Gone with the Wind (1939)

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If I have to lie, steal, cheat or kill. As God is my witness, I'll never be hungry again.
So basically: Before the American Civil War, Scarlett O'Hara is a young Southern belle looking for love. She is passionately in love with Ashley, who is getting married to his cousin, Melanie. Rich man Rhett Butler is down from Charleston. Through the war, losing her first husband, and witnessing the atrocities of the Yankee soldiers, Scarlett learns to be tough and to stand on her own two feet. Even after the war, she must fight to keep the thing she loves more than anything, her plantation Tara.

See! This is a movie that's totes long but doesn't feel like it. To be fair, I've never seen both parts back to back, but still. There's just something about this movie that pulls the audience into the world of late 19th century Georgia and keeps you there. I'm really glad it's in colour because it's one of those movies that rely on the backgrounds and costumes and some of it would be lost in B&W. My only problem with this film is the ending. I mean, I kno it's supposed to be this grand love story between Scarlett and Rhett, but Scarlett totes does not need a man. Sure, she manipulates them for her own gain, but at the point where she wants to win Rhett back, she is independent. It should have ended with her by herself with her plantation, Tara. Not wanting to make Tara grand to get Rhett back! I mean, the character has been laid out to say she doesn't need a man and love isn't what she's after. If it was strict romance, without any of the awesome Scarlett, then it would be fine for her to want to end up with Rhett; but that's not what I got from the character at all.

Yes, this deserves to be on the list.

Ziggi seal of approval!

Stand By Me (1986)

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You guys wanna go see a dead body?
So basically: Gordie, now a famous writer, recounts a tale of him and his three friends, Chris, Teddy, and Vern, when they were twelve years old. A boy went missing a couple of days prior and Vern overhears that his brother found the body. Seeking adventure and glory, the four boys trek to the site of the body. Gordie is obsessed with finding the body, thinking it will give him some closure on his recently deceased brother.

I wish I had grown up with this movie. I think I would have loved this movie and it would be one of my favourites. Instead, I saw this movie, like, two years ago and it doesn't hold a special place in my heart. Even still, I do love this film. I think it's a great adventure story and the four boys each have their own issues going on, allowing them to grow from the archetype they embody. It's not as awesome as The Goonies, tho - which should totes be on the list - but whatevs.

Totes should be on the list!

Ziggi seal of approval!

The Terminator (1984)

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Wordy guest review #3.
Sarah Connor's normal ('80s) life is shattered when two men (okay, one cyborg and one man) arrive from the not-too-distant future - one to kill her and the other to save her. Her potential progeny has saved, or will save, humanity from the nefarious machines of the future, so the human race depends on her survival.

The plot is quite clever; the premise itself has time-travelling goodness and as the movie progresses, all the events fall into place to ensure the established future. The way Sarah is gradually hardened into the ass-kicking mother she'll have to be is especially awesome. Throughout the movie, the scene sometimes switches to the war-torn future, which is well-done and close enough to feel very real and relevant. It helps that instead of a tragedy looming several centuries from the present, the beginning of the war is quite imminent. On the other hand, the dialogue is often overly expository, and even though I hadn't known the particulars of the plot, there wasn't much that I didn't see coming.

At a couple of points during this movie, I foresaw potential Disapproval, but the ending convinces me otherwise ... The Pretentious Reviewer's Seal of Approval!

Kick-Ass (2010)

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Like every serial killer already knew, eventually fantasizing just doesn't do it for you anymore.
So basically: A comic book nerd, Dave, decides to be a superhero when he discovers no one has ever tried it. He buys a costume online and gets beat up on his first time out. But he's not going to give up. When he re-enters the world of superherodom, a kid records him and he becomes an internet phenomenon, along with getting a lot of requests to help people on his MySpace page. When the girl of his dreams confides her problems to him, he tries to deal with it as Kick-Ass (his super hero alter ego). However, he gets in over his head when Hit Girl and Big Daddy come to the rescue, and he gets involved in their revenge mission against the city's drug lord, who also wants to see Kick-Ass dead.

I can't begin to describe how much this movie angers me and I'm sure you don't want to hear it. I think this movie is stupid and really does not deserve to be on the list. It may have worked as a comic/graphic novel (I heard they changed a lot of things, too), but it certainly does not work as a movie. For one thing, it sets up the premise that it's set in the real world, but it's not. It looks real, but it's totally set in a comic/super hero world. And that annoys me. With regular super hero stories, you suspend belief and villains and heroes are accepted. But, with this film, it isn't set up like that, so when there is a villain and all these super heroes you're like "wtf?!" And on a less genre-specific note, the relationship between Dave and Katie is totally stupid. It really didn't need to be in the film at all, at the very least not the way it was. It was underdeveloped and Katie was a cardboard cut-out character. Also, wtf? She never even looked in his direction, and then a rumour says that he's gay so she suddenly has all this interest in him? That's called using and it's totally not cool! (also, he's the only "gay" kid at the school? Please). She didn't even ask if he was gay, she just heard a RUMOUR and assumed it was true. He's a dick for going along with the lie, as well.

I don't know how this movie ever got on the list in the first place.

Ziggi seal of disapproval!

Groundhog Day (1993)

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The National Weather Service is calling for a "big blizzard thing!"
So basically: Phil Conners is an arrogant prick of a weather man who is sent to Punxsutawney to do a report on Groundhog Day. He's been doing this report for 3 years and he expects this time to be just like any other - boring and to only last one day. However, the next morning he finds he's woken up on February 2nd again. And again. And again. At first, he pities himself. Then, he uses his time to woo the girl of his dreams, the network producer, Rita.

Prior to this viewing, I hadn't seen this movie in a really long time, but I remembered liking it. So, I was really looking forward to seeing it. I was disappointed. Firstly, I forgot how much of a prick Phil really was and I was totes expecting him to learn from his mistakes, but I honestly don't think he did. And what's with all the women? Every single one of them made me mad! They were so easy to get into bed with. Of course, not Rita. It took him forever to get her into bed with him. And why was he trying so hard? Love isn't like that. You don't have to know everything about them to date them. That's what getting to know them is like. And sure, I can see him being in love with her, but she totes hated him at the beginning of the day and then fell in love with him at the end? It took her, like, 12 hours to completely change her view of him. I'm sorry, wut?! Anyway, it totally irks me as a romance movie, but it did have some good laughs.

I don't know why this is on the list!

Ziggi seal of disapproval!

The Graduate (1967)

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Oh no, Mrs Robinson. I think, I think you're the most attractive of all my parents' friends.
So basically: Benjamin Braddock has just graduated from undergraduate studies and moved back in with his parents. Everyone, including his parents, are pressuring him to go to graduate school and make something of himself, but he is content with staying where he is. When his parents throw a party on his behalf, a family friend, Mrs Robinson, asks him to drive her home with the intentions of seducing him. Awkward and a bit afraid, Benjamin accepts the proposal and they spend many night at a nearby hotel together. However, things get complicated when Benjamin takes out Mrs Robinson's daughter, Elaine, against Mrs Robinson's wishes, and falls in love with her.

This is another one of my favourite movies evs. I can't explain why I love this movie so much, but I do. From the beginning, the film sucks the audience into this world, this bleak world where the main character is awkward and slightly monotonous. It seems like it would be a boring movie - it's anything but! Mrs Robinson is one of the most well written characters in cinematic history, with her playfully seductive speech and the way she handles Benjamin. Ben is also one of my favourite characters ever, which is odd 'cause he's not a very likable person. Also, the music by Simon and Garfunkel perfectly compliments the world of The Graduate.

Defs deserves to be on the list, probably higher.

Ziggi seal of approval!

Scarface (1983)

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It's Casino all over again!
So basically: In 1980, Fidel Castro opened the port at Mariel Harbour to let Cubans reunite with their families in America. Tony Montana was on one of the boats to America, looking for fortune. He and his friend, Manny, climb the drug dealing ladder in Miami. As the story progresses, Tony grows more reckless and violent until his inevitable death.

I like to think I'm a pretty versatile movie watcher - meaning I'll try everything once and I'm not too picky about genres or styles. So when I say that I don't like Scarface it's not because I'm not into that kind of stuff. I mean, I'm not, but that doesn't mean I won't like a film of this sort. Anyway, I didn't like this film. I thought it was long and boring and Tony was an ass. Also, the chick was kinda lame - until she left him, of course. Srs, she's like "I wouldn't fuck you if you were the last guy on Earth!" and then she goes and marries him?! I don't understand movies like this, where the ass of a lead gets the girl who hates his guts - usually the girl ends up leaving him, or trying to, but she still married him for Pete's sake! I don't care how much "security" the dude has, it's totes not worth it! Yeah, boring.

"Say hello to my little friend" is the only reason this is on the list (I'm not being srs, don't worry). I honestly don't get why it's such a big hit, sry, and therefore can't see why it's on the list.

Ziggi seal of disapproval!

The Thing (1982)

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Maybe we at war with Norway?
So basically: A group of scientists are stuck in Antarctica during the winter months. Everything is going well until a Norwegian helicopter lands and the people inside start shooting at them. The group of scientists shoot back and take the bodies into their camp. When they investigate the Norwegian camp, they find videos of their expedition. It shows them digging up something unknown, something old, something alien. Soon, one of their dogs turns rabid and the alien emerges. They discover that the alien can change its shape to imitate life forms. Now, the scientists fear each other and they need to try and contain the alien before it travels to more populated areas.

This is classic sci-fi at its finest. There's no CGI, the plot is interesting, and the characters are what make the story interesting. As the film progresses and the alien spreads, it gets more and more claustrophobic and tense. Also, I don't think you need to like sci-fi to like this movie: it's not hardcore sci-fi, making it attainable to most audiences. Yeah, basically, it's an awesome movie that everyone should watch. Oh! And there's two black guys! w00, not just the token one. No women, tho, sadface.

This should defs be on the list.

Ziggi seal of approval!

Amores Perros (2000)

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If you want to make God laugh... tell Him your plans.
So basically: In Mexico City, three stories are connected through a car accident. Octavio is in love with his brother's wife and wants to run away with her, to get her far away from her abusive husband. In order to raise the money to leave, he enters his dog into the underground dog fighting competition, where he does very well. Everything is going according to plan until he comes home and both his brother and love are gone. Valeria is a famous model who is having an affair with a married man. They move in together with their dog, Richie. Unfortunately, their bliss cannot last - Valeria breaks her leg in the car accident and Richie falls into a rat-infested hole in their apartment. Valeria then struggles with her failing career, her love for a married man, and her lost dog. El Chivo is a homeless man and a hitman for hire. He is hired by a man to kill his brother. As he is preparing for this job, he struggles with his love for the daughter he never knew and finding a dog in the car crash.

I'm sorry, but I honestly cannot say I like this movie. It was recommended to me by a friend and, going into it, I had no idea what it was about. The first story I got interested in, but as soon as it switched to Valeria's, I lost interest. And the third story couldn't regain that interest. If you ask me, they should have just made a movie about Octavio's life. It would have been so much better. It's also really, really long for the kind of movie it is.

No, I don't think this movie deserves to be on the list at all.

Ziggi seal of disapproval!

Star Trek (2009)

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I like this ship! You know, it's exciting!
So basically: When a Romulan vessel gets sucked through a black hole, it changes the entire history of the Star Trek: The Original Series universe. Now, James T Kirk's father was killed on the USS Kalvin by the Romulans on the same day that he was born. Many years in the future, Kirk is a rebellious man who enlists in Starfleet under the advisement of Captain Pike. During his third year, the Romulan vessel that attacked the Kalvin strikes again, this time to destroy the planet Vulcan. On the USS Enterprise, Pike, Kirk, Spock, Uhura, Sulu, Chekov, and Scotty must stop the Romulans from destroying the universe.

I'm not going to make this review at all Trekkie, and purely review it on the merits of a movie - because, let's face it, it's a different universe than TOS so there's obvi inconsistencies (I don't know whether it was a cop-out or a genius move by JJ Abrams, tho, to create an alternate universe). Anyway, I love this film! Not just because I'm somewhat of a Trekkie. It's brilliant and you don't need to be a sci-fi nerd or a Trekkie to understand it (which I guess was one of the things Abrams was hoping for, to gain a wider audience and to attract the attention of the younger generations). All the characters are brilliant and the actors who filled such grand roles do them flawlessly - though Kirk is a bit of a wanker in this version, but Chris Pine sure plays him well. Especially Karl Urban as Bones! Hilarious character and totes plays a younger McCoy brilliantly. Also, yey Simon Pegg! My one complaint is the Spock and Uhura relationship. Not only is it totes not cannon, it doesn't build up at all. It just happens. I have no idea why they did it! Well, okay, they wanted a romance, but why?! It was completely unnecessary.

Anyway, yes, this movie totes deserves to be on the list. The plot is interesting and not too out-of-reach for the non sci-fi geeks.

Ziggi seal of approval!

Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

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I'm robbing a bank because they got money here.
So basically: Sonny and his friend Sal hold up a bank. They've got it all planned out - be in and out in about half an hour - but when the vault is opened, barely any money is there. Angry and frustrated, Sonny takes too long and the cops arrive. Sonny must now keep the cops off his back, keep the hostages happy, and find a way to get him and Sal out alive.

This is one of my favourite movies of all time. I love movies that feel claustrophobic and are centred around characters more than plot. I think this movie is brilliant. It was excellently cast and every character is amazing and enhances the story somehow. Also, bank robbing movies are awesome, especially when they don't make it too serious, like this film, which blended in humour nicely. The telephone scene between Sonny and Leon was defs the best in the film and one of the all time great scenes of cinema.

If anything, this film should be way higher on the list.

Ziggi seal of approval!

Ratatouille (2007)

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Another wordy review by the guest reviewer!
Remy, a rat with culinary aspirations, lives in the walls and gardens of an old lady's house with his family of rough, down-to-earth rats. Although his father drafts him into serving the clan as a poison detector, Remy wants to cook. When a mishap leads to the rats' emergency evacuation from their old home, he finds himself alone in Paris and, eventually, cooking in secret at one of the finest restaurants in the city. There's deception, undeserved fame, hidden wills, ridiculous plots, and more.

This movie was very fun - boisterous and entertaining and quirky. Remy and Linguini's friendship is cute and the movie's message is sweet. Ratatouille was good, but not great. The characters were definitely likeable, but - for me at least - not lovable. It made me laugh, but never cry or really care. I enjoyed it, but wasn't too invested.

... The Pretentious Reviewer's Seal of Disapproval!

Gandhi (1982)

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An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.
So basically: Mahatma Gandhi starts out as a naïve, but good-willed, young lawyer in South Africa. He is outraged when officials kick him off the train for refusing to give up his purchased seat in First Class. This incident starts his career as an activist as he fights for Indian rights in South Africa. Once the government recognizes rights for the his people, he returns back to his native India, where he finds the British government to be overbearing. Through a series of peace protests and outspoken activism, Britain relieves India of their control. Unfortunately, Gandhi's work is of yet unfinished as the Muslims and the Hindi people are at war with each other. The creation of Pakistan and Gandhi going on a hunger strike relieve this tension.

The first hour of this film was very interesting and I had hope for the rest of it - prior to that, I had remembered the movie being very long and not very enjoyable, and the fact that I don't like biopics anyway kind of put me off this film all together. I came out with the same reaction as I had on the first viewing - if not more so, as I had first seen it in class and it was broken up into several days of watching. It's much too long, as most biopics are, and I know that it would be hard to cut something out of the picture, but still. It felt long, which is what I do not like about it. Let me state here that one of my favourite films is Lawrence of Arabia so it is possible for me to like biopics, and long ones at that. Tho, Ben Kingsley's performance was very well done.

As much as I hate to say this, I don't think this deserves to be on the list.

Ziggi seal of disapproval!

V for Vendetta (2005)

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Remember, remember the 5th of November. The gunpowder, treason, and plot. I know of no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot.
So basically: In London, circa 2020's, Adam Sutler has taken control of Britain and turned it into a totalitarian regime. One man, V, stands before the government and attempts to take it down through a series of terrorist attacks. V rescues Evey, a young woman, from prosecution from the secret police, and during the next year he teaches her to stand up against the injustice of Britain.

I'm not in love with this movie, but I do love this movie. The language is brilliant! All those Vs! The plot is interesting, as to be expected from an adaptation of a graphic novel, and of course The Wachowski brothers' do not disappoint. Oh! And Stephen Fry! Awesome.

This should defs be on the list.

Ziggi seal of approval!

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)

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All right, son: roll them guns up, count the money, and put your seat belt on.
So basically: Four friends, Eddy, Soap, Bacon, and Tom, pool their money - £25,000 each - to go into a high stakes card game with a local boss, Hatchet Harry. Eddy is a natural when it comes to cards and thinks he can't lose, but little does he know the game is rigged in favour of the boss. When Eddy loses, he ends up owing Harry £500,000. Panicking, the four of them eavesdrop on Eddy's neighbours, who plan on stealing a lot of drugs and money from some local drug dealers. The boys decide to rob the robbers to pay back Harry.

This movie is flawless. From start to finish there isn't a scene, a line of dialogue, or a character out of place or makes the plot drag on. The many different story lines come together brilliantly, even tho at first it seems they are not related, which makes the movie all the more interesting as the audience is trying to figure out what everyone has to do with each other. It's clever, never taking the audience for granted, and the irony works perfectly.

This should totally be higher on the list. Like, a lot. It blows your mind with awesomeness.

Ziggi seal of approval!

Le Salaire de la Peur (1953)

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Where there's smoke, there's explosives!
So basically: When a fire breaks loose at an oil well near a small town in South America, the oil company needs to hire men to drive two trucks full of nitro-glycerine to stop it. Four men seize this opportunity to get out, either by death or with the $2,000 they will receive upon completion.

The beginning of this film is slow. I wasn't really interested in the town or the people inhabiting it. However, once they started on their journey, the pace picks up and the audience is completely emotionally invested in the wellbeing of the characters. It's not so much that I sympathize with them, it's just the intensity in which it was shot. There really isn't a dull moment once they get on the road - which is littered with obstacles.

Though I don't think it should be this high - and especially not higher than Les Diaboliques, by the same director - it should be on the list.

Ziggi seal of approval!

How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

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Thank you for nothing, you useless reptile.
So basically: A young Viking, Hiccup, just wants to fit in with his tribe and live up to the expectations of his father, the leader of the tribe. Unfortunately, Hiccup is a small, clumsy boy (and he knows it) so in order to try and take down a dragon, the quintessential act of Vikinghood, he invents a canon-like device. When the dragons start to attack, Hiccup gets a clear shot of the mysterious Night Fury and takes it. When he goes to investigate where the dragon lands, he finds he cannot kill it and instead lets it free. What's even more bizarre is that the dragon lets him live! Hiccup then discovers that the Night Fury is missing half its tail. He makes a tail fin for it and together they learn to fly-- and Hiccup learns that everything the Vikings know about dragons is wrong. Instead of proving himself to be a true Viking, Hiccup wants to enlighten his people and bring peace to the village.

Aw! I love this movie! It's cute and awesome and come on! The guys who made it did MULAN! do you know how kick-ass that movie is? Should defs be on the list. Anyway, about How to Train Your Dragon. This movie is equally awesome as Mulan. Hiccup is a brilliant character. I love how, unlike most fantasy stories where the main character discovers they're meant to be some great person, Hiccup is just a boy. He doesn't have a destiny, he doesn't have some true calling, and he isn't perfect. The world doesn't revolve around him, but he does improve his village a lot. The only thing I don't like is Astrid and how she's this tiny blonde thing. Gah! But, she is pretty kick ass, so that kind of makes up for it - and she is voiced by America Ferrera! Also, the ending is awesome. It isn't perfect, either. They do save the day, but they don't win flawlessly, either.

This should totes be higher on the list. And should totes be higher.

Ziggi seal of approval!

Twelve Monkeys (1995)

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Science ain't an exact science with these clowns but, they're getting better.
So basically: In 1997 a virus was released that wiped out the vast majority of the population and made living on the surface of the Earth impossible. Now many years in a future, a group of scientists are sending criminals back in time to gather information on the virus and to collect a pure sample of it in order to create an antidote. Their information tells them that the virus was developed and spread by a group known as The Army of the Twelve Monkeys, but they don't know why they did this. James Cole is one of the criminals assigned to the job, but he travels too far back, to 1990. There, he is sent to a mental institution where he meets Jeffrey Goins, a patient who is obsessed with germs, and Dr Kathyrn Railly, his psychiatrist who has a connection with him.

I love this film. I don't get how people think this is confusing. I mean, at all. To me, it's pretty straightforward - but I guess that's what time-travelling movies do to some. My only pet peeve with this film is the romance element. 'Cause I don't think that should have been the focus and it was. Railly should have just helped him and that would be that. And what's with this 'oh I feel as if I've known you forever' crap. I kept wanting them to explain it, y'know, maybe Cole traveled back to when Railly was a kid and she has a vague recollection of him? But they never did! It just seemed out of place (I'm assuming they just did it for the romance element, which is why it irks me). This happens in the movie theatre, tho. Earlier, in 1990, she says he just seems familiar. And I read on IMDb's boards - in my search to make sense of these feelings of Railly's - that it was because she had seen the picture of Cole from 1917 in her research for the book, but couldn't place it. But, I got the impression that she started the whole book/doomsday thing because she was interested in Cole back in 1990. So, that theory doesn't float with me. Some people might find it acceptable. Anyway ...

This movie is wicked awesome. Totes deserves to be on the list. You might need two viewings to understand it, but it's SO worth it! Also, Brad Pitt's performance is awesome!

Ziggi seal of approval!

The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

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We'll go on forever, Pa, 'cause we're the people.
So basically: In Oklahoma during the Depression, Tom Joad gets out of prison after 4 years to find his entire family missing from their farm. He finds them at his uncle's place, where he learns that the government has foreclosed their house and their uncle's. They have no choice but to pack up everything they own and move west, where there is promise of work. With only one car and many mouths to feed, the trip isn't easy. And once they get to California, things don't improve much, neither.

John Steinbeck writes brilliant stories and I tried to read one of his books (Of Mice and Men - that movie should totes be on the list) but it was so boring. I don't understand it. His movies are interesting and full of characters that feel real, but the books just don't capture that at all. About this movie, then: it's really good. I kno some people won't like it, but still. The characters are interesting, the plot is interesting, and the story is important for people to understand.

Yes, this deserves to be on the list. It is probably a tad slow for modern audiences to appreciate, but I think they should at least give it a try.

Ziggi seal of approval!

El Secreto de Sus Ojos (2009)

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If you keep going over the past, you're going to end up with a thousand pasts and no future.
So basically: A retired attorney, Benjamín Esposito, writes a novel about one of his old cases. This case in particular has been haunting him for his entire life. A woman was badly beaten and raped before being killed. Benjamín finds that the woman's husband is madly in love with her and he longs for that kind of love with his superior, Irene Hastings, who he fell in love with during the case. So he visits her and rediscovers his love for her.

I want to like this film, but I really can't. For one thing, it took the leads 25 years to finally admit that they are in love with each other - I mean, they both knew it at the time - and it's just boring. There's nothing romantic about it, so I was left angry and disappointed at the end when they finally did get together. The whole plot just didn't interest me, either. The only thing I liked about this film was the at the end - not because it ended! - when Esposito is at Morales' place and follows him into Gomez's cell. That scene, I felt, was really powerful. Other than that, there wasn't anything special or extraordinary about this film.

I'm sorry, but no. There wasn't anything to make this film stand out for me.

Ziggi seal of disapproval!

Casino (1995)

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There are three ways of doing things around here: the right way, the wrong way, and the way that I do it.
So basically: A group of Midwest mob bosses have a casino in Los Vegas, only they don't have anyone to run it. They convince professional gambler Sam "Ace" Rothstein to run it, only he doesn't have a licence. That's not a problem-- you're allowed to work in a casino as long as your application is being processed and if you change your title every once in awhile, your application gets sent to the bottom and no one is the wiser. To protect things, they also send over Nicky Santoro, a crazy muscle guy no one wants to mess with. Things seem to be going pretty sweet: Ace is married to a beautiful women, the casino is making lots of money, and the bosses are getting richer. Only, the authorities start wising up and they start to stir things up.

Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci. With a line-up like that this seems like it's going to be one mind-blowing movie! At least, I thought so until I started watching it. I was really disappointed in this film. First of all, the narration gets tiring. I understand that there was a lot of information and it would be difficult to get it all in through the film itself, but come on, it was totes overkill! They were saying what was going on as it was going on, just let the camera roll for a bit, will you? Let the audience form their own opinions. I thought it really took away from the flow of the story. It was also really long, and I usually don't have a problem with long movies, so long as I don't realize the time has past. This movie seemed to drag on forever, and in the end, everyone dies. The story wasn't that interesting, either.

Some people might hate me for this, but I don't think this is one of Scorsese's best.

Ziggi seal of disapproval!

The Gold Rush (1925)

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Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to Charlie Chaplin!
So basically: Charles Chaplin plays The Lone Prospector, a poor man looking for gold in Alaska. During a blizzard, he stumbles upon a cabin, which is already being occupied by two other people. The three of them argue as they wait out the storm. Once the blizzard ends, The Lone Prospector wanders into a dance hall and falls in love with one of its patrons. He was looking for gold, but he found love instead.

This is my least favourite Chaplin film - I've seen all of the ones on the list - but it's still genius. I've only ever seen the reprinted version, y'kno, the one with his narration and a different score apparently, and some scenes are different. I really want to see the original. I don't like that narration - but at least it was done by Chaplin himself. Anyway, I didn't care for the settling, the gold rush, and that's why I didn't like the film. The other elements, the comedy - hilarious! btdubs, anyone who doesn't find him funny has something wrong with them, this is classic humour people! - the romance, the characters are all flawlessly executed.

I don't think it should be this high and defs not above The Kid, but it should totes be on the list.

Ziggi seal of approval!

8½ (1963)

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It's pompous and stupid, like the director.
So basically: Guido Anselmi is a famous director who just finished a big picture. Now, people are pressuring him to come up with a new idea, but he has writer's block. To add to his stress, everyone is asking to be in or work in his next picture. For inspiration, he slips in and out of fantasy and memory.

I want to like this film, just because it's one of those movies every hardcore film buff is required to love or you get kicked out of the club. I'll never be in the club. I don't like this movie. At least I can watch it, tho. The first time I absolutely hated it. It was one of the most painful experiences of my life - it was the first Fellini movie I saw. The second time, however - with an appreciation of film - I was able to watch it with a better eye. I still don't like it, tho. I thought is was slow and boring and I didn't care for Guido at all, but as I said, I don't like these kinds of films anyway. I don't think it's pretentious either, which I thought on first viewing. I could go on a rant about Woody Allen again (I did in my head watching this picture) but I won't. I'll just say: I'd rather watch this than any crap Woody Allen spews out - srs, he thinks throwing in Fellini and Bergman's names and talking about pretentious, know-it-all things will make his movies brilliant and intellectual! At least Fellini's movies don't come off that way, that he was trying to be this great cinematic genius (which he no doubt is), he was just making movies (which I hope is tru, because if he actually was pompous and douchey then I would hate this movie).

I honestly can't say I think this movie deserves to be on the list. Some people might regard it as cinematic genius, but I just can't see it.

Ziggi seal of disapproval!

Hotaru no Haka (1988)

Trailer

Why must fireflies die so young?
So basically: During World War II, a 12 year old boy, Seita, and his little sister, Setsuko, are left by themselves when their mother dies in an air raid and their father is off in the navy. After that, they stay with their aunt, where Seita and she get into countless arguments. Deciding it would be better for him and his sister, Seita takes Setsuko to live in an abandoned air raid shelter. Together, they struggle to survive, but Setsuko falls ill due to malnutrition. Seita does everything he can to keep her alive.

Wah! Saddest movie ever. I don't know why I watched it for a second time. At least I had someone there with me, yey. The power of this film, I think, lies with the characters of Seita and Setsuko, neither of who know how to cope with everything they're going through. Seita tires his best, but it really isn't enough and no one is around to help him - least of all his aunt. Some people think she's justified, and I can sort of see their point, but she was much meaner than she should have been. I mean, srs. He's a twelve year old boy who lost his mother, doesn't know where his father is, and has to care for a little girl. Caring for Setsuko is enough responsibility for him, it's not like his aunt was helping him with that at all!

Does this deserve to be on the list? Well, yes. It is a really good movie, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone! I hope you understand what I'm trying to say.

Ziggi seal of approval!

Les Diaboliques (1955)

Trailer

Don't be devils. Don't ruin the interest your friends could take in this movie. Don't tell them what you saw.
So basically: The wife and mistress of a school principal are tired of his mistreatment. Together, they plan his murder. Things seem to be going well for them: killing him was simple, transporting him back to school was just as easy, and dumping him into the school's pool to make it look like an accident went flawlessly. However, when the pool is drained, there is no trace of the body! The wife, Christina, who already has a heart condition, is confined to bed rest due to the stress of it all, but the mistress, Nicole, seems calm and collected throughout.

This is one of those movies that I think would be really really popular if it were in English. Well, it almost was, Alfred Hitchcock wanted to direct it, after all. But as it is, it's in French and a lot of people don't watch foreign films - not necessarily their fault, either. Anyway, why do I think that? Because there's a double twist! Not just one, but two! And suspense. The first hour, everything goes according to plan, but when the body goes missing, things start to get interesting. The first time I watched this I was glued to the screen, trying to figure out what happened - I couldn't, by the way. I never once suspected the mistress; she seemed to hate him as much as the wife.

Ah, brilliant movie. Michel is a big douche, tho, which makes me angry at the film. But, clever plot and interesting characters. Defs deserves to be on the list.

Ziggi seal of approval!