"High Noon" (1952)

Rank on the AFI List: #27

WHAT I ALREADY KNEW ABOUT THE MOVIE:
1. It's a western starring Gary Cooper.
2. It's about a guy looking for people in a small town to help him in an impending gun fight with outlaws.

LET ME EXPLAIN...
I had been looking forward to watching this one for a while.  In fact, for some reason, as I got closer to completing this bucket list item, I decided that "High Noon" would be the final "new" film I'd see.  I thought it was a safe bet that I'd like the movie and feel good about ending the AFI list quest on a high note (as opposed to say, any of these films).

Well, I did end up enjoying this movie.  I wouldn't say I loved it, but it had some great things going for it: Gary Cooper's acting, a simple yet compelling story that really made me feel for the main character, and the ultimate use of time as a tension-builder.  In fact, except for a couple edits, this movie moves in real time, which was a pleasant surprise once I noticed it (I wonder if the creators of 24 got their inspiration from this movie).  That really built the tension for me, sort of like a giant wave coming right at you from miles away - it's a steadily-moving doom that's impossible to escape or ignore.  It made the shots of the empty train station and tracks ominous, too - you don't see anything coming, but you know it's only a matter of time.

However, once the climactic ending finally arrived, I felt a bit underwhelmed, though I think that's probably because of all the other movies I have seen that have huge, explosive endings with crazy twists in the action (there is a twist in this one, but it's presented so mildly that you might not even notice it).  For its time, I'd say this was probably a great ending.

What makes this a "Top 100" Movie?
It's a classic western with a story that's extremely simple, but with so much subtext it leaves you thinking about virtue, courage, cowardice, and standing up for what's right (it did for me, at least).  It was nominated for 7 Academy Awards, winning 4 of them (Best Actor, Best Film Editing, Best Song, and Best Music).  For the record, the award-winning song seemed a bit strange and lame in the beginning, but its use throughout the movie, and how the lyrics align with the story, made this one of the most appropriate Oscar-winning songs ever, in my opinion.  Too many songs win when they are only played during the closing credits, and they're over-produced and homogenized - like "Into the West" from Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

Complaints
The few times they edited scenes in such a way that it ceased to be truly in real-time, and the underwhelming ending.

LET ME SUM UP...
Classic western with a simple story that makes you want to be there for Gary Cooper's character.  A great tension-builder that falls a little flat in the end, but overall a very good movie.

MY RATING: 7/10

TOTAL # OF FILMS WATCHED: 100!!!

"Lawrence of Arabia" (1962)

Rank on the AFI List: #7

WHAT I ALREADY KNEW ABOUT THE MOVIE:
1. It stars Peter O'Toole
2. It's based on a true story
3. The sweeping desert shots are so breathtaking that this is deemed a movie that "must be seen on a big screen."

LET ME EXPLAIN...
I've been stuck at 98 films on this list for quite a long time (over a year, I believe), and #3 above is the main reason why. I wanted to wait and see this film on a big screen - at least bigger than our modest TV at home. And I wanted to make "High Noon" the last film I see on this list (don't ask me why because I don't really know). But alas, with my first baby due in less than 2 weeks, my wife and I decided it might be good to finish off the Top 100 before we're engrossed with caring for a newborn. All that said, I ended up finally watching "Lawrence of Arabia"...on our modest TV at home.

This was a peculiar film. The 1st half was a whole lot of wandering through the desert, and the 2nd half had the story move along quite a bit. However, I found the 1st half to be more interesting and enjoyable, with the 2nd half confusing and disappointing. There was so much in this movie that didn't make sense to me, including motives and natural progressions in the plot, that I didn't really know where the story was going, and I didn't really care. I think I must have missed a lot in the dialogue that I got lost, because I can't figure out how in the world this ranks as a Top 10 film.

What makes this a "Top 100" Movie?

Breathtaking scenery, good acting, and an epic production are what I can think of, but it's not put together that great (for one thing, my wife and I both felt the opening scene should have been the final scene of the film, to improve both the story-telling as well as adding suspense to the action sequences).  However, it was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, winning 7 of them, including Best Picture, so what do I know?

Complaints:

1. Lawrence was a strange guy that I never felt I knew, even after watching him for almost 4 hours.  He's odd, soft-spoken, flamboyant, narcissistic at times, and his conflicting loyalties didn't help me understand him any better.
2. The scene when Lawrence meets the Turk leader guy after being apprehended is one of the most awkward scenes I've ever seen in a movie.
3. The ending is quite a whimper.  With an epic ranked at #7, I expected this to go out with a bang.  Either I missed some underlying "bang" at the end, or this movie really putters out.

LET ME SUM UP...

Strange main character, difficult-to-follow storytelling, and a weak ending combine with good acting and sweeping desert shots to make this a film I'm glad I finally watched, but I didn't really enjoy it like I thought I would.

MY RATING: 5/10

TOTAL # OF FILMS WATCHED: 99

"12 Angry Men" (1957) - RE-WATCH

Rank on the AFI List: #87

Synopsis (according to imdb.com)
A dissenting juror in a murder trial slowly manages to convince the others that the case is not as obviously clear as it seemed in court.

(The trailer I found on YouTube - embedded below - is a pretty good modern-day-style video.  Check it out!)

LET ME EXPLAIN...
I absolutely love this movie.  It's in my Top 3 of all time.  It's one of the most well-acted movies by the entire cast I think there is.  Its attention to detail (in the storytelling, character subtleties, interactions, etc.) is incredibly impressive.  And I find it amazing that a film can provide so much background for so many different characters in such little time and space.

Speaking of "so many different characters", this is a great melting pot of personalities.  In just 12 people, you have a sports fanatic, a businessman, a slumdog, an intellectual, an everyday joe, a racist, a blue collar worker, an elderly man, an immigrant, an angry old man, an upbeat, and a voice of reason.  All forced to sit down together, discuss a case, and come to a consensus.  A great look into American culture, both then and now.

What makes this a "Top 100" Movie?
Great acting.  Great storytelling.  Great cinematography for being set in one room.  IMDB.com rankings have this (as I'm writing this post, at least) as the #6 film of all time, so I'm not the only average joe who thinks this movie is one of the best.  It was nominated for 3 Academy Awards - Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture (losing out to The Bridge on the River Kwai in every category).

Complaints
1. This movie didn't even make it onto AFI's first Top 100 list, in 1997 (!!!).
2. When it finally made it onto the list in 2007, it's way down at #87 (!!!!!!!).
3. It's ranked lower on the list than Titanic (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).

LET ME SUM UP...
One of the best films ever made.  It's a very simple story, but with great characters and character development.  I get just as excited (if not moreso) when I'm about to sit down and watch this as I do when I'm about to watch The Dark Knight (which, if you know me, is saying a lot).  A must-see.

MY RATING: 10/10 (No change from my previous rating)

"Titanic" (1997) - PREVIOUS VIEWING

Rank on the AFI List: #83

Synopsis (according to imdb.com)
Fictional romantic tale of a rich girl and poor boy who meet on the ill-fated voyage of the 'unsinkable' ship. 

Note: It's been so long since I've seen this that I probably should watch it again, but I just don't want to...deal with it.

LET ME EXPLAIN...
The love story?  Too contrived.  DiCaprio's acting?  Not very good.  However, this is a fairly good historical portrayal of a devastating event, and the actual ship sinking is pretty impressive.

What makes this a "Top 100" Movie?
It's centered around a major historic event.  It was crazy expensive to make at the time, as they made a smaller version of the whole freakin' ship.  It reigned as the #1 box office success in film history until Avatar.  And James Cameron, love him or hate him, knows how to create an uber-successful movie.  It won 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Complaints:
I'm at least glad Leonardo DiCaprio didn't even get nominated for Best Actor, as his performance is probably the most annoying thing about this movie to me.

LET ME SUM UP...
Typical Hollywood-esque ill-fated romance, but with impressive effects once the ship starts sinking.

MY RATING: 5/10

"Forrest Gump" (1994) - RE-WATCH

Rank on the AFI List: #76

Synopsis (according to imdb.com)
Forrest Gump, while not intelligent, has accidentally been present at many historic moments, but his true love, Jenny, eludes him.

LET ME EXPLAIN...
For some reason, this film tends to be fairly polarizing.  I know people who absolutely love this movie.  I also know just as many people who loathe it.  Not sure why it's so divisive, but I'm happy to say that I belong in the "I love it" boat.

"Forrest Gump" is a heartwarming film, filled with great humor, thoughtful themes on life and death, and historical moments.  It's almost like being guided through a tour of late 20th century history by a loving, cheerful child.  It's a unique perspective from someone who's very easy to care about.

In that same vein, for taking place during such a complicated time in American history, I'm extremely impressed at the film's ability to illustrate how a true innocent managed to experience all that Forrest Gump did and sincerely remain just as innocent in the end.  It's a refreshing thought that a person could actually maintain a child-like heart that doesn't know any better than to be honest, loving, and selfless no matter what they're facing.

What makes this a "Top 100" Movie?
"Forrest Gump" is sort of a hybrid of both emotions and American history, which I think is a major factor.  It's a love story, a drama, a comedy, an adventure flick, a war movie, a history lesson, a coming-of-age story, and a biopic (even if it's of a fictional character).  On top of that, it's a very well-made film with top-notch acting, direction, music, and overall production.  "Forrest Gump" was nominated for 13 Academy Awards, winning 6 of them for Best Picture, Director, Actor, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, and Visual Effects (how exactly DID they remove Gary Sinise's legs back in 1994??  I've always wondered that...).

Complaints:
I've been sitting here for about 5 minutes trying to think of anything specific I didn't really like about this movie, and I just can't think of anything.

LET ME SUM UP...
Great, great movie about a simpleton who lives life to the fullest.  An all-around terrific story that's fun, dramatic, inspiring, and full of heart.

MY RATING: 9/10 (1.0 higher from my previous rating)

"Wizard of Oz" (1939) - RE-WATCH

Rank on the AFI List: #10

Synopsis (according to imdb.com, as if you need one)
Dorothy Gale is swept away to a magical land in a tornado and embarks on a quest to see the Wizard who can help her return home.

LET ME EXPLAIN...
Really, though, what's there to explain?  Everybody knows this movie, the story, the lines, the songs, and the characters.  It may not have much in character development or real depth, but it's a family movie about imagination, a magical land, and the message that "there's no place like home."  It's not trying to be Chinatown or On the Waterfront, so I can't fault it for not trying to be something it's not.

What makes this a "Top 100" Movie?
Quite simply, it's the most iconic film ever made.  I can't think of any other movie that has permeated pop culture as much as "Wizard of Oz".  It also had wonderful art direction, though that Academy award went to Gone with the Wind.  All in all, though, it received 6 Oscar nominations, winning 2, for Best Song and Best Score.

Complaints:
They spend way too much time in munchkin land.  And while I said earlier that I can't fault this movie for not having much character development or depth, those are two things I really appreciate in a film.

LET ME SUM UP...
Cute and well-made family film that has no equal when it comes to its influence on popular culture.

MY RATING: 6/10

"The African Queen" (1951) - RE-WATCH

Rank on the AFI List: #65

Synopsis (according to imdb.com)
In Africa during WW1, a gin-swilling riverboat owner/captain is persuaded by a strait-laced missionary to use his boat to attack an enemy warship.

LET ME EXPLAIN...
This was actually the last movie on the AFI List that I watched before I decided to start this blog.  I remember thinking it was a pretty good adventure movie the first time I saw it, so I wondered what - if anything - might change in my opinion after a second viewing.

Unfortunately, I ended up not really liking it as much the second time.  For being a movie featuring two Hollywood legends - albeit aging ones - the acting wasn't all that memorable.  Plus, their whole relationship is a bit cooky: Bogart's flirting with the hippos, and his use of "old girl" as some sort of endearing nickname for his brand new beau, are two examples.  There's also a real lack of backstory for any of the characters.  Giving them more depth would have helped me care more, and I like to care.  Awwww.

On the positive side, there were some exciting scenes of the boat going through river rapids.  Additionally, the plot is intriguing.  Whenever I started to lose interest in the movie (due to the issues mentioned above), remembering the plot helped bring me back each time...even if the ending isn't really THAT exciting.

What makes this a "Top 100" Movie?
Thanks to the Special Features on the DVD, I can pretty much confirm the reason this is on the AFI List: it was one of the first-ever Hollywood movies filmed "on location" (virtually all movies up to that point were shot in film studios).  On top of that, they didn't just go to some nearby city or lake to shoot; they traveled to Africa and shot in the middle of the wild.  All that to say, "The African Queen" was groundbreaking for filming on location in the jungle.  It was also nominated for 4 Academy Awards, with Humphrey Bogart winning the lone statue for this film, for Best Actor.

Complaints:
I already mentioned them, but the lack of backstory for the main characters made this film a bit shallow.  The cooky-ness of the relationship between Bogart and Hepburn was also strange, and a bit embarrassing to watch at times.  And come on, you two just became a couple, so quit pretending like it's a rock-solid, years-old relationship you're both in that's sustaining you through the tough trip down river.  You're barely into the honeymoon phase...

LET ME SUM UP...
For being a combination of an action adventure/romantic comedy/war movie, this is a bit shallow for me to fully appreciate.  Bogart's character in particular was a little embarrassing to watch, though apparently it was good enough to win the Oscar for Best Actor.  The simple plot of a dangerous trek into hostile territory, however, kept me interested enough to not completely dislike "The African Queen".

MY RATING: 5.5/10 (1.5 lower from my previous rating)

"Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981) - RE-WATCH

Rank on the AFI List: #66

Synopsis (according to imdb.com)
Archeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the US government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis.

LET ME EXPLAIN...
At the risk of being lambasted for this, I don't get the love affair everyone seems to have with this movie.  I watched it a number of times growing up, and it's enjoyable enough, but it's never been anywhere near the top of my favorites list.  I was further mystified when a fellow AFI blogger watched this movie for the very first time just recently (you can read her post here).  That right there goes against my thought that people love this because it's one of those classics they grew up with.  Apparently not!

Having said all that, I feel the need to state again that I don't dislike this movie.  I like it.  It's a fun adventure, and Indiana Jones is arguably the most iconic character in movie history (he was also perfectly cast by Harrison Ford...makes me wonder how successful this franchise would have been if George Lucas's first choice - Tom Selleck - had accepted the part instead).

What makes this a "Top 100" Movie?
Not really sure.  I'm probably not the best person to answer this question, but here are some of my guesses:
     - The pure adventure of the story is possibly unlike any other.
     - It was the introduction of one of the most iconic, heroic characters in movie history.
     - Great stunts, faraway locations, and classic action sequences.
Those all seem like fairly weak arguments to me.  Oh well.  "Raiders of the Lost Ark" was nominated for 9 Academy Awards, winning 5 of them (Visual Effects, Film Editing, Sound, and Art Direction, as well as a Special Achievement Award for Sound Effects Editing).

Complaints:
Well, the incredibly erroneous assumptions this film took regarding the nature of the Ark of the Covenant is something I, being a Christian, had trouble accepting, even just for the sake of enjoying the story.  This issue also made the ending really lame and ridiculous for me.  Additionally, I felt the movie did a poor job explaining things sometimes (who exactly was that creepy German guy with the glasses?  Why/how the heck did the natives know to perfectly coordinate hiding the truck from the ensuing Nazis?  Etc.).  Also, Marion was a pretty annoying character.

LET ME SUM UP...
Fun adventure with a classic movie icon.  However, the poetic license the film takes, in both storytelling and the Ark itself, leaves me a bit underwhelmed compared to the seemingly vast majority of people who absolutely love this movie.

MY RATING: 7.5/10 (0.5 lower from my previous rating)

"JAWS" (1975) - RE-WATCH

Rank on the AFI List: #56

Synopsis (according to imdb.com)
When a gigantic great white shark begins to menace the small island community of Amity, a police chief, a marine scientist and grizzled fisherman set out to stop it.

LET ME EXPLAIN...
While not considered a typical horror film, some movie lists rank this as the #1 scariest movie of all time.  Why?  Well, for one thing, sharks are real, and people have been attacked by sharks in real life (I don't recall hearing about too many dead guys coming back to become a serial killer while wearing a hockey mask, or a burn victim being able to murder people via their dreams).  In other words, it's the fear that something like this could actually happen.

For another thing, I heard this movie had a devastating effect on beach attendance the year it came out.  I can't think of another movie that has done something like that in society (Psycho didn't stop people from staying in hotels or taking showers; "Alien" hasn't stopped mankind's desire to explore outerspace, etc.).  One could argue that "JAWS" is the most influential movie ever.

All that being said, this isn't a straight-up horror flick.  It's also an adventure movie and - unlike virtually all horror movies - has some absolutely terrific acting.

What makes this a "Top 100" Movie?
Aside from its incredible influence on popular culture, this is also a flat out well-made film.  Its direction, story, cinematography, and score are all terrific.  But it's the acting that stands out to me more than anything.  The entire film is well acted, especially by Shaw, Scheider, and Dreyfus.  In fact, one of my favorite scenes of all time is when those three guys are in the cabin of the boat at night talking.  The conversation goes from silly to eery through nothing more than top-notch acting and great writing (Robert Shaw's description of being on the USS Indianapolis - a true event in history - is extremely chilling - see the video clip below).  "JAWS" was nominated for 4 Academy Awards, winning three of them (Film Editing, Score, and Sound).

Complaints:
The scene when Dreyfus is in the cage underwater, getting attacked by the shark.  For some reason, it really bothers me that the shots underwater don't match up with the above-water shots from the boat.  What do I mean...?
Underwater Shot: Shark is tearing the cage apart, with parts of its body thrashing in and out of the water...
Above-water Shots: No sign of a shark - or fin, or anything - breaching the water during the attack.
It's really a pretty minor continuity issue, but it just bugs me every time I watch it.

LET ME SUM UP...
Very well-made horror/adventure film that has arguably influenced society more than any other.  Very good acting and film-making all around.

MY RATING: 9/10 (No change from my previous rating)

"Star Wars" (1977) - RE-WATCH

Rank on the AFI List: #13

Synopsis (according to imdb.com)
Luke Skywalker leaves his home planet, teams up with other rebels, and tries to save Princess Leia from the evil clutches of Darth Vader.

LET ME EXPLAIN...
And so I come to the movie on this list I've watched more than any other.  Yes, I loved Star Wars growing up.  I've watched it countless times, including on Opening Night when they re-released the Special Editions of the originals in the latter half of the 90s.  Surprisingly enough to me, it's been a number of years since I've watched any of the original trilogy, so I was curious to see what I thought of "A New Hope" now.

Well, it's still a great movie.  It's a fun adventure in space, with great effects (for its time), a classic Good vs Evil story, a few quirks I've always loved (my favorite can be seen in the video clip below), and renowned characters.  It's one of the most fun "classics" there is.

What makes this a "Top 100" Movie?
Its special effects were considered groundbreaking when it came out in 1977 (I say "considered" because I thought the effects in 2001: A Space Odyssey were just as good and came out 9 years earlier).  It's also a Good vs Evil tale, it has permeated popular culture for as long as it's been around, and it has one the greatest villains in movie history.  It was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, winning 7 of them (Art/Set Direction, Costume Design, Visual Effects, Film Editing, Musical Score, Sound, and a Special Achievement Award for the creation of all the different alien/creature/robot voices).

Complaints:
Well, considering it's meant to be a fun adventure movie, I can't be too disappointed that the acting isn't all that great (particularly Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker), and the script is certainly nowhere near as good as Chinatown.  But alas, I still have to bring these issues up.

LET ME SUM UP...
The classic epic fairy tale set in space.  A fun time created in one of the most imaginative galaxies ever, and a movie so firmly implanted in society that everyone should see this at least once in their lifetime - just not for its acting or screenwriting.

MY RATING: 9/10 (1 lower from my previous rating)