No. 13 Rushmore

The movie Rushmore is one of the strangest films I've ever seen. The main character Max Ficsher played by Jason Schwartzman is out of his mind. Somehow he manages to be the leader of many extracurricular activities, yet can't seem to manage a class. I can relate to him slightly because in the movie he uses his political sense's and his gifted speech as a way to get whatever he wants. I'm not saying i personally do this but if I ever needed to I'm pretty sure I can talk my way out of most things. Or in things for that matter. While reading a book in the library Max comes across a moving quote. This is the takeoff for the movie because he is introduced to a beautiful widowed teacher Miss Cross through the quote. Another character that soon comes into play is Mr.Blume. He is a smart steel tycoon with two children attending the same school as Max. Although they are his children i can't help but get the sense that he's not very fond of them. The way to movie flows is pretty rad. I can say i thoroughly enjoyed it because it seemed quiet effortless the way the characters developed and interacted with each other. The main characters are all quiet different but very similar in a certain aspect. Max Fischer is a gnarly guy. Him and Mr. Blume predictably vie for Miss Cross's attention one upping each other. I half expected the movie to take a turn for the worse after there was little to no character development left. Most movies fall flat after we find out about main characters and such, but this movie is different in more ways then one. I'd give it a 4 out of 5.

11. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

I enjoy watching a movie and being able to forget about whats going on around me. The visual effects of turning Brad Pitt into a 80 year old seven year old is unreal. It was fantastic. I love a movie that spans a long period of time during the film. I wanna know more about how this movie was made because its like nothing I've ever seen before. The premise of the movie is a man that is born a baby but, with complications. He's born with wrinkles, cataracts, arthritis, and other physical disabilities. In the most literal sense he was born an old man baby! The idea is fresh and very unique. My favorite thing about Benjamin is that he's open to doing new things. That's what I base my whole life on. Ben's story is one of the best, I'm stoked I got to watch this movie. Prior to watching this I had a very vague idea about the move and was genuinely surprised about how intense and dramatic it was. It blew me away. the setting was perfect and the beginning of the movie leads you right into it. Its a perfect fit. I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Walske about not watching this movie if your looking for a lighthearted action flick. The connection between Daisy ( Ben's love interest) and Ben is a believable one. The journey they go on leads them into different worlds, but some how they manage to be brought back to each other. I'm mostly impressed with the storyline and original characters in the film. The beginning build up seems like it might be slightly out of place but other than that I have no objections with the movie. I know I could not have done any better! I will be glad to recommend this movie to everyone i know. I give it four out of five stars!

Top Gun

Top Gun has to be one of the worst movies i have ever seen. I am very disappointed with this movie choice. It was a struggle just to finish the movie without closing my eyes in pain. It really wasn't all that bad . It did have some very impressive ariel stunts with the jets. I can appreciate the fact that i didn't feel sick and still had a relative idea where the jets might have been in the sky. Being able to film that correctly must have been al ot of work and a lot of time as probably put into that aspect of the film. However if the storyline and dialogue had a little more effort this movie might have been bearable. Tom Cruise should be embarrassed to say he was in this movie. I will never rec commend this movie to anyone unless they are a jet freak or are corny and lame. The worst scene of all was the volleyball scene. Completely unnecessary and so stupid i can't even put it into words. I honestly have no idea why that scene was in the movie. It bore no relevance to the plot or help the story move along. It was just a bunch of sweaty guys diving for balls. The dog fights in the air are great and the cinematic climaxes are awesome but as soon as everything touches the ground the movie is over. The acting from anyone in this movie is horrible. I'm no actor and i feel more confident about playing ice man than val ilmer. What's that guys deal? Is he Maverik's enemy or not? I also suppose everyone in the armed forces has a nickname. As a conclusion save yourself some time and keep far away from the eighties and this movie. The only thing i can say that I'm happy about is that i got to watch it at school, so my time wasn't necessarily wasted!

No.10 Raiders of the Lost Ark

Growing up I had always imagined myself to be Indiana Jones. I wanted to be him so badly at School i wold say Indiana was my name Ha! Little did i know that carrying a whip and a cap gun at school could get you in some serious trouble. Harrison Ford is The main actor in this film and plays the part of Doctor Jones perfectly. Fight scene upon fight scene make this movie an adventure masterpiece. Insane car chases and most notably great settings and props. I can't even imagine what it must have been like to see this movie being filmed in person. I wouldn't know whether to run the other way or help someone from blowing up inside a Nazi jet plane or save Dr. Jones from a horrible fate. But as always he comes out clean, mostly. Indiana's love interest in this movie is a tough drinking woman named Marion. Marion is played by Karen Allen. I give her some respect for actually keeping up with Harrison Ford in this movie. Marion isn't sure whether she loves or hates Jones.  How the plot stayed together is beyond me. But it worked, the action scenes are awesome. The whole movie has a little bit of a humorous tone to it. The classic example of this is bringing a knife to a gun show.Never make the mistake of crossing paths with Indiana Jones because you wont win. Submarines, jungles , Tibetan mountains, secret underwater hideouts, and an isolated island are just a few locations that Jones must climb through to save the day and get the girl. This movie will do more than entertain you and you will not be disappointed.

No 9. Stand By Me

Stand by Me was directed by Rob Reiner in 1986. It's based off of Stephen Kings's novella "The body". The story takes place in a small town in Oregon 1959. It tells the story of a group of boys leaving their childhood behind them. The Movie is awesome i thoroughly enjoyed it. The whole movie felt very natural and the friendship bonds between all the friends made it that much better. My favorite thing about movies is that they feel real. The settings and actors in this movie are perfect. The main character Gordy is a young kid figuring himself out. Most that view this movie can relate to this because when we were 12 things were much simpler and free. If i had seen this movie when i was 12 i probably wouldn't get the same feeling i did now. Gordy and Chris are best friends and the feeling that they genuinely care about each other is evident throughout the film. The acting is incredible for such a young cast and for them to portray the feelings and convince the audience that this is actually going on is extraordinary. The slight differences in the boys lives bring them ever closer. From beatings physically and emotionally the boys are all in the same boat hen it comes to family life. From an institutionalised father to a drunkard with a fist these boys are stronger than most. On the verge of there final childhood summer ending the boys set off on an adventure and take one step closer to growing up. With the onset of junior high the boys are worried about their friendships staying together and if they are gonna be able to deal with being apart and leading their own lives. This movie should be a staple for every child to watch and take a lesson from. four out of five stars

No. 8 Finding Nemo

Finding Nemo is my personal favorite movie from Pixar yet. It has all the qualities that you'd expect a Pixar film to have. Funny and intriguing story line but more importantly it is visually stunning. When watching this movie I get the urge to sit as close as possible to the screen to let the picture fill my eyes so I see nothing other than the movie. the colors are so vibrant and captivating. I enjoy watching this movie anytime. I have seen this movie more times than I can count, and it hasn't grown stale yet. The premise of the movie is abut a clown fish who is a frantically worried single dad and his son Nemo who suffers from a small fin and a big appetite for curiosity. Most of the movie takes place under the surface of the ocean and in an office fish tank. The thing with this film is that its comedy spans quiet the age gap and it is still enjoyable on all levels. The movie begins with a view into Marlin's (Nemo's father) past. We learn from this clip that Marlin was once married with many children on the way, but somehow all that is gone within the first ten minutes of viewing the movie. Thus creating an insecure paranoid frantic father figure named Marlin. Nemo on the other hand is a little more brave and curious of his surroundings. Marlin doesn't know how to have fun and his adventure portrayed in this film has the effect of loosening him up and relearning how to have fun and still be safe. My personal favorite quality that this movie possess is that Marlin is a single dad and finally single dads are given a shot at the limelight.  While watching this movie it reminds me of my dad when i was in elementary school, and how he would go to work after dropping me off at school. The father aspect of Marlin shows us that he does care a lot and is only doing his best. When he feels like he has lost everything he still pushes forward and teaches a lesson about perseverance. This movie is a great film for anyone under the age of ten and anyone over the age of 25, a superb job was done on the animation and an equally good job was done on the story line. An enjoyable film.

No.7 IronMAn

Watching Iron Man in class was the first chance I had to watch the movie. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing! Iron Man would not have been possible if it weren't for the great cast and acting. Robert Downey Jr. played Tony Stark the films main character. It seems as if the role was modeled specifically for Downey as it seemed so natural for him to take on the persona of Tony Stark. The attitude of Tony Stark is so interesting and entertaining to watch. His actions are unexpected and original. Tony Stark is unlike any other superhero in more ways than one. He's irreverent, crude at times, wise-cracking, and covers up deep emotional scars with a dry and insensitive tone. Tony live in a huge up scale mansion in Malibu. His personal secretary and best friend Pepper Potts is played by Gwyneth Paltrow and Obidiah Stane Stark's business partner who isn't portrayed as a villain but has the qualities is played by Jeff Bridges. The only other movie i have seen with Jeff Bridges is The Big Lebowski and I loved his character in that movie so it was strange to see him take on such a menacing role. The film is carried on the relationship between these three characters. The feeling that these relationships will be around till the end of the movie are evident in the film. Potts and Stark experience the classic scene of just friends becoming potential lovers, among other scenes of romance. The epic fight scenes and massive explosions make up a large portion of the entertainment in the movie. The special effects seem so real but the fight scenes and other parts are fantastic and seems plausible and goes with the flow of the movie quiet well. All in all i thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to everyone who enjoys action and adventure.

6. Napoleon Dynamite

Napoleon Dynamite is Director Jared Hess's first major motion picture. He directed the film with his wife Jerusha Hess. To me the film had on awkward and obscure feeling. The essence and time of the late 80's early 90's kind of weirds me out. The movie is based in a rural Idaho town. Very bland and boring. I almost feel sorry for Napoleon before the first ten minutes. The movie to me feels like I'm laughing at someone that's disabled. It's an uncomfortable feeling, I believe the humor of the movie was laughing at comedy that " the movie pretends it doesn't know about." Life for Napoleon is a depressing, lonely, and simple minded one. I can't help but pity him. Thankfully Napoleon is graced with a friend named Pedro. They quickly become pals and soon find themselves in a painfully awkward romance triangle.The love interest is an equally awkward person named Deb. I am very surprised people took this movie seriously and enjoyed it. The thing that puzzles me the most is that the main character isn't portrayed in a likable way at all. I had no feeling of connection between the films main character. It was an utter freak show and I hope I never need to watch it again. The publicity this movie got disturbs me. I fear the worst for our mind as one in America. Finding humor in this film and giving it the amount of fame it received is appalling and ludicrous. When ridiculed and tortured in school Napoleon doesn't stick up for himself and instead acts passively towards and  invites it in a way by not putting a stop to it. I think when watching this movie don't take it so seriously it is just a movie and who cares if its an hour and a half waisted of your life. In all seriousness I might have found enjoyment in the movie if it hadn't been ruined with publicity and me hearing half the quotes recited daily in the school halls. I give the movie two out of five stars. Congrats on having people laugh at someone who doesn't know any better. 

Yes Man

Over break I watched Yes Man starring Jim Carey who plays "Carl". I was genuinely surprised on how funny the movie was and how much of  a bummer the plot was. Although the movie isn't the freshest concept if you remember Jim has already done a movie very similar to this called Liar Liar. Jim keeps it alive when his character isn't locked into a yes and then consequence situation. The character Carl works as a bank loan executive who has never said yes to a thing in his life. After being dumped three years ago Carl just cant get out of feeling depressed everyday. His friends are worried about him and are fed up with being bushed off constantly. This movie gives you a good feeling when watching it because of its innocent plot and fun dialogue. Jim Carey is an awesome actor and one of the only reasons why this movie was as funny as it was. The connection between Zooey and Carl is a little awkward due to the evident age difference. I'm not trying to put Jim Carey down, but an 18 year age gap is pushing it a little in my eyes. I didn't feel a real connection in some parts but its a believable relationship. Carl's boss is my personal favorite character in the movie because he's such a dork.  Near the end of the movie the comedy gets old and the transition from comedy to romance is very lame. It was the worst turn for the movie. I suppose it couldn't go anywhere else but it wasn't done well. The script leads to overplayed gags and jokes. Very predictable at times. This wasn't as much of a success as it could have been but it was an enjoyable message and trying to be more open to things is the message I came away with.

5.The Matrix

I give  The Matrix three out of five stars. The only thing in my honest opinion holding the movie back is lack of answers and obscene action sequences. the fighting is to fantastic and can't be taken seriously.  Since i have already seen this movie I went into it with the same expectations i had when i first saw it. I'm going to wowed by awesome special effects and be entertained for an hour or two. This expectation is spot on. I wouldn't see this movie if i was looking to leave with a good feeling or to be taught a lesson. I came away with a little bit of a cheesy feeling. Some of the acting and cut scenes are a little humorous. Near the end of the movie a prime example of the ludicrous scenarios is when Trinity kisses Neo and he comes back from the dead. Come on, that's just too much to swallow. Then again it is a movie and that's the reason we see movies. I think the movie could have vast improvements if a re-make could be made today. The era of 1999 is a weird time for movies i think. I cant really wrap my head around how big the cell phones were only ten years ago.  The movie seems like it has a lot of potential, and could in fact be an awesome film. I don't doubt that it was groundbreaking back in the day. I remember The Matrix coming out and how much of a big deal it was. But i do believe that it has much more potential with today's technology. I liked the whole premise of the movie, the thought of our world being the dream world is a scary one. I think that's the reason why this movie is such a special one to film today. Neo's real world seems a little to space odyssey to me. I don't see it as a realistic society, i suppose that's what makes it a movie. I would also like more information the the "sentinels'  because i think the "real" world might be a interesting direction for the sequel. I have yet to see the numerous sequels but I might guess that the "real" world is probably looked at more in depth. Keanu Reeves is the star of the movie playing lead roe of Neo. I think this character fits Keanu perfectly because of his robotic acting style is very similar to Neo's computerized personality. 

4. FAVES

My favorite Genre is based on what keeps me entertained. I really enjoy watching comedies and some horror type stuff. My all time favorite though is a genre type that isn't even in theaters. Skate videos are my favorite type of movie. They aren't always the best choice for when someone asks to watch a movie because they lack plot, depth, and emotion. I like watching them because it motivates me to get outside and do something. 

Top Tre-

1. Baker 3 : 

An awesome groundbreaking film. This movie let in the whole new flip in flip out grind variations.  Andrew Reynolds makes his big comeback in this video. His part is one of my personal favorites. I've seen this movie more times than I can count. The whole Baker team revolutionized skating with this video. 

2. Black Label Blackout:

The soundtrack can really give you a good idea on how out of control the Black Label skate team must be. I love the music on every video part in this movie. My favorite skater, Jason Adams, is a star in this movie. His fluid style makes me want to skate all day!

3. That's Life , Foundation Flick :

That's Life was the first skate video I actually bought when I first started to skate. I based skating off of what I saw in this video. Without it I would surely be a different person today. My then favorite skater, Corey Duffel, made his big debut in this video. Another favorite is Gareth Stehr. In his video part he actually broke a record of ollieing a 23 stair. Which has been broken numerous times to this date.

3. REVIEW

I Love You, Man -

 This is one of the best comedies I've seen in a long time. Viewing the first part of the movie had me expecting a locked formula of the main character Peter ( Paul Rudd ) going on man dates to find his perfect match. Almost unexpectedly the movie takes a turn for the better when Sydney Fife (Jason Segel ) Walks into one of Peter's open house's for his real estate company. Eating free food and on the lookout for "cougars" Sydney becomes an audience favorite and Peter's buddy before he knows it. Peter is the least bit cool, very awkward and just cant find the right words or the right moment for that matter.  Clueless is the best descriptive word in Peter's Case. Although he does well with the opposite sex, Peter can't for the life of him find a male companion. The movie is loosely based around this problem Peter suffers from. Sydney isn't looking for a best friend. It wasn't something he may have expected but his fun loving devil may care attitude helps make this one of my favorite movie characters of all time. He is extremely comfortable with himself, Maybe a little too much HA! He lives in a sea side cottage so to speak in Venice. We never get to see inside his house but we do see his "Man Cave" Sdney took Peter there before inviting him inside. The man cave is Sydney's getaway, covered with posters and many other trinkets, make this place the ideal area for a friendship to flower.  The reason Peter is on the lookout for a BF is he needs a Best Man for his wedding, which is coming ever closer. Another fun character is Peter's wife Zooey ( Rashida Jones) Who is beautiful as she is smart. She never quite got why Peter hasn't had a best friend but she supports him all the way. A great quality about this film is the bond Peter and Zooey have is very much sincere and real. A downfall of many comedies is this flaw. Without the sincerity of the relationship I believe the story would not be able to move forward as it did. 

 The movie is exceptional. There is a bit of physical humor but it flows naturally. The gross out shock humor is personally not that bad, it adds a lot of humor to the movie and gives a good insight on the characters. This movie made me feel good coming out of the theater so I recommend it wholeheartedly. 

2. What we should watch

Apocalypse Now is one of the best films of all time. It gives great insight into war, and mental stability. This movie has great outer beauty and intense acting. Filmed on jungle sights in the Philippines for a believable Vietnam appearance. Most movies have great acting or stunning visual beauty but lack message and plot. Leaving you with a dull but very entertained feeling because the movie didn't make you think. This film however, has awesome scenes, great quotes and great acting. More importantly Apocalypse Now has great inner quality. The character colonel Kurtz is said to be loosely based off of a famous Paramilitary officer in the CIA, Tony Poe. Tony was known for his fierce combat techniques and that he kept human ears for a record of the enemies he had killed. He then sent these ears to CIA headquarters as proof that he was fulfilling his duties deep in Loas territory. During the production of the film there were many set backs including a typhoon Olga that ravished expensive sets. With a near suicidal director and actor Martin Sheen suffering a mild heart attack while filming, this movie was not the easiest finish. The movie has a very ominous tone to it, the opening scene includes a slow moving opening sequence with great cinematography and hallucinatory images giving you the real feel of madness in the Vietnam War. The insanity of many people in the war can be attributed to the strange weather and other unsanitary conditions that soldiers were forced to live in. Since the movies release in 1979 producer and director Coppola has come out with a new re-mastered version entitled Apocalypse Now Redux. Meaning Returned from exile or battle.Since this film is based off of real events and things that actually have happened I think it can be of great importance to our young developing minds.

1. My Top Ten

1. Resevoir Dogs:

    Original characters, and interesting story line. A lot of violence. My favorite Character removes a mans ear with a shaving blade and then proceeds to douse him in gasoline.

2. Blackout:

   Good music , and even better skating. Most of the footage in this video is of my favorite skaters. 

3. Toy Story: 

   Colorful and imaginative. First movie I've ever seen in a theater

4. The Big Lebowksi: 

    Good characters, funny story line. The dude is permanently in a sticky situation.

5. Deliverance:

  Intense, and a little frightening. The inbred banjo boy is a very nice touch to the whole mountain crazed village people's society.

6. American Beauty:

    I like that the main character suffers from a midlife crisis. The main character (Kevin Spacey) tries to break the normalcy in his life.

7. Marathon Man:

   I like how the main character is caught in the middle 0f an international conspiracy

8.I Love you, Man

   Original plot and story line. Many likable characters. Very refreshing and different than all of the comedies that have come out in the past year. 

9.Apocalypse Now

   Intensely captivating. Has a fair share of  violence. Colonel Kurtz insane mental state intrigues me.  I've always wondered what it would be like to be insane, so watching movies of insane people gives me a slight insight into the mind of a madman.

10. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

    Very abstract and different than most movies made. Awkward characters and an insane storyline make this one of my favorite movies.