Top 10 Movies in 2005...
Now that the year had ended, I thought I would give a list of my favorite 10 movies from 2005. In starting, I must say that I have not seen every movie this year, and so I might miss one that many of you might consider to be clearly a top 10 movie. So, this is a list of the top 10 movies this year from the 35 movies released this year that I saw...
10. Chronicles of Narnia: I know, again, this will upset many Christians, but if I did not love the book so much, I probably would not even have the movie in my top 10. The book lost its edge in the movie, and I daresay that even the cartoon version captured the death and resurrection of Aslan even better than the movie. I hope they make more of the books into movie, because I think the other books will be easier to make than this one. So, I haven't given up on the movie series, but please, do me a favor, go read the books.
9. Jarhead: My review of Jarhead pretty much summed up my mentality to the movie. It allowed me to have a deep respect and love for our troops, while at the same time standing against a war I am starkly against. Jarhead captures that at the end of the day the troops just have a job to do, and no government, politics, or decision will stand in the way of that job. Jarhead is an incredible look into the life of a soldier, but, seeing as it is 9th, I think it could have been higher.
8. Batman Begins: Christian Bale was pretty incredible as Batman. Michael Caine was the best Alfred in any Batman movie, cartoon, or series. Katie Holmes, well, uh, she is engaged to Tom Cruise, and she didn't ruin the movie for me, so that's saying something. Christopher Nolan's Batman has more depth and curiousity to him than any Batman before. We feel the struggle between justice and vengeance, but more importantly, we get something very close to a selfless hero, who seeks the good of others, before himself. This was an absolutely incredible movie, and I would encourage any Christian to go to see it.
7. Rent: The musical is better, but the movie is still incredible. As I said in my review, there were so many things that the Big Screen can do that a musical cannot. That added power to a musical that was already packed with so much. The original cast (except for 2 members) proved once again why this movie was an incredible hit.
6. Sin City: Incredible story telling. In terms of moral value, many Christians may find Sin City lacking, but this is still a great example of how to tell a story. A clash between 50's old school acting writing and 2000's incredible technology, Sin City is a movie that is great for entertainment value.
5. Syrianna: I stand by my prediction that most liberals will love this movie, moderates will find it entertaining, and conservatives will be calling Rush Limbaugh looking for some consoling (if you don't agree, see my review/comments). But regardless, Syrianna is a provacative story aimed to make us think. It is not as preachy as Farenheit 9/11, but it is a sermon, and it is a sermon that challenges Americans to look at the way we do business and government. And with this latest Jack Abramoff scandal, Syrianna may be more accurate in terms of corruption than we thought. I know Syrianna has problematic scenes, but it still has something to say, and it should be heard.
4. Walk the Line: Johnny Cash. That is about all that needs to be said, but I'll say more anyway. I have to admit than I am one of the young generation guys that saw his video for 'Hurt' and became a Cash fan that way. That is cheap, shameless, and embarassing, but hey, I am a Cash fan now and I think that counts for something. This movie is brilliant, and Oscar nominations should be numerous. The story, the cast, everything about Walk the Line is incredible. But most of all, the struggle of Johnny Cash, to be something, something better than a rock star is what intrigued me.
3. Crash: The cast was amazing, but the movie was so powerful because it forced the viewer to look into his/her selfish mentality. That could mean racism, bigotry, or just arrogance, but either way, Crash probed its way into the human struggle. A struggle to not be at war with each other. But ultimately it is a struggle that is wrapped in the pain and hurt of the characters. This movie is one that leaves me screaming for Jesus, hoping some ultimate authority such as a perfect Savior could be called upon. Jesus can really solve our problems. But I guess that's where I look at the past and see why a movie like Crash does not call upon the name of Jesus. Although Christianity helped stop slavery, it was used in justifying to start slavery as well as the continuance of slavery. Numerous wars have been fought in Christ's name, despite his obsession with peace. Jesus has rarely been a legitimate answer to society's problems, not because of Jesus, but because of the church's inability to apply the teachings of Jesus to the social realm and ethics (beyond the two issues of abortion and gay marriage). As you can tell, Crash made me think, and I hope that it gets the recognition it deserves.
2. King Kong: Wow. Apparently no one has told Peter Jackson that three hours is too long for a main stream movie, and I am glad for that. He tells a story so well, and King Kong is just that, an incredible story.
1. Munich: I know this selection won't win me a whole lot of support, but this movie is exactly what our country needs. Jesus said, "If you live by the sword, you will die by the sword." Munich testifies to that. But what it also testifies to is the fact that by responding to terrorism with more terrorism, the result is pain, death, and hopelessness. Hmmm...sounds like Iraq. Granted, there is hope in Iraq, but at what cost? Munich asks us to get beyond the typical response to terrorism. If our response to terrorism is to go and attack countries that had little to nothing to do with terrorism, then perhaps we are not as intelligent as we believe ourselves to be. As a Christian, I believe peace is possible, but that peace is possible as a Christian. As a believer in Christ, I do not need my country killing others for me to feel more safe. I feel as safe as I ever will because I rest in the arms of Jesus Christ. No terrorist, war, or anything can take that away. So, as a Christian, I want to challenge you if you are a Christian to go see Munich, and ask yourself the question, "How should I, as a Christian, respond to terrorism?" Munich points that question at us, not providing an answer. But sometimes before an answer could ever be agreed upon, a question must be asked. Thankfully, Spielberg has asked that question, so let's go find an adequate answer...
10. Chronicles of Narnia: I know, again, this will upset many Christians, but if I did not love the book so much, I probably would not even have the movie in my top 10. The book lost its edge in the movie, and I daresay that even the cartoon version captured the death and resurrection of Aslan even better than the movie. I hope they make more of the books into movie, because I think the other books will be easier to make than this one. So, I haven't given up on the movie series, but please, do me a favor, go read the books.
9. Jarhead: My review of Jarhead pretty much summed up my mentality to the movie. It allowed me to have a deep respect and love for our troops, while at the same time standing against a war I am starkly against. Jarhead captures that at the end of the day the troops just have a job to do, and no government, politics, or decision will stand in the way of that job. Jarhead is an incredible look into the life of a soldier, but, seeing as it is 9th, I think it could have been higher.
8. Batman Begins: Christian Bale was pretty incredible as Batman. Michael Caine was the best Alfred in any Batman movie, cartoon, or series. Katie Holmes, well, uh, she is engaged to Tom Cruise, and she didn't ruin the movie for me, so that's saying something. Christopher Nolan's Batman has more depth and curiousity to him than any Batman before. We feel the struggle between justice and vengeance, but more importantly, we get something very close to a selfless hero, who seeks the good of others, before himself. This was an absolutely incredible movie, and I would encourage any Christian to go to see it.
7. Rent: The musical is better, but the movie is still incredible. As I said in my review, there were so many things that the Big Screen can do that a musical cannot. That added power to a musical that was already packed with so much. The original cast (except for 2 members) proved once again why this movie was an incredible hit.
6. Sin City: Incredible story telling. In terms of moral value, many Christians may find Sin City lacking, but this is still a great example of how to tell a story. A clash between 50's old school acting writing and 2000's incredible technology, Sin City is a movie that is great for entertainment value.
5. Syrianna: I stand by my prediction that most liberals will love this movie, moderates will find it entertaining, and conservatives will be calling Rush Limbaugh looking for some consoling (if you don't agree, see my review/comments). But regardless, Syrianna is a provacative story aimed to make us think. It is not as preachy as Farenheit 9/11, but it is a sermon, and it is a sermon that challenges Americans to look at the way we do business and government. And with this latest Jack Abramoff scandal, Syrianna may be more accurate in terms of corruption than we thought. I know Syrianna has problematic scenes, but it still has something to say, and it should be heard.
4. Walk the Line: Johnny Cash. That is about all that needs to be said, but I'll say more anyway. I have to admit than I am one of the young generation guys that saw his video for 'Hurt' and became a Cash fan that way. That is cheap, shameless, and embarassing, but hey, I am a Cash fan now and I think that counts for something. This movie is brilliant, and Oscar nominations should be numerous. The story, the cast, everything about Walk the Line is incredible. But most of all, the struggle of Johnny Cash, to be something, something better than a rock star is what intrigued me.
3. Crash: The cast was amazing, but the movie was so powerful because it forced the viewer to look into his/her selfish mentality. That could mean racism, bigotry, or just arrogance, but either way, Crash probed its way into the human struggle. A struggle to not be at war with each other. But ultimately it is a struggle that is wrapped in the pain and hurt of the characters. This movie is one that leaves me screaming for Jesus, hoping some ultimate authority such as a perfect Savior could be called upon. Jesus can really solve our problems. But I guess that's where I look at the past and see why a movie like Crash does not call upon the name of Jesus. Although Christianity helped stop slavery, it was used in justifying to start slavery as well as the continuance of slavery. Numerous wars have been fought in Christ's name, despite his obsession with peace. Jesus has rarely been a legitimate answer to society's problems, not because of Jesus, but because of the church's inability to apply the teachings of Jesus to the social realm and ethics (beyond the two issues of abortion and gay marriage). As you can tell, Crash made me think, and I hope that it gets the recognition it deserves.
2. King Kong: Wow. Apparently no one has told Peter Jackson that three hours is too long for a main stream movie, and I am glad for that. He tells a story so well, and King Kong is just that, an incredible story.
1. Munich: I know this selection won't win me a whole lot of support, but this movie is exactly what our country needs. Jesus said, "If you live by the sword, you will die by the sword." Munich testifies to that. But what it also testifies to is the fact that by responding to terrorism with more terrorism, the result is pain, death, and hopelessness. Hmmm...sounds like Iraq. Granted, there is hope in Iraq, but at what cost? Munich asks us to get beyond the typical response to terrorism. If our response to terrorism is to go and attack countries that had little to nothing to do with terrorism, then perhaps we are not as intelligent as we believe ourselves to be. As a Christian, I believe peace is possible, but that peace is possible as a Christian. As a believer in Christ, I do not need my country killing others for me to feel more safe. I feel as safe as I ever will because I rest in the arms of Jesus Christ. No terrorist, war, or anything can take that away. So, as a Christian, I want to challenge you if you are a Christian to go see Munich, and ask yourself the question, "How should I, as a Christian, respond to terrorism?" Munich points that question at us, not providing an answer. But sometimes before an answer could ever be agreed upon, a question must be asked. Thankfully, Spielberg has asked that question, so let's go find an adequate answer...
4 Comments:
Hey Guy, I love your top 10. What did you think of Crash?
Crash was incredible. I really loved the way it did not just deal with racism, but how humans can absolutely hate one another for no good reason. This was best illustrated with Sandra Bullock's character and her hatred for the man changing the locks in their house as well as her maid.
There is arguably the best movie of the year and I really hope that it gets its due Oscars. With Brokeback Mountain (which I have not seen), it is unfortunate that Crash may not win much. But the characters, story, and drama of Crash makes it arguably the best movie of 2005.
Tim,
You equate violence with violence--going after the terrorists who targeted athletes at the Munich Olympics simply because they were Jewish (those against the existence of the state of Israel call them Jews, not israelis.) Oh, by the by Tony Kushner, screenwriter of “Munich�, is a long-time, outspoken anti-State of Israel leftist. No one likes killing. But for you (and Kushner, Speilberg, M. Moore, et al) to call the war in Iraq terrorism is naive in the extreme. Government documents translated in Iraq tell of wide-spread training of terrorists in Iraq. The historical and moral inaccuracies in "Munich" are legion. Read Michael Medved’s critique. If all violence is the same--"terrorism"-- then you would have hated World War II when Allied troops (excuse me, terrorists) crushed Fascism, and Nazism. Do you also equate the mass "murder of chickens for eating with the human holocaust in Europe in the 1930s and 40s? Your friends on the left do. They also find all killing unjustified. I feel unsafe if anyone with that mindset ever becomes President. (ditto "Syianna." Blood for oil? Why didn't we just buy Sadam's oil like we do with the delightful folks in Venezuela?) I was glad to see you included “Narnia� along with “Syrianna�, “Munich�, “Jarhead�, and “King Kong.� Five of your ten favorites were fantasies. There’s more truth in Narnia than the other four combined. I respectfully request, too, that you get online and find some of the many responses from “those who were there� (actual men and women who serve(d) in the military who share the numerous, glaring inaccuracies in that film. If you listen, you can hear the sound of director San Mendes’ ax grinding.
And drugging that poor, defenseless gorilla...where is the outrage?
McNair (www.TeaWithMcNair.tpyepad.com)
McNair -
Thanks for the words. And, before I get into any of my feedback, let me say that first and foremost I am a Christian approaching politics. I do not argue pragmatics, but only what my faith allows me to do. As a Christian, I am not a complete pacifist, but I am close. War had better be the last option after all other options have been used. If that is not the case, war is wrong. Now, on to your points.
First, I know Tony Kushner wrote the script, and I am aware of the controversy surrounding him. However, I tend to give people an opportunity to share their story with me before I critique. Do I think Munich is flawless? Of course not. There are problems with it. It mixes fiction with history too seamlessly, and it links Israel with killing that it has not been found guilty of. I have problems with that. But it is still a story, and as such, should be discussed on that level.
Second, I hope you can point me to the place where I called the War in Iraq terrorism (or for Spielberg, Moore, or Kushner for tha tmatter). In my post, I was referring to Munich as 'responding to terrorism with terrorism.' I likened the results, 'pain, hopelessness, and death' to Iraq. That is not a stretch.
Third, to liken World War II to the current war on terror is quite foolish. World War II was a clear just war. Iraq, not so much. UN Weapons Inspectors were telling us there were no WMD's. Saddam Hussein had made no threat on the U.S. This war has led to thousands of Iraqi civilian deaths (between 30,000 and 100,000). This is an unjust war, and as such, I will speak against it.
Fifth, why does the slaughtering of animals even come into this discussion?
McNair, I really do not know want to say. I guess it is a sad time in our country where we discredit people simply because of a belief they have (liberal or conservaitve). I stand by Jesus, who called us to love all people, most notably our enemy. To put down our pride, swords, revenge, and pick up our cross, the utlimate sign of self-denial. There is nothing greater than that, nor should there be.
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