Top 5

 

5. Man on Fire(2004) – There was nothing I didn’t like about the movie…besides the mothers accent being very sporadic. Dakota was so damn cute and a damn fine little actress. Denzel and Walken was great as always. Marc Anthony was an odd choice but he played the part well. So many layers to the movie and a great ending. In my top 10 movies for simply being perfect. No flaws that I saw. I loved how it was shot. Anyway, great movie.

 

4. Shawshank Redemption(1994) – Andy Dufresne, is sent to Shawshank Prison for the murder of his wife and secret lover. He is very isolated and lonely at first, but realizes there is something deep inside your body, that people can’t touch and get to….’HOPE’. Andy becomes friends with prison ‘fixer’ Red (Morgan Freeman), and Andy epitomizes why it is crucial to have dreams. His spirit and determination, leads us into a world full of imagination, filled with courage and desire. Will Andy ever realize his dreams…?

 

3. Infernal Affairs Trilogy – The second movie just seemed like a placeholder until the final climactic ending in part3 in my first viewing, but I REALLY liked it second time around. The young actors do a great job. Story is told so fricken well and the acting by everbody is off the charts as Tony Leung is quickly moving past Andy Lau as my favorite asian actor. I’d say buy this movie now, at the least, rent it as it’s just unbelievably great.

 

2. Seven Samurai(1954) – My favorite Akira Kurosawa flick by far and I LOVE me some Kurosawa. Akira Kurosawa’s heroic tale of honor and duty begins with master samurai Kambei (Takashi Shimura) posing as a monk to save a kidnapped child. Impressed by his bravery, a group of farmers begs him to defend their village from encroaching bandits. Kambei agrees and assembles a group of six other samurai, and together they build a militia with the villagers while the bandits loom nearby. Soon the raids begin, culminating in a bloody battle.

 

1. Leon: The Professional – International Uncut(1994) – If there’s one thing to compare to my love of Samurai’s, it’s assassins/contract killers. Just something about it that intrigues me. Jean Reno is great as “Leon” and Gary Oldman’s character is probably one of my favorite villians ever. Also only one of two movies where I actually liked Nathalie Portman. The other being Garden State.