First off, you've probably noticed I've only been doing movies so far this year. Well, that's because it's difficult enough for me to find the information on films in addition to looking for everything else. From now on I'll mostly be doing movies until the 10th anniversary of this site, in which time I will switch to television shows and other things. Of course, there will be a few small exceptions, including a belated anniversary from June that will shortly follow. In the meantime, please understand that I will eventually get around to honoring all of media. I don't plan on going anywhere for a while.
With that said, let's begin:
20 Years Old This Month
Surf Ninjas - I used to love this movie when it first came out, and while it doesn't age well there's still enough to get some entertainment out of it. there's some good laughs, a few not-so-good ones, but it's harmless enough. I still like it once and a while.
30 Years Old This Month
Risky Business - Not one of my favorite films, but it has a few classic moments, and is worth noting for making Tom Cruise a household name. Much has been made of Cruise's...confusing antics over the years. But the fact remains he's a wonderful actor with a great work ethic. I have nothing but respect for the man, and I just wanted to share that here. Plus, c'mon, who hasn't tried the sliding-in-their-underwear-to-Bob-Seger bit?
40 Years Old This Month
American Graffiti - One of only two George Lucas films I have not actually seen yet *GASP! SHOCK! HORRORS!*, but this was his first big success as well as the filmmaking experience he would go out of his way not to repeat. I don't know much about it other then the fact that it helped inspire such other 50's throwbacks as Happy Days (I mean, there's Ritchie Cunningham right there). I should probably get on that...
Enter the Dragon - Bruce Lee's grand return to the American Cinema would sadly end up being his Swan Song. The film popularized tropes that would carry over into 90% of all Kung-Fu films for the next few decades. I find it a little weird and draggy at parts, but most of the material with Lee himself is top-notch as far as I'm concerned. You know, it has been a while since I've seen it...
Jesus Christ Superstar - I've never seen it, but a reader asked me to give it a shoutout so here it is. I'll get back to you if I ever sit down and watch it.
50 Years Old This Month
The Great Escape - A classic film which I've only ever seen the very depressing end of. I am an uncultured swine. But at any rate, it's getting honored as it should be. It's weird seeing Richard Attenborough so young, and also weird seeing a film about escaping a Nazi prison camp devote so much time to Steve McQueen on a motercycle.
60 Years Old this Month
From Here To Eternity - Yet another classic war film I know only by reputation. But the beachside make-out session that launched a thousand parodies definitely deserves a mention.
God, I just need to have a film festival now, don't I?
American Graffiti is extremely good. I've not seen it in years, unfortunately, but several vignettes still stick in my mind and it's one of my sister's favorite movies.
ReplyDeleteAnd Great Escape...oh goodness I love that movie. I actually have it from Netflix now- should probably watch it sometime soon. Definitely worth seeing the entirety of- every moment is really wonderful (and the score is amazing).
And Jesus Christ Superstar is, of course, my favorite film. So wonderful.
Let it never be said I don't do anything for my readers.
DeleteI do things for myself first, but then the readers ;-)
What IS Risky Business even about? I only know of that one scene that's been parodied to death. And I remember In my senior year of high school all the sophmore girls dressed up like Tom Cruise ' character.
ReplyDeleteAh yes Surf Ninjas......that movie was a trip. I haven't seen the NC review of it in, like, five years.
Risky Business is about a late-teenager who has the house all to himself while his rich parents are away, so he ends up falling in love with a call girl and running a brothel out of his house.
DeleteNight Shift did that dynamic better, I think.