100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 39 ~ The Magnificent Seven

Back to back John Sturges movies.

Sometimes things like that happen.

I would say that I saw this movie for the first time within the last fifteen years.

I was blown away by the movie.  Great actors, great direction, great storytelling.

The movie?

A Bug's Life.

Only that one had a much happier ending for all involved.

So sometime over the last decade, I caught The Magnificent Seven for the first time, and was blown away again!

How could they have copied that great Pixar film, 40 years earlier?

Time travel!

But no, that simply tells you how good the basic premise of the story is.  And no, I've never seen Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, the movie upon which THIS movie was based.

So, about half of the Seven were in yesterday's film, and you know they must've known that working with Sturges was a good thing, because finding two great films like that within three years doesn't happen to many actors.

So the story, for those that have never seen it (and believe me, if you've watched ANY TV or movie in your lifetime, there has been some variation of this story told time after time):

A bad dude and his fellow baddies terrorize a town year after year.  They steal, plunder and basically own the place.  Finally, the townspeople have enough, and they hire...

The A-Team.

See, I told you you've seen this somewhere!

They put out the call for someone to protect their town.

In rides 7 men to stand against the 40+ bad guys and try and save the day.

Naturally, they will be successful, but in the case of this version, not all of the heroes will survive the encounter.

While I have mentioned there was great acting, I'm not going to single out the actors today.

I would like to take  a moment to acknowledge Elmer Bernstein for his contribution to the film with the Theme for the Magnificent Seven.  Even if you don't think you know it...

You know it.

The movies that he was the composer for, read like a who's who of awesome movies from the 50s-70s.  Yes, he was in charge of The Great Escape as well... he plays well with Sturges.


So to sum this one up...

This is the movie for people that don't like Westerns...have never seen a Western... or wouldn't know a good movie if it him them in the butt.

If they don't walk away from this one going..."that was kinda cool..."

Then there is no hope for them.

: )

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 40 ~ The Great Escape

And the Countdown rolls on!

Thanks to Casey Kasem as I bring this thing home with the Top 40!

My appreciation to those of you who have endured the last 60 days of doing this alongside me.  I do appreciate all of the comments here and on Facebook.

: )



My two favorite war movies, back to back.

The Great Escape is based on a true story by Paul Brickhill (read the book...recommended!) where he amalgamates his fellow P.O.W.s to relate what they went through to escape what the Nazis had determined to be the ultimate escape-proof prison.

So proud and confident of their design, they literally courted trouble by bringing in nothing but the worst of the worst...

All of the prisoners who had previously been a thorn in the Nazi's side were brought together under one roof, to break their will and prove that escape was impossible.

Beware of boasting, as it often leads to "the Titanic Syndrome".

Sure enough, putting all of these eggs in one basket presented the Allies with an irresistible option:

Prove that escape was not only possible, they were going to send more prisoners over the wall...theoretically...than ever before.

The Germans would spend so much manpower and time finding the prisoners, it would help hamper their ability to fight on the front lines.

And, for those who are not aware of the movie, or history...

They were right.

However, the price that they paid to undertake this mission was high indeed.

The undertaking these men shoulder is monumental in scope and impressive in audacity.  That it was actually pulled off is a triumph of willpower and sheer bravado.

If you've never watched it, by all means, see it!

If it's been awhile, watch it again.  The performances by this all-star cast are impeccable.

Steve McQueen gets most of the spotlight, and the cool action sequences, but I am partial to James Garner's portrayal of the scrounger in the film.

John Sturges makes his first of two directorial appearances on the countdown.  We'll visit his second all-star epic tomorrow.

I can't say enough good things about this film.

It could easily make my Top 25, but it's long and I rarely get the time to watch it, or an audience that enjoys it as much as I do.

But that's okay, it still makes the countdown, and I'm okay with that.

Here's to Tom, Dick, and Harry!

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 41 ~ The Dirty Dozen

There are a lot of great war movies out there.  It's an entire genre of film for that matter, but not too many made the cut.  The reasons are many...too violent...too long...too boring...too whatever the case may be.

Again, this list of 100 movies are those movies that never cease to entertain me, no matter how many times I put them in.  So while something as strong and poignant as Saving Private Ryan is amazing with the opening attack at Normandy... it then dissolves into a drama that is really depressing to me in how the lives of so many were forfeited to save one person.  So I can't watch that one anymore.

But the Dirty Dozen?  Oh yeah, I can, and will, watch this one anytime I'm given the chance.

Back in the day, TNT used to have an Operation TNT over the Memorial Day weekend, and I would watch as many as I could.  This film was usually shown.  Then they stopped (boo...) the tribute, and I now only watch this one every so often.

What can I say?  Apparently I'm the only one that gets stoked about seeing a bunch of Americans killing Nazis!

The story: The Army needs to send some people behind enemy lines on a top secret mission.  What better soldier to train for the mission than a bunch of soldiers literally snatched off death row. 

Hey, they were going to die anyway, might as well try and get one last use out of them as soldiers before they go.

So the soldiers train, and then it's off to war with them.  The majority of the Dozen do not survive the film, sorry if I spoil that for you. 

But, for the most part, they all died a heroic death serving and saving the country instead of dying in jail for crimes of varying degrees of severity.

 

 

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 42 ~ Rush Hour

The following review is G-14 Classified....


Another day...another unconventional choice for a Top 100 list.

Jackie Chan returns to the countdown in another "Buddy Picture".  This time, he's a cop from Hong Kong (please, stretch your imagination to make this work...) and he gets teamed with L.A.s most obnoxious cop: Chris Tucker.  Together they will solve the crime that the rest of the FBI is unable to solve.  If they survive the bad guys...and each other.

I've mentioned it before, I am a big fan of the buddy picture.  This isn't my first foray on the list... and it won't be the last, either.

Where to begin?

Jackie Chan.  I love Jackie Chan.  Ever since Cannonball Run, I thought he was an awesome little daredevil.  Until Rumble in the Bronx, I hadn't seen much from him.  Luckily with the success of that film, many of his other films became available for me to watch, and I've seen many.  Some were great...some good...some...meh.

But at the end of the day, I still love me some Jackie Chan.  He gets to play the fish out of water who learns a few things, and teaches a few things to his brash partner.  Which leads us to...

Chris Tucker.  My first exposure to Mr. Tucker was in The Fifth Element.  He was annoying...and yet funny...  Amazingly, I realize he is simply playing Christ Tucker. : )  Again, same character traits in Rush Hour, but with a little more humor and action than I had seen before.

For the record, unlike many sequels, I also enjoyed Rush Hour 2, and 3.  3 more than 2.  Your mileage of course may vary.

Finally, Brett Ratner, the director of the trilogy.

I will not apologize for the fact that I have enjoyed ever Brett Ratner film I've ever watched.  All 3 Rush Hours, The Family Man (which I believe I mentioned just missed making this list), After the Sunset, Tower Heist and yes, X-Men 3.  Actually, I may have enjoyed X-3 better than the first 2 installments.

So there.

And if they decide to make a Rush Hour 4, that's fine with me, because I will be more than happy to add it my collection.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 43 ~ The Mask of Zorro

This is a fun movie which is a blast to watch.

The story in a nutshell... The original Zorro (Anthony Hopkins) loses everything one fateful night and spends the next 20 years in jail.  When his enemy returns to Mexico, he escapes, and trains a new Zorro (Antonio Banderas) to help him save the day...and his daughter (Catherine Zeta Jones) and continue the legend of...

Zorro!

This movie falls into that "Hollywood remakes" that gets it right instead of failing to be inspired by the original versions.

By 1998, had you asked me what the greatest comic book movie ever made would have been, I likely would have responded that this movie was the closest to a great comic book movie that you could get.

Technically, Zorro was a creation of the pulp digests of the day, which was the forerunner to comic books.  So yes, I would have been correct.

: )

Now that another decade has passed, Zorro will slide out of the comic book movie and take its place as a fun action picture instead.

The opening sequence alone is worth the price of admission.

The introduction, at least to me, of Catherine Zeta Jones, was similar to Jack Black's appearance on the countdown yesterday.  Apparently she'd been in stuff before this, but for the majority, this was her big break in a larger role, and she seized it to become the star she is today.

She has great chemistry with Antonio Banderas, who revels in the part of the new Zorro.  The movie is his to carry, and he does a great job proving to audiences that he deserves a chance as a leading man in Hollywood.

The sequel, while okay, was not as fun and exciting as this one.

Better, was the inspired casting of Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots in the Shrek franchise.  While those also do not make the countdown, they were under serious consideration, and frankly a lot of that was due to Antonio's charisma as the little cat who was clearly an extension of this character.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 44 ~ High Fidelity

For all the guys out there, here's that romantic comedy that was designed for guys. Whether the lady you watch with likes it or not is irrelevant.

: )

Missing the Top 5 by a smidge, but ranking in at # 44 with a bullet comes High Fidelity.  John Cusack returns in one of his funniest roles, and that is saying something because that dude is awesome in just about everything he does.

Top 5 John Cusack films that failed to make the countdown:

5 ~ Must Love Dogs
4 ~ Serendipity
3 ~ Sixteen Candles
2 ~ One Crazy Summer
1 ~ Better Off Dead

And let's just say, it was painful to leave those last 2 off this last, and if I redid the order again, at least one of those films would make it, and Star Wars would be definitely kicked to the curb!

So anyway, the film follows Rob Gordon as he goes through a bit of an early mid-life crisis, or at least a dating crisis.  He then tries to figure out if his Top 5 Breakups were his fault, or the fault of the girl.

It's a roller coaster ride of fun from there.

Cusack is strong and dependable as always.  Probably the most underrated actor in pictures today.  The honor once belonged to Robert Downey Jr., but we all know how that went, so it's all Cusack's now.

Possibly the most memorable part of this movie would likely be the star-making turn for Jack Black.  I just ran through his filmography, and the guy had been doing a ton of work up until that point, the only one I can recall with any memory was one of the government baddies chasing down Will Smith in Enemy of the State.

Here, Jack Black is unleashed for the first time, and the revelation that the man can sing at the end works so well for the movie, and the audience.

Top 5 Jack Black films that didn't make the countdown:

5 ~ School of Rock
4 ~ Shallow Hal
3 ~ Be Kind, Rewind
2 ~ Kung Fu Panda
1 ~ Kung Fu Panda 2

Believe me, I'll be in trouble once the kids realize neither Kung Fu Panda movie hit the list!

: /

Anyway, if you've never seen this one, give it a shot.

You'll find at least 5 things you liked about it when it's over.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 45 ~ Get Shorty

"Look at me."

Today, Travolta returns to the countdown, and brings a sensational cast with him in the Mobs & Movies picture, Get Shorty.

As I've done with most of my "movie reviews" for the Top 100, I don't so much as review it, as mention a few reasons why they make my list.

It serves a dual purpose.

First, you get an idea of the types of movies I like.  If you like the same movies I mention, then if I recommend a movie, you can think...hey, he was right about this one...and hopefully I don't disappoint.

Two, if you haven't seen the movie, I hopefully have not spoiled it for you.

The plot to Get Shorty is one that if I were to explain it, on paper, it would sound ridiculously insane.  But when you watch it unfold on the screen, it works...and then some.

This movie has great direction, and great acting.  It's an all-star cast, that doesn't feel like they said, hey we have to get a star for every part.

So immersed in their roles, you buy into the movie: hook, line and sinker.

Plus, it's not just the primaries (Travolta, Rene Russo, Gene Hackman, Danny DeVito) but the secondary characters are great actors in their own right that you will recognize by face, if not by name.

Pick a genre for this film, and you're probably right.  It truly defies classification, but notably falls under Comedy because the movie IS funny.  It's also dramatic, noir-ish, action, drama, romance...

Yeah, this one has it all.

The sequel was less spectacular, to be kind.  But Get Shorty remains a great character study in acting and storytelling, and remains a popular favorite to replay when the kids aren't around.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 46 ~ The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Oh bother.

Today's installment of the countdown presents the film that has bonded with my family, possibly like no other.  The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh gathered the Disney short films Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day, and the Honey Tree, and Tigger Too and meshed them into one feature length film that was given surrounding animation and narration to encompass a feature length presentation. 

Released in the late 70s, I've been a fan of this movie since, forever.

When it was released on VHS, naturally I bought a copy.  My oldest daughter loved Pooh.

No, more than that.  She loved Winnie the Pooh.

So much so, that that VHS tape was literally worn out from the repeated watchings that she would sit through, and then when the twins came along, Big Sissy wanted to make sure her siblings were properly introduced to the bear of very little brain.

The movie itself, I think we could play it without sound and provide most of the dialogue for the film with little prompting.

The movie is oft-quoted in our house, and I would think at least one of the songs gets sung by someone at least once a month.

Yes, that's how cool this family is. :)

The weak-link in the movie is the psychedelic, and somewhat scary "Heffalumps and Woozles" portion of the film.  I never cared for it as a kid.

None of the 6 that have seen it have liked that part.  I'm pretty sure that we will simply Fast Forward for # 7 to spare her the anguish.

Otherwise, the songs from the Sherman Brothers are as outstanding as the rest of their catalog.

This marks the 2nd, and final of the Disney Classics to hit the countdown.  The ones that missed the cut:

Robin Hood and The Sword in the Stone.

All the stuff that was made after Walt's passing, but I just enjoy those movies more than the early works from Disney.

But don't worry, there's still plenty of room on the countdown for more animated films...

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 47 ~ Thor

Never.

That's when I thought a movie starring the Marvel Comics version of Thor would be released on the Silver Screen in my lifetime.

Remember, I'm a child of the 70s that grew up with the cheesy Spider-Man show, and about the only thing that Marvel could hang its hat on was the pretty darn cool Hulk television show.

Fast forward to the 90s/00s, and Marvel properties began hitting the screen to impressive showings (Spider-Man and the X-Men), but there were a few clunkers along the way (Daredevil & Ghost Rider, I'm looking at you).

And then...

Marvel said, enough of this, we're doing it ourselves.

Oh boy.  It's either sink or swim at this point, and Marvel literally cannonballed into the deep end when they released Iron Man.

Grand Slam (oh my, another baseball reference!) the first time out, and the future of which all remaining Marvel movies would be judged.

Now, as it just so happens, Iron Man, belonging to the Avengers, falls into the category of my favorite characters, ever.  Trust me, I've been giddy with excitement and nervousness knowing that it's the true heroes of Marvel that are getting the Marvel Studios treatment.  Yes, I get that everyone knows Spider-Man and the X-Men, but truthfully, my day begins and ends with the heroes that call Avengers Mansion...

Home.

So when it was announced that Thor was coming next...and it would be directed by Kenneth Branaugh and star Anthony Hopkins as Odin...

Well, needless to say, I was both awed and nervous as well.  Anything less than Iron Man could be seen as a failure.

Starring Chris Hemsworth...who?...as Thor.  And Tom Hiddleston .... who?...as Loki.

That's a whole lotta no-name brand going into the story of the God of Thunder.

The story is straight up from the comics:  Odin must teach his son a lesson in humility so he strips him of his powers and sends him to Earth.  Granted, much of the story gets fiddled with to condense it to movie storytelling, but that's the basic premise of the story.

But they did it, and it worked!

No, it didn't light the box office on fire, but it didn't arrive with a thundering dud, either.

No, instead, the 3rd Branch of the Avengers Tree was revealed.  That left only Captain America to come, and complete the founding of the Avengers.

And Marvel would hope that the audiences would respond accordingly.

I think that worked out okay as well.

If memory serves, the biggest complaint about Thor was the casting of "gods of color" in the film.

Trust me, if they can change the color and origin of Nick Fury, I've got no issues with some minor characters in the Thor mythos.

Sometimes, the comic nerds need to just let it go.

Be impressed that something that NEVER should have EVER existed in our lifetime is here, to see, and to share, with our children.

Assuming you are the comic nerds that are married and well adjusted, and not the stereotypes that live in your Mom's basement...

Then I'm barking up the wrong tree completely!

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 48 ~ Van Wilder

Yes, I picked Van Wilder.

No, I don't have to justify this pick to you, or anyone for that matter.

>: P

But I'll get to the reason why, in a minute.

First, let's take a look at the movie:

A successful slacker has been in college for going on 7 years.  Luckily, his very rich and successful dad has been footing the bill...until now.  Now, cut off from the golden goose, Van has to figure out how to pay for school, whether he wants to continue to stay in school, or to finally graduate.

College life is what Van knows, and he knows it better than anyone.  In fact, he is able to create a party planning service to pay the bills and stick around long enough to attempt graduation.

This is the first National Lampoon film to hit the countdown, and probably the least likely to be considered by most fans.

Nope, Animal House, while great, will not be hitting the countdown.

Trust me, there were a lot of great movies that didn't make the final cut.

However, Van Wilder made it for two reasons:

1) It's funny.
2) More importantly, it's where I met Ryan Reynolds for the first time on the big screen.

I've been a big fan ever since.  While not every film of his has been seen, the odds of wanting to watch a movie for me have been increased ten-fold if Reynolds is in the cast.

Sidebar:  The greatest miscarriage of justice in cinematic history was done when Ryan Reynolds was cast as Deadpool...and then they sewed his mouth shut.

Perfect casting...ruined!

Let's hope if that Deadpool film ever comes along, they'll pretend it never happened.

So yep, Ryan Reynolds brings a movie that most have never seen all the way up to # 48 of the greatest films of all time.

A star was indeed born!

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 49 ~ Clueless

Back to Back Heckerling!

What can I say, the lady gets High School!  Here, she weaves Jane Austen's Emma into the ritzy life of Southern California High Schools and comes away with Clueless.

To summarize, Cher (Alicia Silverstone) wants to make everyone happy, for purely selfish reasons, and so begins to attempt to match-make for many people in and around her life.  From the teachers to her friends, she just can't help herself.

Unfortunately, Cher can't seem to find that elusive Mr. Right for herself, although he may be much closer than she can even begin to imagine.

The dialogue and situations are tremendously funny, and the actors all do a great job.

Much like Fast Times, Clueless unleashed a group of young actors on the public who were just making their starts in the business, or who had not received much exposure on the Silver Screen.

Alicia Silverstone is the most obvious.  Some TV movies and some music videos were her claim to fame.  Then there was the late Brittany Murphy and Stacey Dash as her two best friends.

On the guy side of things Breckin Meyer and Donald Faison played love interests in the tale, but my favorite was Paul Rudd in the first role I ever saw him in.  Hilarious in his part as an ex-son-in-law, he was an overnight sensation...almost a decade after his appearance in this movie. : )

Following Fast Times lead of a strong supporting cast of older character actors, Dan Hedaya won my favorite character as Cher's put upon father, and I've already listed my favorite line from the film.

One I'm saving for the guys that show up on my doorstep to court my daughters.

>: )

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 50 ~ Fast Times at Ridgemont High

So here it is.  50-100 have been settled.  49 more to go.  Hopefully you've enjoyed this trip down memory lane, maybe found a new title or two to give a shot at, or rediscovered a lost classic.

If nothing else, perhaps you've been able to compare my tastes in film to your own, and then you can get the idea that if I like a film, you might also...or vice versa.

Now, in the style of Casey Kasem...

Back to the Countdown!


I'm not sure when I ever saw Fast Times at Ridgemont High.  It had to be well after the original release.  Either way, I've enjoyed it over the years at a look at what High School may have been like in the late 70s/early 80s.

Wow.

Way crazier than what I went through.

And this begins to explain a lot about my brother and sister...

: )

But back to the story.  It's a collection of "a year in the life" of several students whose lives intersect throughout the school year.  From their dealings with each other, their teachers and other various people in their lives, the story moves along and never hits a dull moment.

To describe the plot any further would be impossible, and ruin the film.

But what a storm of potential was released on Hollywood with this film.  It was the first time, or relatively first time for a lot of the cast and crew:

Cameron Crowe: first movie written.
Amy Heckerling: first movie directed.

Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Phoebe Cates and Judge Reinhold, among others, all made one of their first forays on the Silver Screen in this project.

And don't forget Nicolas Cage!  Triple Cage for the Ultimate Win!

Naturally, one of my favorites is Mr. Hand (Ray Walston).  While technically the "villain" of the film, at least in the eyes and grades of Spicoli, you can see that like many teachers, he really does care for his students and wants them to succeed in life, and indeed, his class.

Aloha, Mr. Hand!

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 51 ~ The Rock

Well, we know that the list was already perfected by the appearance of Nicolas Cage.

So apparently, it is now two times as perfect as it could have been, because Cage strikes again!

However, this movie lands on the countdown on the strength of Sean Connery's performance.

The 90s basically saw Connery wind down his acting career, but he went out with a bang, giving us The Rock and Entrapment (and Finding Forrester) before hanging up his accent.

I debated over which movie would make it, and in the end, the over-the-top action of The Rock beat out Catherine Zeta-Jones sliding under lasers...but only barely. : )

The addition of the always stellar Ed Harris as a misguided Marine also helped  push this movie onto the list with the pure starpower (and firepower!) from the assembled actors.

For those that haven't enjoyed this Michael Bay action-fest, the story in a nutshell:

Some Marines take over Alcatraz and threaten to launch the ever-deadly V-X rockets onto the Bay Area.  Naturally, the government doesn't think that's a very good idea,  so they send in one of their best agents (Cage) along with a former British Spy (Connery) who was the only man to successfully escape from...

The Rock!

Mayhem ensues.

Glorious mayhem!

As only Michael Bay can deliver.

And yes, you can mark me as a Michael Bay fan.

His first three movies (Bad Boys, The Rock and Armageddon) are all movies that hold up to repeated viewings, and Bad Boys made the original list, and then found itself bumped at the last second.  Armageddon was not in the running, because I can never fully get behind a movie that kills Bruce Willis.

Now if only Bay would stop directing movies about Autobots... unless they are voiced by Sean Connery!

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 52 ~ Young Frankenstein

It would be hard to argue that Young Frankenstein is Mel Brooks' finest film.  While not as side-splitting as Blazing Saddles, this has enough laugh out loud gags and more subtle and visual humor to impress the audiences that have enjoyed it for the last few decades.

I would have to say that much of the credit needs to go to Gene Wilder, in both instances, for grounding the manic, throw it at the wall and see what sticks that Mel Brooks would become with his later films.

However, Young Frankenstein plays as a love letter/homage and direct spoof to the early 30s monster movies from Universal, yes, Frankenstein in particular.

Using much of the same props from the original film and shooting in glorious black and white, Brooks has created a timeless movie that is still as fresh and funny today as it was in 1974.

With Gene Wilder in the title role of the man who is desperately trying to escape his family name and crazed history... he slowly succumbs to the madness thanks to the help of his assistant Igor and the fact that...

It just might work!

I'll assume you read the previous paragraph with the appropriate introductory pronunciations of the character names. : )

If not, you now have.

And naturally, if you've never seen this film, it is just one of a half million gags that you have to see to enjoy.

If I had to recommend only one film to show people who ask "What was Mel Brooks best movie?" this would be the obvious choice.

Even Frau Blucher would agree.

:: in the dark, horses whinny! ::

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 53 ~ Mr. Destiny

So yesterday, we took our first foray on the list with a time travel movie.

Today, it's like time-travel, but different.  It's the "What if?" movie.

Now, as a big fan of What If? tales (have a whole bunch of Marvel comics somewhere as proof), I enjoy them when they come to the screen and they do a great job with the concept.

These types of movies are like an alternate version of "It's a Wonderful Life".  The really good "The Family Man" was a perfect counter to that movie (and just missed this list) where the hero doesn't see what life was like if he had never been born.

Instead, you get treated to what life would have been like if you had made another choice, or done that special something.

In this case, it all revolves around a baseball game.

What the heck?  I thought I was done with baseball, and yet there it is again!!

I wonder if I can get a research grant to study the psychological effects of good movies with baseball involved?  Ka-Ching!

But anyway...

Larry Burrows (James Belushi) is an unhappy guy who is just getting by.  His wife (Linda Hamilton) and best friend (Jon Lovitz for the win!) are great... but his life is seemingly blah.

If only he had hit that ball when he was younger.  Then the girls would have liked him.  His best friend wouldn't be a nerd...he'd be married to the boss's daughter (Rene Russo).

Cue the magical bartender (Michael Caine) who makes his dreams come true.

The next thing you know, the whole world, or at least, all of Larry's world has changed...except he only remembers what he used to have.

And maybe...just maybe...that wasn't such a bad thing after all.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 54 ~ Frequency

Time travel.

You've gotta love it.

Well, I suppose you don't have to, but you should. 

It took a while, but finally a time travel movie hits the countdown.

Or did it actually hit some time ago, and you're just now catching up to it.

BAM!

Mind-blown!

That's how time travel works.

: )

And this one is a doozy.

I hate to spoil it, as probably many people have not seen this one.  But involves a boy, a ham radio, and a murder mystery.




Heck, there's even some baseball thrown in for good measure....

For me, this movie was a revelation to the man who would be Jesus, James Caviezel.  Looking at his credits, I may have seen him as a bit part in one other movie (G.I. Jane), but here, he's the star, and he does a great job.  Been a fan ever since.

Dennis Quaid is solid as always playing the Dad who wants to be there for his boy.

If you've never seen this one, I highly encourage you to give it a try.  You just might like it.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 55 ~ Sneakers

I think I made it clear early on, that I'm a big fan of caper movies.  This list could easily replace Star Wars, and have a tie at the end with movies like the Italian Job or Fast & Furious that didn't make the cut.

What was I thinking?

But anyway, the caper film.  Love 'em!  I could watch them all day, which is why they keep coming back up on the countdown, whether they made it or not.

Sneakers made it.

An all-star cast is often the sign of a bloated movie that fails, but this is one of those exceptions that proves sometimes magic can happen when you stir in a whole lot of familiar faces and give them a great script.

And this one has greatness in spades!

Robert Redford leads the cast as Martin Bishop, a man who specializes in cracking uncrackable codes.  His team of questionable partners helps businesses/banks shore up their vulnerabilities.

Then one day the government comes calling, and reminding Mr. Bishop that he has a past that he hasn't quite escaped from.  If he's willing to do one little job...

They can make his problems all go away.

And thus begins the very start of all of his problems!

Helping Bishop are an ex-Fed (Sidney Poitier), a conspiracy theorist (Dan Aykroyd) a kid (River Phoenix) and a blind man (David Strathairn).

I won't lie, I think Whistler is my favorite, which explains why he gets  pictured and the Facebook quote while Redford takes a backseat.

: )

Hopefully this a gem that someone hasn't seen yet, and you'll get a kick out of watching it.  Or perhaps I've reminded you of the film, and you'll go dust off a copy and have a good time.

No More Secrets!

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 56 ~ Maverick

Saddle up, and ride back to the Old West...

As seen by a big screen remake of a popular television series!

Generally, by nature, these remakes are frowned upon by movie fans as proving that Hollywood is bankrupt of ideas.  However, when done correctly, they can be quite enjoyable.  One remake that just missed the list, The Brady Bunch movie, took everything that was great about the show, and simply transported them into the modern world.  The world was meaner, but the Brady's were very much, the Brady's.  It was hilarious and fun.

So too, was Maverick.  The essence of the television character was brought forth to the silver screen, with a different actor taking the role.  Thankfully, this wasn't a Legend of the Lone Ranger fiasco.

Richard Donner, arguably my favorite director of all time, hits the countdown once again.  He brings with him an old favorite, Mel Gibson, in the title role of Bret Maverick.

Maverick of course was made famous by James Garner on television back in the "Good Ol' Days" of glorious black and white television.

In an unprecedented move with remakes, where the original star(s) gets a brief cameo or maybe a speaking line, Donner goes out and brings in James Garner to play Marshall Zane Cooper in a fun, meaty role.

Rounding out the the main cast is Jodie Foster as the potential love interest/thieving gambler and Jame Coburn as the Commodore, who schedules the riverboat gambling cruise that is the central point of the whole movie.

The movie, is just plain fun.  It never takes itself too seriously, but never makes fun of the Maverick franchise.

Now, as for the elephant in the room that I've danced around the entire time...

Mel Gibson.

What he said or did one drunken night will not taint the performances he has provided to me as an audience over the years.

Am I disappointed?  Sure.

I'll hope it was more of an accident/one-time thing than try to believe something darker and more sinister about him.

Besides, if I disliked actors/directors/musicians based on politics/religion/bad habits...


The world would quickly become VERY boring.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 57 ~ Back to School

Rodney Dangerfield made a career out of getting "No Respect", but he finds plenty on this countdown, landing on it with a great 80s classic:  Back to School.

The story:

Thornton Melon is a successful businessman who runs a chain of Tall & Fat stores.  However, his latest marriage has hit the skids, and his son has started college, but isn't doing so great after all.

Thornton's solution?  Go back to school, and get that education that he never finished, and get to be around his son a little more.

And naturally, fill a script with as much of Dangefield's charm and one-liners as possible.

The movie succeeds.

And not just as a Rodney Dangerfield stand-up routine.  The rest of the cast is fairly fleshed out and they have repercussions for Thornton.

While Thornton's money gets him into college, it will take some brains to be able to stay there.

I would guess that looking at his filmography, this is the movie that helped begin Robert Downey Jr.'s rise to stardom.  He had a few other bit parts before this, plus a year on Saturday Night Live.

But this film opened him up to a larger role on the silver screen, and he stole the spotlight as often as he could playing the role of "best friend".

Which would explain why he will be back on the countdown again, and Keith Gordon won't be.

Who's Keith Gordon? you ask.

Exactly!

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 58 ~ Speed

It's Die Hard...on a bus!

Convince me that wasn't the pitch for this movie, and I'll take it off the list.

Until then, welcome to today's installment, Speed.

The premise is quite simple.  There's a bomb on a bus.  If the bus drops below a certain speed...

Kaboom!

Keanu Reeves plays the cop who's going to save the day.  Meanwhile, his partner, Jeff Daniels, is frantically trying to stop the madman who is attempting to kill them.

The madman in question?  Dennis Hopper. 

The movie pretty much grabs you and doesn't let go.  It's one action scene after another, with just enough quiet time to let you get your breath back before the next spectacular stunt.

It was a great directorial debut for Jan de Bont, who followed it up with Twister...and then his career has relatively flatlined.

However, it did make a star out of Sandra Bullock, who is spunky and adorable, and has been a star ever since.

It's an entertaining thrill-ride that seems impossible and implausible all at the same time. 

Plus, you get your proof that Keanu isn't as dumb as he seems as an actor.

After all, he was the one that DIDN'T come back to do Speed 2.

: )

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 59 ~ Field of Dreams

There's no crying in baseball.

However, when you watch a really good baseball movie, it's quite possible that it will happen.

At least once.

Which leads us to today's movie, Field of Dreams.

The last, and finest, of the baseball movies on the countdown, Kevin Costner shines as Ray Kinsella, a man who is told "if you build it, they will come", yet has no earthly idea what it is, or who is coming.

A struggling Iowa corn-farmer, Ray naturally plows half of his crop under and builds a baseball diamond on his property.  The crazy voices continue to guide Ray literally across America as he finds a voice from the past, and a doctor who has passed away.

Sure, it sounds crazy on paper, but man, it sure works on the silver screen.

Pick your meaning behind the film.  There are several that could be found, and all of them have merit in discussions of what makes this film tick.

I'll stick with the performances.  This is Costner's finest that I have seen.  For the record, Silverado and Tin Cup round out his top 3.  He is pitch perfect as a beleaguered farmer who has no idea why the voices are talking to him, and even when he gives in, he still wonders, why him, and what does it all mean?

James Earl Jones brings weight and humor to his role as that voice from the 60s who gave a generation advice, then disappeared. 

The icing on the cake for me though, is the story of Doc Graham.  This is one of the two Kleenex moments in the film.  Burt Lancaster plays the Doc, a man who never got a chance to make it in the Big Leagues, but what a difference he made in the lives of everyone he met after he became a doctor.  Doc is given a chance to relive the game, but then fate steps in and Doc has to make a choice.

Yeah, it gets me every time.

It also irritates me that the parents couldn't figure out what to do, and save me some tears!

The final scene you need Kleenex for?

That would be the "wanna play catch" scene. 

What kid wouldn't want the chance to spend some time with their dad, just one more time?

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 60 ~ Singin' in the Rain

Today, the final musical that hits the countdown, Singin' in the Rain. 

The tale of the transition from silent films to talkies, what happens when the screens most dynamic duo faces an uncertain future because the female lead happens to sound like nails on a chalkboard?

Naturally, you overdub her lines with someone who can talk and sing.

Trouble ensues when the leading man, Gene Kelly, falls for the new voice on the set, Debbie Reynolds, but the actress he's been working with over the years feels that he belongs to her.

Aaaand....action!

So yes, there is a plot that holds together several of the best choreographed song and dance numbers to ever be filmed.   Donald O' Conner's sidesplitting "Make 'Em Laugh", all three  performing "Good Morning".

Plus the outstanding title track of the movie.

My only complaint would be the overlong ballet in the film, and simply because it just sorta drags with the length of the scene...

But it's simply a minor quibble.

Otherwise, buckle up and enjoy the show.  If this musical doesn't get you smiling and tapping along...

See a doctor: You're tone deaf!

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 61 ~ Con Air

Everyone has a favorite Nicolas Cage role.
Don't lie, you know you do.

And no list of 100 Greatest Movies can truly be complete without an appearance by Nicolas Cage.  Amazingly, this will not be Mr. Cage's only appearance on the countdown.







You've been warned!

Today, I proudly present you with Nicolas Cage's greatest movie:  Con Air!

I can feel the eyes rolling from here, but this movie is all kinds of awesome, wrapped in greatness, and deep-fried in outstanding.

It probably shouldn't be, but it is.

It's Die Hard...on a plane!  Mostly.

It's Nicolas Cage, with his best Elvis Impression since Honeymoon in Vegas as a convicted Army Ranger (in one of the most bogus travesties of justice ever committed on screen...) who finally gets out of jail and simply wants to go home and see his wife, and the little girl who was born while he was in prison.

Naturally, the most effective way to get our hero home: 

Fly on a planeload of felons being transferred to another prison facility.

What could possibly go wrong?

Everything.

And then some!

Your gang of villains is headed up by the always enjoyable John Malkovich.  He chews the scenery as usual, and that is a good thing.  Ving Rhames provides the muscle.  Then you bring in the always effective, uber-creepy Steve Buscemi...

Who steals the whole movie right out from under everyone.

Then you have your cop on the ground (see, I told you, Die Hard on a Plane!) where John Cusack (!!) attempts to stop that plane... by himself.

That's right, John Cusack went action star on you, right before your eyes.

The DVD should come with a side order of bacon and s'mores, that's how awesome it is.

I can't begin to tell you the number of times I've watched this one.  But it's a lot.

And I've loved every viewing of it.

Simon West should have stopped directing after this, his first feature.  We'll see how he does at the helm of Expendables 2.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 62 ~ Men in Black

Welcome to today's installment.  It was actually posted yesterday, but we used our "flashy thingy" to make you forget all about it.

And we're off...

Welcome to a Comic Book Movie that you didn't realize was based on a comic book.  At least some of you didn't.

You're welcome.

Who says those "kids books" don't make for some entertaining flicks?

Anyway, this is a really fun film that still holds up today.  The sequel was okay... not quite great, but it wasn't a waste of time.  I'm looking forward to the third one.

We could discuss all day how awesome Will Smith is playing Will Smith, but to me, the real revelation in this movie is Tommy Lee Jones as Kay.  Up to this point, aside from his turn to crazy in Under Siege (See # 78), he was a dramatic actor.

Here, he played the perfect straight man, which was somewhere just this side of Leslie Nielsen in Airplane of the Naked Gun movies.  His delivery and pacing throughout are simply magical.  He buys into the part so much, you get swept up along for the ride, much like Jay.

As for the director, Barry Sonnenfeld will be back on this list one more time, with my favorite movie that he's worked on.

Better than Men In Black?

It must be Wild Wild West.

Not quite, but we'll get back to Sonnefeld later.

Now, if you could just look directly at this light...



>>   FLASH  <<

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 63 ~ The Sandlot

Baseball returns to the list.

But really, it's another coming of age story, like Grease, that proves that living "back then" was actually pretty cool.

And even though I didn't live back then, I still enjoyed my fair share of Sandlot-esque adventures.  The kind of things I would never let my kids do today. 

Walk a few miles from home to a cemetary...sure thing...  Yeah, stuff like that.

The story itself is pretty simple.  A new kid in a small town who meets the neighbors.  They all play baseball, but this kid just can't seem to do it.  Most want him gone, because he simply doesn't get it.  But the star of the team, Benny, gives the kid a chance and helps him come along.

The movie tells the tale of an important summer in their lives, the likes of which shoves everything that could possibly happen in a magical summer, and rolls it into one crazy adventure after another.

It's really a great movie.  While marketed for kids, it's a film that the whole family can enjoy together.  Seems like a lot of those made this list.  : )

Even if you don't like baseball, give this one a whirl.  It's simply a catalyst for many of the adventures that the group will share.  It's a fun ride, I think you'll enjoy it.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 64 ~ His Girl Friday

For those that complained that apparently only good movies were made during my lifetime...

Well, you're half right.

The majority of the movies that are on this list are indeed released during my lifetime.  Can't help that, it's what I've seen, it's what I've enjoyed.

That said, I have seen plenty of movies released before I was...some even so old.... they are in black and white!

The horror!

Today marks the first entry on that list:  His Girl Friday.

It's the perfect example of a 30s/40s screwball romantic comedy.

In this one, ex-husband who is an editor realizes his best reporter, and ex-wife, is about to be married to someone else.  That simply won't do, because he still cares for her very much, and if only there was some way to keep her from getting married, perhaps the old sparks could rekindle...

And you get the idea.

Naturally, you need the consummate gentleman actor to play the lead, so cue Cary Grant.  One of the best actors of any generation, Cary Grant oozes suave awesomeness on the screen.  If any man can be half the gentleman that Grant portrayed onscreen, your romantic problems are pretty much over.

He is matched for intensity, and in many scenes, line for line with Rosalind Russell as his ex.  She can play reporter like nobody's business, and they both know it.

Thankfully, a top story keeps the two intertwined for a bit longer than she would prefer while she covers the story.

I don't think in this age of blogs and internet news that this story could be remade in modern times.  But for a paper, it's perfect.

The rapid-fire dialogue is a staple of the screwball comedies of the day.  I appreciated this first through the dialogue in "Moonlighting" and then discovered they didn't invent it when I began my trek down memory lane, Hollywood style.

If you're never seen it, give it a whirl.  You might just like it!

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 65 ~ Ghostbusters

Who you gonna call?

Ghostbusters!

The all Ivan Reitman weekend concludes with arguably his best movie, Ghostbusters.

Once again, Harold Ramis is behind the scenes as one of the writers on this project, and he teams onscreen with Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd as the unlikely trio of paranormal investigators, Dr. Venkman, Stantz and Spengler.

Of course, it's hard to be taken seriously as ghost hunters if there are no ghosts, but luckily for these guys, New York is suddenly swimming in them.

Cue the addition of Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis to lend their talents to the movie.  Suddenly, it's not just some random ghosts that the boys are trying to catch, but they need to stop a full-fledged invasion from beyond!

Will they succeed?  Probably...since there was a Ghostbusters II...

However, better than that was the cartoon.  It was pretty awesome. : )

This movie is just plain fun from start to finish.  It's a great one to break the kids on to start showing them "scary movies".  They call them "baby steps" for a reason.  Gotta start small!

I have to admit, I am curious to see what they will end up doing with the rumored 3rd installment of the franchise.  The Next Generation?  Hmmm.  If they get the right cast, it can probably work.  But going off the original, you've got to have a great story and quality cast, otherwise...

Meh.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 66 ~ Evolution

Ivan Reitman and Orlando Jones return to the countdown.  The movie: Evolution.

It's the story of a meteor that crashes on Earth, and the organisms from said meteor begin to evolve into mutated forms of life.  Each more horrific than the last.  At the rate of their change, it's only a matter of time before they take over the world!

The only thing that can stop them?

2 Community College professors.

And Stifler.

Suddenly, I fear for our chances of survival!

Spreading his comedic wings, David Duchovney leads the cast.  He's the straight man, with a sense of humor.  His partner, Orlando Jones, provides much of the humor, especially when the duo don containment suits later.

"Ira.  IRAAAAA"

I crack up everytime, and often I will break into an Ira chant around the house.

Yep, I'm weird that way.

Rounding out the cast, Julianne Moore gets to play the adversary and potential love interest for Dr. Kane.  Did I mention Stifler?  Seann William Scott lends a hand as a volunteer firefighter in training who helps the boys attempt to save the day.

Finally, some mention should be made for Ivan Reitman who has now hit the list 3 times.  Not bad for only directing 19 films in his career, though he has had a hand in producing many, many more titles.

He'll be back for one more visit, his most celebrated film is actually scheduled for this same slot, tomorrow.

Until then, "Ka Ka, Ka Ka... Tuuki Tuuki".

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 67 ~ Grosse Pointe Blank

Did you ever wonder what happened to that one kid in school?

Well, apparently he grew up to be a successful hitman!

So runs the story of Martin Blank who gets an invitation to return to his high school to celebrate their 10th year reunion.  He has no desire to go, but his assistant insists he attends the reunion.

Hold on a second.

Hitman?

I don't remember the guidance counselors EVER making that an option.

I wish I'd gone to Blank's high school.

Anyway, two worlds collide as he accepts a job, attends the reunion and watches as both stories weave into one another, with likely disastrous consequences.

You thought your reunions sucked?  Imagine having trained killers trying to take you out while you're pretending to enjoy the evening!

If all of that wasn't enough, Martin naturally meets up with the "one that got away".  Can the two rekindle an old flame.  And is she accepting of the fact that he kills people for a living?

So who can pull off this role?  John Cusack.  Yeah, not exactly the first person you think to lead a romantic comedy action flick.  But he nails it, like he does with almost every role he takes on.

Cusack will be on this list quite a bit, and sadly, there were several movies I wanted to include, but they just didn't make the cut.  I kick myself for including Star Wars, now more than ever. 

Cusack = Underrated.
Cusack = Gold.

Yes, he's had a few missteps, but for the most part, if he acts in it, I will be there!

His sister plays the assistant.  She too is hilarious.

As for the "sequel" War Inc., yeah, it just didn't have the magic that was captured here.  Maybe if they had let it be a sequel...but alas.

I am howerver, hoping to see what happens at the 20th Reunion!

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 68 ~ Beauty and the Beast

That scene?

It gets me every time!

Oh come on, you didn't think that animated features would be left off this list, did you?

Not from this reviewer.

And the first to hit the list (but it won't be the last, I assure you) is one of the jewels that restored the luster to the Walt Disney Company.  Beauty & the Beast takes the classic fairy tale and works the Disney magic to make this version, THE version.

Gorgeous animation? Check!

Memorable songs? Check!

Disney princess? Check!

Cute & Funny Sidekicks? Check!

Of course Disney works around the cute animal schtick this go-round, and instead turns in the cute sidekicks in the form of enchanted household items that work at Beast's mansion.

When you take Cogsworth and Lumiere and give them the voices of David Ogden Stiers and Jerry Orbach, well, I could watch those two in an entire movie by themselves, and I would have been happy.

But no, Disney wisely invested the audience in a love story that unfolds before your eyes.  You KNOW what is going to happen, and yet by the time Angela Lansbury begins singing the title song in the scene pictured above...

Yep, Disney gotcha again!

Heck, the only flaw the movie really has is at the end.  The Prince has a big honking nose.

He actually looked better as the Beast.

Ah well, what can you do?  You can't change the source material....

: /

100 Greatest Movies of All Times...That I Own. # 69 ~ Tortilla Soup

Today's offering, Tortilla Soup.  Apparently it's a remake of Eat Drink Man Woman.  Eh...whatever, never saw that one.

I have seen this one, many times, and I quite enjoy it.

In this update, we have the tale of a Mexican-American chef who has lost the ability to taste.  Kinda sucky for his job, but he makes do, and he makes some fabulous looking meals in this film.  Along the way, we meet his three adult daughters who are all at varying stages of a crossroads in their life.

Hector Elizondo plays the patriarch of the family with style and humor.  If you've seen him in any roles, you know he's good at what he does.  It is his love for his family that anchors this movie from being absurd or focusing on how spoiled the girls may or may not be.  He wants what is best for them, but he may not seemingly show that love to his girls.  Sounds like a common problem with many families.

One by one, the girls begin to branch out and explore life out from under Martin's roof.  For good or ill, these announcements all seem to center around the dinner table. 

As each of the daughter's paths is interspersed throughout the film, there is a growing concern about what life will be for their father when they are all gone from the household.  How will Martin react to losing all of his girls...

And what is this paperwork that has to do with his health?

Surprises and big changes abound throughout the entire movie.