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Just looking back on the year of films we’ve had, it’s been a treat. Some of the best films I’ve ever seen have been released in 2001, and I’ve seen a fair few films – although there have been a fair few poor ones as well, and films that mournfully failed to fill our expectations. I just though I’d go through them – review what I thought made the standard and didn’t.
I’ll do the big blockbusters first, then proceed to the unappreciated gems that we have seen.
A.I was my biggest disappointment of the year. It flopped. Jude Law’s robot was best not mentioned, and I cringe at any of Haley Joel Osment’s films. Although I did enjoy the waterlogged New York – that was a bundle of special effects joy. Stanley Kubrick wanted this to be dark, but oh no, along comes Spielburg with his gung-ho Americanism and wrecks what good have been a multiple Oscar winner. Shame.
Jurassic Park III, now there was a prospect. Admittedly, Spielburg wasn’t onboard – this presented a problem. His directorial talents had made Jurassic Park a hit. But I was pleasantly surprised with JP3, and I wasn’t expecting that much. William Macy is one of the truly unappreciated actors, and he did a star turn here. The dinosaurs, thanks to the 6 years they have had to build on JP1’s techniques, look stunning – especially the Spinosarus. I love the scene where is literally pounds a T-Rex. This was a sleeper hit, and for good reason. Thanks to The Lost World, it wasn’t massively anticipated, but delivered for the fans.
Next comes the inevitable sequel to one of the best action flicks ever, The Mummy. The Mummy Returns sadly fell to the assumption that more special effects = better film, and they didn’t even polish all of those, with the Scorpion King being dismally unreal. Yet, if you relaxed and didn’t try to find a plot, you would have enjoyed this film. It’s a rollercoaster action ride that doesn’t even pretend to be quality. Worth the DVD money, that’s for sure.
Now, we have the BEST martial arts film ever, and the first foreign language film to be nominated for Best Film Oscar. I am, of course, talking about Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The film is a classic within a year. Ang Lee establishes himself as a director to watch after breaking through to mainstream audiences, dragging Chow Yun Fat with him. The brilliant use of wirework as they dance through treetops doesn’t look silly, it looks inspired. I simply loved this film, and I hope you did too. Crouching Tiger is East meets West with a difference.
Rush Hour 2 – Get ready for a second Rush. Another film that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and thus I love it. Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan have the on screen magic that many a film director struggles to get and fails to reach – and it makes for hilarious viewing. Watch this film now!
Cast Away – not the greatest of films, but a film that truly makes you see why Tom Hanks deserves those two Oscars. Although he is out acted by a volleyball (stand up all you Wilson fans) he shows what a great actor should be able to do – hold the screen by himself. Another must see, if only for the most accurate portrayal of a plane crash in film history.
S-h-r-e-k. Short name, big film. In my opinion, the first true adult/child crossover film, if only for the few months until Harry Potter was released. Great twist on fairy tales, with enough mick takes of other films to last a lifetime. It’s got the best script of 2001, without a doubt, and the revolutionary special effects engine used is evident in the flame and water effects. Roll on Shrek 2.
HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE! God I love this film. It’s become the first film I’ve seen three times, though I have no doubt that will change when the Fellowship of the Ring comes out. It’s the best film adaptation of a book ever, and has smashed box offices records on both sides of the Atlantic. Admittedly, the merchandising did go a bit over the top, but one word makes up for it: Quidditch. I want to play Quidditch, right now. Why can’t I play Quidditch? Mind you, in a month I’ll be wanting a glowing sword and a Ring. Why can’t I have a glowing sword and a Ring?
Bridget Jones’s Diary, made in the same vein of Notting Hill, which was itself the natural progression of Four Wedding’s and a Funeral. Everyone in my cinema laughed during the sissy fight between Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, especially as they crashed through the window. Classic.
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. What a disappointment. I know a lot of you are gaming fans, and you have to agree. Oh, yeah. The special effects were amazing, but hello? Where’s the plot? Oh, and as for the rumours it’ll spell the end to real actors…PAH!
Onwards I go, coming to THAT film. Tomb Raider. Not even U2’s Elevation could rescue this film from the depths of film embarrassment. Everything about it was poor, and I mean really poor. In the league of Haley Joel Osment poor. Well, maybe not that poor.
While we’re on poor films, let’s talk about Planet of the Apes. To cap off a bit of a lukewarm summer of ‘blockbusters’, this really takes the biscuit. It didn’t have anything after the original, and it was a shame to see Helena Bonham-Carter act so dismally after the pearl that was Fight Club.
Then comes Hannibal. I know this made big bucks at the box office, but COME ON! Julianne Moore in a role Jodie Foster made her own? This didn’t beat Silence of the Lambs, not by a long shot. Bit of a disappointment from Ridley Scott, to be honest.
OK, so I’ve just talked about three lame ducks in a row – but now we come to the kind of it all – Pearl Harbour. One of the worst scripts I have ever seen on a supposed ‘ blockbuster’, but it did have its moments, Ben Affleck’s acting not being one of them. The actual Pearl Harbour bombing was spectacular, I’ll admit that.
Moulin Rouge. I wasn’t really sure what to make of this. Not my ‘type’ of film, but I can how people, mainly women, would enjoy this. It just seemed a bit… tacky to me. But I’m sure it’ll deservedly pick up a handful of Oscars.
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. Had to mention it. Onwards!
Now we are getting onto the less famous films of 2001, and therefore some of the best. But not alas, Knight’s Tale. There were Nike emblems on the armour, as I see lots of you saw. Sob, it could have been great.
Bruce Willis should know by now that he doesn’t star in a film with Samuel L Jackson. It’s just not good for his career, because Jackson invariably overshadows him. But Unbreakable came and went, with Willis still not capturing good form, and with Jackson out acting him in every single scene. I think this film was worth the money though. I quite enjoyed it, surprisingly.
One Night at McCool’s. What did you guys think of this? It was alright, I thought. Liv Tyler, now forever doomed to be Arwen Evenstar, enjoyed pre-LotR splendour, and Michael Douglas had a nifty wig. McCool’s didn’t do too well at the box office, so we all know what that means. One cult, coming right up.
Chocolat seemed to me to be another ‘chick flick’. I was right, I believe. It wasn’t that good, although my sister went to see it two times, which I presume meant she liked it.
Kidman’s The Others was miles better than Moulin Rouge. In fact, she’ll be a contender for Best Actress Oscar, no doubt. Chilling and very enjoyable. The returns on this will teach her to tart around with McGregor.
Traffic. This won Oscars, and deservedly so, but I still couldn’t bring myself to like it. I bet Benito Del Toro does though. His career’s on a high.
Indie style flick The Mexican was billed as the confrontation of the stars – Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts – a bit like the Pacino/De Niro clash in Heat. The Mexican, like Heat, delivered minute amounts of time when both stars were on screen. Sigh.
I feel The Dish is worth mentioning, if only briefly. There we go.
So finally I come to what could be one of the films of the year. Amores Perros. This Mexican gangster movie made me smile, because it outstaged many Hollywood blockbusters. Bit like Pulp Fiction, with guys in beards speaking Mexican. Please, please, watch this. Film fans will enjoy it, and so will others, maybe.
So that’s my pick of 2001. There were others, like Quills and The Fast and The Furious that were quality films, but I was running out of space. I didn’t want to just harp on about the brilliant films, but show some of the catastrophes we’ve had.
Simply put, the summer of 2001 was disappointing, really. I am left to look back to the blockbuster summer of 1999, when the Phantom Menace, The Matrix, and The Mummy were released in a few short weeks. Ah, the days when a blockbuster summer meant just that. But apart from that, we’ve had a brilliant year, with some true classics, and it’s not over yet. Less than two weeks away is Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings – and this film truly promises to displace Star Wars as the best film trilogy ever. It looks awesome, and the critics have had to struggle hard so far to find anything bad to say about it.
That was the year that was. My favourite part, so far, has been this winter. How about you? What’s been your favourite film of 2001?
Now we look to 2002. Spider-Man, The Matrix Reloaded, Star Wars II: The Attack of the Clones, Blade 2, Minority Report, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.. the list goes on. But I will bet money that among that pile of blockbusters, we’ll get a gem like Amores Perros.
Cheers for reading,
Stryke.
I’ll do the big blockbusters first, then proceed to the unappreciated gems that we have seen.
A.I was my biggest disappointment of the year. It flopped. Jude Law’s robot was best not mentioned, and I cringe at any of Haley Joel Osment’s films. Although I did enjoy the waterlogged New York – that was a bundle of special effects joy. Stanley Kubrick wanted this to be dark, but oh no, along comes Spielburg with his gung-ho Americanism and wrecks what good have been a multiple Oscar winner. Shame.
Jurassic Park III, now there was a prospect. Admittedly, Spielburg wasn’t onboard – this presented a problem. His directorial talents had made Jurassic Park a hit. But I was pleasantly surprised with JP3, and I wasn’t expecting that much. William Macy is one of the truly unappreciated actors, and he did a star turn here. The dinosaurs, thanks to the 6 years they have had to build on JP1’s techniques, look stunning – especially the Spinosarus. I love the scene where is literally pounds a T-Rex. This was a sleeper hit, and for good reason. Thanks to The Lost World, it wasn’t massively anticipated, but delivered for the fans.
Next comes the inevitable sequel to one of the best action flicks ever, The Mummy. The Mummy Returns sadly fell to the assumption that more special effects = better film, and they didn’t even polish all of those, with the Scorpion King being dismally unreal. Yet, if you relaxed and didn’t try to find a plot, you would have enjoyed this film. It’s a rollercoaster action ride that doesn’t even pretend to be quality. Worth the DVD money, that’s for sure.
Now, we have the BEST martial arts film ever, and the first foreign language film to be nominated for Best Film Oscar. I am, of course, talking about Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The film is a classic within a year. Ang Lee establishes himself as a director to watch after breaking through to mainstream audiences, dragging Chow Yun Fat with him. The brilliant use of wirework as they dance through treetops doesn’t look silly, it looks inspired. I simply loved this film, and I hope you did too. Crouching Tiger is East meets West with a difference.
Rush Hour 2 – Get ready for a second Rush. Another film that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and thus I love it. Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan have the on screen magic that many a film director struggles to get and fails to reach – and it makes for hilarious viewing. Watch this film now!
Cast Away – not the greatest of films, but a film that truly makes you see why Tom Hanks deserves those two Oscars. Although he is out acted by a volleyball (stand up all you Wilson fans) he shows what a great actor should be able to do – hold the screen by himself. Another must see, if only for the most accurate portrayal of a plane crash in film history.
S-h-r-e-k. Short name, big film. In my opinion, the first true adult/child crossover film, if only for the few months until Harry Potter was released. Great twist on fairy tales, with enough mick takes of other films to last a lifetime. It’s got the best script of 2001, without a doubt, and the revolutionary special effects engine used is evident in the flame and water effects. Roll on Shrek 2.
HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE! God I love this film. It’s become the first film I’ve seen three times, though I have no doubt that will change when the Fellowship of the Ring comes out. It’s the best film adaptation of a book ever, and has smashed box offices records on both sides of the Atlantic. Admittedly, the merchandising did go a bit over the top, but one word makes up for it: Quidditch. I want to play Quidditch, right now. Why can’t I play Quidditch? Mind you, in a month I’ll be wanting a glowing sword and a Ring. Why can’t I have a glowing sword and a Ring?
Bridget Jones’s Diary, made in the same vein of Notting Hill, which was itself the natural progression of Four Wedding’s and a Funeral. Everyone in my cinema laughed during the sissy fight between Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, especially as they crashed through the window. Classic.
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. What a disappointment. I know a lot of you are gaming fans, and you have to agree. Oh, yeah. The special effects were amazing, but hello? Where’s the plot? Oh, and as for the rumours it’ll spell the end to real actors…PAH!
Onwards I go, coming to THAT film. Tomb Raider. Not even U2’s Elevation could rescue this film from the depths of film embarrassment. Everything about it was poor, and I mean really poor. In the league of Haley Joel Osment poor. Well, maybe not that poor.
While we’re on poor films, let’s talk about Planet of the Apes. To cap off a bit of a lukewarm summer of ‘blockbusters’, this really takes the biscuit. It didn’t have anything after the original, and it was a shame to see Helena Bonham-Carter act so dismally after the pearl that was Fight Club.
Then comes Hannibal. I know this made big bucks at the box office, but COME ON! Julianne Moore in a role Jodie Foster made her own? This didn’t beat Silence of the Lambs, not by a long shot. Bit of a disappointment from Ridley Scott, to be honest.
OK, so I’ve just talked about three lame ducks in a row – but now we come to the kind of it all – Pearl Harbour. One of the worst scripts I have ever seen on a supposed ‘ blockbuster’, but it did have its moments, Ben Affleck’s acting not being one of them. The actual Pearl Harbour bombing was spectacular, I’ll admit that.
Moulin Rouge. I wasn’t really sure what to make of this. Not my ‘type’ of film, but I can how people, mainly women, would enjoy this. It just seemed a bit… tacky to me. But I’m sure it’ll deservedly pick up a handful of Oscars.
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. Had to mention it. Onwards!
Now we are getting onto the less famous films of 2001, and therefore some of the best. But not alas, Knight’s Tale. There were Nike emblems on the armour, as I see lots of you saw. Sob, it could have been great.
Bruce Willis should know by now that he doesn’t star in a film with Samuel L Jackson. It’s just not good for his career, because Jackson invariably overshadows him. But Unbreakable came and went, with Willis still not capturing good form, and with Jackson out acting him in every single scene. I think this film was worth the money though. I quite enjoyed it, surprisingly.
One Night at McCool’s. What did you guys think of this? It was alright, I thought. Liv Tyler, now forever doomed to be Arwen Evenstar, enjoyed pre-LotR splendour, and Michael Douglas had a nifty wig. McCool’s didn’t do too well at the box office, so we all know what that means. One cult, coming right up.
Chocolat seemed to me to be another ‘chick flick’. I was right, I believe. It wasn’t that good, although my sister went to see it two times, which I presume meant she liked it.
Kidman’s The Others was miles better than Moulin Rouge. In fact, she’ll be a contender for Best Actress Oscar, no doubt. Chilling and very enjoyable. The returns on this will teach her to tart around with McGregor.
Traffic. This won Oscars, and deservedly so, but I still couldn’t bring myself to like it. I bet Benito Del Toro does though. His career’s on a high.
Indie style flick The Mexican was billed as the confrontation of the stars – Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts – a bit like the Pacino/De Niro clash in Heat. The Mexican, like Heat, delivered minute amounts of time when both stars were on screen. Sigh.
I feel The Dish is worth mentioning, if only briefly. There we go.
So finally I come to what could be one of the films of the year. Amores Perros. This Mexican gangster movie made me smile, because it outstaged many Hollywood blockbusters. Bit like Pulp Fiction, with guys in beards speaking Mexican. Please, please, watch this. Film fans will enjoy it, and so will others, maybe.
So that’s my pick of 2001. There were others, like Quills and The Fast and The Furious that were quality films, but I was running out of space. I didn’t want to just harp on about the brilliant films, but show some of the catastrophes we’ve had.
Simply put, the summer of 2001 was disappointing, really. I am left to look back to the blockbuster summer of 1999, when the Phantom Menace, The Matrix, and The Mummy were released in a few short weeks. Ah, the days when a blockbuster summer meant just that. But apart from that, we’ve had a brilliant year, with some true classics, and it’s not over yet. Less than two weeks away is Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings – and this film truly promises to displace Star Wars as the best film trilogy ever. It looks awesome, and the critics have had to struggle hard so far to find anything bad to say about it.
That was the year that was. My favourite part, so far, has been this winter. How about you? What’s been your favourite film of 2001?
Now we look to 2002. Spider-Man, The Matrix Reloaded, Star Wars II: The Attack of the Clones, Blade 2, Minority Report, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.. the list goes on. But I will bet money that among that pile of blockbusters, we’ll get a gem like Amores Perros.
Cheers for reading,
Stryke.
Damn, I didn't win for this. Doesn't it annoy you when you lose for a post you spent ages on? Ah well, the better post probably won.
I can't believe that you missed the greatest in rock musicals since the legendary Spinal Tap... hedwig and the Angry Inch. Put simply this is one of the funniest and weirdest films ever made and I love it. It's out on DVD in January.
It's about an East german who has a sex change to escape post war Berlin by marrying a yankee soldier. He/She then starts up a rock band and things progress from there. It's so good...
2001 was also a good year for non-blockbuster films, Requiem For A Dream, Girlfight, Amores Perros.. classic films that were far better than the ones that stormed through at the box office.
It's about an East german who has a sex change to escape post war Berlin by marrying a yankee soldier. He/She then starts up a rock band and things progress from there. It's so good...
2001 was also a good year for non-blockbuster films, Requiem For A Dream, Girlfight, Amores Perros.. classic films that were far better than the ones that stormed through at the box office.
Stryke wrote:
Interesting point - When Spielburg was offered Harry Potter directorship, he
> wanted HL Osment as Harry Potter and Hogwarts as an American high school. Oh no
> Ross, Spielburg doesn't Americanise things!
Harry Potter rules. You don't even
> read, townie boy =P
I think I'll just repeat my previous point. YOU'RE 16 YEARS OLD AND YOU LOVE HARRY POTTER!!!
>Well Jodie Foster was crap! How she won an oscar I
> have no idea.
Perhaps by being the Best Actress of the year?
Pfffff......she was awful!
Bruce Lee
> was good at martial arts, but his movies sucked. All Jackie Chan movies are
> better entertainment. Oh, Chan's not as good as Lee, but his movies are
> better.
How many Bruce Lee movies have you atually seen Gaz? None? Well that doesn't surprise me in the least.
>Oh and as I've said countless times before, A.I was
> absolutely......
Crap?
Errrr....no actually. If you read on, you would have seen what I wrote. Now who doesn't read, eh? EH? :-D
they didn't even give give me a bloody free
> ticket to see A.I the
> following night.
Well, as you know, they
> couldn't even GIVE away tickets to A.I ;-)
Because it was too good. It was so popular. I went to see it twice and the cinema was packed both times. HA! :-D
>Thank you, and goodnight.
Errrr....no. Thank you and goodnight.
:-D
Interesting point - When Spielburg was offered Harry Potter directorship, he
> wanted HL Osment as Harry Potter and Hogwarts as an American high school. Oh no
> Ross, Spielburg doesn't Americanise things!
Harry Potter rules. You don't even
> read, townie boy =P
I think I'll just repeat my previous point. YOU'RE 16 YEARS OLD AND YOU LOVE HARRY POTTER!!!
>Well Jodie Foster was crap! How she won an oscar I
> have no idea.
Perhaps by being the Best Actress of the year?
Pfffff......she was awful!
Bruce Lee
> was good at martial arts, but his movies sucked. All Jackie Chan movies are
> better entertainment. Oh, Chan's not as good as Lee, but his movies are
> better.
How many Bruce Lee movies have you atually seen Gaz? None? Well that doesn't surprise me in the least.
>Oh and as I've said countless times before, A.I was
> absolutely......
Crap?
Errrr....no actually. If you read on, you would have seen what I wrote. Now who doesn't read, eh? EH? :-D
they didn't even give give me a bloody free
> ticket to see A.I the
> following night.
Well, as you know, they
> couldn't even GIVE away tickets to A.I ;-)
Because it was too good. It was so popular. I went to see it twice and the cinema was packed both times. HA! :-D
>Thank you, and goodnight.
Errrr....no. Thank you and goodnight.
:-D
The only thing that is going to stop me from hunting you down is by meditating....
.....so I shan't meditate!!!
I'm gonna hunt you down boy!!! :-D
And anyway, I thought of 3 more films which have not been mentioned.
Swordfish - Brilliant opening with stunning effects but overall it wasn't anything special. Not bad but not great.
Enemy at the Gates - I wasn't really expecting much from this but it actually really impressed me. Ed Harris was really good and Jude Law (despite speaking with a perfect English accent) was pretty good too. The sniping bits were especially good, if a bit ridiculous.
American Pie 2 - I never saw the first one but this was damn funny. It had me in hysterics for the duration. I was crying with laughter at some parts and it didn't help that I was sitting next to the most laughably unstable girl that I know. By that I mean that she breaks into laughter at anything....whether it's funny or not!!!
Enigma - It started off extremely boring but it picked up and actually got quite good. By no means brilliant, but a hell of a lot better than the awful U-571.
Well what do you know, that was 4 films, not 3. WOW!
.....so I shan't meditate!!!
I'm gonna hunt you down boy!!! :-D
And anyway, I thought of 3 more films which have not been mentioned.
Swordfish - Brilliant opening with stunning effects but overall it wasn't anything special. Not bad but not great.
Enemy at the Gates - I wasn't really expecting much from this but it actually really impressed me. Ed Harris was really good and Jude Law (despite speaking with a perfect English accent) was pretty good too. The sniping bits were especially good, if a bit ridiculous.
American Pie 2 - I never saw the first one but this was damn funny. It had me in hysterics for the duration. I was crying with laughter at some parts and it didn't help that I was sitting next to the most laughably unstable girl that I know. By that I mean that she breaks into laughter at anything....whether it's funny or not!!!
Enigma - It started off extremely boring but it picked up and actually got quite good. By no means brilliant, but a hell of a lot better than the awful U-571.
Well what do you know, that was 4 films, not 3. WOW!
The_Vottanator wrote:
>
And don't ever dis Haley Joel Osment again, you hear me!!! Not when
> you're 16 years old and love Harry Potter!!!
Interesting point - When Spielburg was offered Harry Potter directorship, he wanted HL Osment as Harry Potter and Hogwarts as an American high school. Oh no Ross, Spielburg doesn't Americanise things!
Harry Potter rules. You don't even read, townie boy =P
>Well Jodie Foster was crap! How she won an oscar I have no idea.
Perhaps by being the Best Actress of the year?
But if you want to see a true Martial arts movie, watch a Bruce Lee movie.
Bruce Lee was good at martial arts, but his movies sucked. All Jackie Chan movies are better entertainment. Oh, Chan's not as good as Lee, but his movies are better.
>Oh and as I've said countless times before, A.I was absolutely......
Crap?
they didn't even give give me a bloody free ticket to see A.I the
> following night.
Well, as you know, they couldn't even GIVE away tickets to A.I ;-)
Thank you, and goodnight.
>
And don't ever dis Haley Joel Osment again, you hear me!!! Not when
> you're 16 years old and love Harry Potter!!!
Interesting point - When Spielburg was offered Harry Potter directorship, he wanted HL Osment as Harry Potter and Hogwarts as an American high school. Oh no Ross, Spielburg doesn't Americanise things!
Harry Potter rules. You don't even read, townie boy =P
>Well Jodie Foster was crap! How she won an oscar I have no idea.
Perhaps by being the Best Actress of the year?
But if you want to see a true Martial arts movie, watch a Bruce Lee movie.
Bruce Lee was good at martial arts, but his movies sucked. All Jackie Chan movies are better entertainment. Oh, Chan's not as good as Lee, but his movies are better.
>Oh and as I've said countless times before, A.I was absolutely......
Crap?
they didn't even give give me a bloody free ticket to see A.I the
> following night.
Well, as you know, they couldn't even GIVE away tickets to A.I ;-)
Thank you, and goodnight.
Haley Joel Osment can't act for peanuts. And yes, it was a cheap shot at you ;-)
It's called the Two Towers. Return of the King is the thrid one - with the Kind being Aragorn. Oops, another spoiler there.
Yep, Blow was a decent film.
It's called the Two Towers. Return of the King is the thrid one - with the Kind being Aragorn. Oops, another spoiler there.
Yep, Blow was a decent film.
Stryke wrote:
Onwards I go, coming to THAT film. Tomb Raider. Not even U2’s Elevation could rescue this film from the depths of film embarrassment. Everything about it was poor, and I mean really poor. In the league of Haley Joel Osment poor. Well, maybe not that poor.
Oooooooo......that was just a cheap shot to get at me and you know it. You should be ashamed of yourself!
Anyway, to start with, Planet of the Apes really wasn't that bad. Okay sure, it was hyped too much and didn't deliver on what it promised, but it wasn't all that bad and I'm sure it was a lot better than the tosh Mummy Returns offers.
Final Fantasy also, wasn't too bad. The graphics were extremely impressive but I think what made it for me, were the voices. It was great recognising basically every main character in there and my friends being both amazed and pitied me at the same time for knowing everyone in it. Steve Buscemi, Ving Rhames, Alec Baldwin and Donald Sutherland to name a few. Or maybe that was it. :-D
And don't ever dis Haley Joel Osment again, you hear me!!! Not when you're 16 years old and love Harry Potter!!! He's young, he's rich and he's talented. You're slightly older, not rich and probably not talented in the acting department (but I may be wrong). Who's better off? Thank you. :-D
And what about Hannibal. You say Julliane Moore couldn't compete with Jodie Foster?!? Well Jodie Foster was crap! How she won an oscar I have no idea. Julianne Moore was lightyears ahead of her. Also, Lambs had immense boring parts when Bafallo Bill was on screen. The best parts were always the bits involving Lecter. Since Hannibal is all about Lecter, I thought that was what made it better. The series has improved as each film is released in my opinion. Manhunter was good but Lambs was better. Lambs was brilliant but Hannibal was truly amazing.
And another thing, Crouching Tiger wasn't exactly a martial arts movie. It had sword fights, but not really much martial arts. Still, it was a great film with a great soundtrack and great acting. Oh yeah, and Chow Yun Fat rules! :-D But if you want to see a true Martial arts movie, watch a Bruce Lee movie. Way of the Dragon is one of his best and that is one of the best martial arts movies ever. Game of Death would have been better if he had finished it mind.
Oh and as I've said countless times before, A.I was absolutely......I can't even be bothered to back it up anymore. It was a great film, it's just a shame some people couldn't get over the fact that it was Spielberg and therefore didn't like it before they'd even seen it!
And then as you say, there was Moulin Rouge. I couldn't even see how other people liked that film. I saw it twice as it was on while I was on work experience at the cinema and it was the biggest load of tripe I'd ever seen. The music was awful!!! They tried to mix old songs with new and it just did not work at all. Truly unbearable! They forced me to watch it a secoind time...honest! It's not just that I didn't want to stack popcorn cases. :-D And after 2 weeks off working for them free of charge, they didn't even give give me a bloody free ticket to see A.I the following night. What cheek!
All I have to say about JP3 is that it was quite good but nothing on the first. It was more action, rather than storyline. A lot better than the pretty dismal second film though. And the one bit I found ridiculous was "No force of heaven or hell will get me back on that island!"
"I'll give you a few grand"
"Okay"
I haven't seen Rush Hour 2 yet but I've pre-ordered the DVD because the first one was so good. I can't wait to see it.
Cast Away was good too. I never got round to seeing it at the cinema but I claimed it as a FAD a while back and was quite impressed. The FedEx got on my nerves a bit but it was still quite entertaining. Good performance from Tom Hanks but not a scratch on his performance in Forrest Gump. The film wasn't a scrath on it either.
Shrek. Now I saw this on the opening day and loved it. The wrestling scene was soooo funny and Eddie Murphy's voice just seemed so perfect for the donkey. I saw it again on the plane to America too and it was just as good.
Pearl Harbor was really quite poor yes. I saw it twice though just to make sure. I came out of the cinema the first time thinking it was chronic but then on reflection, I thought it should have been quite good. So, I went back to see it again but nope, I was right the first time. Abysmal film. Bewn Affleck should have stayed dead. It would make it more bearable.
Then there was Traffic. This film is really (and I mean REALLY) good. I seriously recommend this film to anyone who hasn't seen it. It is amazing and has an ending leaving you feeling pretty good. It's the music in the last scene you see.
And while on the drugs topic, one you missed Gaz, Blow. I can't really decide whether I liked this more than Traffic. They were both great films and it really comes down to the actors to determine which I liked best. Traffic has rthe better cast....but then Blow has Johnny Depp and Ray Liotta, both of whom are pretty cool. Still undecided. Both great films.
And another film you've missed is Memento. I think that was this year anyway. That was a truly great film. I only saw it once at the cinema but it was incredibly well strung together, extremely clever and quite amusing too. "What am I doing? Oh I remember, I'm chasing this guy."
*BANG*
"Okay no, he's chasing me."
I think I've said all the ones that I can remember (that I've seen anyway). If I missed any out, then either I've not seen them or I just forgot about them.
I just thought I'd write a second opinion for all you people out there. How kind am I? Exactly. Very kind. :-D
And I'm appalled at you Gaz. You missed out your favourite film of next year. Lord of the Rings: The err....second one? I can't remember what it's called but isn't it out next Christmas? Oooo Twin Towers is it? Return of the King or something I remember is the last one so it must be Twin Towers....or Tower. Ahhh well, I'm sure you'll set me straight. :-D
Onwards I go, coming to THAT film. Tomb Raider. Not even U2’s Elevation could rescue this film from the depths of film embarrassment. Everything about it was poor, and I mean really poor. In the league of Haley Joel Osment poor. Well, maybe not that poor.
Oooooooo......that was just a cheap shot to get at me and you know it. You should be ashamed of yourself!
Anyway, to start with, Planet of the Apes really wasn't that bad. Okay sure, it was hyped too much and didn't deliver on what it promised, but it wasn't all that bad and I'm sure it was a lot better than the tosh Mummy Returns offers.
Final Fantasy also, wasn't too bad. The graphics were extremely impressive but I think what made it for me, were the voices. It was great recognising basically every main character in there and my friends being both amazed and pitied me at the same time for knowing everyone in it. Steve Buscemi, Ving Rhames, Alec Baldwin and Donald Sutherland to name a few. Or maybe that was it. :-D
And don't ever dis Haley Joel Osment again, you hear me!!! Not when you're 16 years old and love Harry Potter!!! He's young, he's rich and he's talented. You're slightly older, not rich and probably not talented in the acting department (but I may be wrong). Who's better off? Thank you. :-D
And what about Hannibal. You say Julliane Moore couldn't compete with Jodie Foster?!? Well Jodie Foster was crap! How she won an oscar I have no idea. Julianne Moore was lightyears ahead of her. Also, Lambs had immense boring parts when Bafallo Bill was on screen. The best parts were always the bits involving Lecter. Since Hannibal is all about Lecter, I thought that was what made it better. The series has improved as each film is released in my opinion. Manhunter was good but Lambs was better. Lambs was brilliant but Hannibal was truly amazing.
And another thing, Crouching Tiger wasn't exactly a martial arts movie. It had sword fights, but not really much martial arts. Still, it was a great film with a great soundtrack and great acting. Oh yeah, and Chow Yun Fat rules! :-D But if you want to see a true Martial arts movie, watch a Bruce Lee movie. Way of the Dragon is one of his best and that is one of the best martial arts movies ever. Game of Death would have been better if he had finished it mind.
Oh and as I've said countless times before, A.I was absolutely......I can't even be bothered to back it up anymore. It was a great film, it's just a shame some people couldn't get over the fact that it was Spielberg and therefore didn't like it before they'd even seen it!
And then as you say, there was Moulin Rouge. I couldn't even see how other people liked that film. I saw it twice as it was on while I was on work experience at the cinema and it was the biggest load of tripe I'd ever seen. The music was awful!!! They tried to mix old songs with new and it just did not work at all. Truly unbearable! They forced me to watch it a secoind time...honest! It's not just that I didn't want to stack popcorn cases. :-D And after 2 weeks off working for them free of charge, they didn't even give give me a bloody free ticket to see A.I the following night. What cheek!
All I have to say about JP3 is that it was quite good but nothing on the first. It was more action, rather than storyline. A lot better than the pretty dismal second film though. And the one bit I found ridiculous was "No force of heaven or hell will get me back on that island!"
"I'll give you a few grand"
"Okay"
I haven't seen Rush Hour 2 yet but I've pre-ordered the DVD because the first one was so good. I can't wait to see it.
Cast Away was good too. I never got round to seeing it at the cinema but I claimed it as a FAD a while back and was quite impressed. The FedEx got on my nerves a bit but it was still quite entertaining. Good performance from Tom Hanks but not a scratch on his performance in Forrest Gump. The film wasn't a scrath on it either.
Shrek. Now I saw this on the opening day and loved it. The wrestling scene was soooo funny and Eddie Murphy's voice just seemed so perfect for the donkey. I saw it again on the plane to America too and it was just as good.
Pearl Harbor was really quite poor yes. I saw it twice though just to make sure. I came out of the cinema the first time thinking it was chronic but then on reflection, I thought it should have been quite good. So, I went back to see it again but nope, I was right the first time. Abysmal film. Bewn Affleck should have stayed dead. It would make it more bearable.
Then there was Traffic. This film is really (and I mean REALLY) good. I seriously recommend this film to anyone who hasn't seen it. It is amazing and has an ending leaving you feeling pretty good. It's the music in the last scene you see.
And while on the drugs topic, one you missed Gaz, Blow. I can't really decide whether I liked this more than Traffic. They were both great films and it really comes down to the actors to determine which I liked best. Traffic has rthe better cast....but then Blow has Johnny Depp and Ray Liotta, both of whom are pretty cool. Still undecided. Both great films.
And another film you've missed is Memento. I think that was this year anyway. That was a truly great film. I only saw it once at the cinema but it was incredibly well strung together, extremely clever and quite amusing too. "What am I doing? Oh I remember, I'm chasing this guy."
*BANG*
"Okay no, he's chasing me."
I think I've said all the ones that I can remember (that I've seen anyway). If I missed any out, then either I've not seen them or I just forgot about them.
I just thought I'd write a second opinion for all you people out there. How kind am I? Exactly. Very kind. :-D
And I'm appalled at you Gaz. You missed out your favourite film of next year. Lord of the Rings: The err....second one? I can't remember what it's called but isn't it out next Christmas? Oooo Twin Towers is it? Return of the King or something I remember is the last one so it must be Twin Towers....or Tower. Ahhh well, I'm sure you'll set me straight. :-D
Just looking back on the year of films we’ve had, it’s been a treat. Some of the best films I’ve ever seen have been released in 2001, and I’ve seen a fair few films – although there have been a fair few poor ones as well, and films that mournfully failed to fill our expectations. I just though I’d go through them – review what I thought made the standard and didn’t.
I’ll do the big blockbusters first, then proceed to the unappreciated gems that we have seen.
A.I was my biggest disappointment of the year. It flopped. Jude Law’s robot was best not mentioned, and I cringe at any of Haley Joel Osment’s films. Although I did enjoy the waterlogged New York – that was a bundle of special effects joy. Stanley Kubrick wanted this to be dark, but oh no, along comes Spielburg with his gung-ho Americanism and wrecks what good have been a multiple Oscar winner. Shame.
Jurassic Park III, now there was a prospect. Admittedly, Spielburg wasn’t onboard – this presented a problem. His directorial talents had made Jurassic Park a hit. But I was pleasantly surprised with JP3, and I wasn’t expecting that much. William Macy is one of the truly unappreciated actors, and he did a star turn here. The dinosaurs, thanks to the 6 years they have had to build on JP1’s techniques, look stunning – especially the Spinosarus. I love the scene where is literally pounds a T-Rex. This was a sleeper hit, and for good reason. Thanks to The Lost World, it wasn’t massively anticipated, but delivered for the fans.
Next comes the inevitable sequel to one of the best action flicks ever, The Mummy. The Mummy Returns sadly fell to the assumption that more special effects = better film, and they didn’t even polish all of those, with the Scorpion King being dismally unreal. Yet, if you relaxed and didn’t try to find a plot, you would have enjoyed this film. It’s a rollercoaster action ride that doesn’t even pretend to be quality. Worth the DVD money, that’s for sure.
Now, we have the BEST martial arts film ever, and the first foreign language film to be nominated for Best Film Oscar. I am, of course, talking about Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The film is a classic within a year. Ang Lee establishes himself as a director to watch after breaking through to mainstream audiences, dragging Chow Yun Fat with him. The brilliant use of wirework as they dance through treetops doesn’t look silly, it looks inspired. I simply loved this film, and I hope you did too. Crouching Tiger is East meets West with a difference.
Rush Hour 2 – Get ready for a second Rush. Another film that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and thus I love it. Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan have the on screen magic that many a film director struggles to get and fails to reach – and it makes for hilarious viewing. Watch this film now!
Cast Away – not the greatest of films, but a film that truly makes you see why Tom Hanks deserves those two Oscars. Although he is out acted by a volleyball (stand up all you Wilson fans) he shows what a great actor should be able to do – hold the screen by himself. Another must see, if only for the most accurate portrayal of a plane crash in film history.
S-h-r-e-k. Short name, big film. In my opinion, the first true adult/child crossover film, if only for the few months until Harry Potter was released. Great twist on fairy tales, with enough mick takes of other films to last a lifetime. It’s got the best script of 2001, without a doubt, and the revolutionary special effects engine used is evident in the flame and water effects. Roll on Shrek 2.
HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE! God I love this film. It’s become the first film I’ve seen three times, though I have no doubt that will change when the Fellowship of the Ring comes out. It’s the best film adaptation of a book ever, and has smashed box offices records on both sides of the Atlantic. Admittedly, the merchandising did go a bit over the top, but one word makes up for it: Quidditch. I want to play Quidditch, right now. Why can’t I play Quidditch? Mind you, in a month I’ll be wanting a glowing sword and a Ring. Why can’t I have a glowing sword and a Ring?
Bridget Jones’s Diary, made in the same vein of Notting Hill, which was itself the natural progression of Four Wedding’s and a Funeral. Everyone in my cinema laughed during the sissy fight between Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, especially as they crashed through the window. Classic.
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. What a disappointment. I know a lot of you are gaming fans, and you have to agree. Oh, yeah. The special effects were amazing, but hello? Where’s the plot? Oh, and as for the rumours it’ll spell the end to real actors…PAH!
Onwards I go, coming to THAT film. Tomb Raider. Not even U2’s Elevation could rescue this film from the depths of film embarrassment. Everything about it was poor, and I mean really poor. In the league of Haley Joel Osment poor. Well, maybe not that poor.
While we’re on poor films, let’s talk about Planet of the Apes. To cap off a bit of a lukewarm summer of ‘blockbusters’, this really takes the biscuit. It didn’t have anything after the original, and it was a shame to see Helena Bonham-Carter act so dismally after the pearl that was Fight Club.
Then comes Hannibal. I know this made big bucks at the box office, but COME ON! Julianne Moore in a role Jodie Foster made her own? This didn’t beat Silence of the Lambs, not by a long shot. Bit of a disappointment from Ridley Scott, to be honest.
OK, so I’ve just talked about three lame ducks in a row – but now we come to the kind of it all – Pearl Harbour. One of the worst scripts I have ever seen on a supposed ‘ blockbuster’, but it did have its moments, Ben Affleck’s acting not being one of them. The actual Pearl Harbour bombing was spectacular, I’ll admit that.
Moulin Rouge. I wasn’t really sure what to make of this. Not my ‘type’ of film, but I can how people, mainly women, would enjoy this. It just seemed a bit… tacky to me. But I’m sure it’ll deservedly pick up a handful of Oscars.
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. Had to mention it. Onwards!
Now we are getting onto the less famous films of 2001, and therefore some of the best. But not alas, Knight’s Tale. There were Nike emblems on the armour, as I see lots of you saw. Sob, it could have been great.
Bruce Willis should know by now that he doesn’t star in a film with Samuel L Jackson. It’s just not good for his career, because Jackson invariably overshadows him. But Unbreakable came and went, with Willis still not capturing good form, and with Jackson out acting him in every single scene. I think this film was worth the money though. I quite enjoyed it, surprisingly.
One Night at McCool’s. What did you guys think of this? It was alright, I thought. Liv Tyler, now forever doomed to be Arwen Evenstar, enjoyed pre-LotR splendour, and Michael Douglas had a nifty wig. McCool’s didn’t do too well at the box office, so we all know what that means. One cult, coming right up.
Chocolat seemed to me to be another ‘chick flick’. I was right, I believe. It wasn’t that good, although my sister went to see it two times, which I presume meant she liked it.
Kidman’s The Others was miles better than Moulin Rouge. In fact, she’ll be a contender for Best Actress Oscar, no doubt. Chilling and very enjoyable. The returns on this will teach her to tart around with McGregor.
Traffic. This won Oscars, and deservedly so, but I still couldn’t bring myself to like it. I bet Benito Del Toro does though. His career’s on a high.
Indie style flick The Mexican was billed as the confrontation of the stars – Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts – a bit like the Pacino/De Niro clash in Heat. The Mexican, like Heat, delivered minute amounts of time when both stars were on screen. Sigh.
I feel The Dish is worth mentioning, if only briefly. There we go.
So finally I come to what could be one of the films of the year. Amores Perros. This Mexican gangster movie made me smile, because it outstaged many Hollywood blockbusters. Bit like Pulp Fiction, with guys in beards speaking Mexican. Please, please, watch this. Film fans will enjoy it, and so will others, maybe.
So that’s my pick of 2001. There were others, like Quills and The Fast and The Furious that were quality films, but I was running out of space. I didn’t want to just harp on about the brilliant films, but show some of the catastrophes we’ve had.
Simply put, the summer of 2001 was disappointing, really. I am left to look back to the blockbuster summer of 1999, when the Phantom Menace, The Matrix, and The Mummy were released in a few short weeks. Ah, the days when a blockbuster summer meant just that. But apart from that, we’ve had a brilliant year, with some true classics, and it’s not over yet. Less than two weeks away is Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings – and this film truly promises to displace Star Wars as the best film trilogy ever. It looks awesome, and the critics have had to struggle hard so far to find anything bad to say about it.
That was the year that was. My favourite part, so far, has been this winter. How about you? What’s been your favourite film of 2001?
Now we look to 2002. Spider-Man, The Matrix Reloaded, Star Wars II: The Attack of the Clones, Blade 2, Minority Report, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.. the list goes on. But I will bet money that among that pile of blockbusters, we’ll get a gem like Amores Perros.
Cheers for reading,
Stryke.
I’ll do the big blockbusters first, then proceed to the unappreciated gems that we have seen.
A.I was my biggest disappointment of the year. It flopped. Jude Law’s robot was best not mentioned, and I cringe at any of Haley Joel Osment’s films. Although I did enjoy the waterlogged New York – that was a bundle of special effects joy. Stanley Kubrick wanted this to be dark, but oh no, along comes Spielburg with his gung-ho Americanism and wrecks what good have been a multiple Oscar winner. Shame.
Jurassic Park III, now there was a prospect. Admittedly, Spielburg wasn’t onboard – this presented a problem. His directorial talents had made Jurassic Park a hit. But I was pleasantly surprised with JP3, and I wasn’t expecting that much. William Macy is one of the truly unappreciated actors, and he did a star turn here. The dinosaurs, thanks to the 6 years they have had to build on JP1’s techniques, look stunning – especially the Spinosarus. I love the scene where is literally pounds a T-Rex. This was a sleeper hit, and for good reason. Thanks to The Lost World, it wasn’t massively anticipated, but delivered for the fans.
Next comes the inevitable sequel to one of the best action flicks ever, The Mummy. The Mummy Returns sadly fell to the assumption that more special effects = better film, and they didn’t even polish all of those, with the Scorpion King being dismally unreal. Yet, if you relaxed and didn’t try to find a plot, you would have enjoyed this film. It’s a rollercoaster action ride that doesn’t even pretend to be quality. Worth the DVD money, that’s for sure.
Now, we have the BEST martial arts film ever, and the first foreign language film to be nominated for Best Film Oscar. I am, of course, talking about Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The film is a classic within a year. Ang Lee establishes himself as a director to watch after breaking through to mainstream audiences, dragging Chow Yun Fat with him. The brilliant use of wirework as they dance through treetops doesn’t look silly, it looks inspired. I simply loved this film, and I hope you did too. Crouching Tiger is East meets West with a difference.
Rush Hour 2 – Get ready for a second Rush. Another film that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and thus I love it. Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan have the on screen magic that many a film director struggles to get and fails to reach – and it makes for hilarious viewing. Watch this film now!
Cast Away – not the greatest of films, but a film that truly makes you see why Tom Hanks deserves those two Oscars. Although he is out acted by a volleyball (stand up all you Wilson fans) he shows what a great actor should be able to do – hold the screen by himself. Another must see, if only for the most accurate portrayal of a plane crash in film history.
S-h-r-e-k. Short name, big film. In my opinion, the first true adult/child crossover film, if only for the few months until Harry Potter was released. Great twist on fairy tales, with enough mick takes of other films to last a lifetime. It’s got the best script of 2001, without a doubt, and the revolutionary special effects engine used is evident in the flame and water effects. Roll on Shrek 2.
HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE! God I love this film. It’s become the first film I’ve seen three times, though I have no doubt that will change when the Fellowship of the Ring comes out. It’s the best film adaptation of a book ever, and has smashed box offices records on both sides of the Atlantic. Admittedly, the merchandising did go a bit over the top, but one word makes up for it: Quidditch. I want to play Quidditch, right now. Why can’t I play Quidditch? Mind you, in a month I’ll be wanting a glowing sword and a Ring. Why can’t I have a glowing sword and a Ring?
Bridget Jones’s Diary, made in the same vein of Notting Hill, which was itself the natural progression of Four Wedding’s and a Funeral. Everyone in my cinema laughed during the sissy fight between Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, especially as they crashed through the window. Classic.
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. What a disappointment. I know a lot of you are gaming fans, and you have to agree. Oh, yeah. The special effects were amazing, but hello? Where’s the plot? Oh, and as for the rumours it’ll spell the end to real actors…PAH!
Onwards I go, coming to THAT film. Tomb Raider. Not even U2’s Elevation could rescue this film from the depths of film embarrassment. Everything about it was poor, and I mean really poor. In the league of Haley Joel Osment poor. Well, maybe not that poor.
While we’re on poor films, let’s talk about Planet of the Apes. To cap off a bit of a lukewarm summer of ‘blockbusters’, this really takes the biscuit. It didn’t have anything after the original, and it was a shame to see Helena Bonham-Carter act so dismally after the pearl that was Fight Club.
Then comes Hannibal. I know this made big bucks at the box office, but COME ON! Julianne Moore in a role Jodie Foster made her own? This didn’t beat Silence of the Lambs, not by a long shot. Bit of a disappointment from Ridley Scott, to be honest.
OK, so I’ve just talked about three lame ducks in a row – but now we come to the kind of it all – Pearl Harbour. One of the worst scripts I have ever seen on a supposed ‘ blockbuster’, but it did have its moments, Ben Affleck’s acting not being one of them. The actual Pearl Harbour bombing was spectacular, I’ll admit that.
Moulin Rouge. I wasn’t really sure what to make of this. Not my ‘type’ of film, but I can how people, mainly women, would enjoy this. It just seemed a bit… tacky to me. But I’m sure it’ll deservedly pick up a handful of Oscars.
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. Had to mention it. Onwards!
Now we are getting onto the less famous films of 2001, and therefore some of the best. But not alas, Knight’s Tale. There were Nike emblems on the armour, as I see lots of you saw. Sob, it could have been great.
Bruce Willis should know by now that he doesn’t star in a film with Samuel L Jackson. It’s just not good for his career, because Jackson invariably overshadows him. But Unbreakable came and went, with Willis still not capturing good form, and with Jackson out acting him in every single scene. I think this film was worth the money though. I quite enjoyed it, surprisingly.
One Night at McCool’s. What did you guys think of this? It was alright, I thought. Liv Tyler, now forever doomed to be Arwen Evenstar, enjoyed pre-LotR splendour, and Michael Douglas had a nifty wig. McCool’s didn’t do too well at the box office, so we all know what that means. One cult, coming right up.
Chocolat seemed to me to be another ‘chick flick’. I was right, I believe. It wasn’t that good, although my sister went to see it two times, which I presume meant she liked it.
Kidman’s The Others was miles better than Moulin Rouge. In fact, she’ll be a contender for Best Actress Oscar, no doubt. Chilling and very enjoyable. The returns on this will teach her to tart around with McGregor.
Traffic. This won Oscars, and deservedly so, but I still couldn’t bring myself to like it. I bet Benito Del Toro does though. His career’s on a high.
Indie style flick The Mexican was billed as the confrontation of the stars – Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts – a bit like the Pacino/De Niro clash in Heat. The Mexican, like Heat, delivered minute amounts of time when both stars were on screen. Sigh.
I feel The Dish is worth mentioning, if only briefly. There we go.
So finally I come to what could be one of the films of the year. Amores Perros. This Mexican gangster movie made me smile, because it outstaged many Hollywood blockbusters. Bit like Pulp Fiction, with guys in beards speaking Mexican. Please, please, watch this. Film fans will enjoy it, and so will others, maybe.
So that’s my pick of 2001. There were others, like Quills and The Fast and The Furious that were quality films, but I was running out of space. I didn’t want to just harp on about the brilliant films, but show some of the catastrophes we’ve had.
Simply put, the summer of 2001 was disappointing, really. I am left to look back to the blockbuster summer of 1999, when the Phantom Menace, The Matrix, and The Mummy were released in a few short weeks. Ah, the days when a blockbuster summer meant just that. But apart from that, we’ve had a brilliant year, with some true classics, and it’s not over yet. Less than two weeks away is Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings – and this film truly promises to displace Star Wars as the best film trilogy ever. It looks awesome, and the critics have had to struggle hard so far to find anything bad to say about it.
That was the year that was. My favourite part, so far, has been this winter. How about you? What’s been your favourite film of 2001?
Now we look to 2002. Spider-Man, The Matrix Reloaded, Star Wars II: The Attack of the Clones, Blade 2, Minority Report, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.. the list goes on. But I will bet money that among that pile of blockbusters, we’ll get a gem like Amores Perros.
Cheers for reading,
Stryke.