Hi again! As promised the next post in this blog will list the first 31 films that I have completed on my 100 Movies Bucket List challenge. As with the films that remain to be seen, I am not sure what criteria was used by the creators of the bucket list to determine why these 100 films should constitute a bucket list. Some, as I'm sure you will agree, are perfectly logical choices (with some of them listed on the AFI's Top 100 Movies of All-Time List). I'll include a short review/opinion of each film listed below. So without further ado let's begin. The order I list them reflects the order in which they appear on the scratch off chart starting in the top and moving left to right (you can see a picture of the poster in the previous post).
WARNING!! There may be details that some would consider spoilers. I try my best to limit including them, however, not everyone agrees on what details are to be considered spoilers. Therefore a detail I consider trivial may be considered by someone else to be a spoiler. Continue at your own risk.
The Shawshank Redemption: I don't remember a great deal about the movie, except that in general I thought it was a decent movie. You can't really go wrong if Morgan Freeman is in the movie.
The Dark Knight: Second of the newer Batman films featuring Christian Bale. Also the one in which Heath Ledger won a posthumous Oscar for his supporting role as Joker. For those that have seen the Joker movie with Joaquin Phoenix, I feel like Phoenix's Joker is kind of a mix between Ledger's Joker and Jack Nicholson's Joker...leaning more to the darker side like Ledger. Also has Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent.
E.T.: One of my childhood favorites, but it has been a very long time since I have actually watched the movie.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show: I have seen this movie numerous times...including at a few of the "Live" performances (with props). Clearly Tim Curry was phenomenal in this movie. With that said (and as much as I love Tim Curry) I think there was one person who would have done a better job as Dr. Frank N. Furter...and that person would have been Freddie Mercury.
Office Space: A comedy classic with lots of quotable lines. Despite it's humor, this is one of the movies I question as to why it's included on a bucket list with some arguably true classics (and taking the place of plenty of movies that might also be considered classics). No matter how many of times I have seen it, I always laugh.
Raiders of the Lost Ark: Of all of the Indiana Jones films, this is my least favorite. Not that it's bad, and probably to the disdain of a great many people, I actually prefer Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade featuring Sir Sean Connery (R.I.P.).
The Grand Budapest Hotel: One of the more recently made films on the list. I saw it in the theater not long after it came out. I'm not entirely certain that I "got it." Probably one I need to re-watch in order to fully understand it.
The Notebook: Another one of the "I'm not sure why it's on the list" films. Not that I dislike the movie, but it's a pretty standard romantic film that isn't overly special in its plot. The ending was a bit of a twist that I didn't exactly expect.
The Lion King: Here's where I probably disappoint more than a fair number of readers. I'm not a huge fan of this Disney classic. Of the late 80's/early 90's Disney animated feature films (following Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin) it's my least favorite. I did see the live action remake in 2019 and didn't hate it.
Stand By Me: A forgotten favorite from my childhood years. Had so many of the cool childhood actors from the 80s (including one Wil Wheaton!). The pie-eating contest is probably my favorite part of the movie.
Dirty Dancing: An 80s classic that I have seen countless times. Great movie but not so great as a musical on-stage (I saw a production of it in Germany back in 2012). Who didn't love Patrick Swayze in this movie?
Jurassic Park: It's the only movie in this franchise I have bothered to watch. Saw it on the big screen when it first came out. Not a particular favorite of mine, but I didn't hate it.
Star Wars Episodes IV, V, and VI: I have yet to see any of the prequels or Episode IX, but as a child growing up in the 80s how could I not have seen the "original" trilogy. It's been awhile since I've seen Episodes V and VI, but still love them.
Schindler's List: One of the best movies on this bucket list (in my humble opinion). It follows fairly close to the book. As a European historian I have a particular interest in WWII and this remains one of my favorite movies dealing with the topic.
Breakfast at Tiffany's: Audrey Hepburn classic, but not my favorite film of hers (I prefer Sabrina or My Fair Lady). Nonetheless, I don't question the reason for its inclusion on this bucket list. Audrey is likely my favorite actress of all time.
Back to the Future: Hilarious 80s movie that spawned two sequels (Part II was okay, Part III was barely tolerable). Christopher Lloyd's Doc Brown is an endearing character.
Forrest Gump: Another inarguable choice for the list. Although I am far from a big fan of Tom Hanks, I always enjoy this movie (as much for Sally Field and Robin Wright). I love that you can essentially start watching at any point of the movie and not be really lost.
The Silence of the Lambs: Moments of over-the-top gore, but at least it fits with the overall plot of the movie (unlike a few others that come to mind that include gratuitous violence). Hard to have a movie where a cannibal is one of the central characters and not include some blood.
Se7en: I can't say I like Brad Pitt much off screen, but I like a lot of his movies...especially his earlier films. Throw in Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey and it's even better. Spacey always plays such a phenomenal bad guy!
Airplane!: Slapstick comedy with memorable lines. Not my favorite comedy of all time, but certainly one I enjoy watching whenever it comes on TV.
Mean Girls: Another member of the "why is this movie on the list" club. I like the movie and enjoy watching it anytime I come across it. Doubtful it deserves to be on a 100 Movie Bucket List.
Ghostbusters: Always an entertaining flick. Unfortunate victim of an unnecessary reboot a few years ago. Not sure why Hollywood feels it needs to remake classic movies other than a lack of new, original ideas to make into movies.
The Green Mile: Not a favorite, but I can see why it was included. At least it has a unique storyline...even if I found myself losing focus during parts of the movie.
Rocky: I liked all of the Rocky movies up to and including Rocky IV. I haven't bothered with anything since, with the exception of the first Creed movie.
Citizen Kane: The most obvious classic movie on the list. The standard by which many films are judged and certainly way ahead of its time. I was introduced to this movie in a film class at a local community college and found myself enjoying it. Said to be loosely based on William Randolph Hearst.
American History X: Certainly not appropriate for all audiences...very graphic in nature. Not among my favorites.
Brokeback Mountain: Questionable choice for the list at best. At worst it was 2 hours and 14 minutes of my life I can't ever have back. Not even Heath Ledger can make this movie worth watching.
Titanic: Despite knowing from the very beginning how the movie was destined to end, I still cried. I still cry at the end every time I watch it. The only regrettable thing about this movie is that someone decided it should be re-released in a 3D version. I only watched the 3D version because it was about the only thing open on Good Friday during my semester abroad in Germany (practically everything shuts down on religious holidays and Sundays). The only time the 3D produced a good effect was when the water was rushing through the lower levels of the boat.
The Pianist: The most recent addition to my list of completed movies. A very dark movie, but appropriately so given the subject matter. Not likely to watch it again.
The Truman Show: Unique storyline played brilliantly by Jim Carrey (despite the fact that I essentially loathe Jim Carrey). I can really only tolerate him in a few movies...luckily this was one of them.
The Wizard of Oz: Another classic that truly deserves to be on a list like this. Personally, I'm not a huge fan but I can enjoy watching it on occasion. Of course the movie required that certain elements of the original story be changed to better suit the big screen. People familiar with turn-of-the-century American history might know that the original book was actually a Populist allegory (look it up). I'm always amused knowing that the Cowardly Lion was based on former U.S. Senator and 3X failed Presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan.
Well...there you have it. The first 31 films on the list. Future blog posts won't likely be this long as I won't wait for another 31 to be watched before writing about them. Until next time...
