Top 10 Comedies: Part 3

The third and final part of my Top 10 Comedies list is here! If you the first two parts, you can click here for part 1 and here for part 2.

3: Hot Fuzz

While Shaun of the Dead was a lot of fun, Hot Fuzz sold me on Edgar Wright's skill as a director in a film that both funny and intriguing enough to be a real mystery.

Plot: 9.4/10- Considering that Hot Fuzz is a comedy that is intentionally parodying the crime and mystery genres, the mystery and plot is surprisingly competent.

Hot Fuzz's plot is well written with the audience being given enough information to figure out the mystery, while also being a smart satire on the genre. At some points, the movie actually feels like a serious, well written mystery with some great humor thrown in.
Characterization: 8.2/10- As with Edgar Wright's Shaun of the Dead, the two main characters in the film have satisfying character arcs. Nick Angel is a likable protagonist, and his extra dedicated demeanor often results is some great humor.
Humor: 9.3/10- Edgar Wright's British satirical humor is right up my alley, and Hot Fuzz is full of it. While the movie is not necessarily hilarious all of the time, the jokes rarely miss, especially if you are an action movie fan.  Also, the movie is rated R for a reason, and the deaths in the movie are gruesome with plenty of blood to comedic extent, providing you have a sick sense of my humor like myself.
Overall: 9.2/10- Overall, Hot Fuzz is an intelligent and often humorous action comedy that also has one of the best and most competent plots of any comedy. Edgar Wright's is a genius when it comes to comedy and satire, and Hot Fuzz is his best work to date. (you can read the full review here)

2: Some Like It Hot

Some Like It Hot, the classic comedy that follows two guys, Joe and Jerry, who disguise themselves as women and join a band to escape from the mob. Ranking number one on AFI (American Film Institute)'s comedy list, Some Like It Hot is the quintessential comedy that anyone that considers themselves a film fan should watch.

Acting: 9.3/10- Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon star in my favorite roles from the duo. Their performances make the concept of two guys dressed as women really work. Marilyn Monroe is surprisingly good in her role of the ditzy blonde, and while she might not have the most depth as an actress, she is great at playing this type of role.

Humor: 10/10- Screwball comedy at its finest, Some Like It Hot's humor is the epitome of classic humor. Trying to describe the humor is difficult, but it is something that you need to see for yourself. 

Overall: 9.5/10- Some Like It Hot's screwball humor might not appeal to some of today's audience; however, if you enjoy comedy or movies in general, at least watch this classic.

1: Ghostbusters

"Who you gonna call!? Ghostbusters!" Yeah, Ghostbusters is my favorite comedy of all-time!

Acting: 9.9/10- Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, and Rick Moranis: with a cast like that how could the movie not be amazing!? Bill Murray is at his deadpan finest as Dr. Peter Venkman. His reaction and delivery of the witty dialogue is absolutely perfect. Despite Murray's scene stealing performance, Aykroyd, Weaver, and Ramis are not out shined in their roles.

Humor: 10/10- Ghostbusters might not be the comedy that makes me laugh the most, but Ghostbusters is the most fun to watch and rewatch. When I rewatched the film for the first time since I was a kid about two years ago, I did not expect it be nearly as smart as some critics had said, and yet it far surpassed my expectations. 

Overall: 9.5/10- With a witty script and a surprisingly competent plot, Ghostbusters continues to prove why so many hold it in such high regard!

What are your favorite comedies? What do you think of my list? Please comment below and let me know. Also, thanks everyone for comment and making this one of the more successful posts in a long time. My next list is probably going to be Top 10 Villains since it received the most votes.

Honorable Mentions: Beverly Hills Cop, Elf, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Lego Movie, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, The Pink Panther, The Great Dictator, Spaceballs,

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Top 10 Horror Movies

Today is Halloween, so what better time than the present to rank my Top 10 favorite horror films! In general, the horror genre is not one of my favorites. All too often they are mindless gore fests or filled with cheap thrills; however, there are some horror films that rise above the rest. Due to not having seen all that many horror films, horror comedies that feature zombies and the like will be included on the list. Also, at the end I will have honorable mentions for a couple of television series in the horror genre. 

10: Zombieland

Much more a comedy than a horror film, Zombieland is a fun zombie slaying romp! Taking advantage of its quirky cast, including perfectly cast Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, and Emma Stone, Zombieland has just as many laughs as it does entertaining zombie slaying. Plus, it has one of the best cameos of all-time.

9: Scream

More of a satire of the horror genre than a pure horror, Scream follows high school student Sidney Prescott in a small town where a murder in a mask terrorizes the town. While often more humorous than scary, Scream both parodies the tropes of the horror genre, as well as crafting a surprisingly competent mystery.

8: Perfect Blue

Do you think animation is only for children? Watch Perfect Blue and your perspective will be changed entirely. The film follows Mima, a pop-idol turned TV star, as her she slowly loses her sanity after a stalker continues to threaten her live. While more of a psychological horror mystery than straight horror, Perfect Blue is Satoshi Kon’s first feature film in what would become a prolific career as one of Japan’s best directors. In fact, Kon’s work has influenced famous director, Darren Aronofsky. Aronofsky even copied a scene from Perfect Blue in Requiem for a Dream, and even though he denies it, the similarities between Black Swam and Perfect Blue are uncanny!

7: Alien

Ridley Scott's classic horror thriller, Alien, introduced the world to who would become one of the sci-fi's most famous heroines, Ellen Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver. Even though the thrills were diminished by my knowledge of future films, Alien's sci-fi setting and atmosphere revolutionized the genre.

6: The Cabin in the Woods

Written by the legend himself, Joss Whedon, and directed by frequent Whedon collaborator, Drew Goddard, The Cabin in the Woods is an ingenious deconstruction of the horror genre that shows how utterly ridiculous it has become in recent years. From the superb black comedy to the classic film references, The Cabin in the Woods is just the type of bodacious film that you would expect from Whedon.

5: Shaun of the Dead

With a sharp British wit and stylistic directing from Edgar Wright, Shaun of the Dead is a hilarious satire of the zombie genre. From beginning to end, Edgar Wright fills the film with his unique brand of clever humor, while still delivering likable characters and surprisingly effective zombie drama and action.

4: The Host

Not to be confused by the film based on Stephenie Meyer's novel of the same name, The Host is Korea's refreshing take on the monster horror genre. Thanks to director Bong Joon-ho for focusing more on the family drama, The Host is a cleverly comedic and thrilling film that still has more heart than just about any other monster flick ever made.

3: Silence of the Lambs

While almost more of a psychological thriller than a pure horror film, Silence of the Lambs is often listed among the best of the horror genre, and thus it deserves a spot on my list. Even though the film can be incredibly disturbing at times, it most definitely succeeds in creating plenty of nail-biting suspense, thrills, and many utterly horrific scenes. 

2: Jaws

Steven Spielberg's undeniable classic that took moviegoers by storm in 1975, Jaws is a masterpiece of film direction. Thanks to technical difficulties with the special effects, Spielberg had to resort to not showing the shark for the majority of the film, which obviously turned for the best. Jaws is the type of film that everyone needs to see at least once in their life, especially if you consider yourself a film buff.

1: Psycho

Alfred Hitchcock's original horror film that virtually launched the slasher genre, remains the pentacle of the horror genre in my eyes. From Anthony Perkins’ terrifyingly creepy performance to the infamous shower scene, Psycho is every bit as suspenseful today as it was 50 years ago. 

Honorable Mentions from Television

Doctor Who: "Blink"

If I had to chose my favorite Doctor Who episode, "Blink" would have to be my choice due to its perfectly crafted standalone story, inventive creature, and originality. As a standalone gothic horror story, "Blink" is a virtually flawless piece of fiction and the highlight of Steven Moffat’s writing career. In fact, I would almost go as far to say that Blink is my favorite episode of any television series.

Parastye

Parasyte, aka Kiseijuu, is a currently airing science fiction horror thriller about alien parasites that infect people’s brains and turn them into powerful killers. However, the parasite that infects main protagonist, Izumi, is not able to reach the brain, and thus only replaces his hand. With the assistance of his sentient hand, Migi, Izumi must survive as other parasites attempt kill him as well, while also keeping his alien hand a secret. Four episodes in, Parasyte is already a top contender for best series of the year with its superb concept and horror thrills. Apparently, there is a live-action adaptation, although I have yet to see it.

What are your favorite horror films? Please comment below and let me know!

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Best Halloween Movies

Happy Halloween everyone! Since today is Halloween here are some great movies to watch today. Earlier this week I posted some Halloween related movie reviews, which I will have links to below. This is not really a "Best Of" list, it is more just good movies to watch if you are like myself and just do not understand why so many people like supposed "Horror Classics". Also I have just read that there will be another Star Wars film made! And it is a official statement, and I still cannot believe that is happening. As Han Solo said "I'm out of it for a little while, everybody gets delusions of grandeur." Be sure to check back tomorrow for the Two Towers Book Vs. Movie post tomorrow. One more thing, sorry if I have not replied to comments recently, my flu has gotten worse and I have not been on the computer much. But thank you everyone for your comments and best wishes.





Psycho

Alfred Hitchcock's horror, suspense, mystery thriller, classic Psycho. Hitchcock virtually invented the "Slasher" genre with Psycho and I have yet to see a better "Horror" movie than Psycho. As I said in my review yesterday, it is suspenseful, and full of shocking plot twists. Definitely a must see if you are a classic film fan. I wonder what Hitchcock would think today of all the terrible rip-offs of his classic film. Also there is a movie coming out named "Hitchcock", which a bio-pic of him making the classic Psycho, however the trailer completely spoils the major plot twist of the movie, I would not recommend watching the trailer until after watching the movie.

Psycho (1960) Review.

Jaws

One of Steve Speilberg best, Jaws revolutionized the film making with the "Jaws Effect". Were the camera only shows some of the creature to create mystery and terror, which at the time it was considered a very scary movie. Although it loses suspense upon multiple viewings, and is much more of an adventure thriller than anything else, Jaws is still a fantastic movie that is another must see for film fans. If you have yet to see Jaws you are missing out on a classic. And how can we forget John Willaims' iconic soundtrack, which is what makes Jaws truly suspenseful.



Ghostbusters

While Ghostbusters is not in anyway a "Horror" movie, it is about capturing ghosts. Ghostbusters is just a really fun movie, easily one of the best comedies I have seen. It is packed with so many quotable lines and clever dialogue it is hard not to recommend.
Ghostbusters Review.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Invasion of the Body Snatchers, more specifically the 1978 version with Donald Sutherland. Although I have not the seen the original, this version is smart, thrilling and a little creepy. While Invasion of the Body Snatchers is not quite in the same caliber of film as the movies listed above, if you like sci-fi thrillers it is definitely recommended. Note: This is not for the younger audience, although at the time was rated "PG" it would definitely earn an "R" rating today.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) Review.

Harry Potter Saga

While it is far from anything that resembles horror, there are some Halloween type elements in the series. As a whole the Harry Potter series is one of the best. Although I was not really fan until the last four, they were awesome. The final installment "The Deathly Hallows Part 2" is one of my all-time favorite movies. Definitely check out the series if you do not have any problem with the "magic".

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's (Philosopher's) Stone Review

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Review.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Review.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Review.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Review.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Review.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 Review
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 Review

Do you like any of these movies? What are your favorite Halloween films? Please comment below. 

If you want to contact us or have any question please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Ghostbusters Review.

Before I continue with the Halloween Countdown, I have changed Friday's post from Trivia to a review of The Avengers "Item 47" short film review and the trivia will be moved to Sunday.
Thoughts: "Who you gonna call?" "Ghostbusters!" That's right, today's review for the Halloween countdown is Ghostbusters. I watched Ghostbusters when I was a kid and I did not remember really liking the movie that much but after watching it again, I really enjoyed it. It was fun, clever, and hilarious at times. Although it is not funniest comedy I have seen, it one of the best comedies because of the original plot and well written characters. But that is not to say it was not hilarious, that are so many memorable lines and jokes and it had perfect combination of of jokes and other forms of humor. It strikes the perfect balance between humor and seriousness, which works brilliantly.


Directed by: Ivan Reitman
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Adventure Comedy,
Release Date: June 7, 1984
Running Time: 105 minutes
MMPA rating: PG


The Good: Hilarious jokes, Great theme song, Clever and original plot, Good special effects, Witty and humorous dialogue, Memorable quotes, Perfect ending, So much ridiculous fun to watch,

The Bad:

Note: Although it was rated  PG in 1984, it would definitely be rated PG-13 today.



Plot: The following plot summery is copied from Wikipedia.com.
After their first encounter with an actual parapsychological phenomenon (a ghost) and losing their academic positions at Columbia University before they can follow up on their discovery, a trio of misfit parapsychologists — Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Raymond Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), and Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) – establish a paranormal exterminator service known as "Ghostbusters" at a retired New York City firehouse. While still facing dire straits after setting up the company, they are summoned by the Sedgewick Hotel to investigate a haunting. At the hotel, they capture their first ghost and deposit it in a "containment unit" located in the basement of their office. Paranormal activity soon increases in New York City, and the Ghostbusters become celebrities containing it, while at the same time becoming increasingly burdened by the hectic schedule. To satisfy increased demand, they hire a fourth member, Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson). Watch the movie to see what happens next.


Plot: 9.6/10- Ghostbusters might have the best plot I have seen in a comedy. There was a good balance of plot and humor despite the somewhat ridiculous premise it can almost be taken seriousness. The script is strong and well written, and the pacing is perfect, always something fun and funny happening.


Action: 6.3/10- Although it is a comedy, Ghostbusters had a few scenes were they were fight and capturing ghosts but it was mostly for humor, which worked is one of things that make it great.

Acting: 9.2/10- Bill Murray's deadpan performance is fantsatic and almost steals the show.  Sigourney Weaver was also great in her role as well as Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson and Rick Moranis all gave good comical performances.

Special effects: 8.7/10- Although some of the effects are a little dated, most of the effects hold up surprisingly well considering its age.


Soundtrack: 9.7/10- The "Ghostbusters" song is my favorite song from any movie and I have even liked it before watching the movie. The licensed music used adds to the movie, unlike many other movies were they only serve to distract.

Comedy: 9.6/10- Although it is not the flat out funniest movie I have ever seen, there are plenty of quotable lines and memorable jokes. Ghostbusters has some of the best written comical dialogue I have seen in a movie and every actor delivers expertly. There are so many memorable lines and scenes from the movie

Would I Watch This Again: This is definitely worth a re-watch sometime. Probably will watch it again on Halloween.

Overall: 9.3/10- Overall Ghostbusters in an excellent mix of humor, original story, and hilarious jokes. Easily one of the best comedy ever made.


Closing comments: Ghostbusters is pure fun to watch, I had a large grim on my face throughout most of the movie. "Who you gonna call?" "Ghostbusters!"

Recommended for: Comedy fans, Fantasy fans, Sci-Fi fans,


Click here to check out more of my movie reviews.

If you want to contact us or have any question please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Halloween Countdown and Star Wars Update!

First let’s start with the Star Wars update. If everything goes as planned I will be making a list of the Top 25 Lightsaber Battles throughout all of Star Wars, including battles from the movies, TV shows and even a few video games.
Now on to the Halloween countdown! I am not really a fan of Halloween. While I did dress-up and go trick-or-treating when I was 13, I have never cared much for it. However, it seemed like the perfect time for Halloween time movie reviews! Horror is one of my least favorite genres, it has never appealed to me, although there are some movies that can be considered "Horror" that I do enjoy or movies with the theme of ghosts, monsters ect. And on Halloween, I make a list of good movies to watch that might just give you the chills, yet are intelligent or just fun to watch. As for the movies I will be reviewing this week and the next: Ghostbusters, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and Psycho. While I am not exactly sure when I will post the reviews for Ghostbusters and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) it will be this week this week, I will be posting my review for Psycho Monday before Halloween. What do you think of my Halloween plans? Please comment below.

 

 

 

 

If you want to contact us or have any question please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.