My Top 10 Movies

Hi guys, I just wanna get some movie related posts up to kick off the blog, so I decided that the best way to start was to list my top 10 movies! I will do a brief review on each underneath of it, so this will be a pretty long post. But, without further introductions, here are my top 10 favorite movies of all time!

#10: (500) Days of Summer

This was a pretty recent film, it came out in 2009. It is really hard to begin to explain all the greatness that there is in this film. The two romantic leads in this film are played by Zooey Deschanel ( my love ) and Joseph-Gordon Levitt. I have to give a shout-out to Chloe Moretz (who is in another one of my favorite movies that I will be reviewing a few numbers down) who plays the little sister in this movie. She is completely hilarious, and though she is not in it a ton, she is a great addition to the film. There have been romance movies that portray perfect relationships. There have been romance movies that portray betrayal and heartbreak. But never before have I seen a relationship portrayed with such honesty as it is in this film. Also, there is quirky humor thrown in. It is a very down-to-earth, funny, indie romance with stunning visuals. I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of film.

83/100

#9: World's Greatest Dad

Where to begin with this film, where to begin. The main role is played by Robin Williams, and the title of the film indicates he is a father. If this leads you to believe that this is a family comedy, you are dead wrong. This is a VERY, VERY dark comedy, about the dysfunctional relationship between a single father and his disrespectful son. You cannot go into this movie thinking it is a comedy that will make you laugh out loud throughout. It is very dramatic, and almost heartbreaking at times. However there is certainly some things in this film that will most likely make you chuckle. There is a huge twist about 40 minutes in that I wouldn't dare ruin for you, and I would say the less you know going into this movie, the better. However I will say that this movie is very hard to stomach. Kyle (who is the son) behaves in a very, very inappropriate manner in regard to his father, his classmates, and basically his whole life. I can't say that I really LOVE to watch this movie, for it is almost stressful to watch, but I greatly admire how brilliant this film is. The acting by Robin Williams is simply amazing. I haven't seen him this good in a role for a long long time. Kyle, who is played by Daryl Sabara, does a great job at making his character seem utterly despicable. The storytelling in this film is magnificent, and for those who can handle very mature topics, this film is impossible NOT to recommend.

84/100

#8: Sideways

This is a film that certainly made a splash when it came out. It was up for 5 Oscars and 2 Golden Globes. It is considered to be a comedy, but this is not an average, laugh out loud comedy. It has feel good moments, and feel bad moments. It is about 4 people, and how their lives intertwine. Two of the main characters are going on a bachelor trip. One of them (Paul Giamatti's character) is a mature writer, who is in love with wine, but is having some relationship trouble. The other (Thomas Hayden Church's character) is basically the complete opposite. He is very immature, and he searches for women for sexual relationships only. They go on a trip together and meet the other two. It is really a great tale of friendship, with some very emotional, heartfelt moments. It has some romantic aspects to it, some dramatic parts, and even some laugh out loud funny parts. The story is really well-woven, and the acting is great. I definitely recommend this film for those who are interested in a deeper breed of drama/comedy.

87/100

#7: Kick-Ass

This is a very recent movie that really caught me by surprise. It is based off of a comic book of the same name, and it is a really interesting concept. It starts with one character Dave Lizewski, who goes basically unnoticed in school. He is considered to be a nerd, and his friends don't always treat him with the utmost respect. He wonders why no one has ever tried to be a superhero before, in the real world. He does try, and realizes how impossible it really is. There is also a side-story of a father/daughter crime fighting vigilante team played by Nicholas Cage and the wonderful aforementioned Chloe Moretz. Chloe Moretz's character really steals the show as Hit-Girl, a young girl who graphically kills anyone who truly deserves it. It's visuals are very interesting, and they sort of have a comic book feel (which makes sense since it is based off of a comedy). What I really liked about this film was that the people who made it stuck to their guns'. Kick-Ass was denied by a huge number of studios who either wanted them to tone down the violence or make it take place with older actors. But no, they didn't change a single thing. When it was finally released independently, it had great critical reception. With the sea of safe PG-13 comedies being released, this is a nice break where the director went out on a limb and incorporated profanity and violence; the turn out could not have been better. However, on a side note, this film gets very, very dark about halfway through. This is not a film that everyone will enjoy. In fact, I would consider it to be a love it or hate it type film. But for me, I fell into the love it category, and if you find the premise intriguing, I am sure you will love this film.

90/100

#6: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Revenge movies can be interesting. Dark movies can be interesting. Broadway musicals can be interesting. But what happens when you combine all three of these into one topic? Sweeney Todd! As many of you may know, Sweeney Todd is based off of a Broadway musical of the same name. It is directed by Tim Burton, who can sometimes be hit & miss. But trust me when I say, this is a hit. Johnny Depp brings his A-game when acting as Sweeney, a vengeful barber. Helena Bonham Carter does an excellent job with her character as well. She plays Mrs. Lovett, owner of a struggling pie shop in London, who befriends Sweeney. The dark style in this film is magnificent and a complete show stealer. From the almost black and white coloring, to the bright red blood, this film has simply dazzling visuals. For those of you unfamiliar with the plot, it will surprise you, make you laugh, make you cry, and go through a whole whirlpool of emotions. Your love for it may not be as strong as mine, but I recommend it to everyone who loves musicals, dark movies, or revenge movies.

92/100

#5: Pan's Labyrinth

This is one of the single most beautiful films I have ever seen. Period. It has been described as "a fairy tale for adults". The story revolves around a young girl, Ophelia, who is the step daughter of a WWII Nazi commander. Ophelia and her mother both know he is not a good man, but they have to make sacrifices to survive in this hard time. There is also a fantasy aspect to this film, filled with wonderful creatures and a broad imaginative labyrinth that Ophelia discovers. Ivana Baquero does a wonderful job acting as Ophelia, the young girl with the wild imagination. The story is very intense, yet gentle. The events are all so brutal, but for Ophelia, it is all about growing up and finding adventure. You would not believe all the emotions you can experience during this film. Not to mention the intriguing symbolism and awe-inspiring visuals. Even if you don't speak the Spanish language, read the subtitles, this film is worth it. I recommend it to anyone who likes foreign films, or really any type of film for that matter.

93/100

#4: Fight Club

I doubt there are any of you who have not heard of this cult classic. The title "Fight Club" doesnt really seem like it would be for a film that is very thought provoking. That is completly incorrect for this film. I would go into detail, but the less you know about this movie going in, the better. The acting is great, as every good movie should be. There is really an interesting type of humor here. You will undoubtedly laugh out loud, but it is humor unlike you have seen before. The characters are really, really quirky and interesting. The plot has tons of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the big reveal at the end. The cinematography is quite unique, but not outlandish. There are some really hilarious one liners in this film, but it has much more to offer than just humor and action. There is some very interesting social commentary in this film, and certain concepts will cause intelligent people to ponder upon it for days to come. Once you watch it once, you will want to watch it again. And again. I never tire of this film, and I have seen it a lot of times. Overall, this film is nothing sort of brilliant. I recommend it to anyone and everyone.

95/100

#3: Donnie Darko

This is the second cult classic to make it to the list, and this one is even more thought provoking than the last. There are not enough words in this world to describe each and every brilliant, intelligent aspect of Donnie Darko. There is so much going on, so many side stories, unexpected humor, wonderful characters, deep symbolism, and more. Not to mention the acting is spot-on. I don't want to give any of the plot away, but it is very interesting to see. It revolves around the Darko family, spefically Donnie. One of its many deep themes is the difficulty of high school life. The visuals in this movie are downright mind-bending and bizarre. You cannot miss this movie! It is a must see! You could write entire essays on this film, and how many interesting points it brings up. I recommend, no insist that everyone sees this film.

97/100

#2: Let The Right One In

Vampires! Romance! No, I am not talking about Twilight. I am talking about Let The Right One In, the beautiful Swedish film. I don't even know how to describe how amazing this film is. The two young leads are ridiculously talented, the story is rich with detail, the cinematography is the most beautiful that I have ever seen, and the tone ranges from gentle to horrifying. You will never ceased to be amazed by all the disturbing things you will see in this film. Once you see this, you will not be able to stop thinking about it. It is a movie that you will never, ever forget. However, I must warn the sensitive readers that it is very, very creepy, and can be quite graphic. But if you can handle the disturbing visuals, I can almost guarantee that you will love this film!

97/100

#1: Pulp Fiction

Has anyone not seen Pulp Fiction? Really? It is Quentin Tarantino's masterpiece. It was John Travolta's breakout role. It was the start of a long relationship between Quentin Tarantino and Uma Thurman. It is my favorite movie of all time. There are many different stories, all intertwined. It was a wonderful touch for many (including myself) to see that this film was not in chronological order. The acting is great. The story is great. The humor is great. There is virtually nothing not to like about this film (minus one scene....). You will laugh, you will applaud, you will be shocked! It is one wild ride, and it is a wild ride that you will definitely want to take.

100/100 PERFECT SCORE!