Interesting Movie Clips

The Shawshank redemption is Frank Darabont’s directoral debut film and is full of striking, unforgettable scenes. Perhaps the one that sticks the most is the establishing shot. There’s an overhead shot that moves from the arriving prison bus, goes up to the main tower of the prison building, and looks down on the prison courtyard where prisoners in their drab gray uniforms go to the fence to jeer and gawk at the new arrivals. From this point on, the viewer gets an idea why there’s no other choice but to get busy living or get busy dying in an institution like this.

Cruel Intentions is a flick for older teenagers that’s loosely based on the 1988 film “Dangerous Liaisons”. Rich girl Kathryn makes a bet with her equally jaded stepbrother Sebastian that he can’t seduce good girl virgin Annette. Along the way, Kathryn also tries to help out sexually inexperienced Cecile get some experience points. The prolonged, wet French kiss between Kathryn and Cecile is the most striking moment of the film (and it’s too bad that some cable TV channels censor this out!).

The remake of the 1962 Lolita has a lot of great scenes that will keep you riveted to your seat until the credits roll. The first view of the nymphet Lolita, played by 14-year old Dominique Swain, is of her lounging in the garden next to a lawn sprinkler. What middle-aged professor would get obsessed, or at least, stop and stare? The most provocative scene in the movie, however, is when Lolita nuzzles up right next to Humbert Humbert’s crotch and inches her hand up his inner thigh while she asks for a $2 allowance. This version is by far the most controversial version of the novel dealing with the taboo and touchy subject of of pedophilia and underage sexuality.

Whoever wants to experience classic American films, then Citizen Kane is the perfect movie to see. Citizen Kane is directed by Orson Welles. It was released by RKO Pictures and is considered to be a portrayal of the life of William Randolph Hearst. However, Hearst prohibited mentioning the film in any of his newspapers during the film’s release. The film centers on the life and of Charles Foster Kane and is shown through flashbacks as a newspaper reporter searches for the meaning of Kane’s last word “Rosebud”. Citizen Kane is claimed to be as one of the most innovative works in the history of film and in 1997, it ranked at number one in the list of the 100 greatest American movies of all time by the American Film Institute.

The Motorcycle Diaries is a biographical film which features the life and struggle of the 23-year-old icon Ernesto Guevara, known as the revolutionary “Che” Guevara. Released in 2004, the film shows the 1952 journey of Che and his Alberto Granado across South America by motorcycle. The screenplay is based on Guevara’s own travelogue The Motorcycle Diaries by Ernesto “Che” Guevara with additional information from Granado’s Back on the Road: A Journey Through Latin America. The film gained positive online reviews 75% positive reviews of 67 reviews from Metacritic, while 82% positive reviews of 148 reviews from Rotten Tomatoes. The film was also given a standing ovation at the 2004 Sundance film festival.

Mumbai is the backdrop for this Oscar-winning masterpiece about a rags to riches story of a boy who went from orphan vagrant to the winner of a 20 million rupee jackpot in India’s version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. It plays out like a genuine Bollywood movie – complete with a dance scene to cap it off.

The cinematography and the flow of the plot is excellent, even the most leisurely movie goer will appreciate and understand this cinematic masterpiece. Set in Mumbai’s slums, it tell the story of two brothers – Jamal and Saleem Malik. One chooses to dedicate his life to love, while the other pursues power, money, and notoriety. Two very different paths. The concept is cliche, but the presentation is not. Throughout the whole film, the director plays around with stereotypes but never does the film feel trite. Truly a cinematic classic in the making.

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Shawshank Redemption is one movie you should never fail to watch. It is the story of Andy Dufresne, a banker from New England. He was a mild mannered person, convicted of his wife and her lover’s murder. At first, other inmates from where he was incarcerated despised him. He was not a common person, he was kind of an introvert. That made them feel a little uncomfortable with him. But as time went on, he slowly became friends with an inmate, Red. While inside, he came to work with the inmates and with the prison system very well. His wits changed so many people. He encouraged some inmates to finish their studies while inside. He taught them also that hope is the their key to survival.

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The globe of 3D animated films is getting more and more jam-packed. There is still one acknowledged king of the mount when it comes to 3D animated movies… and that’s obviously Pixar. I find myself having a tricky time getting too enthusiastic about any animated film that doesn’t come from them these days (although as Kung Fu Panda demonstrated, there are exceptions).

The idea for Igor is in point of fact a pretty imaginative one. In a country called “Malaria” the people were once contented and prosperous farmers until mysterious clouds covered the land leaving it in permanent darkness. To survive, the country changed industries from cultivating to evil mad science!!!! Now the celebrities are the best evil mad scientists… and in Malaria if you are born with a hunch back, your name is changed to “Igor” and you turn out to be assigned to an evil scientist as their stupid and slow witted supporter. However, one Igor (John Cusack) is actually quite brilliant and dreams of being recognized as the furthermost mad scientist in the world… if he can get people to look past the fact that he’s an Igor.

JACK: You’re so stupid, Rose. Why did you do that, huh? Why?
ROSE: If you jump, I jump, right?

Historical, romantic, honest, passionate – these words will all but describe the movie Titanic. Tear-jerking and certainly a must-see (for dozens of times), this is a personal favorite. I myself have seen this film more times than I should have, to a point that I practically memorized all, if not most, of the lines. This line, however, is one that struck home, and left the deepest tear-stain on my face (and probably would stain yours, too).

A tale of true, forbidden love set in pre-modern times in England, two lovers fall in love on the ship of dreams, the ship that was said to be so strong that even God can not make it sink. They make the most of the whole boat trip to show each other and the whole world, the kind of love that can only be seen and felt in a lifetime. Although seemingly unrealistic, such things certainly do happen and certainly touch our hearts.

Titanic is still the reigning number one film on my top movies list. If it isn’t on yours, try getting a copy and see for yourself.

In 1937, a British journalist George Hogg (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) goes to China during the Japanese invasion and finds himself leading a group of 60 orphaned Chinese boys on a journey over the Liu Pan Shan mountains towards the Mongolian desert to escape the Japanese forces.

As Hogg continues on his heroic rescue, he is helped by Chen Hansheng (Chow Yun-Fat), the rebel leader of a Chinese partisan group, Lee (Radha Mitchell), an Australian woman who provides medical help and Madame Wang (Michelle Yeoh), an aristrocrat who is also fleeing for her dear life. He was able to lead them across the mountains and deserts safely.

The movie is directed by Roger Spottiswoode and it would be released on theaters on May 23, 2008 with a movie rating of R due to some disturbing content and violence.

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