![](//graphics.gaiaonline.com/images/posts/say/say_b1_p.gif) |
Everyone has their top ten favorite movies that they think will stand the test of time. What movies are on your list for the Top Ten Movies of the Decade and why?
My list goes like this: #10: Dancer in the Dark Reason: This is the saddest movie I've ever seen! I wasn't affected the first time because I watched it on YouTube, which doesn't have the best sound quality. The second time, however, I was crying like a baby. The story is so-so and the other actors do what they can with their roles, but Bjork, who plays the most sympathetic main character in movie history, Selma Jezkova, was born for this role. She is absolutely brilliant and the music is aching and mesmerizing!
#9: The Passion of the Christ Reason: I'm Catholic, so this movie means a lot to me. It's very powerful and it doesn't sugarcoat a single detail about Jesus' Passion. I hate movies that try to take it easy on the audience. This movie did not do that. It's very straightforward about Jesus' sacrifice for the sake of the whole world. Jim Cavizel, who plays Jesus, gives a fantastic and powerful performance. Warning: You cannot watch this movie casually and you probably shouldn't want it alone or at night. It's been two years since I've watched it and I'm still reeling from it. Overall this is a powerful movie that, if you're ready for it, you should seek it out.
#8: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe Reason: I saw it at the El Capitan and I couldn't get enough of it. Having seen this movie eight times when it was in theaters (I took friends to see it), despite the dark stuff (Aslan dying, the wolves, the Witch, etc) this is a wonderful adventure with magic, humor, and imagination! It doesn't try to be what it's not and it's faithful to C.S. Lewis' epic classic. This is a movie for anyone and everyone!
#7: Finding Nemo Reason: I'm not a Pixar person, but this is a hilarious movie! Unlike a lot of comedies, this one never loses its charm and comic steam. You're laughing and charmed all the way to the end!
#6: I Am David Reason: It took me twice to really love this movie. I was so-so the first time, but when I gave it a second try, I ended up loving it. It's not the most exciting movie, but it is a very moving. The lead role, Ben Tibber, who plays a little boy named David, gives a silent but incredible performance. This movie takes it time in a non-boring way. I never felt emotionally detached from little David and its a great family film.
#5: Bella Reason: I heard about this movie at church, so I decided to check it out. I'm glad I did. Bella is a very geniune, moving film about people doing the right thing. It's not corny and overdramatized and the acting doesn't feel contrived. It's a sincere, sentimental movie that parents, grandparents, kids, and grandkids will enjoy.
#4: Les Miserables (the 1998 version with Liam Neeson, Geoffery Rush, Uma Thurman, and Claire Danes) Reason: My mom got the movie from a friend and, just because I love her, I watched it with her. I thought I was gonna be bored, but I ended up loving every minute of it. If you like amazing acting, this is the movie for you! The acting is flawless and terrific, the movie is pretty faithful to the original, and the music is epic and lovely. It's two and a half hours, but trust me, it's the best two and a half hours you'll ever spend watching a movie! Don't watch it unless you have two and a half hours to do so because once you start watching it, it's so mesmerizing that you just can't turn it off.
#3: The Lives of Others (German title: Das Leben der Anderen) Reason: I discovered this movie while looking up another movie (funny how that works, huh?) I read the plot and I thought it looked interesting. I saw the movie and loved it! The Lives of Others is a nicely crafted, brilliantly written film from Germany. Martina Gedeck and Sebastian Koch give modest performaces, but Ulrich Muhe gives a silent and phenomenal. You know what he's thinking without him saying a word! The writing is excellent and the music is clever and mysterious. The opening sequence is disturbing and mesmerizing. My only knock on this movie is that after the opening sequence the first fifteen minutes are very slow and it takes a bit of patience to sit through it. After the first fifteen minutes the movie takes off from there and gets better and better. It is a film I would recommend for a first-time filmmaker or screenwriter. It is a fantastic political drama!
#2: 9 Reason: Sometime in late August, I saw a commerical for this movie and after seeing the full trailer, I saw 9 the day after it came out. I loved it and I saw it a second time with my friends and they liked it, too. If you like action, adventure, fantasy, horror, science fiction, war, and mystery, this is the perfect movie for you. Unlike many multi-genre movies, 9 never feels messy or crammed. It shifts from genre to genre very nicely and in a way for the audience to keep up. This film delivers amazing animation, but never neglects the development of its characters or its story. Despite being burlap puppets, I came to care for 9 and his friends as if they were humans. It is the stability of the characters that makes this movie work so well. Director Shane Acker achieves what he did in his outstanding Oscar-nominated short film; creating a world of dread and wonder with sympathetic characters. This movie is haunting, dark, rich, and awesome. Kudos to Shane Acker for this truly daring and special movie.
#1: Pan’s Labyrinth Reason: I stumbled upon this gem in 2008 and I'm glad I did. After trying to catch it on TV, I finally watched it with my mom, who wanted to see what all the hoopla was about and we were absolutely blown away. I don't say this often about a movie, but this is a spectacular movie! Like 9, this is also a multi-genre film. It's fantasy, war, action, political, drama, historical fiction, and horror. It swifts genres very neatly as opposed to other multi-genre films, which are usually very messy, rushed, and crammed. The acting from both the stars and the supporting cast is just brilliant, the story is totally original and inspired, the lullaby is dark and delicate, and the visuals are beautiful. This movie is violent, haunting, depressing, rich, enchanting, and wonderful all at the same time. It's in Spanish, but it's so good you forget you're reading subtitles! Seek out this movie, for it is truly a masterpiece!
Are these the greatest movies ever made? Well, I wish they were, but being the greatest movie ever made is hard, even impossible to achieve. Are they enjoyable and worth seeing? I think they are!
|
![](//graphics.gaiaonline.com/images/s.gif) |