Noodles' Top Ten Movies 5-1

Earlier I showed you guys the first five movies of my top ten movies countdown. Here's the top 5!

5. The Godfather (1972)
"I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse." ~Don Vito Corleone
    The Godfather is often called the greatest movie of all time, or one of. This is for a reason. The Godfather isn't a movie, it's an epic. It doesn't only illustrate a tense story about crime, but it tells of story of life and family. Though it's a three-hour movie, I could sit and watch it over and over again without getting bored. The narrative is intense and interesting, while the acting is probably some of the best ever caught on film. Additionally, it's one of the most quotable movies of all time. There's so much to this movie to love, if you can understand it all. If I had to put it simpler, it's like a more grown-up Forrest Gump that just happens be centered around crime and the mafia.

4. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
"Some day we might look back and decide that saving Private Ryan was the one decent thing we were able to pull out of this whole godawful, shitty mess." ~ Sergeant Michael Horvath
    For some time Saving Private Ryan was actually my favourite movie of all time. And for a reason. The first half hour of this film is enough to get it on this list. The first battle at Normandy is one of the greatest movie scenes of all time. It's the most intense and most accurate depictions of battle ever in a movie. Hell, sometimes if I'm bored I just turn on the movie and watch that half-hour. Not only that, but the rest of the movie is intense and emotional. Throughout the movie, you actually feel like your with the group of soldiers searching for Ryan. A gun battle will commence and you'll be at the edge of your seat hoping you don't get caught in the fire. A crucial character will die and you'll find yourself mourning the loss with the rest of the crew. Saving Private Ryan is one of the most emotionally engrossing movies of all time and, hands down, the best war film ever made.

3. The Dark Knight (2008)
"They need you right not, but when they don't, they'll cast you out. Like a leper. See, their morals, their 'code'... it's a bad joke, dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you. When the chips are down, these uh, these 'civilized people,' they'll eat each other up. See, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve." ~The Joker
     The best superhero movie of all time doesn't even include a superhero. There's nothing super or fantastic going on. In Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, he takes Gotham to a realistic and dark world, and that's what makes all three of his Batman movies the best superhero movies ever; this one in particular. The Dark Knight puts Batman up to the test but the show is stolen by my favourite character of all time: The Joker (whom the late Heath Ledger plays chillingly beyond perfection). This is most of the most entertaining movies ever, and it's a superhero movie driven more by dialogue and narrative than by action. Still, there is a lot of action present and it's all awesome. There's so much that goes on in this movie and it all connects so cohesively. The acting is great. The action is great. The story is great. The Dark Knight is the movie we deserve AND the one we need.

2. Inception (2010)
"An idea is like a viruis. Resilient. Highly contagious. And even the smallest seed of an idea can grow. It can grow to define or destroy you" ~Dom Cobb
    Inception has got to be one of the most interesting movies of all time. After watching it once, you'll keep thinking about it and have to watch it maybe 28 more times until you're satisfied with your thought on it. Inception is ultimately a crime film but it takes place in dreams where anything is possible. Just the idea of this movie is one of the coolest things ever: going into people's minds while they're dreaming. This movie is just packed with mind-blowing information, action, suspense, intensity, and awesome stuff happening. Inception is so deep yet so clear and gets you so enticed with it. It'll really get into your head and you won't regret it.

1. The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003)
Sam: But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.

Frodo: What are we holding onto, Sam?

Sam: That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo... and it's worth fighting for.
Yes, the whole trilogy. Lord of the Rings is one big story. Each movie is perfect and altogether it creates the pinnacle movie experience. The Lord of the Rings is a tale of hope, friendship, honor, integrity, and so much more. There's nothing about these films not to like. The story is THE greatest story every written. The characters evolve with the story and the characters are introduced, developed, and acted so well. Each  character has their own path, in a way, and each path has its own circumstances down the road. Down the road, there are some of the most intense action sequences and battles ever. The battles at Helm's Deep and Minas Tirith are action-packed, intense, and emotional. This trilogy is filled with emotion as one of the things that holds this together is the aspect of friendship. That's what drives the characters forward: friendship and hope. The Lord of the Rings is filled with inspiring words and characters, as well as some awesome creatures and humorous moments. It's really a lovable experience and something you can't live a full life without seeing.

Star Trek Into Darkness - Trailer

        I couldn't tell you how stoked I am for this movie. I personally loved J.J. Abrams's first Star Trek movie a couple years ago. It introduced the characters and the world well; it was entertaining and extremely likable; it told an engrossing and memorable story; everything about it was great except for one thing: the villain. I love a good villain and Eric Bana was only okay as the villain in the first movie. He didn't really define himself though. But in this movie, we have Benedict Cumberbatch (one of the best actors out there today) as the villain and he looks intimidating as hell. Even though the trailers show so much of him, his character is still such a mystery and I love that. Not only does Cumberbatch's character seem awesome, but a lot of the scenes in the trailer look awesome; particularly when the Enterprise crashed into the water. I really do hope that the story and the villain are as ambitious as the trailer sets them out to be. This is definitely one of my top 5 anticipated movies of 2013.

Olympus Has Fallen - Noodles Review

7 out of 10 Noodles

       I went into this movie with quite low expectations. Boy, was I surprised. Olympus Has Fallen is more than just a weekend popcorn flick; it's this generation's Die Hard (though not nearly as awesome as Die Hard). In a nutshell, this movie is the story of a former presidential guard who is the only survivor when the White House is captured by North Korean terrorists. Yes, North Koreans. In the 80's, it was Russians. In the early 2000's it was the Middle Easterners. Nowadays, it's the North Koreans who're the bad guys in all our movies.
         Anyway, it's all cliche in that the terrorists take the president and hold him for ransom from the government and, additionally, request codes for nuclear missiles. It's not like we haven't seen this before. But Olympus Has Fallen is actually a movie where this all works. Is it believable? Not really. Is it awesome and entertaining? Hell yeah! This movie is just filled with action and intensity, with a badass who saves the day. Gerard Butler's character is a very likable guy, cracking jokes and saving the day, but he also means business. Butler played him greatly and I couldn't help but compare him to John McClane while watching the movie (again, still not as awesome as John McClane but still pretty darn awesome). Aaron Eckhart, as well, was great in the movie. And there's Morgan Freeman; but we know what to expect from Morgan Freeman.
       Not only was the acting good and action entertaining, but the movie, itself, was very appreciative. Olympus Has Fallen is a movie that knows what it is. It's not trying to be an Oscar-winner, it's not trying to be a money maker (otherwise they would've made it PG-13). No, this movie is just straight-up what it is. Does that make sense? Probably not, but this movie knew what it was and it did what it aimed to do well: be entertaining and awesome.
7 out of 10 Noodles.

Oz: The Great & Powerful - Noodles Review

Oz: The Great & Powerful

5.5 out of 10 Noodles

       I'm writing this review now before I forget what to say and I think that already says a lot about this movie. Oz: The Great & Powerful is the alleged prequel to '30s classic The Wizard of Oz. Though, Warner Bros. owns the rights to the latter, with Disney being responsible for the former. Essentially, Oscar, or Oz as he is known by, is a conman magician in a traveling circus. The movie begins in black and white 4:3 format while Oz is in Kansas, until a tornado comes around (wow, Kansas must have a lot of tornadoes that take you to other worlds) and he lands in the Land of Oz (weird; his name is Oz and the world is called Oz). Now, Oz, the man, is tasked with becoming the savior of Oz, the land. Though, he's not exactly up to the task as he's only a small-time magician, in contrast to telling everyone he's a powerful wizard.
      As far the acting goes, James Franco never lets us down and his reputation remains that way with his performance as Oz. It's interesting to see his evolution as a person, growing from a selfish conman to a brave intellectual. Then there's the three witches. The only witch that I, personally, appreciated was that of Gelinda the Good, who was played as an overly kind yet sly woman, which is how she should be. The other two witches are either overacted or laughable. Additionally (spoiler alert but you should have already expected this), the Wicked Witch of the West is a huge let down in this movie. 'Nough said about her. My favourite character in the movie is Finley, the flying monkey who is a companion to Oz.
     Oz: The Great & Powerful is a CGI fest. Everything in the movie is extremely spontaneous, but that takes a little bit away from the joy of coming back to Oz. On the contrary, it makes from the stunning visuals. The movie is very colourful and full of fascinating things to look at. But special effects aren't what make a movie stellar. The writing and direction of this movie are somewhat disappointing. It's obvious to see where the director is trying to go with this movie, attempting to make it feel as nostalgic to the original as possible, but it just doesn't work. Additionally, the plot is extremely predictable and quite forgettable.
    Well, let's wrap this up. The goods of Oz: The Great & Powerful are the acting of the title character, the sometimes funny scenes (especially that flying monkey), and the majestic visuals. Unfortunately, the downs of this movie are just as much: the directing is poor, two out of the three witches aren't acted or written well, and the movie is very forgettable. Oz: The Great & Powerful is definitely entertaining for at times, but it feels stretched at others. While it's a good movie to watch with the family, it's definitely forgettable. 5.5 out of 10 Noodles: I probably won't remember this by next month.

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Noodles' Top Ten Movies 10-6

Top Ten Movies - Noodles Reviews

10. Silence of the Lambs (1991)
"A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some beans and a nice chianti."
-Hannibal Lecter
One of the most suspenseful movies of all time: Silence of the Lambs is a stellar film. Winner of the Big 5 Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Writing, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress), Silence of the Lambs is both calm and intense. Anthony Hopkins's Hannibal Lecter is played to perfection (and is personally one of my favourite movie characters of all time) and every scene he's in will truly make you tingle. Then there's Buffalo Bill, whose character truly make you believe that he is a psychopath. Great characters. Top-notch writing. Epic suspense. Watch this movie.


9. Apocalypse Now (1979)
"I love the smell of napalm in the morning"
-Lt. Colonel Kilgore
This is a war classic and one of the most thought-provoking war movies ever made. Apocalypse Now truly set the bar for war movies to come, and for a reason. The action and effects were ahead of its time and the characters (thanks to the performances by the legends Robert Duvall, Martin Sheen, and Marlon Brando) are fleshed out and emotional. If you don't like war movies, this movie will most likely get you into them if you can truly appreciate film.

8. Se7en (1995)
"Ernest Hemingway once wrote, 'The world is a fine place, and worth fighting for.' I agree with the second part" -Detective William Somerset
Never has there been such a unique movie about serial killers. In this film, David Fincher (who later directed Fight Club and The Social Network) shows how chilling and unique his direction can be. This movie is envious (see what I did there) and I have always had a lust for it (see what I did there!). Se7en is a movie that'll keep you on your toes. The killer (who kills his victims according to the Seven Deadly scenes) is unknown until the end of the movie and his monologues are enough to make him one of the greatest villains of all time.

7. Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back (1983)
"No! Try not! Do or do not. There is no try."
-Yoda
I'm personally a huge Star Wars fan, but Empire Strikes Back really leaps over the incredibly high bar that the original had set. Empire Strikes Back is the darkest and also the most humanizing. From the exciting Battle of Hoth to Yoda's guidance of the force, Episode 5 does everything perfectly; not to mention special effects way ahead of its time. Not only is the action and story great, but the emotion is what really makes this the best Star Wars movie and one of the greatest movies of all time, along with having one of the biggest twists in film history.

6. Forrest Gump (1994)
"Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates; ya never know what you're gonna get."
-Forrest Gump

Few movies can perfectly merge the elements comedy, drama, emotion, real life, and spontaneity. Forrest Gump does this all with ease, telling the story of the life of a simple man with the most fantastic life. This movie brings some of the greatest acting and character development ever, along with some hilariously quirky instances. There are so many things that go on in this movie; of which all are memorable. As one of the most heartfelt yet interestingly funny movies ever made, Forrest Gump a movie everyone should see and enjoy.

Zero Dark Thirty - Noodles Review

Zero Dark Thirty - Noodles Review

8.5 out of 10 noodles

Here we have it: the long awaited, best picture contender of the hunt for Osama Bin Laden: Zero Dark Thirty. Though it didn't win Best Picture, it's a movie worth seeing. Zero Dark Thirty is directed by the Academy Award-winning director Kathryn Bigelow, known for her 2010 best picture-winning The Hurt Locker. It's the true story about the pursuit of the infamous brain behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Right off the bat, Zero Dark Thirty is a very intelligent movie. It's not just another war movie about the troops running around with their guns (although there are very thrilling sequences of this). The heart of Zero Dark Thirty is really with the people behind, tracking the paper trail of the bad guys. Jessica Chastain's character, Maya, leads the way. This film is really her show. There are other characters that come in and out, but Chastain is the center of this movie. Zero Dark Thirty  spans quite a few years, starting in 2003, all the way to Bin Laden's death in 2011. It's interesting seeing Chastain's character grow up from a rookie at the start of the movie to a veteran near the end. This type of character development is almost as stellar as that of Tom Hanks's Forrest Gump. The development of Maya is one of the most important components of the film. In watching it, the viewer is truly on board with her, hunting down Bin Laden with her. However, the amazing development of Maya overshadows the other characters in Zero Dark Thirty, making the majority of them much less important.  
What was really lovable about Zero Dark Thirty was that it really pushed the limits. There were a lot of scenes that were disturbing to watch and unapologetic, but that's the beauty of it because these things really did happen and it makes the film that much more realistic and engrossing. At times in the movie, you really feel like your in the situation with the characters. The realism doesn't stop there; it continually transcends itself for the two-and-a-half hour run time. Unfortunately, the realism of it also includes some boring and long scenes of office work and phone calls. Though, this adds more to feel that you are there with Maya on the hunt. You feel how she feels: the frustration, the boredom, and the apathy at some points.
On the contrary to the long and drawn out scenes of the office, the film contains a ton of intense and suspenseful scenes; particularly the last half hour. Before watching this movie, I was informed that the last 30 minutes of Zero Dark Thirty would be one of the most thrilling movie-going experiences ever. It really doesn't disappoint. Even knowing how the movie will end, it keeps you on the edge of your seat.

All in all, Zero Dark Thirty, so far, the best film of 2013. It's acted phenomenally (especially by Jessica Chastain who was my pick for the Oscar for Best Actress); it's gripping to the edge; it's strong, realistic, and unapologetic. Zero Dark Thirty is a movie recommended to anyone who can handle the intensity of it and will, without a doubt. Zero Dark Thirty will definitely be a memorable experience and will always be one of the greatest depictions of current events in cinema. 8.5 out of 10 Noodles.