sissylion (Level 25)

Rules don't stop me.
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Sissylion's Neverending Journey to Watch Good Films

So when I joined here, I was not very well versed in films. I am trying to change that, which is problematic due to my horribly crippled attention span. Join me on my quest to watch good movies, both to enrich myself and my movie experience, and to try to make my attention span better.

1. Annie Hall

For something that was supposed to be a completely different genre, this makes for a damn fine romantic comedy.

2. Memento

The first half hour of this was neat, but once I had gotten used to the format, it lost all of its steam. I still think that it's a good film, but it lost a lot of steam in the middle.

3. The Big Lebowski

A total letdown. I just didn't find it funny, at all.

4. Vertigo

Better every time I watch it. Oh man.

5. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Great movie. Fantastic performances, a neat premise, and a phenomenal soundtrack. Some parts seemed to drag, but the beach scene made up for it.

6. Blood Diamond

Eh. A few nice scenes, good performance from Djimon Hounsou, but other than that it was pretty average.

7. Being John Malkovich

Went from being funny to being ridiculously serious to being ridiculous. Fantastic.

8. Ong Bak: Muay Thai Warrior

Hey, I wrote a review for this one. You should check it out, if you'd like. Then you'd be able to know what I thought of it (spoiler: it was pretty good).

9. Howl's Moving Castle

I thought the first half was absolutely fantastic, but I didn't like where the plot headed. Regardless, a good movie.

10. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

I love Wes Anderson, but he really slipped up here. The characters weren't compelling and the plot went nowhere.

11. 12 Angry Men

Absolutely phenomenal. Still one of my favorite movies.

12. Pleasantville

My second-favorite movie that I've seen since my quest started. The story is done really well in that it's compelling without being too obvious. And William H. Macy is always great.

13. In Bruges

Pleasantly dark and witty, and the cinematography was excellent. Have to say that it was a little over-hyped for me, but I still enjoyed it.

14. Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy

Maybe it's that I've never seen an episode of Kids in the Hall, but I just didn't enjoy this. Not my type of humor, I suppose.

15. Fargo

Speaking of not my type of humor, I don't think that the Coen brothers make funny films. I still really enjoyed this because of the performances and the story (and William H. Macy), but I also didn't find this one funny. Oh well.

16. Ong Bak 2: The Beginning

On one hand, the story was bad and the fight scenes were a lot less enjoyable because they involved weapons. On the other hand, the pirate captain looked like Professor Snape.

17. Cop Dog

Yeah dude . . . it's Cop Dog.

18. Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

Every scene lasted about two minutes too long, and it got really hard to watch about half an hour in. Great performances and a neat story, but the editing could have been a lot better.

19. Helvetica

Much better than I expected. Dragged in some points, but, hell, it's a movie about fonts.

20. Rushmore

I cannot accurately describe how much I like this movie. Christ.

21. Waltz with Bashir

So far, greatest movie I've seen. And I take the one-sidedness of it into consideration when I say it.

22. Amélie

Delightfully bizarre and charming, but I honestly don't see why it's cited as one of the best foreign films of the century.

23. Fletch

Not gut-bustingly hilarious, but funny and with a good plot. And Chevy Chase gets hit a bunch, which is always a plus.

24. The Nightmare Before Christmas

Halloween isn't complete without this gem, and I refuse to let any certain American retailer which caters to preteen girls and whores out the film do anything to how much I enjoy it.

25. Un chien andalou

Never in my life have I been so confused by a film.

26. Kicking and Screaming

The opening scene's witty dialog and characters built me up to have it be slightly broken down afterwards. I liked it, yes, but it dropped noticeably in quality after the first twenty minutes or so.

27. Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

The site lists it as a film, and so I will count it as one, and a brilliant one at that. Don't think I've enjoyed watching something so much in a long while. Can't say I much cared for Nathan Fillion's character, but the witty humor and fantastic music more than made up for him.

28. The Seventh Seal

I can't say I much cared for the scenes in the village, but everything aside from that was fantastic. Some of the greatest dialog I've ever heard in a film.

29. Donnie Darko

How does a movie with such great actors end up so terrible?

30. Ponyo

Though I acknowledge that there were some great scenes in the film, it's far too saccharine for my tastes. Also, Liam Neeson's voice was hilariously unfitting for his character.

31. Brick

Unironic campiness plus excellent writing and Joseph Gordon-Levitt? Yes, please.

32. The Princess and the Frog

I was skeptical coming in to the film, having heard that it wasn't very good, but I'm actually surprised how much I enjoyed it. I'd even go so far as to say that this may be one of my favorite Disney movies.

33. The Class

I hate children in film. I liked the children in this film. I consider that to be a success.

34. Finding Nemo

A lot of people I know consider this to be their favorite Pixar movie, which I don't quite understand. Entertaining, but definitely flawed.

35. Avatar

Without the wonder of seeing it in 3D for the first time, this film really has nothing going for it. Would be okay were it about two hours shorter.

36. Knight and Day

Kind of bizarre. Other than that, eh.

37. Elf

Manages to be sweet and entertaining without being saccharine and inane like many Christmas films. Really quite enjoyable.

38. A Christmas Story

A classic. Seems to get better every time I watch it, actually.

39. I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry

Not as terrible as I thought it would be, which is to say that it didn't cause a brain aneurysm upon viewing. That is the only kind thing that I have to say about this movie.

40. The Fountain

Beautiful, but beauty only goes so far. As much as I love an emotionally-powerful film, I can't do it if it squanders aspects of its story.

41. Dracula

A whole lot of nothing, and then a sort of rushed conclusion. Not terrible, but not good. However, this seems like a film that probably needs a second viewing where I'm paying more attention.

42. Melvin Goes to Dinner

Enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. Amazing writing.

43. Water Lilies

Pretty film. Nice cinematography and acting, but nothing too noteworthy.

44. The Shining

Didn't enjoy it, but it could be due to watching it with a bunch of friends.

45. The Social Network

You remember how everyone really liked this movie? I agree with them.

46. Spider-Man 3

Sigh.

47. Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams

Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh.

48. (500) Days of Summer

Really dug this despite my distaste for Zooey Deschanel. Actors acted, The Smiths were played, and a bunch of really neat cinematography happened.

49. Super 8

Very pleasant, but lacking the real punch that catapults it into being a memorable film. However, the child actors are fantastic, and stuff blows up real good.

50. How to Train Your Dragon

Absolutely breathtaking. The animation is gorgeous, and the writing is much more clever than I thought Dreamworks capable of. This is what I wish Pixar films were.

Deathawkon Aug. 15, 2010 at 12:31 a.m.
 
Finally someone who shares my opinion in The Big Lebowski...
sissylionon Aug. 15, 2010 at 1:27 p.m.
@Deathawk:  Yeah. I didn't think that I was too intelligent for it, and I didn't think that anything went over my head. There just wasn't anything funny about that movie.
foggelon Aug. 30, 2010 at 8:09 p.m.
If you haven't seen Rear Window yet you should :) (Since you liked Vertigo)
sissylionon Aug. 31, 2010 at 3:19 p.m.
@foggel:  Yeah, I'd like to see all of Hitchcock's work. I may try to get a collection of his from the big DVD sale that's going on at Barnes & Noble right now.
ThePickleon Sept. 18, 2010 at 2:36 p.m.
@sissylion said:
" @Deathawk:  Yeah. I didn't think that I was too intelligent for it, and I didn't think that anything went over my head. There just wasn't anything funny about that movie. "
I wouldn't say there was nothing funny about the Big Lebowski. It was just a certain type of humor. 
sissylionon Sept. 18, 2010 at 5:35 p.m.
@Pickle: Perhaps. I don't know, I'll try and rewatch it in a few years. Perhaps my opinion will change. 
fishinwithgunson Oct. 10, 2010 at 1:52 p.m.
I've known many people who've gone from hating the Big Lebowski to not being able to get enough of it.  The Coens' movie that made me really understand them and fall in love with most of their work was Barton Fink (1991).  Maybe you should give that a try, and if you don't like it, the Coen brothers probably just aren't for you.
GreatestEver99on Aug. 26, 2011 at 7:55 p.m.

I love all these great new and classic films and then there is Cop Dog just in the middle to throw you off. I agree about Water Lilies not being anything extraordinary but I feel it's a hidden gem that people should check out.

project343on Oct. 10, 2011 at 9:40 p.m.

Shame on you for your Donnie Darko comments. Fantastic film, beginning to end.

sissylionon Oct. 22, 2011 at 5:34 p.m.

@project343: I don't believe you and I watched the same film.

project343on Oct. 27, 2011 at 6:35 p.m.

@sissylion: You're sure that you didn't watch the dreadful sequel? I love Donnie Darko. I could just snuggle up and watch that film any time.

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