In my experience there two types of movie, Good ones and bad ones, but some times a movie, good or bad transcends these barriers and becomes ingrained in the social consciousness of the entity known as ‘pop-culture’
So, in order to aid some people i know and some i don’t i have compiled a list of movies that you should see, some good, some bad but all parodied, quoted and loved much.
Please remember this list is in no particular order.
Indiana Jones, All of them.
Indiana Jones movies are wonderful, every movie shows our pal Indie doing stupid things in the name of archaeology. the franchise has been referenced in everything from Family Guy to Clerks and inspired movies like National Treasure and some would even argue that Indie’s legend inspired Lara Craft to raid some tombs.
The latest Movie was however a shocking example of how not to make an Indiana Jones movie. While fitting nicely into the look and feel of the Indie universe the plot was shockingly bad and Shia labeouf’s character was completely superfluous to the story and served only to irritate. however even with all these faults this movie should be seen.
Napoleon Dynamite.
This movie is stupid. the plot is almost none existent, the acting is dubious and the direction is awful. however all of this is intentional as it serves to make the antics of the characters some how funnier.
Its about a socially awkward family in a socially awkward town all trying to get along. There is also the funniest dance sequence of all time at the end. If you have ever seen a guy wearing a tee shirt with the slogan ‘Vote for Pedro’ or heard some one shout “Tina, Come get some ham” then you simply have to watch this movie its just very very funny not not exactly ‘good’ in the traditional sense of the word.
Clerks.
Clerks was the first movie from director Kevin Smith its as close to what you may call a ‘home made’ film as possible it was self funded and filmed in the shop where Kevin Smith worked. with only two or three paid actors and a collection of friends its a really great movie with an interesting story behind it as well as being the first movie from a now legendary director who’s work is excellent but appears to be a total douche bag in person.
The movie is black and white and the quality is ropy, this gives you a sense of discovery the first time you see it and sets it apart from other ‘life style; movies of the 90’s. its really hard to say anything bad about Clerks.
The Karate Kid (Original not god awful remake).
The Karate kid recently made its way back into the public eye when Jackie Chan and the spawn of Will Smith butchered the story. the karate kid is a classic movie that has dated well. With very little actual violence and a focus on personal development and discipline this movie is great, really, its excellent. so go and find a DVD. But i warn you, do not watch the remake.
Also, as you watch this movie you will come to see the mentor character Mr Miyagi as the legend that he is and finally have a reference for all those Family Guy references.
Star Wars (Original 3).
Its a shame that i have to add this to the list. Star Wars is the movie that defined a generation of science fiction fans. Its the single most important Science fiction movie franchise in history. Watch the original movies, there is no reason not to, and at some point you will come to the realisation that ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ is the best one, and then you can argue that point with heretics who like ‘A New Hope’ Better.
If however you watch the greatest sci-fi movies of all time and don’t think that ‘Empire’ is the best one then you are wrong. feel free to argue this point as much as you like, that is kind of the point after all. Oh, The newer three movies are not so good, another argument that your welcome to engage in.
Full Metal Jacket.
Strangely I don’t really like this movie, however it is a pop-culture gem that everyone i know has seen at least once and have given a reasonable amount of thought as it was one of the first movies to tackle the topic of a soldiers mental turmoil. its also funny in some places and is worth a few hours of your life.
This movie has been referenced and parodied more times than i can count so its probably best to know what tis all about.
Tron.
People have mixed feelings on Tron, I think that that its one of the best movies ever made but lots of people disagree. The visual style of the movie is unique even now its the only movie that looks the way it does. The story is strong but in places its not perfect however it is a great movie that has inspired the visual look of many video games as well as inserted the idea of sentient computing to the public consciousness. watch with an open mind and a pack of aspirin because the neon can get a little overpowering in places. the sequel is a masterwork, that is if you can appreciate the original movie, if not then you should probably skip it.
Stargate.
Stargate is another science fiction masterwork that is often over looked but is the reason for the SG1 franchise that ran for a very long time. the original movie is not very much like the series but i do mean that in a good way.
Kurt Russell is surprisingly great in this movie and that maybe the biggest shock but if you have ever seen an episode of SG1 you really should know what Jack O’neil is supposed to be like.
strangely this movie is not what i consider to be traditional Science fiction its more like a war movie in places and then more like a historical recreation in others. its like ben-hur with space ships and marines.
Wrath of Kharn.
There are some good Star Trek movies and some that can only be described as total crap, but Wrath of Kharn is by far one of the best. its a classic movie that is about two skilled warriors fighting a personal battle against each other using space ships and friends to fight the battle.
Its the best movie of its kind and it should be watched attentively. if you can get hold of the directors edition DVD then all the better, the movie is the same but the extras are great and this movie only making of documentary’s will satisfy your itch.
These are just a handful of the movies that i consider ‘must see’ I’m sure i can top up this list when i have more time but for now you should go and watch any movie that you have not already seen, aslo feel free to throw in any recommendations you have.
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