Top 5 Favorite Films

I just want to start off with saying that my movie history is extremely limited. I’ve been metaphorically slapped for not watching certain films more times than I can count. I’ve watched enough films, however, to have a top 5 list of my favorite films and be satisfied with it.

Note: These aren’t arranged in order of watchability.

1. Fight Club

After hearing about it around fifteen thousand times from my friends, I actually had the chance to watch it for myself. I was not disappointed. Even now I’m sure I could watch that movie over again and again, it was just so darn GOOD. It wasn’t just the bloody action and occasional slow motion either. The lighting of the entire film gave it an atmosphere that perfectly fit the character’s actions and their personalities. And speaking of the personalities, the conflict between Norton and his counterpart really spoke to me on a deeper level, and I’m not trying to be cheesy when I say that. Welp. Either way, I felt like the conflict between them felt like one of the most natural I've ever seen.

2. Signs

Ever since watching this movie as a child I wanted to get a physical copy, and when I managed to get one a few years later, I realized that I still loved the film just as much as I did as a kid. It never struck me as cheesy or badly done. The horror elements that were played out were executed very well, even though quite a few were jump scares. Like with Fight Club, the relationships between the family felt very real to me, and that allows me to watch it many times. The soundtrack, too, added to the tone of the movie and gave the intense moments an even better touch.

3. Inception

As soon as I saw the debut trailer for this film I knew I was going to love it. For once, a film about a medium in which anything is possible, the world of dreams. Also, a kicking rad soundtrack. Numerous things made this film one of my favorite films of all time. The fight scenes were fairly decent for Nolan, and the usage of the soundtrack in conjunction with the action scenes was perfect, and had me riveted to my seat the first time I watched it. Later, it was the story that caught me, with the deeper story of Cobb when examined a second time. 

4. 2001: A Space Odyssey

Ah, yes, this film. The film that I watched for the first time from the side while talking to a friend for the entire 3 hours. And yet I still managed to understand the plot. Being a mad science fiction fan with every single book and almost every movie he owns being sci-fi, this film might seem like an obvious choice. I’ll be completely honest, though, the 3 hours IS an easy way to fall asleep, no doubt about it. It’s a silent movie, with a lot of space, literally. But it’s a film with one of the most realistic depictions of space travel and physics that I have ever seen, and I’ve seen quite a few science fiction films. The plot, while very...very...well, while very DRAWN OUT, is very powerful when one really pays attention. For someone like me, that made the film extraordinary.

5. Hot Fuzz

Hot Fuzz. I had only heard of Shaun of the Dead recently, and I had no idea what Hot Fuzz was at that time. All I knew was that they were related, and that many people loved them. It wasn't until I watched both that I understood why, but Hot Fuzz was the film that stood out to me. It had a take on violence, humor, and plot twists that I had rarely seen in any film before it. Maybe that shouldn't be surprising since it's British, and thus should be different to some degree, but it was still a breath of fresh air. 

What makes a great film?

A for Effort

This is a very ambiguous attribute of good films, and can be difficult to quantify. Film-goers opinions' on what makes a good film can vary, and is very subjective. It can be assumed, however, that one can't just pick up a camera, put minimal work into filming, and expect an amazing film, and it's doubtful that it will be considered such by ANYONE. When you watch a film created by a team who loves what they're making, and tries to put as much effort and detail into a film as possible, it can be seen, and whether you like the film or not, it cannot be denied that work was put into it; that it wasn't another straight to TV movie. Take Titanic, for instance. James Cameron loves the subject, and put enormous effort into perfectly emulating the details present on the sunken ship. Dedication like that, even if it doesn't seem to make a tangible effect on the movie, exemplifies a team's dedication to film-making.

Moreover, even if the viewer didn't like the film personally, but can still acknowledge that it was well-made, that is the sign of a great film.

An Effective Message

If we discard ambiguous qualifiers like the criterion above, what else can make a great film? A powerful and effective message is one. One of the objectives of films is to connect with the audience is to connect with them on a deeper level, through the message, theme, symbols, etc. that are present in the film. When the audience is able to connect, it makes it that much more enjoyable for the viewers when they are able to relate back it. Even better is when the message isn't thrown into the viewer's face. Films that shove the meaning into your face can be blamed on bad writing, along with an inability to connect what the viewer sees with what they feel. One film that can be considered to have done it right is Bladerunner.

The film was portrayed in a way that made the identity of a human ambiguous, while also impressing this on the audience, along with other themes. The important point to take from this is that while Bladerunner is an action film, it still managed to impress these themes on the audience.

Acting

That’s it.

The acting present in a film can be more important than the cinematography, editing, and music. The acting can determine whether the message of the film is properly presented, and whether or not the audience will end up laughing at what was intended to be a gritty action movie. On the other hand, the acting of a movie can save it, and turn it into something great. Or just add to what was already a great film. Fight Club is an example of this.

Edward Norton and Bradd Pitts’ acting was what made the film such a great film. It added to the mystery of the pair, along with the line between who was who. Bradd Pitt did an excellent job of portraying Norton’s mental counterpart, adding the emotion necessary to make it believable (if you can call it that.

Wow, that sounded like shameless advertising. Go watch Fight Club everyone, I’ll mail whoever does a pizza roll.