My Favorite Movies

A western epic of grand proportions. Eastwood returns for the third time a Sergio Leone's Man with no name, this time he is being chased by mercenary Lee Van Cleef with the hinderance of bumbling criminal Eli Wallach. Gunfights, double crosses and the back drop of the American Civil War make up this bench mark in spaghetti westerns.

Johnnie To exceeds himself, an instant classic.

For a director who can turn out almost two movies a year using casts of regulars it surprises me how he can keep the quality at such a high level.

I loved the spaghetti western influences in the characters, dialogue, score and themes of the film. Even Macau was made to look like a deserted town with the ineffectual sheriff just trying to keep from getting himself killed.

It is a sign of genius and great filmmaking that can keep you interested with such sparse dialogue. All your attention is draw to the cinematography and the performances that the actors put in. That and the several shoot outs, each different from last in style, that could put John Woo to shame.

Simon Yam is at his menacingly evil best, but it is a mohawked Anthony Wong that steals most of the scenes he is in. Wong's character is central to the story it is decisions that tear between loyalty for his boss and his bond with his brotherhood that bring the plot along.

Watch and enjoy for it's breathtaking simplicity and downright cool.

Similar in ideals to Woo's Hard Boiled in how it looks into the dedication of men made to work undercover. How these two handle every day life whilst lying to everyone they know and the friendships they can develop with the people they are essentially spying on. But it is a thousand miles away from Hard Boiled when it comes to action.

IA provides action through it's raw tension, it pulls you to edge of your seat as they come closer to finding out who is who. By the time a few bullets do start to fly it is short and all the more realistic in tone.

Andrew Lau's direction style is fantastic and is a perfect example of a stylised director who doesn't overload the screen with little flairs. It is subtle and brings you in closer to the characters. The acting is superb especially Tony Leung's wrought portayal of an almost burnt out undercover cop and Andy Lau is great as always.

I also what to give praise to the fact that Hong Kong filmmakers can let the film tell the story rather than lengthy exposistion. Making these movies a more cerebral experience then the majority of thrillers coming out of other countries.

Jeff Bridges is a modern day bowling hippy, he is The Dude. This Coen brothers comedy is another standout from them, with many instantly quotable lines and memorable characters.

"You'r off the fucking chain."

I think I enjoyed this movie all the more because I could relate to Nick Frost's character. It back memories of watching and quoting many many action movies when I was in my late-teens, Bad Boys and Point Break both had multiple plays on my VHS player. It remind me the love and fondness I have for such genre flicks that the movie pokes fun at whilst still showing a certain amount of respect.

"Yarp"

Now I have to go watch Chow Yun Fat diving in slow-motion with two guns.

"Have you ever fired your gun in the air and yelled 'aaaaahh!!'?"

The New James Bond Daniel Craig shows here why he deserves the role. He plays the cool-headed gangster with no name in this excellent example of British movie-making.

You can't really dust for vomit.

Who you gonna call? Still one of the funniest and scariest movies of all time. Bill Murray in his best role as the sarcastic Dr Venkman. Has many, many, many memorable lines tha I annoy everyone around by quoting whilst watching. "Listen!.. You smell something?"

It is Bill Pullman's brilliant performance as the high and insane private detective Daryl Zero is what raises this movie above so many others.

As always Jean-Pierre Jeunet turns out a visually stunning and a love story of pure beauty that you can't fail to fall for it's charms. Only the French can make anything that plays at the heart strings like this one.

Another example of Leone's talents as a director. Some fantastic cinematography and tension during the stand-offs. All underpined by Ennio Morricone's masterful score which incorporates a tune from Van Cleef's pocket watch.

Jackie Chan's greatest movie. Strong story, great camerawork and action to die for. The opening sequence in which they destroy an entire shanty town is very impressive.

The conclussion to Lucas' original trilogy is a little weaker than the two parts preceeding it. Yes the ewoks are cute but after seeing Episode III recently you only begin to wish that Lucas had the technology back then to put the finale on the wookie homeworld. Oh well. It is still a marvellous lavish epic.

The movie that started it all. This one begins with the Hobbits being sent by Gandalf on a mission to destory the One Ring. Jackson showed the world how a novel of this epic magnitude should be handled, with care and an effort desevering of it's size.

Fantasy story telling the way should always be, epic and thrilling.

Seriously everyone should see this movie and bask in the B-movie comic book goodness. Swell.

De Palma's finest 2 hours. Costner is cool as Elliot Ness and who else could play Capone other than the great De Niro.

Clint Eastwood lived upto and beyond all his expectations for this his last western. Academy award performances aside this is the perfect tale for the setting, as Clint is the aging gunslinger for hire trying to go straight who ends trying to make a few last dollars taking down sme bad guys with bounties on their heads.

Powerful and horrorfying. One of the best of 2006.

With this and 'Inside Man' Clive Owen had himself a hell of a year in 2006.

The fauk-documentary feel of the hand held camera give the film a reality that scares and moves you. Cuaron's use of tracking shots stand out bringing the viewer into the movie, making us walk every step with the characters. The seemingly single take in the car is incredible, one of the best moments in modern cinema.

I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.

This was the first real blockbuster and is still worth every penny even 30 years later.