15 Movies You Should See Before You Die February 19, 2007
My last list, the top 10 evil characters from horror films, generated some interesting feedback from quite a few people. So I decided to open myself to even more criticism, and make another movie list...
I've been a big movie fan for years. When I was a kid I dived more into the genres of sci-fi and horror, but since then, I've branched out and become more interested in the impact of the story onscreen, rather than the genre it represents.
So, I decided to make another list on movies, this time focusing on the films I'd recommend you check out before you drop off your perch. Some are blockbusters, some are obscure - all are from a wide variety of genres and directorial styles. If you have the time, check 'em out:
Pirates of Silicon Valley (1999)
Directed by Martyn Burke
This is the only made-for-TV flick you will see in this list. "Pirates of Silicon Valley" is an accurate depiction of the rise of Apple Computers and Microsoft - and the emerging rivalry between the two. There are a few things that make this flick worth seeing. First, the performances by Noah Wyle as Steve Jobs and Anthony Michael Hall as Bill Gates demonstrate the movie's great casting and superb portrayals. Secondly, is the film's accuracy - Steve Wozniak once commented that the personalities "were very accurately portrayed". & third, this is a total geek flick - one of the few you will definitely want to check out.
When the Wind Blows (1986)
Directed by Jimmy T Marakami and Raymond Briggs
When I was a kid, one of my favorite authors/illustrators was Raymond Briggs. He caught the imagination of children internationally (but most notably in Britain and Australia). For a while he was most well known for his character, Fungus the Bogeyman - who was clearly a big inspiration to the creation of the character of Shrek - but he eventually began focusing on more multigenerational material: When the Wind Blows is one of those stories that were much more mature in nature. The story was about a nuclear attack on Britain, as seen through the viewpoint of an elderly couple known as the Bloggs. It is a dark story, and was eventually animated and brought to life by director Jimmy Marakami. The movie is obscure, but memorable, with some dark comedic moments that centralize on a very sobering topic. The soundtrack also contains works by Roger Waters and David Bowie.
South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut (1999)
Directed by Trey Parker with Matt Stone
The South Park movie was an inevitable development, and while the shoddy animation isn't any better in the film than it is in the television series, Trey Parker and Matt Stone deal with some controversial issues with their Monty Python inspired humor as only they know how with this movie. The film's got some classic moments, from Cartman's encore of "Kyle's Mom's A Bitch", to Winona Ryder's ping pong ball trick, to Bill Gates' defense of Windows 98; the South Park movie is a senseless film with ridiculous gags based upon some significant issues in modern society. Clearly, the South Park team was making a statement with the film.
Sneakers (1992)
Directed by Phil Alden Robinson
Another geek film, Sneakers is probably one of the most underrated films from the 1990's. The all-star cast features Robert Redford, Sydney Poitier, Dan Aykroyd, River Phoenix, and many more. While the movie is often touted as a 'heist' film, it is more so a movie about cryptography, and computer technology. This was the movie about hackers before the term 'hackers' became popular. The plot centers on Martin (Robert Redford) Bishop's team finding cryptographic hardware device that can literally break into any encrypted computer system. The movie is probably more well-known for its TOO MANY SECRETS anagram scene; and for the conspiracy theory banter between Aykroyd and Poitier.
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
Directed by John McNaughton
As far as the general public is concerned, when asked about horror characters, the general responses focus on the Freddy Kruegers and Leatherfaces of the genre. Hardcore horror fans, however, point to Henry. This bleak, but shockingly honest film is brutal and unforgiving. It was an eye-opener to all horror fans, and the performances are realistically frightening. This movie redefined horror, and while the Draculas and Hannibals remain ever-popular, this was the film that truly showed what real horror is.
Monty Python: The Meaning of Life (1983)
Directed by Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam
I have always been a huge Monty Python fan, yet most people seem to focus on The Holy Grail as their definitive movie. The Meaning of Life, in my opinion, was Python at their peak - a full film with absolutely zero plotline, but full of the most ridiculous humor you will ever come across. Classic scenes include the "good morning" scene with the fish, the grim reaper, and of course, the song "Every Sperm Is Sacred". This film was the last one the Pythons made as a group, before moving their separate ways.
Ben-Hur (1959)
Directed by William Wyler
The phrase, 'bigger than Ben-Hur', was coined for a reason. After its release in 1959, the film won 11 Academy Awards - a unique achievement for any film up until that point. The number of awards has only been matched by Titanic and the third Lord of the Rings. Ben-Hur is also touted as 'the widest film ever made' with an anamorphic ratio of 2.72:1. The achievements of the film are unprecedented, and it stands the test of time - the chariot sequence is possibly one of the most copied or mimicked scene by many film makers.
High Noon (1952)
Directed by Fred Zinnemann
Personally, I have never been one for westerns - but this one truly sets the tone and the benchmark for all the westerns that followed. The plot focuses on a town marshal who is placed in a position where he must face a group of killers by himself. Gary Cooper played the pivotal lead role in the film. The film is often referenced in other works such as Die Hard and Dirty Harry; and, like Ben-Hur, is often copied and mimicked in other films.
Metropolis (1927)
Directed by Fritz Lang
You're not a sci-fi fan unless you have seen this classic. Made originally in 1926, Fritz Lang's Metropolis initially came out in a highly-edited release, that was much later restored (as much as could be restored) as close to its initial vision as possible. When made, it was the most expensive silent film of all time. Considering the timeframe in which the film was made, some of the visuals are absolutely breathtaking - and is yet another example of a film that set such a benchmark, its impact is still felt in many sci-fi epics to this day. Forget The Matrix - this was the original dystopian epic, and often forgotten by many.
Frankenstein (1931)
Directed by James Whale
Mary Shelley's ageless story of the scientist who wanted to play God has often been the subject of film creations. It is, however, the 1931 version that set the tone for all of the versions that would follow. James Whale's take on the story gave it a new spin that many would dissect for decades to follow: viewers would often confuse the name "Frankenstein" with the monster instead of his creator, which highlighted the inference that the scientist and the monster are two sides to the one personality. The film features Boris Karloff in his signature performance - one which he is well known for to this day. The image of the "flat-head" Frankenstein was coined with this version of the story, and is probably the most recognizable version of the monster ever created. With some spectacular visuals, classic scenes and lines ("It's Alive!!"), and Karloff's performance, this amazing film established itself as a timeless epic from the very day it was released.
The Hidden Fortress (1958)
Directed by Akira Kurosawa
Kurosawa was probably George Lucas' biggest influence, as far as film makers are concerned. It's fairly common knowledge now that Lucas' Star Wars was grounded with a very loose basing on aspects of this film. Despite this, the 1958 classic is yet another example of a movie that is timeless, and was clearly ahead of its time. The story is told through the eyes of two unlucky peasants, who assist the heroic General Rokurota Makabe in protecting a princess. The group, eventually joined by the daughter of a farmer, plan to retake the princess' land and re-establish her kingdom. The strongest aspect of this film is the bold character development and the compelling visual nature of the movie also assists this. Often considered to be Kurosawa's finest moment, The Hidden Fortress is definitely another one to check out, especially considering how much of an influence it has been on modern film directors.
Vertigo (1958)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Hitchcock was a master of his art - and is perhaps better known for Psycho and The Birds. Vertigo is another example of his superb film making - even if just for the spectacular camera work. The cinematography was fairly ahead of its time, and the performances by James Stewart and Kim Novak are very memorable. The plot focuses on how Stewart's character (a private detective) who suffers from acrophobia is hired to follow a woman who seems to be suffering from some kind of mental illness. The film was touted as a masterpiece when it was released - and is still considered to be that to this day.
Enter the Dragon (1973)
Directed by Robert Clouse
Nowadays, martial art films seem to be pretty much dime a dozen. Released in 1973, Enter the Dragon was the film that set the trend, and broke the genre in the western world. The film was Bruce Lee's final film - he died months before it was released, and features his most memorable work - including the timeless nunchaku scene. While the plotline is sometimes regarded as a little thin, the movie makes up for it with its action sequences, the final mirror room scene, and memorable lines such as, "boards don't hit back". The film established Bruce Lee as a cultural icon, and paved the way for future "Kung Fu movies".
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Tarantino's defining moment in cinema was Pulp Fiction. With a solid plot and memorable (though violent and bloody) sequences, the movie relaunched John Travolta's career and (even though he was fairly well known before this release) established Samuel L. Jackson's definitive mark on cinema. It is an unconventional film, and in true Tarantino style, is pretty much told in a haphazard order. There's no way to uniquely describe the plot of Pulp Fiction - it is basically six unique stories that are interrelated in some way or form, and are not shown chronologically. It's just one of those things you just have to see for yourself.
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
Directed by George Lucas
The very first Star Wars film deserves to be mentioned in this list. It was ahead of its time, and despite being placed in a science fiction / fantasy setting, the plot was primordial in nature, firmly based in the lore of ancient myths and legends. Clear archetypes are in the film, as well as some obvious and not-so-obvious homage's to films in years gone by. Aside from this, Star Wars is groundbreaking in its own rights, with the stunning visual effects that were considered to be impossible up until that point in time. The movie had such an effect, it influenced a new generation of film-makers, such as James Cameron and Peter Jackson, and spawned two sequels, three prequels, and billions of dollars of revenue in merchandise sales for George Lucas. Considering that Universal Day of the Jedi is coming up in May, it's only fitting to close the list with this film.
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