Peter Crouse (nerd3point14)

Andrei Rublev Unrated

Mere words cannot fully describe the spiritual and dramatic power of this mesmerizing film. Beautifully set in 15th century Russia, through turns comic to dreadfully barbaric, it tells the story of that nation's greatest icon painter. The film spans roughly 20 years during which we see various episodes from Rublev's life (and passion) which openly clash with his idealistic faith in humanity. The film articulates our longing for self-expression and it questions how we can create beauty when we are surrounded by the hostile and brutal attitudes that permeate the world. It is a film about faith, both lost and found, and how it is the ultimate mediator between our divine aspirations and the reality we are subjected to. Filmed as only Tarkovsky can do, the film is full of scenes of incomparable beauty and very often the distinction between the viewer and the viewed disappears giving it a very surreal and transcendent quality. Without a doubt this is the greatest movie ive ever seen. It is a flawless masterpiece without peer. I cannot recommend it enough.

The Godfather R

I first saw this movie when I was 14 years old and I have never looked at movies the same way since. The Godfather has become the household name for cinematic perfection and its not hard to see why. It tells the story of the Corleone family, focusing on their devotion to each other and the bloody business of crime and mob politics in which they are engaged. The acting is simply superb but it is Al Pacino who steals the show as we follow his character Michael from being an innocent GI to a ruthless and vengeful crime tsar. The film takes us from late 40's New York to sun-drenched Sicily, all filmed in a deep, rich style that always reminds me of a bottle of vintage wine (blood red of course). The Godfather is the epitome of drama and its something that every movie buff should see. But dont take my word for it, the entire western world seems to think the same way.