Secondhand Lions

2003

Director: Tim McCanlies

Distributor: New Line Cinema

Key Elements: Lines – Characters – Message – Symbolism

My Review:

This movie grew on me slowly. Michael Cane and Robert Duvall’s characters are excellently developed. And the story is considerably fun. But what I love are the messages the movie delivers.

First, it is important to live life to the fullest. When the boy first meets his uncles, they do nothing but sit on their porch all day. But as their relationship develops, they all find a new love for life. In the end, the uncles re-embrace adventure.

Second, it is important to know what you believe. Duvall’s character tells the boy that the things that may or may not be true are the things worth believing. As Christians, we can be certain that our beliefs are true – the intellectual, experiential, scriptural and personal evidence are all on our side. But faith IS important, and we should continue to believe what is true, even if others don’t.

A last thing this movie tells us is how important father figures are. Even though Cane and Duvall are the boys uncles, the provide the love and direction a father would give. This is paramount in any kids life, boy or girl, but I can say from experience just how important fathers are to boys.

Kids need good men in their lives.

Clip:



Quotes:

• So, you two were away for 40 years... Where'd you go?
• I'm Hub McCann. I've fought in two World Wars and countless smaller ones on three continents. I led thousands of men into battle with everything from horses and swords to artillery and tanks. I've seen the headwaters of the Nile, and tribes of natives no white man had ever seen before. I've won and lost a dozen fortunes, KILLED MANY MEN and loved only one woman with a passion a FLEA like you could never begin to understand. That's who I am. NOW, GO HOME, BOY!
• Well, a man's body may grow old, but inside his spirit can still be as young and as restless as ever. And him - in his day, he had more spirit than twenty men.
• Sometimes the things that may or may not be true are the things a man needs to believe in the most. That people are basically good; that honor, courage, and virtue mean everything; that power and money, money and power mean nothing; that good always triumphs over evil; and I want you to remember this, that love... true love never dies. You remember that, boy. You remember that. Doesn't matter if it's true or not. You see, a man should believe in those things, because those are the things worth believing in
  You're lucky the lion got to you before *we* did.
• The kid gets it all. Just plant us in the damn garden, next to the stupid lion.
• So... they lived?
  - They lived.

Stills:

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

2003

Director: Gore Verbinski

Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures / Buena Vista Pictures

Key Elements: Characters – Lines - Concept – Music

My Review:

I don’t think anyone would have expected a movie based on a theme park ride to be THIS good.

The greatness of the movie is due in large part, of course, to Johnny Depp’s charismatic character. When the sequels were made, something of the Jack Sparrow character was lost. He was made into a purely comedic character - a sort of lucky bumbler. But in this fist movie, his humor comes from how sly and clever he is. And that’s what made the character great in the first place.

Trailers:



Quotes:

• Captain... Captain Jack Sparrow.
• We are cursed men, Miss Turner.
• You need to find yourself a girl, mate.
• This shot was not meant for you.
• So, there is a curse? That's interesting.
• Stop blowing holes in my ship!
• The only rules that really matter are these: what a man can do and what a man can't do.
• This is either madness... or brilliance.
• Well, yes mate. See, I'm dishonest. And a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest. Honestly. It's the honest ones you need to watch out for, because you never know when they're going to do something incredibly... stupid.
• This is the day that you will ALWAYS remember as the day that you almost caught Captain Jack Sparrow
• He’s a pirate… and a good man.
• Now... bring me that horizon.

Stills:

Love Actually

2003

Director: Richard Curtis

Distributor: Universal Pictures

Key Elements: Story – Characters – Lines – Message

My Review:

I can’t think of many other feel-good movies that offer so much. In this movie we see how several love stories intertwine to climax gloriously at the end. They combine so seemlessly, even when the camera cuts from one story to another, the music can continue on without a hitch.

I’ve talked to few girls who don’t love the scene where Mark professes his love for Juliet with poster boards. It’s a really cute and romantic scene, but to enjoy it you have to ignore the fact that Juliet it married to another man. Thankfully, at the end Mark tells himself “That’s enough,” so we know he’s going to take things no further.

Another great scene is when Hugh Grant as the Prime Minister tells off the President of the United States for being a bully. Aggressive and humorous, it’s excellent diplomacy.

We all also love when Jamie and Aurelia get together and discover that they have each learned the other’s language.

And we love watching Liam Neeson’s character encourage and father his motherless step-son.

If you can ignore the sexual material (unnecessary as usual), you’ll enjoy seeing these stories unfold.

Pay particular attention to Hugh Grant’s voice-over at the beginning.

Interesting fact: The beginning and ending footage of people greeting each other at the airport is actually real live people who didn't know they were being filmed until afterword. Kinda beautiful.

Funny, romantic and fun, this is a great movie.

Clip:



Quotes:

• Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion’s starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around.
• Okay. Well, the truth is... actually... I'm in love.
• She's "the one".
• I love that word "relationship". Covers all manner of sins, doesn't it? I fear that this has become a bad relationship. A relationship based on the President taking exactly what he wants and casually ignoring all those things that really matter to, erm... Britain. We may be a small country but we're a great one, too. The country of Shakespeare, Churchill, the Beatles, Sean Connery, Harry Potter. David Beckham's right foot. David Beckham's left foot, come to that. And a friend who bullies us is no longer a friend. And since bullies only respond to strength, from now onward, I will be prepared to be much stronger. And the President should be prepared for that.
• But for now, let me say - Without hope or agenda - Just because it's Christmas - And at Christmas you tell the truth - To me, you are perfect - And my wasted heart will love you - Until you look like this …Merry Christmas
• I realized that Christmas is-is the time to be with the people you love… And I realized that as dire chance and-and-and fateful cock-up would have it, here I am, mid 50s, and without knowing it I've gone and spent most of my adult life with a- with a chubby employee. And-and much as it grieves me to say it, it-it might be that the people I love is, in fact... you. …It's a terrible, terrible mistake, Chubs, but you turn out to be the fucking love of my life. And to be honest, despite all my complaining, we have had a wonderful life.
• Tell her that you love her… Sam, you've got nothin' to lose, and you'll always regret it if you don't.
• Let's go get the shit kicked out of us by love.
• But you know the thing about romance is people only get together right at the very end.
• True love lasts a lifetime.

Stills:

The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King

2003

Director: Peter Jackson

Distributor: New Line Cinema

Key Elements: Story – Characters – Lines – Message – Symbolism – Visuals – Music

My Review:

The conclusion of the trilogy, we see good triumph over evil. Always a likable conclusion.

The only thing I don’t like about this story is that Frodo gets rid of the ring on his own strength. This is a problem if the ring represents sin, because there’s nothing we can do in our own strength to get rid of sin – it’s the work of Jesus, and only the work of Jesus, that makes it happen.

But otherwise, a good movie.


Trailer:



Quotes:

• I do not believe this darkness will endure.
• Mr. Frodo, wake up... Don't leave me here alone. Don't go where I can't follow...
• I do not fear death.
• You smoke too much, Pip.
• Come on, Mr. Frodo. I can't carry it for you... but I can carry you! Come on!
• Hold your ground, hold your ground! Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers! I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of woes and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down! But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you *stand, Men of the West!*
• I give hope to men. I keep none for myself.
• I didn’t think it would end this way.
  - End? No, the journey doesn’t end here. Death is just another path. One we all must take. …The grey worn current of this world rolls back and all turns to silver glass. And then you see it.
  What, Gandalf? See what?
  - White shores, and beyond. A far great country under a swift sunrise.
  Oh, well that’s not so bad.
  - No, no it isn’t.
• Hope is kindled.
• That still only counts as one.
• Duty? No... I would have you smile again, not grieve for those whose time has come. You shall live to see these days renewed. No more despair.
• I think I'm... quite ready for another adventure!I will not say do not weep, for not all tears are an evil.

Stills:

The Last Samurai

2003

Director: Edward Zwick

Distributors: Warner Brothers

Key Elements: Message – Symbolism

My Review:

Nathan Algren lost his soul while working for the American Calvary. He was ordered to slaughter Native American’s, and did so. The guilt of it haunts him.

And so he lives with hate. Hate for the men who gave him the horrific orders. And hate for himself for accepting it.

But then he accepts a new assignment – to train the westernized Japanese troops so they can overthrow the loyal Samurai traditionalists. When he is captured by the rebel loyalists, he is exposed to a new place, a new people and a new way of thinking.

He is reborn. The out-of-control man, has found inner peace.

Trailer:



Quotes:

• For 500 bucks a month I'll kill whoever you want. But keep one thing in mind: I'd happily kill you for free.
• I am beset by the ironies of my life.
• What the hell am I doing here?
• What does it mean to be Samurai? To devote yourself utterly to a set of moral principles. To seek a stillness of your mind. And to master the way of the sword.
• They are an intriguing people. …I am surprised to learn that the word Samurai means, 'to serve'
• The perfect blossom is a rare thing. You could spend your life looking for one, and it would not be a wasted life.
• You believe a man can change his destiny? - I think a man does what he can, until his destiny is revealed.
• I will miss our conversations.
• It was a good death.
• Tell me how he died.
  - I will tell you how he lived.

Stills:

Kill Bill

2003

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Distributor: Miramax Films

Key Element: Concept – Visuals

My Review:

The color, motion and attitude of this movie is all that needs to be said for it.

Tarantino, a master of genre remodeling, takes the classic samurai film genre and, shrouding his story in mystery, dresses it up with a blonde.

Very stylish.

Trailer:



Quotes:

• Wiggle your big toe.
• That woman deserves her revenge and we deserve to die.
• So, O-Ren? Any more subordinates for me to kill?
• You didn't think it was gonna be that easy, did you?
  - You know, for a second there, yeah, I kinda did.
• One more thing, Sofie... is she aware her daughter is still alive?

Still:

Elephant

2003

Director: Gus Van Sant

Distributors: HBO / Fine Line Features

Key Elements: Concept – Message

My Review:

I rented this movie not really knowing what it was. Boy, was I taken by surprised. It’s about a school shooting both inspired and informed by the Columbine High School Massacre. It’s one of the most intense things I’ve ever seen. Completely shocking.

But it resonated with me. The way death just springs into the story is actually the way death usually happens. We don’t always see it coming. And what caught me wasn’t the thought of my own death, but that thought of so many people at different places in their lives just stepping suddenly into eternity.

If you want something that will light a fire under you to share Jesus with those around you, this movie does it.

One thing i really liked about the movie was that it trails multiple characters and shows us how each has problems they deal with - parents with drinking problems, bulemia, romantic woes, humiliation, loneliness, social pressure and bullying. When the shooters finally show up - you can see the punks for what they are - losers who think their problems are somehow more important than everyone else's. It's fitting that blame be placed on the shooters.

I have no idea why it's called Elephant.

Trailer:



Quotes:

• What are you writing?
  - Uh, this? It's my plan.
  For what?
  - Oh, you'll see.
• Hey, what are you guys doing?
  - Get the fuck out and don't come back! Some heavy shit's going down!
• Don't go in there. Just don't go in there. Trust me. Please.
• You're fuckin' sick. Don't do this.
  - Eeney... Meeney... Meiny... Moe... Catch a... Tiger... By its... Toe ...

Stills:

Big Fish

2003

Director: Tim Burton

Distributor: Columbia Pictures

Key Elements: Visuals, Concept, Message, Symbolism, Characters, Music

My Review:

Burton’s imagery here is less dark, but just as surreal.

One of the things I like about this movie is the way it acknowledges the damage done when a boy does not have a strong relationship with his dad. In a society where the role of father is dismissed, even mocked, it is refreshing to see the significance of the father/son relationship illustrated.

The other thing I liked was the way it blurs the line between real and ideal. Were Edward’s stories lies, or honest accounts of the way he saw the world? It seems that where other people might see bleak normality, Edward saw extraordinary beauty.

Life is existentially reliant on our perception.

Trailer:



Quotes:

• In telling the story of my father's life, it's impossible to separate fact from fiction, the man from the myth. The best I can do is to tell it the way he told me. It doesn't always make sense and most of it never happened... but that's what kind of story this is.
• Sometimes, the only way to catch an uncatchable woman is to offer her a wedding ring.
• You don't know me, but my name's Edward Bloom... And I love you.
• Sandra Templeton, I love you and I WILL marry you!
• There's a time when a man needs to fight and a time when he needs to accept that his destiny's lost, the ship has sailed and that only a fool will continue. The truth is I've always been a fool.
• There comes a point when any reasonable man will swallow his pride and admit he made a mistake. The truth is... I was never a reasonable man.
• Truth is, I've always been thirsty.
• It was that night I discovered that most things you consider evil or wicked are simply lonely, and lacking in social niceties.
• She said that the biggest fish in the river gets that way by never being caught.
• Now I may not have much, but I have more determination then any man you're likely to meet.
• Most men, they'll tell you a story straight through. It won't be complicated, but it won't be interesting either.
• I know better than to argue romance with a French woman.
• I've been nothin' but myself since the day I was born, and if you can't see that it's your failin', not mine.
• Has it ever occurred to you that maybe you're not too big? That maybe this place is just too small?
• There are some fish that cannot be caught. It's not that they're faster or stronger than other fish, they're just touched by something extra.
• A man tells his stories so many times that he becomes the stories. They live on after him, and in that way he becomes immortal.
• They say when you meet the love of your life, time stops, and that's true. What they don't tell you is that when it starts again, it moves extra fast to catch up.You become what you always were - a very big fish.

Stills: