Tropical Island Video Vault Draft - ROUND 20 - FINAL ROUND
- Thread starter Jespher
- Start date
Ok, gonna grab my personal favorite Arnie flick. There are 2 or 3 others I might actually rate ahead of this one, but for my money this was the perfect mix of action and humor with a plot that seems disgustingly more realistic with each passing day.
The Running Man - 1987
While Arnie rightfully receives top billing the other reason I love this one so much is because of the great cast. Dick Dawson steals the screen almost every time he gets on it, and even has the perfect retort to the trademark "I'll be back" catchphrase - "Only in a re-run". The movie also features pro-wrestlers Jesse Ventura and the Professor Toru Tanaka, along with Jim Brown, Erland van Lidth de Jeude (as Dynamo, turning in another memorable performance of which he had about 3) and Dweezil Zappa of all people. The reality tv and heavily edited fake news are becoming all too persistent so give this movie some credit for a vision of the not too distant future as well. Plus its just plain fun and doesn't run longer than it needs to which for me is key to rewatchability.
The Running Man - 1987
While Arnie rightfully receives top billing the other reason I love this one so much is because of the great cast. Dick Dawson steals the screen almost every time he gets on it, and even has the perfect retort to the trademark "I'll be back" catchphrase - "Only in a re-run". The movie also features pro-wrestlers Jesse Ventura and the Professor Toru Tanaka, along with Jim Brown, Erland van Lidth de Jeude (as Dynamo, turning in another memorable performance of which he had about 3) and Dweezil Zappa of all people. The reality tv and heavily edited fake news are becoming all too persistent so give this movie some credit for a vision of the not too distant future as well. Plus its just plain fun and doesn't run longer than it needs to which for me is key to rewatchability.
Some of the one-liners were just, well, BAD. What happened to Buzzsaw? "He had to split." Oh, boy.
Have a pick coming up quickly and am realizing there are some decent flicks out there that I *think* should be going soon - wonder which way to go. Capt'n - hurry up!
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For my round 7 pick, I select The Royal Tenenbaums (2001, R).
Of all the "family dynamic" movies out there, this one is definitely my favorite. Three children, all prodigies, fall out of a divorced family and grow up to lead mediocre lives - until their financially-strapped father comes back into their lives, claiming to be dying. In my opinion, it's Wes Anderson's masterpiece (though I'm sure a lot of folks disagree).
Trailer below:
Of all the "family dynamic" movies out there, this one is definitely my favorite. Three children, all prodigies, fall out of a divorced family and grow up to lead mediocre lives - until their financially-strapped father comes back into their lives, claiming to be dying. In my opinion, it's Wes Anderson's masterpiece (though I'm sure a lot of folks disagree).
Trailer below:
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This draft is simply mind boggling!
When I saw the "self restriction rule" some of the players imposed on themselves I made to myself a list of 8 movies which were not selected in the previous draft. I thought surely (*) they will be gone by the 5th round. I check this draft, its the bottom of the 7th and NONE of the movies where picked...AMAZING!
(*) And don't call me Shirley...
When I saw the "self restriction rule" some of the players imposed on themselves I made to myself a list of 8 movies which were not selected in the previous draft. I thought surely (*) they will be gone by the 5th round. I check this draft, its the bottom of the 7th and NONE of the movies where picked...AMAZING!
(*) And don't call me Shirley...
Run Lola Run - 1998
This one is just flat out fun.
20 minutes to get 100,000 marks or your boyfriend is as-good-as-dead. And go!
That premise alone in the right hands could make a solid movie. But throw in the time gimmick (the 20 minute search is shown three times with subtle differences and drastically different endings) and all the kinetics, sounds and vibrant colors of a golden age MTV music video and you've got a movie, as I said, that's just flat out fun to watch.
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And so, as I predicted with my Nostradamusesque seerlike abilities, my movie is still here for this pick. After I decided on it, I was getting antsy.
The Thing (1982) R
Most of the movies off my list the first time I was willing to replace and move on. But this one...had a replacement in mind if necessary, but why? Simply put, I consider this the scariest movie ever made (and pretty much nothing scares me (cinematically at least)), bar none, and that opinion has not changed a bit in the last 4 years. Was getting a little nervous since it is once again drawing attention with a prequel movie due out this fall.
Also one of my favorite cream rises to the top stories -- The Thing was far ahead of its time and a complete flop in 1982, opening across from a mega movie with a completely different cuddly sort of alien that was all the rage. The critics panned it, audiences stayed away. But from the beginning it had its ardent fans, including a very young me who considered it the ultimate turn off the lights. watch it past midnight, and jump at your shadow treat. So it became a cult fave, and the cult grew, and grew, and as more and more people saw it by a decade later it was being called a classic, and now has long since become a staple of Top 10 All Time Horror film lists (indeed becoming so popular that not only was a remake of a box office flop planned, but the remake got turned into a prequel instead because the filmmakers considered John Carpenter's movie so perfect they refused to ruin it). Bleak and horrific in every way, from the complete isolation of its setting to the simple eerie score and famously nihilistic ending, the special effects are legendary, but its the complete isolation and paranoia which take it to another level of great. Its the only true horor film that I have ever watched again, and again, and again.
The Thing (1982) R
Most of the movies off my list the first time I was willing to replace and move on. But this one...had a replacement in mind if necessary, but why? Simply put, I consider this the scariest movie ever made (and pretty much nothing scares me (cinematically at least)), bar none, and that opinion has not changed a bit in the last 4 years. Was getting a little nervous since it is once again drawing attention with a prequel movie due out this fall.
Also one of my favorite cream rises to the top stories -- The Thing was far ahead of its time and a complete flop in 1982, opening across from a mega movie with a completely different cuddly sort of alien that was all the rage. The critics panned it, audiences stayed away. But from the beginning it had its ardent fans, including a very young me who considered it the ultimate turn off the lights. watch it past midnight, and jump at your shadow treat. So it became a cult fave, and the cult grew, and grew, and as more and more people saw it by a decade later it was being called a classic, and now has long since become a staple of Top 10 All Time Horror film lists (indeed becoming so popular that not only was a remake of a box office flop planned, but the remake got turned into a prequel instead because the filmmakers considered John Carpenter's movie so perfect they refused to ruin it). Bleak and horrific in every way, from the complete isolation of its setting to the simple eerie score and famously nihilistic ending, the special effects are legendary, but its the complete isolation and paranoia which take it to another level of great. Its the only true horor film that I have ever watched again, and again, and again.
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And so, as I predicted with my Nostradamusesque seerlike abilities, my movie is still here for this pick. After I decided on it, I was getting antsy.
The Thing (1982) R
Most of the movies off my list the first time I was willing to replace and move on. But this one...had a replacement in mind if necessary, but why? Simply put, I consider this the scariest movie ever made (and pretty much nothing scares me (cinematically at least)), bar none, and that opinion has not changed a bit in the last 4 years. Was getting a little nervous since it is once again drawing attention with a prequel movie due out this fall.
Also one of my favorite cream rises to the top stories -- The Thing was far ahead of its time and a complete flop in 1982, opening across from a mega movie with a completely different cuddly sort of alien that was all the rage. The critics panned it, audiences stayed away. But from the beginning it had its ardent fans, including a very young me who considered it the ultimate turn off the lights. watch it past midnight, and jump at your shadow treat. So it became a cult fave, and the cult grew, and grew, and as more and more people saw it by a decade later it was being called a classic, and now has long since become a staple of Top 10 All Time Horror film lists (indeed becoming so popular that not only was a remake of a box office flop planned, but the remake got turned into a prequel instead because the filmmakers considered John Carpenter's movie so perfect they refused to ruin it). Bleak and horrific in every way, from the complete isolation of its setting to the famously simple score, the special effects are legendary, but its the complete isolation and paranoia which take it to another level of great. Its the only true horor film that I have ever watched again, and again, and again.
The Thing (1982) R
Most of the movies off my list the first time I was willing to replace and move on. But this one...had a replacement in mind if necessary, but why? Simply put, I consider this the scariest movie ever made (and pretty much nothing scares me (cinematically at least)), bar none, and that opinion has not changed a bit in the last 4 years. Was getting a little nervous since it is once again drawing attention with a prequel movie due out this fall.
Also one of my favorite cream rises to the top stories -- The Thing was far ahead of its time and a complete flop in 1982, opening across from a mega movie with a completely different cuddly sort of alien that was all the rage. The critics panned it, audiences stayed away. But from the beginning it had its ardent fans, including a very young me who considered it the ultimate turn off the lights. watch it past midnight, and jump at your shadow treat. So it became a cult fave, and the cult grew, and grew, and as more and more people saw it by a decade later it was being called a classic, and now has long since become a staple of Top 10 All Time Horror film lists (indeed becoming so popular that not only was a remake of a box office flop planned, but the remake got turned into a prequel instead because the filmmakers considered John Carpenter's movie so perfect they refused to ruin it). Bleak and horrific in every way, from the complete isolation of its setting to the famously simple score, the special effects are legendary, but its the complete isolation and paranoia which take it to another level of great. Its the only true horor film that I have ever watched again, and again, and again.
I've gone round and round.. and round on this pick, especially because I've yet to pick my favorite movie of all time and even though I think it's safe - it kinda scares me to pass on it as the draft goes on.
With that being said, I just recently saw this next one about a month ago and it's fantastic. Has great acting, great dialogue and it's a true story which is truly inspiring. The story of King George VI. A good leader has to overcome his fear to become a great leader.
The King's Speech
Love Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter as well. Great actors and great performances in this one.
With that being said, I just recently saw this next one about a month ago and it's fantastic. Has great acting, great dialogue and it's a true story which is truly inspiring. The story of King George VI. A good leader has to overcome his fear to become a great leader.
The King's Speech
Love Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter as well. Great actors and great performances in this one.
And so, as I predicted with my Nostradamusesque seerlike abilities, my movie is still here for this pick. After I decided on it, I was getting antsy.
The Thing (1982) R
Most of the movies off my list the first time I was willing to replace and move on. But this one...had a replacement in mind if necessary, but why? Simply put, I consider this the scariest movie ever made (and pretty much nothing scares me (cinematically at least)), bar none, and that opinion has not changed a bit in the last 4 years. Was getting a little nervous since it is once again drawing attention with a prequel movie due out this fall.
Also one of my favorite cream rises to the top stories -- The Thing was far ahead of its time and a complete flop in 1982, opening across from a mega movie with a completely different cuddly sort of alien that was all the rage. The critics panned it, audiences stayed away. But from the beginning it had its ardent fans, including a very young me who considered it the ultimate turn off the lights. watch it past midnight, and jump at your shadow treat. So it became a cult fave, and the cult grew, and grew, and as more and more people saw it by a decade later it was being called a classic, and now has long since become a staple of Top 10 All Time Horror film lists (indeed becoming so popular that not only was a remake of a box office flop planned, but the remake got turned into a prequel instead because the filmmakers considered John Carpenter's movie so perfect they refused to ruin it). Bleak and horrific in every way, from the complete isolation of its setting to the simple eerie score and famously nihilistic ending, the special effects are legendary, but its the complete isolation and paranoia which take it to another level of great. Its the only true horor film that I have ever watched again, and again, and again.
The Thing (1982) R
Most of the movies off my list the first time I was willing to replace and move on. But this one...had a replacement in mind if necessary, but why? Simply put, I consider this the scariest movie ever made (and pretty much nothing scares me (cinematically at least)), bar none, and that opinion has not changed a bit in the last 4 years. Was getting a little nervous since it is once again drawing attention with a prequel movie due out this fall.
Also one of my favorite cream rises to the top stories -- The Thing was far ahead of its time and a complete flop in 1982, opening across from a mega movie with a completely different cuddly sort of alien that was all the rage. The critics panned it, audiences stayed away. But from the beginning it had its ardent fans, including a very young me who considered it the ultimate turn off the lights. watch it past midnight, and jump at your shadow treat. So it became a cult fave, and the cult grew, and grew, and as more and more people saw it by a decade later it was being called a classic, and now has long since become a staple of Top 10 All Time Horror film lists (indeed becoming so popular that not only was a remake of a box office flop planned, but the remake got turned into a prequel instead because the filmmakers considered John Carpenter's movie so perfect they refused to ruin it). Bleak and horrific in every way, from the complete isolation of its setting to the simple eerie score and famously nihilistic ending, the special effects are legendary, but its the complete isolation and paranoia which take it to another level of great. Its the only true horor film that I have ever watched again, and again, and again.
Your father was a radish
And to fully change tone...
Death Proof (2007) -- Have a feeling this one would be safe for a while, since its Grindhouse version was already taken, but I've long since said nertz to strategy. When I first saw Grindhouse, I wasn't terribly fond of this one. I thought it had some good bits, but the tone was wrong after the fast paced first film and all of the trailers. Tarantino's version of over-the-top is very different than Rodriguez's and, while I love Grindhouse as a whole, it makes for a very unbalanced second half. The extended version, however, released separately on DVD long before the double feature was released as a whole, has grown on me over the years. There are people who criticize the added bits for being examples of all of Tarantino's most self-indulgent eccentricities (read: foot fetish shots), and those critiques are accurate, but it also feels like a much more complete version. The pacing issues that bugged me in its short version are gone when the movie is allowed to breathe.
Death Proof (2007) -- Have a feeling this one would be safe for a while, since its Grindhouse version was already taken, but I've long since said nertz to strategy. When I first saw Grindhouse, I wasn't terribly fond of this one. I thought it had some good bits, but the tone was wrong after the fast paced first film and all of the trailers. Tarantino's version of over-the-top is very different than Rodriguez's and, while I love Grindhouse as a whole, it makes for a very unbalanced second half. The extended version, however, released separately on DVD long before the double feature was released as a whole, has grown on me over the years. There are people who criticize the added bits for being examples of all of Tarantino's most self-indulgent eccentricities (read: foot fetish shots), and those critiques are accurate, but it also feels like a much more complete version. The pacing issues that bugged me in its short version are gone when the movie is allowed to breathe.
I select:
Napoleon Dynamite (2004) PG
I love this movie... It reminds me so much of growing up in Nor Cal... I have seen this film countless times and could watch it countless more times... It is one of those movies that is funnier in retrospect and upon additional viewings than the first time you see it. So many quotes... so many funny sequences... Just a golden treasure.
Napoleon Dynamite (2004) PG
I love this movie... It reminds me so much of growing up in Nor Cal... I have seen this film countless times and could watch it countless more times... It is one of those movies that is funnier in retrospect and upon additional viewings than the first time you see it. So many quotes... so many funny sequences... Just a golden treasure.
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To start the 8th, I will select:
Revenge of the Sith (2005) PG-13
Loved this movie... all about evil, nasty Darth Vader... so violent, so dark, so wonderful. Obi Wan dismembers Hayden Christensen, which is a plus. There is also Yoda and the Emperor engaged in lightsaber combat and all kinds of wonderful and wonderfully horrible things that go on.
Revenge of the Sith (2005) PG-13
Loved this movie... all about evil, nasty Darth Vader... so violent, so dark, so wonderful. Obi Wan dismembers Hayden Christensen, which is a plus. There is also Yoda and the Emperor engaged in lightsaber combat and all kinds of wonderful and wonderfully horrible things that go on.
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My next pick has electrolytes:
Idiocracy (2006) -- This pick is funny for me. Thought about it during the last draft, but it didn't make the cut. Didn't even make the final list (of about 50 titles) from which I eventually picked my twenty. Several years later, and it has been added to my DVD collection, remains (nearly) impossible for me to change away from it on cable, and it still cracks me up. So, sure, this time I'll bring it along.
Idiocracy (2006) -- This pick is funny for me. Thought about it during the last draft, but it didn't make the cut. Didn't even make the final list (of about 50 titles) from which I eventually picked my twenty. Several years later, and it has been added to my DVD collection, remains (nearly) impossible for me to change away from it on cable, and it still cracks me up. So, sure, this time I'll bring it along.
