Movie Madness

Now she walks through her sunken dream
To the seat with the clearest view
And she's hooked to the silver screen
But the film is a saddening bore
For she's lived it ten times or more

David Bowie, Life on Mars

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

This is a beautiful martial arts film by Ang Lee, which features the awesome Michelle Yeoh, the amazing Chow Yun-Phat and lots of chicks kicking ass.

The Gladiator

Best movie of the decade!! Russell Crowe is amazing as the great Roman general who is a true hero. Lots of great battle scenes, amazing scenery and special effects, superb supporting cast and a compelling story with an unexpected ending. The DVD is fabulous, with an entire second disc of special features.

The Mummy

This 1999 remake of the classic horror movie takes a little of the plot from its predecessor, but adds an impressive array of special effects, a lot of campy humor, a pleasing love story and a really evil villain. Not to mention the incredibly gorgeous Brendan Fraser in the lead role as a brash but good-hearted buccaneer. Wonderful supporting cast, especially John Hannah and Rachel Weisz as a brother and sister duo of archeologists on a quest for treasure and adventure. Another loaded DVD with features on the making of the special effects.

Gods and Monsters

While we are on Brendan Fraser, he makes a surprisingly effective appearance in this wonderful film, which focuses on the latter days of the great Hollywood director, James Wale, of Frankenstein fame, played by Ian McKellen. Mr. Wale has suffered a stroke that impairs his cognition and he has trouble dealing with reality and loss of control. His dilemma parallels that of his famous cinematic creature. Fraser portrays a blue collar ex-Marine, who does gardening work for the retired director, and who allows his mind to be expanded by the older man's life experience.

Moonstruck

One of my all-time favorite movies, this quirky twist on the classic love story is full of unexpected and eccentric characters and hilarious dialogue. Standout performances by all the cast, especially Cher and Nicholas Cage as the star-crossed lovers (even if her Brooklyn accent does keep slipping).

Breaking the Waves

This is a very intense and disturbing movie about a female Billy Budd/Christ figure. A woman who commits everything to God, or at least the voices in her head, and to her husband. The movie takes an interesting twist when the lead, played with poignancy and grace by Emily Watson, confuses sacrifice and purity with lust and debasement.

The 13th Warrior

This is a fun fantasy film, with a thrilling amount of action and the right amount of humor and gore. I haven't been a big Antonio Banderas fan, but he plays the intelligent but pacifist ambassador-turned-warrior with the right mix of humility, comedy and dignity. He gets thrown in with a group of Norse warriors who go to save their people from a band of cannibalistic beasts. As the 13th warrior, Bandera completes the ensemble cast, and a great action-adventure ensues.

Stigmata

This 1999 horror flick stars the intense Gabriel Byrne, as an investigative priest, and an appealing Patricia Arquette, as the victim of a supernatural possession. Arquette's atheist character becomes mysteriously afflicted with the stigmata, the wounds of Christ, and Byrne must discover why and exorcise her demon. In the process he discovers some secrets of the Church that they don't want exposed. This movie has a great soundtrack as well.

The Last Temptation of Christ

This controversial Martin Scorsese film from 1988 muses on the life of Christ as he discovers his origins and tries to accept his role as the Messiah. The film postulates that Jesus, played by Willem DaFoe, had to struggle against his own doubts and that of others. It also portrays the political aura of the age and has a long dream-like sequence in which Jesus imagines what his life would have been like of he were simply an ordinary man. Considered heretical by some religious groups, and a lot of people who never even saw the film, it ultimately reaffirms Christ's acceptance of his divine fate.

Excalibur

One land, one king!! I love Arthurian legend, and this may be the best film version. A lavish and lush production, it follows Arthur's fateful conception to the end of his reign. Merlin is a powerful ally and Morgana is ambitiously conniving. Lancelot and Gueinevere fight their passion but ultimately succumb. Arthur builds a brief but shining dream,. that may someday rise again. Right Before Might!!

Chick Flicks

Sense and Sensibility (with Emma Thompson)

Emma (with Gwyneth Paltrow)

Room with a View

Mansfield Park (by Patricia Rozema)

Ever After (Drew Barrymore as Cinderella)

Enchanted April

Angels and Insects

Romeo and Juliet (by Franco Zeferelli)

The Piano

Fantasy, Horror and Sci-Fi

The Fifth Element

Evil Dead, Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness

Conan the Barbarian

BladeRunner

Merlin

The Sixth Sense

The Matrix

The Lost Boys

Highlander

Rocky Horror Picture Show

Dune

Stargate

Dramas

The Red Violin

The Patriot

Thomas Crowne Affair (remake)

The Replacement Killers

The Bride with the White Hair