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Pulp Fiction (1994)
Number 1
If you have not seen this movie, go into it knowing nothing like I did.
This is my number 1 favorite film of all time. And it always will be. There's honestly so much about this movie to say, that I don't know if I'll be able to fit it all in here.
First of all, the dialogue in this movie is the best dialogue I've ever heard in a movie. Dialogue is one of the hardest things to pull off in a movie, because too much of it can bore an audience. This movie however, makes dialogue entertaining to listen to. This movie features many characters just having conversations throughout. But the way that they're written makes the characters feel genuine. They talk about popular culture, society, and so much more. All in ways for the audience to understand. The way they're worded, just makes it pleasant to listen to. The lines of dialogue almost sound like they have rhythm. Almost like poetry. This is one of the most quotable movies of all time.
This movie is also hilarious. It takes a situation such as a guy getting shot in the face, and makes it one of the funniest scenes in cinematic history. There are puns and slick lines to get laughs out of the audience as well. One of the funniest non-comedy movies ever made.
This movie also does a great job of making criminals likable, and even relatable. We see Jules and Vincent have conversations about foot massages, restaurants in Paris, and TV, while they're on their way to kill someone. These people are not morally evil. They commit evil actions, but they've been so desensitized to it, that they just see it as their job. No character in this film is necessarily evil, other than Zed and Lance.
The directing is immaculate. Tarantino uses shakey shots, and quick pans to give certain scenes an exhilirating feeling. Tarnatino also gets bafflingly great performances out of every actor. Thanks to his directing, the film keeps your attention at all times. It's a very unique style that belongs to him, and him only.
The acting in this movie is incredible. No one gives a bad performance thanks to Quentin Tarantino pushing them as hard as he can. Samuel L. Jackson in particular, giving one of the greatest performances I've ever seen.
The soundtrack is incredible, and is my personal favorite soundtrack for any film.
The editing is immaculate. The fact Forrest Gump took the Oscar home for editing is criminal. The freeze frame, which is followed by the credits, gives the viewer an exhilarating feeling, and sets them in the mood for the rest of the movie. Sally Menke did an indredible job giving this film an exciting feel.
The storytelling is also incredible. Tarantino tells the story out of order, which makes the movie very rewatchable. During the second watch, several scenes will feature details that you would have never noticed the first time watching.
Finally, the themes of the story. Many people say this film has no themes in it, and those people are beyond wrong. Try to be a better person. That's the theme of this movie. While Marsellus is being raped by Zed, Butch escapes and could leave him behind. It would make since, he knows Marsellus wants to kill him, but instead, he hesitates, and decides to go back and help him. Marsellus, in return, lets him go. Jules, goes from a merciless hit man, to experiencing a miracle, and taking it as a sign from God to change. As a Christian, this is my favorite factor of the movie. I won't get anymore into my beliefs, but it is such a great lesson to show that anyone can be redeemed. After Jules takes the sign from God, he decides to quit being an assassin and walk the Earth until God puts him where he wants him. When he's being robbed, and gets put in the middle of a Mexican standoff, he gives the robber his money instead of killing him. He tells the robber, "The truth is, you're the weak, and I am the tyranny of evil men. But I'm trying Ringo, I'm trying real hard, to be the shepherd." Which is one of the greatest lines for a redemption arc ever. Because he admits that he's evil, but he's gonna try as hard as he can to change, and be a better person.
There is so much more about this movie, but I can't fit it all here. From the tense scenes, to the funny scenes, to the action scenes, to the burtal scenes, this movie is a masterpiece, and is one of the greatest movies ever made.
10/10.
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
An Incredible Script, Masterfully Directed, With Performances That Were Immaculate
Many people suggested The Wolf of Wall Street to me telling me that it was right up my alley, and boy were they right. This movie, like GoodFellas, tells a true story with masterful direction, and immaculate performances. Not to mention, it was very funny.
You've got all of the common trademarks you'd find in a Scorsese movie. Heavy language, freezeframes, tracking shots, a flashforward, and an incredible soundtrack. The movie begins with a flash forward that immediately tells you what kind of movie you're about to watch. It features two people throwing short people at a target with different prices labeled on different parts of the target, money being thrown on the floor, and a large crowd of people in an office building. We freeze on the little person whilst flying through the air, and then the narration begins. Immediately you can tell what this movie's about. A bunch of rich jerks who use their money to have as much fun as possible. The opening scene tells you exactly what the rest of the movie will be like, and if you don't want to spend three hours watching something you won't like, you won't have to. With the tracking shots and the music, the movie feels alive at all times and keeps your attention from beginning to end.
This is one of the movies where everyone nails their performance. Even if they're not a major character, the actors portraying them nail the assignment. Many people say that this is Dicaprio's best work, and I think I would have to agree. He really nails the portrayal of the rich jerk that his character is. His narration is perfect, keeping the story moving, and trying not to bore the audience. Not to mention, the scenes where his character gets high. I have no clue how DiCaprio prepared for that part of the role, but it was very realistic, and led to some very comedic moments. Jonah Hill also had an incredible role as Donnie, who was absolutely hilarious. I laughed at all of his lines and moments. Margot Robbie also had an incredible performance. She perfectly portrayed the kind of woman that Belfort would have been married to.
Finally, the comedy. I found this movie to be very funny. Whether it was Donnie being a wise guy, or Mad Max losing his mind, or even DiCaprio losing his mind over Benihana, I laughed very hard during this movie. There is one scene in particular, where the characters get insanely high and act like complete morons, not having the capability to walk, and not being able to talk, and it was some of the funniest stuff I've ever seen.
Overall, if you like Scorsese or DiCaprio's work, I would highly recommend The Wolf of Wall Street. It was very funny, and it kept my attention the entire time.
10/10.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
Shattered My Expectations Into Little Glass Shards, Then Shattered The Shards
The first part of this review will be spoiler free. I will warn you before I get into spoilers.
I went into this movie with the highest of expectations. The film was getting good feedback, everyone I talked to said that it surpassed their expectations, and I loved Into the Spider-Verse, so this film had a lot to live up to. I went into this movie with expectations that were so high, I didn't think I would enjoy it. But boy did this movie deliver.
First of all, the animation in this movie is without a doubt the best animation I've ever seen in a movie. I absolutely did not expect it to surpass the animation of the original, but they did. They use several different styles of animation throughout the film for different universes. One in particular, took 2-3 years to develop. And it was only used for one character. Some of the styles of animation look like they're hand drawn, others are the comic book style introduced in the first one, and others look like water paint. Each animation style was stunning. Other than just the style of animation, the way they animated the movements of the characters and the elements of their world was absolutely mind-boggling. Every frame in this movie is gorgeous and pleasing to the eyes.
That's all I'm gonna say without going into spoilers because this is a movie that should be seen with as little information as possible. If you liked Into the Spider-Verse, then you'll love this movie.
!!!!! Spoilers!!!!!
The overall story was also fantastic. Some of the specific things that I liked about it was how they brought back a joke from the first movie and made it a core part of the plot. I'm of course, talking about our villain, Spot. Who was the character that got hit by a bagel in the first film. I love how his motivation is very clichéd. It really provides the feel of a comic book whilst maintaining a threatening villain. I liked how we got to see more of Gwen's story, which provided a lot more context on events that were only touched upon in the previous film rather than fully delved into. I liked the idea of a group of Spider-Man, who essentially act like the TVA from Loki (2021). I liked the characters of Miguel O'Hare, Spider Punk (who was the character with the animation style that took 2-3 years to develop), and Pavitr, who were all very entertaining. I liked the return of Peter B. Parker from the first film with his daughter. And I loved the different variants of Spider-People and Spider-Things. My personal favorite being a T-Rex Spider-Man, which made me die of laughter, even though he only got 5 seconds of screen time.
Not to mention the jokes, which all made me laugh. They put so many jokes into this movie, but it never interfered with the story or made it drag out longer than it should have. From the T-Rex Spider-Thing shooting a web out of its talons, to every line sputtered out of Spot's mouth, to the wisecracking Spider-People, this movie made me laugh out loud so many times.
Finally, the chemistry and drama between characters.
-Chemistry between characters
I loved the ways the characters interacted with each other. All of the Spider-People, for the most part, act like the best of friends. In some cases, it's because they know each other personally, and in other cases it's because they understand each other. The interactions between the characters are joyous to watch.
-Drama
The relationship of Miles and Gwen was touched upon and suggested in the first one, but it's ever really stated what the status of the relationship is. By the end of the first movie, they agree to be friends. In this movie however, there is full on romantic tension between Miles and Gwen. They both recognize that it's there, and they do talk about it, suggesting a possible romantic relationship. But due to the constant movement of the plot, they don't discuss it further. Not to mention that during the constant movement of the plot, Miles begins to feel betrayed by Gwen. Which creates more tension between them. That's not the only drama however. While the first film focused on Miles and his relationship with his father, this film focuses on the relationship of his mother. Who's having a hard time accepting the fact that Miles isn't a little kid anymore. Now, this is what makes this movie different from any other kids movie with this plot. In every other kids movie, the parent usually gets in the way of their kid. They are constantly a third-wheel and embarrass them. Which creates tension between the parent, and their kid. Which leads to the clichéd ending where they apologize to each other, and assure their love for eachother. This movie however, plays it differently. In this movie, Miles' mother tells him her thoughts on him growing up, and they apologize and assure each other of their love at that moment. Which sets up Mile's determination to get home. Because he's made up with both of his parents, and he doesn't want to lose them. The movie does this expertly in a way I've never seen done in a film before.
Overall, this movie is perfect. It tries to do many things, and whilst doing so, become an overachiever. From the comedy, to the story, to the drama, to the animation, to the characters, this movie absolutely nails every factor. And in case I didn't make it clear, I absolutely love the first Spider-Verse movie, and also consider that to be a perfect movie, but when comparing the two, it doesn't even come close. This movie, in my opinion, is better than Into the Spider-Verse. Across the Spider-Verse is absolutely mindblowing, and will forever be one of my all time favorite films.
10/10.
Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (2001)
A Simple Premise, Expressed Through Gorgeous Art
The first time I watched Spirited Away, I didn't get it. I mean, I didn't understand why it was so popular. It wasn't until the film had some time to circulate in my head that I realized the artistic appeal the film had. It wasn't until a recent rewatch when I realized just how perfect this truly is. It's a masterpiece, and will forever be one of my all time favorite movies.
As I said, the first time I watched Spirited Away, I didn't really understand all the hype around it. I liked it, but the story is very simple. Which is fine, but it didn't make sense to me why it was considered the greatest animated movie of all time. But now I understand it. The story is very basic, but it's not about the story. The film is about exploring a unique, and strange world. Discovering the rules of this world, the creatures that inhabit it, and the correct way to interact with said inhabitants. That's not all though. The film is also about growing up and maturing. We see this with our main character, Chihiro, who goes from a child scared to try new things, to a child who is brave enough to try new things. The film also provides social commentary on how greedy humans are, how they litter, and how they take everything for granted. All of this is expressed through a literal canvas that comes to life. Each individual frame is hand drawn and painted. As a result, every frame in the film is like a gorgeous painting with bright, vibrant, and lively colors. Similarly to something found in an art museum.
All in all, words can't describe the masterpiece that is Spirited Away. It really needs to be seen to be understood. I would highly recommend this to anyone, even if they don't like anime. I myself wasn't a person who liked anime, but this movie has changed my view upon the art style. It's an absolute masterpiece and a must see for anyone who appreciates animation.
Better Call Saul (2015)
A Slow Burn That Is 100% Worth It
Many people say that this show is better than the show that started it all, Breaking Bad. And while I don't agree with that, Better Call Saul puts up a really good fight and ultimately has become my second favorite TV show of all time(the first being Breaking Bad). If you go into this show expecting it to be similar to Breaking Bad, you're not going to enjoy it. Even though they are in the same universe, Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul are pretty different. There are two stories being told in the show. One story is the story of James M. McGill,(Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad) a man who's struggling with his career as a lawyer. And the other story is the story of Mike Ehrmantraut, a man who gets involved with the world of crime. Similar to the film Inglourious Basterds (2009), the show tells two different stories that collide for the ending. Each story builds up, adding more and more details to the plot until they both get to a point where they collaborate in an incredible and jaw-dropping finale. The show is also masterful at making the viewer understand exactly how each of the characters think and act. It makes you feel like your best friends with each of the characters in the sense that you know everything about them. What makes them angry, what makes them happy, what their interests are, etc. The show also has many easter eggs to Breaking Bad and answers some of the questions that were never answered in the show. The cinematography is also phenomenal. From the variety of bright and beautiful colors, to the camera angles, it's gorgeous to look at. Another great thing in the show is one of the many themes portrayed in it. That theme being that the law isn't perfect. Jimmy and other lawyers are able to use many different loopholes in the justice system to get their way. The final episode especially, shows that even though many people think of the law as sacred, it is anything but perfect. The acting is also great with Bob Odenkirk giving a phenomenal performance. Another story that this show tells is the story of Saul Goodman after the events of Breaking Bad, which are filmed in beautiful black and white. This part of the show is especially entertaining to the Breaking Bad fans. All in all, if you liked Breaking Bad, I would highly recommend this show. In my opinion, it was definitely worth my time. 10/10.
Get Out (2017)
A Perfect Story Perfectly Paced and Perfectly Told
Unless you count The Silence of the Lambs as a horror movie, this is my favorite horror movie.
The first time you watch this movie, you have no idea what's going on. You know something's off, but you have no idea what it could be. This keepers the viewers attention as they wonder what everything could mean and how it's all connected. The second time you watch this movie, you know how the movie ends and plays out. So when you rewatch it, you understand all of the weird things you saw the first time, not knowing the meaning of them the first tims. Making the second watch just as if not more enjoyable than the first watch. The film also brings the viewer realization that racism is still an issue in the modern world and that it should be addressed and dealt with. Every actor in this movie nails their performance perfectly. And even though this film is 1 hour and 44 minutes long, it feels perfectly paced. The movie never seems to drag on, having the viewers attention at all times. Not to mention the score of the movie. The score brings the viewer uneasiness as it plays whenever something weird is going on. Even though the viewer has no idea of what's going on, they know that something about it is off, and the music makes it even more uneasy and scary to watch. All in all, this is a perfect horror film. Every aspect is perfect from the acting to the story to the directing to the score, this movie nails everything perfectly. 10/10.