Thursday 16 May 2013

Freak Out Fangirl Feature #1: Movie Recommendations

Okay! So this is my first ever FOF, in which all objectivity goes out the window! I'm a movie fanatic, and since someone wanted a movie recommendation list, here you go! :D




(I made that gif myself be grateful)


So I'm a huge movie fanatic, and I'm not really that choosy about the movie I watch. But keep in mind that I'm 14 years old and I watch movies that I like. This is a list of movies that I think everyone should watch that most people haven't watched.


10 Movie Recommendations (in no particular order): 

1. The Princess Bride (1987)
Genre: Fantasy/Fairy Tale/Comedy
Summary: Buttercup is a beautiful young girl betrothed to the prince after losing the love of her life, Westley. But she is kidnapped by three men, and a handsome, masked stranger comes to her rescue. Come venture into S. Morgenstern's classic tale of true love and high adventure.
Starring: Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Fred Savage, Andre the Giant, Mandy Patinkin.
My rec: This is a cult classic. It's hilarious. If you haven't watched it, watch it. It's like The Wizard of oz, but completely hilarious. It was based on a book by William Goldman (it is literally the most confusing the hilarious book) and it's totally awesome. It's stuffed with eternally quotable one-liners, awesome action scenes, and yes the guy is super hot. Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die. 

2. The Addams Family (both movies, 1999 and 2001)
Genre: Dark Humor, Comedy
Summary: The Addams Family are queer folk. They dress in black, play with torture instruments and own unusual pets. But aside from that, they are a normal family. 
Starring: Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci
My rec: This is unusual. This is probably one of my favourite movies of all time. The dark humour won't appeal to everyone, but the hilariousness of the situations will make you laugh nonetheless. *Trust me, I've tried this movie on a lot of people. 
The second movie leans more to comedy--it'll definitely make you laugh. 

3. Mean Girls (2004)
Genre: Comedy
Summary: When home-schooled girl Cady attends high school for the first time, she gets bombarded by the social life. She gets taken in by the Plastics, the most popular girls, and begins to work her way up the scale. Until she falls for Regina, the most popular girl's ex-boyfriend Aaron, and she discovers the backstabbing, scheming side to the Plastics. 
Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried
My rec: A lot of people have watched this movie and loved it. It's hilarious (written by Tina Fey). It reminds us of better times, when Lindsay Lohan was still gorgeous and on track. It's cute and it conveys a message to girls everywhere. And the hilariousness. Did I mention? Like The Princess Bride, it's quotable, and full of awesome. 

4. Leon: The Professional (1994)
Genre: Action (Some violence)
Summary: A professional hitman's life is changed forever when he saves his 12-year-old neighbor after her family is killed in a police raid by a corrupt DEA officer.
Starring: Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman
My rec: This is old. But it was Natalie Portman's first movie role and her ticket to Hollywood. The movie has it's incredibly awesome action scenes, (there is a bit of blood and killing, but it's all censored so whatever) touching character building and oneliners. I really love movies with awesome one-liners. Gary Oldman played one of the most epic villains in film history in this movie. Brilliant. And the slow bond that forms between Leon (Jean Reno) and Mathilda (Natalie Portman) is adorable and touching. 

5. Life As A House (2001)
Genre: Drama
Summary: When George gets diagnosed with terminal cancer, he takes custody of his rebellious teenaged son to spend some quality time, rebuilding his father's old house. 
Starring: Kevin Kline, Hayden Christensen
My rec: Well basically what happened is that I became obsessed with Star Wars last year, and tracked down every movie all the actors had done. And I came across this movie. And despite Hayden's terrible performance in Star Wars, he actually got nominated for a Golden Globe for this. He lost a ridiculous amount of weight for this role, which he filmed in between Star Wars episode II and III. He is also ridiculously hot despite looking completely wasted. The bond that forms between George and his son (Hayden) is powerful and I. Just. Cried. Also we have a cameo by Ian Somerhalder (gasp) as a pimp, and Jena Malone (You know, Johanna Mason?) as Hayden's character's girlfriend. (Oh this movie can be found on Youtube did I mention)

6. Amadeus (1984)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Summary: This tells the story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, one of the greatest composers who ever lived, from the point of view of Salieri, his forgotten, bitter rival, now confined to an insane asylum. 
Starring: F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge
My rec: This might not interest everyone at first glance. It's a movie telling the story of Mozart, slightly overdramatized. But when you watch the movie, you realize that it's the story about how a man slowly lost his faith, and, in the end, his sanity, driven by his ambition and jealousy. We see an emotional viewpoint on Mozart's short, tragic life, and his genius that is remembered right until today. And there's wonderful music and acting and I just... Watch it. 

7. Journey to the Centre of the Earth (2008)
Genre: Action, Adventure
Summary: A scientist and his nephew and their mountain guide go on a trip to find his brother, travelling through to the unexplored depths of the Earth, discovering hidden worlds like teh book by Jules Verne
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, Anita Briem
My rec: It's one of those juvenile movies that adults like to watch. You know. Also Josh Hutcherson. Jennifer Lawrence apparently decided to become an actress after seeing John Hutcherson make it big in Hollywood. The visuals are awesome, and argh. 


8. Spirited Away (2001)
Genre: Adventure, Anime
Summary: When stopping while driving to her new home, 10-year-old Chihiro discovers a spirit world lurking in a bath house. When he parents are trapped, she must brave the dangers of the Spirit world and overcome trials to save them.
Starring (the English version): Daveigh Chase (That girl from The Ring, yeah.), Susan Egan (Meg from Hercules), Susanne Plesette (Zira the evil bitch from the Lion King 2)
My rec: This is the only anime to have won an Oscar. And you'll get why. It's wonderful and touching and amazing and I'm running out of adjectives to describe the perfection that is this movie. The drawing is classically beautiful and the storyline is touching and sweet without overwhelming you with plot or action. Everything ties up in the end. I don't really watch animes but you should watch this. Everyone should watch this.

9. The Help (2011)
Genre: Drama
Summary: When a white aspiring writer is thrust out into the world to try and achieve her goals, she decides to interview the black helpers of the neighborhood to discover the hardships they face serving aristocratic white families.
Starring: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer
My rec: So this is a movie based on a book, and it's amazing. While I read the book and loved it, the movie really drew on my emotions. Emma Stone was gorgeous and managed to break my heart so many freaking times in five minutes I don't understand. Viola Davis was awesome and Octavia Spencer was a sassy badass. The visuals and colors of this movie are great as well and the message behind the movie is powerful. This should appeal to Americans.

10 (Finally) The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008)
Genre: Drama, Historical
Summary: The young son of a soldier explores the land around is home and comes across a fence, where he sees a camp full of men and boys in striped pyjamas. He befriends a young Jewish boy is age and they form a friendship that makes people question their judgements and leads to unexpected consequences. 
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Jack Scanton
My rec: Basically I'm a huge fan of Asa Butterfield, and this was a lovely movie about the Holocaust. Well, not lovely. It was incredibly, subtly sad. It's for people who know just like basic facts about the Holocaust so anyone can watch. And the acting was incredible and I just can't.

20 movies that I liked that you've probably watched (or should watch) so I won't put in a summary:
(In no particular order)
1. Bridge to Terabithia
2. The Avengers
3. All the Disney movies (honestly)
4. Silver Linings Playbook
5. Star Wars
6. Star Trek (2009)
7. V for Vendetta
8. To Kill A Mockingbird
9. Indiana Jones
10. Lord of the Rings
11. Forrest Gump
12. Back To The Future
13. Immortal Beloved
14. Jaws
15. Carrie
16. Psycho (Horror movies rock)
17. All dem Dreamworks movies
18. Akila and the Bee
19. Pirates of the Caribbean
20. The Perks of Being a Wallaflower


Whew! That took ages. Well here's the thing: these are all movies I've watched. As much as I think Terminator or the Godfather are awesome movies and should be watched, I haven't watched them myself, so yeah.


2 comments:

  1. I didn't find Mean Girls very good. As in the principle was there, but not very well reflected...? I dunno, whaddya think?

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    Replies
    1. I understand what you mean, but i's one of my favorite movies because it's hilarious and fun. It portrays stereotypes pretty well I guess (I really wouldn't know I grew up in an all-girls school) and in the end it works out realistically. I like it for that. It might be a shallow movie, but I think that was kind of the point.

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