The Great Escape

I was around 8 when I first saw this great film. I did not know it at the time, but it was based on a true story. Recently, a group went out to find the original tunnel. They had to research the location of the camp, and then approximate the location for the tunnel. To their surprise, they found it! They even found the "door" plate and the gripping tool to pull it out (as seen in the movie). They then brought in one of the survivors to inspect the dig, and he was totally amazed at what they had found. Pull this movie out and blow off the dust. It is so worth it! Here is an interactive map of the escape tunnel "Harry".

The Blind Side

It is rare to see movies that portray Christians as genuine people and not narrow-minded morons--let alone Conservative Republicans. The Blind Side tells a true story with great humor and touching reality. It also touches on issues like the severe disconnect between the upper-class and the lower-class sections of one's own hometown. Yet that does not make them bad people for such, just not thoroughly engaged in being able to help. Drugs are the real problem that keeps those in its grip, slaves to the very end. And there are more than enough scum to keep you in those bonds for their own gain. A sad untold story, touched upon in the end credits, is the young boy hanging with the dealer who used to play ball. The sorrowful epilogue was that he was killed in a gang-related incident. While one stayed in football and went on to play with the Baltimore Ravens, the other found only death in his slavery to poverty and drugs. It stands as a stark contrast.

The Ten Commandments

What more difficult role could be played than Moses? Yet, Heston did it with such power and reverence, I was awe inspired as a kid watching it at the Fox theater. The grandeur of the Exodus scene would never be matched with today's computer graphics, and seems to becoming a lost art like special effects model-making. I actually sent Heston a treatment for a sequel to the Ten Commandments that takes place during the wilderness wandering. I wish it could have been done.

Ben Hur

Ben Hur rates high in my top-ten all time favorite movies. Although Judah Ben Hur gets top billing, it is the sub-title that is the real key to this classic... "A Tale of the Christ". It is Jesus who seems to appear at various chapters of Judah's life story. And it is Jesus who takes the sword of vengeance from his hand in the end. I truly love this movie.

Star Trek

I cut my sci-fi teeth watching the classic Star Trek on television. So mind you, I am pretty protective of the characters and how they are portrayed in movies. I am very pleased to announce that not only did they get the characters perfect, they also did not dumb down the plot. It was both complex, and very sci-fi.
The 1979 Star Trek: The Motion Picture was an abysmal failure. A few years later, Paramount redeemed itself with Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan. This latter offering should be watch before or after watching Star Trek (2009). There are many references within the movie that relate back to Wrath of Khan, such as the Kobayashi Maru. It is interesting to note that in Wrath of Khan, Kirk is eating an apple when describing how he outsmarted the no-win scenario. In Star Trek (2009), Kirk is eating an apple when commanding in the scenario.
This is rock-em sock-em sci-fi at its best. The actors played their counterparts to perfection, and the effects were flawless.

Amazing Grace

Many do not realize that one of the main issues that began America's separation from Great Britain was slavery. If Britain employed black slaves, then America will as well. As hard as it was for America to break from such injustice, it was doubly hard for Britain. It took men of great character and will to go against the tide of power that kept blacks in servitude. One of such men was William Wilberforce, and movies such as this should be repeatedly shown in schools throughout the country. Their reasoning not to is why homeschooling is so popular.

Sense and Sensibility

Can't say that I am much of a "chick flick" guy, nor a big connoisseur of Jane Austin fare, but Sense and Sensibility has to stand out as a favorite in the genre. The photography makes simple scenes into oil paintings, the dialog is not forced or contrived, but personal and intriguing, and all actors gave standing-o performances. Most notable in this mix is Alan Rickman as the Colonel. His subdued charm and controlled emotional response in the face of unrequited love are unmatched in many movies I have seen.

Star Wars

OK, so Star Wars may seem a bit obvious. However, let me be specific in saying that I am talking about the original Star Wars, the one that started it all. Not the redone Star Wars - A New Hope. This gem set a standard in effects and story telling. Unfortunately, George Lucas got drunk on the success and turned the series into an overdone saga and lost the ability to tell a simple story as he did with his original, and great films like American Graffiti. The original Star Wars movie inspired me (much like the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland) to get in to special effects. Though I wanted to work in the industry, I still find joy in dabbling with model making, animation, and visual prestidigitation.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Before I even knew who Monty Python was, I saw this movie and became an instant fan. From that point on, I became a sketch writer and a short film maker. To show you how much I enjoyed this movie, I have a rare script of the movie (including deleted scenes and first draft) and my wife and I first met by reciting Holy Grail lines to each other in a Halloween haunted house.

Peter Pan

Again, it is hard to choose a favorite among the "Walt" era animated movies, but Peter Pan stands out as classic among the classics. The story moves quickly with charm and humor. The fantastic voice performance by Hans Conrad is unmatched.

Laurel & Hardy and Other Classics

How can I possibly pick a favorite Laurel and Hardy movie or short? Of course, I cannot. So instead, I will just include them as a "genre" that I have enjoyed for years. In this category I will also include The Little Rascals, Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and The Three Stooges.

Princess Bride

As with the movie Big, the video game, unfortunately, dates this movie. As we get into the story, however, that all changes for the better. The characters and dialog becomes unforgettable. I remember when touring Israel, I was given the tour bus microphone to imitate quotes from Princess Bride. Those who had seen the movie laughed as if watching it once again. Those who had not seen the movie determined to watch it as soon as they got home. Sometimes I gauge my love for movies based on how often I want to see it again. Princess Bride rates very high in this regard.

Return to Me

To say anything about this movie would be to give too much away. I will comment, however, on the wonderful rapport and interaction between the characters in the restaurant. It is an unusual cuisine, being a cross of Italian and Irish fare, and the dialog is just as flavorful. You will understand why their generation was considered "the greatest". This is a don't miss movie.

Ghost Town

It is very hard to find a good romantic comedy, but Ghost Town has found the wonderful blend of humor, tragedy, sorrow, romance, and redemption. The acting is top notch, especially to Greg Kinnear and Ricky Gervais. I avoided this movie due to my disgust with movies like Ghost. However, it ended up in my Netflix queue for some reason, and now it is one of my favorites. Ricky Gervais is fast becoming one of my favorite comedic actors.

Bucket List

Good story telling trumps special effects. It almost seems like a lost art. Well not to writer Justin Zackham. We have two opposite personalities, one I relate to (Carter Chambers by Morgan Freeman), the other a polar opposite (Edward Cole by Jack Nicholson). Carter is a Christian who devoted his life to the well being of his family, while Edward is the classic agnostic that has spent his entire life amassing a fortune. Both are confronted with a closing expiration date and seek to cram in "all the things they wanted to do but never did" moments in life within this small window. This became the impetus for the Bucket List. What endeared this movie to me, though there is foul language, is the non-pushy and very real witness of Carter. At times I almost heard myself talking! Carter was very real. He had real flaws, believable fears, and an understandable assurance of eternal salvation. He understood the nature of faith, while Edward looked on, though not able to "get his head around it". To whit Carter would reply, "Maybe your head is in the way?" Priceless.

Bella

Bella is one of those movies that take a little time to get going for me. However, as the movie progressed, I began to fall in love with all the characters. There is not a single negative for this great film, and super positives including an extremely wonderful ending. A rare movie with exceptional story-telling. It is a true saying, and begins the movie, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans." Things happen, and many times our healing comes through His work, not ours—many times from a source we never expect.

Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump surprised me. I never thought I would like it as much as I did. As I was watching the wonderful portrayals by both Tom Hanks and Gary Sinise as Lieutenant Dan, toward the end of the film, as Forrest had Jenny's old house razed, I looked to my wife and notice she was crying. At dinner, I asked her why. She said that this is what Jesus had done with her old life--bulldozed it to the ground.
That made me think. Forrest Gump is a very spiritual movie. There were two prayers made, and both were answered in time. Jenny prayed the God would turn her in to a bird so that she could fly away. At her new graveside, birds were seen flying away. When praying for shrimp to save their shrimpin' business, the answer came in a whirlwind. Like Jesus, everyone who comes in personal contact has their life changed. Sometimes even destinies are changed such as the pattern of servitude of Bubba's mother, or even the "die in war" of Lieutenant Dan's family line. The powerful are brought low, and the humble are lifted up. As it says in Proverbs, "A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor."

Regarding Henry

What intrigues me most about Regarding Henry is how well it illustrates a "born again" experience. Though in this world you may have everything together, you are well respected, you are good at what you do with no regard for anyone else, you think yourself a great parent and husband--yet underneath the surface, there is disintegration. With a single, sudden event your life can radically change. At first this change is difficult and painful. Trials and tribulation have become a part of your life, where before, a turtle table would cause you distress. However now, on the surface, your marriage is brought from the brink, you have become a real parent to your child and all your priorities are now arranged in proper order. Watch this movie with the salvation experience in mind. Also, you will notice something very clever with the opening titles regarding this sudden change theme.

First Knight

If you are looking for an authentic recreation of the tale of King Arthur and his knights of Camelot, this is not the movie to watch. However, this review is from a Christian perspective, and it will not take long to see the parallel between Arthur and Christ--even down to the wounds in his hands. I was sorry to see only a minor cameo by Sir John Gielgud, however age might have prevented further screen time.

Toy Story 1 & 2

Toy Story was a fantastic animated movie by the pioneers at Pixar. Having been a fan of John Lasseter during his early "film short" days, I was very excited about this feature-length movie, and I was not disappointed. Every moment of this story, like many Pixar films, is just plain fun and moving. The only criticism I have is that the "good family" is a single parent home, and the "bad family" is a two-parent home. I think children's film should promote a strong family unit such as that seen in The Incredibles. This is a minor flaw that is far outweighed by the brilliant writing behind Toy Story.
What really floored me is that a sequel could actually be better than the original! It is possible, and Toy Story 2 proved it! They did not capitalize on the original characters or try to repeat the gags of the first movie. Rather, they introduced new characters and created a whole new story. I have wished, many times, that I had some kind of clout to do voices for Pixar. Their work is so much fun.