five movies i love
ocean's eleven (2001)
i couldn't tell you exactly how many times i've watched this movie. my love of heist films began with this one and i'm constantly on the lookout for something that will wow me as much as this did the first time i watched it, and only one or two have come close. this movie is legitimately a problem for me because once i get started i have to finish the entire trilogy. the sequels aren't quite as good and i don't care much for julia roberts as an actress, but this movie has a special place in my heart as my introduction to my favorite genre.
beginners (2010)
man, where do i begin to try to describe how superbly made this film is? beginners doesn't feel so much like a movie but an intimate glimpse into a person's memories. not only does this movie have two of my favorite actors, melanie laurent and ewan mcgregor, it has a fantastic soundtrack and moments that will stay with you long after the credits roll. a simple plot summary could hardly do this movie justice, i recommend everyone to take some time to watch it!
kiss kiss bang bang (2005)
an endlessly quotable and infinitely rewatchable film directed by shane black, who also recently directed iron man 3. robert downey jr. and val kilmer are an hilarious and unlikely pair, and the dark humor in this film is unlike any other. this movie is seriously underrated, especially now that robert downey jr. is such a huge name in hollywood. kiss kiss bang bang takes the best elements of noir, mystery, buddy-cop, romance and ties it all together with the magic of christmas. i'm serious, go watch it right now.
hero (2002)
there's absolutely nothing in the world i love more than a good wuxia film, especially since they're so hard to come by. there needs to be the right balance of outlandish, over-the-top elements and a certain sense of restraint. it's kind of embarrassing how much i love the story of an assassin that just wants a quiet life, but had to complete one last job before they can retire in peace, which wuxia films usually all about. hero takes a slightly different approach to this story, following a nameless assassin who is granted audience with the emperor. along with its stunning cinematography, beautifully choreographed fight scenes and a story that will leave you speechless by the end, i can't think of a better introduction to the wuxia genre.
summer wars (2009)
this movie is another grossly underrated movie that i love to recommend to my friends. if you're familiar with 'the girl who leapt through time', this movie is made by the same director. a beautifully animated film about a family, virtual reality and a really intense game of hanafuda. it somehow manages to capture the feeling of summer vacation perfectly, which is nice when you're feeling a little under the weather. if you like any of the miyazaki movies, you'll definitely like this as well.
movies i wish i never watched
midnight in paris (2011)
the movie was mediocre at best, a little heavy handed on delivering its message with an ending that felt rushed to me. what really puts me off about the movie was its utter wasted potential. it had a cast of great actors and what could have been a great story, but instead they cast owen wilson as an entirely pathetic and unlikable lead that made the movie almost unwatchable for me, not to mention most of the characters in the present time were the human equivalent of the sound of nails being scraped across chalk board. i'm not entirely sure other people watched the same movie as i did. the only redeeming quality of the entire movie was adrien brody's fantastic portrayal of dali.
wu xia (dragon) (2011)
this movie has three or four different titles that it goes by, each making less sense than the last. after watching hero, which quickly became on of my most favorite films and introduction to the wuxia genre, i was excited to watch this one, which features two actors i was already familiar with. it starts off great, with well choreographed action sequences and all the makings of what could have been a great psychological action thriller. instead, the second act of the movie deteriorates into a senseless hack and slash action flick with none of the style and flair of the wu xia genre. it tries to accomplish too many things at once and collapses in on itself, which is a real shame since it showed so much potential.
the deep blue sea (2011)
an artfully shot, 98 minute long travesty about two adults who behave like whiny teenagers. it's true i'm not a huge fan of the romance or drama genre of films, but this was probably as bad as any of the nicholas sparks films plot-wise. absolutely frustrating and terribly paced, with characters so unlikeable that you wish the movie would end with a tarantino-style massacre. i don't know what they were trying to accomplish with this movie, or why how it even won two awards.
himizu (2011)
i had been really looking forward to watching 'himizu' since it was directed by the same director of 'love exposure', a film i enjoyed immensely. set in a post-apocalyptic japan, a boy becomes a sort of a vigilante against what he views as 'evil-doers'. i'll be straight up with you, i didn't understand the point of the movie. it was three hours of discomfort for me, as the majority of the time the male protagonist (yuichi) was physically abusive to the female protagonist (keiko). not only did yuichi hit keiko more than once, the violence was really abrupt and out of no where and often it was when keiko was trying her best to help yuichi through some tough spots. the most frustrating thing was near the end of the movie when keiko and yuichi shared a romantic moment when yuichi had not apologized or even recognized that he was abusive to her. the film absolutely dragged for three hours, i think i had to watch it in two or three sittings, which i hate doing. i kept thinking it would get better but it just kept getting worse. don't watch it.
the best offer (2013)
you can read my review for it here, but yeah, it was that bad.
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