Movies to see before you die

There is nothing quite like a list of something to get the blood boiling. When that list happens to be of movies, and is called the 100 movies to see before you die, well you can imagine I was like a moth to a flame.

This Yahoo list is pretty good though. In fact I have seen 74 out of the full 100. When it comes to lists of great movies, I normally have far more issue with some of the choices. But this list is very much on the mark.

But they did get a few wrong.

Like Princess Monoke. A very good anime film. But not something you must see before death. I'd substitute that with Akira or Ghost in the Shell. Both are dazzling in the story and art. Far more compelling anime.

They touched on martial arts films, including Bruce Lee's Enter The Dragon. A true classic. But not the only style of martial arts film worthy of viewing. For a story that is completely different yet deep in thought and martial arts try Circle of Iron as an addition to your top 100 list.

I have to be excited about this list as they included one of my favorite films, and one that most people never heard of. M. That is a classic and groundbreaking. It may be old and sub-titled, but it is powerful cinema and that's what matters.

The list leaves out The Princess Bride, which I think is great on a comedic and swashbuckling level. And they did not include a universal classic The Adventures of Robin Hood. How can they not have Errol Flynn's most renown role.

Still the list does have Blazing Saddles and Do The Right Thing. Something I'm glad to see as films starring Black actors or directors normally seem to not exist in these kinds of lists.

Though they ignored Malcolm X, by Spike Lee. There is a reason why this was Denzel Washington's first Oscar nominated role (which he was robbed of), and why the movie itself was robbed of an Oscar Award. Once you see it I think you will agree.

I like that the list includes: the original 12 Angry Men, Alien, Apocalypes Now, Blade Runner, Bridge on the River Kwai, Die Hard, Dr. Strangelove, The Matrix, The Lord of the Rings, the original King Kong (one of the first films I ever saw and remember to this day), Groundhog Day, It's a Wonderful Life, Lawrence of Arabia, M.A.S.H. (yes it was a movie long before it was a television show), Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Animal House, Nosferatu (second film I recall ever seeing), Schindler's List, Seven Samurai, Some Like It Hot, Star Wars (the first of the series in 1977), To Kill A Mockingbird, and Usual Suspects. I find them all to be essential films that everyone should see at least once.

Also included in that list of core movies (besides the others I mentioned above) that everyone should see is Being There. A Peter Sellers film unlike anything he did before it. This is comedy of a cerebral nature yet enjoyable just to watch and eat popcorn with.

Overall this list is very good. One of the better lists to come out of Yahoo. But it isn't perfect. At least to me. And I think if you take the time to compare the movies I would add to the list, you'll see how much better it becomes in total.

Rebirth of the swashbuckler - 5.23.2007.2

Tomorrow is the premiere of the blockbuster hit Pirates of the Caribbean : At World’s End. Obviously it will be a blockbuster, I’m going to see it tomorrow along with millions of people across the country and world. Mr. Johnny Depp is phenomenal as Captain Jack Sparrow. He makes the movie work. The rest of the cast are no slouches either, but his character stands out. Of course I expect little else for an actor that has made a career of taking highly unusual characters and making them inviting to watch.

Because of this performance many are announcing the return of the pirate and swashbuckling movie. I’m sure movie studios are itching for next year or after that to come out with their own high seas adventure. Nothing is copied as often as a successful movie genre. Airplane led to disaster movies, Jaws to beast attacks, Halloween to the current horror fest (and of course a remake). But there is one thing I wanted to mention. Mr. Johnny Depp did not bring back swashbucklers, Mr. Cary Elwes did.

Some of you may be saying who? You may recall him from Oxford Blues with Mr. Rob Lowe, or Days of Thunder with Mr. Tom Cruise. Not ringing a bell, hmm? What about Glory with Mr. Morgan Freeman, Mr. Denzel Washington, and Mr. Mathew Broderick? Well if you have ever seen The Princess Bride I know you recall the Dread Pirate Wesley.

Better than Mr. Johnny Depp and the Pirates films? Inconceivable! Not really. You can’t compare the 2, but both are amazing works filled with great actors and memorable imagery. The Princess Bride is a classic film in the style of the original swashbuckler (or me at least) Robin Hood. Not the crappy remake by Mr. Kevin Costner, but the movie starring Mr. Errol Flynn. That movie defined what a swashbuckling/pirate movie is supposed to be, and every movie before The Princess Bride failed miserably to fulfill that image. Of course if you watched Mr. Elwes go you can see why Hollywood was dying for a good script to carry on the concept. Humor, romance, a touch of drama in the background and of course the hero dies – sound like anything you’ve seen of late?

I am a fan of Mr. Depp. I enjoyed the Pirates series as much as anyone, and I’m anticipating a wonderful time at the 3rd film. Still I can realize that it wasn’t the reason that swashbucklers are back. As the countless films come out in the near future that rip-off this concept, as you watch the DVD’s and Video on Demand, take a moment to recall that there was a pirate in the past as famous as Captain Jack. Hey, who knows, you might even take a moment to watch the movie and see what I mean. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

This is what I think, what do you think?