Top 100 Movies: Jack Bauer, The Dark Knight, and The Coens
Posted on April 2, 2008
Filed Under Top 100 Movies | 1 Comment
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No. 58 - Young Guns (1988)
Man I loved this flick when I was growing up. Must have seen it 50 times. Plus, its got Jack Bauer and John Locke. Well, kind of.
No. 57 - Batman (1989)
Remember the hype surrounding this flick? Saw it at a sneak preview - one of the best movie-going experiences I have ever had.
No. 56 - Fargo (1996)
Greatness. Although, after seeing No Country for Old Men, Fargo is now my third favorite Coen Brothers’ flick.
Tags: batman, charlie sheen, coen brothers, emilio estevez, fargo, frances mcdormand, jack nicholson, kiefer sutherland, kim basinger, list, michael keaton, no country for old men, steve buscemi, top 100 movies, william h macy, young guns
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Top 15 Comic Book Movies
Posted on December 13, 2007
Filed Under Top 15 Lists | 9 Comments
I am a big fan of comic book movies and I assume a lot of you are as well. That’s probably a safe assumption because Hollywood has been churning out these moneymakers on a consistent basis since the first X-Men flick was released back in 2000. That trend will continue in 2008 with Iron Man, The Dark Knight and The Incredible Hulk all hitting the big screen next summer.
Some comic book movies are really good or great, others not so much (see Spider-Man 3, Hulk) and still others downright stink (see Ghost Rider, Blade: Trinity). Here are the 15 comic book movies I think fall into that first category. Each of these flicks was based on comic book characters and/or a graphic novel.
15. Daredevil (2003)
I am sure some (or a lot) of you will disagree with this choice, but this movie actually surprised me. I am not a big Ben Affleck fan, but he did a solid job as, as far as I know, the only blind superhero.
14. Sin City (2005)
What a visual treat this flick is (no, not just Jessica Alba). Great story, great performance by Mickey Rourke and, hopefully, a great sequel one day.
13. Superman Returns (2006)
There will always be only one Superman to me, but Brandon Routh does a solid job as the new Man of Steel. I really liked that this Superman flick was for more mature audiences. Here’s the teaser trailer, which I like more than the full trailer.
12. Blade II (2002)
Better than the original? It’s a close call, but I give a slight edge to the sequel. As I stated in a previous post - combining horror and action is usually fun.
11. X2: X-Men United (2003)
You wanted more action and Wolverine going nuts? Here you go - enjoy.
10. Superman II (1980)
Superman II gets high marks for a decent plot and villains that can match the Man of Steel’s strength. I still need to see the “Richard Donner Cut” of this flick.
9. A History of Violence (2005)
Yes, A History of Violence is based on a graphic novel. I love this flick and its portrayal of a man trying to leave his violent past behind. If you haven’t seen it, do so. You won’t be disappointed.
8. Batman Returns (1992)
Some consider Batman Returns superior to the original, but for me the original Batman edges this flick by a whisker (or flipper). Batman Returns takes the dark mood set in Batman and goes further. This movie is definitely not for the kitties, I mean kiddies. Sorry.
7. Batman (1989)
Back-to-back Batman. Jack Nicholson gives a classic performance as the Joker and Tim Burton creates a world that has both a futuristic and retro feel at the same time.
6. X-Men (2000)
The original and best. Not as much action as the sequel, but we really get to know the characters and their pain in this flick. Wolverine’s introduction to the audience is great - he is cage fighting in a bar. After that introduction, you just knew that Brian Singer was going to get this right.
5. The Crow (1994)
I won’t get into all the parallels between the character in The Crow and the tragic death of Brandon Lee. I will save that for this flick’s entry in my Top 100 Movies list. Rather, I’ll focus on the atmosphere created by director Alex Proyas, who has done some amazing work in his career thus far (e.g. Dark City). Proyas takes a gothic character and puts him in a dirty and seedy city that is overrun by crime and uses the music of the time to bring it all together.
4. Spider-Man (2002)
Spider-man was it for me as a kid. I couldn’t get enough of the comics, toys and cartoons. So when they (finally) announced they were making this flick, I was ecstatic. I do think they screwed up The Green Goblin’s look, but Willem Dafoe was great as Harry Osbourne.
3. Superman: The Movie (1978)
Christopher Reeve was and is Clark Kent/Superman and the original movie shows you why. Not as action-packed as Superman II, but a great origin story and introduction to the Man of Steel.
2. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Spider-Man 2 is considered by many to be the best comic book movie of all time. I don’t (obviously), but it is superior to the original with a better villain and plot as well as more action than its predecessor.
1. Batman Begins (2005)
Has there been a more “realistic” portrayal of a superhero on film? No. Has there ever been a better back story for Bruce Wayne/Batman? No. That combined with two solid villains, great action, solid acting and fine direction by Christopher Nolan make Batman Begins the best comic book movie of all time. However, that may change after after The Dark Knight is released next summer.
Tags: a history of violence, alex proyas, batman, batman begins, batman returns, ben affleck, blade ii, blade III, brandon lee, brandon routh, brian singer, bruce wayne, christian bale, christopher nolan, christopher reeve, comic book movies, daredevil, fantastic four, ghost rider, graphic novel, green goblin, hulk, iron man, jack nicholson, jessica alba, list, michael keaton, mickey rourke, sin city, spider man, spider man 2, spider-man 3, superman, superman ii, superman returns, superman the movie, the crow, the dark knight, the incredible hulk, the joker, tim burton, top 15, wolverine, x-men, x2 xmen united
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Top 100 Movies: No. 80 - The Untouchables (1987)
Posted on November 9, 2007
Filed Under Top 100 Movies | 4 Comments
We end the week in 1920’s prohibition-era Chicago with The Untouchables. This flick features several stellar performances, but two stand about the rest - Sean Connery, who won an Oscar for his supporting role as one of the Untouchables, Jimmy Malone, and Robert De Niro as infamous crime boss and tax evader Al Capone.
Not to take anything away from Sean Connery (like I could anyway), but Robert De Niro is fantastic in this film. I forget that it is De Niro playing Capone when I watch this flick. Granted, he put on a lot of weight for the role, but it still takes a great actor to so totally consume and live as a character, especially in a biographical film, to make you forget who they are. Hey, Jack Nicholson was great as The Joker in Batman, a role for which he wore a lot of makeup and changed his appearance, but I never forget that it is Jack playing the ghoulish clown sociopath.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Kevin Costner, who gives a solid performance as Eliot Ness. For all the crap Costner gets now, he sure was in some great flicks in the mid-to-late 80’s and early 90’s.
Tags: al capone, batman, chicago, eliot ness, gangster, jack nicholson, kevin costner, list, prohibition, robert de niro, sean connery, the joker, the untouchables, top 100, top 100 movies
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Writer’s Strike: Movies About or Featuring Writers As Characters
Posted on November 6, 2007
Filed Under General Movie Lists | 3 Comments
On Monday, the people who write our favorite comedies, dramas, movies and late night shows went on strike. If this strike lasts for any significant period of time, we will eventually be watching re-runs. In fact, it’s already affecting late-night television. The strike could also shorten the final season of one of my favorite shows - Scrubs. Here’s hoping it ends soon.
With the current state of affairs in Hollywood, what would be more relevant than a list of movies about writers and/or that feature writers as characters? Here are ten eleven such movies (in no particular order) with a (very) short synopsis of each:
The Shining (1980)
Writer goes crazy.
Capote (2005)
Writer is obsessed.
Permanent Midnight (1998)
Writer likes drugs - a lot.
Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
Writer can’t figure out how to end her novel.
Misery (1990)
Writer is saved and then kidnapped by an obsessed fan.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
Writer takes a trip with his lawyer.
Stand By Me (1986)
Writer remembers that crazy summer when he and his friends found a dead body.
Almost Famous (2000)
Wannabe writer goes on tour.
Interview with the Vampire (1994)
Writer interviews a vampire.
As Good As It Gets (1997)
Writer with obsessive compulsive disorder falls in love.
The Player (1992)
Writer threatens a producer.
Tags: almost famous, as good as it gets, ben stiller, brad pitt, cameron crowe, capote, cuba gooding, emma thompson, fear and loathing in las vegas, helen hunt, hunter s. thompson, interview with a vampire, jack nicholson, james caan, jerry stahl, johnny depp, jr., kirstin dunst, misery, permanent midnight, philip seymour hoffman, rob reiner, robert altman, scrubs, stand by me, stanley kubrick, stephen king, stranger than fiction, the player, the shining, tim robbins, tom cruise, will farrell, writer039s strike
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Top 100 Movies: No. 91 - A Few Good Men (1992)
Posted on October 16, 2007
Filed Under Top 100 Movies | 3 Comments
For some reason, A Few Good Men does not seem like it’s fifteen years old, does it? Maybe that’s because it’s conducive to multiple viewings. Yes, I did use the word conducive. I have lost track of how many times I have watched A Few Good Men in its entirety, not to mention the dozens of times I watched it after happening upon it while channel surfing.
This is one of Tom Cruise’s best performances. I love how he goes from an arrogant, smart-ass young lawyer to shaking in his boots just before the climactic courtroom showdown.
Jack Nicholson isn’t half bad either. Doesn’t he have a really famous line in this flick? Oh yeah, it’s No. 29 on the American Film Institute’s 100 Years . . . 100 Movie Quotes list. Don’t worry, I won’t repeat it.
Tags: 100 years . . . 100 movie quotes, a few good men, american film institute, demi moore, jack nicholson, rob reiner, tom cruise, top 100 movies
