My Favorite Movies

Well, where do I start.

Everything about Death Note appeals to me. Ken'ichi Matsuyama and Tatsuya Fujiwara are amazing. I couldn't decide whethe I was on the side of Light or L. Each scene is well crafted and although the film is quite lengthy it doesn't feel long enough. Ryuk is brilliant and i'm glad they chose to use CGI instead of dressing up some ponce. I fell in love with L and his oddity. Something about him reeled me in as soon as he was introduced. I actually think Death Note is now my favourite film. To sum up how amazing this is I would have to sit here and right a review that would rival the length of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. However, i'm not going to as it would spoil the mystery. I'll simply end by saying; watch this.

To simply describe the brilliance of Night Watch is not a talent that I possess. The sheer tension and emotion in each and every second is unrivalled by anything I have ever seen before. First of all I have to praise each and every actor. I have read the book which is even more brilliant and all the characters are almost exactly how i'd imagined. Konstantin Khabensky is the perfect Anton and can create tension with one glance. All the relationships we see in the film are portrayed with uttermost effort and pulled off equally as well.

This is the only Timur Bekmambetov film i've seen so far, but he is ranked up there as one of my favourites. Night Watch also out grossed The Lord of the Rings; that obviously shows it is something special (although that was just in Russia). Each scene is crafted beautifully; every detail is kept in check. However, the only bad point to this is that more effort has been given to the visual aspect, rather than the plot. Overall the film is dark and thought provoking, without thinking you are drawn into a fantasy world. A fantasy that drags you through reality, throwing you out on the other side totally disorientated.

The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers is by far the best film in the epic triology. Again we see the journey of Frodo and Sam to Mordor on their mission to destroy the Ring.

Peter Jackson again manages to deliver perfection in the form of an amazing film. Not only do you feel the struggle of Frodo and Sam's mission, but we also witness links to the first film that make the attachments on certain characters, like Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas much stronger. We are introduced to Gollum in this second installment and see one of the most visually stunning battle scenes of all time. I was lucky enough to see this at the cinema and was an experience i'll never forget. Oh, and I bloody well adore Andy Serkis.

A-m-a-z-i-n-g.

I adore Battle Royale. Each scene is very well structured and evokes a wide spectrum of emotion. It is scripted well with moments that make you wonder if something so horrific could actually be considered. Each and every actor plays their characters with the uttermost believeability factor. Especially, Masanobu Ando. Now there is an excellent example of why Japan does film so much better than most, possibly everyone. I got so wrapped up in the on screen action that I felt myself expressing emotions out loud. At some points the actual cinematography was enough to bring a tear to my eye. Kinji Fukasaku is a legend.

I really can't say enough about this.

One of the best films of all time. The list of quotes I could reel off from this film is, in actual fact, endless.

Ed: Any zombies out there?
Shaun: Don't say that!
Ed: What?
Shaun: That!
Ed: What?
Shaun: The zed-word. Don't say it!
Ed: Why not?
Shaun: Because it's ridiculous!
Ed: All right... are there any out there, though?
(looking out of the letter-box, he sees an empty street)
Shaun: I can't see any. Maybe it's not as bad as all that.
he turns his head and sees a bunch of zombies)
Shaun: Oh, no, there they are.

Shaun of the Dead is one of the most British films ever. Each character is stereotypical of British people. Simon Pegg, in my opinion, is one of the best actors on screen and always manages to deliver humour in the most unlawful situations. Himself and Nick Frost make a dynamic comedy duo who are hilarious for many different reasons. Ed - the stupid one and Shaun - the layabout - make the perfect unlikely heroes. Pegg is legendary. Watch this. Now.

(Shaun and Ed back up to the body of a man they've just hit and Shaun rolls down his window)
Shaun: Are you all right?
Ed: Come on, let's just go.
Shaun: Hello?
Ed: He's going to be dead either way.
Shaun: Ed, that's not the point!
(the body rises and moans, zombified, at Shaun and Ed)
Shaun: Oh thank God for that.

I do believe that The Lord of the Rings is one of, if not the best, film trilogy ever in the history of cinema. In fact, it is the best. I could sit here all day singing its praises and it still wouldn't be enough. I'm not going to write a giant review describing my love of each and every inch of this film. I do believe people would become a little fed up after the 10000th paragraph.

Each member of the cast makes the film magical and the on screen chemistry is simply unrivaled by anything i've personally ever seen. Elijah Wood is the only person who could have pulled of the role of Frodo so brilliantly. Each location is breath-taking, every scene is beautiful. I also have to say that the use of CGI is also amazing, middle-earth is really brought to life without looking fake.

All praise aside there is one thing that I will never forget about the first time I sat and witnessed this masterpiece; the battle scenes. I will admit, I cried a lot from the sheer emotion of the battle. You can feel the emotion, hope and bravery, it becomes almost overwhelming. Every essence of the battle is portrayed fantastically. Stop reading reviews on this and just go watch for yourself. If you don't love it, or at least find parts of it brilliant, rewatch it again and again and again.

"One ring to rule them all, One ring to find them, One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them."

Breathtaking. Captivating. Inspiring.
Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring is, in my opinion, one of the greatest cinematic accomplishments in the history of film. I can not fault Peter Jackson's direction, he quickly became one of my favourite directors after I witnessed this masterpiece. Not only was every scene awe-inspiring and beautiful the cast was frankly amazing. Although, i do have to say one of the best additions to the cast is Ian McKellen; his portrayal of Gandalf was simply brilliant. He makes the character seem so alive and...genius.

I'm not sure what it is about this film but I was captivated from begining to end. The only negative thing I can think of to say was that I didn't get to see this at the cinema. Not a great suprise either are the 4 Oscars and 76 other awards won. Note to people who have not seen this: go and buy the extended version. Now.

On a par with the first Death Note film.

This helps you really get to grips with the characters of Light, L and later Ryuk. I thought Rem was also excellent. Can't wait until I get all the volumes of the manga. Every scene is incredibly well crafted and I can't praise the acting enough. Erika Toda was brilliant and this is the first film i've seen her in. Again, I was still in love with L and when he died at the end I cried. Ken'ichi Matsuyama plays him fantastically. I think i'm running out of superlatives. Death Note: The Last Name is a film that I can see myself watching again and again and again. The people who have given a negative review are obviously completely crazy :)

I really do adore Little Miss Sunshine. It doesn't need special effects and popular Hollywood actors to be sucessful. The simplicity makes it what it is and is a testimony to the resilience of human nature. Little Miss Sunshine is beautiful, funny and dark all at the same time. The Hoover's drag you along with them over bumps and around bends until you are thrown out of the VW bus at the end with a better understanding of the word family.

Steve Carell is excellent in this and Paul Dano delivers a heart breaking performance in what follows after he discovers he is colour blind. The pageant scene is hilarious and makes you truly fall in love with all the characters. This is a film not to be missed.