The following is an article written in the format found in The Catholic Hipster Handbook. Meaning it will have a Topic Article, Cool Saint, Forgotten Prayer, and Activity. This is written partially as a daydream, a creative writing exercise where I asked myself "If I had contributed something to The Catholic Hipster Handbook, what would it look like?". If you happen to enjoy this post, feel free to check out my thoughts on the book here or better yet go out and buy the book to enjoy the many great things it has to offer. Hopefully Tommy and fellow contributors will find this imitation a form of flattery instead of the bizarre fanboy weirdness that is actually is...
Most of us have seen The Sound of Music, The Passion of the Christ, Les Miserables, and even Sister Act...and even The Exorcist. Sometimes you may have sat down with parents or grandparents who were watching a movie on TV and you might've seen Bing Crosby or Pat O'Brien playing a priest or Jennifer Jones portraying St. Bernadette. Point being that there's just those staple movies involving Catholicism that most of the American population has seen and it makes it feel like there's a very limited representation of Catholicism on the Silver Screen.
In some ways, it may feel like the Catholic faith and the movies just don't really get along. Sure, there's those golden oldies from back in the day, but really, since the end of the Hays Code when American society started becoming more secular and relativistic, how many good Catholic movies have been made compared to the vast amounts of trashy or anti-Catholic movies? I can almost hear some of you asking what the Hays Code is and others ready to blame these problems on Vatican II.
Perhaps the answer to the above question comes in the form of other questions: What do you know about the Vatican Film List? When was the last time you sat through an exorcism movie? Wasn't that Brendan Gleeson movie about a small village priest in Ireland really well done?
Basically, there have always been hidden gems of Catholicism in movies around the world, even today. The fact that there are a bunch of great movies about Catholicism out there that most people don't really know about is something that should perk up all of you Catholic hipsters out there. Hidden, obscure, indie!? There's just something truly hipster about the best Catholic movies. While every other Christian person out there is watching another sequel to God's Not Dead or supporting other "Christian" movies with a VeggieTales level of theology, you could be scavenging the libraries and the interwebs to watch some truly great pieces of Catholic cinema, such as:
-I Confess (1953), a movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock about a priest who is falsely accused of murder and cannot break the Seal of the Confessional to claim his innocence.
-Deliver Us From Evil (2014), where Eric Bana plays a New York cop that partners with an exorcist priest to stop a crime with supernatural elements.
-Becket (1964), in which Richard Burton as St. Thomas Becket and Peter O'Toole as King Henry II go from friends to frenemies after Becket is made Archbishop of Canterbury.
-The Hoodlum Priest (1961), a B movie shot in St. Louis about a real life priest that ministered to and evangelized ex-convicts.
-Au Revoir Les Enfants (1987), a true to life French movie about two boys at a Catholic boarding school during World War II.
Now, when I talk about Catholic Movies, I mean movies that are positive portrayals of specifically Catholic subjects. Movies where priests or nuns are the main characters. Movies about the lives of saints. Movies that involves the Sacraments and exorcisms. Movies that are biblical and movies that are about recent events. These traits are the basic elements of what define a good Catholic movie.
I wasn't kidding about the library and the interwebs either. A lot of the best Catholic movies I've seen have been what I've found at my local library since they have a wide selection of DVDs to take home. Other times, I've had to search around Amazon or elsewhere on the internet to find that next special Catholic DVD. Occasionally you may come across a selection of DVDs at a Catholic supply store or at a conference or a relative may just give you one, but otherwise you're not going to have an easy time finding the truly great Catholic movies in major retail stores. You gotta go on a hunt and find the diamonds in the rough. Yet, that's part of what makes being a hipster so worthwhile, isn't it?
Cool Saint
St. Genesius
I tried hard to find a saint that wasn't replicated from the book, but I think this saint's story is too applicable to the topic.
St. Genesius was an actor from the Roman Empire during the third and fourth centuries. Tradition tells us that he was pretty much just living a good ol' pagan life when one day he had a brilliant idea to impress his pagan master, Emperor Diocletian, by creating a parody play that mocked Christianity. Putting his acting to the test, St. Genesius found some Christians (who were laying low because of religious persecution, mind you) and pretended to be interested in receiving the Sacrament of Baptism. All to do research on it so he could properly mock it in his parody. Hhhmm, sounds like method acting to me...an ancient Roman version of Daniel Day Lewis perhaps?
Anywho, once he's got enough information, tradition says that St. Genesius cut ties with the Christians before actually receiving the Sacrament, grabbed his troupe, and put on the show in front of an audience, including Emperor Diocletian. Onstage, St. Genesius portrayed a sick man, receiving a baptism from a priest. Again, tradition says that right after the mock baptism, St. Genesius had a sudden conversion and he changed right there on the spot. This story kind of reminds me of stories like how Sir Alec Guinness converted after playing Father Brown in The Detective or how the actor who played Judas in The Passion of the Christ converted during the filming of that movie. There's just something about being in the spotlight and pondering God and faith in word and deed.
So, St. Genesius, during this performance, turned it from a parody into a testimony by proclaiming Jesus Christ as God and King. He even told Diocletian himself to repent and convert. This did not sit well with the emperor, who had St. Genesius put to death. Therefore, as tradition goes, St. Genesius received a baptism by blood through his martyrdom.
Forgotten Prayer
Prayer to St Genesius
Actor and Martyr
Holy St Genesius,
martyr for Christ,
by the grace of the Holy Spirit
through your acting
you came to discover
the truth of the Christian faith.
In your first profession of that faith
you were baptized through the shedding
of your blood,
offering your life for the praise and glory
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pray for those who dedicate their lives
to the theatrical and cinematic arts.
Like you may they find the presence
of the Lord in their work
and generously open their hearts
to his teaching,
living it in the midst of the challenges
and demands of their calling.
In this novena, I remember most especially…., commending him/her to your care.
Let us pray:
Eternal Father, in your love you call all men and women to come to know you and to share in your divine life. Through the intercession of your martyr, Genesius, who responded so generously to the grace of conversion, grant that the same grace may be given to those who as yet do not know you, and may be renewed in those who do. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Activity
Go to Google and search "Best Catholic Movies". Look through the various lists you and find the movies that are specifically Catholic Movies like the descriptions above. Spot the names of movies you'd never heard of before and look interesting to you. Check out the trailers on Youtube or read a quick synopsis on IMDB. Of those movies that interest you, pick 3 movies to watch at home. Buy them, rent them, stream them, do whatever you legally have to do in order to watch these particular 3 movies in the next month.
Sources:
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=185
http://www.stgenesius.com/dedicatedmembers.html
Showing posts with label Christian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian. Show all posts
Sunday, December 31, 2017
Friday, July 21, 2017
Why I Suit Up for Mass
Today, I'd like to share with you why I put on a suit for Mass and why I think it's important to dress nice for Mass. I will go through my history of the clothing I chose for Mass, my steady growth towards putting the suit on, and then examining some reasoning behind what is going to cause people to be convinced to also dress up.
I'm mainly talking about Sunday versus the regular week. Sunday, Christians celebrate the Sabbath, so it's a special particular day of our week. If I go to Daily Mass during the week, I still try to look nice and wear some sort of collared shirt and nice pants. Generally, I stay away from shorts and the only time I don't wear a dressy shirt is when I'm dressed to go to work. At Daily Mass, some people are on their way to work like I am, and so our clothing choices are not too much of an issue.
Now, obviously I haven't dressed up my entire life of going to Mass. This is a development from over the past few years. In college, I would still sometimes go in shorts or jeans and every once in a while I would wear a long sleeved button down but for the most part I wore a polo. I got gussied up for a few special Masses but very rarely did I go full suit and tie combo
Even in grad school, I started feeling like I was wearing my work attire to Sunday Mass. Which was true, since at work I was dressing in a button down and nice pants and dress shoes, but at both work and Mass I had my sleeves rolled up and I didn't wear a suit jacket or a tie. I challenged myself to dress up for Sunday Mass for Lent a couple years ago and after that the habit continued so that every Sunday Mass I would take the time to tie a tie (sometimes in Creede I would wear my bowtie) and put on my suit jacket and do the full ensemble.
Why do I dress up for Mass? I mean, I understand some people argue that our Lord doesn't care what we dress like for Mass as long as we're there. Which in a sense, yeah sure. However, at the same time, we should care about how we dress up. Often times, we dress up for going to job interviews or attending weddings and funerals, or whenever there's just some special unique occasion, we get dressed up. However, the Mass IS a special occasion, even if it happens every week. It's in a special place too. I talked in my Hands for Prayer post how the Church isn't a store, the streets, or even your house that you walk around casually. This is a temple of the Lord! This is a place specially designed and reserved for prayer, for being closer to God, and for glorifying Him. And so, since the place we are in is special, our general attitude overall should be special and the minute details of how we dress should be special.
It shouldn't matter whether we're in a big city urban metropolis or if we're in a small rural country place. The problem is everywhere, just as the solution is applicable everywhere. Everywhere you go now, you'll basically see the same get-ups. The older guys will be in polos tucked into their jeans. The kids will be in t-shirts and gym shorts. All around, no matter where we are, there's still a need for dressing up for the Mass.
People that are fully cognizant of what they're choosing to wear, and having the presence of mind to know what their day's schedule will be, have the presence of mind to dress up for Mass. We're giving God a little extra special time and attention by making sure that we're wearing a nice shirt, that we tie our tie correctly, and we throw our suit jacket on whether it's 100 degrees outside or 10 degrees outside.
Some of my catalysts for changing the way I dress for Mass included reading the Catholic Gentleman's article on dressing up for Mass. Also, after moving out to St. Paul, I started going to Mass the same time as my aunt and uncle, who live near us, and I saw my uncle dress every week in a nice button down shirt, with sleeves rolled down and cuffed, and in a tie. Every week. That inspired me to at least start going in at that same level and continuing my habit and growth from there.
Being suited up tells the people who see me and are around me at Mass that I care enough about coming to Mass, and I care enough about our God, that I will get up and I will get myself dressed a little extra special compared to my normal look so that I can glorify Him. I can mark how special this place called church is. I'm of the mindset that we should care about how we look. If we're going to treat all of these other special events as being reason enough or worthy enough to dress up for, this should be THE event that we should get dressed up for.
Now comes the point where I start trying to guess what people's reactions or questions to this post would be. So, naturally, someone is going to point out that as a young single man, my thoughts cannot probably apply to parents with kids. True, I cannot fully speak for parents trying to dress their kids. I know sometimes it's a struggle to get kids to dress up or sometimes there's events like sports or family gatherings that are going on before or after Mass that people have to rush to or from on Sundays. I'm not necessarily speaking on that, though my only point to make is that ultimately parents have control over what their children wear so there you go.
Another objection I can hear from people is: What about the people who can't afford to buy a suit to wear to Mass? Hypothetically, if you're asking that question to me, you're asking a man who has purchased most of his button down shirts and dress pants from Goodwill, so you're not asking someone who has had the ability to buy multiple suits worth triple digits each. Shoot, Americans in the past couple hundred years were able to buy, make, and wear their 'Sunday best' clothes, and most everyone today is generally richer than those people were. So, my reasoning is that most Mass attendees have the means to buy nice clothes for Mass. It doesn't have to be fancy or made from the finest fabrics and cost you a fortune to be worth wearing. If it's a step up from your normal attire and it shows you took special time and effort and it looks like something you'd wear to other special, fancy occasions, then you're good.
So what's the next step? What's it gonna take to inspire more people to dress up? Some people have probably seen this sarcastic joke in their church bulletin: An ad saying the parish doesn't have a pool or a beach before explaining why casual wear like shorts and tank tops are not good clothes to wear to Mass. I've seen both positive and negative reactions to this, where some people appreciate the joke because they agree with the ultimate message but other people see how critical the message is and they respond to the sarcasm with cynicism. Ultimately, the ad is basically preaching to the choir, where the only people who appreciate it are the people who agree with the message.
I'm not here to preach to the choir, I'm here to inspire people who don't dress up at the moment. This problem here is correlated to the overall problem of how devoted people are to the Mass, the Eucharist, and the Sacraments. I'm willing to bet that the kind of people that appreciated the above mentioned bulletin ad are also the people who actually do dress up in part because they are also trying to increase their devotion to the Mass and the Church. I'm willing to bet a lot of people that you see dressed up in the pews on Sunday are also the people that are creating their weekday schedules not just on work and responsibilities but also how they fit their prayers and spiritual development into their work week. None of this is to say that the dude in flip flops and bro tank on Sunday is definitely slacking in his spiritual life. The point is that if we make the extra effort to emphasize the minute details such as how we dress for Sunday Mass, it will most likely reflect that we are making an extra effort in living out the minute details of the spiritual life outside of Sunday Mass. This is all just my opinion based on observation and experience, so take it or leave it as you will.
As I stated earlier, I didn't always dress nice when I went to Mass, but as I came to appreciate the importance and beauty of the Church and the Mass, I realized the way I dress can reflect that importance and beauty. It's all one part of the answer to the question: What can I do to give glory to God? I really do think that one way to inspire the people of the Church at large to become the strong faithful disciples we're all called to be is to take that extra few minutes each morning to pull out the nice shirt, tie that tie, and to put that suit jacket on!
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Top 15 Movies of the 2000s
After creating my Top 15 Movies list for the years spanning 2010-2016, I was immediately interested in creating a Top 15 list for the previous decade, 2000-2009. This was in part due to the fact that there were movies that I wanted to put on the previous list but could not do so because they were made before 2010. Another reason is that I've noticed my view on movies in the past changing, where some movies I thought were good have lessened over the course of time while others that I didn't originally care for have grown into some very enjoyable pieces. This change is especially noticeable if, after reading this list, you explore my 23 Favorite Movies lists from back in 2014.
I do not think I will make any similar lists for other decades, I just don't have as much interest or knowledge compared to movies made in this century. With such a long passage of time (10 years is long when it comes to movies), and especially with such a drastic change in my taste of movies during this specific time period, it's interesting to notice what has stuck with me over the years compared to what movies I think I missed out on when growing up.
Once again, after giving a brief rundown on the movie or my impression of the movie, I will include things you should be made aware of in terms of content before watching, as well as what makes the movie so worth rewatching. Also once again, I will include a list of honorable mentions of movies I enjoyed, just not enough to warrant being at the top, and then at the very end will be my Need-to-See list, which this time will be majorly comprised of suggestions I received from friends online.
15. Funny Crooks in London: Snatch (2000)
I was in a bit of a Guy Ritchie faze for a time, mainly by watching this movie and its predecessor, Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, multiple times. This is one of those kind of movies where the protagonists are not really good guys, but the characters are all interesting. A part of the charm of both of these movies is the low budget aesthetic, so that while you're watching a movie that may not necessarily look top notch, it makes up for it with funny writing and unique avenues of character development.
Snatch features a multitude of more memorable characters, including Jason Statham as the calm and witty protagonist, Brad Pitt's mushed mouth Irish rambler, Vinnie Jones as a psycho polite guy with anger issues, Benicio Del Toro's too cool for school gangster, and Alan Ford's quietly dangerous mob boss. With colorful names like Bullet-Tooth Tony, Frankie Four Fingers, Boris the Blade, and Gorgeous George, you know you're in for a goofy fun time. There's good reasons why this and Ritchie's first movie are being used and rebooted into a TV series this year.
Watch Out for: The Pikey gibberish (It ain't exactly English, not exactly Irish, it's just...Pikey). Profanities thrown about lackadaisically. Bloody violence is involved cause it's boxing and gangster business. And (though I don't really remember this) there are some images of topless women in the background from time to time.
Why It's Rewatchable: The humor works very well because of how sarcastic it is while still not relying entirely on darkness and bitterness. The quirky characters are some of the best in Guy Ritchie's career and you come to actually care for some of these grimy, crummy jerks.
14. American Odyssey the Musical: O Brother Where Art Thou (2000)
A classic Coen Brothers comedy that I did not fully appreciate when I first watched it, but has steadily grown on me over the years. This is the Coen Brothers movie I've watched the most and where you can especially make out their style for aesthetic and humorous dialogue. Pappy O'Daniel and Ulysseus Everett McGill are two of the best characters ever created by the Coens. This is an entertaining comedy with an unusual sense of humor, where even the Ku Klux Klan are funny characters. The cinematography works very well here because the sepia, grainy tones match the Depression era southern setting. What a lot of people remember from this movie is the soundtrack, which features a lot of folk, bluegrass, and blues music performed by modern day bards and groups in those genres. This is where I first really experienced appreciating this kind of music and only wish I appreciated it more when I was younger.
Watch Out for: A man loudly stating "Well we was fixin' to fornicate" in a polite public setting (I didn't get this joke when I was younger). There is some dark menace caused by the movie's antagonist, plus not to mention a Klan meeting done very realistically (to a certain point). Also, Tim Blake Nelson gets the tar beaten out of him...which actually is both fun and sad to watch.
Why It's Rewatchable: The visuals of the southern landscape, witty dialogue, the soundtrack and the goofy characters played by the main trio of George Clooney, Tim Blake Nelson, and John Turturro.
13. Backwards is Forwards: The Mind Games Movie: Memento (2000)
The first of three Christopher Nolan movies on this list. Sometimes people think a movie is style over substance or vice versa. This one is both. It's a stylish movie because of the narrative framework, where the story is told backwards (the ending comes in the beginning and the real beginning comes at the end). It takes a lot of mental energy to focus enough to understand this movie, especially the first time through. The substance is the story and the characters involved.
The premise is simple: a man seeks revenge for his wife's murder. The way he goes about seeking revenge while battling his mental disorder is what gives the story conflict and substance. It also does some interesting character building by feeding us information in reverse order so that we can never really trust or empathize with anyone, even the main character.
Watch Out for: Bloody violence and profanity worthy of the R rating.
Why It's Rewatchable: The plot and story would ultimately make more sense the more you watch it. The plot is the most intriguing part, but the characters are interesting enough to keep you wanting to understand everything that's going on. Also there's a little nostalgia involving the polaroid pictures.
12. Irish Culture 101 The Cartoon: The Secret of Kells (2009)
I mentioned its successor in my previous list now here is the first genuine article from Cartoon Saloon. I think I prefer this movie just because the Irish landscape gets more variety and attention and I prefer the historical setting. The illumination of the Book of Kells works spectacularly well in this movie because the animators give it an extraordinary appearance compared to the rest of the cartoon world. The art style kind of reminds me of Samurai Jack, but the angles are played with even moreso here. Celtic mythology and Catholic spirituality are blended as well as expected in this movie, not necessarily confusingly so but the line between reality and fantasy does get blurred some.
The voice over work is stellar, especially with the children actors. The legit Irish dialects may make it hard for audience members to understand everything, but I appreciate being absorbed in this foreign world in a time gone by. Again, what works best in this movie is the animation, where special things glow and sometimes a 3-D setting goes two dimensional and back.
Watch Out for: Some creepy or intimidating imagery involving the antagonists of this movie. Obviously nothing graphic, but just know that this movie is not all bright and colorful.
Why It's Rewatchable: Curious kid characters in a movie with a uniquely gorgeous artistic style.
11. So Much Better The Second Time Around: Shrek 2 (2004)
What's a Shrek movie doing on this list, and why is it not the original? Cause the sequel is funnier and improves upon the original that's why! Actually, this was one of the first DVDs my family owned and I watched it constantly. Seriously, EVERYTHING works better in this movie than the original, One improvement involves the multitude of pop culture references, some of which are definitely product of the times types but overall they make sense and are still humorous, even to a young teen who wasn't pop culture literate back then. Part of the success of the humor and references is because there's not as many bitter criticisms of Disney in these jokes as the original. All of the characters go through even more character building, so that we come to appreciate Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey and their relationships to each other even more than before. The new characters are fun additions and very fitting for this goofy world. The villainness here is so much better than the original villain because she is both melodramatic and delightfully charming, much better than just being arrogant. The animation is not all that much different from the first one, but the three years between the two definitely made it smoother.
The music can be somewhat distracting when you hear things like 'Accidentally in Love' and it transports you mentally back to 2004 but overall the soundtrack is enjoyable (and it introduced me to Tom Waits and Nick Cave music which I would not explore until many years later). The environment is pleasant to be in at all times, which is a part of what keeps me coming back to rewatch all the time.
Watch Out for: Some innuendos and other immature jokes that pop up in kids movies to appease to both kids and adults.
Why It's Rewatchable: Fun characters with funny things to say, the pleasant world we get to stay in, and the themes of love and friendship done in the least cheesy way possible.
10. So Slow It's Good Drama: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2006)
Sometimes I think I give people the impression that I dislike any slow pacing and long quiet moments in movies. Well, here's a movie that is full of slow pacing, long quiet moments, and even background narration, and I love it. A strange blend of western and documentary moviemaking, this gently paced movie gives you time to feel the uneasiness of these characters' lives. This movie introduced me to Casey Affleck and made me appreciate Sam Rockwell. Both actors, plus Brad Pitt, are tremendous forces in this film. It's a grim and tense movie, and yet you can feel sorrow and empathy for both Jesse and Bob at different points. There's not as much violence and gunplay in here as other westerns, but some of the imagery is more haunting here than any bloody shootout.
Sometimes I don't really have much more to say than just "It's really good and you should go watch it".
Watch Out for: A few moments of profanities and some bloody violence.
Why It's Rewatchable: The characters are just so absorbing. There are images and scenes that stick with you and keep drawing you back.
9. Top Swashbuckling British Navy Tutorial: Master and Commander:The Far Side of the World (2003)
The movie really makes you believe you are out at sea during 1803. Most of our time is spent on one vessel, a magnificent home for so many men and it was tough to always tell what was done in studio and what was done on the ship. The costumes and lighting adds to the authenticity of this voyage we go on. There's enough scenes of swashbuckling action to keep a teen boy interested while at the same time it provides some eloquent dialogue and fantastic character building for adult tastes.
The script allows multiple characters to get time to be developed in their own way, and the way they interact with each other, especially with the class and work differences, are part of this movie's charm. You get a real sense of history from watching this movie and it lets you sympathize with each of the characters it addresses to you.
Watch Out for: A bloody violent battle takes place periodically, and you vividly see the blood and dead bodies. This movie is also not afraid of getting up close and personal with injuries, bones, and brains. The ocean can be an intimidating factor, especially when it's stormy and dark.
Why It's Rewatchable: You get to see how a British Navy vessel was operated and lived on in 1803. Plus all of the action to be had on the high seas.
8. Top Middle Earth Movie: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
The best of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It relies the least on computer generated effects and the images that are there are more spectacular than the visuals we get in the next two movies (except for Gollum, of course). I like that the focus is not split on three separate storylines but for the most part is only just on one, sometimes two, which makes it easier to get invested in the movie and characters. The final battle is actually my favorite because I love how such a small group of warriors tackles an overwhelmingly large force and it's made especially epic with the redemptive last stand of Boromir. Not to mention the boss battle between Viggo Mortensen and the Uruk Hai, where Viggo literally bats away a live blade that could've injured or killed him
I will be honest and say that when I first saw this movie, I got scared. I was always frightened by Gollum as a kid (I saw the animated LOTR movies before seeing this one) and the Ringwraiths are definitely frightening. The atmosphere in this movie can get pretty dark and intimidating to young kids with crazy imaginations. I did enjoy it enough to watch the VHS multiple times when we got it, I just always skipped what I thought were the scary parts until I stopped being intimidated by them. So this was the only movie I saw in the trilogy when they were first released in theaters and it was only after they came out on home video that I began to watch them regularly.
Even after reading the books, I still find this movie to be a tremendous feat. It paces itself very well for a three hour adventure, it has both fun action and dramatic dialogue, and it is probably the best adaptation of a book that is least like its source material.
Watch Out for: Chopped off limbs and bloody violence (though not too bloody). Also, the scary parts involving Ringwraiths and Gollumses.
Why It's Rewatchable: The magnetic pull you feel for the characters. The grand battles in fantastic landscapes. The good vs. evil story done so spectacularly well.
7. Rock'n'Roll History 101: It Might Get Loud (2008)
One of the first music documentaries I've seen and the one that I hold as the standard for other rock music documentaries I watch. This movie made me appreciate Jimmy Page and The Edge more and it introduced me to Jack White, whose music and personality I obsessed over for a time. The exploration of music history and the various methods of playing various electric guitars were what gripped me and keeps me coming back again and again.
There are so many visuals of concerts throughout the years. There are so many songs and electric guitar tones that showcase the growth of rock music over the decades. We get to see how technology has influenced song writing, sounds, and creativity and how different guitarists utilize the technology at their disposal.
Each guitarist also has their personal approach and attitude towards the guitar, which is great to have such variety of character in these high profile rock'n'rollers. We get to travel to some pretty neat places , from the Heady Grange cabin that Led Zeppelin recorded in to a random rundown Tennessee farm that Jack White transforms into his personal music practice room.
Watch Out for: Footage of bombing sites in Ireland from the 70s. Jack White cuts his finger while playing the guitar and like a boss keeps playing while he bleeds all over it. Jimmy Page uses some strange vocabulary sometimes that are carnal in nature.
Why It's Rewatchable: It's a quick watch at around 90 minutes, but the stories and history of the music are the magnetic attraction for someone like me to watch over and over again.
6. Top Top Superhero Movie: The Dark Knight (2008)
Probably the best superhero movie ever made thus far. Part of what makes this movie work is that it does not spend as much time as the first movie on describing Batman's gadgets and doodads to the audience. We just watch him move around and use whatever and we accept it because it's Batman and he's rich and smart. The times when the gadgets are described are tolerable because they become important pieces of information later on. We all know how terrifying Heath Ledger was as he portrayed The Joker and how it was probably the greatest thing about this movie, so I don't need to rehash why he's awesome.
Everything is written and shot with an extreme sense of realism. The origin of Harvey Dent and Two Face is more believable than other incarnations. The mystery of Joker's identity and origins are realistic. Even Batman's technology and crime fighting ways are all displayed in a realistic way. Another great aspect of this movie is that it is thematic. Where do you draw the line on what is good and bad when you're fighting criminals without morals or rules? How much chaos and anarchy is in our control? Are people really willing to do good even when threatened by extreme violence?
Watch Out for: Mayhem and dark images of criminal activity. Death and violence is dealt to many people in this movie, but they do not often show carnage or bloodshed. The effects for Two Face are realistic and could be too much for some people.
Why It's Rewatchable: It's Batman v. Joker done in a realistic way!
5. How Did He Do That?!: The Prestige (2006)
The third Christopher Nolan movie on my list, and some people may be surprised by the fact that I put this above The Dark Knight. I myself am somewhat surprised. When I first saw this movie in the theaters, I was not impressed. I do not know if it was all the high dramatic acting or if it was all of the twists and turns in the plot, but when the ending came around, I was just like "meh, whatever". However, since then, this is one of the few movies from this time period I've watched multiple times over the years. It gets better every time I watch it. Part of it is because there are so many secrets and hidden clues into the storyline you do not know about about upon first viewing, so seeing it again allows you to see what was hidden in plain sight before.
I like the time period and the settings. We get some nice Colorado landscapes sprinkled in along with the grungy London urban sets. The best thing about this setting though is that it really matches up with the story's connection to magic. This took place during a time where changes in technology almost baffled the average person and the changes were so new and strange that they could be manipulated to look extraordinarily like machines of magic. The actors are all dedicated to their parts, giving us a great character study in the consequences of revenge and greed.
Watch Out for: This movie is not necessarily violent, but they do have a few extremely gruesome visuals that are barely within the PG-13 range. May be a use of a profanity here and there, but I cannot recall much of it.
Why It's Rewatchable: The tense relationship between Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman. The steampunk-esque technological effects. Perhaps most importantly, once you know the full story, you begin to pick up on little hints and clues earlier in the movie every time you watch it again.
4. Top Christian Movie: The Passion of the Christ (2004)
I watch this movie every Lent, during the Triduum before Easter. There have been plenty of other movies made about the final night and day that Jesus was on this Earth before His crucifixion, but none of them were done in the languages spoken during the actual time period of the events. I applaud the filmmakers' use of Aramaic, Hebrew, and Latin and only after watching it and studying some Latin have I caught some distinctions between the languages. Everyone gives this movie trouble for the utterly gruesome blood and violence on display, but I appreciate that the filmmakers did not shy away from the reality that Jesus endured intense and painful whippings, scourgings, and beatings all before he was finally nailed to the Cross. While mainly drawing on the Gospel of John, all of the Gospel narratives about the Passion come together in this moving drama. The use of time jumps to tell other parts of the Gospel, as well as the spiritual warfare on display, are done very well to tell the full story or to give weight to a particular scene.
Watch Out for: Some of the harshest and most graphically realistic blood and violence stunts and effects.
Why It's Rewatchable: For the non-believer, it at least tells a tragic story while bringing an historical time and place to life as authentically as possible. For the Christian, this movie is a visual reminder of what our Savior endured in His Passion, giving some great weight and urgency to the situation because of its approach of realism.
3. Taxidermy in Motion: Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
I often debate with myself whether I consider this movie or Moonrise Kingdom to be Wes Anderson's best. This is one of the movies that made me appreciate the artistry of stop motion animation, but it was shot so stunningly well and smooth that everything really looks like it's almost happening for real. This is one of the few times and places where I enjoy the word "cuss" to describe profanities because it adds so much to the humor (I dislike using descriptive terms like 'curse words' or 'swearing' in normal circumstances). This is the kind of movie that both kids and adults can enjoy because it does not stoop low to talk down to kids nor does it involve a lot of wink wink nudge nudge jokes for adults.
It's a short movie but it is paced so well and the story is so entertaining you don't even pay attention to the time. The characters are all quirky and the adventure is zany, yet the plot has enough substance to it that it still does some character building along with the visual craziness. There's some fun relationships developed between the father and son, the son and his rivalry with his cousin, and Mr. Fox with his friends. There's also the thrill of the chase as Mr. Fox messes with his opponents in absurd and fun ways.
Watch Out for: Here and there, the puppets may look a little creepy, particularly the humans and the rat. Also, again, the word 'cuss' replaces real profanities that your kids may be able to piece together.
Why It's Rewatchable: Mr. Fox is rambunctious and gets himself into all sorts of trouble. The family dynamic allows for some good character development and some redemption to play of a part of the story. The humor is much more subtle than other comedies and doesn't rely on immature or gross comedy.
2. Two Hours of Magnetic Madness: No Country for Old Men (2008)
This movie has to be experienced all at once, in one sitting, for the initial viewing. The suspense and drama just keeps building and building as everything moves along and it grips you. I couldn't believe it when the movie suddenly ended and cut to black before the credits. Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh is terrific, a believably realistic villain even if he is a nutball. The writing taken from McCarthy's book is wonderful to listen to and see come to life. It's actually kind of impressive how much of the book the Coen Brothers put onto the screen. This is the kind of movie that does not seem like a standard Coen Brothers movie but you're okay with it because it's just so incredible.
The scenery and backgrounds add some nice atmosphere to the piece, though they are not distractingly focused on for too long, unlike movies like The Revenant or even Hell or High Water. Javier Bardem is not the only great actor in this movie, just perhaps given the most memorable character. The other main characters, especially those played by Josh Brolin and Kelly Macdonald, are all very realistic and tragic. Fun fact, I randomly use a quote from one of the supporting characters from time to time: The deputy, played by great character actor Garrett Dillahunt, who is following the Tommy Lee Jones sheriff, looks at a troubling scene and says "Oh, Sheriff...that is agitatin' ".
Watch Out for: Gruesome scenes of dead bodies and some of the most realistic blood and injury effects in movies. Also some profanities are heard sporadically.
Why It's Rewatchable: The thrill of the chase as Javier Bardem tracks down Josh Brolin. There's actually something gripping and thought provoking about the helplessness that Tommy Lee Jones and other characters feel in their inability to stop the action.
1. So Serious It's Funny: Hot Fuzz (2007)
This is one of the movies on this list I've watched way too many times over the years (the only one on this list I'd say I've watched more is Fellowship). While some of the initial jokes in the movie have become too known to me, I still smile and chuckle throughout the piece. This is another movie that deserves repeated viewings after the first so that you can catch all of the inside jokes and clues you've missed along the way. This is an example of an homage and parody done well, where you understand how they are making fun of the buddy cop genre while at the same time it provides a story that can stand on its own.
People argue over which movie in the Cornetto Trilogy (this, Shaun of the Dead, or The World's End) is the best (most often people will say Shaun of the Dead) and obviously I consider this to be the best. They work really hard to present this as some dramatic action movie and it is because of its commitment to being serious that the comedy works so well. Timothy Dalton, while an underrated James Bond, must've been born to play villains because he is just the best in this movie. Simon Pegg is incredibly convincing in the dramatic serious lead role and this is the type of adorable nincompoop Nick Frost is best at, not like the vulgar character he is in Shaun of the Dead. The ensemble adds some British flavor to the comedy and even the cameos are memorable. The final quarter of this movie is essentially a climactic battle in the streets and it satisfactorily delivers on both the gunplay and the laughter.
Watch Out for: Slang and other R-rated profanities are utilized throughout the piece, mostly played for comedy. The blood and violence is not overly gory, but it does pop up here and there, especially at the end. And, for the briefest of five seconds, there's a scene where a woman wears plastic naked breasts.
Why It's Rewatchable: References and homages to particular movies as well as context clues hidden on the screen which revolve around the mystery. The comedy is spot on and the story is just pure entertainment.
Honorable Mentions
-Serenity (2004)
I have barely seen any episodes of the Firefly TV series only in the last few years (I know, I'm a bad geek), so I did not have any foreknowledge about the characters or storyline before going to the theater to see this movie. Yet, I still understood everything and I still enjoyed the way the story was told. The story focuses on a group of anti-heroes who actually go through some character development to turn them into likable good guys (at least, Nathan Fillon's character gets the most development), essentially giving us a prototype of Guardians of the Galaxy. The dialogue's dark sarcastic humor works very well here, as do the moral and philosophic questions that are played out in the midst of fun sci-fi action set pieces.
-The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (2002) and Return of the King (2003)
Just because I consider Fellowship to be the best does not mean I do not appreciate what great pieces of motion picture beauty both of these movies are. They help give the full story of this thrilling adventure. All of the movies work best when watching their Extended Edition DVDs. Although I may not appreciate Gollum as a character, I can appreciate the technical and acting achievements accomplished in creating Gollum. I like the development of all of the characters along the way, except for maybe Gimli, who gets turned into the comedic relief as we go further along. The strange things about these movies, and perhaps why I put them in the honorable mentions category, is that I actually prefer the plotlines revolving around the battles much more than I prefer the Frodo & Sam storyline that actually matters the most within the story
-Open Range (2003)
It has the sensibilities of real classic Westerns along with the movie making abilities of modern dramas. Kevin Costner is a great actor and plays off of the superior Robert Duvall very well in this movie, but sometimes the man just loves too much narration, quiet moments, and slow drama in a movie that should focus its attention on gritty character building and gripping action. Michael Gambon made a convincing villain and there is a cool gunfight at the end of the movie.
-Children of Men (2006)
I remember the impact this movie had because there are key scenes I can vividly remember even now. This is not exactly an uplifting movie in the usual sense, especially since this movie is set in a truly chaotic, hopeless dystopia. This was in the midst of the height of Clive Owen's movie career, where he proved what a cool, gruff anti-hero he could be. At another time, I'd consider him for the next recasting of James Bond. This movie is full of shadowy lighting and disparaging images of humanity hitting a low point. There are multiple single takes that last a long while, which adds to the feeling of tension and discomfort that you should be feeling along with the characters. What makes this movie so good is the hope that Clive Owen finds and protects in the midst of the death.
-The Last Samurai (2003)
Need to See (Based on Recommendations)
-The Fountain (2006)
Two fantastic actors in a movie with a complicated timeline and focused on trippy special effects.
-Wall-E (2008) & Ratatouille (2007)
I added in the second movie of my own free will because I have not seen both of these Pixar movies, both of which are usually regarded as some of the best from the company.
-Minority Report (2002)
A crazy sci-fi plot featuring Tom Cruise action and directed by Steven Spielberg.
-Gran Torino (2008)
It's not just about racial issues from what I gather, but also about values in masculinity and what it really takes to be a true man. Also, it's Clint Eastwood.
-Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000)
I know, this is like some modern classic kung fu movie or something. I know I should've seen it by now. However, I've heard of and seen clips of some great action and stuntwork. And I would add some culture by watching in the original language.
-Almost Famous (2000)
This movie is on so many lists for Best Movies of this decade. I am not entirely sure if it's my cup of tea, but I enjoy rock music and historical pieces enough to give it a shot.
-Road to Perdition (2002)
A mobster flick done by an artsy director. Seems like it has some great actors in it, plus it's got some thematic examinations based on the subject material that I think I would find fascinating.
-The Fall (2006)
Apparently one of the most gorgeous and artsy movies made so far this century. At the very least I'll be able to look at lots of nice things.
-American Psycho (2000)
Mainly on my list because my friend Steve stated interest in what I would think of this movie. I hear it's a dark piece of satire, just featuring a bloody nutball with occasional violence and sex.
I do not think I will make any similar lists for other decades, I just don't have as much interest or knowledge compared to movies made in this century. With such a long passage of time (10 years is long when it comes to movies), and especially with such a drastic change in my taste of movies during this specific time period, it's interesting to notice what has stuck with me over the years compared to what movies I think I missed out on when growing up.
Once again, after giving a brief rundown on the movie or my impression of the movie, I will include things you should be made aware of in terms of content before watching, as well as what makes the movie so worth rewatching. Also once again, I will include a list of honorable mentions of movies I enjoyed, just not enough to warrant being at the top, and then at the very end will be my Need-to-See list, which this time will be majorly comprised of suggestions I received from friends online.
15. Funny Crooks in London: Snatch (2000)
I was in a bit of a Guy Ritchie faze for a time, mainly by watching this movie and its predecessor, Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, multiple times. This is one of those kind of movies where the protagonists are not really good guys, but the characters are all interesting. A part of the charm of both of these movies is the low budget aesthetic, so that while you're watching a movie that may not necessarily look top notch, it makes up for it with funny writing and unique avenues of character development.
Snatch features a multitude of more memorable characters, including Jason Statham as the calm and witty protagonist, Brad Pitt's mushed mouth Irish rambler, Vinnie Jones as a psycho polite guy with anger issues, Benicio Del Toro's too cool for school gangster, and Alan Ford's quietly dangerous mob boss. With colorful names like Bullet-Tooth Tony, Frankie Four Fingers, Boris the Blade, and Gorgeous George, you know you're in for a goofy fun time. There's good reasons why this and Ritchie's first movie are being used and rebooted into a TV series this year.
Watch Out for: The Pikey gibberish (It ain't exactly English, not exactly Irish, it's just...Pikey). Profanities thrown about lackadaisically. Bloody violence is involved cause it's boxing and gangster business. And (though I don't really remember this) there are some images of topless women in the background from time to time.
Why It's Rewatchable: The humor works very well because of how sarcastic it is while still not relying entirely on darkness and bitterness. The quirky characters are some of the best in Guy Ritchie's career and you come to actually care for some of these grimy, crummy jerks.
14. American Odyssey the Musical: O Brother Where Art Thou (2000)
Watch Out for: A man loudly stating "Well we was fixin' to fornicate" in a polite public setting (I didn't get this joke when I was younger). There is some dark menace caused by the movie's antagonist, plus not to mention a Klan meeting done very realistically (to a certain point). Also, Tim Blake Nelson gets the tar beaten out of him...which actually is both fun and sad to watch.
Why It's Rewatchable: The visuals of the southern landscape, witty dialogue, the soundtrack and the goofy characters played by the main trio of George Clooney, Tim Blake Nelson, and John Turturro.
13. Backwards is Forwards: The Mind Games Movie: Memento (2000)
The first of three Christopher Nolan movies on this list. Sometimes people think a movie is style over substance or vice versa. This one is both. It's a stylish movie because of the narrative framework, where the story is told backwards (the ending comes in the beginning and the real beginning comes at the end). It takes a lot of mental energy to focus enough to understand this movie, especially the first time through. The substance is the story and the characters involved.
The premise is simple: a man seeks revenge for his wife's murder. The way he goes about seeking revenge while battling his mental disorder is what gives the story conflict and substance. It also does some interesting character building by feeding us information in reverse order so that we can never really trust or empathize with anyone, even the main character.
Watch Out for: Bloody violence and profanity worthy of the R rating.
Why It's Rewatchable: The plot and story would ultimately make more sense the more you watch it. The plot is the most intriguing part, but the characters are interesting enough to keep you wanting to understand everything that's going on. Also there's a little nostalgia involving the polaroid pictures.
12. Irish Culture 101 The Cartoon: The Secret of Kells (2009)
I mentioned its successor in my previous list now here is the first genuine article from Cartoon Saloon. I think I prefer this movie just because the Irish landscape gets more variety and attention and I prefer the historical setting. The illumination of the Book of Kells works spectacularly well in this movie because the animators give it an extraordinary appearance compared to the rest of the cartoon world. The art style kind of reminds me of Samurai Jack, but the angles are played with even moreso here. Celtic mythology and Catholic spirituality are blended as well as expected in this movie, not necessarily confusingly so but the line between reality and fantasy does get blurred some.
The voice over work is stellar, especially with the children actors. The legit Irish dialects may make it hard for audience members to understand everything, but I appreciate being absorbed in this foreign world in a time gone by. Again, what works best in this movie is the animation, where special things glow and sometimes a 3-D setting goes two dimensional and back.
Watch Out for: Some creepy or intimidating imagery involving the antagonists of this movie. Obviously nothing graphic, but just know that this movie is not all bright and colorful.
Why It's Rewatchable: Curious kid characters in a movie with a uniquely gorgeous artistic style.
11. So Much Better The Second Time Around: Shrek 2 (2004)
What's a Shrek movie doing on this list, and why is it not the original? Cause the sequel is funnier and improves upon the original that's why! Actually, this was one of the first DVDs my family owned and I watched it constantly. Seriously, EVERYTHING works better in this movie than the original, One improvement involves the multitude of pop culture references, some of which are definitely product of the times types but overall they make sense and are still humorous, even to a young teen who wasn't pop culture literate back then. Part of the success of the humor and references is because there's not as many bitter criticisms of Disney in these jokes as the original. All of the characters go through even more character building, so that we come to appreciate Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey and their relationships to each other even more than before. The new characters are fun additions and very fitting for this goofy world. The villainness here is so much better than the original villain because she is both melodramatic and delightfully charming, much better than just being arrogant. The animation is not all that much different from the first one, but the three years between the two definitely made it smoother.
The music can be somewhat distracting when you hear things like 'Accidentally in Love' and it transports you mentally back to 2004 but overall the soundtrack is enjoyable (and it introduced me to Tom Waits and Nick Cave music which I would not explore until many years later). The environment is pleasant to be in at all times, which is a part of what keeps me coming back to rewatch all the time.
Watch Out for: Some innuendos and other immature jokes that pop up in kids movies to appease to both kids and adults.
Why It's Rewatchable: Fun characters with funny things to say, the pleasant world we get to stay in, and the themes of love and friendship done in the least cheesy way possible.
10. So Slow It's Good Drama: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2006)
Sometimes I think I give people the impression that I dislike any slow pacing and long quiet moments in movies. Well, here's a movie that is full of slow pacing, long quiet moments, and even background narration, and I love it. A strange blend of western and documentary moviemaking, this gently paced movie gives you time to feel the uneasiness of these characters' lives. This movie introduced me to Casey Affleck and made me appreciate Sam Rockwell. Both actors, plus Brad Pitt, are tremendous forces in this film. It's a grim and tense movie, and yet you can feel sorrow and empathy for both Jesse and Bob at different points. There's not as much violence and gunplay in here as other westerns, but some of the imagery is more haunting here than any bloody shootout.
Sometimes I don't really have much more to say than just "It's really good and you should go watch it".
Watch Out for: A few moments of profanities and some bloody violence.
Why It's Rewatchable: The characters are just so absorbing. There are images and scenes that stick with you and keep drawing you back.
9. Top Swashbuckling British Navy Tutorial: Master and Commander:The Far Side of the World (2003)
The movie really makes you believe you are out at sea during 1803. Most of our time is spent on one vessel, a magnificent home for so many men and it was tough to always tell what was done in studio and what was done on the ship. The costumes and lighting adds to the authenticity of this voyage we go on. There's enough scenes of swashbuckling action to keep a teen boy interested while at the same time it provides some eloquent dialogue and fantastic character building for adult tastes.
The script allows multiple characters to get time to be developed in their own way, and the way they interact with each other, especially with the class and work differences, are part of this movie's charm. You get a real sense of history from watching this movie and it lets you sympathize with each of the characters it addresses to you.
Watch Out for: A bloody violent battle takes place periodically, and you vividly see the blood and dead bodies. This movie is also not afraid of getting up close and personal with injuries, bones, and brains. The ocean can be an intimidating factor, especially when it's stormy and dark.
Why It's Rewatchable: You get to see how a British Navy vessel was operated and lived on in 1803. Plus all of the action to be had on the high seas.
8. Top Middle Earth Movie: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
The best of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It relies the least on computer generated effects and the images that are there are more spectacular than the visuals we get in the next two movies (except for Gollum, of course). I like that the focus is not split on three separate storylines but for the most part is only just on one, sometimes two, which makes it easier to get invested in the movie and characters. The final battle is actually my favorite because I love how such a small group of warriors tackles an overwhelmingly large force and it's made especially epic with the redemptive last stand of Boromir. Not to mention the boss battle between Viggo Mortensen and the Uruk Hai, where Viggo literally bats away a live blade that could've injured or killed him
I will be honest and say that when I first saw this movie, I got scared. I was always frightened by Gollum as a kid (I saw the animated LOTR movies before seeing this one) and the Ringwraiths are definitely frightening. The atmosphere in this movie can get pretty dark and intimidating to young kids with crazy imaginations. I did enjoy it enough to watch the VHS multiple times when we got it, I just always skipped what I thought were the scary parts until I stopped being intimidated by them. So this was the only movie I saw in the trilogy when they were first released in theaters and it was only after they came out on home video that I began to watch them regularly.
Even after reading the books, I still find this movie to be a tremendous feat. It paces itself very well for a three hour adventure, it has both fun action and dramatic dialogue, and it is probably the best adaptation of a book that is least like its source material.
Watch Out for: Chopped off limbs and bloody violence (though not too bloody). Also, the scary parts involving Ringwraiths and Gollumses.
Why It's Rewatchable: The magnetic pull you feel for the characters. The grand battles in fantastic landscapes. The good vs. evil story done so spectacularly well.
7. Rock'n'Roll History 101: It Might Get Loud (2008)
One of the first music documentaries I've seen and the one that I hold as the standard for other rock music documentaries I watch. This movie made me appreciate Jimmy Page and The Edge more and it introduced me to Jack White, whose music and personality I obsessed over for a time. The exploration of music history and the various methods of playing various electric guitars were what gripped me and keeps me coming back again and again.
There are so many visuals of concerts throughout the years. There are so many songs and electric guitar tones that showcase the growth of rock music over the decades. We get to see how technology has influenced song writing, sounds, and creativity and how different guitarists utilize the technology at their disposal.
Each guitarist also has their personal approach and attitude towards the guitar, which is great to have such variety of character in these high profile rock'n'rollers. We get to travel to some pretty neat places , from the Heady Grange cabin that Led Zeppelin recorded in to a random rundown Tennessee farm that Jack White transforms into his personal music practice room.
Watch Out for: Footage of bombing sites in Ireland from the 70s. Jack White cuts his finger while playing the guitar and like a boss keeps playing while he bleeds all over it. Jimmy Page uses some strange vocabulary sometimes that are carnal in nature.
Why It's Rewatchable: It's a quick watch at around 90 minutes, but the stories and history of the music are the magnetic attraction for someone like me to watch over and over again.
6. Top Top Superhero Movie: The Dark Knight (2008)
Probably the best superhero movie ever made thus far. Part of what makes this movie work is that it does not spend as much time as the first movie on describing Batman's gadgets and doodads to the audience. We just watch him move around and use whatever and we accept it because it's Batman and he's rich and smart. The times when the gadgets are described are tolerable because they become important pieces of information later on. We all know how terrifying Heath Ledger was as he portrayed The Joker and how it was probably the greatest thing about this movie, so I don't need to rehash why he's awesome.
Everything is written and shot with an extreme sense of realism. The origin of Harvey Dent and Two Face is more believable than other incarnations. The mystery of Joker's identity and origins are realistic. Even Batman's technology and crime fighting ways are all displayed in a realistic way. Another great aspect of this movie is that it is thematic. Where do you draw the line on what is good and bad when you're fighting criminals without morals or rules? How much chaos and anarchy is in our control? Are people really willing to do good even when threatened by extreme violence?
Watch Out for: Mayhem and dark images of criminal activity. Death and violence is dealt to many people in this movie, but they do not often show carnage or bloodshed. The effects for Two Face are realistic and could be too much for some people.
Why It's Rewatchable: It's Batman v. Joker done in a realistic way!
5. How Did He Do That?!: The Prestige (2006)
The third Christopher Nolan movie on my list, and some people may be surprised by the fact that I put this above The Dark Knight. I myself am somewhat surprised. When I first saw this movie in the theaters, I was not impressed. I do not know if it was all the high dramatic acting or if it was all of the twists and turns in the plot, but when the ending came around, I was just like "meh, whatever". However, since then, this is one of the few movies from this time period I've watched multiple times over the years. It gets better every time I watch it. Part of it is because there are so many secrets and hidden clues into the storyline you do not know about about upon first viewing, so seeing it again allows you to see what was hidden in plain sight before.
I like the time period and the settings. We get some nice Colorado landscapes sprinkled in along with the grungy London urban sets. The best thing about this setting though is that it really matches up with the story's connection to magic. This took place during a time where changes in technology almost baffled the average person and the changes were so new and strange that they could be manipulated to look extraordinarily like machines of magic. The actors are all dedicated to their parts, giving us a great character study in the consequences of revenge and greed.
Watch Out for: This movie is not necessarily violent, but they do have a few extremely gruesome visuals that are barely within the PG-13 range. May be a use of a profanity here and there, but I cannot recall much of it.
Why It's Rewatchable: The tense relationship between Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman. The steampunk-esque technological effects. Perhaps most importantly, once you know the full story, you begin to pick up on little hints and clues earlier in the movie every time you watch it again.
4. Top Christian Movie: The Passion of the Christ (2004)
I watch this movie every Lent, during the Triduum before Easter. There have been plenty of other movies made about the final night and day that Jesus was on this Earth before His crucifixion, but none of them were done in the languages spoken during the actual time period of the events. I applaud the filmmakers' use of Aramaic, Hebrew, and Latin and only after watching it and studying some Latin have I caught some distinctions between the languages. Everyone gives this movie trouble for the utterly gruesome blood and violence on display, but I appreciate that the filmmakers did not shy away from the reality that Jesus endured intense and painful whippings, scourgings, and beatings all before he was finally nailed to the Cross. While mainly drawing on the Gospel of John, all of the Gospel narratives about the Passion come together in this moving drama. The use of time jumps to tell other parts of the Gospel, as well as the spiritual warfare on display, are done very well to tell the full story or to give weight to a particular scene.
Watch Out for: Some of the harshest and most graphically realistic blood and violence stunts and effects.
Why It's Rewatchable: For the non-believer, it at least tells a tragic story while bringing an historical time and place to life as authentically as possible. For the Christian, this movie is a visual reminder of what our Savior endured in His Passion, giving some great weight and urgency to the situation because of its approach of realism.
3. Taxidermy in Motion: Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
I often debate with myself whether I consider this movie or Moonrise Kingdom to be Wes Anderson's best. This is one of the movies that made me appreciate the artistry of stop motion animation, but it was shot so stunningly well and smooth that everything really looks like it's almost happening for real. This is one of the few times and places where I enjoy the word "cuss" to describe profanities because it adds so much to the humor (I dislike using descriptive terms like 'curse words' or 'swearing' in normal circumstances). This is the kind of movie that both kids and adults can enjoy because it does not stoop low to talk down to kids nor does it involve a lot of wink wink nudge nudge jokes for adults.
It's a short movie but it is paced so well and the story is so entertaining you don't even pay attention to the time. The characters are all quirky and the adventure is zany, yet the plot has enough substance to it that it still does some character building along with the visual craziness. There's some fun relationships developed between the father and son, the son and his rivalry with his cousin, and Mr. Fox with his friends. There's also the thrill of the chase as Mr. Fox messes with his opponents in absurd and fun ways.
Watch Out for: Here and there, the puppets may look a little creepy, particularly the humans and the rat. Also, again, the word 'cuss' replaces real profanities that your kids may be able to piece together.
Why It's Rewatchable: Mr. Fox is rambunctious and gets himself into all sorts of trouble. The family dynamic allows for some good character development and some redemption to play of a part of the story. The humor is much more subtle than other comedies and doesn't rely on immature or gross comedy.
2. Two Hours of Magnetic Madness: No Country for Old Men (2008)
This movie has to be experienced all at once, in one sitting, for the initial viewing. The suspense and drama just keeps building and building as everything moves along and it grips you. I couldn't believe it when the movie suddenly ended and cut to black before the credits. Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh is terrific, a believably realistic villain even if he is a nutball. The writing taken from McCarthy's book is wonderful to listen to and see come to life. It's actually kind of impressive how much of the book the Coen Brothers put onto the screen. This is the kind of movie that does not seem like a standard Coen Brothers movie but you're okay with it because it's just so incredible.
The scenery and backgrounds add some nice atmosphere to the piece, though they are not distractingly focused on for too long, unlike movies like The Revenant or even Hell or High Water. Javier Bardem is not the only great actor in this movie, just perhaps given the most memorable character. The other main characters, especially those played by Josh Brolin and Kelly Macdonald, are all very realistic and tragic. Fun fact, I randomly use a quote from one of the supporting characters from time to time: The deputy, played by great character actor Garrett Dillahunt, who is following the Tommy Lee Jones sheriff, looks at a troubling scene and says "Oh, Sheriff...that is agitatin' ".
Watch Out for: Gruesome scenes of dead bodies and some of the most realistic blood and injury effects in movies. Also some profanities are heard sporadically.
Why It's Rewatchable: The thrill of the chase as Javier Bardem tracks down Josh Brolin. There's actually something gripping and thought provoking about the helplessness that Tommy Lee Jones and other characters feel in their inability to stop the action.
1. So Serious It's Funny: Hot Fuzz (2007)
This is one of the movies on this list I've watched way too many times over the years (the only one on this list I'd say I've watched more is Fellowship). While some of the initial jokes in the movie have become too known to me, I still smile and chuckle throughout the piece. This is another movie that deserves repeated viewings after the first so that you can catch all of the inside jokes and clues you've missed along the way. This is an example of an homage and parody done well, where you understand how they are making fun of the buddy cop genre while at the same time it provides a story that can stand on its own.
People argue over which movie in the Cornetto Trilogy (this, Shaun of the Dead, or The World's End) is the best (most often people will say Shaun of the Dead) and obviously I consider this to be the best. They work really hard to present this as some dramatic action movie and it is because of its commitment to being serious that the comedy works so well. Timothy Dalton, while an underrated James Bond, must've been born to play villains because he is just the best in this movie. Simon Pegg is incredibly convincing in the dramatic serious lead role and this is the type of adorable nincompoop Nick Frost is best at, not like the vulgar character he is in Shaun of the Dead. The ensemble adds some British flavor to the comedy and even the cameos are memorable. The final quarter of this movie is essentially a climactic battle in the streets and it satisfactorily delivers on both the gunplay and the laughter.
Watch Out for: Slang and other R-rated profanities are utilized throughout the piece, mostly played for comedy. The blood and violence is not overly gory, but it does pop up here and there, especially at the end. And, for the briefest of five seconds, there's a scene where a woman wears plastic naked breasts.
Why It's Rewatchable: References and homages to particular movies as well as context clues hidden on the screen which revolve around the mystery. The comedy is spot on and the story is just pure entertainment.
Honorable Mentions
-Serenity (2004)
I have barely seen any episodes of the Firefly TV series only in the last few years (I know, I'm a bad geek), so I did not have any foreknowledge about the characters or storyline before going to the theater to see this movie. Yet, I still understood everything and I still enjoyed the way the story was told. The story focuses on a group of anti-heroes who actually go through some character development to turn them into likable good guys (at least, Nathan Fillon's character gets the most development), essentially giving us a prototype of Guardians of the Galaxy. The dialogue's dark sarcastic humor works very well here, as do the moral and philosophic questions that are played out in the midst of fun sci-fi action set pieces.
-The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (2002) and Return of the King (2003)
Just because I consider Fellowship to be the best does not mean I do not appreciate what great pieces of motion picture beauty both of these movies are. They help give the full story of this thrilling adventure. All of the movies work best when watching their Extended Edition DVDs. Although I may not appreciate Gollum as a character, I can appreciate the technical and acting achievements accomplished in creating Gollum. I like the development of all of the characters along the way, except for maybe Gimli, who gets turned into the comedic relief as we go further along. The strange things about these movies, and perhaps why I put them in the honorable mentions category, is that I actually prefer the plotlines revolving around the battles much more than I prefer the Frodo & Sam storyline that actually matters the most within the story
-Open Range (2003)
It has the sensibilities of real classic Westerns along with the movie making abilities of modern dramas. Kevin Costner is a great actor and plays off of the superior Robert Duvall very well in this movie, but sometimes the man just loves too much narration, quiet moments, and slow drama in a movie that should focus its attention on gritty character building and gripping action. Michael Gambon made a convincing villain and there is a cool gunfight at the end of the movie.
-Children of Men (2006)
I remember the impact this movie had because there are key scenes I can vividly remember even now. This is not exactly an uplifting movie in the usual sense, especially since this movie is set in a truly chaotic, hopeless dystopia. This was in the midst of the height of Clive Owen's movie career, where he proved what a cool, gruff anti-hero he could be. At another time, I'd consider him for the next recasting of James Bond. This movie is full of shadowy lighting and disparaging images of humanity hitting a low point. There are multiple single takes that last a long while, which adds to the feeling of tension and discomfort that you should be feeling along with the characters. What makes this movie so good is the hope that Clive Owen finds and protects in the midst of the death.
-The Last Samurai (2003)
This movie is a story of forgiveness and redemption. Tom Cruise’s Nathan Algren is haunted by evil violence he inflicted upon a tribe of Native Americans and at first becomes enslaved by alcoholism and lack of care for his life. Then, through the time spent with the samurai village, Algren finds internal peace, asks for forgiveness, and finds value in his life by protecting the lives of those who helped him. His redemption comes from a second chance opportunity. Instead of passively allowing this clan to be massacred, he stands up to fight for the clan, even if it costs his life. In a way, the Emperor Meiji also goes through forgiveness and redemption. At first, driven by a desire for a powerfully modern Japan, the Emperor allows Omura to take over governing powers (in essence), also allowing the samurai communities to be desolated. In the end, after the climactic battle, the Emperor is driven by grief over his former mentor’s death that he stands up for the first time, to drive back Omura’s ambitions and halt the cultural implosion of Japan.
Need to See (Based on Recommendations)
-The Fountain (2006)
Two fantastic actors in a movie with a complicated timeline and focused on trippy special effects.
-Wall-E (2008) & Ratatouille (2007)
I added in the second movie of my own free will because I have not seen both of these Pixar movies, both of which are usually regarded as some of the best from the company.
-Minority Report (2002)
A crazy sci-fi plot featuring Tom Cruise action and directed by Steven Spielberg.
-Gran Torino (2008)
It's not just about racial issues from what I gather, but also about values in masculinity and what it really takes to be a true man. Also, it's Clint Eastwood.
-Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000)
I know, this is like some modern classic kung fu movie or something. I know I should've seen it by now. However, I've heard of and seen clips of some great action and stuntwork. And I would add some culture by watching in the original language.
-Almost Famous (2000)
This movie is on so many lists for Best Movies of this decade. I am not entirely sure if it's my cup of tea, but I enjoy rock music and historical pieces enough to give it a shot.
-Road to Perdition (2002)
A mobster flick done by an artsy director. Seems like it has some great actors in it, plus it's got some thematic examinations based on the subject material that I think I would find fascinating.
-The Fall (2006)
Apparently one of the most gorgeous and artsy movies made so far this century. At the very least I'll be able to look at lots of nice things.
-American Psycho (2000)
Mainly on my list because my friend Steve stated interest in what I would think of this movie. I hear it's a dark piece of satire, just featuring a bloody nutball with occasional violence and sex.
Monday, September 26, 2016
Music Series: Quality Christian Songs
Sometimes when listening to the radio (or even sometimes at Mass), Christian music can sound dull, repetitive, cheesy, and uninspiring. Sure, Christian radio stations exist for a good reason, which is to share the Gospel in a format appropriate for every member of the family. Rarely does anyone hear a song on a non-Christian radio station that both shares the Gospel and appeals to the whole family. Only recently have some groups like Mumford and Sons managed to provide stuffing in the gaps.
Otherwise, the only other time anyone hears an inspirational Christian song on a non-Christian radio station is during Christmas time (or more appropriately, the time of Advent in preparation for the Christmas season). Even then, in the midst of all the other pop songs about Santa, Frosty, and just talking about the feeling of the season, you get a small handful of traditional hymns that everyone sings in and out of church anyway. Granted, every once and awhile you hear beauty in the mundane.
However, there is more to Christian music than what one hears on the radio or even inside modern church walls. There are centuries of tradition, decades upon decades upon decades of musical styles and sounds from across the globe that have been shaped by the Christian faith. I wanted to share with you samples of Christian music that feature some genre or sound that you may not associate with contemporary Christian music.
Note: This final song selection is not an endorsement from me for actual clapping inside of church during Mass. I appreciate the song for the beat and for the message it provides in some of the lyrics, including "Give me that God Almighty, that good old Bible, that old school doctrine" and "We need discernment, check what you be affirming, cause the church could be full of members but empty of conversions".
Mumford and Sons-Come Thou Font of Every Blessing
Otherwise, the only other time anyone hears an inspirational Christian song on a non-Christian radio station is during Christmas time (or more appropriately, the time of Advent in preparation for the Christmas season). Even then, in the midst of all the other pop songs about Santa, Frosty, and just talking about the feeling of the season, you get a small handful of traditional hymns that everyone sings in and out of church anyway. Granted, every once and awhile you hear beauty in the mundane.
(One of the few times I will gladly endorse Josh Groban music.)
However, there is more to Christian music than what one hears on the radio or even inside modern church walls. There are centuries of tradition, decades upon decades upon decades of musical styles and sounds from across the globe that have been shaped by the Christian faith. I wanted to share with you samples of Christian music that feature some genre or sound that you may not associate with contemporary Christian music.
Aramaic Chant: Orthodox Priest & Choir
Hard Rock: Flyleaf-Chasm
Irish ballad: The Barra MacNeils-Oh Come Divine Messiah
(I know it's a Christmas song, but when was the last time you heard this on the radio or at Mass?)
Gregorian Chant: Benedictine Monks- Sanctus et Benedictus
Gregorian Chant: Benedictine Monks- Sanctus et Benedictus
Alternative Rock: Mutemath-Chaos
Bluegrass: Doc Watson-We'll Work Til Jesus Comes
Folk: Old Crow Medicine Show-God's Got It
Rap: KB-Church Clap
Sunday, February 21, 2016
More Movies of Value, Please! Part 1
Disappointing State
of Movies
When it comes to the overall selection of movies being
created and marketed to the general public over the past few years, I have been
disappointed. Many of the past family/ kid movies include blah options such as Minions,
Dreamworks pictures (of late), and Dr. Seuss based movies that are all just color,
noise, and annoying humor. Comedies have become so focused on what is called
“adult” humor (which in reality is immature humor) that you’d think the only
things people find funny are sexual awkwardness, physical pain, and alcohol/ drug-related
situations. Christian movies, meaning the genre that stars and focuses on
Christianity in a positive way, have become so safe and stale that even
positive Christian movies are not top quality pieces of art.
For every good
movie in the general market, there seems to be ten more in the theatres ready
to waste my time, energy, and money. I assume the movie industry has not always been this way. I
personally cannot speak to the quality of movies since the beginning of film.
The only way I can evaluate movies of the past is based on what has remained
within public knowledge as well as looking at the lists of best movies of all
time. I am no film connoisseur, I just enjoy watching movies. I enjoy watching
good movies. What I don’t enjoy is having to search and dig around online in
order to find good movies while a plethora of bad movies are easily accessible.
Definitions: Bad vs.
Value
What do I think constitutes a bad movie? A bad movie is one
that is lacking true quality, morals, or art. When I say quality, I mean in
terms of acting, dialogue, editing, anything that involves the presentation.
Morals, obviously, means whether the movie is age appropriate for the content
or is lacking something due to immaturity, pushing-the-envelope-content, and
indecency towards the general person. Art meaning how those first two values,
quality and morals, combine into the total package of theme, purpose, and
aesthetic. So, a bad movie means the presentation is bad, the content is not
decent, and the artistry is lacking.
Is it not in the best interest of everyone in our community
to stop supporting bad movies? Why waste our time on something that dulls the
senses? Why waste brain power and money on a ‘movie’ that insults our
intelligence, insults our general code of ethics, and claims to be worth the
money people pay to sit in the cinema? Major studios will only fund movies that they
think will earn money, meaning what they think people will go see. If we
stopped seeing bad movies, maybe there would be an increase in good movies.
What is a good movie? Well, generally speaking, it is
opposite of a bad movie. A good movie is one that is not only made with
quality, but also contains either moral value or artistic value or both.
Artistic value can be judged based on the following
question: Does it look good aesthetically, whether it is an animated movie or because
of the direction and cinematography? Does the theme say something honest or
truthful about the human condition? Does it have a good reason for existing?
Moral value can be evaluated based on these levels: Can
this/ should this be seen by families? Is there a sensible reason for it to be
made for adults or teens only? If religious, does it present spiritual truths
well? Does the movie uphold natural understanding of what is good, true, and
beautiful in the world? If there is a focus on a negative subject, does the
positive good overcome in the end?
Past Models
One of the main inspirations for my categories and
definitions of moral/ artistic value is the Vatican Film List. The Vatican Film
List was assembled in 1995 and lists 45 films, organized by the categories of
Religion, Values, and Art. This is not a ‘best of’ or ‘favorite’ movies list,
but rather is just an assembly of movies that have been made during the first
100 years of film from around the world that fit a particular category. The
list includes some well-known or award winning movies in America, including The Wizard of Oz, It’s a Wonderful Life,
2001: A Space Odyssey, Gandhi, Ben-Hur, Chariots of Fire, Schnidler’s List, On
the Waterfront, Fantasia, and Stagecoach.
Each of these movies exemplifies the definitions of a good movie that I listed
above. All are made with top quality, many successful experimented with new
artistry, and many uphold positive moral messages.
Steven D. Greydanus, a Catholic film critic who wrote a
piece on the Vatican Film List, also recently wrote an article discussing how
priests and the Church have been presented in movies over the years. In the
past, starting from the 30s and especially during the 40s and 50s, movies
involving priest and the Church were positive pictures. Some, like Going My Way with Bing Crosby or The Song of Bernadette with Jennifer
Jones, were nominated for Oscars because of the quality filmmaking, positive
morality, and excellent acting, among other reasons. The article slightly goes
into the fact that around the turn between the 50s and 60s, religious life was
beginning to take a turn towards negative critiques. Today, most examples of
priests and religious in movies released to the general public involve goofy
characters, criticism of religious life or the Church, and shining a more
positive light on secular life. Can you automatically off the top of your head
think of a movie widely released these past few years starring a good priest
character that wasn’t an exorcism movie?
The Impact
One of the big reasons why I think there needs to be an
increase in good movies is because we have to become more conscious of how
movies impact us personally, on a social, mental, emotional, and spiritual
level. I think desensitization can truly happen if people view certain content
long enough. If all someone watches are immature comedies with foul language
and sexual innuendos, I can safely bet that the viewer will start using foul
language more often and use sexual innuendos as jokes more often. If someone
watches nothing but violent action movies and gory horror movies, how calm and
personable do you think that person is going to stay? If someone only watches
indie films and rare arthouse masterpieces, doesn’t it make sense that they
will turn into a snobby, arrogant, opinionated weirdo?
My point is that what we watch does have an effect on us.
Just like with food, the more we ingest bad movies, the more we absorb bad
qualities. I have written before about how the media we consume influences our
lives. If we avoided bad movies and gravitated towards good movies, movie
studios would start paying attention to the market and begin funding more
movies with moral and artistic value and release them to the general public.
Good movies may be hard to find, but they’re out there. Let’s make more!
Links to articles mentioned in this post:
P.S.-You may notice that the title says Part 1. There is a
Part 2 that I am working on releasing soon. You may be wondering what else do I
have to say on the subject? Well, Part 2 will be more focused on breaking down
elements involved in various good movies as well as provide concrete examples
of what I think are good movies that have been released to the general public
in recent years.
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