#77- American Graffiti

Here's the thing:
American Graffiti is a testament to George Lucas in two ways.
First, and most obviously, it did wonders for his career. Released in 1973, American Graffiti placed third in the box office for that year. This was right before his creation of Star Wars, and gave him the momentum he needed to make that as big of a success as it was (and is).
Second, this film offered an opportunity for nostalgia of the pre-vietnam America that so many longed for in the chaotic, drug-tripping 1970s. The American public missed the 1950's, and so did George Lucas. These were his his high school years, and he thought they deserved some tribute. American Graffiti shows Lucas's singular ability to strike the cords deep within an audience member's soul. It was a shock to see the 1950s played so honestly, and caused the audience to wonder "Where was I in '52?"
Lucas, along with the rest of his generation, dearly missed the simplicity of their youth. The disenchantment of their generation began with the assassination of JFK, and continued on with the Civil Rights Movement, economic/geopolitical uncertainty, and, finally, Vietnam. By the 1970's they had all but forgotten the nightly drives they had taken around their small home towns, with the windows down on their '54 Fords and Buddy Holly blasting.
This was a time everyone wished to be reminded of, and so Lucas made it possible.
Nostalgia can be good sometimes.

#78- Rocky

Alright people,

can you say "classic for a reason"? This movie, although initially hard to engage with, just pulls through as a total winner. Rocky's greatness can be attributed almost entirely to the characters of Rocky and Adrienne. Well, them and the soundtrack.
Rocky we love because he is beat down. He's stupid, slow, washed-up, and on his way out. How relatable to all of us, am I right?
Adrienne resonates because she is frightened, abused, and a self-made spinster. Again, relatable.
But, when they manage to love each other properly, and consequently learn to find value in themselves, they are able to recognize what is actually worth caring about in life. THEY WIN ALL THE WINNINGS!
Rocky is able to get up and fight, even though the odds are against him. He agrees to face the world champion of boxing, in full knowledge that he was chosen as an opponent because he was an easy win for Apollo Creed to get publicity over.
Rocky is the quintessential underdog we all love to root for.
But here's what is great—Rocky loses. (Sorry, spoiler alert blah blah blah... they made like 7 more of these, all of which I cannot spoil the ending of....)
The reason this loss is great is that it doesn't matter. The whole movie has been building to this show down between Rocky and Apollo, but it's not what makes or breaks the ending. Because in the end, Rocky is with the woman he loves, and on top of that, he had enough self respect to put in the effort to fight for his own self-worth.
That is why this movie is great.
People are wearing those Italian Stallion tee-shirts for a reason, ok?

#79- The Deer Hunter

HOLY CRAP.

And she never watched another Vietnam movie again.

#80- The Wild Bunch

Uh.... I felt like it was the kind of artsy that surpasses my understanding. See: ants and scorpions.

Also- hyper violent?

Also- I don't like westerns?

#81- Modern Times

Charlie Chaplin was and always will be great. This is one of my favorite movies of his, since it so well voices my anxieties about OUR modern times. The fury and enthusiasm of modernization scares me, and I think it scared good ol' C-Csizzle too. I don't like iPhones and I don't like E-books. He didn't like assembly lines or......or...prison? Ok ok, my simile is shoddy, at best, but my sentiments are true! He saw a dangerous turn, that, granted, may have always been a part of humanity, towards loving progress so much that you don't even enjoy how lovely the present is.

If you're not careful, the machine you made may just eat you up in it's enthusiasm to do its job well.

Also- I heart slap stick when done as well as this.

Also- can machines have enthusiasm? I just don't know.

#82- Giant

I LOVED THIS MOVIE. Ok ok ok. Rock Hudson? Elizabeth Taylor? James Dean? ALL IN ONE MOVIE? Puh-lease.

Not only is it a beautiful, sweeping tale, that begins in the 20's and ends in the 60's, but it makes one feel patriotic. WHICH I NEEDED AFTER SEEING PLATOON. The scenery, costumes, and acting are all beautiful. I'm telling you, after watching this wanted to move to Texas. And Marry Rock Hudson, but that's besides the point. Also, I think it holds a really good image of marriage. And horse rustlin', but that's not as important.

#83- Platoon

....Welp. There is at least one thing I now know about Charlie Sheen: he was cute in the 80's.

On another note, this film is highly disturbing. VIETNAM WHAT THE H?

On another note, I cried three times.

On another note, so not watching it again.

K thanks bye.

#84- Fargo

Well.... ok. If I were to describe Fargo in one sentence, I would say it is like some weird combination of Maria Bamford stand-up, and the bloodiest scenes from Reservoir Dogs by Quentin Tarantino. I'M NOT KIDDING YOU GUYS. This movie vacillates between the quaint and funny lives of Minnesota's finest, and some horrible, horrible non-Minnesotan people.

Ok, so picture this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFHmNrxkuFU

being combined with this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c0FN8ajIlY

(Warning: The Reservoir Dogs clip is violent and profane.)

The Coen brothers are clever, and I really do Adore them, but this movie is defiantly not making it to my recommendation list. It was permanently banished from THAT list when one character pushed another character through a wood chipper. A WOOD CHIPPER YOU GUYS.

#85- Duck Soup

Welp. I was excited for this one because it's so classic, and remember the first time I saw it I really enjoyed it. But it was....meh. DON'T HATE ME. I was tired, which may have affected my entertain-ability, but Duck Soup was not that great. Maybe because it had such a thin plot. Maybe because I only like Harpo. Maybe because the grande dame of the film was annoying. Who knows! I would still say go see it, but I definitely prefer Day at the Races to Duck Soup. They seem to be having more fun in that one, ya know?

#86- Mutiny on the Bounty

This movie was incredibly horrifying. But in the way I like- a lot of the kind of injustice that can only be found in history. Well, that's debatable, but still! Injustice! Intrigue! Whipping-a-dead-man-kind-of-torture!

The movie begins with common men that are frequenting a bar. In barge some officers of the British Navy and there you are! Two years of their lives are now at the disposal of the British Navy, doomed to sail across the world, praying that they might once again see their homes before they die. But, as if that were not bad enough, the man who captains their ship is the most black hearted, cruel, and selfish man to ever captain a ship. Wait.... that's Black Beard. Well ok then, this guy is runner up.

In this movie you can enjoy the beauty and fiery temper of a young and smoldering Clark Gable, as well as the satisfying hatred of the deceased and evil. Did I mention it's based off a true story? There is injustice, hatred, rebellion- the works. Watch it if you are in a pirate-y mood!

#87- Frankenstein

So. 1931 Frankenstein. Well....

Weeeelllllllll..... it wasn't bad!

It was a little dark. A little boring. A little overdone. A little underdone.

The monster made me think of Boo Radly- a sweet, simple, wretched, lonely creature. HE JUST WANTED TO BE LOVED YOU GUYS. But his creator was all, "No! Even though I brought you into this world, and am therefore responsable for you, I'm gunna let my dumb assistant torture you, then let you escape and run wild while I go act like it never happened and get married." WHAT THE.

So that brings me to my next beef- NO ONE TREATED DR.FRANKENSTEIN WITH THE RESPECT HE DESERVED. Sure, what he did was incredibly immoral. But, regardless of that, what he did was AWESOME. He freaking created life from death! But, instead of people recognizing how awesome/what a genius he was, they were all, "You're not well! You're mad! You just need to calm down, behave, and get married. Silly Frankenstein. Science is for normal people." HE PUT LIFE INTO A DEAD BODY YOU GUYS.

I feel like He is one of the few roles we see on film who is treated poorly by a woman. His fiance is depicted as a beautiful, gentle creature, who just wants Frankenstein to settle down. But don't be fooled! She's a conniving little cat who wants Frankenstein to be her doormat, rather than the hero of science he is becoming. Her accomplice in neutering frankenstein- his father. These two people who claim to love Frankenstein really just can't accept his greatness and potential, and therefore, couldn't love him properly.

So ya.

Also- THE ENDING WAS WEIRD. I think they were trying to fool me into thinking things turned out ok. THEY.DID.NOT.

#88- Easy Rider

WHAT.THE.WHAT.

.....

........

...........

Ya. I have nothing to say.

#89- Patton

I LOVED THIS MOVIE.

Patton was the very first war film I have ever seen, and is now one of my favorite movies ever. I was apprehensive to even sit down and start it, having never before seen a war film. I was sure it would hold none of what I want to see in a movie; and that ended up to be true, in a basic sense. It held no musical numbers, romance, "fast-action", or fiery female leads. But, in a larger sense, it held all I could possibly want in a movie. Deep (or not so deep) within the folds of Patton you can find courage, conflicts of morality, what it means to be "good", destiny, and many other things of a similar strain. This movie (and all of the "AFI's top 100") taught me that things outside of what you know can reach you in deeper ways than you might expect or want. It is not good to only learn truth from the things that are familiar to you. That leaves no room for growth.

Also- the camera shots/writing/acting/blahblahblah was INCREDIBLE. But that is true to every movie on this list. So I probably don't have to keep saying that.

(Except for Yankee Doodle Dandy.... that movie was dumb.)

#90- The Jazz Singer

"Leave my house! I never want to see you AGAIN- you jazz singer!"

This movie is great and horrifying all at once. It is a beautiful look at the way culture changes and the conflict along the way. In the same way that there was conflict over color, and now 3D, people were conflicted over talky films. Probably more conflicted than over any of the other format changes. The problem? IT IS SO RACIST! Jewish people, black people, ugly people, women... blah blah blah. Just keep an eye out for prejudice. It's a little funny. But in an awkward sort of way. I am watching this film as I type this post. So enjoyable when you have someone to scream and laugh over it with.

Do it. Do it right now. Netflix baby.

#91- My Fair Lady

Visual and Musical delights await you. MY FAIR LADY FOR THE WIN.

#92- A Place in the Sun

I did not like this film. I love Elizabeth Taylor, don't get me wrong. She's a fox. But the main Character is an incredibly selfish man. The movie attempts to make you sympathize with him, but it's impossible. I hated him, and therefore this movie. If you watch it, pay especial attention to the roles of the women in it. They take quite the beating. In some cases, literally. :)

#93- The Apartment

This movie was... ok. Not that great a romance. Not that great a story. Not that great for the self-esteem of women. I vote no, but thanks anywho.

In other news, this movie would be good to watch when on a MadMen kick- just keep that in mind.

#94 - Goodfellas

So good. Best gangster film I've ever seen, and yes, that is including both Scarfaces. It is funny, violent, vile, with genius editing and acting. My favorite gangster film.

Just to say

I have gotten terribly ahead in movie watching and terribly behind in writing, and have decided to simply nod to the films I have seen so I can then continue on with the unwatched ones. That is my explanation. Kay thanks bye.

#95 - Pulp Fiction

AHHHH! So I haven't posted in a while. The reason, you ask? BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO SEE THIS MOVIE! Finally last night I "screwed my courage to the sticking place", as it were, and watched it. And let me tell you, I half wish I hadn't.

Pulp Fiction, made in 1994 and starring John Travolta, Samual L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, and many other well known actors, was quite the cinematic experience. I already had had an idea of the director's (Quentin Tarantino) reputation for gore, so I anticipated some violence. BUT NOT THIS BAD OH MY GOSH. It got to a point in watching it where I was desensitized to the cussing, drugs, and violence because THAT'S ALL THERE WAS. It had moments of dark humor, and even bits that I entirely enjoyed, but there were also moments where I was entirely disturbed.

In one scene Travolta and Thurman go out for burgers, and decide to enter a twist competition, which they win. At that moment I admired Thurmon's grace and cool, in particular mesmerized by the methodical way she moved her fingers and legs. I wanted to BE her, so smooth and tuff. In the next scene she nearly dies from a cocaine over dose. UNDERSTAND HOW HORRIFYING THIS WAS PEOPLE.

What particularly sticks out to me was how casual it all was. The opening scene is of a married couple who have a small marital bicker while having breakfast in a diner. They finally come to terms and gush how much they love each other. After exchanging a few passionate kisses, they stand up and scream that this is a robbery, and everybody better calm the f down.

Next there is a scene of two hit-men casually discussing weather a foot massage is an intimate action or no big deal. They hold this discussion before shooting three men to death. In the same way, one of the hit-man accidentally shoots an accomplice in the head, and is far more concerned that he is now covered in the guy's brain bits.

All this aside though, I do think it's construction is genius, as well as it's script. If that means anything to you, then by all means, watch it! It is so often referenced and well respected that, all in all, I'm ok that saw it. But SERIOUSLY, if you have a delicate soul, or are just sensitive to suffering and unnecessary killing, PLEASE.... PLEASE pass this one up! SO MUCH DISTURBED SO MUCH OH NOOO!