Film Reviews & Movie Analysis

The idea for this Top Five came to me completely by accident. I was sat minding my own business when a certain show on this list, floated to the front of my thoughts. I discussed it with the person I was with, and they (very unfeelingly) exclaimed; You and that show – let it go!

Naturally I decided to make a whole list for all the shows and movies that still get me.

MOVIES

1. The Departed (2006)
Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson starring in a deep undercover thriller with the ultimate game of cat and mouse.

A strong piece of drama where the gritty finality scores up the blurred lines of justice and continues to sit deep within me.

2. Fight Club (1999)
When insomniac Edward Norton meets charismatic Brad Pitt, together they form an underground club which quickly turns into a cult following. With a message to spread they’re tactics quickly become extreme.

Sadly I can’t fully reveal why Fight Club stuck with me without spoiling the entire movie. For those of you who know – you know. For those of you who don’t – get watching!

3. 12 Angry Men (1957)
Twelve white, male jurors hold the fate of an ethnic boy in their hands. Whether or not the evidence holds up, they’re ready to convict – until a voice of reason speaks up.

There’s one particular scene that stays with me from this movie; one of the jurors makes a remark that goes too far. One by one his eleven companions  turn their back on him.

Powerful stuff.

4. The Butterfly Effect (2004)
Ashton Kutcher’s migraines transport him to the past where he can alter pivotal stages in his life and his childhood sweethearts – but not always in the positive way he expects.

Love it or hate it, this is a movie that made you think – and still makes me wonder today as I stand at a crossroads and turn right; what would have happened if I’d gone left.

 

5. Repo Men (2010)
Artificial organs are all the rage in extending human life – but they don’t come cheap. If you can’t afford repayments then heart lung or liver, the repo men will come to collect.

Watched during a long ago Jude Law binge…. This is another I can’t say much about without major spoilage. But I can tell you that this did basically give me an existential crisis over artificial intelligence and our perception of the real world.

TELEVISION

1.  Mad Dogs (2011-2013)
Reconnecting with an old school friend who now lives in Majorca, four British men accidentally get caught up in a world of crime that will change their lives forever.

Thoroughout I felt so bad for the characters and their situation that just kept spiraling. Its ending was shocking in its realism and I think about it constantly. This is the show that inspired this whole list, it’s only 14 episodes so if nothing else; Watch This!

2. Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)
Master of all four elements, the Avatar disappeared one hundred years ago, stripping the world of peace as the Fire Nation took over. Now he’s back it’s time to restore balance.

Yes the show itself is amazing in concept and the way breadcrumbs are laid from series one, but do some research and it will blow your mind. The Asian cultural influences in everything from the bending to the lifestyle, lore and names is so tightly ingrained and smart I can’t get over it.

3. Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)
In a quirky small town in Connecticut, a mother and daughter learn and grow as they navigate the curve balls life throws at them with grace, wit and a good book.

Don’t be put off by the femininity in this show. If you love pop culture references and witty retorts then head to Netflix and press play. Every re-watch without fail I find something new funny/clever that I hadn’t previously noticed. Like a fine wine Gilmore Girls just gets better with age.

4. Skins (2007-2013)
Sex, drugs, and wild antics are the norm for these Bristol Sixth Former’s. Each juggle their home and social life in different ways, keeping secrets and sharing pain.

The second generation (series 3 and 4) put this show on the list. The ending; involving love triangle characters Effy, Freddie and Cook was both unforeseen and inconclusive (think Rocky III freeze frame ending). There was a wave of disbelief amongst my peers that united us all.

5. Lost (2004-2010)
Marooned on an island after a plane crash, the survivors must learn to work together against the horrors that lurk around them and the secrets between them.

We’re not here to talk about how the show ended, we’re here because I refuse to be trapped on a possessed island that may or may not be displacing itself through time. Black Smoke? Dead men walking? Constantly thwarted glimmers of hope? Hell no.
And there we have it, my list of shows and movies that still effect me after all this time. What movie can’t you let go of? What series still manages to wriggle its way into the front of your thoughts years later?

My Last Top Five: Period Dramas

Twitter: JustJen_02