Rewatching My 100 Favorite Movies - Update 12

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.
 

39/ 100: Gremlins (1984)
Chris Columbus wrote the script of this cult classic. The film has dark humor, not-too-scary horror and an ironic Christmas atmosphere. With that, cinema got the cutest movie creature ever. The film about the little Mogwai, which is not allowed to get wet, be exposed to light and can’t eat after midnight, is my all-time favorite Christmas movie and one I never get tired of. Read my full review HERE
 

40/ 100: Mystic River (2003)
As young boys, Dave, Jimmy and Sean suffered a terrible trauma when one of them was kidnapped and sexually abused. Years later, they are now adults and married, the nineteen-year-old daughter of one of them is found murdered. Dave is one of the suspects, as on the night of the crime he came home in a confused state and with bloodied hands. Soon old wounds are reopened. Strong, somber whodunit, worthwhile mainly because of the character building, excellent direction by Clint Eastwood and performances by Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Marcia Gay Harden and Laura Linney. HERE is my full review.
 

41/ 100: The Big Lebowski (1998)
Bowling and blowing Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski is the laziest man of Los Angeles. Bandits who mistake him an old rich guy with the same name play a prank on him, whereupon The Dude goes to seek redress with the Big Lebowski. The out-of-control situation is splendidly portrayed, with stron, humorous characters, hallucinogenic dream sequences and wonderful dialogue. One of the best film in the impressive oeuvre of the Brother Ethan and Joel Coen. Read my full review HERE
 
Still to watch: 59

90s Movie Review - The Big Lebowski

Director: Joel Coen
Genre: Comedy/ Crime
Runtime: 117 minutes
Year: 1998
Starring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, Philip Seymour Hofman, Tara Reid, John Turtorro, Sam Elliot, John Polito

Description: "The Dude" Lebowski (Jeff Bridges), mistaken for a millionaire Lebowski, seeks restitution for his ruined rug and enlists his bowling buddies to help get it.

Review: After “Fargo” in 1996, the Coen Brothers had to try and equal or top their masterpiece. The story of “The Big Lebwoski” sounds like it’s going all over the place. But that doesn’t mean they can’t make another masterpiece.
The sultry voiceover of a nameless cowboy leads us from a deserted prairie to a big American city: Los Angeles. Main character Jeff “The Dude” Lebwoski (Jeff Bridges) is a jobless loser who goes through life smoking weed and bowling with his two friends Walter (John Goodman) and Donny (Steve Buscemi). But his eventless life is soon to be over, when two criminals mistake The Dude for some millionaire with the same name. They shove his head down the toilet and pee on his rug, but The Dude manages to convince the criminals that they’ve got the wrong person. The Dude tries to find the other Jeff Lebowski and demands a new rug. But now he is part of a complicated kidnapping case. 
The film is filled with strange yet unforgettable characters: feministic artist Maude, bowling king Jesus, porn boss Jackie Treehorn and off course the trio The Dude, Donnie and Walter themselves.
“The Big Lebowski” is a great crime comedy, equally as good as “Fargo”. The Dude abides!

Rating: 5/ 5
 

Netflix Friday - Volume 51

Some Netflix film tips for the weekend! And there is something for everyone, since I picked a movie for all the different genres.
 

Action: Rambo: First Blood (1982)
A veteran Green Beret (Sylvester Stallone) is forced by a cruel Sheriff and his deputies to flee into the mountains and wage an escalating one-man war against his pursuers.
 

Drama: Concrete Cowboy (2021)
Sent to live with his estranged father for the summer, a rebellious teen finds kinship in a tight-knit Philadelphia community of Black Cowboys.
 

Comedy: Liar Liar (1997)
A fast-track lawyer (Jim Carrey) can’t lie for 24 hours due to his son’s birthday wish after he disappoints his son for the last time.
 

Animation: Monsters Vs. Aliëns (2009)
A woman (Reese Witherspoon) transformed into a giant after she is struck by a meteorite on her wedding day becomes part of a team of monsters sent in by the U.S. government to defeat an alien mastermind trying to take over Earth.
 

Romance: The Half of It (2020)
When smart but cash-strapped teen Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis) agrees to write a love letter for a jock (Daniel Diemer), she doesn’t expect to become his friend, or fall for his crush (Alexxis Lemire)
 

Horror: Child’s Play 3 (1991)
Chucky returns for revenge against Andy, the young boy who defeated him, and now a teenager living in a military academy.
 

Science Fiction: Stowaway (2021)
A stowaway on a mission to Mars sets off a series of unintended consequences.
 

Crime: The Big Lebowski (1998)
Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski (Jeff Bridges), mistaken for a millionaire of the same name, seeks restitution for his ruined rug and enlists his bowling buddies (John Goodman, Steve Buscemi) to help get.
 

Thriller: Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)
Jack Ryan (Chris Pine), as a young covert C.I.A. analyst, uncovers a Russian plot to crash the U.S. economy with a terrorist attack.
 

Documentary: Life in Color (2021)
Exploring the many ways animals use color throughout their lives.
 

Family: The Karate Kid (1984)
A martial arts master (Pat Morita) agrees to teach karate to a bullied teenager (Ralph Macchio)

Netflix Friday - Volume 10

Some Netflix film tips for the weekend! And there is something for everyone, since I picked a movie for all the different genres.

Action: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem.

Drama: Da 5 Bloods (2020)
Four African American Vietnam veterans battle forces of man and nature when they return to Vietnam seeking the remains of their fallen squad leader and the gold fortune he helped them hide.

Comedy: The Big Lebowski (1998)
Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski (Jeff Bridges), mistaken for a millionaire of the same name, seeks restitution for his ruined rug and enlists his bowling buddies to help get it.

Animation: Hotel Transylvania (2012)
Dracula (Adam Sandler), who operates a high-end resort away from the human world, goes into overprotective mode when a boy (Andy Samberg) discovers the resort and falls for the count’s teenage daughter (Selena Gomez).

Romance: The Half of It (2020)
When smart but cash-strapped teen Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis) agrees to write a love letter for a jock (Daniel Diemer), she doesn’t expect to become his friend or fall for his crush (Alexxis Lemire).

Horror: Red Dragon (2002)
A retired FBI agent (Edward Norton) with psychological gifts is assigned to help track down ‘The Tooth Fairy’, a mysterious serial killer. Aiding him is imprisoned forensic psychiatrist Hannibal ‘The Cannibal’ Lecter (Anthony Hopkins).

Science Fiction: Back to the Future (1985)
Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), a 17-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent thirty years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his close friend, the eccentric scientist Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd).

Crime: Scarface (1983)
In 1980 Miami, a determined Cuban immigrant (Al Pacino) takes over a drug cartel and succumbs to greed.

Thriller: Donnie Brasco (1997)
An FBI undercover agent (Johnny Depp) infiltrates the mob an finds himself identifying more with the mafia life, at the expense of his regular one.

Documentary: Dancing with the Birds (2019)
From ruffling their majestic feathers to nailing im-peck-able courtship routines, birds in paradise flaunt their best moves in hopes of landing a mate.

Family: Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009)
A college professor (Richard Gere) bonds with an abandoned dog he takes into his home.

Top 5 Thursday: Coen Brothers Movies

The Coen Brothers have a very diverse filmography. Sometimes it’s a dark comedy, sometimes a modern western, sometimes absurd satire. They certainly have an impressive resume and I love their work. Here are my five favorite movies directed by the Coen Brothers.

5. Burn After Reading
Most people don’t like it, think it’s just a silly film. “Burn After Reading” has a great cast and I think it’s hilarious. I love Brad Pitt, John Malkovich and George Clooney in this film.

4. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
A variation on “Odyssey”. Also not one of the more popular Coen Brothers movies, but I love this film. The first time I saw George Clooney’s comedic talent. And I love the music in “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”

3. No Country for Old Men
A more serious film, an at first sight it’s very unlike the Coen Brothers. It’s a fascinating film, a great story and strong performances. Javier Bardem portrays villain Anton Chigurh and is one of the most convincing and scary villains in movie history.

2. The Big Lebowski
A stoner comedy, with probably the coolest character in any Coen Brothers movie. The Dude is super awesome. Jeff Bridges, John Goodman and Steve Buscemi rock!

1. Fargo
It’s one of the most acclaimed films and has some of the most memorable characters in it. William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi and Frances McDormand are all great in “Fargo”. This movie is so good, that it even got its own TV show.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Inside Llewyn Davis, True Grit, Barton Fink, A Serious Man

Top 5 Thursday: Comedies of the 1990s

I like a good laugh, because I think life is better when you’re laughing. But what are my favorite comedies? Well, that’s a task, so I decided to go by decade. Starting with the 1990s. Here they come.

5. Groundhog Day

Not slapstick comedy, but Bill Murray comedy. Murray is one of the funniest actors in Hollywood and “Groundhog Day” is one of those comedies that will stay timeless.

 

 

4. Dumb and Dumber

When you say 90s comedy, Jim Carrey is definitely a big part of it. I saw “Dumb and Dumber” in theatres and it cracked me up back then. It still does. I haven’t seen the sequel though, I really don’t want to.

 

 

3. The Big Lebowski

This humor is slightly different from the other ones on the list, but I really liked seeing Jeff Bridges as ‘The Dude’. He is kind of useless, but boy do we love him. And his attachment to his rug.

 

 

2. There’s Something About Mary

I love this comedy, it makes me laugh every single time. Ben Stiller is loveable and clumbsy Ted, Matt Dillon as creepy and sleezy Pat and off course pretty Cameron Diaz as Mary.

 

 

1. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

This is a role only Jim Carrey can pull off. “Ace Venture: Pet Detective” is even one of my favorite comedies of all time. It has so many memorable scenes: the sliding door, Ace wearing a tutu, thinking he found Snowflake.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Wayne’ss World, Mrs. Doubtfire, Happy Gilmore

Top 5 Thursday: Movies from 1998

First my apologies for the missing top 5 last week. With all the busy stuff I totally forgot! But it's back this week. Let’s take a look at the year 1998, what movies did that year bring us?

5. The Wedding Singer
Okay, probably not one of the best movies of 1998, but a bit of a guilty pleasure. This was in the time that Adam Sandler still made movies worth your time. And he forms a sweet duo with Drew Barrymore.

4. The Faculty
Such a cool movie, although it features all kinds of stereotypical high school students. It’s a Robert Rodriguez movie and it’s an enjoyable film to watch.

3. American History X
This was an intense film, it haunted me for days when I first saw it. Especially that one scene with the man on the curb. You know what I’m talking about. And a fantastic performance by Edward Norton.

2. The Big Lebowski
You gotta love The Dude. In my opinion it’s Jeff Bridges at his best, although he also had some more dramatic roles where he was outstanding in. John Goodman also rocks this movie and I just love it.

1. There’s Something About Mary
It’s probably my number one comedy of all time. Cameron Diaz as the loveable Mary, who everybody loves. And Ben Stiller…. How cute was he and everyone felt sorry for him. That zipper scene, auch! I can still see the image.

They Almost Made the Top 5: The Truman Show, You’ve Got Mail, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Saving Private Ryan, Shakespeare in Love

DVD Collection Update (8)

I got some new DVD's for my collection. One new movie and some great classics. I'm very happy with these new additions!

The first film I got only cost me 1 euro. That's practically for free. It could be that it was so cheap because it's total crap, but I was always charmed by Ioan Gruffudd and ALbert Finney is a good actor.

I've heard so many great things about "Beasts of the Southern Wild". And now that I saw it myself I understand why. It's an amazing movie. Quvenzhané Wallis, the kid who plays Hushpuppy, is so talented!

I'm most excited about this one! I just loved the first movie "Monsters Inc.", so I pre-ordered "Monsters University" as soon as it was available. It's not as hilarious as the first, but still genious! And I love Mike Wazowski!

This is an absolute classic. And it's the perfect movie for the fall, because in my country that's when it rains a lot (I secretly don't mind at all). I can't wait to rewatch "Singin' in the Rain".

I always like a good detectvie story, but there is no one like Clouseau. The complete "Pink Panther" collection, with all the movies starring Peter Sellers. So none of the crappy remakes or the one with Roberto Benigni.

And finally I found "The Big Lebowski" and what a cool edition this is. It comes with a slipcover. This is such an awesome movie, with off course one of the coolest movie characters ever. They don't call him "The Dude" for nothing.

Quotables: "The Big Lebowski"

One of the greatest movies of all time and the Coen brothers created one of the most unforgettable and coolest characters ever: The Dude. Here are some of the great quotes from “The Big Lebowski”.





Walter Sobchak: You want a toe? I can get you a toe, believe me. There are ways, Dude. You don't wanna know about it, believe me.
The Dude: Yeah, but Walter...
Walter Sobchak: Hell, I can get you a toe by 3 o'clock this afternoon... with nail polish. These fucking amateurs...

Jesus Quintana: Nobody fucks with the Jesus!

Walter Sobchak: Fuck it, Dude, let's go bowling.

The Dude: What's in the fuckin' carrier?
Walter Sobchak: Huh? Oh, that's Cynthia's dog. I think it's a Pomeranian. I can't leave him home alone or he eats the furniture. I'm watching him while Cynthia and Marty Ackerman are in Hawaii.
The Dude: You brought the fuckin' Pomeranian bowling?
Walter Sobchak: What do you mean brought it bowling, Dude? I didn't rent it shoes. I'm not buying it a fucking beer. He's not taking your fucking turn, Dude.
The Dude: Man, if my fuckin' ex-wife asked me to take care of her fuckin' dog while she and her boyfriend went to Honolulu I'd tell her to go fuck herself.

The Dude: God damn you Walter! You fuckin' asshole! Everything's a fuckin' travesty with you, man! And what was all that shit about Vietnam? What the FUCK, has anything got to do with Vietnam? What the fuck are you talking about?

The Dude: It's like what Lenin said... you look for the person who will benefit, and, uh, uh...
Donny: I am the walrus.
The Dude: You know what I'm trying to say...
Donny: I am the walrus.
Walter Sobchak: That fucking bitch...
The Dude: Oh yeah!
Donny: I am the walrus.
Walter Sobchak: Shut the fuck up, Donny! V.I. Lenin. Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov!
Donny: What the fuck is he talking about, Dude?

The Dude: And, you know, he's got emotional problems, man.
Walter Sobchak: You mean... beyond pacifism?

Walter Sobchak: You have got to buck up, man. You cannot drag this negative energy in to the tournament!
The Dude: Fuck the tournament... Fuck YOU, Walter!
[pause]
Walter Sobchak: Fuck the tournament? All right, I can see you don't want to be cheered up here, Dude. Come on Donny, let's go get us a lane.

Jackie Treehorn: Interactive erotic software. The wave of the future, Dude. One hundred percent electronic!
The Dude:Yeah well, I still jerk off manually.

The Dude: Let me explain something to you. Um, I am not "Mr. Lebowski". You're Mr. Lebowski. I'm the Dude. So that's what you call me. You know, that or, uh, His Dudeness, or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you're not into the whole brevity thing.

Walter Sobchak: That's right, Dude, they peed on your fucking rug.

Walter Sobchak: Donny was a good bowler, and a good man. He was one of us. He was a man who loved the outdoors... and bowling, and as a surfer he explored the beaches of Southern California, from La Jolla to Leo Carrillo and... up to... Pismo. He died, like so many young men of his generation, he died before his time. In your wisdom, Lord, you took him, as you took so many bright flowering young men at Khe Sanh, at Langdok, at Hill 364. These young men gave their lives. And so would Donny. Donny, who loved bowling. And so, Theodore Donald Karabotsos, in accordance with what we think your dying wishes might well have been, we commit your final mortal remains to the bosom of the Pacific Ocean, which you loved so well. Good night, sweet prince.

The Dude: Walter, I love you, but sooner or later, you're going to have to face the fact you're a goddamn moron.