5. Das Leben Der Anderen (The Lives of Others)
I have a huge soft spot for movies where I have to read the subtitles. Maybe if the Slumdog characters spoke their native language instead of English, I wouldn’t gripe about it so much… but I digress. For me, watching a film in a language that I don’t understand allows me to connect directly with the emotions that the characters are feeling, in addition to making the movie seem more authentic. Subtly suspenseful, Das Leben is all about complex emotions in the DDR.
4. Superman Returns
Bryan Singer’s Superman is the most recent and most surprising addition to my favorites. When I first watched this movie, I left the theater feeling empty and cheated. It wasn’t until I re-watched it 6 years later that I realized how incredibly brilliant/beautiful Superman Returns really is. Singer’s Superman was a victim of awful timing in my opinion. Had it been released a year earlier, prior to Batman Begins, I suspect audience response would be different. Nolan’s brilliant take on Gotham’s anti-hero has re-defined our expectations of what a great superhero should be: dark, brooding and aggressive. These are three traits that Superman does not embody, and for this reason audiences did not respond well. Now that some time has passed since the original release, I challenge you to re-watch Superman Returns – except this time, pretend that you’re not watching a superhero movie, but a movie about a guy named Clark Kent. Tell me what you think.
3. The Lion King
It’s a generational thing, you young’uns probably wouldn’t understand. By the way, did you know that just about every Disney movie has something to do with princes or princesses or kings, and that all the main characters are bastard children? Well, now you do. Fun fact of the day.
2. Casino Royale
I don’t care that Bond purists think Daniel Craig isn’t ‘Bond-like’. All I know is that Casino Royale was one of the best action movies that I’ve ever seen. It’s a shame that Quantum of Solace killed the good momentum. But all is not lost, as my boy Sam Mendes is directing the next installment, due out later this year.
Oh, it’s just James Bond being shamelessly objectified. Sexually
1. Skyfall
There are a few things that I love in this world: Kylie Minogue, small dimples just above a woman’s buttocks, and the fear in a man’s eye who knows that I’m about to hurt him. And oh, Sam Mendes and James Bond… almost forgot about those two. I know I’m going out on a limb here since Skyfall isn’t even done filming yet, but I’m confident that it will be some kind of epic.
Speaking of, EON has released the first promo photo for Skyfall (above) which gives us no insight whatsoever, other than some vague ideas about what production design may or may not be like for the film.
Shout outs to The Lord of the Rings, Little Miss Sunshine, American Psycho, and The Boondock Saints. You all just narrowly missed the cut.
~ Tim
