Rewatching My 100 Favorite Movies - Update 20

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.
 

67/ 100: Knives Out (2019)
That the Agatha Christie formula is still working, proves director and screenwriter Rian Johnson with this ingenious murder mystery that simultaneously honors, mocks and turns the rules of the genre inside out. A successful thriller author who celebrates his 85^th birthday at his mansion, surrounded by family, is found dead. Eccentric sleuth Benoit Blanc arrives to solve this crime. A cleverly written whodunnit that requires at least a second viewing, to see if you spotted the later unraveled clues. HERE is my full review.
 

68/ 100: The Princess Bride (1987)
A grandfather visits his sick grandson and wants to read to him a book. The boy doesn’t think much of it at first. Then a sparkling fairy tale unfolds about a young woman, Buttercup, who no longer believes in love after the man of her dreams goes missing at sea. When she is kidnapped, she meets numerous unusual characters. The film has much to offer: an original take on the genre, enthusiastic performances and a fun story for young and old. One of those romance movies that even men like. Read my full review HERE.
 

69/ 100: Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Shaun is suffering greatly from his breakup with his girlfriend Liz. He doesn’t have much use for his roommate Ed, who is too busy gaming, drinking and hanging around Shaun’s house. Still, Ed proves convenient when residents of a London suburb turn out to be infected by a zombie virus. A brilliant comedy, with a touch of gore. The first in Simon Pegg and Nick Frost’s  “Cornetto trilogy”, all directed by Edgar Wright. Check out my review HERE.
 
Still to watch: 31

What's in a Movie Year - 1987

Taking a look at the year 1987, picking my 10 favorite movies from that year in random order.

The Princess Bride
A grandfather visits his sick grandson and wants to read to him from a book that includes kissing. “Boring”, says the boy. “Not in this book”, replies grandpa. Then a sparkling fairytale unfolds about a young woman who no longer believes in love after the man of her dreams went missing at sea. When she is kidnapped, she meets countless unusual fairytale characters. The film has a lot to offer: an original take on the genre, enthusiastic actors and a fun story for young and old. Fun fact: The Cliffs of Insanity are actually the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, which I visited in 2019.

The Lost Boys
This is one of my favorite teen horror films and vampire films ever. It’s a colorful mix of action, horror and comedy. And it stars the hippest teen actors from that time. We follow two brothers who have just moved to the coastal town of Santa Cruz and are starting to suspect that there are vampires living there. Not a subtle movie, but highly entertaining.

Predator
A team of extremely tough commandos led by Dutch flies at the request of CIA agent Dillon to a Central American country to liberate hostages. But it’s not as easy at it sounds, since the hostages are dead and the team had to make its way through the hot jungle to safety then it turns out that an alien-like creature is hunting them. Strong thriller with horror and science fiction elements. And Arnold Schwarzenegger in his heyday.

Empire of the Sun
An ambitious film full of impressive images. It tells the story of a British boy who has led a protected life in Shanghai, is separated from his parents and has to stand up for himself when Japan enters China at the beginning of World War II. Director Steven Spielberg gives an almost bombastic portrayal of the event, aided by the music of composer John Williams. It’s based on the novel by J.G. Ballard and stars a very young Christian Bale.

Withnail and I
In 1969, two substance-abusing, unemployed actors retreat to the countryside for a holiday that proves disastrous. The excesses and excitement of that time are accurately and skillfully displayed. A great performance by Richard E. Grant as Withnail and a delightful role of Richard Griffith as Withnail’s homosexual uncle. Very worthwhile.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles
On his way for Thanksgiving, businessman Neal Page gets stuck with the annoying Del Griffith, who sells shower curtain rings. But the many obstacles blocking their path eventually bring the two closer together. Entertaining buddy-road movie by director John Hughes. A movie me and my family watched each year during the holidays, when I still lived with my parents.

Evil Dead II
The American horror film “Evil Dead”, the first film in what eventually would become a trilogy, was already absurd. For example the scene in which a woman was assaulted by a tree. But with “Evil Dead II”, director Sam Raimi made a truly bizarre horror. Once again, a group of people end up in a remote cabin, and once again they evoke a dark presence with texts from an ancient book. From now on, evil be presented in an inventive and bloody way. Eyeballs flying through the room, a headless zombie dancing, and protagonist Ash fights to the death with his own hand. By many considered the best in the “Evil Dead” series. You love it or hate it.

The Untouchables
In Chicago, during the Prohibition in the 1920s, the service is called off by mobster Al Capone, who sees the money flow with the illegal sale of liquor, and he has half of the police force in his pocket. Ambitious and incorruptible policeman Elliot Ness is asked to take him down. He assembles a small team to work with. Extraordinarily strong crime drama, with excellent performances by Robert DeNiro, Sean Connery, Kevin Costner and Andy Garcia. The highlight is the scene at the train station.

Lethal Weapon
Great action film with a fun premise: detective Riggs, tired of life since the death of his wife, is linker to his almost retired colleague Murtaugh. They are sent to the heavily armed gang of drug lord The General. Because Riggs doesn’t care if he survives the workday, he often acts crazy, which is effective, but also very risky, according to the family man Murtaugh. The high tempt, the strong action scenes and the witty one-liners between Mel Gibson and Danny Glover are fun to watch. The film had three sequels.

Robocop
Set in the future, cop Murphy is riddled with bullets by a gang. He is ‘recycled’ by replacing a large part of his body with robotic components and using his brain as a programmable control system. When you read the tagline: ‘Part man. Part machine. All cop. The future of law enforcement’, it sounds like a bad B-movie. Director Paul Verhoeven, however, made an interesting, nonchalant mix of ultra-violence, romance, society critical jokes and visual spectacle with his major Hollywood breakthrough.

Movies That Instantly Make Me Happy

With all the sadness in the world and everything you have to worry about on a daily basis, it’s nice to have those movies that can put a smile on your face and not having to worry about a single thing.  I put together a list for you, of movies that never failed to make me happy.

Love Actually (2003)
This beloved film may be a Christmas movie, but it can be watched year-round. At least I watch it any time I can. Its huge ensemble cast makes up eight different couples whose love lives are all intertwined. It all culminates in a story that will always warm your heart, no matter how many times you watch it.

The Princess Bride (1987)
This fantasy romance follows long-lost loves Westley and Buttercup, who in order to be reunited, must fight through various obstacles they face in the kingdom of Florin. When I’m in the worst of moods, “The Princess Bride” always gets me laughing.

Forrest Gump (1994)
Tom Hanks stars as Forrest Gump in this 1994 classic. His character is so endearing and it might sound cliché, but “Forrest Gump” never gets old. I have nothing but love for this film.

La La Land (2017)
A pianist and actress transport audiences back to the golden days of Hollywood, when musicals and the art of dance were used to encourage viewers to follow their dreams. The 2017 Oscar-winning film is a must-see for theater buffs, and anyone who loved bright colors and romance.

You’ve Got Mail (1998)
“You’ve Got Mail” is maybe a bit outdated, but this is such a fantastic romcom. It’s over 20 years old, but the dialogues still crack me up and each time Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks find each other in the park at the end, it makes my heart melt.

Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
This is my go-to movie whenever I’m feeling down. It’s a classic and never fails to put a smile on my face. Especially the moment where Gene Kelly sings the titular song in the rain, I can’t stop smiling.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Nothing makes me smile more than a quirky, out-of-the-ordinary family. If this movie doesn’t make you smile, you’re dead inside. It’s about dreams and illusions and the beauty of a dysfunctional family. Pure joy. And Abigail Breslin literally brings sun to the rainiest cold days.

Annie Hall (1977)
“Annie Hall” tells the story of a neurotic New York comedian Alvy Singer who tries to work out why his relationship with Annie Hall ultimately ended and the nature of love. When I first saw this movie, I learned that Alvy Singer is my long lost sibling, because it’s like watching myself. Woody Allen’s hilarious nervous pessimism will have you gunning for happier vibes. The lobster scene alone should make you feel better.

Amélie (2001)
The magic of “Amélie” is in how it defines us not by what we buy or what we consume but by what we do. It’s a whimsical romance, but it’s more than just a girl-meets-boy love story. Amélie attempts to fix the broken people around her even as she ignores her own happiness in the process. Random acts of kindness is Amélie’s middle name.

Intouchables (2011)
It’s a life-affirming, witty, funny and charming movie. The proportions of drama and comedy are almost perfect. The story of two friends, as different as black and white, day and night, is truly amazing.

Big Fish (2003)
Tim Burton made a movie that’s almost like a fairytale. The story of Edward Bloom says that everyone has their own universe inside of them. This is such a positive film, filled with the ‘dream big’ message.

Top 10: Best Movies I Watched for My 2016 Challenge

The great thing about the 100 Movie Challenge is that I sometimes watch films that I would normally not even pay attention to. It’s a time to rediscover classics or see the movies you missed in the 2000s or 2010s. I watched a bunch of fantastic films, I narrowed it down to this top 10 list. Here are my favorite films I watched for my 2016 challenge.

10. Lars and the Real Girl
This was such a weird story, but it was so heartfelt and honest. And we got Ryan Reynold’s amazing performance to thank for that. He proofs that he doesn’t always have to play the sexy charmer, he can play a lonely geek as well.

9. The Jungle Book
Disney’s uncanny adaptation of their own beloved animation from 1967. It was a blockbuster, it was a technical film. Besides Mowgli, all the sets and characters were computer generated. The visuals are stunning. “The Jungle Book” was one amazing movie experience.

8. The Nice Guys
I already loved Shane Black’s “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang”. Teaming up Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe was probably one of the best ideas of 2016. They are an irresistible pair. Energized by a dry wry cynicism. It’s crime comedy at its best.

7. Arrival
“Arrival” is an unusually intimate science-fiction epic, that takes the story of humankind’s first contact with an alien race and turns it into a downright poetric meditation on fate, time, love and the limitations and essential universalities of communication. Amy Adams gives a fantastic performance, she carries this film. Director Denis Villeneuve has a flawless record so far.

6. Room
Brie Larson earned all the headlines for her role as Joy, her Oscar winning performance is so convincing and heartbreaking. But her movie son Jacob Tremblay very nearly steals the show. It’s through his eyes we experience the traumatic set of events.

5. Spotlight
“Spotlight” is driven purely by the simplicity of its story. A group of journalists exposing a scandal in the Catholic Church. The film had my attention from start to finish, it has great performances and I loved everything about this film. It deserved that Oscar.

4. The Apartment
I discovered Billy Wilder films this year and I came to the conclusion that I really love this director. “The Apartment” is such a fun film, great acting and it’s basically set in only one location.

3. Some Like It Hot
This is the other Billy Wilder film I watched this year, and loved! It was hilarious. It’s such a funny story, two men disguising as women so that they can play music in an all-women’s group. And although it’s clear that they are two men, nobody sees it. This is one fo the best comedies of all time!

2. La La Land
Damien Chazelle’s first film was “Whiplash”, an Academy Award winning film. He’s back with amusic movie of an entirely different variety. “La La Land” is a heart-eyed musical about two lost Los Angelinos who find each other. I’m seriously in love with this film. This one’s for the classic movie fans.

1. The Princess Bride
This movie has everything and know how to combine all those genres in the most perfect way. Adventure, action, romance, comedy, drama, it’s all there. It’s one of the best fairytales ever told, with humor, mockery and heartwarming moments. Definitely a new favorite on my all-time list.


Honorable Mentions: The General, City Lights, Beasts of No Nation, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Little Shop of Horrors, We Bought a Zoo, Mr. Holland’s Opus, The Soloist

Top 5 Thursday: Movies I Watched for My Challenge (May 2016)

This month I saw some really amazing film and it was kinda hard to put together a top 5, because there were so many good choices. Well, here they are, the five best movies I watched for the month of May.

5. The Kid with a Bike
A smaller film probably no one has seen. But such a good film. Movies like this should get more attention, because it’s a shame that they go by unnoticed.

4. The Signal
I didn’t know anything before watching “The Signal” and it totally took me by surprise. It was a really good film, unexpectedly good.

3. Lars and the Real Girl
Such a sweet, touching story and what a great performance by Ryan Gosling. I just love quirky stories like this.

2. The Jungle Book
This movie really blew my mind. I was excited about it, but never expected “The Jungle Book” to be so good. I loved everything about it.

1. The Princess Bride
This movie had everything: adventure, comedy, action, romance, drama. It was such a fun film and just can’t believe I never watched it before. “The Princess Bride” is one of those movies I will rewatch multiple times.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Bone Tomahawk, Captain America: Civil War, American Graffiti, Bridge of Spies, The Magnificent Seven

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 67: The Princess Bride

Director: Rob Reiner
Genre: Comedy/ Adventure/ Romance/ Fantasy
Runtime: 98 minutes
Year: 1987
Starring: Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Chis Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, Andre the Giant, Fred Savage, Peter Falk, Peter Cool, Mel Smith, Billy Crystal, Carol Kane

Description: While home sick in bed, a young boy's (Fred Savage) grandfather (Peter Falk) reads him a story called The Princess Bride.

Review: “The Princess Bride” is a story that is told by a grandfather to his sick grandson. It’s about a beautiful farmer’s daughter Buttercup, who is madly in love with farm boy Westley. When they admit their love for each other, Westley leaves to earn money for their wedding. On his journey Westley is ambushed by pirates and Buttercup knows her love died. Years later Buttercup is forced to marry Prince Humperdinck. Right before the wedding, she is captured by three men who plan on declaring war to another kingdom. But the trio is chased by a masked stranger.
“The Princess Bride” is highly praised, as a fantasy film, but also as a romance and for its comedy. It has something for everyone. The people who dislike this film, take it way to seriously. There is a parody feel to this film and it’s very aware of itself. I love the combination of fantasy, action, comedy and romance.
“The Princess Bride” had been on my watchlist for a long time. Now that I finally saw it, I will definitely rewatch it many times. I’m a fan of “The Princess Bride”.

Rating: 5/ 5