The Matrix

This is another one of my all time favorites, if you haven't seen it, then you may be one of the few. I had such a crush on Keanu Reeves when I was younger, and I still like him. The special effects in this one were impressive when the movie was first released, and I enjoy the entire Matrix series. Still hoping they might continue it for one or two more episodes showing how the humans, and machines carry on life in peace, or war...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgRq3S1qync&feature=fvst
Retrieved from You Tube Nov.25/10.

Ella Enchanted

This movie has a lot of fun action and humour together with musical intersessions. It's a Cinder"ella" spoof, mixed with a variety of fairytales, thrown together with some magic (and some really bad magic). I think the singing and dancing scenes are very well done, and the music is well selected for this movie. My children think it's pretty funny and fair at the end when Prince Chars' Uncle Edcar's wicked plans backfire on himself. My favorite part is where Prince Char is about to be corinated "King" and the fight starts out when an objection is made to that. The "special effect" fighting action is pretty hilarious, and I like happy endings. This is a show I've seen a few times, and will probably, in time, watch it a few more times.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZaa3gZwSdA&NR=1

The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring

A fantastic, mythical adventure about a tiny hobbit Frodo, together with his best friend Sam, and the members of The Fellowship of the Ring who must set aside their differences to save the world from darkness. Frodo, who just wants to be back at home in his quiet, private hobbit hole in the side of the hill, must face his fears, trust in his friends, and perservere until his task is fullfilled. Full of adventure, action, and even a little romance to top off a great cast of characters. I was pleasantly surprised at the special f/x in this film. A terrific movie that keeps you looking forward to the next installment in the series. This will always be one of my all time favorite trilogy's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pki6jbSbXIY

Dragonheart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSYThEfy9PU

This is one of my favorites. It's about the last dragon, "Draco," who sacrificed half of his heart to save the life of Prince Einan, who swore an oath that he never intended to keep...  Now Draco was forever tied to Prince Einan and Prince Einan to Draco, till their dying days. An honourable and courageous knight, Bowen thought he had trained Prince Einan in his youth to the old & honourable ways. Prince Einan was convincing, but had an agenda of his own that didn't include caring for his people. Instead, he placed greed and selfish desires ahead of anyone or anything that got in his way. I love the humour and irony in this story, with the Dragonslayer Bowen, who tries so desperately to save the life of this dragon while he goes from village to village collecting money from villagers to protect them and slay the vicious Draco. Sean Connery does an outstanding job of bringing Draco to life... and death.

Martyrs

Against my better judgement I had to put this one in here.  I'm a huge horror movie buff, and this is by far the most terrifying, most visceral horror movie I have ever seen.  That being said, it takes a lot of intestinal fortitude to make it through this film.  I don't recommend it to anyone who pulls the blankets over their eyes.  It begins with a young girl escaping from a her torturers, then 15 years later as a woman she is on their trail in hopes of bringing them to justice.  When we see her accused torturers are a seemingly textbook family (complete with teenage children), it is unclear if our protagonist is telling the truth, or if she just mentally unstable.  The movie is full of twists and turns, and it has an ending which will keep the viewer thinking about it long after the final frame.  View at your own risk.



I was going to put the trailer here, but I couldn't find one that would be considered appropriate.  See what I mean?  Even the trailers are intense!



Image from http://www.movie666.com/images/martyrs.jpg

It's All Gone Pete Tong

This movie is a "mocumentary" which follows the exploits of DJ Frankie Wilde (comedian Paul Kaye).  At the beginning of the film we see Frankie at the height of his popularity and enjoying every minute of it.  Women, alcohol, drugs, and lavish parties are all perks of the job.  However this lifestyle is taking its toll on Frankie.  He won't admit it to his friends or family (or himself for that matter), but he is slowly going deaf.  Everyone tells him that his career is over, but Frankie won't give in.  He's determined to make a comeback as the worlds greatest deaf DJ.  The movie starts out as a comedy with Frankie as an almost unlikeable character, but it moves to more dramatic territory as he starts to fall apart at the seams.  Then towards the end of the film the viewer can't help but cheer, as the once despicable Frankie redeems himself.      
I also like to give this movie kudos for its ingenious use of sound and music, demonstrating to the viewer the effect of going deaf.


Trailer


Image from http://www.thescene.com.au/upload/itsallgonepetetong2004-304.jpg

Unforgiven

Possibly my favourite movie of all time.  Unforgiven is a revisionist western, in that it examines the morality of classic western themes.  The story revolves around William Munny (Clint Eastwood making a return to the genre which made him a star), a retired gun for hire who straps on his pistols one more time in order to support his family.  The story begins as a typical western, but it is stripped of the romanticism which other generations of western movies embraced.  The lines between good and evil aren't as obvious as you would expect, and the old west is portrayed as a dirty, vicious, lawless wasteland.  Which is probably more realistic than most of the films in the genre.  My favourite line in the movie (and there are plenty of gems in this one) is when Munny is having a conversation with one of his partners whom we were led to believe is a cold blooded killer, but had actually only just killed a man for the first time.  Munny says, "It's a hell of a thing killing a man.  Take away all he's got, and all he's ever gonna have.", his partner replies, "Yeah well, I guess he had it coming.", to which Munny replies, "We all got it coming kid.".
So awesome.

Image from http://www.gonemovies.com/www/wanadoofilms/western/unforgiven2.jpg

Trailer