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!
It's been so overexposed (and parodied - "Spaceballs") that its impact is enormously reduced now. But for me and my generation, it was an incredible experience.
The ending of "High Noon" is as powerful as it gets.
I love that movie. I watch it at least once a month when there is nothing on the hundreds of cable channels worth watching.
I disagree, I think by doing the prequel in GFII, it gave a great contrast between Vito and Michael in how they approached their life and the "business."
As much as I hate Speilberg's politics,I've gotta admit that he's done some damn good work.
I just bought the HBO movie "The Quick and the Dead" (based on the L'Amour novel) starring Sam Elliot. Sam Elliot befriends this family of 'tenderfoots' who have a gang of outlaws following them. The man and his wife are totally against violence of any kind, but learn that they have to defend themselves if they want to survive. After the leader of the outlaws is killed (by the woman), she and her husband are hugging when the last outlaw, who is wounded, is about to shoot them and is himself shot be Sam Elliot. The man and woman spin out of their embrace with pistol and rifle cocked and ready.
Sam Elliot says, "You've gotten fast. But remember to watch your back."
The courtroom scene from "The Caine Mutiny". One of Bogie's greatest performances.
One of the funniest moments was when Hurt reprised that scene in Spaceballs.
Amen to that. I hope Spielberg finds his touch again. The ending to Schindler's List was perfect.
The best still IMHO is...
Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn.
Ahh - a pretty good movie, but much better book. :-)
From Star Trek III, after the USS Excelsior breaks down trying to chase the Enterprise, Scotty says, "The more they try to overtake the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain."
hehe yep that's a classic one.
Great scene and very well acted.
Braveheart, right before the Battle at Falkirk:
"I am William Wallace. And I see a whole army of my countrymen, here in defiance of tyranny! You have come to fight as free men. And free man you are! What will you do without freedom? Will you fight?"
"Two thousand against ten?" - the veteran shouted. "No! We will run - and live!"
"Yes!" Wallace shouted back. "Fight and you may die. Run and you will live at least for awhile. And dying in your bed many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance, to come back here as young men and tell our enemies that they may take our lives but they will never take our freedom!"
Rutger Hauer at the end of Bladerunner:
I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate.
All those moments will be lost in time - like tears in rain.
Time to die.
:):):)
Always wondered what happened to Kilmer. At one point it looked like he was headed towards being a great actor. Then he fell off the face of the earth.
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