Brilliant classic romance about a saloonkeeper (Humphrey Bogart, the genius) who is in love with the wife (Ingrid Bergman) of a World War II underground hero (Paul Henried). They are all trapped in not-so-scenic Casablanca in French Morocco, along with hundreds of refugees who will kill (literally) for exit papers that will get them to America, away from the war. Brilliant, brilliant, BRILLIANT!!!!!! Everything is so PERFECT: the story, the dialogue, the acting, the use of shadows in the filming, EVERYTHING!!!! Bring a box of tissues and high expectations.
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - 2003
Elegant and moving conclusion of the recent three-part epic. Frodo (Elijah Wood) edges closer to the evil land of Mordor while symbolic tension mounts between himself, hobbit-friend Sam (Sean Astin) and their guide, Gollum (voiced by Andy Serkis, and amazingly animated by... someone else). Frodo must destroy the One Ring, the embodiment of all evil and power, in the volcano Mount Doom in Mordor (just in case you haven't seen the other LotR movies, but you'll probably want to see them before seeing this one). Meanwhile, *dramatic chord* the rest of Middle-Earth is on the brink of special-effects-stuffed war with Mordor. Uneasy alliances, undead armies, and heirs of legendary kings all come into play. WOW!! Dude, I laughed, I cried, I nearly spilled Sprite all over my new pants. I haven't read this book yet (Yes, it's true. Shun me from your fanclubs, it's true!), but this is one of my favorite movies of ALL TIME!! It's the obvious best of the trilogy in every aspect. The depth of the series really shows in this one, and the adaptation felt very complete from an outsider's point of view. The only flaw: orlando bloom.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - 2004
Refreshingly dark third installment of the immensely popular fantasy series. Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) has finally hit puberty - I mean, hit rock bottom with the Dursleys and his past, and is more angsty in this one than in the other two. Two words: crying scene. He, once again, trots off to Hogwarts with his now-adolescent friends, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson). Only this time, *tense John Williams dramatic chord* Sirius Black (Gary Oldman's quality, unfortunately not quantity role) has escaped from the dreaded Alcatraz - I mean, Azkaban prison, and is hunting down Harry. Prisoner of Azkaban is a much more spectral and tenebrous episode in the series, most likely attributable to the new director, Alfonso Cuaron. (Aside: Cuaron's last movie, Y Tu Mama Tambien, was... um....inappropriate for audiences who have not had certain health classes. There's a little joke going around that the first time we see Harry in this movie, he's using his wand under the bedsheets.) The three young actors, still, are just doing variations on their respective trademark expressions, but they're getting better (and cuter). The adult roles carried over from the other films have been considerably downsized, but not too blatantly. The whole movie is much more serious and dark. John William's (genius!) musical score is darker, too. Don't worry, that's not a bad thing at all. Even though Prisoner of Azkaban was a lot better than the other two, I went with someone who hadn't read the books, and she said it was hard to follow watching it cold. I wouldn't know, I've read the third book so many times! Overall, a good comfortable entertaining movie, complete with fangirl squeals. (example: SQUEEE!!! Omigosh, it's HIM!! *drool* He's SO cute...*faint* *land in popcorn*)
Top Gun - 1986 (by Laura, edited by me)
1980s classic about a fiesty, hot, independent-thinker Navy-pilot-in-training Peter Mitchell, nicknamed Maverick (Tom Cruise) and his friend, fellow Navy pilot Goose (Anthony Edwards) who get accepted into the top training school for Navy pilots. There, Maverick encounters many external and internal obstacles, including a tragic personal loss in his life. He also gets a little too close to one of his instructors, Charlotte Blackwood (Kelly McGillis). This movie has some powerful music to it, man.
Favorite moment - Remember in the 1980s, guys all wore really tight jeans? At one point, Maverick, Goose, and fellow classmates Iceman and Hollywood are playing volleyball. Think about it. In the sand, in the tight jeans, with huge muscles and super hotness. Awesome! One of my favorite lines- Viper, one of the instructors, is giving his students a pep talk before they go into real combat for the first time. Maverick has suffered a lot, and feels very lost and alone. Viper says to Maverick, "And Maverick'll get his back [military term for pilot who flies in the back of the plane] once he gets over there. And if you don't, kid, give me a call. I'll fly with you."
This movie is awesome, I highly recommend it. Even if you're not into the military, this movie will catch you, and I warn you, you will watch it at least once a week.
IF YOU DON'T SEE THIS MOVIE, YOU WILL BE HUNTED DOWN BY ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU MUST SEE THIS MOVIE!!!!!! REMEMBER: YOU CAN RUN, BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
