The Notebook
It is rare that I like the movie version better than the book, but that was the case when I read the book after seeing this outstanding movie. Typically the book has more content, and a better view of the characters. For me, this book read like a cheesy romance (which I don't typically like). The movie, however, was an excellent and heartwarming story of two lovers who find a way to get past the detrimental effects of Alzheimer's if only for a few seconds. I found the sex scene in the movie was tasteful and well done, while the sex scene in the book felt like every other sex scene in every other romance novel. I wouldn't say the book was necessarily bad, but it didn't live up to my expectations after watching the movie.
Forrest Gump
Another movie where I didn't like the book as much. I felt like the book was making fun of mentally handicapped people in the way it portrayed Forrest and some of the things it had him do. The movie adaptation, however, was a classic. I enjoyed all the history references, since I'm somewhat of a history buff. I liked the romance element and felt it was extremely realistic for Jenny to think Forrest was not mature enough to handle a relationship, although it was her whose actions proved her own immaturity. Some elements of the movie were entirely fantastical, but it was still heartwarming and made me cry.
Stranger than Fiction
One of the only Will Ferrell movies I can stand, Stranger than fiction is the story of a boring accountant who does not take risks and what happens when he starts hearing his own story narrated. It is funny in parts and heartwarming in parts. It has some really unique characters, and since it is a character driven story, that is essential. I like the writer in particular, but the baker is also interesting.
Cast Away
I really like Tom Hanks movies and I could probably make a list of my favorites just with him as the star. One thing I really like about Cast Away is something I didn't notice until I watched the commentary. There is no music until the moment he leaves the island. Most movies rely heavily on the musical score, but this one simply uses background sounds and it feels so much more realistic and makes the impact of him leaving the island that much more profound. Sometimes I feel like a bit of a loner, but I don't think I could survive without any human contact. I cry every time he chases after Wilson because that volleyball is the only string connecting him to the outside world. It is his lifeline and personifying it has helped him to stay (somewhat) sane, through the isolation.
Little Women (Greta Gerwig version)
This version of Little Women honors the author in a way that other versions do not. Because the author didn't want her main character to marry in the end, but was forced into writing it this way to get it published, the end of this particular version does Louisa May Alcott a service by making Jo's marriage ambiguous. That is not the only reason that I like this version better. It develops the other sisters' character better than other adaptations have done. It does move a little fast, but it keeps the most important bits.
Shawshank Redemption
Apart from stellar acting and a superbly written story, the Shawshank Redemption has a great soundtrack. The music when he finally comes out into the rain after crawling through that sewer perfectly illustrates his triumph. I liked this movie mainly for the acting though. All the characters were realistic and well acted. When Andy gets thrown into solitary confinement for playing the music on the loudspeaker, you can see both a sense of triumph and defiance in the look on his face. I'm not sure if I have seen Tim Robins act in anything else, but I think he does comedy a lot. However, he nailed this role and the range of emotions that was necessary to do so. Morgan Freeman's narration is also on point, but then Morgan Freeman's voice seems like he was born to narrate. I even liked the movie somewhat better than the short story it was based off.
The Green Mile
Although I did like the book version of this one better than the movie, simply because it had more content, the movie is still one of my favorites. It is the movie that opened my eyes to how horrific a penalty the death penalty is. While it may seem like doing the world a favor by ridding it of murderers and rapists, there are far too many innocents convicted and even some whose action was impetuous and youthful. Since watching the movie and reading the book, I have learned that the story was loosely based on a 12-year old black boy who was sentenced to death in the 30's, the youngest ever to be put in the electric chair he pleaded his innocence to the very end. He was finally exonerated years after his death when it was determined that he was not strong enough to have wielded the murder weapon. Even if I hadn't learned this bit of heartbreaking history, The Green Mile would still be one of the most heartbreaking films I have ever seen.
A Time to Kill
This movie follows the trial of a man who killed his 9-year-old daughter's rapists after learning that they were going to be set free. It touches on racism, especially in the deep south, and how the system can be unjustly stacked so that it is difficult for people of color to get a fair trial. I liked the book version as well, although I can't say which of the two I liked better. In the movie, I especially liked the defense lawyers closing comments (although they were spoken by someone else in the book) because they illustrate the way prejudice changes the way we see certain things. I also liked how the injured cop, who was supposed to testify for the prosecution, turned it around on them by saying he would have done the same thing.
Crash
One of the best movies I have ever seen. Crash follows the lives of various people in L.A. as they imprint on one another. It has an excellent cast of characters, and some people play roles that are different from what they normally play. Sandra Bullock, for instance, who usually plays the good guy, plays a racist bigot. Racism is the biggest theme in this movie, but it also touches on how racism effects not only the victims, but also the perpetrators. It shows them all as human, with human feelings, even the ones that have horrible ideas about other people, and treat them horribly. My favorite character is probably the one played by Ludacris. He is an idealist, who is also the stereotype he is protesting against. He steals cars at gunpoint and sells them to a chop shop. My favorite part about him is that he eventually gets the chance to choose between living up to his ideals and making money and he chooses his ideals, which is awesome.
Babel
This movie has a similar concept to Crash, in that it follows various different people and how they affect each others lives. This movie, however, doesn't focus on racism, it focuses on the language barriers that exist between different nations and people and how they can cause problems. It does not only focus on different spoken language, but also has a deaf girl who needs to communicate through signs and also has trouble communicating what she needs. It also shows various cultures from around the world. One story, for instance, is a young Iraqi boy who is messing around with a gun, but not aiming at anything and accidentally hits a bus full of passengers some of whom are American. This, of course, causes a lot of problems for everyone involved. Their inability to communicate is also combined with various stereotypes that might be held about that region to compound the misunderstandings.
Kalifornia
This movie, which plays David Duchovny and Brad Pitt off one another, is about a serial killer taking a road trip with a man who's writing a book about serial killers. The writer is completely oblivious to the trail of bodies they are leaving in their wake, at least up to a point, and does not suspect for a moment that his traveling companion is a dangerous criminal. The writer's girlfriend is more intuitive and immediately dislikes Brad Pitt's character, who beats and controls his adoring girlfriend. It's not often you get to see Brad Pitt play the role of the villain, but he does it extremely well.
That is most definitely not an exhaustive list and I'm sure I'll think of five to ten more as soon as I post this. If any of my readers can think of some I might have missed (I could have added the Marvel movies, but they deserve their own post), feel free to leave a comment. You can also comment some of your favorite movies if you'd like.
Edited to include the following:
Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind
This gem starring Jim Carey and Kate Winslet is about how precious memories are, even the painful ones. After a nasty breakup with his girlfriend, a man decides to erase all his memories with her. While he is hooked up to the machine, his mind tries hard to retain those most precious memories that he shared with her. It's a beautiful and tragic story about the complexity of love and break-ups and heartache.
23
Another Jim Carey movie that follows a more sinister tone. In this one, he is a man who suddenly becomes obsessed with the number 23. It leads him down a rabbit hole of discovery about himself and ends up in an unexpected place. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this psychological thriller and loved the twist ending.
Seeking a Friend for the end of the World
This movie is about a world where the apocalypse is a foregone conclusion and everyone is just waiting for it to happen. They even know the date, so everyone can get their affairs in order. Steve Carrell plays a man who finds himself all alone at this most horrible time to be alone, but he discovers a letter from a former lover that was sent to the neighbor by mistake three months ago. The guy sets out on a quest to find her and requite the feelings she expressed in the letter, and on the way, he discovers that sometimes love sneaks up on you in the most unexpected places. Like Stranger than Fiction, it is about a guy who doesn't usually take risks doing just that. The message of both movies is to live life to the fullest because you never know when it might end.
Edited once more to include:
Moonlight
This movie, depicting the life of a gay black man growing up with a drug addicted mother in a poor neighborhood and bullied by the kids at his school is one of the most powerful stories I have ever seen. It shows the struggles many LGBT children still face growing up and how lack of support from those around them or validation can be detrimental to both their physical well-being and their mental state. This one really got to me, especially at the end.
The Perks of Being a Walflower
This isnt your usual coming of age movie. High school freshman Charlie has no friends and a troubled past. He gets off to a rocky start but ends up befriending a group of seniors who are all misfits in their own regard. Sam (played by Emma Watson) her stepbrother who is dating the captain of the football team (secretly because the popular guy wont come out of the closet), Mary elizabeth who is a Buddhist and candice who shoplifted Jeans even though she's rich and is into goth vampire stuff. The group regularly performs at the rocky horror picture show, parties, and they all stick together like glue. Charlie falls for Sam which almost ends up severing his ties to the group just when he needs them most. Very emotional movie. I kicked myself for not figuring out the plot twist as it was so obvious in retrospect. Broke my heart several times over and even though it ended on a lighter note, it was more realistic in saying things weren't necessarily going to stay happy, but that was okay. Warning, this movie does contain potential triggers for certain things (domestic violence is indicated, sexual assault is alluded to, there is a fist fight scene) the movie also shows the use of controlled substances by teenagers.
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