My 10 Favourite Movies of All Time (Age 18)

       In my short 18 years, I have devoted a lot of my life to the love of cinema. Now, as I begin a new stage in my life, that of adulthood, I find that I have been blessed enough to compile a list of wonderful watching experiences. Whether it's when my Mami and I sat down one summer evening to watch a VHS of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" on loan from the library (she had to calm me down afterwards, reassuring me that if anyone really did find the Ark of the Covenant, it would not produce the same effects as in the movie), or when I went with my Nicaraguan Papi and Abuelito to a small indie theatre in downtown Toronto to attend the screening of a documentary on Nicaraguan land injustices called "Land" (with director in attendance), I've been able to go on many wonderful adventures through the excitement of movies. To commemorate my 18th birthday, I've returned to this blog to write up a top 10 list of my favourite movies thus far. I have many masterpieces I have yet to see, and yet even more I haven't heard of, but these are the masterpieces I have seen which define cinema for me, and have come to inspire me in the making of my own films.

10. Kes (1970)
     This is the second most recently viewed on the list, as I was able to find a Criterion DVD edition of the film this September at my college library. It was an unexpectedly brilliant viewing experience, infinitely more complex and artistically different than I had expected of a film about a 15-year-old boy and his relationship with a kestrel. The film is actually more about the hopeless situation of this young boy's generation more than anything else, as it is about every middle class mining town with little hope of escape for the young children expected to grow up and take on more low-skill jobs. The director, Ken Loach, grew his career in making socially active middle-class dramas for the BBC, and this film sees him taking on a less overtly socio-political but nonetheless powerful story. Indeed, the protagonist's future remains bleak by the end of the film, but the reason we have any hope for him in the first place is thanks to the rare, perfectly magical moments we see him come alive while training his young "Kes". This movie exemplifies the kind of great filmmaking that I have found as my own motive for working to enter the art, being a morally beautiful and brutally honest film that explores a seemingly simple story with great authenticity and storytelling genius. Even greater examples of this kind of filmmaking will be found lower on the list.

9. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
      I distinctly remember going to the theatre to see the 20th anniversary re-release of this film back in 2002. My Mami was and is a huge fan, and she helped convince me to see Spielberg's most personal film prior to Schindler's List. It was an amazing experience, and its interesting that the part I most remember watching in the theatre is the scene where Elliot's brother Michael finds the dying E.T. down by a river. To this day, I find that section of the movie so hard to watch. Spielberg's 80's output may be remembered for over-the-top sentimentalism, but I have never been so heartbroken for an alien in my movie-watching life. Cinematically speaking, the movie is a true masterpiece, a powerful watching experience of emotion and magic. One of the tapes I also saw a lot of when I was kid was the televised reunion of the E.T. cast, with additional behind-the-scenes anecdotes. I guess that tape played a certain part in how I saw E.T., and it remains a movie that never loses its childlike wonder. I will always love the spookiness of the opening, the wonder of the friendship between Elliot and E.T., the humour of the frog dissection scene, the magical aura of the moonlight bicycle ride, and the excitement of that incredible finale. It is a movie I will watch over and over again, and its a movie I will share with my children as the passing of magic from the previous generation to the next.

8. City Lights (1931)
       I need to put this movie here, at this spot, simply because it contains one of the most beautiful endings in cinematic history. The rest of the movie is very funny and well-made, and I need to see the full thing again to better appreciate it, but what an ending. The movie features a sweet love story to begin with, and Charlie Chaplin is at top form as both protagonist and director. I have few comedies that I look up to as much in terms of filmmaking. There are two others, though, that I look up to even more.

7. The Great Dictator (1940)
       That's right, two Charlie Chaplin films in a row. I haven't seen too many films to dethrone this one from its spot, but that's more because of its genius than my lack of choices. Making fun of Hitler was never done better than in this great comedy from an older, more vocal Charlie, this time playing the dual roles of The Jewish Barber (based on his earlier character The Tramp) as well as insane dictator Adenoid Hynkel. There are plenty of genius comedic scenes in this epic of satire, but that all makes the end speech, delivered straight to camera by Charlie Chaplin, all the more intense and moving. Sure, the film doesn't depict the most complex picture of oppression, but that's not the point - evil is evil, and Chaplin is determined not just to fight the Nazis, but all injustice, with the power of comedy. Laughter is what captivates the audience, but the lasting impression of The Great Dictator is one of inspiration.

6. The Spirit of the Beehive (1973)
 This is actually the most recently viewed on the list, again a Criterion pick from my campus library that changed my outlook on film in one night. What an incredible film this is, full of subconscious childhood memories and inspired encounters with the unknown. Ana Torrent is probably one of the most captivating child protagonists in film history, if not the most, delivering a performance that is as enigmatic as it is naturalistic and tender. The entire movie is so imaginative and magical you just become entranced by it, and the ending even manages to make you feel something more spiritual than all that came before it. Rich with imagery and endlessly lyrical, this is one movie that will never lose its power. Victor Erice is one of cinema's least appreciated directors, Luis Cuadrado may be cinema's most tragically short-lived cinematographer, and this is one of cinema's most special films.

5. Sherlock Jr. (1924)
      Now, beginning the top 5 is what I consider the best comedy in film history. Yes, after already including two Charlie Chaplin films, I give that title to this movie. Why? Because it is the most cinematic comedy film in the entire genre, an incredibly funny equal to the type of incredible work done in Citizen Kane. Not only does Buster Keaton experiment with incredible stunts and visual jokes in the film, he does the same with a film within the film. I never cease to be amazed by the genius ideas in this movie, and its ending remains a lovely moment of screen comedy and romance for me. And that scene of the changing screen backgrounds is pretty much still unparalleled in its perfection. A great comedy, but an incredible movie.

 4. Paths of Glory (1957)
         Remember that type of cinema I mentioned loving? This is where it becomes essential to humanity. If there is one film that truly makes one register the uselessness of war and yet somehow shows the nobility and heroism of the people fighting them as well, it is this one. Stanley Kubrick would go on to make many brutal, pessimistic films showing truly disturbed human beings, but this film manages to show the truly good among us as well as the monsters. The truly good man at the heart of this film is Kirk Douglas' Colonel Dax, who is forced to endure the unfair and corrupt execution of three of his own men by the power-hungry men running the war from their posh palaces and war rooms. Fortunately, Colonel Dax regains his hope for humanity when he experiences yet another of cinema's greatest endings ever. An incredibly simple story, yet its one of filmmaking's most powerful experiences.

3. Bicycle Thieves (1948)
When I first saw this film during high school, thanks to the great movie channel Turner Classic Movies (which is where I first saw both Sherlock Jr. and Paths of Glory as well), it blew my mind. I never realized, before watching this movie, how incredibly possible it was to find a great story in something so ordinary. It changed my perspective on filmmaking, and along with Paths, helped me begin forming the thesis on making movies that has been cemented with others. Again, you could not find a simpler story: a poor man and his son search throughout troubled post-WW2 Rome for a bicycle, something which is essential to the father keeping his job and continuing to provide for his family. But through Vittoria De Sicca's compassionate direction, Cesare Zavatinni's careful and sensitive script, the heartbreaking score by Alessandro Cicognini, and finally, the great natural acting of the cast, it becomes an absolute masterpiece. It is undoubtedly a turning point in film, and will remain a treasure of realistic storytelling.

2. Star Wars (1977)
      Like the previous films here, Star Wars remains a historic moment in movies. It is, for many, the ultimate cinematic experience, an unbelievable science-fiction adventure with timeless scenes and story. The special effects are still exciting, the music and sound still bear so much importance, and the archetypal characters and their adventures have not lost any of their simple brilliance. This movie is the definition of great screen fantasy, and will continue to be when I show it to my kids for the first time. Remember Star Wars, because many great filmmakers have and still do.

1. Toy Story (1995)
      This movie means more than words to me. I watched it so many times as a child that I now have it ingrained in my heart. I know every scene, every moment, every line and word of dialogue. However, watching galleries of the concept art, its strange and startling to see how many different ideas were considered and discarded or changed to make the final movie, which we all know and love so much. Its weird to think it could have been any different from how it is now, and yet it could have been so much different. Looking back from this age, this can kind of serve as a metaphor for how I've developed. It is difficult to imagine being different from who I am now, but its taken a lot to get me where I am today. I can only hope, though, that I can make anything close to the perfection of Toy Story in the career that I desire to have. This is my favourite film because there is no other way I can think of improving it, or changing it, or reconsidering it. Toy Story is a masterpiece in its own way, and I will always love it.

That's my list. It may change in the future, but the top 5 should remain the same forever. This list summarizes my feelings and experiences of cinema so far, and to quote John Lasseter from the Toy Story Making-Of video, its only the beginning.

Random Reviews: The Adventures of Tintin

Many are cynical about motion-capture animation being used to make full-length movies (after that brief "Yellow Submarine" fiasco, many downright dread it), and even more people are cynical about the action-adventure genre. Yet all that cynicism seems to be dead in the wake of "The Adventures of Tintin", the Belgian comic-hero's biggest big-screen adventure ever. Maybe its the names involved that are breaking down any doubts about this movie: Steven Spielberg directing, Peter Jackson producing, and Andy Serkis starring as the drunk captain to end all drunk captains (which is quite an accomplishment when you look at the candidates), Captain Haddock.

The expectations from the international Tintin-fan community are heavy, but Spielberg and Jackson have come packed with ammo. The movie is action-packed, well-written, and well-casted,and it's impossible not to get involved in the adventure, which starts almost immediately after the credits.

This film's plot, first written by "Doctor Who" writer Steven Moffat and finished by Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish, puts together three of Tintin's best graphic novels: "The Crab with the Golden Claws", "The Secret of the Unicorn", and "Red Rackham's Treasure". When our cowlick-headed hero (played by Jamie Bell) finds a beautiful antique ship, he immediately falls into a dangerous treasure hunt for the pirate booty of a Haddock ancestor, joining up with the last-living Haddock in a race against the evil Sacharine (an unrecognizable performance from Daniel Craig).

The movie has so much going on in every frame, it's impossible to take in all the richly-detailed CGI world in one sitting. The animation is truly realistic, and most importantly, it isn't creepy! We truly become connected with the digital Tintin and Haddock, as well as the very funny Thompson and Thompson, who are compeletely alive and characterized as if they were real. The actors are truly to thank for bringing each character out of the books with their inventiveness and uniqueness intact. In fact, the director is to thank for taking the ENTIRE WORLD out of the books with it's uniqueness intact. The locations are realistic, but the action scenes are amazing and fantastical.

The only problem with the movie is, despite a 107-minute running time, I still felt a little unsatisfied by the end. You might be exhausted by the near two hours of adventure, but I thought that there was still lots of room for more Tintin. Fortunately, the ending is so open with its hopes for a sequel that it's impossible not to miss. And just like a certain fedora-hatted college professor we all still love despite a lackluster fourth installment, this is a hero we're not going to get tired of anytime soon.

Awesome Alert! Epic trailers for Christmas

The hype for next year is massive; we have "The Dark Knight Rises", "The Hobbit Part 1", and the ever-mysterious "Prometheus" all coming out in 2012, making every fanboy hope that those messed-up Mayans were wrong. Thanks to three new trailers, our curiousities have been peaked, and we now hold endless speculation as to what on Earth will these films hold in store:

"The Dark Knight Rises": By now, we all have this one memorized. Alfred is sad, Gordon's gonna get pink-slipped, Anne Hathaway is warning Bruce about "a storm", Bane blows-up a football game, and the guy from "Inception" is DOING SOMETHING. What is easy to tell is that Bane is planning a massive "Occupy Gotham" movement, except more violent and revolution-like. What is not easy to tell is whether or not Selina Kyle is on Batman's side, since she doesn't really warn Bruce so much as reveal to him what 's coming up for all of Gotham. She's probably not evil, but she's definitely involved in the "Occupy Gotham" plan one way or another. That still leaves us with a number of questions: Why exactly is Bane trying to destroy the city? Will Alfred die Rachel Dawes-style? And what is Joseph Gordon-Levitt DOING?

"The Hobbit:An Unexpected Journey": This one is so minimalistic that it makes the "DKR" trailer look like it's giving away every secret it has. While "TH" is supposed to get us excited, it's purpose is more of a introductory one. We meet Young Bilbo, who's life is very comfortable at the moment, just as he is meeting Gandalf the Grey for the first time. We meet every last Dwarf, in quick succession, as well as, surprisingly, the ancient Galadriel, who seems to be much more intimate with Gandalf than she was even with Frodo. The main feel of this trailer, as it should be, is adventure; an adventure which is far more dangerous and significant than ever before.

"Prometheus": Now if you REALLY want to see what "paranoic secrecy" looks like, check out the preview for Ridley Scott's new "Alien"-universe film. We know that we are going to finally learn what the heck those giant Space Jockeys from the original space-chiller were for, but we will also learn that these Jockeys hae something to do with our origins as a species (there is no idea creepier than that). And whatever galaxy-sized secret that is, it's got Noomi Rapace and Charlize Theron scared out of their wits. Attention all Ripley-fans, get those animatronic chest-bursters ready.

The Doctor's Dillemma

Before "Battlestar Galactica", before "Star Wars", even before "Star Trek", there was the Doctor. Started on Nov. 23rd, 1963 (17:16:20 to be exact), "Doctor Who" is the most successful and long-lasting science-fiction TV show in history, thanks partly to the Doctor's ability to regenerate, allowing numerous different actors to play him and keep the show going. Speaking of the Doctor, I guess I should introduce him.

The Doctor is a Time Lord, an almost-immortal humanoid alien who is the last of his kind. He travels through all of time and space (and I do mean ALL of time and space, he even went to the end of the universe in the episode "Utopia") in a time machine called the TARDIS (permanently disguised as a 1960's Police-box), combatting evil and saving lives without guns or thank yous. Since he's insanely lonely (having your whole species wiped out will do that to you), he comes to Earth every now and then to pick a brave or open-minded human as his companion to travel in the TARDIS (usually it's a VERY attractive young British woman who can, fortunately, act). The Doctor, in short terms, is an ancient and well-known character that terrifies some entire alien worlds with the mere mention of his name. In long terms, I will quote a little British boy from the episode "The Family of Blood" when he talks about him:

He's like fire and ice and rage. He's like the night, and the storm in the heart of the sun. He's ancient and forever. He burns at the centre of time and he can see the turn of the universe. And...he's wonderful.

And now he's getting a movie.

At least, that's the rumour that has begun circulating in the last litle while. This Whovian storm includes such theories as David Yates (director of my favourite Harry Potter movie, "Deathly Hallows Part 1") helping to bring the Doctor to the screen, and the movie starting from scratch with a new Doctor (not the current TV Doctor). David was actually the one to start this whole thing with some "off-the-cuff" remarks on the Red Carpet. Steven Moffat (the head writer and executive producer of the present show), on the other hand, is putting his foot down and saying NO (See Twitter post above left). Since Steve is closer to the Doctor than Mr. Yates, I'm siding with him. While an accessible (and AMAZING) international film would be good for proppelling the show forward, we don't want to rush into this (remember the first "Twilight"?). If the Doctor were to ever make a new movie, he must have his Brit-ness intact and his weirdness too. Doctor Who should never be dumbed down.

For any people new to the show, or who doubt some obscure(!!!) British kiddie's TV show could make a great movie, I have included my set of favourite, and most cinematic, Doctor episodes to show the kind of awesomeness the Doctor could wreak on the Big Screen (For any Whovians reading, I apologize if I'm one of those newbies who only knows the 10th and 11th Doctors):

"Human Nature/Family of Blood", (May-June 2007)

This brief, but powerful two-parter explores what would happen if the Doctor were to become human, deciding to disguise himself in order to hide from the alien Family of Blood-not because of fear, but out of mercy for the pathetic villains. Doc's brief vision of a wonderful human life, his final epic decision, a genuinely powerful war-veteran moment...it's all too much to leave a dry eye anywhere. Great acting as well.

"Utopia"/"Sound of Drums"/"Last of the Time Lords" (June 2007)

While some fans were dissapointed with the third part, this is now probably one of the best-known of all the story arcs. The Doctor's archenemy, the Master, returns and holds nothing back in his victory over the Doctor and conquering of Earth using victims from the future. One of the defining moments for the Doctor, his companions (especially the lovely Freema Argyeman, who must uphold much of this story), and of course, the delightfully psychotic Master.

"Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead" (May 2008)

Possibly my two favourite episodes of the entire series, this brilliant duet concerns the Doctor and his new comp Donna visiting a planet-wide library, which turns out to be deserted save for a small group of archeologists and some very dangerous creatures in the shadows. Highly imaginative, highly intense, highly recommended.

"Turn Left" (June 2008)

Dead Doctor, Dead Martha, Dead Sarah Jane Smith, Dead Britain, Concentration Camps, A Life-Sucking Beetle...one the great "Doctor-lite" episodes, and a highly moving experience.

"The Beast Below" (April 2010)

One of the most imaginative and fairy-tale like episodes, and woefully underrated. The Doctor and the pretty Amy Pond travel to a future Space Station Britain where the current Queen (the amazing Sophie Okenedo) is trying to uncover a creepy conspiracy. Shows what real Sci-fi should be.

"

Random Reviews-The Interrupters

It seemed for a while that the city of Toronto was the deadliest place on Earth, when guns started going off everywhere. Turns out, that was nothing compared to the war zone that was, and still is, Chicago. The situation is so bad, the government is considering sending in the National Guard.

Despite all this, "The Interrupters" is actually pretty peaceful. Instead of the good guys shooting and beating on any gangbangers, they talk to them. Just talk. And that actually makes all the difference.

Director Steve James, the same guy you sports fans remember as the director of "Hoop Dreams", tackles yet another story of inner-city life and hardships. He follows three Interrupters, who work for the organization Ceasefire to prevent conflicts: Ameena Matthews, Cobe Williams, and Eddie Bocanegra. All three have tons of street cred and smarts, due to the fact that they all have been former violence causers themselves. Both Ameena and Cobe had influential criminal fathers (Ameena's father, Jeff Fort, was actually one of the most powerful gang leaders of his day), and they followed those dangerous paths in their youth. Also, Eddie is scarred forever by a retaliatory killing he did as a 17-year-old. Now, all three are reformed, and they strive hard to clean their neighborhoods of the disease of violence that has swept the city.

Steve James never shows us much explicit stuff, but he does use the less explicit to it's full potential. We see all these roadside graves, shoddy yet meaningful, covered with the names of those the deceased left behind. We see a funeral for a teenage boy that gets intense, as Ameena takes the oppurtunity to talk with the youth present. The movie doesn't use violence as it's sucker-punch, but it instead hits us with the consequences of this violence. We see people bawling constantly, but we also see the intense emotions of the Interrupters themselves. All three are still finding redemption for themselves, and it's not an easy road. Not for a moment.

The film is very long, but it doesn't feel like it; the pace feels very natural, exactly like real life feels, and the material is involving and provocative enough to carry us well past two hours. We get to see Ameena work a troubled teen through the post-gang stage of her life, Eddie inspire a bunch of elementary-school kids to overcome their surroundings through artwork, and Cobe help out both a regretful teen fresh out of jail as well as a gangster with borderline-schizoprenic emotions called Flamo. There were even more stories just as important as these filmed by James' crew, but they couldn't be included due to time restraints. With so much footage, Steve never runs out of ways to make us seriously think about the violence so close to our homes, in supposedly safe, comfortable North America. As the doctor who began CeaseFire says, violence is no different from every virile disease: those who are hardest hit by the infection must be cured for it to truly be stopped. And if what is shown in the movie continues to happen around America, that hope of a cure might come true.

"The Interrupters" is sad, sometimes strangely funny, down-to-earth, and necessary viewing for everyone who thinks the rash of urban violence cannot be stopped: it can, and, for the sake of the next generation, it must.

As I said, there isn't that much violence in "The Interrupters", but there is plenty of heroism.

Random Reviews: Transformers 3

Rating: 3.5 out of a possible 5

Like Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Doctor Who, Transformers is immortal. Since 1984, when the Autobots and Decepticons (formerly the Micromen and Diaclones in Japan) first premiered in North America, the Robots in Disguise have lived on through cartoons, comic books, fanzines, fan-sites, toy lines, toy line relaunches, and basic love for the entire franchise. And now it has truly come to a head with Michael Bay's/Steven Spielberg's "Transformers 3".

I'm not going to blast or mock this film, like so many critics have; I already did that when I saw it. The point is, you cannot judge "Tr3" as a movie. You can only judge it as an incredibly violent, two-and-a-half hour volley of nonsensical carnage, awesome CGI, and giant robots beating the living tar out of each other. That's why I'm saying "Dark of the Moon" is good: it's completely entertaining, and we also get some brand-new scenes of incredible special effects.

As usual, the plot is very complicated, even for someone who is well-versed in Transformers mythology. In this one, we learn that the REAL reason JFK sent three men to the moon in 1969 was to investigate a giant alien spacecraft, the Autobot ship the Ark, before the Russians got to it. Years later, a shunned Sam Witwicky and his super-hot girlfriend Carly get entangled with the Autobots again, this time helping them to keep the parts for a space bridge (a transdimensional portal) out of the Decepticons' slimy hands, as well as deal with a certain very important Autobot, Sentinel Prime, who was on the Ark. All this leads to an HOUR-LONG battle in a Decepticon-ruled Chicago to stop them from bringing Cybertron to Earth. While the Autobot ranks stay pretty much the same, the Decepticons get an awesome new addition: Shockwave, the single baddest Con we have ever seen (the guy's entire right arm is a laser cannon!). What dissapointed me though was that Shock recieves no lines, that and the fact that Patrick Dempsey does NOT die at the hands of a Decep. I was really looking forward to that.

The first Transformers is still the best, but this one stands out amongst the past two in a completely unexpected way: it's dark. Not "Dark Knight" dark, but still gutsy enough to show scenes with people getting blown apart by invading Decepticons. Perhaps Michael Bay did this on his own, but I suspect Steven had a big say. The Chicago scenes of science-fictional genocide, as well as a killing by firing squad for a Jewish-looking Autobot, Wheeljack, bring to mind similar scenes from "Schindler's List". Also, a scene where Sam and Carly hide from a Decepticon is vaguely like "Jurassic Park", mostly the famous scenes with the Velociraptors. Whether Steven took command a little more or not, I have to give due credit to Michael for the action scenes. I have never seen better sequences of robot-on-robot pounding in my entire life, and it brings pure child-like happiness to my heart. Even better, these Transformers are voiced by Nerd Gods. It is strangely funny and awesome to hear Hugo Weaving start fighting Leonard Nimoy.

All in all, Transformers 3 is exactly what it should be: an adrenaline high of senseless violence. That does not make it a lousy film, but rather, it makes it some kind of a masterpiece of unadulterated, unabashed action cinema. It is not without heart though, and that is what makes it superior to "Revenge of the Fallen", and every other average blow-em-up film. Thankfully, we have been given an incredibly satisfying ending to the Transformers live-action films, just as long as you are not picky.

Best Movie Posters EVER

There was a time when movie posters were not an art form in my eyes. That has drastically changed over the past few years though, as I have come to realize how important that one-sheet is, and how artistic it can be. And now, since I'm too exhausted from 2nd term to write something, I have compiled together my complete collection of great movie posters. Enjooooyyy.... (I apologize for the odd spacing between the posters).