Top 5 Thursday: Movies I watched for My Challenge (May 2014)

Another great month of movies and I also watched a couple of classics. Again a tough choice, but here are my five favourites of this month.

5. The Debt

I didn’t know what to expect, but I was amazed by the strength of this film. Great acting by Jessica Chastain especially. Fantastic movie.

 

4. Neighbors

A comedy that got it right. This movie made me laugh, that’s what a lot of comedies fail to do nowadays.

 

3. Godzilla

It totally surprised me, I didn’t expect it to end up in my monthly top 5. But it deserves a spot, because it was a fantastic thrill ride!

 

2. Spirited Away

I truly got inspired by this style, I really liked the animation. And also the great story and morals behind this film.

 

1. The Great Escape

I was so glad that I finally saw this movie. It’s fantastic. I just loved how this movie was made, with action, light drama and some wit, not a very common combination for a movie set in World War II.

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: X-Men: First Class, The Goonies

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 66: The Great Escape

Director: John Sturgess

Genre: Action/ Drama/ Adventure

Runtime: 172 minutes

Year: 1963

Starring: Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, James Coburn, Donald Pleasance, Charles Bronson

Description: Allied P.O.W.s plan for several hundred of their number to escape from a German camp during World War II.

Review: An exciting war movie filled with adventure, based on a true story from World War II. Real prisoner Paul Brickhill wrote a book about his experience in Stalag Luft III and the great escape. This was the base of the film.

Although the prisoners of war were mostly British, the makers of the film added some Americans to the cast. James Coburn plays the role of Louise Sedgwick, nicknamed the Manufacturer, because he’s very handy. James Garner is Hendley, the Scrounger, a thief who is able to get all the equipment for the outbreak. But the biggest American contribution comes from Steve McQueen, as Virgil Hilts, also known as Cooler King. The ‘cooler’ is the special isolated cell, where Hilts ends up whenever he tries to escape on his own. Steve McQueen wanted to do his own stunts, which gave us a fantastic chase scene, that is considered an absolute classic. Last we have Charles Bronson, as the taciturn Danny Velinski, the Tunnel King. He is responsible for the digging of the tunnel that will lead them to freedom. Even though Bronson’s acting is limited, he’s right where he should be. From the British front we have Richard Attenborough, who plays the leader of the escapees, Roger Bartlett. And Donald Pleasance who is forger Blythe, who slowly loses his sight in the process.

“The Great Escape” is a good example of a classic Hollywood war movie, filled with adventure, tension, wit and tough guys with a noble nature. The allied soldiers see it as their duty to escape and the Germans do everything to stop them. A cat and mouse hunt unravels. The story is fast paced and although it’s a war movie, it’s presented light and subtle. The prisoners aren't treated bad at all, there is a certain naivety among the Germans. When the prisoners escape, the tone of the movie changes and the drama isn’t as light anymore.

I’m glad that I can finally mark “The Great Escape” as watched, because it was worth the time. It’s an absolute classic and I loved Steve McQueen in this movie.

Rating: 4,5 / 5

DVD Collection Update (15)

I got some classics, a personal favorite and some TV shows. I'm proud of all of them. And this was also an oppurtunity to show off my cute owl statue!

First I got "Spirited Away". I don't know why, but suddenly I wanted to see some Anime. I had heard so many things about this director and I decided to just pick this up. I was amazed when I watched it and also a bit ashamed that I hadn't before.

"Gran Torino" is my favorite Clint Eastwood directed film. It's not a spectacular movie in happening, but it left an impact on me. It's a fantastic film!

I haven't seen it yet, but as a movie fan you just need to see "The Great Excape". I know some of the classic scenes from the movie, but I never saw it. Looking forward to it, but I'm waiting for the perfect moment. It's a very long movie you know.

I finally got season 13, part 1 of "CSI". Here you can't buy a complete "CSI" season, it's sold in two parts. Annoying, but it does look great on my shelve.

I'm loving this show, ever since my mom accidentaly bought me a season of "Waking the Dead". I'm hoping to eventually get the entire collection. The Dvd's aren't very expensive, so I probably manage that goal.