My Favorite Movies

I've read all the books, and even though it takes liberties with a few things, I still love it. In this most well-known adaptation, the special effects for the time, the technicolor, the quotable lines, and the simple values of brain, heart, courage, and home are what make it great. It'll always be my favorite!

This was a Disney after-school TV series, but the first few (to-be-continued) episodes were edited together to make this feature length video. It's not what you'd expect from a Disney cartoon- it's darker, more dramatic, a great mix of sci-fi and fantasy, with mythical and Shakespearian characters, and many Star Trek actors providing voices. I stand by my 5-star rating for the story of these heroes!

Hilarious! It deserved all the Oscars it got. Iconic dialogue and scenes that bring images of Loony Tunes to mind.

The "I'll be there" monologue near the end is awesome. Very inspiring after seeing the whole of the movie.

I have seen this multiple times. I seriously don't think there is a single thing wrong with this movie. I understand that it may not be 100% accurate with every historical detail (though the filmmakers sure seem to come close). I'm all for making people aware of inaccuracies in historical pictures, because I think unrealistic, unauthentic, romantic portrayals of history can lead to bad movies and damage people's education, but sometimes I also think these criticisms are given too much influence. As a movie, as a work of art, this film is perfect in its message and execution. Powerful! I recently found out that Broderick's character Robert Gould Shaw was a Unitarian, which makes sense and adds even more meaning to the story for me. Emotional! There are several scenes that make me tear up every time. But it also makes me feel like fighting for social justice, like standing up proudly with character and strength of heart to better the world! "We are all MEN, aren't we?!"

Booger is awesome!

More iconic lines and music. Love the shadowy film noir aesthetic of this film. "The problems of a few people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world."

Gut-wrenching! Inspiring!!

A classic Christmas movie, but the story isn't really about Christmas. A performance where Jimmy Stewart get to show some range. Through desperation his character considers ending his life, and then through desperation for his family and friends, the life he "lost," he learns an important lesson. Also, before The Graduate, plastics were still the wave of the future. And it looks forward to financial issues still with us today. Mr. Potter represents the bank that controls most of George Bailey's small town. Potter keeps the workers in his slums and tries to ruin the Building and Loan every chance he gets, since the Baileys are too free with giving houses to the poor. The bottom line for Potter is how to make a profit and be a good businessman, meaning a predatory businessman.

Amazing how all the stories are woven together. It gives me goosebumps, and makes me flinch, and makes me cry in turn. Michael Pena clutching his daughter and Matt Dillon saving Thandie Newton being among my favorite moments.

Another social issue movie of the 40's. A topic that continues to be an issue in society since, returning vets adjusting to home life. One performer stands out exceptionally- Harold Russel! He was not an actor, but a real vet, and you can tell his performance is pure truth. Even from WWII it was hard for the three main characters, as played by March, Andrews, and Russell, to overcome the inner conflict that has formed within each one. It's a battle with one's self having seen the things a soldier sees and remembering more innocent times, plus not knowing the reactions of those who stayed home. This movie ends romantically, the main characters find a way to adjust to civilian life without quite so much trouble as vets from later wars perhaps faced. But some strong forces that need overcome are portrayed. Awe inspiring.

Sweeping Lean! The acting is awesome. I love the battle of wills between the two top officers. POWs captured by the Japanese somewhere in Asia during WWII are ordered to build a bridge that will help the Japanese war effort. But then Alec Guinness decides to build his men's moral by taking on the building project and plans to leave the bridge as a monument to British resourcefulness and engineering skill. This movie has another charismatic performance from Holden too. After escaping, Holden must journey back toward the POW camp on a mission to destroy the bridge that the Japanese will use to transport supplies. You see two Allie forces working at opposite goals. Meanwhile, Hayakawa plays a Japanese General riddled with shame. And the ending is edge of your seat suspenseful without all the excessive special effects and stunts used in today's action dramas.

I just saw a restored print of this on the big screen with newly translated subtitles. I had forgotten how long it was (with an intermission). It is more about slowly revealing the characters and saving the big action sequences for the end. I really enjoy the outdoor setting as well. I think I've mentioned it in other reviews, but there is something so beautiful about the forest. The hills surrounding the small village are magnificently captured, the wind blows, the dust is stirred up, and when it rains, the mud replaces the splatter of blood. The movie starts with a lot of slow steady drum beats for accompaniment and culminates with the rapid patter of sandaled feet and pounding hooves of the attacking bandits' horses.

The story takes its time as four peasants led by Rikichi (Tsuchiya) go to town to enlist the help of samurai for the defense of their village. Samurai are born into privilege, can read and write and enjoy leisurely arts, and are generally proud of their social standing and skill. They finally find the good-hearted and intelligent Kambei (Shimura). Two other samurai are watching Kambei too. Katsushiro (Kimura) is a young man who immediately has great respect for Kambei and requests to be his disciple. Kikuchiyo (Mifune) is boisterous and intrigued by the more clever man, but expects Kambei to give him respect and acceptance automatically. The other samurai are gathered once Kambei agrees to the peasants' proposal. Toshiro Mifune is such a treat when he appears again drunk, trying to claim upperclass lineage, and wildly trying to prove some skill to the other six who only laugh. Toshiro's performance might seem over done, he's such a ham. I couldn't accept his wildly different style when I first saw this movie, but I grew to love him. Having seen him in some others pictures by now, I was totally with him during this viewing. He adds much needed humor. The story continues slowly as Kambei leads a careful defense plan to protect the four sides of the village. Meanwhile, the villagers "piss and cry" at every little thing and try to learn from the samurai how to use spears to defend themselves. Katsushiro has a romantic subplot with Shino, one of the peasants' daughters. Backstories are revealed about a couple of the other peasants and about where Kikuchiyo came from. Finally the bandits attack! And Kambei methodically checks off the chart on his map as they lessen the bandits' numbers. It's a very controlled, but impressive, and close battle as the villagers fight for their lives with the strategic leadership of the samurai.

Funny, funny movie. And full of great adventure. I love all the performances!

Very sexy and at the same time awkward. The humor comes out more and more with repeated viewing. At least it did for me. Now that I'm done with school that feeling of just floating aimlessly in a pool or just sitting motionless under the surface is truly a scary thing to face in ones future. Sowing wild oats is just a distraction, but when considering what one will do for the rest of one's life, I feel that today as much as then in the 1960s many feel direction-less.

This movie left me shaken and choked up! It pays homage to The Best Years of Our Lives and perhaps some other films about vets returning home. But specifically Best Years, I think, with the shot of Ron Kovic after he has become paralyzed and finally returns to his parents' house staring at his high school wrestling picture in his old room. Harold Russell in Best Years does the exact same thing becoming lost in the old picture from his high school athletics career when he felt he was a whole person. Both of these movies deal with men who have lost some part of themselves and have to discover how to gain strength and courage and acceptance to be a whole man again. By exploring Ron's youth, Born on the Fourth of July shows that the story is really about pressure and failure and confusion and how we deal with those things. This is an epic story with a tremendous supporting cast. It's about a boy who becomes a soldier, a soldier who becomes paralyzed, a paraplegic who becomes an outcast all the while searching for his humanity!! Sometimes it takes an outcast to speak the truth, someone who has been paralyzed to really stand for something, a soldier to fight for life, and of course it's the natural progression of things for a boy to triumphantly become a man!

I went to see it twice the first weekend it opened. Katherine Heigl was excellent and raises the bar of this slacker comedy. I really identified with the subject of the film because I'm of the same age where starting a family or having fun and avoiding responsibilities is a big issue. The observation that life is like an unfunny version of Everybody Loves Raymond I found to be compelling. The Mars vs. Venus battle is so well done in this film.

Fun movie! The Scott Joplin music makes it bounce right along causing the ending to be even more surprising.

I'm really not interested in seeing the remake because I love the psychological religion versus science themes of the original over the waring action promised in the remake. The makeup is amazing. And it's a great start to the whole series of films.

Long movie, but I think we would have felt cheated if they hadn't taken it where it needed to go. Comic books are reimagined all the time, but everyone complains about movie remakes and reimaginings not being original. I love the fact that these new Nolan Batmans present fresh births of the hero and villain characters drawn from more recent comic issues. This movie is not trying to repeat or continue the same old stories, and it doesn't have to, so the actors can create their characters on their own terms. Again there is a realism in this Batman universe. Comic books can deal with serious themes, but are rarely taken seriously. I do wish the Academy had given this a shot at Best Picture, but I understand their tastes and that they are not giving awards based on populism. The movie is rightfully nominated for several technical awards, which is a sign that the Academy does not totally ignore movies that are recognized as great.

In most comic book adaptations, heroes pop back up into the frame after taking deadly beatings as if nothing happened, and villains are charming mischief makers who we still love. Comic book stories deserve to be more than a bunch of caricatures sometimes. Ledger as the Joker embodied that chaotic evil, which is the ultimate challenge for Batman. Never, never, NEVER has an actor embodied such evil (alright maybe that was exaggerating a bit when I first wrote this). This is definitely a movie for multiple viewings. I don't think I've seen a movie that dealt so well with real, complex, moral ambiguity in quite a while and it's crazy exciting! The world IS NOT so simple as good versus evil, black and white with no gray area in between. Batman is not about a white knight in shining armor, it's about The Dark Knight.

Set in New England somewhere, but shot in Ohio, my home state. The story covers roughly the same time period as Driving Miss Daisy from the late 40's to the late 60's though the age makeup is even more subtle. This movie also shows a close bond develop between two people.

Now I have often referred to symbolism in my reviews, but I have to say I was bothered by some of the comments made in one of the special feature documentaries by a Christian discussion group. Everyone is free to interpret and add meaning to stories in any way they choose, but I think there are some mistakes that have been made. First the Warden says, "I believe in two things: discipline and the Bible." The prison in Mansfield where this was shot was built to be grand like a cathedral. This is what Shawshank represents: extreme discipline and scripture as a saving force drawing your eyes and mind to something higher. The discussion group talks about Andy being a Jesus figure, from coming out of the sewer pipe being a rebirth to the Mexican shore of the Pacific having no memory being heaven. Does the punishment fit the crime though? Sure Andy is able to quote a few lines from the Bible, but it is to distract the Warden away from his pin-up poster. And he has cut a hole in his bible to hide his rock hammer. The sewer pipe is a means of escape from the prison and I really don't think the Pacific as a place with no memory is an appropriate parallel to heaven. Andy represents Hope and Redemption, but those are not necessarily tied forever to religious interpretation. He is a very human character. Andy plays music for the prisoners to help them remember that there is life outside the bars and walls. He was innocent of the crime he was imprisoned for, but became a criminal in prison by laundering money for the Warden to get special favor from the guards. He likes movies and actresses with sex appeal. He builds a library, which helps educate the men. And notice a library in this time is a place to appreciate lots of different music and books, all knowledge and all salvation does not lie within the Bible.

Sure the prison can represent many different things, but it is explicitly an institution and often acts to squelch humanity's individuality and hope. Another really important quote from Andy is, "Get busy living, or get busy dying." Both Brooks and Red finally are released from prison and deal with it in very different ways. I really don't get how people equate getting out of the prison as being saved by God's grace or something. As I said, the prison is the institution where discipline and routine exist, where you know what the rules are and you may be an important person. Outside of prison you have to be self motivated. Life moves fast, there is lots of technology and fashion to keep up with, and plenty of reminders of your old life. Outside of the institution you have freedom. And some people can't handle that I guess. Inside the institution you have fear, near slave conditions, and a book that supposedly reveals the only way. That's what Red and Andy are escaping from. Red and Andy have a very human relationship, not romantic, but one where they are redeemed by each other.

One of a kind movie! The characterizations, the dialog, the music, the flow couldn't have been better. Damn it feels good to be a gangster.

Here's another obscure favorite movie. It has a precocious young man being raised by an uncle who lives by his own rules. Through much of the movie, the boy seems like the parent and the uncle seems like the child. Before long a couple of social workers bring a dose of reality (and a surprise romance). It's about the tragedy of being a care-free individual and having to take on the dull, mechanical responsibilities of adulthood. Very funny- also based on a stage play. A hidden gem.

Here's an obscure one. An early Goldie Hawn movie (I think she is underestimated). Edward Albert plays an inspiring young blind man. I like it because it was originally a stage play and it was surprisingly modern and still relevant. I share the sentiments of the young characters wanting their funeral to be a celebration. A good little romantic comedy.

I can't imagine how this play is accomplished on live stage (and it is). Well I have seen a live theater version of this play now, and I still can't imagine the talent necessary to make it as successful as the movie. A miscast character can ruin quite a few scenes and it is hard to get the entrances and exits as snappy as this appears 'cause there is the benefit of cutting the film. The ensemble cast in this movie is outstanding. And I can't praise the TIMING of the action and dialog enough! This is THE farce to end all farces!

Kline, Curtis, Cleese, and Palin make an excellent comic team in this movie. It didn't work out when they tried it again. But this movie gets all the elements right!.

McMurphy puts himself in a mental institution thinking it'll be the easy life. He represents anti-establishment with nothing else apparently wrong, but it's a tragic irony that the powers that be in the hospital are more sadistic and cold-hearted than the world he came from. Or is it really so different?

Fast Eddie Felson keeps making "Contracts of Degradation." Fast Eddie is young, talented, cocky, has the mind of a hustler, but doesn't know when to stop, a taste for booze, and lacks Character because of all of this. Minnesota Fats is experienced, talented, graceful, clean and well dressed, has endurance, and has Character. Bert Gordon buys Fast Eddie's soul with the promise to give him Character and make him a winner. I noticed there are two characters who are literally crippled. One is the man who helps Fats keep clean and well dressed. The other is Sarah, Fast Eddie's new girl. As Sarah points out, it is allegorical that every other character wears a mask and underneath they are figuratively crippled, perverted, and twisted. Fast Eddie learns too late, but finally has gained Character so he is able to beat Fats. In the end there is the hint that Bert Gordon owns Fats in the same way he owned Eddie and it occurred to me like a lightbulb over my head that FATS and FAST are nearly the same now.

First, let me recommend the Director's Cut though it is 3 hours and 20 minutes. There is so much historical and political content that I found a second viewing helpful too. The costumes, sets, cinematography, and music are all sumptuous.

The movie covers almost 60 years of Chinese history from the perspective of one person. The last emperor, Pu Yi, lived through so much history during the first half of the 20th century. I don't know how much of the story is completely historically accurate, but the changes of the decades and major historical events seem to be presented authentically. The story reminded me at certain points of the movie and book, The Good Earth. While that story shows some of the cultural changes in Chinese history from the perspective of peasants out in the fields, this story is told mainly from within the walls of the Forbidden City or the walls of a Communist re-education camp. There is a strong imprisonment theme! The story is told in flashbacks, and I thought this device was well crafted with interesting parallels.

Pu Yi's life is incredibly tragic and yet I found all the drama enthralling. He becomes Emperor at 3 years old and so hasn't formed any ideas for himself. Even later in his life you can't really say that he ever gained much experience as a leader. Earlier in China's history this might have worked out better to have a leader start so young without much conflict, but with all the changes preparing to take place in the 20th century it is inevitable that Pu Yi would become a tragic figure. He becomes spoiled because every want and need is taken care of for him. He's a puppet controlled by many others through his life. Early in his life China becomes a Republic and he no longer has any real power, but traditions stay the same inside the Forbidden City. Just before WWI O'Toole arrives as a Western tutor and Pu Yi begins to learn about the modern world. Eventually he tries to reform the traditions of imperial China, but he still takes a wife and a consort (a second wife). China then becomes a Communist country and some people turn against the Manchurian part of northern China. Since Manchurian is the Emperor's heritage, he and his remaining staff are kicked out of the Forbidden City. He ends up being welcomed by Japan in the early 30's before WWII and they feed him some misinformation. At this point he still craves the power of being Emperor and there is a lot of political intrigue as Manchuria becomes independent (but, Japan is really pulling the strings). He has relationship issues with his wife and consort, one feeling like a third wheel in the more westernized Japan and the other becoming addicted to opium. After WWII the Communist powers in China change a bit and in 1950 we catch up to the "current" events where Pu Yi and all the other imperial supporters are being re-educated. Ying gives an impressive performance and human face to the "Governor" of the camp. It is an amazing, in depth, dramatic conflict from the American audience perspective when you realize that Pu Yi was working with the Japanese, one of the Axis powers of WWII, and the Communists are trying to turn him into a comrade. Between a rock and a hard place. There's a good portion of Americans that wouldn't see either side of this conflict as worth cheering for. But still I found it very engaging to watch John Lone portray the struggle.

One of my favorite quotes: The Governor- "You are responsible for what you do! All your life you thought you were better than everyone else. Now you think you're the worst of all!" There's also a quote about how all the new generals and changes in the communist regime are just like the battling war lords of tribal society. There's a sense that the differences between the old and young in society will lead to history repeating itself, and in fact power keeps on shifting but nothing in history really changes.

Watched this in high school English. Pacino's character is a great hero. He is the straight cop fighting against the corruption that surrounds him.

The script is excellent in dealing with the issues. I really don't understand why this is still an issue, why people are still so ignorant?! I suppose like the movie shows through the creationists that the problem lies in overzealousness leading to hatred, a refusal to question old time beliefs and even open books with different ideas, and the desperate need to shout your opinion even louder when your ego and reputation are threatened. On the other hand, the muck-raking journalist played by Gene Kelly is a muck-raker. He is so snide and proud of himself, without hopes or dreams, and truly alone. I don't think people appreciate or have really listened to what Spencer Tracy's character has to say. He believes religion may appear golden on the outside, but is rotten inside. He fights for the right for people to think! He believes that there is probably some higher power or meaning to life, but not how Christians define those ideas, and that the Bible is a good book, but not the only book. He carries the Bible out of the court room with Darwin's book. The religious right think humans are sinful lesser forms of God, not much different from animals or the natural world in the way in which we are play things to God. The scientific left think humans have a higher form of reason, have made progress at understanding the world, and have the power to improve our fellow human relations. Now which one sees humans as being closer to monkeys?

The title applies to the minister and Fredric March's character. One translation of the verse from Proverbs is "He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind." This is as opposed to inheriting the kingdom of heaven. When people are overzealous and hateful, refuse to question old-time beliefs or open books with different ideas, or bluster and shout more loudly when they are afraid of losing out to new ideas, they will inherit nothing but the wind!

A movie I watched in school. Atticus deserves the AFI #1 movie hero honor. A great example of a classic book being translated well into a classic film.

I also seem to be attracted to movies about people with disabilities or special abilities. This movie shows how recently people didn't understand deafness. One teacher takes the time to show that Belinda can communicate, that Belinda is a whole human being who can take care of herself in many ways, and that she will protect her son like any mother would.

Funny, funny movie! And smart. Holliday is the ultimate platinum blond ditz without any social grace that all future ones are based on. William Holden is also a favorite of mine. I love the characters he plays including this one.

Most people don't seem to realize that movies in the early 50's (or even before) dealt with such tough topics. Another reason I love William Holden. Gloria Swanson's character is so memorable too including her impersonation of Chaplin.

Bogie's character arc is unforgettable. He turns so ugly, from the inside out. The best study of greed.

Funny, funny movie in a POW camp. This was before MASH made the situation of war funny, but it led to its own TV show too. The men have to keep themselves entertained, Holden plays another POW cynic (he does it well), and there is a mystery thrown in to find a traitor in the camp.

I love the message of this movie. This I think is the best of several social issue movies from the 40's. Well written and really makes you think before you assume intelligent people would not be prejudice. Similar message to Crash, though not such complex intersecting storylines, it is just as powerful at times.

A boy ranger meets wised up Washington types and a political machine, he's Don Quixote, he's David against Goliath without a slingshot. I enjoyed this very much. Sure Stewart is so squeaky clean and sentimental, but he's the little guy you have to root for against corruption. You have to! People can't give up on ideals and making the world a better place. Wonderful supporting characters in Arthur, Mitchell, Rains, and Arnold too. Jean Arthur is incredibly attractive! She is intelligent and strong and Jefferson Smith would have never said what he needed to say in the Senate filibuster without her.

I loved the combination of 700 years in the future sci-fi with old fashioned music. The music along with the robots' mostly non-existent dialog and physical humor made it a nostalgic look back at silent screen comedians. Some of the music mixed with the futuristic setting, with much to say about our current society, also made me think of 2001: A Space Odyssey! The animation never causes your eyes to stray. The romance between Wall-E and Eve is romantic and touching. The story is worth seeing from the opening credits through the closing credits.

Great ensemble cast. I laughed really hard and often. Kick those stuck up beauty contestants' butts Olive!

I've seen some bad reviews of this, even the author of the book, on which this is based, evidently didn't like it. I did like it though. I thought the minimal use of spoken dialog and consistent primitive sign language was well done. The subtitles did not distract, they helped because the characters do not use a known language. I identified with the theme of having to walk alone in the end because of questioning the ways of the clan too much. Ebert says, "it never quite makes them seem frightened and ignorant and vulnerable and bewildered." In a way they are subject to nature and these qualities, especially Brun who's fault is the way in which he tries to deal with these qualities. But I don't think Ebert has a legitimate critique because most cultures won't show these traits because they think they have it all figured out. Ebert also sees the fact that "every one of these people has motives that are instantly recognizable and predictable" as a fault. I think this is the point of the story, the books were bestsellers because they are about how human motives have always been the same.

Another obscure one. I've seen bad reviews of this, and I originally saw it with my brother late late at night when I was so tired my good taste was probably impaired. But I have seen it again recently, and if you accept its quirkiness as I have, it's a very funny movie that keeps the surprises coming all the way to the strange animation at the end.

Some of it's a little dated. But that includes LSD, my favorite character missing from the new version. I love the songs in the Broadway musical version, but by the time they made the new movie the show was tired. You have to go back to the original!

Another humorous look at putting together a play. My favorite Christopher Guest mockumentary. It always surprises me after seeing how badly the rehearsals go, to see how well the final performance comes together. Not a good performance, but surprisingly well put together. Then again, that is the point.

Great romantic comedy! Well written! All the old couples being interviewed are cute. If you like this movie check out The More the Merrier from the 40's. For some reason I can't get the More Like This feature to work with this title or that title. Billy Crystal is a very different lead than Joel McCrea, but Meg Ryan has a lot in common with Jean Arthur in that movie. Every joke, every relationship nuance is funny and real.

All the comedic talent in this movie is unbeatable! Zany!

Awesome spoof!! The fog, the lab, the cinematography all honor the classic. The sexual innuendo, name play, and Puttin' on the Ritz are hilarious.

Peter Jackson was on a roll after the LOTR trilogy, but I'm not a huge fan of the LOTR's mythology. So to hear all the hype about this project including Jackson's love of this story since childhood gave me high expectations. I went out and made sure to see the original before seeing this one, and I really think Jackson did the story justice. It is possible to believe that there is a romance between the beauty and the beast in this version. The casting was excellent too: Watts, Black, Brody, Serkis, Chandler.

Beautiful epic movie! The sweeping scenery, time line, and emotions are not to be missed.

The use of color and the grandness of scale of this movie, particularly in filming the lavish interiors, is still amazing. I can hardly imagine what the original audiences must have thought in '39. I have heard some people say they do not like the main characters, so they cannot enjoy the movie. The main characters are flawed, but I found them intriguing to watch and still very much enjoyed the movie.

The last great Spencer Tracy Katherine Hepburn pairing. And another performance from Sidney Poitier that I love. I have a scene from this movie saved to my favorites here; I don't remember it making such an impact when I watched the whole film, but it's a very important monologue given by Mr. Poitier that I think reveals a great truth about the generation gap.

I don't listen to country-bluegrass music, but this soundtrack was so well done. The Sepia tone gives a good flavor, and I love The Odyssey parallels.

There are many black and white movies that still feel very warm. The black and white in this picture is stark, very stark. This adds to the sometimes severe, often unpleasant parts of Bruce's life. The movie is a funny, erotic, disturbing, piercing, impactful semi-documentary style master work! Here's the question: "What's dirty and what's clean?"

Where to start? I loved this and think more people should see it. Well illustrated points about the historical inaccuracy and mythical adoption of the Jesus story in the bible. There are many zealous Christians portrayed, which should cause fear deep within more people for the direction they intend to take us as human beings. For those of you who are insulted by this type of movie questioning your beliefs, do you realize how those of us with little faith view The Passion of the Christ for instance? It is downright sickening and tragic to think that all that blood and violence is filling your spiritual thirst, that the history of the church tries not to acknowledge it has anything to do with former barbaric rituals. The main point of this movie is that doubt is worth exploring, because we need to get beyond such an unquestioning trust of those who tell us these bible stories are fact; and realize that then either God does not exist or God should not be a being that instills this fear in people because it leads to such irrational acts. Religion should not be the only source of joy and hope and meaning and purpose for people. The ending is not satisfactory as he lashes out at the school and beliefs he was raised with, but hey, I get it, I'm upset too when I think about my religious childhood and conflicting lessons and the disillusionment I found as I became older.

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life is one of the best songs in a movie. When the crowd in the desert thinks they have been shown a sign that Brian is their savior the irrational logic and childish "Are too" "Am not" exchange is priceless. And I can't help it but giggle and laugh out loud every time Michael Palin starts lisping.

How'd they pull this off? A story told in reverse. Well, they did. And it's a modern masterpiece. Gritty and urban. "Memories can be distorted. They're just an interpretation, they're not a record, and they're irrelevant if you have the facts. " "I have to believe in a world outside my own mind. I have to believe that my actions still have meaning, even if I can't remember them. I have to believe that when my eyes are closed, the world's still there. Do I believe the world's still there? Is it still out there?..."

Why has National Lampoon fallen so far in recent years. Well I guess they started out incredibly high with this gem, and now a days they have so many competitors. This was the first one though. It broke conventions and represents a loss of innocence.

I once used the "This amp goes to 11" scene to illustrate an argument in a philosophy class in college. We were talking about the two schools of thought: Rationalists and Empiricists. Listen to what Reiner and Guest say in this scene and their tone of voice. I'm with Reiner who I identify as being in the Empiricist camp. Amps go to 10, whatever the loudest level is should be called 10, you don't just invent 11 and all of a sudden your amp is better than any other. These British rockers are a little not all there in the head, so Nigel is stumped when Marty presents his evidence and argument. The Rationalists are the philosophers generally arguing that there are ideal forms apart from the physical world, and arguing for the existence of God. Anyways, these were the ideas discussed in my one philosophy class, and that will continue to be discussed. Let's not forget that this movie is hilarious. This movie set the stage for all the Christopher Guest mockumentaries.

I've seen a lot more of Star Trek (there's a lot more to see). So I appreciate this spoof and homage very much. The cast is very good at sending up fan convention heroes thrust into action they aren't prepared for.

I have now seen all the original Star Wars movies. Even before I had seen them I could appreciate the spoofiness of this movie. When you do see the source material you only realize all the more the iconicness of it. I love the Wizard of Oz references too.

I just saw parts of this for the second time on tv. I didn't remember Kevin Spacey was one of the villains in this, but I don't think I knew who he was when I had first seen this. I love the concept and Pryor and Wilder pull off performances as a blind man and a deaf man (respectively) pretty well. Unlike some of their other movie pairings, they do share a lot of screen time in this picture. I think the fight scenes by clock position, the car chases, and interrogation room scene are simply hilarious. Some of the humor is a little over the top, but everyone gives a committed performance so I'm giving it a full five stars.

TV movie I enjoyed. Quite a few well known and soon to be better known actors filling out this cast. Philosophically the story is very interesting. Being a shy, generally quiet person myself, I identified with the character when I first saw it during my high school years. If people feel comfortable around you, either by feeling unthreatened or by taking a position of superiority, it's amazing what you may hear. As the current plot synopsis states, silence does offer protection and a little power.