***Great Movie, Acting, Direction And Music***
"There were three men in her life. One to take her... one to love her... and one to kill her."
"You don’t understand, Jill. People like that have something inside… something to do with death."
There are four stand-out performances from Charles Bronson, Henry
Fonda, Claudia Cardinale and Jason Robards. Bronson plays Harmonica the
mysterious stranger, Fonda brilliantly cast against type is the
cold-eyed killer, Cardinale is the stunningly beautiful woman in the center of the narrative and Robards is the grizzled outlaw. Together,
they are terrific. And Leone moves them around the widescreen frame
quite beautifully. Morricone's score once again is quite outstanding.
The haunting harmonica theme is a particular standout; only Morricone
could make a harmonica sound so sweeping, evocative and mystical.
"Once Upon A Time In The West" is truly epic film-making of the very best
kind. It's a western of intense emotions and brilliant acting; of
peerless photography and ground-breaking music. It illustrates
perfectly how to use cinematic space and how to pace events within it.
It refashioned the western and brought the highest cinematic artistry
to Monument Valley. It goes without saying that it is a masterpiece.
4. Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
***A Brilliantly Crafted Entertainment With A Superb Casting***
"You want to talk to God? Let's go see him together. I've got nothing better to do."
"What a fitting end to your life's pursuits.
You're about to become a permanent addition to this archeological find.
Who knows, in a thousand years even you may be worth something."
Harrison Ford stars as Indiana Jones, an archaeologist adventurer, who spends
his time traveling all over the world through jungles, deserts, oceans,
and caverns in search for hidden treasures—like the priceless long-lost
Ark of the Covenant (the Hebrew sacred artifact that held the supposed
Ten Commandments). Unfortunately, a group of treasure-hungry Nazis
wants it too, having heard that any army who wins it would receive
supernatural powers.
With his trademark hat, whip, leather jacket, and pistol for backup,
our stubborn, intelligent, determined and loyal hero escapes
innumerable dangers, evades multiple obstacles including fearsome thugs
in a busy Cairo bazaar, and hangs underneath a fast-moving truck in an
exciting chase through a road. These are only some of the film's
incredible set pieces. Steven Spielberg likable hero is not invincible,
though, facing impossible odds, capable of getting beaten, struck
violently, heart broken, and falling asleep after the first kiss
"Raiders of the Lost Arc" is a perfect package of unforgettable scenes,
countless action, humor, astonishing technical effects, thrilling
sequences, and terrific performances.
5. North By Northwest (1959)
***A Top-Notch Suspense/Adventure film Ever***
"A 2000 MILE CHASE . . . That blazes a trail of TERROR to a gripping, spine-chilling climax !"
"Leonard: You're not taking her on the plane with you?
Phillip Vandamm: Of course I am. Like our friends, I too believe in neatness, Leonard. This matter is best disposed of from a great height, over water."
It's Hitch's most briskly entertaining movie, and one of his most comic,
adventure-caper type movies, largely thanks to the persona of Cary Grant.
But its also one of his most suspenseful - in the fact that Grant is being recognized as someone else, and that he may be put in jail for someone Else's crime. I must give special mention to Ernest Lehman who yet again managed to write
a screenplay that totally knocks your socks off. How he came up with the
idea, I've not a clue, but what an idea it is.
Over 50 years on this film has barely dated. Hearing the music is enough
to
make me want to see it again, while the direction, set pieces, dialogue
and
performances are all pitch perfect. A wonderful thriller for young and
old
- no sex, no swearing, all thrills.
6. Back To The Future (1985)
***An Brilliant Time-Traveling Classic Adventure***
"Meet Marty McFly. He's broken the time barrier. Busted his parents'
first date. And, maybe, botched his chances of ever being born."
"He was never in time for his classes... He wasn't in time for his dinner... Then one day... he wasn't in his time at all."
"Roads ... where we're going, we don't need roads."
"What happens to us in the future? Do we become a&*holes or something?"
This is the best movie ever in all of the time-travel stories.These
back to the future films are my favorite films,i have watched them at
least 10 times and i still enjoy them very much especially for the
first one. Great story, remarkable screen shots and great performance
of Christopher Lloyd and of course Micheal J.Fox.
"Back to the Future" to this day is still a timeless treasure that I
notice more and more is becoming part of a newer generation. Michael J.
Fox should be proud, his work will be remembered for a long time. Back
to the Future worked so well because of the great story and the humor
was great, the whole cast worked together and made a terrific movie
that will be looked back on thirty years from now and still be
considered cool.
7. Lawrence Of Arabia (1962)
***An Epic Masterpiece As You've Never Seen It Before!***
"A mighty spectacle of action and adventure!"
"Mr. Dryden: If
we've told lies, you've told half-lies and a man who tells lies, like
me, merely hides the truth, but a man who tells half-lies has forgotten
where he put it.
T.E. Lawrence: The
truth is I'm an ordinary man. You might have told me that, Dryden, and
I want an ordinary job, sir. That's my reason for resigning. It's
personal."
"Lawrence of Arabia" is a remarkable labor, a masterful mixture of fact
and artistry, a masterpiece of intimate moment and spectacular largeness a film that literally excites the senses. In a visual
sense, Lean combines a sure sense of place with an approach to the
action that he borrows from an unlikely source— John Ford… Lean turns
his vast desert canvas into another Monument Valley, and when his
Bedouins ride across it, they are not far removed from Ford's cavalry. In many of the early scenes, the stately gait of the camel's walk gives
the film a slower pace, and this is precisely what Lean is trying to
achieve. Lean even manages to surpass Ford with his understanding of
the relationship between his characters and the landscape; how the
desert changes those who go into it.
The photography, the script and the acting are so superb that "Lawrence
of Arabia" becomes a lavish epic winner of 7 Academy Awards for Best
Picture, Directing, Color, Cinematography, Sound, Musical Score and
Film Editing.
8. Das Boot (1981)
***Classic, Gripping, Intense And Realistic All the Way***
"This is the story of 42 raw recruits caught up in a war they didn't
understand, and the Captain who must lead them in their struggle to
survive."
"To be fearless and proud and alone. To need no one, just sacrifice. All for the Fatherland. Oh God, all just empty words."
"Das Boot" is a classic. This film couldn't be more intense and
emotionally draining. It is a work of genius. Jurgen Prochnaw gives a
spectacular performance as the German U-Boat Captain. The acting is
first rate as the cast of characters is as realistic and believable as
it gets. Jurgen
Prochnow played the part of the captain better than any other actor has
ever played the role of a leader of men. He brought to life the drama
of leading a group of young men into a possible suicide mission with
utter realism and depth.
Wolfgang Petersen is an amazing storyteller, and this movie proved
it. I would have to say that it might very well be the best war movie I
have seen, heck, it may be the best movie I have seen period!!!
9. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
***A Magnificent And Powerful Film Experience***
"
It spans a whole new world of entertainment!"
""Commander Shears: You mean, you intend to uphold the letter of the law, no matter what it costs?
Colonel Nicholson: Without law, Commander, there is no civilization.
Commander Shears: That's just my point; here, there is no civilization.
Colonel Nicholson: Then we have the opportunity to introduce it. "
"The Bridge on the River Kwai" is a true classic because it can be so
many things to so many people -- and it is timeless: The kids and many
adults will enjoy the action, the historians will enjoy critiquing its
accuracy, veterans will re-visit the comradeship of the "trenches", and
film buffs will revel in the picture's rhythm, drama, and well-executed
technical elements.
In the final analysis, the settings, costumes, historicity, etc. are
only "helpers" (however beautifully provided by Lean and company). Its
bigger theme -- the aspirations of the human heart, and the painful
surrendering of those aspirations -- are what we are most urgently
invited to experience in this extraordinary film.
10. The Great Escape (1963)
***An Absolutely Awesome And Genuine Classic***
"put a fence in front of these men...and they'll climb it..."
" Group Capt. Ramsey: Colonel Von Luger, it is the sworn duty of all officers to try to escape. If they can't, it is their sworn duty to cause the enemy to use an inordinate number of troops to guard them and their sworn duty to harass the enemy to the best of their ability.
Col. Von Luger: Yes I know. The men under your authority have been most successful. This man, Ahsley-Pitt for example. Caught in the North Sea, escaped, recaptured, escaped, recaptured. Archibald "Archie" Ives: 11 escape attempts. He even tried to jump out of the truck coming here. Dickes, William: known to have paticipated in the digging of 11 escape tunnels. Flight Lieutenant Willinski: four escape attempts. MacDonald: nine, Hendley, the American: five, Haynes: four, Sedgewick: seven. The list is almost endless. One man here has made 17 attempted escapes. Group Captain, this is close to insanity.
Group Capt. Ramsey: Quite.
Col. Von Luger: And it must stop! "
"The Great Escape" tells the amazing story of a whole bunch of allied
prisoners who accomplish a mass breakout during World War II, some of
whom actually did make it to freedom and the allied armed forces once
again. The film is so good that you do not mind the fact that some
American players were tossed into the story as the real story was one
accomplished by the British.
The Great Escape does the one essential thing for a movie to do, it
moves. Even in just the scenes of planning and preparation you are
aware of movement. I mentioned Elmer Bernstein's film score. It's one
of Bernstein's best, maybe one of the best known of any film in cinema
history.
The Great Escape is one of those films you can watch dozens of times
and never tire of. It's a wonderful film, a real tribute to the best in
mankind under some of the worst circumstances.