Top 5 Quotes Sure to Annoy Your Fellow Movie Bloggers

I write a lot about movie blogging. In fact, you might argue that my blog is more about movie blogging than it is in fact about movies. That's not how I originally envisioned it, but it's a more niche market with great rewards for someone as (annoyingly) analytical as myself. In some rather sick way, you might say I write what I write just to force movie bloggers to think about what they write. Keeping up?

So as I've gone on this journey I've taken the liberty of poking and prodding - for scientific purposes only, I assure you (*cough*) - my fellow bloggers just to see what makes them tick. I've observed their exaggerated reactions to seemingly innocuous remarks about the quality of a film, and have taken all that in and determined it needs to be poked more often. That's right, I believe that if you hammer someone enough with the fact that not everyone agrees with them, they'll eventually catch on. I know, I know, only in my dreams (assuming I dream about blogging).

In such methodology I've come up with the five movie quotes almost guaranteed to get under the skin of movie bloggers. Sure there's some need for contextualizing among the various groups. But I'm pretty sure these are broad enough to cover the majority. Away we go.

"Christopher Nolan's alright, don't get me wrong. But let's just be honest, he's no Paul W.S. Anderson."

Anything that can be construed as not an utter surrender to the greatness that is Christopher Nolan is immediately squashed by the movie blogging collective. Let alone comparing him negatively to one of the most maligned modern blockbuster directors. Besides, I can't be on the only one a bit put off by the fact that Nolan is totally rocking the DiCaprio Titanic hairstyle. Come on, that was so 14 years ago!

"Favorite actor? Oh, man. I'm torn! Definitely either Daniel Day Lewis or Hayden Christensen."

Putting anything related to favorite or great within two Kevin Bacon approved degrees of Hayden Christensen is bound to inspire violent rebuke. Not to mention trying to put him in the same league as one of the finest actors ever to step in front of the camera.

 

"What Hollywood really needs are more Katherine Heigl romantic comedies."

Do I really need to explain this one?

"Who is Terrence Malick?"

This may sound a bit juvenile but I do get some perverse pleasure out of watching Malick fans go off on a tangent. They've got to be right up there with fanboys raving against negative reviews by critics for exaggeration factor.

"Oh come on! The Dungeons and Dragons films were way better than Lord of the Rings!"

If anyone ever says this to you, you have my permission to make them "disappear." No questions, no courtrooms. For the betterment of the entire human race, everyone would be willing to look the other way.


So there you have it, a few quotes you can whip out at your leisure if you ever feel the need to get under the skin of your fellow bloggers. Besides, it's all in good fun!

Overshadowed and Overpowered: Heroes Underminded By Their Supporting Stars

Watching Rise of the Planet of the Apes last week got me thinking about a curious subset of film: Movies where, for whatever reason, the hero of the tale - or at least the 'main' character - is way overshadowed by the supporting characters. This could be because the villains are so incredibly intriguing, because the hero is so overtly bland, or just because the way the story is, the supporting stars get all the good scenes. It happens all the time in movies, and yet not all that often are they consequentially a bad film. In fact, some of the best movies ever made carry with them some of the most uninteresting stars. So, in that method I thought it would be fun to compile a list of films where the main character is arguably the least interesting one of the lot.

BRAD PITT - INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

Don't get me wrong, the whole carving Nazi symbols into his foreheads of his enemies is a rather cool arch, but after that what are you left with? The answer - not a whole hell of a lot. Counter that with Christoph Waltz and Melanie Laurent throwing down the acting hammer, Michael Fassbender going super British, Eli Roth taking the ham to 400 degrees, and Diane Kruger just being herself, and you've got one heck of an overshadowed hero. Well, I say hero... that's a moral debate I'm not quite prepared to get into right now.

MATTHEW BRODERICK - THE LION KING

I'm not knocking Matthew Broderick here, it's just that with a film involving Rafiki, Timon, Pumbaa, Scar, the Hyenas, Zazu, and of course Mufasa, little ol' Simba is an afterthought when reflecting on this work of animated brilliance.It certainly doesn't help that he spends a good 80% of the film just blindly following and dealing with these far more interesting characters.

AL PACINO - THE GODFATHER

Now it's time to throw out the honorary 'most likely to be argued against in the comments section' selection! Let me say this right now - this doesn't mean Michael Corleone is a bad, or uninteresting character. I just think, in a film packed with so many memorable characters, he's just one of the least memorable. Sure, he's the glue that holds it together, but he's never going to get out from under the shadow of Vito Corleone - a fact he struggles with even in the film's second installment. I've always found myself drawn to Fredo, Sonny, and Tom Hagen more so than Michael in even his brightest moments. Also, you've got Abe Vigoda there.... that's just awesome in its own right.

KEANU REEVES - POINT BREAK

I could see an argument to be made that this is the 'honorary Keanu Reeves' list. He is quite overtly the master of being overshadowed by his supporting cast. Then again, he also has a great sense for picking movies that play to his strength - he should just avoid romantic comedies (still have nightmares after Sweet November). Oh yeah, Point Break. Well this one is easy: Gary Busey + Patrick Swayze + Lori Petty + John C. McGinley = one hell of an overcast destroying any intrigue carried by our good ol' friend Johnny Utah - man, even his name is uninteresting.

MARK HAMILL - STAR WARS A NEW HOPE

Hey look, it's that Skywalker guy being vastly out awesomed by three other characters who would go on to become some of the most interesting characters ever to exist in film. Sorry Hamill, you really didn't stand a chance and 'uninteresting main character' syndrome has always been a plague on the Star Wars franchise. That's not even counting pre-prequel Darth Vader, the ever lovely Princess Leia, and the lovable robot duo of C-3PO and R2D2 just waiting in the wings to pounce on a scene when you're not looking. Wait, I forgot to mention Peter Cushing is in this too! Shit, Luke you never stood a chance.


So there you have it, my list of heroes being dramatically over shadowed by their supporting cast. Now that I've shown you mine, why don't you show me yours? What films do you think are still mint, even if their main characters are lost in the background?

Almost Famous: Five Quasi Unknowns I Unabashedly Love

It may not seem like much but being the known 'unknown' can be one of the greatest factors for longevity in Hollywood. It's the actors and actresses who've broken through on one or two occasions but they never make it to full star status. So they weave in and out of cinema for years on end, taking up a TV role here, a supporting movie role there, but they're not the type to gain Oscar talk, be featured on the cover of the latest hip magazine, or be the feature guest on a late night talk show. No, they're the second guest on the later than late late night talk show.  Though more often than not they're the ones you really want to watch - mostly because they're the ones who have all the fun. So here are five of my personal favorites.

Adrian Lester

Sample Filmography:
Hu$tle (2004 - 2011)
Doomsday (2008)
The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
Primary Colors (1996)

Andrew Royo

Sample Filmography:
Super (2010)
The Wire (2002 - 2008)
Shaft (2000)

Judy Greer
aka "Queen of the 'Best Friend' Rom Com Role"

Sample Filmography:
Love and Other Drugs (2010)
13 Going on 30 (2004)
The Hebrew Hammer (2003) - hells yeah, I went there!
Three Kings (1999)
Jawbreaker (1999)

Andy Serkis

Sample Filmography:
Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll (2010)
The Prestige (2006)
King Kong (2005)
13 Going on 30 (2004) - yes again, don't judge me.
Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001 - 2003)
The Escapist (2002) - way under seen film

Stanley Tucci

aka "The Supporting King"

Sample Filmography:
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Easy A (2010)
Julie and Julia (2009)
The Lovely Bones (2009)
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
The Terminal (2004) - take that hate on out of here!
Road to Perdition (2002)
Deconstructing Harry (1997)

No worries Stanley, that little blip on the radar we would call a Pauly Shore film you did will remain a secret.

Imagining Classic Movie Lines in The Modern World

Reboot, remake, recycle, rinse, repeat, it's the name of the modern Hollywood game. If you can't remake it, reboot it. If you can't reboot it, re-imagine it. If you can't re-imagine it, just steal all its good parts and make your own film anyways. It's how the world operates these days, and so I thought it appropriate to just take some of the all time great movie quotes and imagine if they were rewrote into the modern world. Let's see what we can come up with.

CASABLANCA

"Of all the forums in all of the internet, she logs into mine."

BRAVEHEART

"Alba gu bràth! RT @Wallace4Scotz ...they can take our lives, but they'll never take OUR FREEDOM!"  ReTweet by DrunkenScotsman42 via web

SUNSET BLVD.

"I am big! It's the smart phone screens that got small!"

PLANET OF THE APES

"Take your stinkin' hands off me, you damn obsessive Facebook poker!"

GLADIATOR

"My username is Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the armies of Northern Azeroth, General of the guild Funki Munkies, loyal servant to the true Emperor, Leeroy Jenkins. Father to a failed raid, husband to a discontinued account. And I will have my vengeance, in this avatar or the next!"

Now it's your turn. Take a few of your own favorite movie quotes and throw a modern spin on them!

The Three Rules of Three

Dear Mr. Nolan,

I hear you're working on a third installment for your highly popular Batman series. Congratulations on making it this far! It's a crowded superhero market out there, and while many would agree you're the creme de la creme of the bunch, a third installment is a tricky thing. So tricky in fact that even directors so lauded and praised have tripped, stumbled, and collapsed into oblivion in the face of such a task. Especially when you consider more often than not they're following highly praised second installments. Add to that the superhero brethren you're carrying with you. You're walking down a path set by films like Superman 3, Spider-Man 3, Batman Forever (nipples 4 life), X-Men: The Last Stand, and Blade: Trinity. Sure, they might not all be bad, but hell if I don't think we can all agree they're damned divisive. And you, Mr. Nolan have as much, if not more, riding on this third installment than anyone. What comes from this will forever define how your Batman trilogy is perceived throughout the cinema marketplace.

So, I thought I'd offer up a little bit of advise. Three lessons learned from the myriad of installments that have come before you. Are you ready?

3. The Rule of Godfather 3 - Static Is as Audiences Snore: Make sure you have an honest story to tell. Nobody wants a 2 1/2 hour ride to nowhere, no matter how over the top or exciting it may be. Also, don't hire any relatives to play crucial roles. It never works out.

2. The Rule of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines - Cheese Undermines Narrative: Everybody loves a little bit of poking fun at your series more goofy aspects, but if you take it too far then you lose the emotional connection. The audience begins wondering why Parker Posey is so camped up and how Jessica Biel ever became a superfighter while Wesley Snipes gives painfully forced speeches through a silent but deadly characters. Or why the hell Richard Pryor is in the damned thing at all.

1. The Rule of the Superhero - Don't Rewrite the Past: This is the key rule. The crucial rule. The most important rule. It has bewitched and undermined just about every superhero film I listed above. They went back to the beginning, and rewrote their own origin story. You cannot get twice the drama from a single event. Further more by trying to rewrite your origin, you end up devaluing the earlier installments, disconnecting the audience from their understanding of your characters and leave them hanging. Your history is left in stone, and if you remove it, you remove your fanbase from it. Never a good way to go.


So, Mr. Nolan, I wish you the best of luck. I know you have the full and undisputed faith of your legion of fans. But their faith in your does not impose anything onto the film you are creating. Unlike the likes of a Transformers series, you have a high bar set and an expectation to meet. Just surviving on pure adrenaline won't be enough. You're going to have to deliver, and deliver well.

Good luck.

Sincerely,

All The People Who Want You To Succeed But Won't Blindly Accept That You're Going To (Association?)

TV Deja Vu: Five Most Overplayed Movies on Television

Oh Television, there you go again. I've just turned you on, figured I'd wander about and see what you've got to offer, and low and behold... a movie! On television! Ingenious. Unfortunately this movie is one I've seen on your channel before. In fact, I'm quite sure I saw it on there last night. And... you know what, it was on there last weekend as well. Wait a damned second, it was on the weekend before too! Just what the hell are you getting at? Can you not toss in a bit of variety, spin the cauldron a bit and give us a breather? Honestly, just how many times can you show the same movie on your channel before you rile up a revolt? Endlessly? You mean you've actually had marathons where you've shown the same movie - or group of movies - over and over again in a row all weekend long? Dear god, do you have that great a turnover in terms of viewers to justify it?

Dear dear, I believe I can speak on behalf of a great majority of us and say "please, spice it up a little." It's beginning to feel like a marriage that's gone on the rocks and you're still buying pretty pebbles in the hope of being cute. It's not. And if you're not careful, we're going to go mental and stone you - and not in a Jim Breuer sort of way either.

Note: Before people suffer spontaneous combustion at the mere suggestion of some of these movies - this post is in no way a comment on the quality of the films involved... well, in some cases it isn't

GLADIATOR

I swear, there are days when I feel as if I've seen more 5 minute intervals of Gladiator than I have seen collective of all the other movies I own. TNT seems completely incapable of hosting a movie marathon without playing it. And the worst part - they cut out many of the best bits! Then, just for safe measure, drag the already lengthy tale out a bit by pushing the 3 1/2 to 4 hour mark with commercials. "My name is Maximus You Could Save Fifteen Percent Or More On Your Car Insurance By Switching to Decimus Tum Tum Tum Tum Tummmmmms Meridius!"

CORKY ROMANO

Seriously Comedy Central? This is one of your 'go to' films for the mid-afternoon time slot? I know you're working with a bit of a tight collection of films, but even this is bad. In fact I might just argue that showing this film once on your channel is more than anyone need ever be exposed to. Let alone hundreds of times over the past few years. Were it only possible to actually show a movie a negative number of times, this might actually be worthwhile. Still, I suppose if your only other alternative is an onslaught of direct to DVD American Pie spin-offs... this may suffice.

TRUE LIES

There comes a time in everyone's life where they question their place in the universe. Where they begin to wonder if some higher power is sending them a sign down from above. For some this is a moment of awakening; a calling guiding them along the path. For me, this was a sign I could not excuse. You see, for three straight days I turned on the television at completely different times. For three straight days the first thing to appear on my screen was Jamie Lee Curtis sexy dancing for Arnie. Three days, three different times, the same scene always popped up first. And it was then that I knew the sign the universe was sending me: "Univarn, you seriously have to get out of the house more!"

U.S. MARSHALS

I'll try and keep this one short and sweet - the only reason this film is on the list and not its predecessor (which is equally overplayed) is this: the plot for this movie is sheer bonkers. So much so even Leslie Nielsen couldn't find a script to spoof it. Oh, and they're killing off of Tom Wood's character also ended up killing his career. For shame.

ARMAGEDDON

You could easily read here *Any Movie That Has Ever Played on the FX Channel* and I would argue Armageddon is their 'Gladiator.' I've admitted before I have a high nostalgia factor when it comes to this film, but even I can only handle so much cheese in any given day. Especially when it's Gouda piled on the backdrop of Steven Tyler wailing away about lip kissing, eye closing, and sleep planet saving before my idealized existence is destroyed in a sea of Owen Wilson and Ben Affleck super hamming it up with Peter Storemare their grandmaster. Then again, there is William Fichtner... touche.



So, there you have my list of the five most overplayed movies on television. Agree/disagree? Perhaps there's a movie whose omnipresence on television gets under your skin?

We Were Young Once: Five Nostalgic Films From My Childhood

My fellow Americans. I would just like to take this moment and say happy (not really) signing of the Declaration of Independence Day (though that would technically be a month from now - more or less). Oh, what a day. Nothing makes me reminisce quite as heavily as this day of all days. It thrusts me back to my childhood (post-cartoons, if there is such a thing, but pre-Michael Bay phase), sitting on the top of the hill at the end of the street watching my dad sprint away from a lit fuse, desperately hoping to avoid the oncoming onslaught of explosions. Though of course we all enjoyed meeting the kaleidoscope of colors with a plethora of "oohs and ahhs" to leave everyone in joy. So I thought today would be nice to travel back a little bit.

To walk down memory lane with five films from my childhood whose nostalgia factor may eternally outweigh any cinematic merit they possess (though not really)

THE SANDLOT

This may sound a bit insensitive, but deep down I feel a bit sorry for anyone who didn't grow up watching The Sandlot. It's not only packed with a strong collection of '90s kid actors, it also boasts the thundering cast of Karen Allen, Denis Leary, James Earl Jones, and a teenage Marley Shelton (i.e. the first girl every guy of the sandlot generation looked at and went "holy s*%t, to hell with cuddies").

THREE WISHES

Alright so even I admit as far as quality films go, this one is pushing it a bit. However, that's not going to stop me from oozing over the power of Patrick Swayze and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. In all honesty, this movie sneaks into the list as much on the back of its relative application to July 4th as its nostalgia factor. Oh, and by the way - Jay O. Sanders = win.

THE HOBBIT (1977)

I doubt you'll find it hard to believe, but there was once a time in my life where I could quote this entire Rankin-Bass animated production from beginning to end. In fact, so high on my nostalgia list is this film that (were you to know me in real life) may at times stumble across me humming the instrumental component of Glen Yarborough's The Greatest Adventure (wish I secretly wish makes it into Jackson's epic). Is that a bit wacky? Yes. Does that stop me from doing it? Not a chance in hell.

D2: THE MIGHTY DUCKS

Have I mentioned on here before that sometimes I have a completely ass backwards way of watching series? I saw the Scream trilogy in 3-2-1 order. Saw Rambo in 2-1-3 order. Rocky in 3-1-2-5-4 order. And in proper form I saw the Mighty Ducks films in 2-1-3 order. Of course D2 holds the coveted nostalgia spot for me not only because I think this series is epic child fun, but also because it features a young Kenan Thompson, whom has been given a lifetime 'get out of crap' free card by me for the double childhood threat that was D2 and Kenan & Kel (don't worry, I'll leave Good Burger out of this.... for now).

JUMANJI

I'm being honest when I say, as a kid the first sequence of the board game scared the living hell out of me. That said, I still enjoy this movie. Caught it on TV a few years ago, and while it's dreadfully dated and woefully campy, I quite like it. Of course it doesn't hurt that I have a large soft spot for the likes of Bonnie Hunt, David Alan Grier, and Patricia Clarkson. Not to mention Jonathan Hyde... seriously though, what the hell ever happened to Jonathan Hyde? Come one, he was without a doubt the best part about Anaconda, The Mummy (had to be said), Jumanji, and Richie Rich (close on Titanic even), the guy is just pure awesome. Quick, someone get his career back - stat!


So, there you have it. Movies from the eve of my coming of age that left a sizable impression on me as a child.And still maintain a sentiment of that lore today. So, what kind of films do you find yourself getting all nostalgic for?

In Memorium: Five Words Killed By The Entertainment Industry

No, this is not my effort at pulling a Clerks 2 Randal style take back of words with offensive undertones. Rather, this is a simple walk down memory lane with words I used to hold in such high regard and delivered as often as the circumstances of life would allow - or require. That's all for naught now, though. To try and use them only brings up acid flashbacks to the entertainment tied mindset of those nearest to me. Of course the real bitch is that I'm working with a limited vocabulary already. The entertainment industry has done me no favors in that regard. On the plus side, I did learn the word cozen this year, so I'm only down four now. Off we go!

Twilight

What you used to mean: A picturesque moment at the end of the day, full of a color and beauty unmatched by the tireless movement of the world around you.

What you mean now: Hours of agitation as my passing reference to the finality of a day somehow sparks a two hour debate on the merits of sparkling vampires, hairless werewolves, and vacuous shells trying to pass off as living beings.

Winner

What you used to mean: One who has overcome great odds through competition or personal setbacks to find themselves a champion.

What you mean now: A life spiraling out of control as crazed drunkards and conspiracy hounds worship a god born anew... oh, and spending inordinate amounts of money to keep a couple of pornstars handy so that one can brag about sexual binges as everyone around them keeps asking "whatever happened to Denise Richards?"

Matrix

What you used to mean: A nightmare of a mathematics class that stimulates as much as it frustrates, but provides a challenge worthy of conquering for those technological inclined.

What you mean now: A collection of philosophical gibberish masked in technological gibberish, stretched across two thin strips of unnecessary, and doused in the overwhelming smell of 'should have just let the first one be' syndrome.

Artist

What you used to mean: A (questionably pretentious) individual who aspired to create something new and fresh in the world. Well, OK - that's a gross romanticism of them but I get at least one!

What you mean now: Any moron who wants to be famous, but not be considered a reality TV star. Especially if you're a mediocre or awful singer. Don't ask me why, but watch a young 'hip' singer give an interview; they obsess over calling themselves artists. Hell, even VH1 counted them down as they 100 greatest 'artists' of all time. It's like somehow they feel being labeled exactly what they do undermines what they do. What the hell is wrong with you people? You don't see the people who make ring pops (proper art in my book) out there begging to be associated with the likes of Da Vinci, Michelangelo, or van Gogh for their work. Hell, I wouldn't even mind the occasional artist label every now and then, what you do is an art after all. But don't try and hide behind it under the pretense that it makes you superior to all the other singer/songwriters/musicians out there. You know, all nine hundred million of them. Many of whom are a whole lot better than you.

Reality

What you used to mean: The real, living world full of a broad spectrum of people with a wide encompassing array of opinions, beliefs, ideologies, and aspirations. The good and the bad, reality is where they all existed.

What you mean now: A group of idiots packed together like sardines in a can as the world watches on, like a band of rabid dogs. Each dog desperately waiting for one of the idiotic sardines to open their mouth and perform such insult to thought that even those who would fail to remember their name during an intelligence test weep for the lost cause of civilization.


Alright, so that's a bit of a morbid contextualization of how these words have morphed into the modern world. On the plus side, now whenever I use these words I get to recycle the same rants over and over again as people look on in despair. Hey, fair is fair. You want me to recycle, you've got to accept all the consequences of it!

So, any words you favor that have been morphed by the social zeitgeist of the entertainment community?

A Lesson in Living: Five Films That Teach Us What It Means To Live

Life can be a challenging and emotionally draining experience at times. Unsure of how we fit into the world, what we should do with our time on it. Do we fall in line and take the trodden path or do we seek to trace out a path of our own? Is there a middle ground to be had? Such is the way of the world, and so in turn films have journeyed. From analyzing our deepest psyche to our greatest personal conflicts, they tackle how we face seemingly transient journey that is life. But what does it really mean to be alive? Is it the blood pumping through our veins, or is there more? To that degree, I give you five films which tackle - in their own way - a fulfilling life and have left their impact upon me.

Limelight (1952)
Lesson Learned: The fame of today can be gone in a flash tomorrow, but you remain. Don't give up just because things don't stay the same.

Without question the least seen on this list, and perhaps the one I am the most adamant champion of. Chaplin's curtain call here is moving, fulfilling, and beautiful. If only this were his true final film, maybe more would seek out this masterpiece.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Lesson Learned: Throughout all the calculations and worries and fears our minds present, there is no negative in life which can counter hope.

This one may be too easy a call to place on the list, but there's no denying the resonating punch that was delivered to audience members of all shapes and sizes when this film hit theaters all those years ago. It may have taken it a while to gain proper appreciation, but appreciation, respect, and love it has earned in full.

Dead Poets Society (1989)
Lesson Learned: Do not drown yourself in the worries of today, one must rise to find the joy in even life's toughest moments.

Perhaps one of the most prudent looks at the turbulent teenage years - for men anyways - Dead Poets Society blends tough issues with the unrealized dreams sought by so many youths before their coming of age. A constant reminder that life is as much what we make of it, as how we let those around us influence it.

You Can't Take It With You (1938)
Lesson Learned: Friends, loved ones, and fulfillment through the things you love come with a value which exceeds any monetary amount you can imagine

Number two on the unseen meter for this list, no movie on how to live is complete without a bit of Jimmy Stewart I would contend. And this film here is a gem to behold. Packed with a talented cast, and heartwarming message, You Can't Take It With You is an exemplification of the life we all aspire to live.

Ikiru (1952)
Lesson Learned: Far too often in life we forget to seek out what we truly want to accomplish in life until we are faced with our own mortality. But life is not about when we discover what we hope to fulfill, it is about what we do in that moment.

If you thought you were escaping this list without a Kurosawa reference you were horribly mistaken. If you thought you would escape this list without my reiterating just how important I believe this film is, you were mistaken. If you have yet to see this film, do so. I cannot promise you will like what it has to say, or the method by which it chooses to say it. I can, however, promise that if you open yourself up, you'll learn many of the wonders life has to hold - the beauty in the tragic, the gain in loss, and the difficulties we face in realizing our own goals.


Honorable Mentions
Harvey - Can't say it enough, if you want to know how we should all aspire to treat one another, then watch this movie.
Monty Python's Life of Brian - Always look on the bright side of life :P.
Forrest Gump - You can hate all you want, this movie is a slice of warm apple pie on a rainy day. If you're thinking right now "I hate apple pie," you're missing the point.


Well, there you have it. Five films on life that I think anyone can learn and take something away from. Do you agree/disagree? What other films would you include on the list?

In Remembrance: Five WW2 Movies You Might Not Have Seen

There's a reason War is perhaps the greatest sub-genre of all of cinema. It represents us at our most ideological, raw, and violent nature. From that intensity, films of all walks of life, political persuasion, and theological desire, have been born. Given, World War 2 has become the focal point of so many of our cinematic endeavors. So much so that many war films of equal, or worthwhile measure, get lost in the onslaught of big names, and bigger ideals. But they are no worse for wear because of this, and deserve their moment in the light all the same.

Battleground (1949)
Directed By: William A. Wellman
Starring: Van Johnson, Ricardo Montalban, Marshall Thompson, and James Whitmore

In a time where men were men and soldiers were soldiers, this gem of the World War 2 era reminds us that nothing is ever as clear cut as it seems. Blending a sentiment towards the violence of war that would not become prevalent in cinema for decades to come, with a comical heroic initiative of the time, Battleground an engrossing, and refreshingly honest War film.

Days of Glory - a.k.a Indigenes (2006)
Directed By:Rachid Bouchared
Starring: Jamel Debbouze, Samy Naceri, Roschdy Zem, and Sami Bouajila

It is easy to generalize World War 2 to containing solely men of Europe and Japan, and the Asian isles. However, with that comes the forgotten sacrifices made by so many whose war it was not to fight, but were called to arms all the same. Such is the tale of the men of North Africa, and Days of Glory serves in their honor.

Twelve O'Clock High (1949)
Directed By: Henry King
Starring: Gregory Peck, Hugh Marlowe, and Gary Merrill

Just how far can men be pushed before they reach the edge of their wits? Especially when they spend their days trapped in the confinement of a bomber with bullets and explosions surrounding them on all sides. Such is the dilemma facing young General Frank Savage (Peck). Put in charge of a platoon of pilots without the discipline to know up from down, he must save not only the sanctity of the air battalion, but hearts and minds of all the men who fight within it.

Come and See (1985)
Directed By: Elem Klimov
Starring: Aleksei Kravchenko, Olga Mironova

There is nothing beautiful about war. Better put, there is nothing beautiful about the souls that find themselves trapped in a sea of bloodshed. Thus Klimov's examination of the atrocities experienced by those surrounded on all sides by war, is as prevalent now as it ever was then. Lacking hope, Come and See is part psychological war epic, part horror film, all overlapping in a single shot as iconic as any war which came before, or after it.

To Hell and Back (1955)
Directed By: Jesse Hibbs
Starring: Audie Murphy, Marshall Thompson, and Charles Drake

It might seem self serving to some to have an actor play himself in the story of his own life. But when you add to that the sheer innocence of look that Audie Murphy carried through every role, it is easy to forget he remains one of the most decorated soldiers of all time. Thus To Hell and Back remains a powerful and engrossing look at the consequences of being a hero. The loss of always being a survivor. And the solemn heart that traverses through the memory of each soldier who lived to see another day.

Editor's Note:

The Monday Corner will return tomorrow alongside the Obligatory DVD Release Post. Have a nice day!