The Films I've seen in 2014 From Best to Worst
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- DirectorMichael CurtizStarsHumphrey BogartIngrid BergmanPaul HenreidA cynical expatriate American cafe owner struggles to decide whether or not to help his former lover and her fugitive husband escape the Nazis in French Morocco.This film has no business being this good and yet I'm not sure I've ever seen a film that works as well as this one,the direction,script,dialogue,music,even the performances from minor characters to major help make this one of the most memorable and timeless masterpieces in film history...it just gets better with every viewing and is one of my all time favorites.
10+ - DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsJames StewartGrace KellyWendell CoreyA wheelchair-bound photographer spies on his neighbors from his Greenwich Village courtyard apartment window and, despite the skepticism of his fashion-model girlfriend, becomes convinced one of them has committed murder.I have seen Rear Window more than any other Hitchcock film and am always amazed at how much suspense he builds with so little...James Stewert,Grace Kelly and Thelma Ritter are the three greatest amateur sleuths to ever be put on celluloid and you have to love the perverse sense of humor that permeates the film...probably my favorite Hitchcock film and without question one of my all time favorites.
10+ - DirectorFred ZinnemannStarsGary CooperGrace KellyThomas MitchellA town Marshal, despite the disagreements of his newlywed bride and the townspeople around him, must face a gang of deadly killers alone at "high noon" when the gang leader, an outlaw he "sent up" years ago, arrives on the noon train.Gary Cooper is the subtlest of actors and he just might be at his absolute best in High Noon...the twitches in his face,the looks he gives people and his body movements show his anxiety and fear for what's about to occur and his contempt for the towns people who don't stand with him,it's one of those performances that seems to get better and better every time I see it...I think as brilliantly made as this film is it would not be the masterpiece it is without him.
When it comes to Westerns this is about as good as it gets and it's also one of my all time favorites.
10 - DirectorStanley KubrickStarsKirk DouglasRalph MeekerAdolphe MenjouAfter a failed attack on a German position, a general orders three soldiers, chosen at random, court-martialed for cowardice and their commanding officer must defend them.One of the greatest of all war films if not the greatest...Kubrick's masterpiece is still as powerful and relevant now as it must of been when it came out almost 60 years ago...Kirk Douglas gives one of his greatest performances and George Macready is his equal...another one of my all time favorites.
10 - DirectorWilliam WylerStarsGregory PeckAudrey HepburnEddie AlbertA bored and sheltered princess escapes her guardians and falls in love with an American newsman in Rome.My second viewing of this romantic/comedy and it may even be better than I remember...Gregory Peck is wonderful,but it's the luminous Audrey Hepburn that steals the show,she is the epitome of grace and charm...one of William Wyler's best films,one of the best romantic/comedies ever made and one of my all time favorites.
10 - DirectorJohn FordStarsJohn WayneClaire TrevorAndy DevineA group of people traveling on a stagecoach find their journey complicated by the threat of Geronimo and learn something about each other in the process.This is one of my favorite John Ford films,one of my favorite John Wayne films and one of my favorite westerns...it really is one of the most entertaining and exciting films ever made expertly directed by the master and stereotypical characters aside the performances from everyone are terrific,especially Trevor,Wayne,and Mitchell,it's also one of my all time favorites.
10 - DirectorAsghar FarhadiStarsPayman MaadiLeila HatamiSareh BayatA married couple are faced with a difficult decision - to improve the life of their child by moving to another country or to stay in Iran and look after a deteriorating parent who has Alzheimer's disease.A tragic and at times heart wrenching family drama that deals with class warfare between a middle and lower class family and a judicial system that neither has much faith in...I haven't seen many films from Iran and even though it opens a door to a world and culture different from my own it also shows that there is much that is universal...One of the best films I've seen in the last 20 years.
10 - DirectorGeorge A. RomeroStarsDavid EmgeKen ForeeScott H. ReinigerDuring an escalating zombie epidemic, two Philadelphia SWAT team members, a traffic reporter and his TV executive girlfriend seek refuge in a secluded shopping mall.It's not the scariest of zombie films but it's still the greatest with characters you actually care about and zombies that have personality even with make-up that isn't the most convincing by today's standards although the gory scenes are and there's even some social commentary for those who need more but I do think even though it's not fair to compare it to a TV series where the story and characters can continue to grow that "The Walking Dead" more so than any of the zombie films that have followed has spoiled me and actually has brought this film down a notch by creating characters that are far more interesting and zombies that are more believable.
The next time I update my greatest films "Dawn of the Dead" will no longer be on my top 100 but it still is one of the greatest horror films of all time.
10 - DirectorRidley ScottStarsSigourney WeaverTom SkerrittJohn HurtThe crew of a commercial spacecraft encounters a deadly lifeform after investigating a mysterious transmission of unknown origin.The visuals and sound add a lot to what is basically a boo film and a cast of solid actors helped make this perhaps the greatest of all Sci-Fi/Horror films that even after 35 years is as effective as when I first saw it back in 1979 and the creature is certainly one of the most memorable of all time and in an era when men usually played the hero in this kind of film,Sigourney Weaver proved that she was as good as any man if not better.
10 - DirectorJames CameronStarsSigourney WeaverMichael BiehnCarrie HennDecades after surviving the Nostromo incident, Ellen Ripley is sent out to re-establish contact with a terraforming colony but finds herself battling the Alien Queen and her offspring.I've always considered Alien just a little better than the sequel but this is one of those rare sequels that one could argue is better than the original and for the first time I've watched the 2 one after the other and to be honest I'm still not sure which is better, it really is a tough call...Aliens in many ways is a better made film technically and Sigourney Weaver is brilliant in what has become her signature role but I thought she was quite good in the first...the first is sci-fi/horror while the sequel is more sci-fi/action and their both brilliant.
10 - DirectorJames AlgarSamuel ArmstrongDavid HandStarsHardie AlbrightStan AlexanderBobette AudreyThe story of a young deer growing up in the forest.I have to admit being somewhat surprised by how under appreciated many of the classic Disney films are on IMDB compared to their contemporaries,I suppose it's just a sign of the times where people prefer new over old, and CGI over hand drawn but I still think this is one of the best animated films ever made...This film is darker and more adult than many of the animated films today and Bambi's journey from a baby to a man strikes a cord with me... I watch many of the animated films now and I see nothing original,characters are retreads from before as are the story lines(you could probably say that about most movies made today).
10 - DirectorHoward HawksStarsHumphrey BogartLauren BacallJohn RidgelyPrivate detective Philip Marlowe is hired by a wealthy family. Before the complex case is over, he's seen murder, blackmail and what might be love.This classic film noir is worth watching just for the dialogue alone...that the plot is so convoluted and difficult to follow at times just doesn't matter because it's such a well made and acted film with some of the best dialogue ever that the plot itself seems insignificant...while most people have always considered " The Maltese Falcon" Bogart's best film noir, I for one always preferred this one although I'll have to see that one again to see if I still feel that way...this is one of Bogart's best roles and Bacall's as well and it's also one of the best noir's ever made.
10 - DirectorAlfonso CuarónStarsSandra BullockGeorge ClooneyEd HarrisDr Ryan Stone, an engineer on her first time on a space mission, and Matt Kowalski, an astronaut on his final expedition, have to survive in space after they are hit by debris while spacewalking.Gravity is one of those films that's meant for the big screen but even on a T.V. there are very few films visually that can compare to it and the story and performances by the 2 stars make this one of the best sci-fi films in recent memory.
9 - DirectorBen LewinStarsJohn HawkesHelen HuntWilliam H. MacyA man in an iron lung who wishes to lose his virginity contacts a professional sex surrogate with the help of his therapist and priest.Beautifully told and wonderful life affirming film with terrific performances especially from the 2 leads.
9 - DirectorFranklin J. SchaffnerStarsCharlton HestonRoddy McDowallKim HunterAn astronaut crew crash-lands on a planet where highly intelligent non-human ape species are dominant and humans are enslaved.Still the best of the Apes movie...terrific story and the make up is still impressive but Heston's performance which I once thought was among his best is at times a little over the top and diminishes the films greatness a little from what it once was.
9 - DirectorWoody AllenStarsWoody AllenDiane KeatonTony RobertsAlvy Singer, a divorced Jewish comedian, reflects on his relationship with ex-lover Annie Hall, an aspiring nightclub singer, which ended abruptly just like his previous marriages.Probably Woody's most engaging and fun film if not his best...Diane Keaton has never been better and Woody is at his most appealing.
9 - DirectorWoody AllenStarsMia FarrowJeff DanielsDanny AielloIn 1935 New Jersey, a movie character walks off the screen and into the real world.As a lover of movies I've always related to this Woody Allen film more than any of his others and used to think it was his best but after seeing "Annie Hall" again it's a tough call...this is as much a love affair for old movies as a film about the power cinema can have over us and the bittersweet ending was the perfect way for this film to end...Mia Farrow is absolutely wonderful.
9 - DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsHarrison FordKaren AllenPaul FreemanIn 1936, archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can obtain its awesome powers.Another Spielberg film that seems to have lost some of it's magic and I'm not sure why...it's a rousing adventure and Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones,Karen Allen is terrific,and the music score is one of John Williams most memorable...I really can't find fault with the film except to say the enjoyment level just wasn't as high as it once was...a film that has been on my top 100 since I started rating movies back in 1982 will probably now be top 500 or 600.
9 - DirectorNat FaxonJim RashStarsSteve CarellToni ColletteAllison JanneyShy 14-year-old Duncan goes on summer vacation with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and her boyfriend's daughter. Having a rough time fitting in, Duncan finds an unexpected friend in Owen, manager of the Water Wizz water park.Wonderful film about both teenage and grown-up angst's that we all can relate to and filled with terrific performances from a first rate cast especially Sam Rockwell who is unforgettable as a likable water park owner.
9 - DirectorLudwig BergerMichael PowellTim WhelanStarsConrad VeidtSabuJune DuprezAfter being tricked and cast out of Bagdad by the evil Jaffar, King Ahmad joins forces with a thief named Abu to reclaim his throne, the city, and the Princess he loves.For those who live on CGI the special effects in this film will disappoint ,although some of it is still quite impressive but this film works as well as it does because of the characters,Rex Ingram,Sabu,and Conrad Veidt are all terrific and bring the story to life and make this such a joy to watch...it may not be as great as I once thought but it still is one of the best fantasies ever made.
9 - DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsSam NeillLaura DernJeff GoldblumA pragmatic paleontologist touring an almost complete theme park on an island in Central America is tasked with protecting a couple of kids after a power failure causes the park's cloned dinosaurs to run loose.I've always looked at "Jurassic Park" as a roller coaster ride,it's exciting,thrilling and a lot of fun...the dinosaurs put on screen really are a marvel and one of the great technical achievements in movies, there are 2 scenes in particular that are right up there with the best of Spielberg(the first appearance of the T-Rex and the scene in which it chases them in the jeep) and for that reason some of the annoying characters and bad performances didn't really bother me,although after seeing this for the 6th or 7th time I've sort of warmed up to Sam Neill and Jeff Goldblum but Laura Dern(who is a good actress) is out of her element,however I did find the kids less annoying than I remember.
This may not be up there with Spielberg's best films but I still think it's great entertainment and in his day nobody did it better.
9 - DirectorBryan SingerStarsKevin SpaceyGabriel ByrneChazz PalminteriThe sole survivor of a pier shoot-out tells the story of how a notorious criminal influenced the events that began with five criminals meeting in a seemingly random police lineup.If there was ever a film who's greatness was determined by the last 10 minutes this is that film,it's a convoluted crime film that holds your interest until the twist ending which makes the whole film come together in a way you didn't see coming...saw this film when it first came out and I thought it might lose something the second time around since I knew the twist but surprisingly I think I got more enjoyment out of it this time around.
9 - DirectorDavid O. RussellStarsChristian BaleAmy AdamsBradley CooperA con man, Irving Rosenfeld, along with his seductive partner Sydney Prosser, is forced to work for a wild F.B.I. Agent, Richie DiMaso, who pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and the Mafia.Supposedly based on true events this is a unforgettable crime film with a dream cast all at their best...the only down side was having De Niro play a character he's played a million times but it's basically a cameo and does nothing to deter your enjoyment from this great film.
9 - DirectorJohnnie ToStarsLouis KooHonglei SunYi HuangA drug cartel boss who is arrested in a raid is coerced into betraying his former accomplices as part of an undercover operation.This is one 0f the most exciting and thrilling crime films I've seen in recent memory with 2 standout performances from the leads...once it gets going it never lets up.
9 - DirectorDean DeBloisStarsJay BaruchelCate BlanchettGerard ButlerWhen Hiccup and Toothless discover an ice cave that is home to hundreds of new wild dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider, the two friends find themselves at the center of a battle to protect the peace.At times much darker and more adult than the first one but just as entertaining and enjoyable...I think the Dragon films are among the best animated films of the last 20 years.
9 - DirectorMichael CurtizStarsJoan CrawfordJack CarsonZachary ScottA hard-working mother inches towards disaster as she divorces her husband and starts a successful restaurant business to support her spoiled daughter.Even though this may not be as great as I once thought it was,it's still a terrific film noir with a brilliant performance from Crawford, and Ann Blyth is deliciously despicable as her daughter.
9 - DirectorKarl FreundStarsBoris KarloffZita JohannDavid MannersA resurrected Egyptian mummy searches Cairo for the girl he believes to be his long-lost princess.Next to "Frankenstein" and "Bride of Frankenstein" this is my favorite of the Universal horror films...this is as much a love story as it is a horror movie and Karloff is at his absolute best.
9 - DirectorClaude NuridsanyMarie PérennouStarsKristin Scott ThomasJacques PerrinA documentary on insect life in meadows and ponds.I have never seen the insect world come to life as it does in this remarkable documentary,one is absolutely enthralled from beginning to end and the visuals at times are mind boggling and while I love the fact that it lets the visuals tell the story I have to admit there were a few times where I wish there was some narration in explaining what these creatures were doing,that being said it's a minor quibble for such a great film.
9 - DirectorRon HowardStarsDaniel BrühlChris HemsworthOlivia WildeThe merciless 1970s rivalry between Formula One rivals James Hunt and Niki Lauda.This true story about the rivalry between 2 formula one drivers is intelligent,exciting and has a couple of oscar caliber performances from the 2 leads and even though you kinda know where this stories going I didn't care because I was captivated by it...there is a BBC Documentary called Clash of the Titans-Niki Lauda vs James Hunt which I highly recommend and makes a great companion piece to this film.
9 - DirectorFrank CapraStarsJames StewartDonna ReedLionel BarrymoreAn angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.It may not be as wonderful as I once thought but it's heart is in the right place and I have to admit the ending always gets to me...I suppose it's sugar coated fluff at it's best or worst depending on how you look at it but for the most part it still managed to work it's magic on me.
9 - DirectorSteve McQueenStarsChiwetel EjioforMichael Kenneth WilliamsMichael FassbenderIn the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free Black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.The story itself is astonishing and that it's based on a true story and pretty accurate to it makes it that much more remarkable... Chiwetel Ejiofor is memorable as Solomon Northup as is Michael Fassbender as slave owner Edwin Epps but when Brad Pitt showed up it took me right out of this emotionally charged film because I didn't see a character I saw Brad Pitt...the other criticism I have is that we see the horrors and hardships Solomon Northup goes through but we really don't know much about the man himself despite those criticisms though I still think this is an amazing film not to be missed.
9 - DirectorJuan José CampanellaStarsRicardo DarínSoledad VillamilPablo RagoA retired legal counselor writes a novel hoping to find closure for one of his past unresolved homicide cases and for his unreciprocated love with his superior - both of which still haunt him decades later.A wonderfully told and compelling mystery/thriller that's also a terrific love story...as the story unfolds one gets more and more involved until the surprising climax.
9 - DirectorJames WanStarsPatrick WilsonVera FarmigaRon LivingstonParanormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren work to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in their farmhouse.True story or not this is one of the scariest films I've ever seen...not since "The Silence of the Lambs" have I felt so on edge in a movie...there's really nothing here that we haven't seen before but very few films have done it this effectively,it draws you in and never lets go...I also have to say that the performances by the 2 leads were terrific and when it comes to the horror genre this is one of the best.
9 - DirectorTom HollandStarsChris SarandonWilliam RagsdaleAmanda Bearse"Fright Night" sees a teenager believing that the newcomer in his neighborhood is a vampire. He turns to an actor in a television hosted horror movie show for help to deal with the undead.This may not be the best vampire film ever made but it's probably the one I enjoy the most...It's not great cinema but it's great fun and Chris Sarandon and especially Roddy McDowall deserve all the credit for making this such an entertaining film...the remake was OK but it can't hold a candle to the original.
9 - DirectorEnrique UrbizuStarsJose CoronadoRodolfo SanchoHelena MiquelA corrupt policeman commits a crime when drinking late at night. While his colleagues are trying to investigate his murder, he tries to clean up the evidence.Surprisingly effective thriller with film noir elements that lets whats on the screen explain the actions of the main character without openly telling you and while some people might be put off by the ending I for one loved it.
9 - DirectorRyan CooglerStarsMichael B. JordanMelonie DiazOctavia SpencerThe story of Oscar Grant III, a 22-year-old Bay Area resident, who crosses paths with friends, enemies, family, and strangers on the last day of 2008.Would this film have the power and impact on me if it were not based on a true story and the truth is I'm not sure so I can only judge it by how I felt and I felt sad,stunned and angry by what I saw.
9 - DirectorRichard LinklaterStarsEthan HawkeJulie DelpySeamus Davey-FitzpatrickWe meet Jesse and Celine nine years on in Greece. Almost two decades have passed since their first meeting on that train bound for Vienna.Dialogue driven films are not among my favorites because if the dialogue doesn't stimulate you in some way they can be a bore to sit through but the Before films are among the best of these and I would rank Before Midnight right up there with the other 2...the writing is terrific and after almost 20 years together as a couple Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke have become like 2 old friends you get to reacquaint with...I'm not sure the 2 stars have done anything better than these films and in 2022 we'll see if the journey continues...I for one hope it does.
9 - DirectorSang-il LeeStarsShioli KutsunaKen WatanabeJun KunimuraJapanese-Korean filmmaker Sang-il Lee (Villain) has decided to reinterpret Eastwood's Oscar®-winning Unforgiven as a Japanese period film.One is used to seeing American remakes of Japanese films but not the other way around and I found this remake of Clint's masterpiece absolutely fascinating...there are times where I swear I'm watching the original because scenes are absolutely identical and the story works almost as well in a Japanese setting but the real surprise is that you would think it'd be impossible to fill Clint's shoes and even though Ken Watanabe doesn't have Clint's screen presence he does a very good job...the other main characters are adequate but the person who plays Gene Hackman's character was a bit disappointing but than I thought Hackman was absolutely brilliant...this version is probably more violent and I think a little darker and the ending is a little different but over all I must say that I was very impressed.
9 - DirectorNathan JuranStarsKerwin MathewsKathryn GrantRichard EyerWhen a princess is shrunken by an evil wizard, Sinbad must undertake a quest to an island of monsters to cure her and prevent a war.This has always been one of my favorite fantasy films and it still holds up...Ray Harryhausen's special effects are still top notch,especially the dueling skeleton.
9 - DirectorSam WoodEdmund GouldingStarsGroucho MarxChico MarxHarpo MarxA sly business manager and the wacky friends of two opera singers in Italy help them achieve success in America while humiliating their stuffy and snobbish enemies.Still my favorite Marx Brothers film...it's great fun,the jokes and even the musical numbers work better in this film than any of their others.
9 - DirectorNicole HolofcenerStarsJulia Louis-DreyfusJames GandolfiniCatherine KeenerA divorced woman who decides to pursue the man she's interested in learns he's her new friend's ex-husband.Terrific performances from the leads makes this relationship film a winner.
9 - DirectorJacques AudiardStarsTahar RahimNiels ArestrupAdel BencherifA delinquent Muslim man struggles to get by in prison until he is taken under the wing of a powerful mob boss. But his gradual rise through the mob's ranks brings him in conflict with his mentor.This is the kind of film I admire more than I like...it's well made,has 2 terrific performances and there is a grittiness to this film that you rarely get in Hollywood films... even though I felt a little detached from it all it's hard to ignore.
9 - DirectorSpike JonzeStarsJoaquin PhoenixAmy AdamsScarlett JohanssonIn a near future, a lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with an operating system designed to meet his every need.Another winner from Spike Jonze...an original and wonderfully acted love story that was much better than I expected and it wouldn't surprise me in the least that in the not to distant future these types of relationships will exist.
9 - DirectorHoward HawksStarsCary GrantRosalind RussellRalph BellamyA newspaper editor uses every trick in the book to keep his ace reporter ex-wife from remarrying.I've seen this film 4 or 5 times now and I always feel the same way about it...it's great but it leaves a bad taste in my mouth...the witty repartee is fun and clever most of the time and a joy to listen to,but I did feel there were moments where people were just shouting and trying to talk over each other and the seriousness of the underlining story seems to belong to a different film and doesn't really gel with the comedy, yet the 2 stars are so engaging that I'm willing to overlook it all...judge for yourself.
9 - DirectorBryan SingerStarsPatrick StewartIan McKellenHugh JackmanThe X-Men send Wolverine to the past in a desperate effort to change history and prevent an event that results in doom for both humans and mutants.I thought the last one was the best in the series and after seeing this I think this is the best...it's funny but when I think of my favorite comic book films I never even think about "The X-Men" movies but these last 2 are probably among the best I've seen...I really do think that McAvoy and Fassbender bring their characters to life in a way that Stewart and McKellen were never quite able to do and even in this film they pale in comparison to their younger counterparts.
8 - DirectorMark AndrewsBrenda ChapmanSteve PurcellStarsKelly MacdonaldBilly ConnollyEmma ThompsonDetermined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse.I suppose there's nothing in Brave that we haven't seen before but I found it to be a very entertaining and exciting animated film with strong female characters.
8 - DirectorGareth EvansStarsIko UwaisYayan RuhianArifin PutraOnly a short time after the first raid, Rama goes undercover with the thugs of Jakarta and plans to bring down the syndicate and uncover the corruption within his police force.When I saw the first film I said what it lacked in character development it made up for in action...well the action in this one may be even more impressive and there is more of a story to this one albeit one we've seen before with characters that are more fleshed out than the first although some of the characters aren't as fully developed as they should be and even though it's never boring at 2 1/2 hours it didn't need to be that long...it's certainly not the be all and end all of action films that some people seem to think it is but it's damn good and I for one can't wait for the next one.
8 - DirectorJason ReitmanStarsGeorge ClooneyVera FarmigaAnna KendrickRyan's job is to travel around the country firing off people. When his boss hires Natalie, who proposes firing people via video conference, he tries to convince her that her method is a mistake.Likable well acted dramedy that manages to satisfy despite a rather predicable and somewhat disappointing last 20 minutes.
8 - DirectorPaul VerhoevenStarsPeter WellerNancy AllenDan O'HerlihyIn a dystopic and crime-ridden Detroit, a terminally wounded cop returns to the force as a powerful cyborg haunted by submerged memories.Not quite as good as I once thought it was but still a well made scii-fi/action film.
8 - DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsChris EvansSamuel L. JacksonScarlett JohanssonAs Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world, he teams up with a fellow Avenger and S.H.I.E.L.D agent, Black Widow, to battle a new threat from history: an assassin known as the Winter Soldier.In an era of cynical tough guys and hero's along comes Captain America,a throwback hero that we don't see that often anymore and I for one find it refreshing and Chris Evans like Robert Downey Jr. fits his comic book persona perfectly...this followup is probably a little better than the first with a nice turn from Robert Redford playing against type...the irony being I suppose that if Redford would of played any comic book character this would be the one he would of been perfectly suited for.
8 - DirectorPeter JacksonStarsIan McKellenMartin FreemanRichard ArmitageThe dwarves, along with Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf the Grey, continue their quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain, their homeland, from the dragon Smaug.A huge improvement over the first part...undeniably exciting and thrilling with a dragon that is indeed impressive although that is to be expected these days and unlike the first part it's much tighter with very few scenes that seem to go on forever and go nowhere which is to be expected when you stretch a story as much as this ones being stretched but those moments are still there and the characters just aren't memorable like they were in LOTR.
8 - DirectorLeo McCareyStarsGroucho MarxHarpo MarxChico MarxRufus T. Firefly is named the dictator of bankrupt Freedonia and declares war on neighboring Sylvania over the love of his wealthy backer Mrs. Teasdale, contending with two inept spies who can't seem to keep straight which side they're on.This was once my second favorite Marx Brothers movie next to "A Night at the Opera" but after seeing it again it seems to have lost something...the zany antics are hit and miss with the mirror sequence still being the best scene in the movie and yet I'm not sure why but it just wasn't as much fun as I remember it being and makes me think it's time to re-evaluate all their movies,still there is a certain genius behind all that craziness that I admire.
8 - DirectorBrunello RondiStarsDaliah LaviFrank WolffAnna María AvetaA lonely, sexually-uninhibited young peasant is subjected to an exorcism after she hexes a man who rejects her advances.The precursor to"The Exorcist" that stands on it's own as a terrific horror film...at times it's almost told like a documentary about Puri a woman who may be possessed,a witch,a little bit crazy or all of the above and the villagers who fear her...Daliah Lavi is incredible as Puri.
The only reason I don't give this a higher rating is because it's a little disjointed at times where something happens and instead of following up it cuts to a completely different scene...a couple of these scenes seem to involve Puri perhaps being raped(which could explain her mental state) but than it cuts to her later as if nothing happened...I can't help thinking there must be a longer version out there although the version I saw was 94 minutes which is what IMDB shows as the running time...still this turned out to be a terrific find but I can't understand why this film isn't better known simply because of the influence this film must of had on"The Exorcist".
8 - DirectorRené ClairStarsFredric MarchVeronica LakeRobert BenchleyA beautiful 17th-century witch returns to life to plague politician Wallace Wooley, descendant of her persecutor.Fun and entertaining comedy with a top notch cast and yet this is another classic film that I once loved that seems to have lost something...a film that was on my top 300 now won't even be top 1000.
8 - DirectorJean NegulescoStarsPeter LorreSydney GreenstreetZachary ScottMystery writer Cornelius Leyden becomes intrigued after the murdered body of a vicious career criminal washes up in the Bosphorus.Enjoyable film noir...with Greenstreet and Lorre how could it go wrong ,they have always worked well together and this is probably their best film together next to "The Maltese Falcon".
8 - DirectorPhil LordChristopher MillerStarsChris PrattWill FerrellElizabeth BanksAn ordinary LEGO construction worker, thought to be the prophesied as "special", is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil tyrant from gluing the LEGO universe into eternal stasis.This didn't seem like something I would enjoy but this turned out to be a fun,irreverent and smart animated film that looks up to it's audience,which is very refreshing these days.
8 - DirectorJim JarmuschStarsTilda SwintonTom HiddlestonMia WasikowskaA depressed musician reunites with his lover. However, their romance, which has already endured several centuries, is disrupted by the arrival of her uncontrollable younger sister.If you like Jim Jarmusch's leisurely style you'll appreciate this wonderfully original love story and vampire film,it's also about art and music and I think he has something to say about us as human beings...Even if his films don't always satisfy I find them to be a refreshing alternative to the Hollywood norm...this just might be my favorite film of his.
8 - DirectorRuggero DeodatoStarsRobert KermanFrancesca CiardiPerry PirkanenDuring a rescue mission into the Amazon rainforest, a professor stumbles across lost film shot by a missing documentary crew.I have never struggled so much on how to rate a film as I have with this one...did I like this film-No...is it as disgusting as they say-Yes...does it's message get lost in it's own excessiveness-Absolutely and yet in it's way it's a well made film that works on a certain level and holds your attention even as your revolted by what you see...it's considered the most controversial film ever made and it certainly lives up to it,although for me I still might give that title to"Salo"...it would be easy to give this film a 1 and say it's a vile piece of trash not worth your time but I'm going to surprise even myself and say there's something here but only for those who are not easily offended and have strong stomachs.
I will say the animal killings in this film are real and for me were the scenes that bothered me the most but that sense of realism is one of the things that makes this film work.
8 - DirectorJames GunnStarsChris PrattVin DieselBradley CooperA group of intergalactic criminals must pull together to stop a fanatical warrior with plans to purge the universe.As fun and entertaining as this film was I have to admit being a little disappointed in it...maybe I let the hype of this film get to me and I expected something truly memorable and it just didn't deliver or it maybe that I don't know this comic book at all and it's characters just don't resonate with me the way that Batman,Iron Man or The Avengers do...I'll have to see this film again to see if my opinion changes,that being said I still think it's very good.
8 - DirectorJames HillTom McGowanStarsVirginia McKennaBill TraversGeoffrey KeenThe story of George and Joy Adamson and the orphaned lion cub, Elsa, they adopt.Unless your the most ardent animal hater it really is hard to find fault with this engaging film...one of those films the whole family can watch and enjoy together.
8 - DirectorMichael SpierigPeter SpierigStarsEthan HawkeSarah SnookNoah TaylorAs his last assignment, a temporal agent is tasked to travel back in time and prevent a bomb attack in New York in 1975. The hunt, however, turns out to be beyond the bounds of possibility.Even though I knew where this film was going I didn't care,I just went along for the ride and was thoroughly engrossed in it...a good story and characters you care about made all the difference.
8 - DirectorJohn G. AvildsenStarsSylvester StalloneTalia ShireBurt YoungA small-time Philadelphia boxer gets a supremely rare chance to fight the world heavyweight champion in a bout in which he strives to go the distance for his self-respect.A crowd pleasing film that isn't as crowd pleasing as it once was...I never thought Rocky was among the best boxing films ever made,the story is about as formulaic as it comes and has been told many times before but it always seemed to work for me except this time around the cliches and sappy romance began to wear on me...still I do think Stallone is quite good in his definitive role as is Burgess Meredith as his trainer and Carl Weathers as Apollo Creed and it still did entertain me but not as much as it once did.
8 - DirectorDavid LeanStarsAnn ToddTrevor HowardClaude RainsA woman meets a man whose love she rejected years ago.This early David Lean film may not be up there with his best but it's a solid drama with 3 very good performances from the leads,especially Claude Rains.
8 - DirectorRoar UthaugStarsIsabel Christine AndreasenIngrid Bolsø BerdalMilla OlinSigne, spared from death to produce a child, befriends a little girl, Frigg, and escapes from the camp.Exciting chase film from Norway with a terrific performance from Ingrid Bolsø Berdal as Dagmar(she has the most amazing eyes)...a nice surprise,another one of those films I knew nothing about and was thoroughly entertained.
8 - DirectorJaume BalagueróStarsLuis TosarMarta EturaAlberto San JuanCesar, a miserable man who works as an apartment concierge, takes a special interest in an attractive woman who lives there. He goes to great lengths to trouble her.Low key Hitchkockian type thriller that is surprisingly unsettling because it almost seems plausible(although the incident with the bugs was a little over the top)...still another nice surprise well worth watching.
8 - DirectorRoy Ward BakerStarsIngrid PittPippa SteelMadeline SmithSeductive vampire Carmilla Karnstein and her family target the beautiful and the rich in a remote area of late eighteenth-century Gemany.Personally I think this is one of the most under appreciated vampire films ever made and might just be my favorite hammer horror film...it's also one of the sexiest and most erotic horror films of it's era, that deals with themes that for it's time is quite surprising...I've seen this film a few times and am always amazed at how good it is and Ingrid Pitt just might be the most sensual and beautiful vampire that's ever been put on screen.
8 - DirectorHideo GoshaStarsTetsurô TanbaIsamu NagatoMikijirô HiraWhen poor peasants kidnap a magistrate's daughter to coerce him into reducing their unfair taxes, a wandering ronin decides to give them some help.The story will be familiar to anyone who's seen a lot of samurai films and while it may not be up there with the best of them it's still pretty darn good.
8 - DirectorLeslie StevensStarsWilliam ShatnerAllyson AmesEloise HardtOn a strange island inhabited by demons and spirits, a man battles the forces of evil.Another nifty little horror film I never heard of spoken in a language that doesn't even exist...this is probably more for the art house crowd than the average viewer but this morality tale deserves to be seen.
8 - DirectorJules DassinStarsRichard WidmarkGene TierneyGoogie WithersA small-time grifter and nightclub tout takes advantage of some fortuitous circumstances and tries to become a big-time player as a wrestling promoter.Richard Widmark and Francis L. Sullivan are marvelous in one of the best film noirs of the 50's.
8 - DirectorDoug LimanStarsTom CruiseEmily BluntBill PaxtonA soldier fighting aliens gets to relive the same day over and over again, the day restarting every time he dies.Personally I found this sci-fi version of "Groundhog Day" more satisfying than the Bill Murray comedy although like that film the repetitiveness of scenes does get annoying at times but Tom Cruise holds it all together and gives one of his best performances in years.
8 - DirectorFrank PavichStarsAlejandro JodorowskyMichel SeydouxH.R. GigerThe story of cult film director Alejandro Jodorowsky's ambitious but ultimately doomed film adaptation of the seminal science fiction novel.Whether Jodorowsky's Dune would have been a masterpiece or a pretentious piece of crap who knows but what this documentary does succeed in doing is make you wish it had been made so you could judge for yourself and even if your not a fan of Jodorowsky his passion for his craft still shows through and that's to be admired.
8 - DirectorWoody AllenStarsWoody AllenDiane KeatonMariel HemingwayThe life of a divorced television writer dating a teenage girl is further complicated when he falls in love with his best friend's mistress.This used to be one of my favorite Woody Allen films but Woody's own personnel life has made me look at this film a little differently and I have to admit there's a part of me that felt a little uncomfortable with some of the scenes with Mariel Hemingway but I still think it's a well made film beautifully shot in black and white, it's just not as great as I once thought it was.
8 - DirectorAharon KeshalesNavot PapushadoStarsLior AshkenaziRotem KeinanTzahi GradAfter a little girl is brutally murdered, a suspect avoids arrest due to lack of evidence. Working separately, her father and a cop decide to do something about it.I think this is the kind of film that will get every reaction imaginable depending on how you view it...despite the serious subject matter I saw this as a dark comedy that wasn't meant to be taken all that seriously and could appreciate the humor but others I'm sure will be put off by it and feel that there is nothing funny about a film dealing with a child murderer.
8 - DirectorBong Joon HoStarsChris EvansJamie BellTilda SwintonIn a future where a failed climate change experiment has killed all life except for the survivors who boarded the Snowpiercer (a train that travels around the globe), a new class system emerges.I suppose we've seen this story told many times before...the oppressed vs their oppressors but this one worked for me...it's a well made,exciting and intelligent sci-fi film that held my interest throughout.
8 - DirectorJonathan GlazerStarsScarlett JohanssonJeremy McWilliamsLynsey Taylor MackayA mysterious young woman seduces lonely men in the evening hours in Scotland. However, events lead her to begin a process of self-discovery.This is a strange sci-fi film that will appeal to those looking for something different and this film is definitely that...I was fascinated by it, even though I'm not sure I really know what it's about but I do think if you follow the film closely you'll be able to come up with a satisfying interpretation.
8 - DirectorJohn HughesStarsEmilio EstevezJudd NelsonMolly RingwaldFive high school students meet in Saturday detention and discover how they have a great deal more in common than they thought.Despite stereotypical characters and a formulaic script this film still works for me and is my favorite of all John Hughes' teenage flics.
8 - DirectorDario ArgentoStarsJessica HarperStefania CasiniFlavio BucciAn American newcomer to a prestigious German ballet academy comes to realize that the school is a front for something sinister amid a series of grisly murders.As Argento films go Suspiria probably makes more sense than most of his movies but that isn't why one watches it...it's for the atmosphere he creates,his stylistic touches and that pounding soundtrack and it works better in this film than any other he's done...the opening scene is about as good as it gets for this type of horror film,if only he could sustain it for the whole movie,then this really would be the masterpiece that so many people think it is but I do think there are lolls along the way and the ending is a little disappointing.
8 - DirectorHenry HathawayStarsMarilyn MonroeJoseph CottenJean PetersAs two couples are visiting Niagara Falls, tensions between one wife and her husband reach the level of murder.Well made Hitchcock type thriller with Marilyn at her most seductive.
8 - DirectorLuc BessonStarsLouise BourgoinMathieu AmalricGilles LelloucheAn adventure set in the early part of the 20th century and focused on a popular novelist and her dealings with would-be suitors, the cops, monsters, and other distractions.Silly and at times strange adventure/fantasy that still manages to be quite enjoyable mainly because the characters in it are so engaging that you just go along for the ride.
8 - DirectorJames CameronStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerLinda HamiltonEdward FurlongA cyborg, identical to the one who failed to kill Sarah Connor, must now protect her ten year old son John from an even more advanced and powerful cyborg.More exciting than the first and much better than I remember it being,with special effects that are still impressive...personally I think this one holds up better than the first even with Edward Furlongs bad performance.
8 - DirectorChristopher NolanStarsJeremy TheobaldAlex HawLucy RussellA young writer who follows strangers for material meets a thief who takes him under his wing.Nolan's feature debut is a nifty little crime film well worth watching.
8 - DirectorHoward HawksStarsJane RussellMarilyn MonroeCharles CoburnShowgirls Lorelei Lee and Dorothy Shaw travel to Paris, pursued by a private detective hired by the suspicious father of Lorelei's fiancé, as well as a rich, enamored old man and many other doting admirers.Entertaining musical that was much better than I expected...Jane Russell and especially Marilyn Monroe are terrific and the musical numbers are a lot of fun.
8 - DirectorJohn HughesStarsMatthew BroderickAlan RuckMia SaraA popular high school student, admired by his peers, decides to take a day off from school and goes to extreme lengths to pull it off, to the chagrin of his Dean, who'll do anything to stop him.When I saw this film 30 years ago I thought it was mildly entertaining but nothing special...it started and ended well but dragged in the middle with some serious elements involving Ferris's friend that didn't really work and after seeing it again I still feel that way and yet I found it far more enjoyable this time around with far more hits than misses...I suppose it would be easy to criticize the film for the way adults are portrayed and the message it seems to send but I think it's silly to take this film seriously.
8 - DirectorCaradog W. JamesStarsToby StephensCaity LotzDenis LawsonIn efforts to construct perfect android killing machines in a war against China, UK scientists exceed their goal and create a sentient robot.Well made and intriguing sci-fi film that would make a great double bill with Spike Jonze's film 'Her'.
8 - DirectorMark HermanStarsAsa ButterfieldDavid ThewlisRupert FriendThrough the innocent eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a German concentration camp, a forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence has startling and unexpected consequences.The final act gives this holocaust film a poignancy and power one didn't see coming and makes a story I didn't find as compelling as one would like into something hard to forget.
8 - DirectorJames CameronStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerLinda HamiltonMichael BiehnA human soldier is sent from 2029 to 1984 to stop an almost indestructible cyborg killing machine, sent from the same year, which has been programmed to execute a young woman whose unborn son is the key to humanity's future salvation.I have never been the biggest fan of this film...it's well made and enjoyable enough I suppose but for me there's nothing memorable about it,although there's no denying that this was a role tailor made for Arnold.
8 out of a certain respect for the influence this film has had but it probably deserves a 7 - DirectorMark RobsonStarsRichard DixRussell WadeEdith BarrettThird Officer Tom Merriam accuses Captain Will Stone of being a homicidal maniac, but no one believes him.It may not be in the horror vein like some of his others but this Val Lewton psychological drama is well worth watching...at times it made me think of "The Caine Mutiny"
8 - DirectorLeslie H. MartinsonStarsAnthony FranciosaRaquel WelchRonald FraserIn Spain, an American skydiver is recruited by Western intelligence agents to recover a lost atomic bomb detonator from hostile foreign agents.I vaguely remember seeing this film as a kid and being entertained by it,I thought maybe it was because of Raquel Welch that I enjoyed it so much but after seeing it again to my surprise it is surprisingly good... this is one of the better spy spoofs I've seen but there is also no denying that Miss Welch truly is one of the most beautiful women of her or any generation.
8 - DirectorDario ArgentoStarsAnthony FranciosaGiuliano GemmaJohn SaxonAn American novelist visiting Rome to promote his latest book is stalked and harassed by an obsessed fan who is committing a string of murders that appear to be tributes to his work.Even though I don't think stylistically this is among Argento's best work this giallo is probably my second favorite film of his next to "Suspiria" and it's probably because it's his most coherent.
8 - DirectorRob KuhnsStarsGeorge A. RomeroFred RogersH. Rap BrownA documentary that shows how George A. Romero gathered an unlikely team of Pittsburghers to shoot his seminal film: Night of the Living Dead (1968).Fun documentary on the making of 'Night of the Living Dead" and how ahead of it's time that film was.
8 - DirectorBuster KeatonStarsBuster KeatonRuth DwyerT. Roy BarnesA man learns that he will inherit a fortune if he marries by 7PM that evening.Far from his best but still enjoyable comedy.
8 - DirectorCharles BartonStarsBud AbbottLou CostelloJoseph CalleiaTwo window washers mistakenly receive, and lose, $50,000 belonging to a shady bookie, and have only forty-eight hours to retrieve the money.As a kid growing up I used to love watching Abbott and Costello movies but with the exception of "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" it's been a long while since I've seen any of their films and wondered if their as much fun as I remembered...well this one was and some of the jokes reminded me of their classic "Who's on First" routine which I always loved.
8 - DirectorDavid CronenbergStarsPaul HamptonJoe SilverLynn LowryThe residents of a suburban high-rise apartment building are being infected by a strain of parasites that turn them into mindless, sex-crazed fiends out to infect others by the slightest sexual contact.I think this is one of Cronenberg's best films from his early career and is an effective horror film that deals with many of his favorite subjects.
8 - DirectorMike FlanaganStarsKaren GillanBrenton ThwaitesKatee SackhoffA recently released inmate from a mental asylum learns from his sister that the murders he was convicted of committing were actually orchestrated by a supernatural entity, the Lasser Glass mirror.Even though one knows where this film is headed it's a well made and effective horror film with some genuine scares.
8 - DirectorWilliam A. WellmanStarsJohn WayneLloyd NolanWalter AbelA C-47 transport plane, named the Corsair, makes a forced landing in the frozen wastes of Quebec, and the plane's pilot, Captain Dooley, must keep his men alive in deadly conditions while waiting for rescue.Solid adventure film based on a true story...nice to see that John Wayne's larger than life persona isn't in evidence here because it wouldn't of worked for this movie.
8 - DirectorBarbara BrancaccioJoshua ZemanStarsJoshua ZemanBarbara BrancaccioBill EllisRealizing that the urban legend of their youth has actually come true, two filmmakers delve into the mystery surrounding five missing children and the real-life boogeyman linked to their disappearances.Truthfully after watching this documentary about an urban legend come to life in the form of Andre Rand I came away not knowing what to believe...was he guilty of the crimes he was charged with or was he railroaded by a public and judicial system that needed someone to pay for the disappearance and murder of missing children in Staten Island...it certainly holds your interest and yet when it ends you feel a little unsatisfied.
7 - DirectorGary TrousdaleKirk WiseStarsDemi MooreJason AlexanderMary Kay BergmanA deformed bell-ringer must assert his independence from a vicious government minister in order to help his friend, a gypsy dancer.I love the Lon Chaney and Charles Laughton version's of this story but I'm not really sure what to make of Disney's version...the animation is terrific but the mix of music,comedy and tragedy at times didn't really work for me,it would of been better if they played it straight because I really enjoyed it when they did...still Disney deserves credit for trying something different and not regurgitating the same story over and over again like their prone to do but they still have to give you the obligatory happy ending. I thought about giving it a 6 or an 8 so I took the middle ground
7 - DirectorRobert ZemeckisStarsMichael DouglasKathleen TurnerDanny DeVitoA mousy romance novelist sets off for Colombia to ransom her kidnapped sister, and soon finds herself in the middle of a dangerous adventure hunting for treasure with a mercenary rogue.On it's own terms this is a fun adventure film that's helped a lot by the appeal of it's 2 stars and is one of the best of the Raiders rip offs but it still pales in comparison to that classic.
7 - DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsLeonardo DiCaprioJonah HillMargot RobbieBased on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stock-broker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government.This is a well crafted and superbly acted film that at 3 hours is in it's way very entertaining at least on the surface but if you look deeper you see a rather shallow and empty film that doesn't really offer us any insight into why these people are the way they are other than that by committing the crimes they commit it let's them enjoy the "good life",which seems to be partying,drugs and screwing as many women as they want.
I admit that I am harder on Scorsese than any other director because he tends to make films about the kind of people I would never want to meet or associate with in real life and in some ways glamorizes them and to be honest Jordan Belfort a guy who scammed innocent people out of hundreds of millions of dollars doesn't deserve it...in the hands of almost any other director I think I would of hated this film but Scorsese is such a great director that it's impossible not to admire the film on a certain level.
7 - DirectorJung Byung-gilStarsJeong Jae-yeongPark Shi-hooJung Hae-kyunLee Du-Seok publishes an autobiography describing murders he committed after the statute of limitations expires. A detective and one of the victim's mothers search for the author while an anonymous person claims to be the real killer.There is a real good thriller here that is always undermined by comedic elements that just don't belong in this film and always take you out of the film but it's still well worth watching.
7