Tom's Top Ten Films.

Captain Pirate

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Ok, so this is my first review, like, ever, so I hope it goes well. First off, if you're looking for some list of 100% good quality classics, you're in the wrong place. These are MY favorite ten movies of my life so far, and are entirely my opinion.

First up, number ten, Green Zone!
So first off, Green Zone. Green Zone is a thriller about US Soldier Roy Miller, who, after several weapons-finding missions which had no weapons, begins to question the source of the US' intelligence, and it's reliability. It's a very good film, with memorable, good characters, such as of course Roy himself, CIA Officer Martin Brown, an Iraqi who provides worhtwile intelligence called Freddie, and the 'bad guy', Al-Rawi. The plot is very conspiracy heavy, easy to grasp, and gripping from beggining to end. Thoroughly enjoyable for those who, like me, aren't exactly the best at getting heavy plots, but like to feel like they are.​

Number Nine, Watchmen
Watchmen, widely considered to be one of, if not the, greatest graphic novel of all time. Now, I tried reading the comic, and say I have a low attention span if you want, couldn't really get into it. I did, however become fascinated by the story, setting and characters, and so eagerly bought and watched the film. Amazing. Watchmen has a memorable story, with a perfectly done twist, and some of the most colourful yet dark characters I've ever seen, nearly all performed flawlessly. Special props to the character of the Comedian, who, throughout the film is shown doing frankly downright evil things, yet oddly you are never angry at him. I guess you have to see the film to truly understand it.​

Number eight, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Ok, at this point I totally understand you being completely confused.
A) It's one of the dreaded Prequels
B) Probably the most forgotten prequel.
Well frankly, I found it enjoyable. The first time I watched it, it appealed in every way to me. It was funny in parts, action heavy in others, had a simple yet memorable story, and some memorable set peices (Coruscant speeder chase, anyone? Battle of Geonosis, perhaps?).
I must be honest, I found the first bit boring, but (apart from the aforementioned Speeder Chase) around where Obi-Wan tries to find out about his missing planet, I became gripped.
Why is the planet not there?! Go Obi, go! And go he did, the Kamino onward truly shocked me. What are those? They look really like stormtroopers, but they're apparantly for the Republic... Oh, I totally see what they did there. The epic-ness that was the battle for Geonosis, the ensuing Lightsaber duels, and the Jango vs Obi-Wan fight sealed it for me. I love this movie.​

Number seven, Blood Diamond
Blood Diamond. I literally only bought and watched this film last night. This film is the one of the deepest action movies I've ever seen. The portrayal of each character as so good I sometimes had trouble thinking if they were from a real-life documentary or not. Set in Seirra Leone during the Daimond war of 1999, this film clearly highlights the Western World's ignorance of what is happening in areas of the world now; innocent people, regardless of age or colour, get commonly mown down in this truly moving film, and the brainwashing of Soloman's son is superbly done. All the three main characters are so very, very cliche yet so very, very different at the same time. Danny Archer, the white south African, is a "fuck the world" type of guy, raised as a soldier in a violent world, his semi-emotional breakdown is the first scene in a film to make me cry. Not full on blubbing, but shedding a tear none the less. Soloman's fight for his family is also moving in it's own way. Unmissable, and a real eye-opener.

Number six, The Matrix
The Matrix. If you don't know it, or any of it's sequels, then I'm curios as to how you fit under that rock for so long. With a well deserved reputation for changing action movies forever, The Matrix is obviously the only action film you need to see.
But that's by no means the only thing it has going for it, no, the philosophical concept will have you questioning our very existence before long, I know it still has me doing the same. Are we living in a computer generated world? Is our whole life, religions, political ideals, are they all false, created by some machine? The truth: We have no way of knowing. And that's why this film'll stick with you long after you get your breath back from the stunning visual effects and fight scenes. A truly ageless modern classic.​

Number five, The Usual Suspects
Ahh, the Usual Suspects. Not much to say really, without spoiling the ending, the ending of which is probably the most memorable and shocking ending you will ever see. If you disagree, please feel free to tell me a more mind blowing finale, as I'm sure if it beats this, then nothing would beat it. The build up is also highly entertaining, with varied criminals all being arrested for a crime the cops can't prove, and so they get released and form up as a gang, taking up jobs until they find themselves in the same trench as a criminal they wish was a myth. Gripping and superb in every aspect, I really have nothing more to say. You really must experience the ending to, well, experience it.[/center]


Number four, Hot Fuzz. Hot-bloody-FUZZ!
Hot Fuzz, Hot Fuzz... truly brilliant. The most interesting yet hilarious story to ever grace my TV, with an all-star cast of British comedy gold, starring the best British comedy duo since... well, I'm not sure really, but they're really great. This film will make you laugh, unless you're made of cement, and the violence and plot advancement are the works of pure genius. If I were to choose something that defines modern British comedy, I'd choose this. Damn near perfect, there is a light-heartedness that cheers you up nearly non-stop throughout the film. The starring characters are also cleverly done; the big-city cop who doesn't stop (Hey, I done a rhyme!) and the small-town cop who thinks all big-city cops are the equivelant to action movie heroes. Cue endlessly funny one liners, jokes and puns, that'll tickle you every time.​


Number three, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Ok now I really can tell you've :O-ing at this bit. Sure, it's a video game movie, sure it may have caused racial "issues" with the whole Jakey's not Persian thing, but i care not. It's good. Very good. Truly, I rank this so highly because there's nothing as memorable as, say, Matrix' action scenes, or the Usual Suspect's ending, but there's nothing I could find that was bad about it either. It was all just good, or very good. The acting is all steller stuff, characters are serious and comedic, yet likeable in equal measure. Mr Gylenhaal does a great English accent, and if this were the first I'd seen of him I'd think he was one of us Brits. The fighting is well done, and sure the pre-finale finale may be video-game fare that doesn't fit as well in a movie, it doesn't detract from the experience. And the experience is a truly enjoyable one. Every minute of it.​

Number two, Paranormal Activity
This film is truly terrifying. In my opinion, it revitalises true horror. It seems to me many modern "horror" movies aren't terrifying, just vomit inducing, with a lot of blood and stereotypical "Ahh it's a mass murder omg haaalp" shit in them. Which isn't scary. Sure it may make you jump, and you may get grossed out by seeing the guy get his limbs cut off and eaten, but you won't get scared as you will with Paranormal Activity. I nearly shat myself once or twice watching this film, I'll admit, it's a truly scary movie. The pacing, the use of lighting and filming will make you gasp with shock, close your eyes and grab onto the nearest cuddleable object on more than one occasion. What's more scary, however is how it was done. On a budget of thousands, with some of the most respected horror authors of all time, I hear you ask? No, nothing like. It was done with a $15,000 budget, and shot in San Diego home, directed by a guy who helped make Mortal Kombat 3. No, seriously. But enough typing, watch this. And to get the full experience, watch it at night, with the lights out. Preferably with a friend or two.

Numero Uno, it's Kick-Ass.
Kick-ass. A truly kickass movie, no pun intended. Frankly, everything about this movie is the definition of the word Awesome. The violence is punchy, in your face, and fast, yet followable and gives you a good chance to see every last bit of it. The characters are bold, striking and gritty, with an extra drop of realism and humanity about each and every one, all acted out extemely well to every last detail. The story is comedic, yet serious and gritty. Dave, a high school boy in America, dreams, like all of us, to become a superhero. Only he goes through with it. He starts of badly though, and there's a real sense that this film is here to not just kill cliche's, but wipe them off the face of the earth.
Unoriginal, this isn't. This takes the extreme action of many modern Comic book movies, and the gritty, dark, realistic side of the new Batman, and blends them together with the force of a moving truck into a sandwiched ball of pure undeinable awesome. See it. Now.
Special props to the soundtrack; the fight scene with the Prodigy blaring was the most awesome experience I've ever had at a cinema, that shit was louuuud, bro.​


Thanks for reading, and thanks to Anarchemitis for letting me use his Top Ten films idea.
Note: I apologize if I came across at any point like a film boffin; I'm not. The only reason I may have seemed so was to try and persuade you to watch these movies, and I wholeheartedly recomend every one of them. Except Star Wars 2. That's not for everyone, I understand that.
And sorry if it was a little TL;DR.
 

Anarchemitis

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-No need to apologise
-Strengthen (or add to lack of) points as to why the movies are positioned the way they are on your list.
-Any particular reason why all of the movies in this list were made in the last nine years?
-Think you'd enjoy Patton [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patton_%28film%29]?
 

Captain Pirate

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Thanks for the suggestion, if I do anything like this again I'll remember that. I guess I was pretty vague as to why they're all in the positions they are. I mainly don't think of my top tens in any positions because I find it hard to decide.
Most of the movies were from within last decade because... well, not sure, because I'm not really into older movies much I guess, with some exceptions, and because I prefer watching films in the cinema than on DVD, so I guess I just saw them because they're recent-ish.
And I've never heard of Patton, thanks for telling me about it.
 

Captain Pirate

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Mmm... yeah, I guess so, but there's just something about older movies that puts me off. I don't know what it is, just, I found most things from the 80s backwards just make me want to turn the film off. I'll try Patton though, if it's as iconic as has been said, I think I could bear it.