Benjamin's Stash: Video Pick of the Week

      Hello, readers. With Red 2 opening Friday, this week's pick is being devoted to a Bruce Willis film. Now there are a few in my collection to choose from (such awe-inspiring works as Color of Night, Armageddon, The Whole Ten Yards, and Cop Out didn't make the cut). I decided to go with a film where he technically isn't the central focus, but in a way he is.

      Sin City, based on Frank Miller's graphic novel, is one film split into three different stories. The Hard Goodbye centers on Marv (Mickey Rourke), who - after a one night stand - wakes up to find the girl murdered. Framed for the murder, he vows to avenge her death. Yeah, she must've been that good. The Big Fat Kill deals with Shellie (Brittany Murphy) and her new boyfriend Dwight (Clive Owen) having to deal with her abusive ex-boyfriend Jackie Boy (Benicio del Toro). That Yellow Bastard (which features Willis) focuses on the relationship between Nancy (Jessica Alba) and police officer John Hartigan (Bruce Willis). Their relationship first began back when Hartigan saved her from potentially being raped and murdered by serial child killer Roark Junior (Nick Stahl) aka "Yellow Bastard".

      I've been a fan of writer/director Robert Rodriguez for a while now. While he certainly has a unique style that is evident in all his films, no two films are really alike. Sin City isn't his own original material. It was also co-directed by Miller himself with Quentin Tarantino directing a scene as well. That being said, Rodriguez's trademark style can be seen here. It's violent, sexy, funny, and uncompromising. Looking somewhat like film noir on an acid trip (the cars may be from the 30's and 40's, but I'm thinking the G-strings aren't), Sin City is beautifully shot, giving us the feel and look of the graphic novel it is based on. It's mostly shot in black and white, but the use of color it utilizes every now and then is brilliantly handled. One of the film's biggest strengths is the cast as a whole. There really is no scene stealer here (although try and get Elijah Woods's image out of your head afterward) as every major character involved gets their own moment to shine on screen. Sin City certainly isn't for everyone, then again, most of Rodriguez's films aren't. Whether you like it or not, one thing's for certain. It'll at least be an unforgettable experience.

What the Hell Were They Thinking?!

     Hello, readers. Today I saw that Pacific Rim got beat out by Grown Ups 2 at the box office over the weekend. Even though only by $4 million domestically, it still makes me question my faith in humanity once again. Seriously, if you're standing at the theater counter and are deciding between Pacific Rim or Grown Ups 2, well - okay, wait. Why the hell have you even put yourself into a position where you have to choose between those two? Anyway, today marks my 100th post. Yay! This would be the moment where confetti falls from the ceiling and showers me with greatness while Queen's "We Are the Champions" blares in the background. I couldn't do this without you guys - and a solid internet connection - so thank you. Now on to today's "What the Hell Were They Thinking?!" I was sifting through the Netflix instant queue and hoping to find Anaconda 3, the one with David Hasselhoff. It was unavailable... but in the recommended similar films section I found one even better.

      Snake Island centers around a group of tourists that were hoping for an African resort, but instead (with deep, booming voice for trailers) "They got... Snake Island." Snake Island is this remote island with a questionable history... and it's full of snakes. I know what you're thinking. You're not only gonna get thrills and chills, you're also going to get a highly educational film experience about the nature of these reptilian creatures. So you got the two central guys, Jake Malloy (Wayne Crawford), a tour guide, and Malcolm Page (William Katt), a Michael Crichton type author researching his next book. Once the snakes start ganging up on the people (which they don't, by the way... hate to nitpick), it's up to those two to rise up and save the day. Is there a backstory? Yeah, but who gives a shit? You came here to see snakes... and you came to see them kill people.

      Okay, so I have a confession to make. I was expecting to totally trash this film, but by the end of the movie, I gotta say I actually kinda enjoyed it... Nah - I'm just fucking with you. This film is total dog shit. Looking kinda like it had a budget of five bucks and whatever spare change the cast and crew could pull out of their pockets, Snake Island is kinda like Anaconda and Snakes on a Plane (two entertaining, self aware films), that is, if you took away the great cinematography, the solid casts, the laughs, and basically anything good about either film. Plus, as far as Snakes on a Plane goes, wouldn't you too have it with these mother fucking snakes on this mother fucking plane? There are some terrible films where it gradually builds up to its terribleness bit by bit. With this film, from the very first line of spoken dialogue, you right away go, "Oh, yeah... This film is gonna be shit on epic levels." The acting was so bad I actually started to wonder if this was one of those Showtime/Cinemax late night movies where even the sex scenes look bad (it's just the girl grinding on the bed sheet with the guy sitting behind her). The direction was - well, bad. The script appears as if it was written by a twelve year old... with Down Syndrome. The special effects probably had a budget of fifty cents, and the film takes itself so seriously I ended up laughing unintentionally more than any other film that had me laughing intentionally. If I end up doing a Top 10 Comedy list someday, Snake Island could very well, inadvertently, wind up at the #1 spot. There is actually a moment - I kid you not - at the beginning where a Cobra slithers its way onto the cruise ship. Everyone's freaking out and asking, "Is it poisonous?!" Keep in mind, this is Cobra. Then the main character, A TOUR GUIDE WHO'S SUPPOSED TO BE A FUCKING EXPERT ON SNAKES!!!! says, "I don't know. Probably not." Once again, that was a Cobra, which is one of the most venomous snakes in the world... so yeah, probably not. Then come a few scenes later he spots two dead snakes mangled beyond recognition and without skipping a beat goes, "Yep, that there's a Green Mamba and that one's a Gaboon Viper." Come on. Either you're a dumb ass or not. Make up your mind. Then there's a moment mid-way through where it gets so bizarre I could be so high out of my mind I'm on the dark side of the moon and I'd still be wondering, "What the hell are they going for here?" Actually, I just described the whole film. If anything, this will make you laugh, even if it wasn't the film's intention. The writers were even kind enough to throw in the big "scientific explanation" in the second act that even a toddler could point out, "Yeah... that's not right." The fact that these are grown adults starring in this makes it even funnier. It certainly makes me believe that this was in fact written by the twelve year old kid of the director who probably went to his friends and was like, "Hey, my kid wrote this, so we're gonna make it... How much money do you all have on you?"

Pacific Rim

Cast of Characters:

Raleigh Becket - Charlie Hunnam

Stacker Pentecost - Idris Elba

Mako Mori - Rinko Kikuchi

Dr. Newton Geizler - Charlie Day

Chuck Hansen - Rob Kazinsky

Herc Hansen - Max Martini

Hannibal Chau - Ron Perlman

Director - Guillermo del Toro

Screenplay - Travis Beacham & Guillermo del Toro

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence throughout, and brief language

      It's the FX all-star lineup as FX network staples Charlie Hunnam, Charlie Day and Ron Perlman star alongside Idris Elba and Academy Award nominee Rinko Kikuchi in Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim. Will Guillermo deliver another hit, or will it be a step back for him? Is that even possible?

      Pacific Rim opens with the war between the Kaijus (Japanese for "Giant monster") and Jaegers (German for "Hunter") already taking place. There is a brief backstory in that while mankind originally believed alien life would exist beyond the stars, it actually comes from beneath the surface. Considering the size and strength of the Kaijus, and not wanna to create any more collateral damage than needed with a full-on assault, a special type of weapon is created with the Jaegers - giant humanoid fighting machines. Needing two soldiers to operate the Jaegers - one for each hemisphere of the brain - the Jaegers are the world's only hope in preventing the Kaijus from bringing about the apocalypse.

      Fast forward a bit. Jaeger Forces Commander Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba) approaches former pilot Raleigh Becket (Charlie Hunnam) to help bring about one last push against the monsters. Having witnessed his brother be killed by a Kaiju while both piloting a Jaeger, Raleigh is hesitant. What happened in his past was more than just his brother being killed. To operate a Jaeger both pilots access each other's thoughts and memories in order to synch the hemispheres. In a way, it was like Raleigh experienced his brother's death as well. The fact that it came about through an order he ignored makes him feel all the more responsible, so why would he wanna go back?

      Raleigh eventually changes his mind and rejoins the mission. He's paired up with Mako Mori (Rinko Kikuchi), a test pilot who is overseeing the nomination process for Raleigh's new co-pilot. Seeing that she's clearly skilled herself, Raleigh insists she be his new co-pilot. Pentecost though - being her adoptive father - strongly opposes for protective reasons. When push comes to shove, Pentecost relents and allows Mako to be his co-pilot. With the help of Dr. Newton Geizler (Charlie Day), who believes he can access all things Kaijus by tapping into a brain of theirs he can get from black market Kaiju organ dealer Hannibal Chau (Ron Perlman), the Jaeger Forces push on to give the Kaijus one last fight.

      Prior to the release of this film, I was rather disappointed by the poor marketing done by Warner Bros. Unlike films like Man of Steel and the upcoming The Wolverine - of which both were excellently marketed - there really was no advertising push for this film until the last minute. All that considered, just 'cause a film is poorly marketed doesn't necessarily mean it will be poorly received (See my A- review of The Heat). In spite of the lackluster advertising, this is a highly entertaining film. I've said it before, but I'll say it again, and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna say it once again come his next film. Guillermo del Toro is a masterful director. Whether it's his balanced pacing, his eye for colorful detail, the ability to bring out so much emotion into just one shot, or the Oscar level creature and visual effects (Credit here to Oscar winners John Knoll and Hal T. Hickel), del Toro has his craft down to a perfection. This film is beautifully shot, and I have a feeling you may be seeing this film listed in a few technical categories come Oscar season. Even the title sequence and the closing credits (I always stay a bit afterward just to see the cast and crew), were amazing to watch. If there was any beef that I had with the film, it's that maybe the fight sequences go on a tad bit longer than they need to. That was also a similar problem I had with Iron Man 3, Star Trek Into Darkness, and a just little bit with Man of Steel as well. It's not a slight on the pacing in any way, 'cause the film is just only a bit over two hours, but del Toro keeps things moving. The film has its share of heart and humanity. We see it in the connection that Raleigh and Mako have through their backstories (and thank God they don't go in the token, cliche love interest route). We see it in the father figure relationship between Stacker and Mako. There are also striking little moments beautifully shot throughout the film be it a little girl's red shoe lying in a heap of ash and rubble, Pentecost slowly lowering his helmet like a leader of warriors to address the crowd, or a little child crying from the loss of her parents as she stands helplessly in a destroyed city while fighter jets fly above her. This film has heart like any del Toro film. I just felt maybe they could've trimmed some of the fight sequences back and use that additional time to expand a bit more on the relationships.

      My nitpicks aside, as I said, this is one hell of an entertaining movie. Del Toro's direction is sharp and spot-on with all his trademark niches evident onscreen. The acting is solid. Charlie Hunnam isn't quite there yet as a "leading man", but he still holds his own. Underrated character actor Idris Elba provides a strong presence. The lovely Rinko Kikuchi (who, on a side note, absolutely deserved Best Supporting Actress for Babel instead of the overrated Jennifer Hudson in 2006) is a gorgeous presence onscreen and it's great to see her get a role that has her talking (See Babel and The Brothers Bloom to see what I mean). The scenes between her and Elba are a good portion of the film's depth. Plus, we get some much needed comic relief from both Charlie Day and del Toro's go-to guy Ron Perlman. Is it del Toro's best film? No. It's pretty hard to top Pans Labyrinth, but it's greatly entertaining and has the emotion and humanity we've come to expect from his films. I give Pacific Rim an A- (★★★½). 

REVIEWS COMING LATER THIS WEEK...

What the Hell Were They Thinking?!

Benjamin's Stash: Video Pick of the Week

Top 50 Movies of All-Time: Part III

Turbo

R.I.P.D.

Red 2

Grown Ups 2

Cast of Characters:

Lenny Feder - Adam Sandler

Eric Lamonsoff - Kevin James

Kurt McKenzie - Chris Rock

Marcus "Higgy" Higgins - David Spade

Roxanne Feder - Salma Hayek

Deanne McKenzie - Maya Rudolph

Sally Lamonsoff - Maria Bello

Nick Hilliard - Nick Swardson

Director - Dennis Dugan

Screenplay - Fred Wolf, Adam Sandler & Tim Herlihy

Rated PG-13 for crude and suggestive content, language and some male rear nudity


      Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade and Rob Schneider team up again in the sequel Grown Ups 2. Wait, hold on. Schneider isn't in it? Maybe there is hope for this film.

      Grown Ups 2 picks up three years after the events of Grown Ups. The Feder family, led by Lenny (Adam Sandler) and Roxanne (Salma Hayek) have now moved back to Lenny's hometown. Meanwhile, Eric Lamonsoff (Kevin James) and his wife Sally (Maria Bello) are still dealing with their idiot child who seems unable to literally put two and two together. Kurt McKenzie (Chris Rock) and his wife Deanne (Maya Rudolph) are celebrating their 20th anniversary, despite Deanna forgetting (That means unlimited sex whenever, wherever, my man!), and Marcus Higgins (David Spade) just found out that he had a child - now a senior, as well as a dickhead, in high school - from a long gone girlfriend.

      It's the last day of school for the kids, so while they're finishing up the school year Lenny, Eric, Kurt and Marcus get together for some wild and crazy shenanigans that involve stealing a school bus and being forced to jump off a cliff and into a lake naked. Move over, Tarantino and David O. Russell. This writing has Oscar written all over it.

      So as I said at the beginning, maybe there is hope for this film with Schneider out. In a word, no. No, there isn't. Well, I take that back. If you just so happen to laugh when I say the following words - poop, pee, poop again, fart, burpsnart (a burp followed by a sneeze, then a fart), deer go pee-pee, poop once again, fart once again, crotch-kicking, ass kicking, hey, what the hell, poop again. Poop. Poop. Poop! Poopy! - you'll probably love this film. That, in a nutshell, is essentially what the humor boils down to here. Well, that and Shaquille O'Neal as cop... that pees in a pool. There's also a scene involving Colin Quinn working on an ice cream vending machine in such a way that resembles him pooping. Get it? It's chocolate frozen yogurt, but - get this - it looks like poop! Oh, yeah, I definitely take back what I said about This Is the End. This is the funniest movie of the year. Mel Brooks would be so proud. There's absolutely no effort at all to make the humor even remotely smart or witty. Most of the film just consists of various Sandler buddies, former SNL stars and Steve "Stone Cold" Austin popping up every now and then onscreen. Save a few moments from Taylor Lautner as a douchy frat boy that are actually pretty funny, the film goes nowhere... and I really mean nowhere. I'm all for goofball humor. There was a time when the Farrelly brothers were geniuses at it, but it was goofy humor that was smart in its own odd way. Here it got to the point where I felt awkward sitting in the theater not laughing while everyone else was just yucking it up. "Hmm... I better start laughing before people start to take notice.", I thought to myself. Then again, you know there was someone else in the theater laughing their ass off, but then thinking, "I'm laughing too much. People might start to take notice that I'm laughing at nothing." Eventually, I got so bored with this horrible movie I just admired Salma Hayek for the remainder of the film. That's a good substitute.

      A part of me wonders why the hell Sandler does movies like these. I've mentioned before with movies like Punch-Drunk Love, Spanglish, Funny People and even Anger Management, Sandler can make great movies if he puts the effort into it. Most of the time though, he doesn't 'cause unfortunately people don't flock to films of his like Spanglish or Funny People or Punch-Drunk Love 'cause they're too busy flocking to bull shit like this. It's just lazy bull shit poop, fart and crotch-kick humor. I know Sandler can do better, and I hope he does 'cause the movies I mentioned show he's capable of great things. He just doesn't bother with the effort. I give Grown Ups 2 a D+ (★½).

100 Bloody Acres

Cast of Characters:
Reg Morgan - Damon Herriman
Lindsay Morgan - Angus Sampson
Sophie - Anna McGahan
James - Oliver Ackland
Wes - Jamie Kristian
Burke - John Jarratt

Director - Colin Cairnes & Cameron Cairnes
Screenplay - Colin Cairnes & Cameron Cairnes
Not Rated

      Straight out of Australia, up and coming sibling filmmakers Colin and Cameron Cairnes give us their feature length film debut, 100 Bloody Acres. Does it show promise for writing/director duo, or should they - as the saying goes - not quit their day-job?

      100 Bloody Acres opens with Reg Morgan (Damon Herriman), a delivery driver for a small organic blood and bone fertilizer company operated by both him and his brother Lindsay (Angus Sampson). What's their recipe? Dead car crash victims, that's what. While picking up some "inventory" on the side of the road, he comes upon three travelers - Sophie (Anna McGahan), James (Oliver Ackland) and Wes (Jamie Kristian) - on their way to a music festival, yet stranded with car trouble. Reg decides to give them a lift, Sophie in the front with him and James and Wes in the back of the truck with the supplies. While on their way, it doesn't take long for James and Wes to find the secret recipe hidden among some bags.

      Freaking out, Reg takes them to his fertilizing plant to get try and straighten everything out with the three. He wants to cause no trouble at all, but his brutish brother Lindsay doesn't exactly see eye to eye. Now that they know, they can't be trusted. To keep them quiet, Lindsay and Reg hold the three hostage inside their plant. Do they manage to get away, or will they become just another "contributor" to their business?

      I didn't know what to expect from this film. I was unfamiliar with the cast and obviously the Cairnes brothers. Maybe going in not knowing what to expect was to my benefit, 'cause like Sightseers earlier this year, 100 Bloody Acres is a damn good time. While most people seem to be classifying this as horror film, I myself wouldn't see it that way. This is more in the vein of a Coen brothers dark comedy or Shaun of the Dead (another low-budget dark comedy/zombie film shot overseas). The characters are extremely well written, particularly Reg. What he does with his brother is obviously repulsive, yet there's a likeability and even a sympathetic element to his character that you often times don't see in a person who's known for grinding humans into fertilizer. "Don't worry. We're gonna put it on the high setting for you. That way it'll be over fast.", Reg politely says as he and Lindsay are about to grind a victim. Lindsay is the more straightforward character of the bunch. Some have compared him to Peter Stormare's character from Fargo, and I definitely see the similarities. There's clearly a sad and quietly ominous vibe about him much in the same way Stormare was in the Coen brothers classic. There's a scene featuring Lindsay and a cop later on in the film that shows Colin and Cameron were definitely influenced by Joel and Ethan. James and Wes seem like the cliche sweetheart/douche bag combo, but by the end of the film you start to see they have a little bit of both qualities within them. Sophie holds her own up against the boys just as well. She may seem like a "City slu-uh-uh-slicker!" (according to Reg), but over time we find out she has her reasons.

      With a sharply written script, excellent direction, a terrific all-around cast, and a great final shot, 100 Bloody Acres was quite a surprise for me. It's low-budget movies like these that come out every now and then that are one of the reasons I love movies. The Cairnes brothers certainly have a ways to go before we can make a definitive decision on where they stand as filmmakers. Consistency is something they have yet to prove from my point of view. That being said, this is far from a bad way to start. Note to all readers: do not watch this if you have a stomach that's a bit on the weak side. I give 100 Bloody Acres an A (★★★★).

Top 50 Movies of All-Time: Part II

      Okay, readers, Part I of this five part series on the greatest movies of all-time was last week. Let's continue on with Part II, starting with...

40) Back to the Future (Universal Pictures)

      1985 - Although not director Robert Zemeckis’s first feature length film, Back to the Future is the film that undoubtedly turned Zemeckis into a high-demand talent. With a gifted cast featuring Michael J. Fox, Lea Thompson and Crispin Glover and the perfectly cast Christopher Lloyd, this film is certainly a blockbuster action spectacle guaranteed to entertain. That being said, it’s the heart at the core of this film that makes it so special. Imagine how you’d feel if you could travel back in time to where your own parents were the same age as you. Imagine meeting them and interacting with them before your mere existence wasn’t even a thought. Oh, and then the fate of not just your parents, but your own life is now put into your hands. How would you react? How would you handle it emotionally or psychologically. The way Fox handles the scene where he first meets his mother from the past is the perfect balance of nervous humor and genuine awe. The fact that the potential Mrs. McFly develops a bit of a crush on her future son, unbeknownst to her, adds much more to the awkward humor.

39) Blazing Saddles (Warner Bros.)

      1974 - It may not be the best Mel Brooks film, but it sure comes close. Blazing Saddles was crass, goofy, and unabashedly politically incorrect. This film did for westerns what Airplane! and The Naked Gun series would later do for disaster and crime movies respectively. While overall a goofy movie - which it’s meant to be - the various references and use of racial humor are strongly written and as witty as they come. Plus the timing and chemistry between Gene Wilder and the late Cleavon Little proves that these two provided us with one of the best comic duos in film history. Blazing Saddles also shows why Mel Brooks is by far the greatest film satirist of all-time. “Well, raise my rent!”

38) Forrest Gump (Paramount Pictures)

      1994 - The first of the three movies I mentioned that were nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars in the same year, Forrest Gump follows the life of a simpleton from Greenbow, Alabama. We witness him first meeting Elvis as a child and then growing up to become an All-American football player, enlisting in the Army, meeting Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon (the funniest moment in the film, by the way), serving his country in Vietnam (It's this whole other country), and proving to us that if you're persistent enough, you'll eventually win that girl you simply refuse to let go of. Plus, I'm not ashamed to admit this is one of the few movies that can get me to tear up at the end. It's really unfortunate that this film - by a minority, mind you - gets some undeserved hate for snubbing out two other films I will later mention in this list for Best Picture at the 1995 Oscars. While I agree Forrest Gump wouldn't have been my pick for Best Picture, it certainly deserved the Best Director and Best Actor Oscars (Robert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks respectively) it took home that night. It also certainly, without a doubt, doesn't change the fact that this is an unforgettably beautiful, funny, and moving film.

37) Midnight Cowboy (United Artists)

      1969 - If Dustin Hoffman hasn't yet convinced you he's one of the greatest actors of all-time, the scene I just played was mostly improvised. The cab you see in the shot wasn't supposed to be on set. One unsuspecting taxi driver was apparently unaware traffic was blocked off for filming. End result: Hoffman does what he can to salvage the scene and gives us one of the most memorable moments in cinema. Midnight Cowboy, may seem like a cheap X-rated movie (To date, it's the only X-rated film to win the Best Picture Oscar). Strip away the sex, the excess and hedonism and you're still left with two richly written characters in Joe Buck and "Ratso" Rizzo, wonderfully played by Oscar winners Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman respectively. Their unlikely friendship is the heart and soul of this movie while also capturing the seedy essence of the Manhattan underbelly, perfectly crafted by director John Schlesinger and screenwriter Waldo Salt.

36) Caddyshack (Warner Bros.)

      1980 - Caddyshack is the comedy film equivalent to a "Supergroup" rock band. You had two Saturday Night Live alums in Chevy Chase and Bill Murray, a sitcom veteran from The Mary Tyler Moore Show in Ted Knight, the late great comic Rodney Dangerfield, and SCTV veteran Harold Ramis as director/co-writer. Put them all together into one film and you achieve comic gold... or total consciousness. What makes this film so hilarious is that it's a movie about golfers that - save the final golf tournament bet - focuses very little on the actual golfing. Like any great comedy - or any great film for that matter - it's about the characters here. So its got that going for it... which is nice. Oh, and you'll never look at a Baby Ruth candy bar the same ever again after watching this. 

35) The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (United Artists)

      1966 - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is filmmaker Sergio Leone's masterpiece. While I would recommend watching this along with the two previous films in the Man With No Name trilogy (A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More being the other two), this film can still stand alone as its own great movie. Bolstered by three top notch performances from Clint Eastwood (The Good), Lee Van Cleef (The Bad) and Eli Wallach (The Ugly), a memorable score from the great Ennio Morricone, and one of the most edge of your seat, climatic gun showdowns ever, this is the quintessential western. Plus, with all due respect to the amazing Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach's Tuco character is the true star of this film.

34) The Shawshank Redemption (Columbia Pictures)
      1994 - While it is technically a “prison break” movie, The Shawshank Redemption is much, much, much, much more than that. Touching on everything from corruption within the prison system, who to trust in the prisons (watch out for the Warden and the bull queers), and the difficulty of long-term prisoners trying to assimilate within society once back out in the real world, it's hard - no, impossible - not to be eyes glued to the screen for the entire near two and a half hour running time. Both Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman share pitch perfect chemistry together. Bob Gunton plays a terrifically cold Warden Samuel Norton, and the shot of Andy Dufresne finally escaping prison in the rain is one of the most enduring images in film. For the record, this is the second of the three Best Picture nominations from the 1995 Oscars. "Get busy living or get busy dying."

33) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (United Artists)

      1975 - What makes One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest such an excellent movie is the character of Randle McMurphy (Jack Nicholson). His gradual change of character is essential to this film's greatness. At first, you can understand his frustration in having to deal daily with not just his fellow patients in the nuthouse but also the bitch that is Nurse Ratched as well. At the same time, though, you wanna slap him as well for thinking he could skate by on an easier sentence. Then, over time, we start to see him, bit by bit, warm up to his fellow patients, particularly Billy Bibbit (superbly played by Brad Dourif in an Oscar nominated role). At the beginning of the film, McMurphy's a smug rebel trying to scam the system. By the end of it, we find ourselves caring for him. That's great storytelling.

32) The French Connection (20th Century Fox)

      1971 - How the hell are there no clips other than film trailers of this film? Get with the program, Youtube! The French Connection was a breath of fresh air in the crime thriller genre. Having a director like William Friedkin and actors such as Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider and Fernando Rey doesn't hurt either. Centering on two narcotics detectives, Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle and Buddy Russo, trying to track down a heroin source all the way from Europe, this film was an innovative take on police dramas. It's gritty, fast paced, the protagonist was actually someone you'd find hard to like, and yes, it features the best car chase scene ever. I said ever. Take that Fast and Furious movies!

31) Taxi Driver (Columbia Pictures)

      1976 - You really think director Martin Scorsese wouldn't eventually wind up on this list? It won't be the last time either. Taxi Driver is all about Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) and his slow descent into madness. Your first impression of Travis, following him being spurned by presidential campaign worker Betsy (Cybill Shepherd), and maybe a bit before then, is - well, he's fucking nuts. That is until he meets Iris "Easy" Steensma (Jodie Foster). She may be twelve, but take a stab at how she got that nickname. It's through Iris that we start to see a little crack of humanity within Travis. Don't get me wrong, he's still not all there. Nevertheless, what he's willing to do for this girl to help her - as bloody as it turns out to be - shows there's still some humanity left in him. With Taxi Driver, director Scorsese and writer Paul Schrader have created a brilliant look into the human psychosis. It's funny many people have Travis Bickle pegged as a film villain. Watch this film, and you'll realize by the end, that's not entirely true.

      Well, that's all for Part II. We got one, two, three more parts in the series, with the third being the pinacle - the top 10 greatest movies ever. Once again, feel free to comment on what you think are the greatest films ever, what are your personal favorites, or even if you disagree with any picks I made. 

Benjamin's Stash: Video Pick of the Week

      With Pacific Rim set to open in theaters this Friday, I'm devoting this week's recommended video pick to not just any Guillermo del Toro film. This masterpiece pick is in my opinion his best film ever.

      Pans Labyrinth is set in 1944 fascist Spain. Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), a girl fascinated with fairy-tales, is sent along with her pregnant mother to live with her new stepfather Captain Vidal (Sergi Lopez), the ruthless captain of the Spanish army. During the night, she meets a fairy, somewhat resembling a stick insect, who takes her to a creature known as a Faun (Doug Jones) at a nearby ancient labyrinth. He tells her she's a princess, but must prove her royalty by surviving three challenging and gruesome tasks, all to be completed before the full moon. If she fails, however, she will never prove herself to be the the true princess. More importantly, she will never see her real father, the king of the underworld, again.

      This film may seem simplistic from what I just put, but believe me when I say that there is so much more depth to this hauntingly beautiful fairy tale. Guillermo del Toro is a directing genius. His style is one of the most unique in the trade and his storytelling ability is as strong as they come. The visuals and set pieces are phenomenal. You expect nothing short of amazing from del Toro anyway. The performances are superb, particularly Baquero's Ofelia and Lopez's sadistic portrayal of Captain Vidal. At the heart of this film though is the story. It's enchanting, thrilling, beautiful and horrific all rolled into one narrative that branches out into multiple stories, weaving in and out of both the reality of the brutal Spanish Civil War and the fantasy/horror of the labyrinth world Ofelia finds herself in. It's always a challenge, and a rather difficult one, to blend reality with fantasy. Del Toro though is one of the few filmmakers that can execute that style flawlessly. Just a note to those that do watch this. In spite of the film's elements of fantasy and wonderment, don't let the Faun and fairy creatures fool you. This is definitely an R rated film not meant for children. That being said, this is by far one of the best films - a top five even - of the past fifteen years.