Rewatching My 100 Favorite Movies - Update 23

I decided to rewatch my 100 favorite movies of all-time. What those are, you can check HERE. I watch them in random order, there is no rhyme or reason there, just watching those movies I love so much.
 

76/ 100: Dances with Wolves (1990)
In his directorial debut, Kevins Costner portrays America’s natives differently than has long been common in Hollywood. Costner plays a nineteenth-century U.S. army lieutenant who, at a forward post in the Black Hills, pours his heart out to the noble natives, and to the first white woman he meets there. It was a breath of fresh air that for one the Native Americans were portrayed as real people. Check out my full review HERE
 

77/ 100: Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
In “Terminator 2: Judgment Day”, Arnold Schwarzenegger is back. In “The Terminator” from 1984, Schwarzenegger played a terminator who was sent to the past to kill Sarah Connor, to make sure John Connor will never be born. In the sequel, he returns with the task to protect John Connor from another terminator. At the time of release, “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” has groundbreaking effects. It’s a rock-solid action/ sci-fi film. My brother’s favorite movie of all-time, and also one of mine. HERE is my full review.
 

Still to watch: 23

90s Movie Review - Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Director: James Cameron
Genre: Action/ Science-Fiction
Runtime: 137 minutes
Year: 1991
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick

Description: A cyborg (Arnold Schwarzenegger), identical to the one who failed to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), must now protect her young son, John Connor (Edward Furlong), from a more advanced cyborg, made out of liquid metal.

Review: “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” is the proof that sequels can be better than the original. Where “Terminator” was already an amazing movie, this movie manages to top that. Because many sequels have repetition, “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” is new and original and one of the best movies in the genre.

This is partly because of the script by James Cameron, who also directed the film. He gives enough new insights to keep the movie fresh and spectacular.

Arnold Scharzenegger and Linda Hamilton both return, but their roles are different this time. Arnie plays a good Terminator. He was send back in time to protect John Connor. Sarah Connor is admitted in a mental institution, because she keeps telling everyone that machines will kill everyone. This so called judgment day will wipe out all of humanity. Another, more advanced, Terminator was also send back in time. His task is to kill John Connor.

This is definitely the highlight of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career. This guy breaths action and his one-liners are classic and quotable. Linda Hamilton portrays one of the most memorable female ass-kickers and Robert Patrick as the evil Terminator, does a fantastic job to portray him as cold as steel.

“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” is the best movie of that year and probably even the best science fiction/ action movie ever made.

Rating: 5/ 5

What's in a Movie Year - 1991

Taking a look at the year 1991, picking my 10 favorite movies from that year in random order.

Beauty and the Beast
An arrogant prince is cursed by a witch and turned into a beast. He can only become human again when someone learns to love him for who he is, before the last pebble of the magic rose falls. When he meets Belle, who is looking for her father, things change. This is still my favorite Disney animation to date and one of the best they studio ever created. The music is catchy and beautiful, the characters are memorable and loveable and the message is strong.

Point Break
An FBI-agent goes undercover to catch a gang of surfers who may be bank robbers. This is the ultimate 90s movie. Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves star in it and I think it became a cult classic over the years. Director Kathryn Bigelow treats her audience to a fantastic series of action sequences including skydiving.

JFK
It’s a visually engaging thriller about the assassination of president Kennedy. Director Oliver Stone unfolded a conspiracy theory, which was first written about in the book “On the Trail of the Assassins”, written by Jim Garrison, played by Kevin Costner in “JFK”.

Boyz ‘n the Hood
The directorial debut by John Singleton, about the life in a black community in South Central Los Angeles. The film shows a community that is constantly on edge, violence overshadows everything and there hardly needs to be a reason for it to burst. The film focuses on two brothers, Doughboy and Ricky. It’s a raw drama that is still relevant today.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day
In “The Terminator” from 1984, Arnold Schwarzenegger portrayed to cyborg for the first time. He’s back, and even better. One of the rare moments that a sequel is better then the original. This time Arnie is the good version of himself and tries to save John Connor, instead of killing him. It’s a strong action film with, for that time, groundbreaking special effects.

The Silence of the Lambs
Rookie FBI-agent Clarice Starling is investigating a series of murder. She has to interrogate a genius serial killer for this: Hannibal ‘the Cannibal’ Lecter. This character became an instant iconic villain due to Anthony Hopkins’ fantastic performance. And even though Jodie Foster as Starling is the lead, Hopkins steals every scene he is in.

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
The tale of Robin Hood is one of the most recycled stories in Hollywood. It’s been told in so many ways, but this has always been my favorite. Even though it’s definitely not the best, it holds a special place in my heart. After returning from his crusades, Robin Hood tries to defeat the Sheriff of Nottingham and save the woman he loves. Kevin Costner might not have been the best choice for Robin Hood, but I loved him. And Morgan Freeman, Alan Rickman and Christian Slater are all great. And my favorite song ever is from this movie.

Barton Fink
With this absurd tragic comedy and Hollywood satire, where a young playwriter starts working for a film studio, the Coen brothers proved their talent. And Especially in the bizarre dialogue. It’s probably an overlooked film by the directing brother duo, but its definitely one worth watching.

Cape Fear
Robert De Niro plays Max Cady, a convicted rapist released after serving a fourteen year sentence. He starts staling the family of the lawyer that originally defended him. In my post about movie remakes, I already stated that this was one of the few films that was better than its original. It’s not one of the first film you think of when talking about director Martin Scorsese or Robert De Niro, which is a shame.

The Addams Family
The film is based on a TV series. It follows scary Gomez Addams and his morbid wife Morticia, who have creepy kids and unpleasant house guests. And this morbid humor with unforgettable characters became an instant cult classic. The story isn’t really special, but it’s the characters and their trades that make this film so fun.

Top 5 Thursday: Movie Entrances

Remember when we first met those great characters in those amazing movies? Well, then it’s an epic entrance. Here are my favorite epic movie entrances!

5. Indiana Jones in “Raiders of the Lost Ark”

Concealed in darkness for the entirety of the opening credits, this guy’s nothing more than a shadowy figure in a fedora. Then, when a gun’s raised at his back, Indy cracks the whip, disarms his would-be assassin

 

 

 

4. Darth Vader in “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope”

Smoke from a laser gun battle hangs in the air, the John Williams music playing and then there is Darth Vader. It takes my breath away ;)

 

 

 

3. T-800 in “Terminator 2: Judgment Day”

Stomping naked into a biker bar, he asks a biker for his clothes, boots and motorcycle, and roars off into the night. It’s super iconic and awesome!

 

 

 

2. Jack Sparrow in “Pirates of the Caribbean”

Captain Jack Sparrow sails aboard a ship that’s in the process of sinking. Not that Jack minds, the ship’s mast reaches docks just in time for him to step casually onto land. Hilarious every single time.

 

 

 

1. T-Rex in “Jurassic Park”

It starts with that cup of water on the dashboard, the sound of heavy footfalls and finally the T-Rex. Epic! And actually my favorite movie scene of all time!

 

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: John Doe in “Se7en”, Hannibal Lecter in “The Silence of the Lambs”, Chest bursting alien in “Alien”, Tina Carlyle in “The Mask”, The Joker in “The Dark Knight”, Jessica Rabbit in “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”, John Coffey in “The Green Mile”, Alex DeLarge in “A Clockwork Orange”