"Blade Runner" (1982)

Rank on the AFI List: #97

WHAT I ALREADY KNEW ABOUT THE MOVIE:
1) It stars Harrison Ford
2) It's a sci-fi thriller from the 80's

LET ME EXPLAIN...
For some reason, I had been looking forward to watching this one ever since I began My Quest.  The above info is really all I knew about it, so I guess its similarities to "Star Wars" intrigued me.

Then the movie began, continued, and ended, and I was left utterly disappointed.  This is a weird movie.  There's not a lot of action in it, and as my wife eloquently described it, it's more like an 80's melodrama in space.

The main storyline had giant holes that left me lost and not really caring about any of the characters, and the sub-story was bizarre and a bit uncomfortable to watch.  It seems like this film was trying to say something, but I wasn't doing cocaine in the 80's when I watched it, so its point was lost on me.  (Important note: the trailer included in this post makes the film look a LOT more interesting and exciting than it actually is.)

What makes this a "Top 100" Movie?
Apparently there hadn't been a movie like this before.  The atmosphere of this futuristic, dystopian reality was so new and different that "Blade Runner" stands out in film history....that's the only thing I can think of for answering this question, despite the fact that I wasn't really impressed by any of it.  It was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Art Direction and Best Visual Effects.

Complaints
Practically no action (in a sci-fi film!), no real depth to the characters (though it seems like this film was trying to give them depth), and THE MUSIC!!  It's like I was watching a soap opera Atari video game.

LET ME SUM UP...
Slow-moving, bizarre sci-fi movie from the 80's that leaves a lot to be desired.

MY RATING: 1/10

TOTAL # OF FILMS WATCHED: 87

"It's a Wonderful Life" (1946) - RE-WATCH

Rank on the AFI List: #20

Synopsis (according to IMDB.com)
An angel helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would have been like if he never existed.

LET ME EXPLAIN...
I absolutely love this movie.  I'm one of those people who gets choked up watching it, and I'm so glad I finally got around to watching it for the first time back in college.  It's a story full of compassion, selflessness, sacrifice, and life.  Real life.  Not some Hollywood version of life's fulfillment being found in your plans coming to fruition, but in realizing the blessings found in life no matter what direction life goes.

What makes this a "Top 100" Movie?
See above.  This movie is so great at depicting what real life is like.  Plans fall through.  Sacrifices have to be made.  Life gets tough (I realize I'm a 29-year old with no kids, so I can't really speak on this yet from experience, but I hear things).  People pass away.  Relationships change.  Anyone can see themselves in George Bailey's shoes and relate, so this film does an amazing job at striking a chord that can resonate with anyone.  It's also wonderfully acted by everyone, especially Jimmy Stewart (his prayer in the bar always stands out to me as superb acting).  This film was nominated for 5 Academy Awards and - were it not for The Best Years of Our Lives coming out that same year - would have been the top film of 1946.

Complaints?
A lot of older films have some awkward acting moments (e.g. North by Northwest), and this film is no exception.  Nevertheless, "It's a Wonderful Life" is simply too great of a film to mark it down for something that's simply a sign of the times.

LET ME SUM UP...
One of the greatest films ever.  It's a heart-tugging tear-jerker that is the best example of "life" I've seen on film.

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

"King Kong" (1933) - RE-WATCH

Rank on the AFI List: #41

Synopsis (according to IMDB.com)
A film crew goes to a tropical island for an exotic location shoot and discovers a colossal giant gorilla who takes a shine to their female blonde star.

LET ME EXPLAIN...
The story is well known, and there have been a couple remakes of this, so I won't bother at all with the story.  I just want to say that there's something about the visual "effects" that I think is really neat.  Perhaps it's the style of effects way back in 1933, I don't know, but the stop-motion animation of Kong and the other creatures is a major reason I really like this movie.

What makes this a "Top 100" Movie?
This film really seems like it could be considered the first "movie blockbuster".  To try to explain, think of the big action movies that come out every summer: the action, the adventure, the over-the-top explosions or creatures.  Now imagine that type of movie coming out back in 1933.  That's "King Kong".  It starts off setting the stage and introducing characters quietly, but once the action gets introduced, it's virtually non-stop until the end.  And just like a lot of those summer blockbusters nowadays, it's a fun time if you don't take it too seriously.

Complaints?
My wife and I felt one actor in particular wasn't that great in this movie.  However, we disagreed on which actor was bad.  I thought it was the "hero" actor, and she thought it was the director.  Take your pick, but that's really the only thing I can mention here.  This is a great movie.

LET ME SUM UP...
Great movie with a "summer blockbuster" (circa 1933) feel.  If you like action movies and classic film, I'd be shocked if you haven't already seen this and liked it.

MY RATING: 8/10 (No change from my previous rating)

"Toy Story" (1995) - RE-WATCH

Rank on the AFI List: #99

Synopsis (according to AFI)
Well, AFI decided to reformat its website since my last re-watch, so an AFI synopsis is no longer available.  I have to say I'm not a fan since I liked how their synopses often gave some insight into why the film is on their list.  Oh well, here's IMDB:

A cowboy toy is profoundly threatened and jealous when a fancy spaceman toy supplants him as top toy in a boy's room.

AFI, bring back your synopses!!

LET ME EXPLAIN...
This is my favorite Pixar movie, so I was excited to watch it again after 10+ years, countless new Pixar films, and two sequels.  Conclusion?  This movie is still awesome, and one of the funniest Pixars ever (for the record, I didn't think Toy Story 3 was all that funny, though it did offer more dramatic action and high quality animation).

What else is there to say?  The premise of our toys coming to life when we're not around is original and takes us back to our childhood, which is a nice escape from the responsibilities of adulthood.  I don't think they could have casted the voices any better, either.

What makes this a "Top 100" Movie?
Finally, an easy film to answer this question about!  Quite simply, it was the first full-length computer-animated movie ever.  The fact that the story and humor is terrific is just the cherry on top.

Complaints?
None.  I love this movie.

LET ME SUM UP...
Inventive premise, engaging story, great humor, and the very first computer-animated movie make this an easy pick for the Top 100.

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

"A Clockwork Orange" (1971)

Rank on the AFI List: #70

WHAT I ALREADY KNEW ABOUT THE MOVIE:
That it's a futuristic film where a person who loves sex and violence is "reformed" by the government, only it doesn't work.

LET ME EXPLAIN...
This was the movie I was least looking forward to watching on the AFI List.  I considered skipping it, but as I've noticed it get referenced in film discussions and moral debates regularly, I wanted to know exactly what it was all about.

Unfortunately, "what it was all about" was extremely difficult to find because this movie is so stupid.  By stupid, I mean poorly done with unrelatable characters, strange home architecture, sexual decor, etc.  It was so bizarre that there was no way for me to get invested anywhere in the story.  Halfway through I started doing the dishes while semi-watching the movie because I was bored and unimpressed with any of it.

What makes this a "Top 100" Movie?
Absolutely no clue.  Like I said, this movie is stupid.  How it got nominated for 4 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Director, and Screenplay, is beyond me.

Complaints:
Every second of this movie.  However, probably my biggest complaint is that this could have been a very good, thought-provoking movie. I went online after it ended to find out more about what the heck the point of it is, and it's actually very intriguing: the necessity of choice. As a Christian, I really appreciate this idea being illustrated in a movie. The point of this story really delves into the reason there is sin and evil in the world: free will. If our free will is taken away and we are incapable of choosing evil, we are nothing more than machines ("clockwork"). Unfortunately, the stupidity and blatant offensiveness of the actual movie ruins the entire premise.

LET ME SUM UP...
This movie is stupid, offensive, and bizarre, ruining a thought-provoking premise that could have been brought to film in a MUCH better way.

MY RATING: 1/10

TOTAL # OF FILMS WATCHED: 86

"The Sound of Music" (1965) - RE-WATCH

Rank on the AFI List: #40

Synopsis (according to IMDB since AFI's website is not working):
A woman leaves an Austrian convent to become a governess to a Naval officer widower.

LET ME EXPLAIN...
Being a band geek in school, I saw bits and pieces of this film countless times since substitute teachers often used it to fill our class period.  And, being a guy (and a teenager at the time), I of course mocked it and never paid it much attention. 

However, I remember at some point after high school sitting through the whole movie and being somewhat impressed by it.  But hey, now that I'm on My Quest, I needed to give it another full viewing.  Thanks to our friends who own it, my wife and I had some great company!  (And not surprisingly, they're both music teachers.)

At the risk of completely emasculating myself, I will admit that I think this is a really good movie.  The story is engaging (I was surprised how fast a 3-hour musical went by), there is some surprisingly good humor, and the music - perhaps due to its universal recognition - was great (especially when compared to the music in West Side Story, which I found myself constantly comparing this movie to).  All this to say, I am a fan.

What makes this a "Top 100" Movie?
From strictly a filmmaking standpoint, this is well done technically with some great writing.  From a visual standpoint, they have some amazing scenery shots.  From an acting standpoint, Julie Andrews was great, and my wife and I were both extremely impressed with Christopher Plummer as the male lead.  Add in the legendary songs and music, and all together this is one of the best musicals I have ever seen.  On top of that, this movie has Nazis for bad guys, so it's pretty much a lock to be on the AFI List (since the AFI loves movies about WWII and/or Nazis).  It also won 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and (of course) Best Music.

Complaints
Well...it IS a musical.  Other than that, it seemed like some of the musical numbers with the kids should have had a few more takes because some of the gestures and acting seemed awkward and sloppy.

LET ME SUM UP...
One of the best musicals there is.  Surprisingly good humor, great acting, engaging story, and some breathtaking scenery.  If I was more a fan of musicals, I'd give this a higher rating.

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

"Cabaret" (1972)

Rank on the AFI List: #63

WHAT I ALREADY KNEW ABOUT THE MOVIE:
1) It's a musical having something to do with Nazi Germany
2) It stars Liza Minnelli

LET ME EXPLAIN...
Here's the recipe for "Cabaret":

1 part Sophie's Choice
1 part Sound of Music
1 part Schindler's List

Combine "Sophie's Choice" with "Sound of Music".  Whisk together until all good elements of both films are no longer visible.  Once together, strain out any semblance of a plot.

Take "Schindler's List" and water it down.  Water it down some more.  Add just a pinch of what's left to the previous mixture.  Discard what remains.

What makes this a "Top 100" Movie?
Just like The Last Picture Show, I have absolutely no idea, and I can't even give a guess about what might make this so critically acclaimed.  It's an odd musical with virtually no plot, and I never felt like I got close enough to the characters to care about them.  Liza Minnelli's performance was worthy of the Best Actress Oscar that she won, but amazingly enough, "Cabaret" won a total of 8 Academy Awards in 1973.  That includes beating out Francis Ford Coppola ("The Godfather") for Best Director.  I'm in awe...

Complaints:
I finished watching this four days ago, and I'm still waiting for the plot to unfold.

LET ME SUM UP...
Another musical I just can't appreciate, but unlike West Side Story, "Cabaret" has no plot and no excitement.  Liza Minnelli's performance was the ONLY element I thought was good.

MY RATING: 2/10

TOTAL # OF FILMS WATCHED: 85