AGXStarseed
Well-Known Member
Have you ever watched a film and think that everyone should see it at least once? If so, here's a thread for you to put down the films you think deserve at least one watch.
Put down whatever reasons you like for suggesting it and have a look through to see what other people think is worthy of at least one viewing.
I'll put down a few which I think are worth a look.
1. The Original Star Wars Trilogy: Might as well start off with something we've all heard of - an epic fantasy drama switched to a sci-fi setting with a group of heroes trying to defeat the evil Empire - with the first three Star Wars movies ever made arguably still the best. That said, I'm pretty sure the majority of us have encountered at least one person who has 'never seen Star Wars'. I myself met one girl in college who had never seen it and apparently actress/comedian Catherine Tate has never seen them either ( 12:08 onwards ).
In this case, I think the original films (A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi) are worth at least one look, even if you're not a big sci-fi fan.
2. The Secret of NIMH: Based on the 1971 children's book "Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien, this animated movie by Don Bluth (An American Tail, The Land Before Time, All Dogs Go To Heaven, etc.) is his first and arguably strongest work yet it often flies under the radar in comparison to his other films.
The movie is about a field mouse named Mrs Brisby (name changed due to trademark concerns with Frisbee discs), whose home is under threat from a farmer's plow but cannot move as her youngest son Timmy has pneumonia - with the cold air likely to kill him if he goes outside. Seeking help, she is directed to go to the Rats of NIMH - a group of rats who, due to scientific experiments, have become potentially more intelligent than humans and have both formed their own society and developed unique abilities. With them, she not only discovers that they have the means to save her home and family, but also finds out the fate of her late husband Johnathan - whom the Rats mysteriously hold in high regard.
The movie differs from the book in a few ways, most notably placing more of an emphasis on Mrs Brisby and having magic (which wasn't present in the book), but it's still a great film that - despite been made for children - treats its audience like adults.
Just make sure you stay away from the sequel - that was terrible.
3. The Prince of Egypt: Another animated movie that, while popular when it first came out, isn't really talked about that much nowadays. I should also point out that I don't watch this movie for the religious elements (my belief is a general spiritual one rather than been part of a religion) but rather just because I think it's a good movie.
The film - based on the Book of Exodus story about Moses (an individual who appears in Christianity, Judaism and Islam) - takes some historical and artistic license with the story but still tries to remain true to the story's values, integrity and essence, depicting Moses as the son of a Hebrew slave who is adopted by the Pharaoh Seti and becomes the brother of Rameses II; both brothers unaware of Moses' true heritage. However, Moses discovers that he is a Hebrew and eventually is appointed by God to save his people; leading him to ultimately and regretfully face his brother Rameses and unleash the various plagues on Egypt when Rameses stubbornly refuses to let the Hebrews go as he states he will not be the 'weak link' that his father once called him.
The idea of Moses and Rameses been brothers who are forced by fate to battle each other (even though you can see that both just want to stop fighting and be a family again) is a great idea and the movie tries its best to really create the biblical size and scope of its source material. Some people might be put off by the songs and/or the celebrity voices, but I think the movie is at least worth one look.
4. Amazing Grace: A historical story from my part of the world which I've mentioned a couple of times in other posts.
The film details the story of William Wilberforce, an English Politician who lived between 1759 and 1833 and who became one of the leaders of a political movement that sought to abolish slavery throughout the British Empire (a movement they eventually succeeded in). The film takes some liberties with history but I still think it works, while the film's title is named after the famous song - which funnily enough was written by John Newton; a former slave-trader turned Anglican clergyman and abolitionist who, in the movie and in real life, became a mentor and father-figure to William Wilberforce during his battle to end slavery.
5. Joyeux Noël: A Christmas film based on a true story that sadly hasn't got a lot of coverage, but I feel certainly deserves it. The film is set in France in 1914 during WWI, with Scottish, French and German troops all fighting in the trenches. On the night of Christmas Eve, however, they all agree to a ceasefire - with the men leaving their trenches, sharing pictures of their loved ones and even holding a mass. However, this results in problems later as the opposing troops continue meeting after the ceasefire, with it becoming more difficult for them to do their duty as they become friends with the people they previously called enemies.
It's a touching story and worth a watch in my opinion.
6. Threads: Ending on a sour note here but it's definitely warranted with this controversial movie, which easily fits the "watch-once-then-never-again" archetype.
Set in Sheffield in 1984, this BBC television movie focuses on two families and how their lives are changed as hostilities between the United States and the Soviet Union heat up dramatically; resulting in nuclear war. The film not only explores the initial aftermath when Sheffield and the rest of the UK is hit, but goes as far as 13 years onward to show the effects on society - explaining the short and long term effects on medical treatment, agriculture, food/water supplies, education, crime and on the psychology of those who try to survive after the bomb drops.
In comparison to another TV movie about Nuclear War which came out a year earlier - ABC's The Day After - Threads is often considered the superior of the two, with its initial broadcast marked by introductions in both the UK and the USA warning viewers about its contents.
Threads is a well-made yet horrible film that delves into a subject matter than many of us never want to experience. Despite this, I still recommend you try to watch it once, if never again afterwards.
So, do you guys have any films you think are worth at least one watch?
Put down whatever reasons you like for suggesting it and have a look through to see what other people think is worthy of at least one viewing.
I'll put down a few which I think are worth a look.
1. The Original Star Wars Trilogy: Might as well start off with something we've all heard of - an epic fantasy drama switched to a sci-fi setting with a group of heroes trying to defeat the evil Empire - with the first three Star Wars movies ever made arguably still the best. That said, I'm pretty sure the majority of us have encountered at least one person who has 'never seen Star Wars'. I myself met one girl in college who had never seen it and apparently actress/comedian Catherine Tate has never seen them either ( 12:08 onwards ).
In this case, I think the original films (A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi) are worth at least one look, even if you're not a big sci-fi fan.
2. The Secret of NIMH: Based on the 1971 children's book "Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien, this animated movie by Don Bluth (An American Tail, The Land Before Time, All Dogs Go To Heaven, etc.) is his first and arguably strongest work yet it often flies under the radar in comparison to his other films.
The movie is about a field mouse named Mrs Brisby (name changed due to trademark concerns with Frisbee discs), whose home is under threat from a farmer's plow but cannot move as her youngest son Timmy has pneumonia - with the cold air likely to kill him if he goes outside. Seeking help, she is directed to go to the Rats of NIMH - a group of rats who, due to scientific experiments, have become potentially more intelligent than humans and have both formed their own society and developed unique abilities. With them, she not only discovers that they have the means to save her home and family, but also finds out the fate of her late husband Johnathan - whom the Rats mysteriously hold in high regard.
The movie differs from the book in a few ways, most notably placing more of an emphasis on Mrs Brisby and having magic (which wasn't present in the book), but it's still a great film that - despite been made for children - treats its audience like adults.
Just make sure you stay away from the sequel - that was terrible.
3. The Prince of Egypt: Another animated movie that, while popular when it first came out, isn't really talked about that much nowadays. I should also point out that I don't watch this movie for the religious elements (my belief is a general spiritual one rather than been part of a religion) but rather just because I think it's a good movie.
The film - based on the Book of Exodus story about Moses (an individual who appears in Christianity, Judaism and Islam) - takes some historical and artistic license with the story but still tries to remain true to the story's values, integrity and essence, depicting Moses as the son of a Hebrew slave who is adopted by the Pharaoh Seti and becomes the brother of Rameses II; both brothers unaware of Moses' true heritage. However, Moses discovers that he is a Hebrew and eventually is appointed by God to save his people; leading him to ultimately and regretfully face his brother Rameses and unleash the various plagues on Egypt when Rameses stubbornly refuses to let the Hebrews go as he states he will not be the 'weak link' that his father once called him.
The idea of Moses and Rameses been brothers who are forced by fate to battle each other (even though you can see that both just want to stop fighting and be a family again) is a great idea and the movie tries its best to really create the biblical size and scope of its source material. Some people might be put off by the songs and/or the celebrity voices, but I think the movie is at least worth one look.
4. Amazing Grace: A historical story from my part of the world which I've mentioned a couple of times in other posts.
The film details the story of William Wilberforce, an English Politician who lived between 1759 and 1833 and who became one of the leaders of a political movement that sought to abolish slavery throughout the British Empire (a movement they eventually succeeded in). The film takes some liberties with history but I still think it works, while the film's title is named after the famous song - which funnily enough was written by John Newton; a former slave-trader turned Anglican clergyman and abolitionist who, in the movie and in real life, became a mentor and father-figure to William Wilberforce during his battle to end slavery.
5. Joyeux Noël: A Christmas film based on a true story that sadly hasn't got a lot of coverage, but I feel certainly deserves it. The film is set in France in 1914 during WWI, with Scottish, French and German troops all fighting in the trenches. On the night of Christmas Eve, however, they all agree to a ceasefire - with the men leaving their trenches, sharing pictures of their loved ones and even holding a mass. However, this results in problems later as the opposing troops continue meeting after the ceasefire, with it becoming more difficult for them to do their duty as they become friends with the people they previously called enemies.
It's a touching story and worth a watch in my opinion.
6. Threads: Ending on a sour note here but it's definitely warranted with this controversial movie, which easily fits the "watch-once-then-never-again" archetype.
Set in Sheffield in 1984, this BBC television movie focuses on two families and how their lives are changed as hostilities between the United States and the Soviet Union heat up dramatically; resulting in nuclear war. The film not only explores the initial aftermath when Sheffield and the rest of the UK is hit, but goes as far as 13 years onward to show the effects on society - explaining the short and long term effects on medical treatment, agriculture, food/water supplies, education, crime and on the psychology of those who try to survive after the bomb drops.
In comparison to another TV movie about Nuclear War which came out a year earlier - ABC's The Day After - Threads is often considered the superior of the two, with its initial broadcast marked by introductions in both the UK and the USA warning viewers about its contents.
Threads is a well-made yet horrible film that delves into a subject matter than many of us never want to experience. Despite this, I still recommend you try to watch it once, if never again afterwards.
So, do you guys have any films you think are worth at least one watch?
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