The NOT AFI top 100: My Favourite Films
The films that hit home with me, more than any others. Not always critical darlings, mostly for lack of comprehension on the part of said critics. Get to know these films and you'll know me.
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- DirectorZack SnyderStarsBen AffleckHenry CavillAmy AdamsBatman is manipulated by Lex Luthor to fear Superman. Superman´s existence is meanwhile dividing the world and he is framed for murder during an international crisis. The heroes clash and force the neutral Wonder Woman to reemerge.Note: This is all about the Ultimate Edition!
Without comparison the greatest superhero movie of all time. Such depth, such a wonderfully character driven story, and such a brave film! The choices made by the filmmakers are, at times, staggeringly ballsy. No wonder the film critics went sour, as it poses some important questions about the role of news media and people who are perpetually searching for negative angles.
Many aspects from beloved comics/graphic novels are on display here; from Peace on Earth to the Death of Superman - the latter originally being a cynical device to revive the waning interest in Superman comics, wonderfully utilised in this film to instil hope in a fallen man, as well as humanity. What falls is NOT fallen. Through this dark journey we arrive at the most hopeful ending possible; even with the Man of Steel buried, others will now rise to face the uncertain future. We will do better. We have to.
I dub this the Citizen Kane of superhero movies; underappreciated in its time, but I've no doubt it will be recognised for its greatness at some point in the future. - DirectorJames CameronStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerLinda HamiltonEdward FurlongA cyborg, identical to the one who failed to kill Sarah Connor, must now protect her ten year old son John from an even more advanced and powerful cyborg.A masterpiece of sci/fi-action filmmaking, and the last Terminator film to ever be made.
- DirectorZack SnyderStarsHenry CavillAmy AdamsMichael ShannonAn alien child is evacuated from his dying world and sent to Earth to live among humans. His peace is threatened when other survivors of his home planet invade Earth.Without comparison the greatest Superman movie of all time. Heartfelt, quiet, introspective, yet with all the noise and balls-to-the-wall action you could ask for.
Never before has a Superman movie given us such insight into the characters' psyches and motivations. Zod is not the two-dimensional moustache twirler we know and laugh at in Superman 2. Lois Lane is not the neurotic lunatic from the Reeves era. Perry White is no longer the cardboard cutout angry boss. And Kal-El himself? I have no words. Occasionally, my eyes tend to well up.
Never before has a Superman story been so true to the comics. Aspects from his entire history have been pulled to craft this, the definitive vision of the Man of Steel. I only wish they hadn't gone quite so overboard on the shaky-cam.
Still; a grand vision, and a fantastic film! - DirectorPeter JacksonStarsElijah WoodIan McKellenViggo MortensenWhile Frodo and Sam edge closer to Mordor with the help of the shifty Gollum, the divided fellowship makes a stand against Sauron's new ally, Saruman, and his hordes of Isengard.The best in the series stands for three films which I really count as one glorious, 12 hour adventure.
- DirectorIvan ReitmanStarsBill MurrayDan AykroydSigourney WeaverThree parapsychologists forced out of their university funding set up shop as a unique ghost removal service in New York City, attracting frightened yet skeptical customers.This marvellous example of lightning in a bottle is unique in the history of cinema. Want comedy? Look no further. Want wacky sci-fi? There's none better. Want characters that are solidly written and flawlessly performed by actors perfect for their roles? Here you go. Ghostbusters, cleaning up the town.
- DirectorGeorge MillerStarsTom HardyCharlize TheronNicholas HoultIn a post-apocalyptic wasteland, a woman rebels against a tyrannical ruler in search for her homeland with the aid of a group of female prisoners, a psychotic worshiper and a drifter named Max.Another double feature: The Road Warrior and Fury Road, back to back. Australian insanity at its best.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsHarrison FordRutger HauerSean YoungA blade runner must pursue and terminate four replicants who stole a ship in space and have returned to Earth to find their creator.I watched the theatrical version on VHS. Couldn't
understand the hype, outside the visuals. Years later, I got a Director's Cut and thought "hey, this
is pretty good!" Then I got The Final Cut. Holy Tyrell, this is an insanely good movie!
Every autumn, when the leaves fall and darkness sets in, I pop this in the DVD player and just...
Die. - DirectorZack SnyderStarsJackie Earle HaleyPatrick WilsonCarla GuginoIn a version of 1985 where superheroes exist, the murder of a colleague sends active vigilante Rorschach on the trail of a conspiracy that will change the course of history.The theatrical version is, of course, inferior. The Director's Cut, on the other hand? I cannot hype
this enough.
Superficially, this is a beautiful movie. Even the ugly bits yield their own form of aesthetical enjoyment.
The story is long and slightly convoluted, yet a lovely commentary on politics and our society and culture.
Watchmen is adapted from the classic Alan Moore graphic novel, and as faithful as possible when translating from paper to celluloid. Changes are naturally made, and I have to say, controversially: The film is better than its source material.
I always leave it emotionally drained, but happy. - DirectorJames CameronStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerLinda HamiltonMichael BiehnA human soldier is sent from 2029 to 1984 to stop an almost indestructible cyborg killing machine, sent from the same year, which has been programmed to execute a young woman whose unborn son is the key to humanity's future salvation.
- DirectorJames CameronStarsSigourney WeaverMichael BiehnCarrie HennDecades after surviving the Nostromo incident, Ellen Ripley is sent out to re-establish contact with a terraforming colony but finds herself battling the Alien Queen and her offspring.The slightly superior sequel to Alien will always stay with me. Marvelous!
- DirectorDean ParisotStarsTim AllenSigourney WeaverAlan RickmanThe alumni cast of a space opera television series have to play their roles as the real thing when an alien race needs their help. However, they also have to defend both Earth and the alien race from a reptilian warlord.Lightning in a bottle. Absolutely perfect, both as a loving parody, a comedy, and its own movie.
- DirectorOrson WellesStarsOrson WellesJoseph CottenDorothy ComingoreFollowing the death of publishing tycoon Charles Foster Kane, reporters scramble to uncover the meaning of his final utterance: 'Rosebud.'A masterclass in character work, writing, directing and editing. I held off on watching this one for many years, for fear of disliking one of the most well regarded films of all time. Suffice to say, I did no such thing.
A masterpiece. - DirectorHenry KosterStarsJames StewartWallace FordWilliam H. LynnDue to his insistence that he has an invisible six foot-tall rabbit for a best friend, a whimsical middle-aged man is thought by his family to be insane - but he may be wiser than anyone knows.How To Be a Good Person: The Movie.
Everything here is just enjoyable. No cynicism. All heart. I love it. - DirectorJohn CarpenterStarsSam NeillJürgen ProchnowJulie CarmenAn insurance investigator begins discovering that the impact a horror writer's books have on his fans is more than inspirational.Lovecraftian undernotes in a Stephen King setting, engineered by the master of horror himself; John Carpenter. Could you ask for more? How about Sam Neill? Well, here you go!
This mind-bending supernatural thriller ticks all my boxes and I must have watched it more than 20 times over the years. Absolutely love it. - DirectorChristopher NolanStarsChristian BaleHeath LedgerAaron EckhartWhen the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, Batman must accept one of the greatest psychological and physical tests of his ability to fight injustice.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsSigourney WeaverTom SkerrittJohn HurtThe crew of a commercial spacecraft encounters a deadly lifeform after investigating a mysterious transmission of unknown origin.
- DirectorTrey ParkerStarsTrey ParkerMatt StoneMary Kay BergmanWhen Stan Marsh and his friends go see an R-rated movie, they start cursing and their parents think that Canada is to blame.
- DirectorWolfgang PetersenStarsNoah HathawayBarret OliverTami StronachA troubled boy dives into a wondrous fantasy world through the pages of a mysterious book.
- DirectorClive BarkerStarsAndrew RobinsonClare HigginsAshley LaurenceA woman discovers the newly resurrected, partially formed, body of her brother-in-law and lover. She starts killing for him to revitalize his body and escape the demonic beings that are pursuing him after he escaped their underworld.Also Hellraiser II: Hellbound Heart, which is the direct continuation and equally awesome.
- DirectorSergio LeoneStarsClint EastwoodEli WallachLee Van CleefA bounty hunting scam joins two men in an uneasy alliance against a third in a race to find a fortune in gold buried in a remote cemetery.
- DirectorRoy T. WoodStarsJim CummingsGlenn MorshowerDanny MannA spoof of disaster films, an asteroid is coming towards earth and Harry Bottoms is in charge of saving us all...again...So fracking silly, and I love it!
- DirectorPaul W.S. AndersonStarsLaurence FishburneSam NeillKathleen QuinlanA rescue crew is tasked with investigating the mysterious reappearance of a spaceship that had been lost for seven years.
- DirectorEdgar WrightStarsSimon PeggNick FrostKate AshfieldThe uneventful, aimless lives of a London electronics salesman and his layabout roommate are disrupted by the zombie apocalypse.My favourite entry in the Cornetto trilogy gets to represent the entire thing. Edgar Wright is an occasional genius.
- DirectorDavid LynchStarsNaomi WattsLaura HarringJustin TherouxAfter a car wreck on Mulholland Drive renders a woman amnesiac, she and a Hollywood-hopeful search for clues and answers across Los Angeles in a twisting venture beyond dreams and reality.I'm still not entirely there, after 20 years. And I don't care. This is beautiful.
- DirectorJohn CarpenterStarsKurt RussellWilford BrimleyKeith DavidA research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.A masterclass in slow, deliberate build-up with absolute top tier physical effects. And Kurt Russell!
- DirectorHal NeedhamStarsBurt ReynoldsRoger MooreFarrah FawcettA wide variety of eccentric competitors participate in a wild and illegal cross-country road race. However, the eccentric entrants will do anything to win the road race, including low-down, dirty tricks.OK, so the lacklustre ending makes me deduct one star and keep it at the bottom of my favourites list, but dagnabbit - this is one of the funniest flicks I've ever seen. I cannot for the life of me pick a favourite character (although the doctor is pretty damn close to getting the title), scene or joke. It's just so....stupid. Stupid and joyful, which suits me just perfect. And the cast, I mean holy balls.
Alright, that's enough gushing.
Bloody great comedy, this!