Movie #399 - Legend

Legend
1985 - Rated PG - 1 hr 34 min
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Tom Cruise, Mia Sara, Tim Curry, Robert Picardo, Billy Barty, Alice Playten, David Bennent

 First of all, the original movie is much better than the Director's Cut - something we learned as a group at this week's movie night.  Little did I know we'd even purchased the special Director's Cut version, but there we were.  I have seen the original, maybe twice, so I was glad for the assistance picking out the added scenes. And dialogue. And singing.

Why Ridley Scott thought this cut was better was beyond us.  In fact, it kinda ruins the integrity of this otherwise decent fantasy/adventure movie. Too much singing, Ridley. They cut out Mia Sara's constant warbling for a reason, one we didn't need to see to believe.

Anyhow, as far as the plot goes, a young couple accidentally get themselves wrapped up in the coming of the "dark lord" (who is not Voldemort, but is in fact Tim Curry... dressed as a giant red demon that may or may not have inspired South Park's Satan character's look. Food for thought.) He's pretty bad-ass, it's true. And if they don't save the unicorn, it's gonna stay dark and frozen in their forest forever. Bad news bears.

Fun fantasy adventures ensue, including Star Trek Voyager's hologram doctor dressed in drag as Meg Mucklebone, a swamp witch (who has more screen time in Scott's cut, for better or for worse.) It's a bit nerdy, this movie, but I consider it a guilty pleasure.  The original cut, though. Not this one.

Movie #398 - A League of Their Own

A League of Their Own
1992 - Rated PG - 2 hr 8 min
Director: Penny Marshall
Starring: Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Madonna, Jon Lovitz, David Strathairn, Garry Marshall, Bill Pullman, Megan Cavanagh, Rosie O'Donnell, Tracy Reiner, Ann Cusack, Bitty Schram

A pivotal movie from my youth... Girls can play sports! I remember how much I loved this movie, how I'd want to watch it over and over again.  And also how I'd quote it whenever possible.

"There's no crying in baseball!"  -- The valuable wisdom of Tom Hanks, boys and girls.  There is no crying in baseball, all true.

With a fantastic cast of vibrant characters and the perfect She-Ra strength of star Dottie Henson (thank you, Geena Davis), it's easy to see why this movie inspired so many of my young girlfriends to play baseball. Beyond the fun parts, there's also a really great story line here. A telling portrayal of two sisters, the younger always struggling to get her due and the older just trying to live her life. A heartbreaking reality of war-time America and the lengths people went to in order to go about "normal" life. These girls did much for the spirit of our country and should most definitely be celebrated in a movie like this.

It's always been a favorite, and now that I own it (finally), it will continue to be for a long time.

Movie #397 - The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
2003 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 50 min
Director: Stephen Norrington
Starring: Sean Connery, Naseeruddin Shah, Peta Wilson, Tony Curran, Stuart Townsend, Shane West, Jason Flemyng, Richard Roxburgh, Max Ryan

One of the first in a wave of Alan Moore comics to go to the movies, this one's not the best of the bunch.  It's not awful, but it does get a bit campy at times.  Ooh.... all these characters from fiction fight crime together!

But honestly, why is Tom Sawyer fighting crime?

United by Connery's Alan Quartermaine, the troupe is formidable... but also a bit twisted.  Deception and betrayal runs amok and soon, it all falls apart.

As adventure movies go, there's much that's pleasing to the eye and much to rev up that adrenaline level.  As plots go.... meh.  Connery's the best thing about this one, if you ask me.

Movie #396 - Layer Cake

Layer Cake2004 - Rated R - 1 hr 45 min
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Starring: Daniel Craig, Sienna Miller, Michael Gambon, Tom Hardy, Colm Meaney, Tamar Hassan, George Harris

Pre-Bond Daniel Craig is fun to watch in this movie about a drug-dealer trying to get out of the business.  Based on the book of the same name, the unique narration style and larger-than-life characters make a tired premise fresh.  Craig's character puts up with a lot, gets stuck in a lot, and manages it in a cool, collected way. He really just wants to sleep with Sienna Miller, guys. Really.

I won't give away the ending -- which is just awesome, if you like sick twists the way I do -- but it makes the whole movie that much better.   With a great cast, and enough twists to keep you on your toes, it's definitely worth a watch.

Movie #395 - Lawrence of Arabia

Lawrence of Arabia
1962 - Rated ? - 3 hr 36 min
Director: David Lean
Starring: Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Omar Sharif, Claude Rains

I like old movies. Really, I do.  But this movie's so looooooooooooong. And there's so much time spent crossing deserts. So much.

Still, this man's story (based on the true events of T.E. Lawrence's life) is really impressive.  It reminded me of the basic concept behind The Last Samurai (which I just watched, so it was fresh in my mind): a displaced soldier finds himself identifying with a foreign culture and winds up torn between his roots and his new "home."  Beyond that, this movie definitely wins for best actor portrayal of that paradox.  Peter O'Toole is truly brilliant -- particularly throughout the transformation from fun-loving, adventure-seeking young soldier to embittered, hardened colonel.  He manages to find enough personal resolution to go home in the end, but I suspect he was never really at peace.

If you're thinking of diving into this one, I suggest you get comfortable and bring some snacks. Lots of water. Plan on taking a bathroom break at intermission.  It's keep you engaged, for sure, but it will definitely leave you feeling as though you have crossed the desert yourself.  It's draining, but it's worth the watch.

Movie #394 - The Last Unicorn

The Last Unicorn
1982 - Rated G - 1 hr 32 min
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow, Angela Lansbury, Tammy Grimes, Robert Klein, Christopher Lee, Keenan Wynn, Alan Arkin

This movie was always a favorite when I was a kid, but possibly because it was about a unicorn.  I had a unicorn phase, what can I say? I'm a girl!

And now as an adult, I've rediscovered the tragic beauty of this story.  Honestly, the only thing that makes it a "kids" movie is the animation.  Otherwise, it's dark and grim, filled with lots of evil characters and other scary fantastical beasts... all who want to hurt a poor, defenseless unicorn.

Then there's the love story.  I gotta admit, it makes me teary now that I'm all grown up and I understand what happens to this poor unicorn/woman.  To experience human emotions, fall in love, find real happiness... only to have it all taken away.  So sad, so poignant.

It's such a good story that even songs by America can't ruin it.

Movie #393 - The Last Samurai

The Last Samurai
2003 - Rated R - 2 hr 34 min
Director: Edward Zwick
Starring: Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Billy Connolly, William Atherton, Chad Lindberg, Tony Goldwyn, Masato Harada, Timothy Spall

First of all, on a side note, I never noticed before how Timothy Spall is in everything. Seriously, the man shows up all over the place.  I had no clue.

Okay, so he's in this too, but not really in a huge part. So I'll focus on the actual plot.  This movie's got the feeling of a Gladiator-like epic, just set in Japan instead.  Tom Cruise's Nathan Algren suffers just about as much as Maximus and learns most of his important lessons while imprisoned.  An American officer sent to training the Japanese army to withstand rebel Samurai attacks in 1876, Algren is a drunk with a death wish.  He gets captured by the Samurai warriors and winds up training with them.  When they release him, he's caught between the old and new worlds of Japan, forced to decide which side he'll stand on.

This is a great story, told very well, albeit a bit long. But honestly, it's one movie where so much happens that you don't notice how long it really is.  Even having Tom Cruise as the star didn't dissuade me from it (I'm really not a big fan, in case you haven't noticed yet) and I think he does well, capturing the essence of this tortured war hero.  Good stuff, all around.