Past reviews

Here is a list of the 116 movies I had seen before starting this blog, and comments (as I add them, or remember them, whatever)

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Ahh yes, the most popular movie no one saw in the theater. Well, maybe some did, but it is actually better on television. I’ve seen it probably half a dozen times. Probably the most incredible thing Stephen King ever inspired, other than “The Lawnmower Man”. Now, lets look at the word incredible. Usually in our modern times one thinks of it as a positive adjective, when really it simply means unbelievable. “The Shawshank Redemption” was too good to have come from a Stephen King story, and “The Lawnmower Man” was too awful.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

I hear Quentin Tarantino listens to music while he writes, and ends up writing scenes to the music (similar to Richard Kelly). Basically, rather than this being a movie that happens to have a soundtrack, this is a soundtrack that happens to have some pictures and dialogue. Basically an extended music video. This does not detract from the quality of the film at all.

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

How can this have been ranked above Episode IV and VI? Not much comment, was just a movie I had to like growing up (and still do).

Star Wars (1977)

Based on “The Hidden Fortress” by Akira Kurosawa. No, really.

Shichinin no samurai (1954) (Seven Samurai)

I had a friend long ago (still have sporatic contact with him) who got me into Akira Kurosawa, anime, and Peter Jackson movies (in around 1997, way before Lord of the Rings). I had seen Toshirō Mifune in “Yojimbo”, the Samurai series, and “The Hidden Fortress”, so I always thought he was always typcast as an unbeatable (or at least honorable) samurai.

I ended up seeing most of Akira Kurosawa’s movies on TCM, during his tribute month. This is usually considered his most influential work. Worth watching.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

As everyone has seen this and read a million reviews about it, I shall review an older movie by Peter Jackson.

How about “Meet the Feebles”. If you ever wondered what happened back-stage at “Sesame Street”, you could watch “The Muppet Show”. However, if you ever thought that this was an unrealistic candid portrayal of a puppet theater troupe, then I’ve got good news for you. It is a great movie, funny, disgusting, and in terribly bad taste. See it often.

However, I can’t believe they gave Peter Jackson any money at all to make any serious films ever, after this thing. Seriously, if you saw “Meet the Feebles” would you give the same director $200,000,000 to make your movie trilogy?

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Another of those movies that when you see it growing up, is just part of your memories, and you can’t really give any opinions about it. The melty wax faces were spooky though.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

“Dead Alive” (originally “Brain Dead”) is Peter Jackson’s film from 1992. It was the first Peter Jackson movie I saw, and was one of the best movies I’d seen until that point. It was as if George Romero and Monty Python had a bastard offspring, that Peter Jackson found in an alley and took home to raise on his own.

“I kick ass for the lord!”

“Your mama ate my dog!” “…Not all of it.”

The Usual Suspects (1995)

Psycho (1960)

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

“Children’s icecream, Mandrake!”

“Shoot, a feller could have a pretty good time in Vegas with all this stuff!”

“You’re gonna have to answer to the Coca-Cola company.”

“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here, this is the war room!”

The height of Peter Sellers career, showing the extent of his range and his dedication to his absurdity. For Kubrick, it occupies a strange niche between “Lolita” and “2001”. A must see for anyone who would ever enjoy a black comedy without a laugh track.