RE: Top 3 movies
August 12, 2015 at 7:11 am
(This post was last modified: August 12, 2015 at 7:51 am by Alex K.)
Alien
Gosford Park
The Fifth Element
---
Alien does everything right. The exposition is breathtaking, it takes its time to establish an atmosphere like few other films I know. I love the score, the way it underlines the mood and themes of the film is almost unparalleled. If I hear the whispy main theme consisting only of two chords played over and over again, I get shivers down my spine and am immediately transported into the film. The portrayal of the quirky crew as a mix of blue collar types and more aloof personnel is great. The monster isn't shown too often. Sigourney Weaver!
Like in most Altman films, there is so much going on in Gosford Park, there are more main characters than I care to count, and in a very appealing upstairs/downstairs framework, all the intrigue, scheming and status differences are mirrored in the realm of the servants, and the two worlds get intermingled in amusing and heart breaking ways. Funny: the Americans observing British society. Great score partly consisting of music by Ivor Novello actually played by character Ivor Novello in the film. Helen Mirren and Maggie Smith at their best.
Ok, the Fifth Element is harder to defend intellectually. Many many social satire details and overall great fun. Gaultier costumes and Gary Oldman! Another movie where I adore the score, which generates a great mood of scifi mystery, drama and grandeur.
---
Disclaimer: ask me on another day and the list might change somewhat. I'd say there are about 10 contenders for place 2 and 3 depending on mood: "Jaws", "Blade Runner", "Die Hard", "Jurassic Park", "Nashville", "Starship Troopers", "Aliens" come to mind... I really like the original Star Wars trilogy and ST II, IV, VI, VIII, but they would be more like honourable mentions. "Stargate" is also in the nostalgic category for me. "Moon" is a great recent science fiction film, but too depressing to watch it as manically often as the others. Don't get me started on my list of guilty pleasures... Die Hard 4 anyone?
Gosford Park
The Fifth Element
---
Alien does everything right. The exposition is breathtaking, it takes its time to establish an atmosphere like few other films I know. I love the score, the way it underlines the mood and themes of the film is almost unparalleled. If I hear the whispy main theme consisting only of two chords played over and over again, I get shivers down my spine and am immediately transported into the film. The portrayal of the quirky crew as a mix of blue collar types and more aloof personnel is great. The monster isn't shown too often. Sigourney Weaver!
Like in most Altman films, there is so much going on in Gosford Park, there are more main characters than I care to count, and in a very appealing upstairs/downstairs framework, all the intrigue, scheming and status differences are mirrored in the realm of the servants, and the two worlds get intermingled in amusing and heart breaking ways. Funny: the Americans observing British society. Great score partly consisting of music by Ivor Novello actually played by character Ivor Novello in the film. Helen Mirren and Maggie Smith at their best.
Ok, the Fifth Element is harder to defend intellectually. Many many social satire details and overall great fun. Gaultier costumes and Gary Oldman! Another movie where I adore the score, which generates a great mood of scifi mystery, drama and grandeur.
---
Disclaimer: ask me on another day and the list might change somewhat. I'd say there are about 10 contenders for place 2 and 3 depending on mood: "Jaws", "Blade Runner", "Die Hard", "Jurassic Park", "Nashville", "Starship Troopers", "Aliens" come to mind... I really like the original Star Wars trilogy and ST II, IV, VI, VIII, but they would be more like honourable mentions. "Stargate" is also in the nostalgic category for me. "Moon" is a great recent science fiction film, but too depressing to watch it as manically often as the others. Don't get me started on my list of guilty pleasures... Die Hard 4 anyone?
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14, KJV revised edition
