The Godfather Reaction

The Godfather is one of those movies everybody has to see at some point in their lifetime. It epitomizes the evolution film has taken since it's humble beginnings in the 1800's. Regardless of what walk of life you come from, The Godfather is capable of captivating any individual and that is why in my eyes it has seen such huge cultural success. Some people cite it as the best movie ever made. I tend to disagree, however I can see how it appeals to so many people. There are several relatable characters all of whom do a terrific job playing their respectable roles. The film transcends generational boundaries unlike others before it because it focuses on both the young and the old. This may not be my favorite film of all time; it's long, involved, and the subplotes feel cumbersome, but I can appreciate it for what it's done to cinema and it's affect on movie watchers around the world.

The Departed - Reaction

The Departed is one of my all-time favorite films. To me, everything about this movie is spot on. Everything from the acting to the dialogue and cinematography is perfectly executed. The emotional impact of ths movie is huge and the ending surprises anyone whose been following along since the beginning. In my opinion, Jack Nickleson steals the performance. He plays a crime lord in Boston named Jack Costello, and as the movie progresses he slowly begins to grow more senial. Other great performances are done by Leonardo Dicaprio, Matt Damon, and Mark Whalberg. The Departed is a modern gangster film that combines strong emotion with great action and a great progressive story that has one of the least traditional endings of a movie in recent memory.

Cool Hand Luke - Reaction

I really enjoyed this movie. Directed by Stuart Rosenburg and starring Paul Newman, it's one of those films that keeps you captivated from beginning to end. The acting by all the characters but most notably Paul Newman and George Kennedy was outstanding. The story was great and successfully captured every human emotion. Newman's way of creating a mood just by the look on his face is to me the essence of being a good actor. Anyone can say "Gee, I am upset". Doing the same without using words, however, is far more difficult without making it look like you're trying too hard. The symbolism used by Stuart Rosenburg blended seamlessly with the rest of the movie and it was only after I stopped to think about it did I even realize how much there was. I found the color red and sunglasses to be the best implemented symbolic references. The religious sub tone was to me a little heavy at times, but it did not take away from my enjoyment of the movie at all. I hadn't seen much of Paul Newman's acting before this, and I'm glad I've got the opportunity

Sound vs No Sound

It's clear to anyone who has seen their fair share of horror movies that sound is what creates the tension. Music creates an ambient tone that gets people ready for something exciting to happen. In this scene with no sound, it looks like a very inconspicuous girl deciding to take a shower. When the person with the knife appears, since the audience wasn't anxious in anticipation, there was almost no psychological reaction. With sound, however, the scene is far more effective. The music sets a tone for the audience to expect something to happen. When the person with the knife enters the bathroom, it's psychological effect is far more prominent. My primary point is that in a good portion of movies, music has a far greater effect than we give it credit for.

Psycho reaction

Psycho, directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Janet Leigh is the definitive horror film. It's tense music and atmosphere was something new when this movie came out in 1960. Audiences were frightened by the film and it has left a mark in the history of cinema. A genre of followers has spawned, with generic teenage horror movies trying to emulate Hitcock's original work. I actually enjoyed the movie. While some scenes were more comical than anything (the private detective falling down the stairs), I can surely see how this scared people in the 60's. They weren't accustomed to movies such as this and therefore were far easier to scare. I found it slightly erie myself, with the hotel owner's psychotic behavior. The acting was very good for a movie of this type - the characters were all believable and I was easily drawn into the story. My only gripe with this movie would be the scene beginning where Marion leaves with the money and ending when she trades out her car. To me, the acting here isn't quite as believable and the storyline doesn't flow as well. Perhaps Hitchcock could have given more of an explanation as to why she was such a nervous wreck - I hadn't realized she was stealing the money until she used it to purchase a car. In the end, though, everything came together to make a great movie. It's a classic that will always be remembered as the first major horror film and for that I give it credit.

Casablanca Reaction

To me, a great movie requires a captivating opening scene. It's what draws me in and what connects me to the characters. If the opening scene is hard to follow or doesn't retain my interest, the rest of the movie is likely to do the same. This movie had a poor opening scene (in my opinion, of course). I didn't understand what was going on in the tavern and I had a hard time following the path of the camera. Bogart's character seemed naive and bored me to death. His monotone voice and lack of enthusiasm left me spacing out half the movie. I was actually surprised this movie had garnered such critical acclaim; perhaps it was because I am not used to movies of the era, but I could not connect at all. There were a few saving graces, though. The ending was well done and the acting of Signor Ferarri was great.

King Kong Reaction - # 2

While Peter Jackson's King Kong may be a testament to the old, it's metamorphosis into something people can enjoy today can enjoy is breathtaking. Jackson's genius is clear as he blends the original masterpiece with modern technology and truly makes it his own. I do have some criticism, though. The movie is painstakingly slow to start - in the first movie, the action is pretty quick to take off. I understand Jackson was trying to convey the era and the develop the character's stories, but it was so slow to get to the action by the time the island scene began I was bored with the movie. From there, however, things took a turn for the best. As the ship slowly drifted into the mist on the water, I got a sense that the movie was going to get a lot better. The action sequences to follow were crafted in a manner that would make the original directors proud. The groundbreaking special effects are great but not surprising from a director like Peter Jackson who is known for his ability to create a masterful story that is the focal point in all his films. There are many things one can say about Peter Jackson's King King; great visuals, an immersive world, fantastic acting, but if there was one compliment I could give to this movie it would be this: It did the original justice. If any other person set out to recreate the Kong experience, we would have gotten a dry and poorly written copy of a classic. Instead, we got a deep and emotional story that makes you pick sides (and most people wanted to side with Kong). Whatever you want to call it, I enjoyed this film. The slow sequences were just that; slow, but the great sequences were more than great. I can only hope that one day somebody can do the same for Peter Jackson, perhaps recreating one of his greats and doing so not only for commercial success, but for the honor of one of the greatest directors of this generation.

King Kong – Reaction

This movie surprised me. The special effects are cringe-worthy, the acting is overboard, and the general atmosphere was pretty comical. I was still captivated, though. Once you get past the black and white, the quintessential 30’s dramatic acting, and the horrible special effects the movie actually becomes quite watchable. The first scene with Kong made me laugh, but when I wasn’t focused on how much the special effects sucked I actually began to believe the action I was seeing on screen and felt just like anyone would, seeing this for the first time back in the day. I must give the directors credit for the patience they had as well. 24 pictures per second, moving Kong over and over again. That would be so monotonous it’s not even funny. It also makes me think of how far we’ve come in film. The stark contrast between the old and new King Kong films are a definite reminder of the progress we’ve made. I can only imagine taking someone from that era and sitting them down to watch the new King Kong. So in essence, I enjoyed the picture to a certain extent. It’s definitely not a movie I would buy (or rent for that matter) but definitely something I can appreciate for what it’s worth. I can see how this movie would have amazed – or terrified – audiences in the 1930’s. The environments, excluding the beasts, were rather believable. It was obvious when they were in front of a green screen but when mucking through the treacherous terrain I got a real sense of a lush and thriving jungle that existed beyond the camera’s focal point. I was expecting the acting to be sub-par. These days, 90% of the time action movies have a paper thin plot and acting to match. The actors all played their roles well, and I could definitely pick up any emotion they were trying to convey. My favorite scene was when they were putting Anne on the pedestal to be sacrificed to Kong. You can see fear in the eyes of the villagers. You can tell something evil – something primal – is coming through the jungle, and the suspense is surprisingly encompassing. Anne’s reaction of fear and desperation add to the tenseness of the situation. The shot angles are used to give the audience a sense of hugeness to everything that is going on. All of these things come together to make, in my opinion, the best scene in the movie. Of course all the suspense is lost when Kong shows up and looks like a toy you’d buy for a kid at Walmart, but it was good while it lasted.

10 best movies ever

10 - Forrest Gump - Tom Hank's role in this movie lives on as one of the most iconic acting performances in the 90's. The movie captivates most who watch it and has become one of those movies people talk about and quote for decades. It touches almost every emotion from happy to sad, fear to courage, and everything in between. This movie easily makes my top 10.

9 - Gladiator - While I've always loved a good action movie, it seems rare for me to find an action movie with a great plot and great acting. Russel Crowe is at his best battling for what he loves in one of the best movies of his career. The twists and gut-wrenching plot turns make this movie easy to sit and watch from beginning to end.

8 - Scarface - Al Pacino played one of the most famous characters ever in this 80's movie. He is the reason I love this movie. The progression his character makes from a lowly criminal to crime lord and millionaire is great to watch. The decisions he is faced with and his demeanor in general are both more than enough to give this picture the #8 spot.

7 - Avatar - While some critics may complain this movie has a thin plot, or relies on action too heavily I cannot help but love this movie. The special effects are by far the best seen to date. The acting is top notch, with emotional highs and lows. The plot has been seen before, true, but you cannot criticize every movie for reusing a plot. 90% of movies made are not at all original; we've all seen the same romantic comedy, same action hero saves the day, and same collage party portrayed in 500 different movies. This one does the same but perfects it without losing any magic of the story itself. That is why I put this movie in my top 10.

6 - No Country for Old Men - When I first saw this movie, I didn't know what to think. After having seen it a second time (and a third) I realize now how great this movie really is. The seemingly simple storyline evolves into a deep and intricate manifestation of the Cohen brother's creative process. I found myself at the edge of my seat throughout so much of this movie. The suspense generated by the amazing acting of the villain makes the movie. The lack of any real music in the movie creates an odd atmosphere, and further impresses me. Usually in a movie, the music makes the suspense. In this movie, the acting and screenplay create some of the most anxious scenes I have ever seen in a film and it is for this reason (and the amazing acting) that I put it in my top 10.

5 - Saving Private Ryan - To me, the best war movie ever. Tom Hanks, again, played a role that supersedes the typical action hero. He isn't running around killing everyone. He's got demons of his own, and the battle going on inside his own mind parallel that of the action portrayed on-screen. The comradery in this movie feels as genuine as possible and the acting is great. The opening scene lives on as one of the most memorable war scenes ever and helps to give the typical person a sense of how scary war can actually be.

4 - Goodfellas - Goodfellas has some of the best dialogue and off the cuff acting I have seen. Its atmosphere is both funny and serious at the same time. It is easy to relate to some of the gangsters in the movie. Every time I watch it, there is always some funny one-liner or interesting bit I seemed to have missed the first time.

3 - Pulp Fiction - Pulp Fiction is a hard movie to follow but an easy movie to love. I remember seeing it for the first time. I didn't even know what happened, but I still loved it. I have seen it many more times since and each time I get a greater appreciation for the director's genius in creating such an original and captivating movie. The dialogue is crude and some scenes are grotesque, but it all comes together to create a great package that has yet to be reproduced in modern film. The odd story-telling manner Tarintino uses in this movie amplifies the coolness and originality which is why this movie makes my #3.

2 - The Departed - Martin Scorsese’s work with Leonardo Dicaprio and Matt Damon in this movie left me in awe after I saw it in theaters. The twists and sudden, drastic evolution of the story is something that has to be experienced rather than explained. The tense mood and anxious atmosphere persists throughout and Jack Nicholson's character is not easily forgotten. It is a movie about deception and subtlety; addiction and despair, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys films of this nature.

1 - The Shawshank Redemption - My dad tried to convince me to watch this movie and judging by the box art I was expecting something lame. I was surprised to find a moving picture that captured every essence of human emotion and glorified the brotherhood that is rare to see in the modern world. It's about a man who is wrongly accused of murdering his wife and her lover in bed. He's odd in many ways but more prominently he's a genius when it comes to math and logic. After being brought to prison for life he soon befriends his fellow inmates and creates a lifestyle within the prison that nobody would ever have envisioned. The ending unfolds perfectly and along the way there is everything ranging from hope to anguish. It's not a movie that fills any specific niche - people from all walks of life can come together to enjoy this movie. Anyone who enjoys a good story or movies in general should sit down on the couch with some friends or family and experience The Shawshank Redemption.