Hello From The Big Guy: 06/2006

I was asked the other day that old question – “What is your favourite film?”

But for a guy who has 300+DVDs and loves films, how do you answer that? I can’t. I couldn’t even tell you what my top five is. This is usually the next question after you have rebuked the first. What I attempted to do, when asked, was to give my favourite in each genre, although that in itself is just as difficult.
Some films are great forever; some are great for a short period of time. When I was a kid Police Academy was one of the funniest greatest films I had ever seen. It was on TV the other night and I watched, albeit drunkenly, for a short while. It wasn’t the same. However, I loved Stand by Me when I was a kid and I still believe it’s an amazing film today.

So, for today only, I will tell you my favourite films belonging to the genres. However, some films belong in sub-genres so there may be some cross-referencing. For example, Assault on Precinct 13 is a Western. Yet, there are no cowboys, Indians, or even horses. Aliens can be classed as Sci-fi, Action, and War. This is going to be really difficult and I’m sure I’ll get frustrated as I go along. So here you are my favourites…. Expect some films to change as time goes on….

Western – Once Upon a Time in the West

The opening duel is amazing, far better than the more famous ending from The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly. The soundtrack is top. But I feel that the spaghetti westerns were not truly westerns, more a ‘version’ of a western. With Once, Leone finally completed his true Western.

Noticeable Exceptions – The Searchers, Young Guns, The Long Riders, Tombstone, Dollars Trilogy, Rio Bravo.

(This is really fucking difficult by the way…)

-------------------------------------------------

War – Saving Private Ryan

I know, I know, a clichéd choice. But the opening twenty minutes is so intense. I watched the film on an afternoon with the Boy Lube, and there were a couple of veterans in there. They were visibly moved by it. It’s a great film overall, the scene where the German returns to ‘pay back’ his freedom is gut-wrenching. And Spielberg rocks.

Noticeable Exceptions – Full Metal Jacket, Where Eagles Dare, Platoon, Apocalypse Now, Gallipoli , A Bridge Too Far, Starship Troopers, Das Boot,

-------------------------------------------------
Sci-Fi – Predator

This is definitely one section that could change and change. Predator is a perfect marriage of (at the time) state of the art effects and sweaty, fist clenching suspense. The story is perfect – a group of elite soldiers, supposedly the best in the world, get picked up an unseen alien warrior. Great lines such as “I ain’t got time to bleed.” and the Predator’s laugh, mimicking Billy. It’s a shame that they started to ruin the concept with the sequels.

In truth, all of the Noticeable Exceptions could top this one.

Noticeable Exceptions – The Matrix, Alien, Bladerunner, The Planet of the Apes, The Empire Strikes Back , The Terminator.

-------------------------------------------------

Martial Arts – Police Story/ The Prodigal Son

In Hong Kong, they call Martial Arts pics Action Films; however I need clarity so I will keep them separate. I know I am cheating a bit here, but Martial Arts are split into Modern & Historical. Police Story is the perfect Jackie Chan film. Great fights, amazing stunts and a good police thriller to boot. Sure there are better fight scenes (the furnace fight in Legend of the Drunken Master, the final duel in The Young Master) and better stunts (the Project A films), but the balance is right here.
The Prodigal Son is Sammo Hung’s best film. Yuen Biao is one of the most gifted martial artists ever, and with Lam Ching-Wing, a true master in action. The opera scene shows that great Cinematography existed in martial art films long before Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Noticeable Exceptions - Project A Part 2, Warriors Two, Fist of Legend, Once Upon A Time In China, Ong Bak, The Blade, Encounters of the Spooky Kind, The Young Master, Mr Vampire, Legend of a Fighter

-------------------------------------------------

Suspense/Thriller – The Thing.

I know its sci-fi, and its effects easily push it into Horror, but the Thing is a perfect example of how to ring every drop of suspense out of a situation. A pitch-perfect idea – a group of scientists stranded in the middle of the Antarctic slowly being assimilated by an unknown force. The film has amazing special effects, and is possibly John Carpenter’s best. I know every one loves Snake, but MacReady is Kurt Russell’s best role to date.

Noticeable Exceptions – The Silence of the Lambs, Manhunter, Infernal Affairs, OldBoy, Rififi, Seven, Heat.

-------------------------------------------------

Horror – Halloween

As you can see I am a big John Carpenter fan. I think his early work is pretty spectacular, creating dynamic examples of each genre. With Halloween, he may not have invented the slasher picture, but he did define it for future rip-offs. This movie is a perfect example of how to set up a scene, setting up the viewer time and time again only to hold back. Unlike its descendents whose main aim is to get straight to the killing. I don’t even have to mention the soundtrack…

Noticeable Exceptions - Suspiria, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Descent, The Omen, An American Werewolf in London, The Living Dead Trilogy, The Evil Dead Trilogy.

-------------------------------------------------

Comedy – Anchorman

My God, this is the hardest one. Comedy is so broad and covers so many aspects. In fact you have comedy-westerns, comedy-horror, comedy-drama etc. Where would I begin? As I noted earlier with Police Academy, comedy films can be very time-specific, suitable for a particular age and time. Although you can watch them over and over again, you can, as in most things in life, have overkill. I must have seen Dumb & Dumber and Airplane a million times. They are great great comedies, but it’s not the same when you’re smiling waiting for the joke to arrive. The first time I saw these two films I nearly wet myself. Great comedy takes you by surprise – my problem is that I generate overkill by watching them over and over. The Noticeable exceptions list will testify to that.
So, why choose Anchorman? It’s the funniest film that I’ve seen in the past few years. It’s a film that sticks in the memory – I’ll sometimes have the urge to laugh in public thinking about it, very embarrassing. Will Ferral is funny because he is fresh. His roles in Old School & Wedding Crashers are testament to that. Let’s hope he too doesn’t suffer overkill.

Noticeable Exceptions – The Cable Guy, Shaun of the Dead, Blazing Saddles, Fletch, Ghostbusters, The Big Lebowski, Withnail & I, Rushmore, Yojimbo, Bringing Up Baby

-------------------------------------------------

Musical – Singin' In The Rain

I have not seen as many musicals as I should have. To this day I still haven’t’ watched The Sound Of Music, nor sat through West Side Story in it’s entirety. Is The Wizard of Oz a musical because it has songs in it? I need to watch more musicals and appreciate them. Recently I caught a bit of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and watched the barn-dance bit. Some of the movement and rhythm have to be seen to be believed. It’s a natural transition too, I love Marital Arts films and all the intrinsic movements and fantastic leaps – musicals are just an extension of that physicality.
Singin' In The Rain stands out head and shoulders. It has the most famous dance routine in cinema, the songs are great, and some of the dancing is breathtaking. Plus, in Gene Kelly, you have a star that is masculine enough for the blokes, as well as handsome and charming for the ladies.

Noticeable Exceptions – Little Shop of Horrors, Grease, (I really need to watch more musicals)

-------------------------------------------------

Action – Hard Boiled

Die Hard is the accepted best action film of all time. I like many others, love that film. But I also love Hard Boiled. I think the tagline was “Harder than a Dozen Die Hards”. It shows. Hard Boiled is action intensified to such a level never seen before or since in cinema. Basically three or four huge set pieces linked by the old standard of two guys teaming up to take on all comers; it shows John Woo at his very best. The Killer may be a better film, but it’s in action we trust. It is such a shame that Hollywood has slowed Woo down to the point where he is now just another hack trying to create ‘that John Woo’ look. There are not many doves in this picture, but fuck are there bullets ;)

Noticeable Exceptions – A Better Tomorrow, Lethal Weapon, Face Off, Seven Samurai.

-------------------------------------------------

Gangster – The Roaring Twenties

My god this one will split opinion right down the middle. On the one hand, we have Coppola’s The Godfather; on the other, Scorsese’s Goodfellas. Two masterpieces of the genre, there is no doubt about that. But both owe a huge debt to the films that preceded them, the Gangster picks of the 1930’s - The films of Bogart and Cagney. The Roaring Twenties is one of the earliest films I can remember watching, and I loved every minute of it. Cagney at his best, a great story, and an excellent ending.

Noticeable Exceptions – Carlitos Way, The Public Enemy, Scarface, Angels With Dirty Faces, A Bout De Souffle , Brother, Sonatine, The Long Good Friday , Donnie Brasco, Miller's Crossing.

-------------------------------------------------

Animation – Finding Nemo

This is the perfect animated movie for me. Pixar perfected their technique on this one. The music is beautiful; the opening scene never failing to raise goose-bumps.

Noticeable Exceptions – Dumbo, Akira, Toy Story,

-------------------------------------------------

Drama – Say Anything

Drama is really difficult – like Comedy it covers all the other genres. The Godfather is essentially a drama about a family. So what are we looking for in a drama? Or more importantly, what am I looking for? Should it ask questions? Make you think? Change your mind, opinions? Drama can cover political issues, social issues, emotional issues. Therefore, I am going to go with one of my favourite actors and select Say Anything. It is a fantastic romantic drama, perfectly capturing the difficulties of finding and maintaining love. Plus it has one of the iconic images of the 80’s.

Noticeable Exceptions – Schindler's List, Once Were Warriors, Saturday Night Fever, Raging Bull,

-------------------------------------------------

Well, there we have it. This has taken me hours to do, and I’m still not 100% sure. There are also many films I have missed out simply because I couldn’t pigeon hole them into the genres. Anyway, rereading this I know that I may not have made the best arguments, but hell, why do I need a reason to love a great film? If you agree/disagree with my choices or you have a favourite poster, then please share your thoughts…

Hello From The Big Guy

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Antagony & Ecstasy

What a Difference 10 Years Makes...

Saturday, June 10, 2006

Movies & Posters

DREAMS

Saturday, June 03, 2006

Favourites

About Me

Blog Archive

Other cool people