Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and two droids to save the galaxy from the Empire’s world-destroying battle station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the mysterious Darth Vader. I don’t think I’ve ever watched this film from the angle of evaluating it, cinematically. Now, I’ve watched it a number of times, of course, because I … Continue reading 13. Star Wars (1977)
A couple of high school grads spend one final night cruising the strip with their buddies before they go off to college. I’ve never kept it a secret that, as a filmmaker, George Lucas infuriates me. Someday I’ll write an entire post on the subject. Anyway, I tried not to let my feelings about George Lucas influence my feelings of this film American Graffiti. In … Continue reading 62. American Graffiti (1973)
Archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis. Let me start by saying that I love this film. So the criticisms that are about to follow are out of love, I promise. All in all, Raiders of the Lost Ark is a fun film. It’s got action, adventure, romance, mystery, and WWII … Continue reading 66. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
“A blade runner must pursue and try to terminate four replicants who stole a ship in space and have returned to Earth to find their creator.” Talk about a neo-noir film. Not that I’m angry about it. I thought that it was fascinating how well this science fiction film paid homage to film noir’s of the 1940s and 1950s. It was obvious, but was folded … Continue reading 97. Blade Runner (1982)
