My Favorite Movies

My all time favourite film! I loved everything about this movie. It introduced me to Tim Burton, whom I now adore. It teamed up two of my favourite actors in Winona Ryder and the amazing Johnny Depp. This movie was sad, romantic, surreal, crazy, weird and kooky! A perfect blend for fine entertainment! Five stars for originality! I don't think we'll ever see anything like it again..

I have seen this movie countless times, and I still get all wrapped up in emotion through-out! It's a sad story, that's a given. But it is also one of triumph, friendship and some small joy. A classic with an ending that should make you feel all warm & fuzzy inside!!

There are few words needed to describe this one. Memorable, heart-breaking, BEAUTIFUL and classic! If you haven't seen it, you really, really should.

A Tarantino classic. Intertwining stories with some of Hollywood's biggest stars, this movie is an eclectic bunch of R rated fun! It has your usual witty, long dialogue written by Tarantino. Some memorable scenes - The 'Jack Rabbit' contest, the adreneline shot to the heart, the famous Ezekial quote delivered by Sam Jackson, the basement scene at the gun shop. This has it all! It's fast paced with it's mellow moments. Funny and down right disturbing!!

Such a unique look and feel, I loved it all. The actors, the storyline's, the photography! So original. I can't wait for number 2!

"Rather than love, than money, than faith, than fame, than fairness... give me truth."

Based on Jon Krakauer's bestselling book of the same name, Sean Penn's Into the Wild is a breathtaking piece of art from beginning to end. The film tells the story of a young, idealistic and fully realized Christopher McCandless, who sheds all vestiges of his upper middle-class American materialistic life to travel to Alaska, the one place where he feels he can find true happiness by living off the land.

After graduating from university, McCandless (Hirsch) promptly hands over the majority of his remaining college fund to Oxfam, burns the rest by the side of the road and then sets out on foot to travel across the country. The film, beautifully shot and magically paced, carefully tracks the journey of McCandless, who takes on the alter ego of Alexander Supertramp, as he travels around the U.S. from California to Mexico and back again. Along the way he meets a cavalcade of interesting people, all of whom are touched in a way by his energy and help him with his eventual goal of making it to Alaska.

Penn has stated in numerous interviews that he wanted the landscape of Into the Wild to be as much a character as McCandless himself. It's impossible not to be aware of this throughout every single moment of the film, from the beautiful shots that pan incredible tree-filled mountain ranges of Alaska to the moments of glorious sun-filled days spent on the glistening beaches of California. Even when the landscape is the grungy, underbelly of Los Angeles, there's a magical quality about it all - as if you're truly seeing the world through the eyes of McCandless. Penn's dedication to the landscape's portrayal is even further heightened by its coupling with the clearly inspired soundtrack by Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, whose music seems to match the visual images note for note.

McCandless' leather-tramp philosophy is celebrated with a sharp undercurrent of reality: you can't skate the edges of reality, burn your money in a heap and leave all your material possessions behind without consequence - something that Chris doesn't realize until it's too late. Yet there's a fundamental belief in his spirit that drives the film. And in no place is this more determined than in the enigmatic, enthralling performance by Emile Hirsch, who commits to being McCandless/Supertramp in such a way that it becomes impossible not to identify with him. There are moments, when he's white-water rafting, climbing a California mountain to prove a point, or floating naked down a cold Alaskan river that transcend even Penn's hand and seem to embody the experience in a way that's hard to put into words. There's a kindness and an infectious sense of human curiosity to Chris that makes it easy to see why so many people took him under their wing - at least, as far as he allowed them to.

The excellent performances in the film elevate it to new heights. Hal Holbrook gives a remarkable performance of a man plagued by crippling sorrow and was fully deserving of the Oscar nomination he received earlier in the year. He only shows up in the last act of the film but his presence and his heart-breaking role make you see why the academy decided to honor him with the nod. On the other end of the age spectrum is Kristen Stewart who perfectly captures the stinging pain of youthful desire left unfulfilled (their duet for an audience of hippies is one of many highlights). Catherine Keener, Jena Malone, William Hurt and Marcia Gay Harden are likewise all wonderful at exhibiting their own particular brand of loss and heartache. William Hurt has a short moment towards the end of the film that is delivered without dialogue and is utterly heart-breaking. They all support the picture's main goal: to prove that McCandless was so much more than a boy who wasted away in the wild, but a survivor who was truly someone special.

Into the Wild is a thoroughly engaging, superbly directed film about a remarkable young man, with an Oscar-worthy performance from Emile Hirsch. It cemented my feelings that there are certain people who are born incredibly smart yet wholly incapable of feeling at ease amongst our world. They burn twice as bright, attracting us all in the process, and subsequently leave us stunned in the shadow of their absence. Into the Wild is a great film that both laments and celebrates this condition. Highly recommended.

"Sophie was back in the game! Pure, raw, explosive pleasure! Better than drugs, better than smack! Better than a dope-coke-crack-fix-shit-shoot-sniff- ganja-marijuana-blotter-acid-ecstasy! Better than sex, head, 69, orgies, masturbation, tantrism, Kama Sutra or Thai doggy-style! Better than banana milkshakes! Better than George Lucas's trilogy, the muppets and 2001! Better than Emma Peel, Marilyn, Lara Croft and Cindy Crawford's beauty mark! Better than the B-side to Abbey Road, Jimmy Hendrix and the first man on the moon! Space Mountain, Santa Claus, Bill Gates' fortune, the Dalai Lama, Lazarus raised from the dead! Schwarzenegger's testosterone shots, Pam Anderson's lips! Woodstock, raves... Better than Sade, Rimbaud, Morrison and Castaneda! Better than freedom, better than life!"

Couldn't have said it better myself.

I loved almost everything about this movie. Once again Mel Gibson has delivered an epic! Complete with the authentic Mayan language, the films exotic look and feel is beautifully polished off by strange cultural costumes, hairstyles, tattoos and body piercings. Apocalypto is an intense action/thriller, that is graphic and raw, but also full of passion and heart! I liked the way the film started, slowly introducing us to the characters, giving us some insight into their lives. When things started picking up, the violence was often, hard to watch, but at the same time it was woven into the film in a realistic manner, and I don't feel it was simply for shock value. This is a film with heart, that kept my eyes locked to the screen from start to finish. The subtitles were so easy to read, most of the time I forgot I was reading them. That should not be a reason to deter you from what is a very mysterious, unrelenting, unforgettable and near perfect movie masterpiece.

Had me hooked from the opening scene. Kick-ass movie. Love a good revenge flick, and this is the best I've seen yet. Tarantino proving yet again, what a genius mind he has!

I'm a sucker for english films and this is no exception. I adored this story. I felt for the characters. The acting was superb. Everything fell into place enough to make me feel very happy by the end of it. A beautiful little romance.. wish there was a sequel!

My favourite in the trilogy. I felt such satisfaction at the end when the job was done, but I was also very sad to see it end. That's why it looses half a star. Go Peter Jackson! Kiwi represent!! SO MUCH BETTER THAN MADEA! Fuck.

Only lost a star because of how long it was. Didn't feel so long the first time I saw it, but boy did it the next time I watched it! So beautiful though.

Good middle film. I think it links the first and third together well. A bit more action than the first which I liked.

There are no words.. I'm speechless!!

Just saw this one again and second time around, I'm still speechless. This is.. the best movie I'll see all year!!

Ok.. So I just saw this AGAIN with my husband, and he made it so much more brilliant to see. I didn't think that was possible, but every moment, every laugh, every special effect was enriched with my man seeing it all with me. I love this film!

Jean Reno was the man in this film and Natalie had a great debut performance. Very good story. Sad, but gripping.

Brilliant. It has all the elements to make up a fantastic film that anyone can sit, watch and enjoy!

Yet another classic Tarantino black comedy. This one really made me laugh. It was just so crazy and clever! Some of the things Tarantino thinks of.. genius! If you haven't seen it and you like black comedies - track it down and watch it NOW!

Loved the twisted storyline. The things they do. The dark look of it. The fights - of course. Brad Pitt and Ed Norton were great in this together. Loved it.

I haven't read the book, but I've seen this movie several times, and loved it! There's something enchanting and disturbing about the characters and it definately hooks you into the fantasy side of things. I thought it was great.

Such a sweet romance. Maybe the only film in the past few years to make me cry.. and I don't really know why?! Brings out the girlie girl in me.

I like it more because it's based on truth. It's obviously sad, I feel for these woman. Winona and Ange, two of my fave actresses, can't go wrong.

Who can forget the end of this one?! Such a great story. Kept me in suspense the entire time. Two of my fave actors = a great movie!

Maybe the best vampire movie I've ever seen. It's not just gore and blood, it's got a good story and it keeps you intrigued right until the end. Some great actors, a wicked debut from Kirsten Dunst. Recommended if you haven't seen it!

Had me hooked all the way through. I didn't like certain parts of it, but overall a very gripping film. Leo back to his best.

Amazing special effects. Introduced me to a genre I previously never had the time for. I also liked Keanu in this, which was a first for me. Great original story.

One of those movies that I just love. I can't quite put my finger on the reason, because the story is pretty basic and uneventful, yet unforgettable to me. Leo was amazing in this. I truly believed he had problems, and Johnny was fantastic as always.

Hilarious. Easily my favourite Kevin Smith film. I'll be sad to see Jay & Bob go, but this was the perfect send off film. Kicked Clerks (1) butt!

I love a good horror/thriller and this is easily one of the best I've ever seen. I'm pretty good at guessing the twist, but this one had me stunned! Loved it. Should've stopped here though. Number II is embarrassing in comparison

My favourite Harry Potter film to date! Loved it.

Very cute. This is a family I would want to know. I really liked all the characters. Greg was the perfect arrogant dad, Toni was also very good. They all were!

The only musical I like besides Grease. I loved the foxy ladies in this one. Murderess' with flare!

One word to sum it up - BEAUTIFUL

Just saw this one! and I know already, it's one of my best. There were alot of tense moments where I held my breath, and clenched my fists. It looked amazing, and was very entertaining. Would see again for sure.

Saw it again, with hubby, loved it even more. Can't believe I never gave this 5 stars first time I saw it, the visuals, the fights, the actors.. fudge this film goes off!!

Oh and the scene with King Leo and Queen Gorgo in the bedroom.. That was some hotness! It was touching and erotic, and very sensual to watch. Everything about this film screams Masterpiece!

Childhood classic! Oh, how I wanted to try all those sweets! Especially the mushrooms.. oh the mushrooms.. ahhh

Childhood love! Fantastic family adventure film. I can't think of a bad thing to say about it..

Another classic for me. Another simple story, but for some reason, very memorable and I guess powerful in some ways. I love it.

Based on a true story, so I enjoyed it even more. I felt all the more sorry for those boys/men. It's a tough story, but a good one.

Such a sad story, but moving. It was nice to see some joy in the characters lives before the obvious sadness. Great story.

It had been years since the last time I watched this film, and I guess back then, I never really appreciated it for what it truly was. It's violent, it's disturbing and it's graphic. But it's also a very powerful story, not just about Neo-Nazi murder, and racism - though this is obviously the basis of the film. The relationship between the two brothers in the story, is what I focused on. One brothers actions, shaping and influencing the others future, then trying to put it right before it's too late. I wanted to cry at the end, it's THAT powerful! Ed Norton deserved more than an Oscar nomination for his role. He deserved the Oscar! Because, if nothing else, he had me believing he was a true blue, Neo-Nazi skinhead, and he was devilishly fantastic.

Loved it. I actually prefer this version to the newer one. This is the film that made me love Colin Firth.

"A long time ago, my ancestor Paikea came to this place on the back of a whale. Since then, in every generation of my family, the first born son has carried his name and become the leader of our tribe... until now."

Let me start off by saying, I typically barely EVER enjoy watching Kiwi films, so I was prepared for another failure when I sat down to watchWhale Rider. I couldn't have been more wrong! This is one of the most moving, beautiful and powerful films I have seen in years. This film goes straight to the top of my list of favourite festival films and it may even be my best New Zealand production - outside of LOTR, of course.

The story is of young Paikea Apirana, a Maori girl of New Zealand. The day she was born both her mother and her twin brother died. Her father, Porourangi (Cliff Curtis) is the eldest son of the chief, Koro (Rawiri Paratene), who has been awaiting the birth of his grandson, convinced the boy will grow up to reunify the Maori and lead them into the future. But Koro has no need for a granddaughter. His son, who is an artist and not a leader, leaves New Zealand, his father, and his daughter behind, but not before one final act of defiance: he names his daughter Paikea, after the legendary ancestor of their people who rode the whale from Hawaiiki to this land.

The story continues twelve years later. Pai's father returns for a brief visit to renew the ancient conflict with his father by bringing news of a pregnant girlfriend in Germany. In a burst of anger Koro tells Porourangi to take Pai with him when he leaves because she is of no use to him. Pai overhears this and while we would expect her to be devastated, she is not: she knows her grandfather's heart better than he does himself and even to be with her father she will not leave Koro and her community. Without ever forcing the matter director Niki Caro, who also did the screenplay from Witi Ihimaera's novel, makes it clear that young Pai is the future of her people and wise beyond her years. At one point in the film Pai recalls her family history and adds, "But I was not the leader that my grandfather was expecting." This is certainly true, but the great irony of this film is that Pai is a leader beyond the old man's expectations. She proves this not only in the wonderful climatic scene of Whale Rider but during the most poignant and heartrending scene, when she gives a speech at a school concert that makes it clear that before she becomes a teenager she already knows exactly what her people need in terms of leadership for the future. She also knows that she is keeping faith with her ancestors and her ancient namesake.

Keisha Castle-Hughes delivers a powerful debut performance, certainly worthy of the Oscar nomination she received. She will have you in tears. Simply amazing.

It is clear from the start that Whale Rider is a very good film. It has the tone, the characters, and the story line of one. But where it becomes a great movie is where it sets up the pivotal moment in the film, the point at which Koro will recognize the truth about his granddaughter and acknowledge that she is the leader he has been awaiting. All of the pieces are in place and I would not be surprised if many viewers already have tears running down their cheeks. But instead of providing the obvious, Whale Rider transcends the awaited moment and gives us something larger and more wonderful. We should not have been surprised because the film had an earlier opportunity to bridge the gap between Koro and Pai, as she has been successfully completing on her own all of the tests her grandfather is giving to the young boys of the village in his search for a new leader, but her grandmother, in a moment of understated epiphany declares, "No. He is not ready yet."

The obvious impulse is to call this a magical film, but that misses the mark for me on two scores. Whale Rider is not only mystical instead of magical, it has a grounded sense of reality as well. Both Pai and Koro speak of their family and their people as going back countless generations to the ancient ones. How else do you explain a climax that transcends mere metaphor and visual beauty? Whale Rider should not be considered a children's movie, because few children of Pai's age would be able to appreciate the depth of this exquisite film. I love this film and I hope if you see it, you'll love it too.

Intriguing story, great characters, brilliant twist! I particularly love the scene with the line up. Benecio Del Toro and Stephen Baldwin cracked me up big time and it looked like genuine laughter to me! Kevin Spacey was the man, and Keyser Soze is now a legend.

Loved it. Another original foreign film, unlike any story I've ever seen or heard of before. I enjoy this kind of crazy thing though.