If you thought it was only music and television that I had interest in, think again. I do happen to have a decent interest in the cinema as well, along with the tiniest bit of knowledge about it. But much like both music and television, my taste in film can pretty much be described in the same way. Broad yet selective. I can like most genres of film so long as the specific elements of any particular film I'm watching are ones I can connect really well with. Hence why these ten movies I focus on that I've enjoyed the most over the years are quite different from each other. These ones I have either grown up with or managed to find some connections to at a very late age. It can be the characters, the story or simply what it can involve (e.g. Magic and imagination). There are times when I can see what most others do in a movie, but there are also times when certain films get a stronger reaction out of me. It all comes from how deeply I connect with them. Allow me to share some of these connections with you:
Alice In Wonderland (2010)
Directed by Tim Burton & Screenplay by Linda Woolverton
Alice Kingsleigh (Mia Wasikowska) is no ordinary girl. She grows up, long believing her dreams are a reality. But after losing her father, she is pushed ever so harder into accepting that they aren't real. Along with it comes an arranged marriage within a high-class society. Not knowing how to accept the proposal, Alice instead takes the option of following a white rabbit down a hole to a place eerily similar to the one of her dreams. A world beneath the Earth's surface called 'Underland', full of strange characters with a few having awaited her arrival including the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp). But things don't go so smoothly, as Alice's identity is often left to be questioned. It then becomes a race against time as 'Frabjous Day' approaches, the day that will determine the fate of Underland. It's up to Alice to prove she's the one who will save all by slaying the Jabberwocky and helping the White Queen (Anne Hathaway) win back control of the land from her relentless sister, the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter).
It's not often when a Tim Burton project gets my full attention. When I was presented with one of the trailers to this movie back in 2009, I was yearning to observe the entire thing. Getting to do so come the release of it on DVD, I was not left disappointed. I knew to expect something very outlandish since it was a take on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. But unlike the other versions I have seen of the tale, the dreariness of the world along with the surreal and wacky components in this one kept me enthralled from start to finish. I absolutely loved how the language correlated with the bizarre, washed-out setting. I too found appreciation for the added dimensions given by Johnny Depp to the Mad Hatter, making him more than just 'mad'. Same with Hathaway and the White Queen not only being all about elegance. The childish, uptight attitude of the Red Queen seemed very logical. And each of the supporting characters had their own separate qualities that prevented them from clashing with each other and coming off as tedious. Yes it didn't exactly win many of the critics over. I however am able to detect the effort put into every little detail. The time and money spent saw a final product so unique and worthy of praise.
Cool Runnings (1993)
Directed by Jon Turteltaub & Loosely Based on a True Story
Derice Bannock (Leon Robinson) has long dreamed to compete in the Olympics and represent his country of Jamaica as a sprinter. But when he fails at the Olympic trial, he looks at another way to show his colours to the world. With best friend and Jamaican push cart champion Sanka Coffie (Doug E. Doug), the two seek out the help of disgraced American bobsledder and two-time gold medalist Irving Blitzer (John Candy), as they plan on making history. To swap the summer sun for the winter cold and become part of Jamaica's first ever bobsled team. Of course it doesn't come without the ridicule from almost everyone around them. But they, along with recruits Junior Bevil (Rawle D. Lewis) and Yul Brenner (Malik Yoba) believe that it isn't impossible to win over the world's respect and etch their names in the history books.
For a while, I never heard of Cool Runnings. I wasn't even familiar with the true story of Jamaican bobsledders. But that all changed when I was shown the film within my final months of primary school. It was then I immediately found myself tied to it. I was like 'I have to get this movie for my collection. It's too good to turn my back on'. So it wasn't long after, I purchased it on DVD. Cool Runnings is the type of movie that might seem common but it isn't. It's a powerful story decorated with things that do nothing but make one smile. Bright colours and bubbly attitudes almost everywhere one looks. It's a movie complete with contents so different from one another, yet they're tied together very well. It could merely be the embodiment of a family-friendly work of art. Even though it was released way before I was born, it was as if it was made for me. So much so, that I tend to believe it of all movies has had the greatest impact on my life. Hadn't I come across Cool Runnings the way I did, I honestly don't know where I'd be right now. Not seeing it for myself would certainly have been an unmitigated disaster.
Ghost (1990)
Directed by Jerry Zucker, Produced by Lisa Weinstein & Written by Bruce Joel Rubin
Sam Wheat (Patrick Swayze) and Molly Jensen (Demi Moore) are a healthy couple deeply in love with each other. They decide to renovate and apartment in Manhattan (New York) and call it home. After moving in, things are looking well until one night Sam gets mugged and killed by gunshot in front of Molly while both are walking home. Sam becomes a ghost, with no way a reaching out to Molly. But it doesn't stop him from trying to protect her whilst figuring out the truth behind his cause of death. He comes across Oda Mae Brown (Whoopi Goldberg), a mountebank with a criminal history who goes on to discover through Sam of her ability to communicate with the deceased. The two work together to ensure that Molly remains safe and that the people responsible for Sam's death are brought to justice.
My family originally had this recorded on VHS. I remember taking it now and then from the shelves and watching it on my own VCR back when I was just finishing primary school. Truth be told, I shouldn't have done so as I was a little too young to be watching this sort of film. But there were a few things about Ghost that really caught my full attention. The beautiful romance, the intensity of the back half, Whoopi's incredible acting, the occasional funny moments, etc. But I think the most alluring aspect would have to be the heart-wrenching final minutes with the original, orchestral version of 'Unchained Melody' composed by Alex North, playing in the background. My mother still tears up every time she watches that bit and I do sometimes as well. I personally loved the film so much, that it led to me calling for it on DVD. To view it in better quality whenever I wanted to. It has taught me the importance of love, trust and believing in spiritual life. While the film can depress me on the odd occasion given the topic it focuses around (life and death), it still remains in my opinion as an underrated masterpiece.
Happy Gilmore (1996)
Directed by Dennis Dugan & Produced by Robert Simonds
Adam Sandler plays Happy Gilmore, an ill-tempered ice hockey enthusiast who can't ever seem to make a career out of the sport he loves. His poor attitude along with his lack of both skill and success would see him lose his girlfriend. The pressure further mounts on after he learns his grandmother (Frances Bay) failed to pay taxes for a few years, which results in her house being repossessed along with everything inside. This pushes Happy to try harder making some money, even if it meant playing a sport he usually loathes; golf. With the help of ex-professional golfer Chubbs Peterson (Carl Weathers), Happy changes his sticks for clubs and takes advantage of his incredible drives, doing everything he can to get his grandmother's house back. But things take an interesting turn when one of the current stars and hot favourites to win the tour in Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald) gets in his way.
Whenever I think of Adam Sandler, this is the first thing that comes to mind. One of the more-grounded comedy films, filled with natural humour and many iconic scenes. The soundtrack is unforgettable. The celebrity cameos and product placements are so welcoming. There is not one moment where I sit through this entire film without laughing at least once. One time it might be Shooter's frustration. Another time it might be the heckler or even the fight involving Bob Barker. On top of all this, Happy is one of Sandler's very few characters that doesn't seem to irritate me as much. My brother and I have constantly pulled moments out of this movie over the years and laughed about them. I even shared the joy of Happy Gilmore with friends and other fellow students at school. It was another film recorded on VHS that I simply had to enjoy in better quality on DVD (a good thing too since a couple of scenes were cut from the version recorded on video). Without a doubt, I consider this to be the best film Sandler has done so far and I believe it will be very difficult to top it.
Johnny English (2003)
Directed by Peter Howitt & Written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and William Davies
The star of Mr. Bean and Blackadder Rowan Atkinson, becomes a passionate yet clumsy spy for her majesty's secret service; MI7. He is known as Johnny English. In the first of three films, Johnny is assigned a task to protect the Queen's crown jewels, which are threatened to be stolen whilst on display at the Tower of London. But after failing to do so, it leads to a chain of events that sees the Queen's time on the throne in jeopardy. It's all left in the hands of Johnny, his partner on field in Angus Bough (Ben Miller) and INTERPOL agent Lorna Campbell (Natalie Imbruglia) to save the country and the world from one's evil and twisted plan.
You could say I am a huge fan of Rowan Atkinson and his work. It all started with Mr. Bean when I was very young, as a few episodes were recorded on video. Then came an entire box set of Mr. Bean content which included the entire live action series and the two full-length feature films (Bean: The Movie & Mr. Bean's Holiday). But over the years I looked towards Atkinson's work outside of the popular character. It ended up seeing me collect both the entire series of Blackadder and The Thin Blue Line. I also have loose clips of his work both on stage and on Not The Nine O'Clock News. I greatly admire Atkinson for how simple yet perfect his comedy is. From facial expressions to his emphasis in certain words. He never has to overdo it in the comedy business. Many consider him as a modern Charlie Chaplin. While Atkinson himself sets very high expectations and strives for perfection all while dismissing any work he has little control over, almost every single one of his performances is highly praised amongst the people. And Johnny English is just one of the many projects of his that I deeply fell in love with.
While I thoroughly enjoyed the sequel and anticipate the third film, it's the original that gets the most chuckles out of me. For some reason I felt like the humour came out stronger and a little more frequently in this one. A few of the scenes are easier to recall and they seem to resonate better when I share a laugh about them with a couple of my friends. I even still laugh a little when I think about them at any moment, in particular the scene where Johnny English breaks into the wrong building and the other one shortly after where he confuses himself with the truth serum and muscle relaxant rings. Plus, I found Pascal Sauvage (John Malkovich) as a much more memorable antagonist compared to the sequel's one in Simon Ambrose (Dominic West). The film may have not been as well received by critics, but then again, most comedy films aren't as it's all a matter of taste (read here for a little more about this: The Devotion To Emotion). In my eyes, Rowan Atkinson can do no wrong.
Rat Race (2001)
Directed by Jerry Zucker & Written by Andy Breckman
Donald Sinclair (John Cleese), a wealthy billionaire and eccentric owner of The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, organises a game to gamble with other rich businessmen. He places six tokens within selected machines in the casino, and the winners of the tokens are informed of a chance to become two million dollars richer. A duffel bag containing the money in cash is left stored inside a locker at a train station in Silver City, New Mexico. The racers are left with finding anyway they can to travel more than 500 miles and reach the prize first. A race between the narcoleptic Italian Enrico Pollini (Rowan Atkinson), the disgraced Armerican football referee Owen Templeton (Cuba Godding Jr.), the adoring single mother Vera Baker (Whoopi Goldberg), the scamming rogue Duane Cody (Seth Green), the somewhat prim attorney Nicholas Schaffer (Breckin Meyer) or the irresponsible family tourist Randy Pear (Jon Lovitz).
Rat Race was what I once believed to be a gold nugget. It was hard to find for a while and rarely was it ever played on free-to-air television when I was younger. But I didn't ever stop trying to find it in hopes of getting a better view for myself. In the end I found a copy, and didn't hesitate one bit to take it home with me. Rat Race is not the sort of film that is made often. A comedy brought by an ensemble of numerous highly respected actors and comedians. Most ensemble movies today are usually just romances or a series of short separate films bundled up together. But this one is special, and sort of reminiscent to the much older works such as Around The World In 80 Days and It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. Not to mention it features both Rowan Atkinson and John Cleese, two of UK's comedic royalty. Along with them is Whoopi Goldberg and Seth Green, another two I have huge respect for. I find Rat Race to be a super fun getaway, with many hilarious moments that even leave my friends gasping for air. Absolutely underrated! And get this, I was amazed to find out that this film was directed by the same man that directed Ghost (two out of only six films Zucker had directed). These were two films I held separate interest in and never did I connect them in any way.
Tarzan (1999)
Directed by Kevin Lima & Chris Buck, Produced by Bonnie Arnold & Based on the novel Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs
The story of a young human boy, who raised by gorillas. His parents escape their burning ship and land on the shores of DR Congo. They manage to build a tree house for the family to live in. However, the parents are killed by a leopard and their baby boy is left all alone up in the tree house. That is until Kala (Glenn Close), a female gorilla who lost her child to the same leopard, hears its cries. She finds the infant and escapes with him back to the herd. Named Tarzan (Tony Goldwyn), the baby boy grows up with the gorillas and other jungle animals, but finds himself now and then questioning his difference in appearance. It later resurfaces when some human explorers arrive, a group which includes the much-admired Jane Porter (Minnie Driver). However, leader of the band Kerchak (Lance Henriksen) suspects the humans are here to threaten the gorillas' way of life.
When it comes to Walt Disney's traditional animated features, the last of the Renaissance period was the one I gave my heart to. Perhaps because it was because Tarzan was one of only two Disney animated films we owned on video (the other being Pinocchio, which I enjoyed but not as much when compared). And I'm guessing my mother chased after it because Phil Collins performed the soundtrack (an artist she quite enjoys listening to, as do I right now). My joy for Tarzan felt quite natural, and like most others I learnt more and more about it as I grew older. Each time I watched it, I was picking up something new and unfamiliar. First it be the clarity of the lines and lyrics of the songs and then the strength of the messages about identity and difference. One of the last things I'd come to realise was the presence of some pretty dark implications and visuals such as Sabor killing Tarzan's biological parents and the shadow of a lifeless Clayton (Brian Blessed) hanging from a vine. Sheesh! Nevertheless, I never lost interest in the film. As a matter of fact, I gained more as time went by. Tarzan is amazingly well-detailed, funny, intense and remains as one of Disney's more underrated successes.
Toy Story (1995)
Directed by John Lasseter
Andy (John Morris) loves playing with all his toys. But his favourite toy of all would be his cowboy doll; Sheriff Woody (Tom Hanks). When Andy isn't around, all the toys come to life and anticipate the next play session. But things go awry when a new toy by the name of Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) arrives as a birthday present for Andy before he and the family moves house. All the toys are intrigued bar Woody, who becomes jealous and concerned with his status as Andy's favourite toy. Woody's long-lasting battle with Buzz sees both disappear on Andy and end up right in the hands of next-door neighbour Sid (Erik von Detten), a young boy who seeks amusement through torturing toys. Woody and Buzz are then left to sort out their differences and work together to escape Sid's house in one piece and get to Andy before he and his family shift to their new home.
Trainspotting (1996)
Directed by Danny Boyle, Produced by Andrew Macdonald, Screenplay by John Hodge & Based on the novel of the same name by Irvine Welsh
In an economically troubled region of Scotland, Mark Renton (nicknamed 'Rent Boy') (Ewan McGregor) fights an ongoing heroin addiction whilst living in squalor. But it becomes even harder than he expects, especially with drug-influenced friends Daniel Murphy (nicknamed 'Spud') (Ewen Bremner) and Simon Williamson (nicknamed 'Sick Boy') (Jonny Lee Miller) now and then weighing him down. Not to forget the extremely aggressive and occasionally psychotic Francis Begbie (nicknamed 'Franco') (Robert Carlyle), who has a knack for violence and criminal behaviour. Whichever way it is, it's all up to Renton to cleanse himself of his unhealthy life choices.
Twenty years after Trainspotting, a follow-up would be released. I chose to view the trailer to it on YouTube, though I will admit that it was only me having a look at some of Carlyle's work outside of Once Upon A Time. I tried to see if I could make anything out of it, because I at the time didn't even come to watch the first movie. But most of the people in the comment section were recommending that others who hadn't seen Trainspotting to go and check it out. Some even mentioned how it influenced them to keep well away from drugs. Though avoiding drugs was something I decided long before I set an eye on the movie, I still took the opportunity in seeing it when it aired on TV (around the time the new one was being promoted). Like most films, it took a few minutes to really invest in it. But coming out of the viewing, I was surprised with my response. I could see what others saw and I could feel that necessary pain and discomfort. Trainspotting isn't exactly a film I thought I'd be well into, but it happened. It even saw me hurrying to chase after the sequel. Bought both parts at once, without having seen much of the second.
Zootopia (2016)
Directed by Byron Howard & Rich Moore, Screenplay by Jared Bush & Phil Johnston
In this animated adventure we follow Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), a bunny rabbit that long aspires to be a police officer of the Zootopia Police Department. But both along the way and reaching that goal, she comes to realise that the city and its inhabitants weren't initially what she thought they would be. She however remains undeterred and fights hard to solve her first missing mammals case, later upon learning that it is a part of an even bigger problem that threatens the entire city of Zootopia. Of course she doesn't do it alone, as she enlists the help of fox and con-artist Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman). The two embark on a journey throughout the city to not just solve the problem, but prove to everyone that any mammal, big or small, predator or prey, can achieve anything if they put their mind to it.
I am not going to dig too deep into this one because I already have (ZOOTOPIA: The Best In Animation). However, there is no ignoring this one and how it managed to stand out for me compared to most films over the past few years. Let's get one thing straight here. I am NOT a 'Furry', nor am I part of any 'Furry' fandom. And I don't have any problem with anyone who is. But the truth is, one doesn't have to be a 'Furry' to enjoy this animated feature for what it is. This is sheer perfection. An inviting world, full of diverse creatures, two likable main characters, an amazingly expansive score and an extremely powerful story to go with it all. It's nearly impossible to hate anything here. This film achieved more than what most expected, and rightly so. It's relatable. It's educational. It can reflect on today's society and most importantly. It aims to entertain. If you have not seen Zootopia, I highly recommend it. You might not end up liking it as much as I do, but it's always worth the shot. Never did I think that I'd find myself liking a recently-made film as much as I did with this one.
Honourable Mentions:
Ginger Snaps (2000)
I don't know what it is, but I am just not as into horror films. I'd be lying if they didn't scare me a little at times, but I tend to think it's due to the overwhelming clichés used in most of them (e.g. the overpowering monsters, the poor choices made by characters and the predictable direction of the stories). But if I have to choose one horror flick to stick with for the rest of my life, it would be this Canadian-made one about two sisters Brigette (Emily Perkins) and Ginger (Katherine Isabelle) and a werewolf bite to the eldest that slowly begins to suppress their relationship. It's not an overly scary movie nor is it well-known, but I tend to find both the progression and ending to be things that set a good example for horror films in general.
Grease (1978)
There was a period during eighth grade when I almost wore out my mother's disc of this film. It was a time when music class was even showing it to me. I was enjoying getting an idea of the 1950's rock'n'roll era along with the style, the language and the overall atmosphere. It was one of the more recognised musical works featuring Australia's own Olivia Newton-John. It may come across to the majority of today's generation as cheesy and over the top, but I manage to see beyond that most of the time. Didn't list it as one of my top ten films though due to not having returned to it much since.
The Lion King (1994)
It would be a criminal act for me to not even mention this one here. However, I must admit the sad truth. I did not grow up with The Lion King and it was never shown to me as a kid. But one of my brother's best friends was known to have many movies burnt on DVD. His family having left a few behind for us, I gradually got to check some of them out growing up. The Lion King was included in this bunch. I never actually noticed how successful it was, nor did I figure out why it was so well-praised. That was until I watched it during my teenage years. There came a couple of periods when this movie was on loop in my DVD player. While not a completely original tale, this animated sensation gets my respect through its visual beauty and epic score. Along with that comes a highly talented voice cast and some of Disney's most recognisable songs. The Lion King is a movie I never connected that strongly with given how late to the party I was, but it was one of the easiest to connect with. The reasons why were pretty much the same ones shared by everybody else.
Travis "TJ" James
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