My Favourite Movies of the Last 10 (or so) Years

(This list is strictly based on my personal taste. It's not a professional or critical look at the movies. It's more on what appeal to me and my senses.)

2001: A.I.: Artificial Intelligence

Like James Cameron's Titanic or Spielberg's Schindler's List, Spielberg's thought-provoking film about an intelligent robot-child's quest to become a "real" boy is unprecedented in cinematic style and hence unlike any movie I ever saw before. The chills and the effect the film had in reaching down to the very depths of my emotional being is testimony to the unique pole that this film deserves to stand on. Whatever controversies the film stirred, it is the juxtaposition of optimism and pessimism, and of hope and doom, and the engaging pace and unexpected twists in the plot that bring about this unique effect on me.

 

2000: ?

 

1999: Notting Hill | The Matrix | The Iron Giant (It's a tie!)

Notting Hill: Hilarious dialgoue. A much subdued Julia Roberts. A likeable Hugh Grant. Based on a funny but realistic story, the movie is structured in all ways that the end product is a really feel-good love story. The cast, the dialogue, the score, and masterful movie-making make this a smooth, flowing, really romantic comedy.

The Matrix: Revolutionary epic science fiction fantasy. Revolutionary visual effects. Although Keanu Reeves cannot act, once again he shows that he just being there in an action movie is enough! Great cast, cinematography, sound effects, concept, and film editing results in a masterfully crafted science fiction movie unlike I've ever seen before. Something really unique and outstanding. Directed by the Wachoski brothers. Cast: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie Anne-Moss.

The Iron Giant: Based on Ted Hughes' book The Iron Man, The Iron Giant is the unusual story of an alien steel-eating giant robot who literally has no business being on earth and thus has no place in the hearts of the planet's inhabitants, except for a small town boy who discovers him, with whom he develops an unlikely yet devoted friendship. Funny, sad and touching at times, with extraordinary fine animation, this is one of the best -- if not the best -- animated films I have ever seen. The movie tragically underscores one of the greatest human truths -- that we seek to destroy that which we do not understand and in the process unwittingly destroys the humanity that is inside us.

 

1998: The Thin Red Line

The film tries to show us how soldiers from all walks of life are affected psychologically during longs periods of war. Great cinematography, heart-stopping action, and booming sound effects makes this film a really cinematic experience. But what's much better is director Terence Malick's devotion to re-creating the atmosphere and a deliberate slow pace to really involve us and make us come close to what the soldiers are really feeling during those long horrifying war years. Cast: Jim Caviezel, Nick Nolte, Sean Penn, John Travolta, George Clooney, Woody Harrelson.

 

1997: Titanic

In a less cynical world, James Cameron's romantic epic would need no defences, yet its extraordinary popularity doomed it to underrated status. A rare and unique cinematic experience, Titanic remains a haunting spectacle of young love, the kind we all dream about but seldom get in life, made timeless by technological doom. Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Gloria Stuart, Billy Zane, Bill Paxton, Suzy Amis. Score: James Horner. Cinematography: Russell Carpenter. Written and directed by James Cameron.

 

1996: The English Patient | Mission: Impossible | White Squall (It's a tie!)

The English Patient: "The heart knows no boundaries. In memory, love lives forever." Tragic, but true. A theme I have always been obsessed with for my whole life. Words cannot describe the sorrowful rendition of this haunting theme in one of the best love stories ever told on the big screen. Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Kristin Scott Thomas, Willem Dafoe, Naveen Andrews. Director: Anthony Minghella

Mission Impossible: Brian de Palma who directed that masterfully crafted movie The Untouchables does it again here. The cast, the cinematography, the score and above all how the complex plot unravels with the film's pace all combine for another masterpiece of movie-making. If only action films were this good. Cast: Tom Cruise, Emanuelle Beart, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jean Reno, Ving Rhames, Jon Voight

White Squall: Maybe it is because I come from a sea-faring nation, this movie really identifies with my soul and character--and my obsession with that concept of man's relations with nature. Director Ridley Scott's obsession with landscapes--I am happy it's the sea this time--combined with a cast of young guys like us, haunting score, heart-stopping climax, based on a true tragic story, touched a chord deep in my heart. Cast: Jeff Bridges, Scott Wolf, Ryan Philippe, Balthazaar Getty.

 

1995: While You Were Sleeping

A sweet, romantic and feel-good movie where once again everything has the right combination. Sandra Bullock is sensational. Music is touching. Locations really homely. And great cast, especially Peter Gallagher and Bill Pullman's family members.

 

1994: Speed

Speed brings out the true meaning of what we term action movies. From start to finish, it's action, action, action. This is the only movie that kept me on the edge of my seat, that kept me in suspense for the full duration of the movie! Surprisingly, it was the only movie where I was really concerned about how it will end! Speed is truly the action movie of all time! And it's another of those masterfully crafted movies where everything--cinematography, score and editing--is just right. Cast: Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock. Director: Jan de Bont

 

1993: The Piano | Jurassic Park (It's a tie!)

The Piano: Haunting, tragic story about a strong, spirited woman who will get what she wants no matter how disadvantaged she is, no matter how hopeless it is. Oscar-winner Holly Hunter has acted in this one movie more with her eyes than any other actress has ever acted with their whole body in their whole career. My best female acting of all time. Breathtaking cinematography, haunting score, slick editing and superb direction by Jane Campion makes this a masterpiece of all time. Cast: Sam Neil, Holly Hunter, Harvey Keital, Anna Paquin.

Jurassic Park: Another artfully crafted movie where every ingredient is the right mix. Cinematography, cast (Sam Neil, Richard Attenborough, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum), their interaction, suspense, action, score, film editing and direction all combine to make a superb and thoroughly entertaining movie by Steven Spielberg.

 

1992: The Last of the Mohicans

Masterfully crafted, edited, with attention to landscapes, Oscar-winning sound, slick film editing and great direction by Michael Mann makes this another cinematic masterpiece. Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe. Music: Randy Edelman

 

1991: Beauty and the Beast

The animation, especially the characters are superb and involving. The art direction is visually stunning especially that ballroom. But it is great direction, film editing, the score that brings out the scenes and the characters' interaction that makes this animated movie a bittersweet masterpiece of a movie.

 

1990: ?

 

1989: The Little Mermaid

The animation may be poor compared to what we see today but great characters, their interaction, songs, music, and the way the story unrevelled really delivered and lived up to our childhood expections of what we want to see in a fantasy like The Little Mermaid. A sad, touching yet lively manifestation of the Hans Christian Anderson story--with a twist, and consequently a happy ending.

 

 

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