I started making a list of the top movies for me personally. It’s difficult because there are so many movies I love and movies that were important at certain times in my life. Here is the first installment of my list.
1) The Darjeeling Limited
Directed by Wed Andersen Starring Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman and Angelica Huston.
The plot is about three brothers who meet in India a year after the death of their father and the interplay between them. Each hides a secret and on the journey learn to trust and love each other again. Francis, the eldest brother reveals that they are on their way to see their mother and that his “accident” was really a suicide attempt. Peter the middle child reveals he is going to be a father and Jack the youngest is going back to his ex-girlfriend.
The interplay between the three main characters is not unlike my own relationhips with my siblings; especially after the death of my mother. The brothers get into a fight regarding their deceased fathers lugguage and who was their father’s “favorite”. The themes of loss, abandonment and sibling relationship permeate every scene of this film.
“You don’t love me!”
“Yes I do.”
“I love you too but I’m going to mace you in the face!”
This scene alone is enough to send me into fits of laughter. Together with a great sounds track, incredible imagery and snappy dialogue it makes for an enjoyable journey.
2) Aliens
Directed by James Cameron, Starring Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Lance Henrikson, Bill Paxton and Michael Biehn
The second film in the franchise this is one of the best action/horror movies of all time. My early memories of watching this for the first time include my eldest sister and I scrunching down in our theatre seats hugging our knees and a ride home filled with sudden stops just in case something was on the roof of the van.
A dark film starts with Ellen Ripley being rescued after decades in cryogenic stasis. Later she is asked to return to the planet where the crew of the Nostromo first encountered the alien as part of a team sent to rescue terra-formers who the corporation has lost contact with. The film has themes relating to corporate greed, military zealousness, and good ol’ fashion know-how coupled with incredible special effects.
The best line is when Ripley steps out wearing the loader armour to fight with the mother Alien and says, “Get away from her you BITCH!” At that point you’re cheering Ripley on.