Best of the Best.... Review on Ten Best English Movies

Instead of writing a top ten best of all times, what I decided was to make the review more judicious and useful to split the top ten into the two best movies in the popular genres that people mostly enjoy and eight others that made the list(though not in any particular order). That way there is more justice to all readers as some prefer comedy over drama or action over adventure or suspense and so on.

Drama

*1. Shawshank Redemption(1994):

Based on a Stephen King short story Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. The movie derives its theme from the basic human emotion of Hope and its way to survive in the most difficult and hopeless situations. .

Plot is simple- Andy Dufrane goes to prison wrongly convicted of murdering his cheating wife and her lover and is to serve two life terms where he meets other inmates the rest of the story is how he manages to befriend the inmates and the guards alike with his skills and nuances. Twenty years later he comes to know that he could prove his innocence but the Warden doesnt let him, but Andy manages to be free...in his own way.

Seems a rather simple plot to be the number one on the drama list. Well the characters and their portrayal by the actors make this simple plot into one of the most hopeful and uplifting movie of all times though its based inside a prison. The interactions of Andy and Red among other things are a highlight of this marvel of a movie.

Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman breathe life into the celluloid characters they play.

2.Magnolia(1999):

Paul Thomas Anderson writes and directs this masterpiece. Though largely unknown mainstreamwise, this movie starts of slowly and by the middle it has you so tight in its intricate drapes that you start to feel breathless-literally.

Plot - multifaceted. Speaks to the viewer in raw-coloured senses. Though the plot is moving in four different directions...it all comes crashing down together in the final half an hour. PT Anderson take a bow- as I have never seen such complicated characters written let alone directed. I will not give you the plot-as everyone into dramas has to see this one.

A galaxy for a starcast. Tom Cruise as you will have never seen him. Julliane Moore, William H Macy, Luiz Guzman, Alfred Molina, John Reilly. This years Oscar winnner Phillip Seymour Hoffman also features- he sort of brings sanity compared to the other complexed characters.

Not a movie I would recommend to all. But definitely the best performance by a stellar cast.

*The rest of the list

Citizen Kane, Godfather, Apocalypse Now, JFK, Born on the 4th of July, Taxi Driver, Million Dollar Baby, To Kill a Mockingbird.

Action

1. The Matrix(1999)

I took the red pill as soon as it was released in theaters and came out dazzled. The W Brothers had created a benchmark for others to gauge the future action movies by.

Though the plot has been known to one and all and the Philosophy of Neo being The One(anagram of Neo) and his synominity with J Christ for being the one to save mankind and in due process sacrificing himself has now become folklore. I see and rate this for what it really is - an action movie extraordinaire filled with never seen before stunt work and cinematography.

Keanu Reaves, Lawrence Fishburne and Carrie Ann Moss star in this mindblowing movie which went on to yield two disappointing sequels.

2. Enter the Dragon(1973)

The movie that got the Kung Fu revolution started and made Bruce Lee immortal. As the Matrix- bench mark for all Martial Art movies.

Plot- simple as it could be. Lee plays a chinese agent who is on a mission to capture a druglord who sets a yearly Martial arts competition. There is also the revenge angle as the druglords henchmen killed Lees sister. Lee enters the tournament as a fighter- the rest is Martial arts history captured on celluliod.

This movie continues to capture audiences fancies even today after 33 years. As Lee once said...the art of fighting...without fighting...

*The rest of the list :

Platoon, Fight Club, Rambo First Blood, Die Hard, Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction, Mission Impossible, Oceans 11.*

*Comedy

1.Monty Python and The Holy Grail(1975):

A laugh riot ensues even today when the movie is screened. Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam direct and John Cleese writes this one.

Plot- a comic farce involving the King Arthur and his Knights who are on the quest for the Cup of Christ encountering hillarious circumstances and characters. An all time classic meant to be in everyones DVD collection. An instant cure for all your blues.

2. There is Something About Mary(1998):

The movie that gave a whole new perspective to hair gel. The Farley brothers write and direct this comic riot.

Plot- Ted has a crush on Mary since highschool. And their first prom date ends up rather humourous for the audience and painful for Ted. Then Mary moves to another city and Ted carries on with his life. And some years later hires a Private Eye to find Mary. What follows will make you laugh till your stomach will beg you to turn off the TV!!!.

Ben Stiller-one of the best comic talent ever, Cameroon Diaz, Matt Dillon, Lee Evans and a host of others star in it.

*The rest of the list:

The Mask, The Gods Must be Crazy, Meet the Parents, Shawn of the Dead, Coming to America, Zoolander, Austin Powers, Pink Panther.

Adventure

*1. Lawrence of Arabia(1962)

Though some might think that this is not an adventure. For me its the enternal quest of a man to find his purpose to its end.

Based on TE Lawrence's autobiography The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, it portrays his experiences in the Arab Revolt in World War I. Directed by the great David Lean who also directed another war epic " The Bridge on River Kwai". They dont make movies like this anymore.

Peter O Toole plays the blue eyed Lawrence so convincingly that he has made the role his own. A stellar cast assists him in bring the story of the controversial Lt Colonel to life like no movie has ever done. Alec Guiness, Anthony Quinn and Omar Sharif in the role that made his carreer.

The movie seems slow and long for the first viewing, but this is one of those movies that grow on you as time goes on like good wine. So next time you have a sunday to spare watch this 3 1/2 hour epic and be mersmerised by Lawrence and his espacades.

2. The Last Crusade(1989)

The best of the Indiana Jones Trilogy. Directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Goorge Lucas- you couldnt ask for a better combination for delivering cinematic brilliance.

This time the quest is for the Cup of Christ and to prevent it from falling into Nazi hands. What makes this one of the best is the character of Jones Sr played to perfection by Sean Connery. The comic interactions with Jones Jr or Junior played by Harrison Ford is what makes this-one of the all time great adventure movies into a vastly more enjoyable experience.

*The rest of the list:

Pirates of the Carribean, Ben-Hur, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Lord of the Rings, Romancing the Stone, King Solomons Mines, Mackennas Gold, The Guns of Navarone.*

CONTD IN COMMENTS....