10 Movies I Am Thankful For
Posted on November 20, 2007
Filed Under Holiday Movie Lists | 10 Comments
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It’s the time of year to give thanks. Although I am thankful for many more important things in my life, this blog is all about movies and lists. So, here are ten flicks (in no particular order) that I am especially thankful for. You won’t find these in my Top 100 Movies - these flicks didn’t quite make the cut, but are still great films none the less.
The Lookout (2007)
I am thankful for The Lookout because it surprised me with how good it was. The resolution of the heist was a little rushed, but this is an excellent flick starring the kid from 3rd Rock from the Sun, Joseph Gordon-Levitt. You have a good story, characters you actually care about, and great performances by Gordon-Levitt and Jeff Daniels. Check this one out.
Transformers (2007)
I am thankful for Transformers because it is a big, loud, summer blockbuster with excellent special effects and some comedy. What’s not to love?
Blade II (2002)
I am thankful for Blade II for two reasons - it may be better than the original and combining horror and action is always (or usually) fun.
Grindhouse (2007)
I am thankful for Grindhouse because it was great to see a “double feature” in a theater again, Kurt Russell was awesome (in a story that admittedly dragged a bit), and for the fake trailers “Thanksgiving” and “Don’t.”
The Replacements (2000)
I am thankful for The Replacements (the band is pretty good too) because it’s an entertaining and funny (dare I say it) tale of redemption - wouldn’t we all love a “do over” at one time or another?
The Bourne Identity (2002)
When I first saw the trailer for this flick I thought “Matt Damon as a spy with no memory? Yeah, right.” Then I saw this flick and I thought, “Man this is good - no one else could play this part.” I am thankful (again) for pleasant surprises.
Uncle Buck (1989)
I am thankful for Uncle Buck because it’s John Candy at his best - we miss you John!
Hotel Rwanda (2004)
I am thankful for Hotel Rwanda because it tells an important story in a powerful way. Such stories need to be told more often and with the same emotion and power. The trailer for this flick even gets me. Everyone should see it.
Memento (2000)
I am thankful for Memento because of its unique storytelling and its introduction of Christopher Nolan to American audiences. I can’t wait for The Dark Knight!
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
I am thankful for What’s Eating Gilbert Grape because of Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance (which should have won him an Academy Award), Johnny Depp (when isn’t he good?), and a great story.
Are there any flicks you are especially thankful for? I would love to hear about them!
Tags: 3rd rock from the sun, action, blade ii, christopher nolan, dont, grindhouse, holiday, horror, hotel rwanda, jeff daniels, john candy, johnny depp, joseph gordon-levitt, kurt russell, leonardo dicaprio, matt damon, memento, movie list, movies I am thankful for, sequel, siskel and ebert, summer blockbusters, thanksgiving, the bourne identity, the dark knight, the lookout, the replacements, trailers, transformeres, uncle buck, whats eating gilbert grape
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Top 100 Movies: No. 84 - Alien (1979)
Posted on October 31, 2007
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“In space no one can hear you scream.” One of the best taglines ever for one of the scariest movies ever - Alien, No. 84 in my Top 100 Movies list.
This flick could have easily made it into my Top 15 Movies to Watch on Halloween. However, I limited the movies in that list to those which are typically thought of as Halloween fare - haunted houses, ghosts, the undead, the boogeyman, etc. That being said, I may have to make room in that list for Alien next year.
I know, a lot of people prefer Aliens. Not me. Aliens is an action movie first and horror film second. I love action flicks, but great horror movies are released so infrequently that it is really special when one works as well as Alien. Not to mention, Alien has one of the most famous (or infamous) scenes in horror movie history. Antacid anyone?
The original trailer for this flick is incredible. Be sure to check it out . . .
Tags: alien, aliens, halloween, horror, john hurt, ridley scott, science fiction, sigourney weaver, tom skerritt, top 15 movies to watch on halloween, trailer
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Top 15 Movies To Watch On Halloween - Part III
Posted on October 30, 2007
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Here it is. The post you’ve all been waiting for (I hope). You’ve seen Parts I and II (numbers 15 through 6) of my Top 15 Movies to Watch on Halloween. Here is the conclusion - numbers 5 through 1.
Each of these final flicks was made in the 70’s or early 80’s. Obviously they were doing something right back then, like making original movies instead of remakes.
5. The Shining (1980)
A family is voluntarily stranded in a huge hotel in the mountains. Oh yeah, it’s also haunted and the father slowly goes insane.
What happens? If you don’t know you should really see this flick. Herrrrreeeee’s Johnny!
4. The Exorcist (1973)
Another classic and just a freaky, scary and gross movie. This flick stands the test of time.
3. The Evil Dead (1981)
Believe it or not, the director of the Spider-Man movies, Sam Raimi, is responsible for The Evil Dead (the movie, not evil dead . . . whatever). This flick just happens to be one of the best and most notorious horror films of all time. Another freaky, freaky movie.
2. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
I didn’t think the remake of this flick was that bad, it was just a different type of movie, one with a slick production and lots of gore.
Unlike the remake, the original is a gritty, nasty, grainy flick that has the feel of a documentary. Notwithstanding the title of this movie (which includes the words “Chain Saw” and “Massacre”) there is very little gore. Instead you have real scares, freaky characters (there’s that word again) and some incredibly creepy sets.
A word of warning: when you get done watching it, you may feel the need to take a shower (unless of course you endured a double feature of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Psycho).
1. Halloween (1978)
A little obvious? Maybe, but in my humble opinion, John Carpenter’s Halloween is the best horror movie of its kind and the best flick to watch on, well, Halloween.
Like the original The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, there is a noticeable lack of gore in Halloween. However, it isn’t needed. Halloween is scary as is. Besides, is gore scary anyway?
In the hands of a master, ordinary homes in a typical neighborhood can be scary as hell, especially when an escaped mental patient returns home to finish a job he started fifteen years earlier. John Carpenter used all of the tools at his disposal to create an eerie atmosphere on a fall day and night in a typical Midwestern town, including a perfect soundtrack and incredible lighting and camera angles.
I could go on and on, but I won’t. This flick speaks for itself.
If you think I omitted a movie that deserves to be in this list, or disagree with my rankings, please feel free to yell (or scream) at me. Happy Halloween!
Tags: halloween, horror, john carpenter, list, movies, psycho, remake, Sam Raimi, the evil dead, the exorcist, the shining, the texas chain saw massacre, top 15, top 15 movies to watch on halloween
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Top 15 Movies To Watch On Halloween (Part II)
Posted on October 25, 2007
Filed Under Holiday Movie Lists | 4 Comments
As promised, here are Nos. 10 through 6 in my list of the Top 15 Movies to Watch on Halloween (you can find Part I here).
10. High Tension (2005)
We start off with an intense flick.
“Haute Tension,” a 2003 French horror film, was released in the U.S. as High Tension in 2005. It was directed by Alexandre Aja, who directed the remake of The Hills Have Eyes, another intense flick.
For those of you terrified by subtitles, don’t fret - this movie has few subtitles and you forget that you’re even watching a foreign film. Besides, why not expand your horizons a little? OK, High Tension is not going to expand your horizons. Unless you desire to expand your horror movie horizons and subject yourself to an intense, shocking, gory, terrifying and disturbing movie.
You’ve been warned. I’m serious.
9. Friday the 13th (1980)
Ahhh, the original and best. Featuring a young Kevin Bacon, post Animal House. The sequels got progressively inane and were essentially the same movie rehashed after Part II (the first appearance of Jason, pre-hockey mask), but the original is a good “slasher” movie.
The trailer is kind of annoying though. Anybody else with me on that?
8. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Admit it, you were a little scared to sleep after you saw A Nightmare on Elm Street. Come on, you know it’s true. Blame it on Wes Craven. He did an excellent job making scenes look like nightmares - Freddy’s five-foot (or so) long arms in the alley, Nancy running up the stairs only to have her feet get stuck in some gooey substance, etc., etc.
If you need another reason to watch it - a pre-21 Jump Street Johnny Depp stars in this flick.
7. The Thing (1982)
The Thing is a remake of a 1951 monster/science fiction movie and number two on my list of favorite John Carpenter movies. Carpenter is a master at creating an atmosphere of fear, dread, panic and isolation. If you haven’t seen this flick, do so. It’s a horror masterpiece.
6. Psycho (1960)
A classic. After all these years, Psycho is still creepy and scary as hell.
While watching the trailer (which is long, but stick with it), be sure to take note of the happy/cheerful music and Hitchcock’s delivery. Genius.
So, what do you think so far? Part III is coming up next Tuesday, the day before Halloween. Yeah, I timed it that way. Pretty cleaver, I mean clever, huh?
Don’t forget, I will reveal No. 86 in my Top 100 Movies tomorrow.
Have fun watching The Office tonight.
Ok, that’s it. Boo.
Tags: 21 jump street, a nightmare on elm street, alexandre aja, alfred hitchcock, animal house, foreign film, freddy, friday the 13th, halloween, haute tension, high tension, horror, jason, john carpenter, johnny depp, kevin bacon, list, monster, movies, psycho, remake, science fiction, slasher, the hills have eyes, the thing, top 15, trailer, wes craven
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Top 15 Movies To Watch On Halloween (Part I)
Posted on October 23, 2007
Filed Under Holiday Movie Lists | 2 Comments
So Halloween is right around the corner and you’re looking for some scary movies to watch. Well, you’ve come to the right place. Between now and next Tuesday, I will reveal my Top 15 Movies To Watch On Halloween.
These flicks are not my Top 15 horror movies of all time. Rather, these are flicks that are just right for Halloween viewing. They are creepy, scary and, in many cases, gory. I will reveal Nos. 15 through 11 today, 10 through 6 on Thursday, and 5 through 1 next Tuesday.
Here we go . . . .
15. The Descent (2005)
I struggled with whether to include The Descent in this list. Why? Because I have never seen it. I doubt I will ever do this again. However, everything I have heard about The Descent screams for it to be included in this list and I can’t wait to see it myself.
14. The Devil’s Rejects (2005)
I did not like Rob Zombie’s House of 1000 Corpses (which co-stars Rainn Wilson from The Office.) So I was a little skeptical about its sequel, The Devil’s Rejects. This flick happened to be on the Independent Film Channel one night, so I recorded it. I was pleasantly surprised. This movie has a retro feel, sufficiently creepy characters, a decent story, and a great soundtrack. Definitely Halloween night worthy.
13. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
You can’t go wrong with the classics on Halloween. The original Night of the Living Dead is required viewing for all horror flick fans. It may seem a little dated, especially considering the zombie flicks that have been released recently (including a remake of Dawn of the Dead - the sequel to Night of the Living Dead), but it is still a great movie.
12. The Amityville Horror (1979)
There was a house in our neighborhood when I was a kid that looked a lot like the house in The Amityville Horror. I didn’t like walking by it at night.
11. The Ring (2002)
This flick has one of the most shocking moments in horror film history. It is completely unexpected. Check out The Ring, if you dare.
Remember, Nos. 10 through 6 will be revealed on Thursday and be sure to check back tomorrow for No. 87 in my Top 100 Movies list. Boo.
Tags: dawn of the dead, halloween, horror, house of 1000 corpses, night of the living dead, rainn wilson, rob zombie, sequel, the amityville horror, the descent, the devils rejects, the office, the ring, top 15, top 15 movies to watch on halloween, zombie
