My Favorite Movies

I think you need to be at least 30yrs old to fully appreciate Cinema Paradiso. Not only does it focus on what part cinema plays in the life of Salvatore as he grows up, but the changes in Salvatore's life and village too over the space of about 40 yrs. The music is absolutely perfect. The young actor playing Toto is amazing. The 2hr version is near perfection. The 2hr 45m version adds a whole new dimension to the original, and whilst still brilliant, changes the viewers' feelings about certain characters which is not necessarily for the better. I recommend seeing both versions, but if you can only watch one, go for the 2hr version. Take some tissues with you too!

Surely one of the best films there ever was.

One of the best WW2 films I've ever seen. The 2hrs 25m just flies by. The actors are all perfect for their roles, especially Carice van Houten who must've been criminally overlooked for an Oscar. They all speak Dutch, German and English, while Carice sings well too. Even after several viewings, the clues to the plot twists become more apparent, but it still holds the viewers' interest well.
(If I have a criticism, and it's a tiny one, it's that Rachel is seen alive and well in Israel in the 1950s at the beginning of the film. It is therefore known that she must survive the 1940s in Holland, which detracts very slightly from the tension. I would also like to know about the true events on which this film is based, perhaps as a DVD extra, as the subterfuge and double-dealing is quite stunning.) Quite brilliant.

My favourite of the trilogy, Rouge is probably also the oddest and most thought-provoking one. As is often the case with artworks, there are many small elements that don't really make any sense, but still add to the overall ambience. The cast, especially Irene Jacob (and Rita!) played their roles perfectly. Highly recommended.

Can't really fault it apart from the slightly laughable Elyzium scenes at the end.

Funny and clever, although a little too mad for most people.

The plot of this classic film noir is quite brilliant. Whilst perhaps not stunningly original in premise, it has hardly a dull moment. The acting and dialogue may be a bit stilted in places (the scene with the cat for example) but this doesn't detract much. The stunt scenes with the old cars are very effectively done and show just how little special FX and CGI are needed to make a great movie. One of the best noirs around.

I've seen this film probably 5 times or so and it's still very watchable, primarily for F Murray Abraham's portrayal of 'old' Salieri which is quite brilliant. The pace, editing, music, storyline are all top notch. The only gripe I have that stops me from giving it 5 stars is the very American accents many of the actors have - even Simon Callow sounds American & he's British! Why? They could at least put on a neutral accent.

A great film when watched first time around. I've seen it three times now over the years, and the denouement does drag a little on repeat viewing. Unlike with The Great Escape, Amelie or Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid, there aren't so many of the little charming touches that you notice and appreciate more on repeat viewings. Even so, it's an easy 4.5 stars for one of Hitchcock's masterpieces.

A brilliant documentary that had me gripped from beginning to end. The 'follow your dream' message comes across strongly throughout, and the intrigue regarding the illegal setup of the cables (not only at the WTC but also at Notre Dame and Sydney Harbour Bridge), the years leading up to the WTC stunt and the sometimes-fragile relationships between Philippe Petit and his entourage, all bring plenty of interest to the storyline. Considering this documentary is made up primarily of archive footage, amateur film, photos and interviews, joined together with a few reconstructions and modern interviews, it all hangs together very well. I particularly liked the subtext towards the end where Philippe questions why someone following a dream and 'doing a beautiful thing' is considered a dangerous nut by society. He almost has a point. Highly recommended!

I can't really imagine how a film of this genre could be bettered. It's the sort of film that schools should make kids watch. Quite brilliant.