All of it.
Posted on 12/12/2005 7:57:17 AM PST by pissant
Everyone knows by now that Pissant is not an expert, like MaximusofTexas, when it comes to movie reviews. The main problem of course is that Pissant has generally avoided anything that Hollywood has produced in the last 20 years. Fortuantely, most of the cinematic classics were made well before this self-imposed boycott started. So now, I will list the definitive "most powerful moments".
They may be sad, scary, heartwarming, patriotic, etc.
Top 7 Most Powerful Moments in Cinema History
7. The Deerhunter- Russian Roulette POW scene --The actors in the Deerhunter, particularly DeNiro and Cristopher Walken make it seem incredibly real. The intensity of that scene as POWs being forced to play Russian roulette and the subsequent escape is one for the ages.
6. Outlaw Josie Wales - Snoose on the Dead guy's head -- After a gunfight where Josie (Clint Eastwood) and his sidekick end up killing the bad guys, his young companion frets that they should at least bury the dead out of respect. Instead, Clint hocks a mouthful of tobacco juice onto a cadaver's forehead, and flatly states that "the buzzards gotta eat too"
5. Casablanca- Rick says goodbye -- Thinking that she would be staying with Rick (Humphrey Bogart) as her husband Lazlo gets on the plane to America, Bogie gives Ilsa (Ingrid) the bad news. The strength to be able to give up her love in the cause of patriotism is amazing.
4. Exorcist- The head spin -- If you grew up Catholic, you believe in the devil. And that's what makes the Exorcist SO real (plus it was based on a true story). If the head spin scene did not creep you out, nothing will.
3. The Unbearable Lightness of Being- Girls playing -- I know, not everyone's cup of tea. But seeing Thomas' wife (Juliette Binoche) meet his mistress (Lena Olin) and the two have a playful, flirtatious rendevous.....well it's powerful to me. It helps that both are very gorgeous!!
2. Patton- "the speech to the Third Army" -- This movie is near perfect all the way through, but is most powerful just listening to George C. Scott recite the (somewhat sanitized) speech to the troops. Hollywood is incapable anymore of treating our Generals and Soldiers as the heroes that they are.
1. It's a Wonderful Life - George sees the light -- The angel Clarence's hard work finally pays off. George Bailey realizes how important he is to his family, community and to God, and has a tearful reunion with his family. It chokes me up, no matter how many times I see it. Merry Christmas!
Michael Mann, who directed Mohicans, was trained as a painter, not a film maker. You can clearly see that in how he composed scenes. Early in the film there's a classic shot of a coach going over a stone arch bridge over a stream and he's set up a perfect mirror reflection in the water. classic landscape composition. That is one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen.
'Gandalf's Charge' in LOTR The Two Towers.
For me, when Gandalf and the Horsemen of Rohan appear at the crest of the hill is the climax of a very powerful build up. The fight after that is strong, but the emotional moment is when he appears "at dawn, look to the east."
I'm really looking forward to King Kong to see if it lives up to the advance word. Peter Jackson is amazing. I do, however, agree with Jonah Goldbergs observation about the plot hole in both this version and the original. They're on this island and find dinosaurs, but elect to take the big monkey back with them?
Yumm!
"I'm sorry I got blood on your floor, Henry."
My Dad was there. He says that that is exactly the way Omaha Beach was. The noise, the confusion, the smoke and dust.
"Is it safe?"
All of it.
Equilibrium - Cleric John Preston (Christian Bale) just prior to exterminating the entire Sweeper Team.
"WOLVERINES!"
Here, here! That was Kilmer's his finest role.
Doc: And you must be Ringo. Look, darling, Johnny Ringo. The deadliest pistoleer since Wild Bill, they say. What do you think, darling? Should I hate him?
Kate: You don't even know him.
Doc: Yes, but there's just something about him. Something around the eyes, I don't know, reminds me of... me. No. I'm sure of it, I hate him.
I believe Spielberg brought in a group of men that were there, to help in the recreation of the scene.
My grandfather was on a heavy cruiser in the South Pacific in WWII.
"Look at what that mutt did to my shoes".
I remember a number of pieces appearing on the tube when Private Ryan was released in which guys who were there said that Speilberg got it exactly right during that first half hour.
Lonesome Dove--"The best miniseries/series/whatever to ever be produced for television - period."
Agreed, but the book is even better. Duvall is Gus.
I love that scene. And later at the climax, when Preston is told he gave himself up calmly, cooly, entirely without incident. And Preston replies, no not entirely without incident. And then goes on to destroy everything in his path.
When the local break dancers led by Shaba Doo, Boogaloo Shrimp, and Kelly band together to save the community center from the evil developer in Breakin' 2 Electric Boogaloo. I get chills just thinking about it. I still find it incomprehensible that "If you can't beat the system, break it" isn't in the Declaration of Independence.
Owl_Eagle(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,
One of the best lines in a movie ever:
Private Joker: "How can you shoot women and children?"
Door Gunner: "Easy. You use less lead."
Joe Pechi plays one heck of a gangster.Kinda makes ya wonder.....
The Shawshank Redemption, when the prison warden throws the chesspiece at the poster and it tears through. Then he takes down the poster and sees the tunnel.
Easily. Gene Hackman's Little Bill is the Archetype of the corrupt megalomaniac, and Eastwood portrays the perfect, amoral drifter, with an alcohol fueled gift for gunplay and vengeance.
Reckon' I've killed nearly everything that walks or crawls, one time or another. And I'm here to kill you, Little Bill.
Anybody takes a shot at me, I'll kill 'em. Then I'll kill their family, and burn their house down.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.