top of his game. 25 years (?!?!) later, it stands the test of time. The rock group's cameo dates it a bit, but that may have been THEIR high water mark, too.
- DirectorOrson WellesStarsCharlton HestonOrson WellesJanet LeighA stark, perverse story of murder, kidnapping and police corruption in a Mexican border town.Once you get past Chuck Heston playing a Mexican, it is a great flick. Very hard to describe without spoilers, so just watch it.
- DirectorBill CondonStarsIan McKellenBrendan FraserLynn RedgraveThe last days of Frankenstein (1931) director James Whale are explored.An absolutely mesmerizing film, you will look at the clock when its over and swear only a couple minutes passed. Frasier would have been taken very seriously had he stuck to flicks like this. I don't look down on folks who take the money and run* but the man can act.
*As a KISS fan, that would be pretty hypocritical ;-) - DirectorSam PeckinpahStarsJames CoburnMaximilian SchellJames MasonGerman commander Hauptmann Stransky places a squad in extreme danger after Sergeant Rolf Steiner refuses to lie for him.If you read the book, you can see how and why it was changed for the big screen. Powerful without being overblown and deep without being cheesy, this is a flick NOT to be missed.
- DirectorJohn HustonStarsHumphrey BogartMary AstorGladys GeorgeSan Francisco private detective Sam Spade takes on a case that involves him with three eccentric criminals, a gorgeous liar and their quest for a priceless statuette, with the stakes rising after his partner is murdered.One of the oft cited "classics" that is well worth watching again and again. It is the movie that made me a Bogey fan. The first film appearence of the mighty Elisha Cook Jr.
- DirectorClint EastwoodStarsClint EastwoodMichael MoriartyCarrie SnodgressA mysterious preacher protects a humble prospector village from a greedy mining company trying to encroach on their land.I saw this movie half-drunk with buddies while in the Army. I went and seen it sober and really dug it. A western that stands up to multiple viewings. Hmm, that reminds me...
- DirectorEthan CoenJoel CoenStarsJeff BridgesMatt DamonHailee SteinfeldA stubborn teenager enlists the help of a tough U.S. Marshal to track down her father's murderer.Rare is the well-done western. Even more rare is the re-make that is as good as the original, if not better. This movie delivers. That young lady should of got the gold statuette. Heck, I may have to make a list of films robbed by the Academy.
- DirectorLindsay AndersonStarsMalcolm McDowellRalph RichardsonRachel RobertsAn ambitious coffee salesman has a series of improbable and ironic adventures that seem designed to challenge his naive idealism.All of the movies listed by your humble narrator are ones I can watch over and over. This is one of them. On some cable channel during my last years in the Army and my first years as a civilian, I willingly caught it many times.
- DirectorDesmond DavisStarsLaurence OlivierHarry HamlinClaire BloomPerseus must battle Medusa and the Kraken to save the Princess Andromeda."On some cable channel during my last years in the Army and my first years as a civilian, I willingly caught it many times." That could certainly describe this one. Ray Harryhausen was the best. Forget cheapo CGI, his stuff was AWESOME and still is.
- DirectorGuillermo del ToroStarsIvana BaqueroAriadna GilSergi LópezIn the Falangist Spain of 1944, the bookish young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer escapes into an eerie but captivating fantasy world.Its not for the kiddies, if you haven't already been warned. This is an absolutely mesmorizing film. The story, the acting (sub-titled, not dubbed), the cinematography, and the direction come together in a way that is rare in today's films. It is easily one of the best films to come around in the past 30 years.
- DirectorGore VerbinskiStarsJohnny DeppGeoffrey RushOrlando BloomBlacksmith Will Turner teams up with eccentric pirate "Captain" Jack Sparrow to save his love, the governor's daughter, from Jack's former pirate allies, who are now undead.So clever, witty, and fun that you can almost forgive everyone involved in the abysmal sequels. Remember the models for the ride that came out around 35 years ago, maybe even 40? This movie is almost as much fun as they were.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobert De NiroJodie FosterCybill ShepherdA mentally unstable veteran works as a nighttime taxi driver in New York City, where the perceived decadence and sleaze fuels his urge for violent action.The first time I saw this was at a drive in during a family trip to Cleveland. It was love at first viewing. 6 years later I had rented the video in the Army to show to some friends. As we were walking up to the barracks, we bumped into some cats from Bravo company (3rd/187thINF ABN) who asked what we were watching. One goof commented "Aw, no one gets killed in that until the very end." If that's your mentality (possibly representative of all mortar men), don't bother. Pearls before swine.
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsKeir DulleaGary LockwoodWilliam SylvesterAfter uncovering a mysterious artifact buried beneath the Lunar surface, a spacecraft is sent to Jupiter to find its origins: a spacecraft manned by two men and the supercomputer HAL 9000.Oh Pittsburgh Playhouse Film Repretory, how sorely you are missed. Not only did it allow teen-agers to be able to see it on the big screen in 1977, it let us take our little brothers. It is another fine example of turning a great but cerebral book into a great movie. Anyone who thinks Kubrick is over-rated needs to go read The Shining and then watch his imagining of it.
- DirectorGeorge Roy HillStarsPaul NewmanRobert RedfordKatharine RossIn 1890s Wyoming, Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid lead a band of outlaws. When a train robbery goes wrong, they find themselves on the run with a posse hard on their heels. After considering their options, they escape to South America.Nowadays, an alarmingly high percentage of "stars" (**cough**) are created. Some could argue it has always been that way. Whatever your position on that, Newman and Redford became stars on their talent. Anyone who thinks otherwise should watch this a couple times, wait a week, and watch it again.
- DirectorAmando de OssorioStarsLone FlemingCésar BurnerMaría Elena ArpónMedieval knights executed for their black magic rituals come back as zombies to torment a group of vacationing college kids.I do not have a clue what this 'part 4' stuff is, but its the right movie. Watch this on Saturday nights in honour of Chilly Billy Cardille. For folks not from the area, he is the reporter in 'Night of the Living Dead' and hosted the most imitated Saturday night monster movie show, ever. The movie? Oh, yeah. A GREAT Spanish Zombie flick. Watch it without sub-titles and work on your Espanol. The ruins and the 'blind dead' are great! The story? Eh, so so at best BUT keep an eye out for when the girls reminisce about their boarding school days. Keeping this spoiler free, you may want to fast forward through Pedro and Virginia looking on their own. It is the fly in the ointment. Besides that, it is way fun! The Yank version is also sadly lacking the girls' "school days memories".
AAIIIEEE! El gato de propulcion!
Addendum: I bought a DVD that has the same cover as the one here at the IMDB. It appears the Yank version is considerably different than the Continent's version, so try to pick it up. Re-watching the original and the Yank version reminded me of a part of the film that I skip through. It is tough to watch and has nothing to add to the flick. Pedro is a scumbag, we get it. So, spoiler free, keep an eye out for Betty and Pedro going off by themselves, hit 2x or even 4x. At least for repeated viewings. - DirectorMenahem GolanStarsCatherine Mary StewartGeorge GilmourGrace KennedyIn 1994, a young couple enters the world of the music industry, and subsequently the world of drugs.I feel guilty admitting it but I let this joke of a film roll in the background. As bad as it is, it is never the horrid "endurance contest" like "Sextette" or the abominable "Candy".
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsJack NicholsonShelley DuvallDanny LloydA family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where a sinister presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from both past and future.See the beta version of Jack's "Joker"
- DirectorMichael WinnerStarsCristina RainesAva GardnerChris SarandonA young woman moves into an apartment in a building which houses a sinister evil.It scared the pants off of me and STILL does. Even though the same films appear on many of my lists I try to do a capsule for each based on the context of the list. The reason this film stands up to multiple viewings is its cinematography and secondary story.
- DirectorBob FosseStarsLiza MinnelliMichael YorkHelmut GriemA female girlie club entertainer in Weimar Republic era Berlin romances two men while the Nazi Party rises to power around them.I know, I know. But you gotta admit she was very good in this. York, too. He is soooooo underrated that it vexes me sometimes. Pre-Nazi Germany was as crazy as it gets, at least from my studies. This is one of those flicks everyone should see.
- DirectorSergei EisensteinDmitriy VasilevStarsNikolay CherkasovNikolai OkhlopkovAndrei AbrikosovThe story of how a great Russian prince led a ragtag army to battle an invading force of Teutonic Knights.The only good part of the original "Red Dawn"* was that "Nevsky" was being shown at the local cinema.
*Did we really need a remake? - DirectorMick JacksonStarsKaren MeagherReece DinsdaleDavid BrierlyThe effects of a nuclear holocaust on the working class city of Sheffield, England and the eventual long-term effects of nuclear war on civilization.Dear Lord, those born after 1980 have no idea how close this was to reality. Go watch it NOW. I'll wait...
- DirectorStanley KubrickAnthony MannStarsKirk DouglasLaurence OlivierJean SimmonsThe slave Spartacus survives brutal training as a gladiator and leads a violent revolt against the decadent Roman Republic, as the ambitious Crassus seeks to gain power by crushing the uprising.Kirk respected our boy Stanley. This was the result.
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsJohnny DeppMartin LandauSarah Jessica ParkerAmbitious but troubled movie director Edward D. Wood Jr. tries his best to fulfill his dreams despite his lack of talent.In the end of the 1980s and early 1990s, my friend Leo Vale used to turn me on to movies. He knows film unlike anyone I have ever met. Anyhow, there was a LOT of Eddie and a GREAT British "Amazing Picture Show" installment on him. Johnny Depp was still to establish himself as a mega-star then. Tim Burton was just hitting his stride and this film may have been his high-water mark.
- DirectorSam MendesStarsTom HanksTyler HoechlinPaul NewmanA mob enforcer's son in 1930s Illinois witnesses a murder, forcing him and his father to take to the road, and his father down a path of redemption and revenge.I changed my tune regarding Mr. Hanks' skill set. I have really come to respect and enjoy his work. This is a great role, and the rest of the of the cast are superb, as is the directing.
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsJon FinchBarry FosterBarbara Leigh-HuntA serial murderer is strangling women with a necktie. The London police have a suspect, but he is the wrong man.Upsets me and has me on the edge of my seat to this day.Oddly, in the States, they show the unsettling murder but pixels out the t*ts . Here, murder is fine but showing knockers is the fall of Western Civ... No wonder we have what we have here.
- DirectorJohn MiliusStarsSean ConneryCandice BergenBrian KeithA Berber chieftain triggers an international incident, drawing the involvement of Theodore Roosevelt, when he kidnaps an American widow and her children in 1900s Morocco.As bad as Candice Bergen's acting is, the wooden Keanu type delivery works. I saw this as the NBC or ABC movie of the week as a kid, and a couple times since. An epic in every way.
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsJohn TravoltaUma ThurmanSamuel L. JacksonThe lives of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster and his wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.Unless you been locked in Disney's vault along with Jim Henson for x amount of years, you have probably heard of this obscure art-house gem. But seriously folks, it stands multiple viewings quite well. This is THE movie to cite as an example of why you should go see a flick even if you do not like anyone in the cast much. I had high hopes for the director, but then again many folks said something similar about me.