Thursday Thirteen 026: Movies.
Nov. 8th, 2012 06:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
misslj_author1. Red cliff Part One | Part Two.
This film. My god. I have all the feels about this film. If it isn't the awesome photography, it's the tremendouss fight scenes - both on land and on sea. If it isn't the amazing characters, it's their onscreen chemistry. (Seriously. Every time Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Takeshi Kaneshiro share a scene, no one else is worth watching. They are incredible together.) Fengyi Zhang as the bad guy, Cao Cao, was superb. The set building was gorgeous. The landscape was breathtaking.
I have no beef with anything in this film. I don't care that the full director's cut is nearly 5 hours long. I can watch it again and again and love it each and ever time.
Recommended for: fans of historical drama, Chinese cinema, John Woo as a director, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro and/or films like "Kingdom of Heaven."
2. Kingdom of Heaven.
While I dislike Orlando Bloom quite a lot and in this film he seems to not require a helmet, thus proving that he has weapon repellant hair, there is so much to this film that I can happily and easily ignore him. Liam Neeson and David Thewlis are truly wonderful, particularly their exchange early in the film about the time Liam Neeson's character took an arrow to the testicle. Marton Csokas, Alexander Siddig, Eva Green, Brendan Gleeson, Jeremy Irons are all superb supporters and Edward Norton was a welcome and wonderful surprise as King Baldwin. The other wonderful surprise was Ghassan Massoud as Saladin, a historical figure that I have been fascinated by for years.
The score is gorgeous and the sets are wonderfully done. The costuming is pretty perfect and the historical accuracy is acceptable to me. I know that sounds pompous, but this is the period I spent a *lot* of time researching and reenacting, so I'm ridiculously picky about it. And this film is wonderfully done. Apart from Orlando, Lord of the Weapon Repellant Hair of Jerusalem, this is a wonderful film.
Recommended for: fans of historical drama, the Crusades.
3. Jodhaa Akbar.
This is a beautiful film, and yes, it's Bollywood, but don't let that put you off. It tells the story of Emperor Akbar, one of the most remarkable men in the history of India. He's a very moderate, very kind emperor, and is very liberal minded and did some remarkable things. Despite being a devout Muslim and counselled against it by his advisors, he marries a Hindustani princess in order, at first, to heal the political divide and become allies between his empire and the kingdoms of Hindustan. The two of them gradually fall in love and end up ruling India together.
Hrithik Roshan, who is very easy on the eye, is superb as Akbar and Aishwarya Rai, one of the most beautiful women in the world, is Jodhaa. There's only a few song/dance routines, and the real winners in this film are the characters, the growing relationship and romance between Jodhaa and Akbar, and the battle scenes. Plus Hrithik fighting an elephant. And Hrithik sword training. Without much clothing. Mhm. Yes. Oh, and this is a long film, nearly 4 hours.
Recommended for: Fans of Bollywood, Fans of historical film, Fans of films like "Kingdom of Heaven", Fans of Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai.
4. 20th Century Boys trilogy One | Two | Three.
Aaaaaah! So much love for this series, I can't even. I have all the feels about this, too. I'm currently rewatching them, with mum, this time, and seeing things I missed on the first watch. These films are funny, clever, witty and also quite topical, looking at things like childhood bullying, alienation, the power that cults have (which Japan knows a bit about, thanks to the saran gas attacks they endured), and the enduring power of friendship and that ordinary people can be heroes too.
I honestly really love these films. I'm not into manga or anime, so it didn't bother me one way or the other that these were based on a manga. I have no intention of reading them. For me, the joy is in the cinema, and there is a lot of joy to be had in these movies. I found each one engaging, entertaining and overall wonderful. They are told with flashbacks interspersed throughout the narrative and those flashbacks are shot with a light sepia tint, which give them a warm, lazy sort of look, like the eternal summer of childhood. I don't understand why anyone would find these too complex to follow, because they're not, the narrative is very well constructed and the characters are all likable and easy to identify and empathise with.
Recommeded for: fans of Japanese cinema, superhero stories, mecha and dystopian near futures.
5. Little Big Soldier.
This is Yoo Seung Jun's film debut, and admittedly, this was why I watched it. I didn't expect it to be one of the best films I've seen of Jackie Chan's. He wrote this and assisted in the direction, and the film has been close to his heart for twenty years, which is how long it took him to write.
Set during the Warring States period of Chinese history, this is a slice of those years of war and conflict, and combines action, history, and poignant drama with nary a blip. This is one of my feel-good go-to films, and I watch it pretty regularly. Plus, YSJ. Always a bonus, for me.
Recommended for: Jackie Chan fans, historical drama fans, Chinese cinema fans, fans of films like "Kingdom of Heaven."
6. The Avengers.
Really, do I need to explain this? It is awesome. They are all awesome. This is the only time I haven't wanted to throw things at Scarlett Johansson. And it's full of pretty people. And action. And giant metal space fish. And Loki. And HULK SMASH.
Recommend for: everyone!
7. Uncertain Glory.
Made in 1944, this little known World War Two movie starring Errol Flynn (I love him, ngl), is one of his finest performances. It's a wonderful gem of a film, and all the performances are terrific. Errol Flynn gives a wonderful performance as a happy-go-lucky crook who knows he's facing Madame Guillotine but decides to make a greater sacrifice of his life instead. Paul Lukas, as the world-weary inspector who has to deal with Flynn's character's foibles is wonderfully understated.
All in all, a fantastic film. You'll need tissues for the end, though.
Recommended for: Errol Flynn fans, WW2 movie fans, Classic cinema fans.
8. The Empire Strikes Back.
My favourite of the original Star Wars trilogy. I think it's the favourite of most people. Again, like "The Avengers", do I really need to explain? No, no, I do not.
Recommended for: Everyone!
9. Doctor Zhivago.
While Keira Knightley gives me a pain on the best of days, in this, she is stunning. Hans Matheson as the titular character brings warmth, grace and gravitas to the role that I think Pasternak would have been happy with, and Sam Neill as the villain is wonderfully cold and nasty. Russia is shown to be the harsh yet beautiful land that she is, and this Russian classic is brought to life with tremendous sensitivity and respect for the novel. A moving, powerful film, and it's long, clocking in at 2.5 hours. But it's worth it.
Recommend for: fans of classic literature, fans of Hans Matheson or Keira Knightly or Sam Neill, fans of Russian history.
10. Casino Royale.
It's James Bond. With Daniel Craig! I don't need to explain further, that says everything.
Plus, he really looks divine in that tux.
Recommended for: Bond fans, action fans, Daniel Craig fans.
11. Ladyhawke.
I've loved this film since I was a little L. J. and first saw it on the telly. There is nothing to gripe about with this. It's one of my go-to films when I'm feeling down and want to be cheered up.
Recommende for: Fans of fantasy film, Fans of Mathew Broderick or Rutger Hauer or Michelle Pfieffer.
12. The Princess Bride.
"You keep using that word, it does not mean what you think it means."
"Well, it's not so bad, I'm not saying we should build a summer house here, but it's really quite nice."
"AS YOU WISH."
"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
"Never gamble with a Sicilian when death is on the line!"
"He's not dead, he's only mostly dead."
'nuff said, really. So much love for this, though. SO MUCH.
Recommended for: EVERYONE.
13. The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Fellowship | Two Towers | Return of the King.
Prior to these movies, I had no interest in the books at all. Then the films were made and I fell in love with a whole new (to me) series. While the books haven't been reread, the movies have all been rewatched - many times. The sets, the locations, the characters, the acting, the score, all of it. I love these films. And I am excited for "The Hobbit," although I have never read it and don't intend to.
Recommended for: Everyone.
Honourable mentions: Detective Dee and Mystery of the Phantom Flame - Andy Lau being badass. Plus, the Judge Dee books are awesome, and this film adaptation of one of them is also awesome. Infernal Affairs - Andy Lau and Tony Leung Chiu Wai together. And a wonderfully complex and interesting plot. Awesome film. The Matrix trilogy for when I want to indulge in existentialism or postmodernism or other philosophy -isms.
This film. My god. I have all the feels about this film. If it isn't the awesome photography, it's the tremendouss fight scenes - both on land and on sea. If it isn't the amazing characters, it's their onscreen chemistry. (Seriously. Every time Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Takeshi Kaneshiro share a scene, no one else is worth watching. They are incredible together.) Fengyi Zhang as the bad guy, Cao Cao, was superb. The set building was gorgeous. The landscape was breathtaking.
I have no beef with anything in this film. I don't care that the full director's cut is nearly 5 hours long. I can watch it again and again and love it each and ever time.
Recommended for: fans of historical drama, Chinese cinema, John Woo as a director, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro and/or films like "Kingdom of Heaven."
2. Kingdom of Heaven.
While I dislike Orlando Bloom quite a lot and in this film he seems to not require a helmet, thus proving that he has weapon repellant hair, there is so much to this film that I can happily and easily ignore him. Liam Neeson and David Thewlis are truly wonderful, particularly their exchange early in the film about the time Liam Neeson's character took an arrow to the testicle. Marton Csokas, Alexander Siddig, Eva Green, Brendan Gleeson, Jeremy Irons are all superb supporters and Edward Norton was a welcome and wonderful surprise as King Baldwin. The other wonderful surprise was Ghassan Massoud as Saladin, a historical figure that I have been fascinated by for years.
The score is gorgeous and the sets are wonderfully done. The costuming is pretty perfect and the historical accuracy is acceptable to me. I know that sounds pompous, but this is the period I spent a *lot* of time researching and reenacting, so I'm ridiculously picky about it. And this film is wonderfully done. Apart from Orlando, Lord of the Weapon Repellant Hair of Jerusalem, this is a wonderful film.
Recommended for: fans of historical drama, the Crusades.
3. Jodhaa Akbar.
This is a beautiful film, and yes, it's Bollywood, but don't let that put you off. It tells the story of Emperor Akbar, one of the most remarkable men in the history of India. He's a very moderate, very kind emperor, and is very liberal minded and did some remarkable things. Despite being a devout Muslim and counselled against it by his advisors, he marries a Hindustani princess in order, at first, to heal the political divide and become allies between his empire and the kingdoms of Hindustan. The two of them gradually fall in love and end up ruling India together.
Hrithik Roshan, who is very easy on the eye, is superb as Akbar and Aishwarya Rai, one of the most beautiful women in the world, is Jodhaa. There's only a few song/dance routines, and the real winners in this film are the characters, the growing relationship and romance between Jodhaa and Akbar, and the battle scenes. Plus Hrithik fighting an elephant. And Hrithik sword training. Without much clothing. Mhm. Yes. Oh, and this is a long film, nearly 4 hours.
Recommended for: Fans of Bollywood, Fans of historical film, Fans of films like "Kingdom of Heaven", Fans of Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai.
4. 20th Century Boys trilogy One | Two | Three.
Aaaaaah! So much love for this series, I can't even. I have all the feels about this, too. I'm currently rewatching them, with mum, this time, and seeing things I missed on the first watch. These films are funny, clever, witty and also quite topical, looking at things like childhood bullying, alienation, the power that cults have (which Japan knows a bit about, thanks to the saran gas attacks they endured), and the enduring power of friendship and that ordinary people can be heroes too.
I honestly really love these films. I'm not into manga or anime, so it didn't bother me one way or the other that these were based on a manga. I have no intention of reading them. For me, the joy is in the cinema, and there is a lot of joy to be had in these movies. I found each one engaging, entertaining and overall wonderful. They are told with flashbacks interspersed throughout the narrative and those flashbacks are shot with a light sepia tint, which give them a warm, lazy sort of look, like the eternal summer of childhood. I don't understand why anyone would find these too complex to follow, because they're not, the narrative is very well constructed and the characters are all likable and easy to identify and empathise with.
Recommeded for: fans of Japanese cinema, superhero stories, mecha and dystopian near futures.
5. Little Big Soldier.
This is Yoo Seung Jun's film debut, and admittedly, this was why I watched it. I didn't expect it to be one of the best films I've seen of Jackie Chan's. He wrote this and assisted in the direction, and the film has been close to his heart for twenty years, which is how long it took him to write.
Set during the Warring States period of Chinese history, this is a slice of those years of war and conflict, and combines action, history, and poignant drama with nary a blip. This is one of my feel-good go-to films, and I watch it pretty regularly. Plus, YSJ. Always a bonus, for me.
Recommended for: Jackie Chan fans, historical drama fans, Chinese cinema fans, fans of films like "Kingdom of Heaven."
6. The Avengers.
Really, do I need to explain this? It is awesome. They are all awesome. This is the only time I haven't wanted to throw things at Scarlett Johansson. And it's full of pretty people. And action. And giant metal space fish. And Loki. And HULK SMASH.
Recommend for: everyone!
7. Uncertain Glory.
Made in 1944, this little known World War Two movie starring Errol Flynn (I love him, ngl), is one of his finest performances. It's a wonderful gem of a film, and all the performances are terrific. Errol Flynn gives a wonderful performance as a happy-go-lucky crook who knows he's facing Madame Guillotine but decides to make a greater sacrifice of his life instead. Paul Lukas, as the world-weary inspector who has to deal with Flynn's character's foibles is wonderfully understated.
All in all, a fantastic film. You'll need tissues for the end, though.
Recommended for: Errol Flynn fans, WW2 movie fans, Classic cinema fans.
8. The Empire Strikes Back.
My favourite of the original Star Wars trilogy. I think it's the favourite of most people. Again, like "The Avengers", do I really need to explain? No, no, I do not.
Recommended for: Everyone!
9. Doctor Zhivago.
While Keira Knightley gives me a pain on the best of days, in this, she is stunning. Hans Matheson as the titular character brings warmth, grace and gravitas to the role that I think Pasternak would have been happy with, and Sam Neill as the villain is wonderfully cold and nasty. Russia is shown to be the harsh yet beautiful land that she is, and this Russian classic is brought to life with tremendous sensitivity and respect for the novel. A moving, powerful film, and it's long, clocking in at 2.5 hours. But it's worth it.
Recommend for: fans of classic literature, fans of Hans Matheson or Keira Knightly or Sam Neill, fans of Russian history.
10. Casino Royale.
It's James Bond. With Daniel Craig! I don't need to explain further, that says everything.
Plus, he really looks divine in that tux.
Recommended for: Bond fans, action fans, Daniel Craig fans.
11. Ladyhawke.
I've loved this film since I was a little L. J. and first saw it on the telly. There is nothing to gripe about with this. It's one of my go-to films when I'm feeling down and want to be cheered up.
Recommende for: Fans of fantasy film, Fans of Mathew Broderick or Rutger Hauer or Michelle Pfieffer.
12. The Princess Bride.
"You keep using that word, it does not mean what you think it means."
"Well, it's not so bad, I'm not saying we should build a summer house here, but it's really quite nice."
"AS YOU WISH."
"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
"Never gamble with a Sicilian when death is on the line!"
"He's not dead, he's only mostly dead."
'nuff said, really. So much love for this, though. SO MUCH.
Recommended for: EVERYONE.
13. The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Fellowship | Two Towers | Return of the King.
Prior to these movies, I had no interest in the books at all. Then the films were made and I fell in love with a whole new (to me) series. While the books haven't been reread, the movies have all been rewatched - many times. The sets, the locations, the characters, the acting, the score, all of it. I love these films. And I am excited for "The Hobbit," although I have never read it and don't intend to.
Recommended for: Everyone.
Honourable mentions: Detective Dee and Mystery of the Phantom Flame - Andy Lau being badass. Plus, the Judge Dee books are awesome, and this film adaptation of one of them is also awesome. Infernal Affairs - Andy Lau and Tony Leung Chiu Wai together. And a wonderfully complex and interesting plot. Awesome film. The Matrix trilogy for when I want to indulge in existentialism or postmodernism or other philosophy -isms.
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no subject
Date: Thu, Nov. 8th, 2012 10:00 am (UTC)Also, good call on Ladyhawk...
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Date: Thu, Nov. 8th, 2012 10:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Thu, Nov. 8th, 2012 10:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Thu, Nov. 8th, 2012 11:04 am (UTC)Admittedly, I never really liked DS9, but I loved Primeval, and he was awesome in that.
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Date: Thu, Nov. 8th, 2012 11:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Thu, Nov. 8th, 2012 11:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Sat, Nov. 10th, 2012 06:10 am (UTC)