The Best Films of 2011

It's December 31st, and in a few hours we will say goodbye to 2011 and welcome 2012. I thought it would be fitting to make a list of the top films of 2011. So here it is in no particular order:

Drive

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Super 8

Thor

The King's Speech

Water for Elephants

Crazy Stupid Love

The Help

Moneyball

50/50

Hugo

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol 

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Happy New Year!

M:I4 Ghost Protocol

I'm not always a fan of Tom Cruise films. I find he either gets it right or gets it terrible wrong. I try not to let an actor's personal life interfere with the way I judge a film, but sometimes with Tom it's hard to do. Between his antics on Oprah and all the rumours about his Scientology beliefs floating around it's hard to take the man seriously sometimes. Yesterday I went and saw Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, and ladies and gentlemen, I'm happy to report the Tom Cruise is back in business.

The film is an action through and through. From start to end there's barely a moment to breathe, but it's a good thing. The plot itself is very simple. The IMF is shut down after the President declares Ghost Protocol and so Ethan Hunt and his team have to rogue in order to stop a Russian madman from detonating an atomic bomb. I have to say, I really missed the good old days when the enemy was always the Russians, the threat, an atomic bomb. These days most action films are set in the Middle East with terrorism being the main focus. Obviously these films are American and therefore entirely one-sided and completely devoid of historical facts. Nevertheless they are entertaining.

Cruise's Hunt was significantly less annoying in this 4th installment. I remember in M:I 3 there were some terrible one-liners. This film worries less about dialogue and puts the emphasis on the stunts, which is what a good action should do. There is one scene where Hunt has to climb up the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, using only some gloves that have electronic suction. Of course technology is not always to be trusted and there were some edge of your seat moments. I usually don't respond strongly to action scenes but that one literally had me on the edge of my seat. 

Hunt's team consists of Jane (Paula Patton) an IMF agent, Benji (Simon Pegg) the techie, and film's comedy relief, and Brandt (Jeremy Renner) an analyst with an interesting past. We first meet Hunt in a prison in Budapest. His escape route is nothing short of spectacular. The team then head to the Kremlin in Russia, then onto Dubai and finally India to take down the enemy. The film makes great use of these various locations, particularly Dubai. 

If you're looking for a pick me up in this bizarre time of year that is the week between Christmas and New Years then check out Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol. It's packed full of action and fun and promises not to take life too seriously. 

Films about Ancient Greece

One of my best friends is a historian with a passion for Ancient Greece. I myself have a love for the Classics, particularly the plays of Aeschylus and Euripides, however my knowledge on Ancient Greece is limited. So many films have been made about Ancient Greece, each of them taking history into their own hands and reworking them for Hollywood's purpose. Today I wanted to focus on a few of those films and look at how the film differs from the myth.

300 (2006)

Synopsis: King Leonidas of Sparta takes 300 men to fight the Persians at Thermopylae in 480 BC.
History: The Battle of Thermopylae was fought in 480 BC, where King Leonidas of Sparta led an army against the Persian Empire. Leonidas led 300 Spartans, 700 Thespians, and 400 Thebans, the majority of who were killed. Although the film uses elaborate editing and graphics it does somewhat stay true to the story of King Leonidas and his army of 300.

Troy (2004)

Synopsis: Set in the year 1250 BC, Paris, the Trojan Prince persuades Helen, Queen of Sparta, to leave her husband and run away with him. Menelaus asks his brother Agamemnon to bring her back. And so they set off to Troy for war. Achilles fights with the Greeks to defeat the Trojans

History: The Trojan War has a vast and intricate history. In order to understand the lead up to the Trojan War you have to look at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis. There, all the gods were invited, except for Eris. Upset, she rolled a golden apple which was claimed by Hera, Athena and Aphrodite. They fought over it and so Zeus led them to Paris, the Prince of Troy, who was given the command of choosing who would have the apple. They each bribed him. Hera offered him political power, Athena offered him wisdom and skill in battle. Aphrodite offered him the most beautiful woman in the world: Helen, daughter of Leda and Zeus.

Peleus and Thetis had a son named Achilles. The prophecy read that Paris would be the fall of Troy and that Troy could not fall without Achille's help. The war lasted a very long time and included a great many people. If you are a fan of the Trojan War then I suggest you read Aeschylus' "Agamemnon", written in 458 BC it gives wonderful insight into the war. The film Troy however cares not for history or what led to the Trojan War, it simply glorifies battle in the most Hollywood way, bad acting included. 

Immortals (2011)

Synopsis: Theseus, a mortal, is chosen by Zeus to fight King Hyperion, King of Crete.

History: Theseus was fathered by Aegeus and Poseidon, both of whom Aerthra had slept with on the same night. Theseus is most famous for slaying the minotaur. Hyperion was not the king of the Crete, rather he was one of the 12 Titans. I enjoyed the film but it is absolutely not historically accurate. It barely scratches the surface of the story of Theseus, and completely alters the story of the Titans. 

Clash of the Titans (2010) 

Synopsis: Perseus, a son of Zeus, embarks on a perilous journey to stop the underworld from spreading evil to Earth.

History: Perseus was the founder of Mycenae. He killed the Gorgon Medusa and claimed Andromeda, who Perseus saved and married. I have not seen Clash of the Titans because reviews were so bad that I chose to dodge the bullet. I would love to know what you thought about it. Where did it go wrong?

What bother's you most when watching films about Ancient Greece, their obvious disregard for historical fact, or the fact that you never actually see anyone from Greece in them? 

My Favourite Foreign Films

Today I'd like to take a look at my favourite foreign films. Whenever I hear an english speaker say that they don't like films with subtitles I die a little inside. Some of the best films ever made are foreign, and I would go as far to say that most of the world's best films are not made anywhere near the USA. The following films have been picked because they are original, brilliantly acted and perfectly executed.

Black Book (Netherlands)

This is a wonderful film and I truly didn't expect what I got out of it. The story is set in Nazi-occupied Netherlands during World War Two. Rachel, a Jew, manages to infiltrate the SS by seducing an SS Officer. The story is complex and there are some very tense moments. It tells a side to the war that I hadn't thought of before.

Flame and Citron (Denmark)

This film is also set during the second world war. It follows Flammen and Citronen who are assassins in the Dutch Resistance. Flammen is the shooter and Ctironen the driver. This film has it all: fight scenes, a traitor in the mix and a love interest who may or may not be a double agent. I highly recommend it.

The Lives of Others (Germany)

An exquisite film by Florian Henckle von Donnersmarck. Set in 1984 in Berlin an agent in the Secret Police conducts surveillance on a writer and his lover. Wiesler, the agent, finds himself becoming more and more interested in their lives. This film is wonderful, and the performances are at the highest standard.

Amelie (France)

I have seen this film so many times, I adore it. The story is very sweet following Amelie who helps those around her and finds love. The setting of Paris, France is beautiful and only adds to the ambience.

Run Lola Run (Germany)

Lola has 20 minutes to get 100,000 Deutschmarks to her boyfriend Manny otherwise he will rob a store. As Lola runs for her life there are three alternatives that will be the outcome, depending on her. The script is quirky and engaging and the editing is great, bringing a fast-paced energy to the film.

Pan's Labyrinth (Spain)

Made by the legendary Guillermo del Toro this film is set in Spain in 1944. A young girl lives with her pregnant mother and brutal stepfather, a Captain in the Spanish Army. Pan has a passion for fairytales and ends up in one of her own, only in this fairytale Pan must pass three gruesome tasks in order to see her father, the king. This is not a film for children, rather it is an adult's fairytale, brutal yet mesmerizing.

Bon Cop Bad Cop (Quebec)

I saw this film when I lived in Montreal and I thought it was amazing. The film is bilingual and follows a  straight-laced Ontarian cop and a rebellious Quebecois cop who are forced to work together. They aren't happy about it but it turns out that if they can put their differences aside then they can be better cops.

Shutter (Thailand)

This is the most frightening film I've ever seen. I know they did an American remake but I won't go near it. When a photographer notices eerie shadows in his photos he and his girlfriend investigate. What they discover is a horrific secret and a vengeful spirit. If you like to get freaked out then don't watch the American version (which will most like scare you for all the wrong reasons) watch this.

City of God (Brazil)

Be warned, this film is extremely violent. It is not easy to watch but it is worth it. The story follows two boys growing up in dangerous Rio de Janeiro, one who becomes a photographer and the other a drug dealer. It paints a picture of a city I really didn't understand. I recommend it but please note that it is realistic in its depictions of violence.

So that's my list of my favourite foreign films. What's on your list (you better have a list!)

Merry Christmas

It's Christmas day! I hope you are all surrounded by loved ones, good food and lots of wine. My gift to you this Christmas...a picture of Jake Gyllenhaal, topless, with a santa hat, in a film that has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas (Jarhead).

Merry Christmas

Love Almost Famous Kiwi

Films From My Childhood

It's Christmas Eve and I'm feeling nostalgic, so I've decided to dedicate today's blog to the films of my childhood. I was born in the '80s so I grew up with some pretty epic kids films. Today there are some great kids films like Wall-E and Finding Nemo, but I don't think the majority of kids films today can compare to those of the '80s and '90s.

The Neverending Story 1984

I was born the year this film was made, so that's two awesome things from 1984 (teehee). This film is brilliant. The story follows Bastian, a young boy who is bullied and hides in the attic at school. There he reads The Neverending Story. Soon enough he finds himself a part of the story and has to help Atreyu save Fantasia. If this film was made today it would be done with CGI, which would be unfortunate. The SFX is pretty spectacular considering it's from 1984.

The Goonies 1985

This is my favourite kids film. The Goonies are a group of friends who go on an adventure when they find a pirate treasure map. They hope that the treasure can be used to save their town from being redeveloped into a golf course. The film is filled with fun and adventure, and also a classic tale of friendship and childhood. Goonies never say die.

The Labyrinth 1986

Bowie, a magical labyrinth and a desperate search to save her baby brother...this film has it all. I have seen this film many times and it's just as brilliant now as it was back then. The story is by Jim Henson and there are some awesome puppets throughout the film. There's even a very catchy tune sung by Bowie which will never leave your head once it's in there.

Flight of the Navigator 1986

This film is set in 1978 and follows a young boy named David who falls down a ravine and wakes up eight years in the future, thanks to an alien named Max. The SFX are really incredible thanks to the '80s love of all things futuristic. This is a great film for kids even today.

My Girl 1991

Such a heartbreaking and heartwarming tale of a young girl and her best friend Thomas. Vada is obsessed with death. Her mother died when she was a baby and her father runs a funeral home. Vada's father falls in love with another woman and Vada does everything she can to break them up.

The Mighty Ducks 1992

I love this film. Emilio Estevez stars as Gordan Bombay, a lawyer who is sentenced to community service as a youth hockey coach. The motley crew that is his hockey team end up becoming the great Mighty Ducks and they teach him how to put others ahead of himself. I also love the 1996 film D3: The Mighty Ducks, because the team is now on scholarship at high school and they have to deal with a new coach. The films are cheesy but they're fun and take me back to my childhood.

So that's my list of my favourite films from my childhood. What's on your list?

My Favourite Film Lines

Merry Christmas Eve eve. Today I'm going to do a short post about a few of my favourite film lines.

Die Hard. John McClane 

"Yippee Ki Yay Motherfucker"

Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. Sheriff of Nottingham and Guy of Gisborne

"I'll cut your heart out with a spoon."

"But why a spoon cousin?"

"Because it will hurt more you idiot."

Airplane! Dr. Rumack

"I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

Star Wars. Darth Vader

"I am your father"

LOTR. Gollum

"My precious"

ET. ET

"ET phone home"

The Shining. Jack

"Here's Johnny"

Jaws. Chief Martin Brody

"We're going to need a bigger boat"

Dirty Dancing. Johnny

"Nobody puts Baby in a corner"

Apocalypse Now. Lt. Kilgore

"I love the smell of napalm in the morning

300. King Leonidas 

"This is Sparta"

Dirty Harry. Harry

"Go ahead, make my day"

Indiana Jones. Indiana

"Why did it have to be snakes?"

The Dark Knight. The Joker

"Why so serious?"

What are some of your favourite film lines?