The Movie Deadly Dozen Blogfest

Mr. Alex J Cavanaugh, author, is hosting a blogfest today, the Movie Deadly Dozen blogfest, where you round up twelve of your favorite films and gush.

Since that sounded fun, I signed up.

Let me tell you, it was super hard to narrow down my list to 12. I tried to stick to movies that were maybe a bit more obscure, just to zazz things up, though that's certainly not the case for all of the movies.

Here we go! (in no particular order)

Sunshine

Synopsis - a team of astronauts are sent on a mission to restart our dying sun. Along the way, they realize an unknown person is hiding on the ship with them

I love this movie. I guess it would be classified as space horror, since it does have quite a few intense moments towards the end. It's hands down one of my most favorite sci-fi movies. The astronauts are all completely believable. These aren't miners sent into space, but people with multiple PhDs.
It has a great cast, including Michelle Yeoh, Chris Evans and Cillian Murphy.
This movie will make you appreciate the sun like you never have before.


Tombstone






Synopsis - A successful lawman's plans to retire anonymously in Tombstone, Arizona, are disrupted by the kind of outlaws he was famous for eliminating

I think most everyone can agree that this movie is straight up awesome. Even if you don't like westerns (and why wouldn't you?!) this movie is excellent.
Kurt Russel, Bill Paxton and Sam Elliott round out the fantastic cast. And this is arguably Val Kilmer's best role (though Madmartigan is awesomesauce). I don't know anyone who doesn't love this movie


Whale Rider






Synopsis - a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize

Have you seen this movie?
If you haven't, you need to rectify that immediately. For reals. Go watch it right now.
This movie is one of my all time favorites and totally deserves all the acclaim it received. It will probably make you cry, but by the end you'll be happy and it will most likely be one of your favorites too. When I look back on my list of movies, this is the one that makes me gasp because I love it so much.


The Royal Tenebaums





Synopsis - An estranged family of former child prodigies reunites when one of their member announces he has a terminal illness.

This is one of those movies that you have to watch 2-3 times to really get a full appreciation for it. I find this movie hilarious and will watch it any time I see it on TV. Also it's a touch bittersweet and that's always a plus for me.
It has a killer cast, including, but not limited to, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Gene Hackman, Luke Wilson, Gwenyth Paltrow and Bill Murray and is narrated by Alec Baldwin.


Love Actually





Synopsis - Follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely and interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England.

This is, in my opinion, the best Christmas Movie Ever. Period. I don't know anyone who isn't ridiculously happy after watching this movie. Combined with a great soundtrack and an amazing cast including Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Colin Firth and Liam Neeson, there's something for everyone in this movie.
It's pretty much a Christmas staple in our house.

Lagaan

Synopsis - The people of a small village in Victorian India stake their future on a game of cricket against their ruthless British rulers...

I don't think I can properly convey how much I love this movie. It is excellent. It's another movie on my top 5 list. I think everyone should watch this movie.
It's a mix between a sports movie, a musical and an underdog struggle. Also it will make you want to play cricket.
The villain is easy to hate, the hero is adorable and the action so fun that by the end you'll be on the edge of your seat.
Even if you've never seen a single bollywood film (and this was my first) and find the music a little strange, by the end you may want the soundtrack.
I cannot recommend this movie enough.



Spirited Away





Synopsis - In the middle of her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches, and monsters where she is forced to work at bathhouse for these creatures

All of Miyazaki's films are excellent, but for me the top two are always Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away. My favorite of these two fluctuate, but typically Spirited Away edges out in front for it's fun plot line and the touch of unheimlich. Also I could watch Sen work in the bathhouse all day.
I pretty much always recommend any of Miyazaki's films for anyone who is looking to get into anime.


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles





Synopsis - A quartet of humanoid turtles trained by their mentor in ninjutsu must learn to pull together in order to face the menace of Shredder and the Foot Clan.

This movie epitomizes what was awesome about the early 90s. Still trying to hang onto the 80s, yet trying to break away. I remember seeing this movie on opening night when I was in the 3rd grade. We watch this movie every couple of months in our house. It's that awesome.
Also this movie will solidify my love for Elias Koteas and Casey Jones in general and contains brilliant dialogue such as:

"Cricket? You gotta know what a crumpet is, to understand Cricket."
"I'll show you. See that? 12 runs."

ahh, good times


28 Days Later



WARNING - TRAILER CONTAINS FULL FRONTAL MALE NUDITY



Synopsis - Four weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the UK, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary.

This is my all time favorite Zombie movie. I know many purists say it doesn't count because the infected aren't actually reanimated dead, but I don't care. It's also one of my top 5 fav movies of all time. I really enjoy the "Who is the monster and who is the man" theme and this movie has that in spades. This is also the movie that more or less began Cillian Murphy's career (yay!).
Obviously this a a Danny Boyle horror film so it is chock full of blood, gore and extreme violence (just the way I like it) but this movie is not for the faint of heart. But if that's not an issue for you and you haven't seen this movie, check it out.


Poltergeist





Synopsis - a little girl is kidnapped by the ghosts that haunt her family's home

When people ask what movie I think is the scariest, I always answer Poltergeist. Mostly because this is the scariest movie we used to watch growing up (though my parents did take the time to fast forward through the part where the guy rips his face off. At least until we were older). Clowns strangling children under the bed? Scary. Ghosts walked down the staircase? Hella scary. Little girl getting sucked into closet to then vanish? Effing scary.
The nerd part of me wants to point out that this movie is less about a poltergeist and more about a haunting, but that's beside the point. When I watch the Family Guy Poltergeist homage episode, I get freaked out because they use the original Poltergeist soundtrack.
I need to get this movie on Blu-ray or DVD.

The Last Unicorn






Synopsis - A brave unicorn and a magician fight an evil king who is obsessed with attempting to capture the world's unicorns.

We loved this movie growing up and I still love it now. It's one of those movies that changes as you get older so your appreciation deepens. Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow and Christopher Lee all voice act in this movie and though I LOVE IT, I would say it's not really appropriate for very young children due to some scary scenes including:
The Red Bull, creepy drunken skeleton and tree nudity.
Also, the soundtrack by America? Awesome.



Bugsy Malone





Synopsis - New York, 1929, a war rages between two rival gangsters, Fat Sam and Dandy Dan. Dan is in possession of a new and deadly weapon, the dreaded ‘splurge gun’.

This is your average 20's gangster movie. Except the gangsters are children. And instead of bullets, they throw pies. Also, it's a musical.
We grew up on this film in my house. To this day we still sing the songs when the mood strikes us. This is a movie you can watch with your children, they'll love it. But it's also a movie you can appreciate as an adult.
Both Scott Baio and Jodie Foster star, though they're probably around 10-12 years old.

I mean, what's not to love about a movie who's theme is:

You give a little love and it all comes back to you?

Nothing, that's what.