The first part of my 100 Bucket List Films Reviews is finally here! As I predicted, it’s full of films the family already knew and loved. Only one of these films is a film I hadn’t seen before starting this bucket list. Three of the five films we watched are animated. I’m not entirely sure what the reason is for this (maybe because my family all love Disney). It’s an interesting observation to make that we picked supposed ‘children’s films’ before the ‘adults films’ on the list. The reviews I have written here are in the order that we watched them, not by ranking. Now, let’s get into it!
Snatch, directed by Guy Ritchie, chosen by Dad
The first film we watched was chosen by Dad, being that it was his Father’s Day present. I must commend him on his choice of the first film to kick the bucket list off, because I thoroughly enjoyed Snatch. It’s the comedic gang-crime film everybody needs to see. Asides from my parents quoting ‘I’m sweet enough, Turkish’ when asked if they want sugar in their tea and saying ‘it was two minutes, five minutes ago’ whenever they were waiting for something, this was the first time I had experienced Snatch.
I love films whereby you follow individual story lines which then all come together at the end. This can be done terribly in some cases, but Snatch manages to perfect this type of narrative. Jumping between the characters makes you aware something bigger is going on and builds up the suspense which leads to the final brawl. The blend of this and its comedic elements is a recipe for an amazing film. One thing I feel I should really commend this film on is that it doesn’t rely on dirty/sexual jokes. Most films like this fall into the trap of using women/sex for a lot of its humour, yet Snatch sets an example of how films that are male-dominant (I mean this in the sense that it features mainly male characters) can be funny without sexualising/belittling women. I think is partly the reason as to why I enjoyed the film so much.
Why do I think it’s on this bucket list?
Snatch is a film that fits perfectly into its bracket of gang-crime films but it’s unique at the same time. It matches in with films like Pulp Fiction, but I think the thing that makes Snatch unique to me is that it’s set in Britain. It may be that because of this that Brits may enjoy it more than others as they are more likely to enjoy the humour. For me, and probably for this bucket list, Snatch is one of the shining stars in its film category.
Would it be on my personal bucket list?
I wouldn’t place Snatch on my personal bucket list, however it is a film that I thoroughly enjoyed watching. It very almost makes the cut for my personal bucket list.
Would I recommend it to others?
Yes, although maybe not to my older relatives and younger cousins. The film features violence and swearing and so is not suited for all. I would recommend this to anyone my age.
Would I watch it again?
Yes, it’s a film I think I could enjoy over and over again.
The Lion King, directed by R. Allers & R. Minkoff, chosen by my sister
The Lion King is a film I have known and loved since I was a child. I'm sure many of you readers will have seen The Lion King. Let's hope you agree with my review of it, and that it'll inspire you to watch it again! If you are yet to see The Lion King (like my boyfriend) I hope that after reading this, you'll leap at the chance to watch it!
The Lion King is a family favourite film. It's the story of a young lion who struggles with the death of his father and then fights to become king after his evil uncle takes the throne (so basically Shakespeare's Hamlet, right?). Although the film sounds simplistic, it's so much more than that. The story is brought to life through its award-winning songs and beautiful, colourful animations. The characters are easy to fall in love with (my personal favourite is Rafiki, the crazy but wise baboon) and offer comical moments which make the whole family laugh. This film is not only wonderful to watch, but also teaches great life lessons (as most Disney films do). The Lion King teaches us about grief and responsibility, and the values of bravery and friendship. The film creates an environment where you really root for the protagonist and it finishes as it starts, completing the circle of life.
Why do I think it’s on this bucket list?
The Lion King has become one of the staple films of Disney alongside Snow White and Cinderella. Yet, it is unlike other Disney films - anyone can enjoy it. The older films of Disney, like Snow White and Cinderella, seemed to be aimed at young girls as they featured a princess protagonist. Yet the targeted audience of The Lion King is ambiguous and so it welcomes anyone as its viewers. It also creates moments that stick in people's lives - how many people's cats have fallen mercy to their owners by being lifted into the air as if they were being presented from Pride Rock? I'd say The Lion King is one of Disney's best films.
Would it be on my personal bucket list?
As I am such a big Disney fan, I have to limit the amount of Disney films I can put on my own bucket list. Yet I am sure The Lion King is one of them. The way it uses colour alongside its music to set the tone at different points in the film blows me away (for some reason I always get emotional when Simba walks up Pride Rock in the rain after defeating Scar).
Would I recommend it to others?
Definitely! As I said at the start of this review, if you haven't seen The Lion King already, you need to! I'd recommend it to anyone of any age as well, it's enjoyable for all.
Would I watch it again?
Yes, as I have done many times. It's a film that you could never get tired of watching. It is truly amazing.
WALL·E, directed by Andrew Stanton, chosen by my cousin
My cousin stayed for a weekend with us and so we thought we'd let him join in on the bucket list fun. After much um-ing and ah-ing he finally decided on the Disney·Pixar film WALL·E. I have seen WALL·E before and enjoy it every time I watch it. WALL·E is quite different to other films of its kind. It's a lot quieter - being a robot, the main character cannot talk other than being able to say 'WALL·E', 'Eva', and 'plant'. This means that the film relies on its characters showing their expressions, thoughts and feelings through their actions. It shows Pixar's ability to bring otherwise inanimate objects to life. They create the cute character of WALL·E that we easily fall in love with and the stubborn, in-charge Eva that we learn to love as WALL·E does. The animation in this film is also to a high standard, as is always expected with a Disney·Pixar film.
The main criticism the film WALL·E receives is that it can be boring at times. It takes a very long time for WALL·E to actually board the spaceship where most of the action takes place. Before this, we just watch WALL·E's day-to-day life and witness his relationship with Eva grow. Whilst the relationship between WALL·E and Eva is very cute, the plot movement is very slow burning compared to other Disney·Pixar films. However, spending time on Earth with WALL·E is vitally important in order to recognise the message of this film. WALL·E does not live on Earth as we know it. The Earth WALL·E lives on is a wasteland, literally. Piles of rubbish left by humans surround WALL·E and it is his purpose as a robot to clean it up. The film does a very good job at highlighting the impact humans have made to the planet. Not a bit of greenery is in sight (except the one very important little plant) and you get a very dirty feeling from the place. In this film, Disney·Pixar calls its viewers out and shows the result of our now-wasteful lifestyle. It gives us a projection of our future unless we change our wasteful ways. However, in the future there probably won't be a cute little robot running around on a crazy adventure to save the Earth. In being a Disney·Pixar film, WALL·E is aimed at a younger audience, yet the message that is shown is far more serious and adult.
Why do I think it’s on this bucket list?
Asides from the huge message that is presented to us in this film, WALL·E has beautiful animation. With half of the film being set in space, the animators do a wonderful job of showing us what space is really like. The moment when WALL·E is travelling through space on the side of the spaceship is truly beautiful. Another beautiful moment is when WALL·E and Eva 'dance' in space around the spaceship. I really commend the animators in the amount of detail they put into the environment of WALL·E.
Would it be on my personal bucket list?
Sadly, WALL·E doesn't quite make it onto my personal bucket list. Whilst it does have beautiful animation and quirky characters, it doesn't impress me enough to be a must-watch bucket list film. This doesn't mean it's a bad film, it just means it's not one of the best films I've ever watched.
Would I recommend it to others?
I think this is a bit of a tricky question with WALL·E as I think many people may get bored whilst watching it. If you have a great attention span, then go for it! It is really enjoyable. However, maybe not for young kids who can't focus on things for too long.
Would I watch it again?
I have watched WALL·E many times, and I'm sure I will watch it again. It's simplicity is the beauty of it and it has funny moments which make it all the more enjoyable.
The Dark Knight, directed by Christopher Nolan, chosen by Mum
This film definitely takes the top spot out of the five films in this post. I think the plot, filming, actors and characters of this film are all absolutely brilliant. I have seen The Dark Knight many times and it is one of my favourite films. The Dark Knight is the second film (and the best) in the Dark Knight Trilogy. The Dark Knight Trilogy follows the story of the very well-known superhero Batman. Batman Begins, the first film in the trilogy, shows (as the title implies) the beginning and development of Batman. The Dark Knight shows Batman at the peak of his heroism, taking on The Joker, his archenemy. The final film in the trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises, shows Batman coming out of retirement to save Gotham once again before finally bringing Bruce Wayne's career as Batman to a conclusion.
I could go on and on about why The Dark Knight is such a good film, but I'll try and contain myself and keep to a few points. Firstly, the actors are amazing. Heath Ledger, who plays The Joker, embodies the role and brings the true craziness and creepiness that The Joker should have. Sadly, the pressure of the role led to Ledger committing suicide before the film was released. Yet, he was awarded a posthumous Oscar for his acting within the role. Ledger as The Joker absolutely engages you with the film as you feel a real sense of danger, not knowing what he's going to do next.
My second point as to why this film is amazing is the level of suspense. From the moment the film begins you are thrown into the action. You have to hold your breath at many points throughout the film as you don't know what's going to happen next. It leaves you tense and fully engaged with the film as you hope so badly that Batman will be able to contain all the madness that is going on. Finally, the filming/cinematography of this film is outstanding. The film's lighting perfectly reflects the mood of each scene and the soundtrack behind it adds on to the mood. It adds to the creation of the suspense that I just spoke of. I have to hugely congratulate everyone who was involved in the making and production of The Dark Knight.
Why do I think it’s on this bucket list?
Other than for all the reasons I've just talked about, it is an amazing superhero film. I think it's the only superhero film that features on the '100 Bucket List Films' list and there is a reason it was picked above all others. It gives you everything you want from a superhero film - not only a level of danger that ultimately is resolved by the hero, but everything else that is going on in that world as a result of the villain's actions. The film is not just about the hero and the villain, it includes all the characters in the world around them. It makes the film seem that much more real.
Would it be on my personal bucket list?
There's no question about it. It might even be at the top of my personal bucket list.
Would I recommend it to others?
Yes, although not to those who don't like serious action films. It's not the same as the Marvel superhero films which have comedic releases from the more serious moments. This film is very full-on, but that's what I love about it.
Would I watch it again?
I'm sure you can already guess the answer to this. I definitely will watch it again, as I have done many times before.
Toy Story, directed by John Lasseter, chosen by everyone
My family watching Toy Story came from us, after dinner one night, collectively saying 'shall we watch Toy Story? Yeah, let's watch Toy Story'. Toy Story is a family-favourite film for us and one of my favourite films of all time (I watched it so much as a child that I can now quote pretty much the entire script). This Pixar film is the sole reason I find it hard to throw out toys - in case they are sentient beings that will get upset when they are discarded.
I find it quite difficult to actually pin point why I enjoy Toy Story so much. It can be many things: the characters, the witty comedic moments of dialogue, the soundtrack, or the animation itself. Toy Story is Pixar's first feature film, meaning that it was the first of its kind. Like WALL·E, Toy Story focuses on giving life to otherwise inanimate objects. We follow the story of Woody, a cowboy doll who is Andy's favourite toy. That is, until Andy's birthday present Buzz Lightyear, a space-adventuring action figure, shows up. The enjoyment of this film comes from the conflict between Woody and Buzz. Buzz initially believes he is actually a space ranger and not a toy. The comedy that comes from this situation is brilliant and allows the film to have loads of laugh-out-loud moments. You follow the journey of Woody and Buzz as their friendship develops and you learn that jealousy is a horrible trait which can be replaced simply by understanding one another. The film also features many other characters that bring comedy into the film such as the grumpy Mr. Potato Head and the nervous dinosaur Rex. The majority of the songs and soundtrack for the film are composed by Randy Newman who does a brilliant job of creating songs that fit with the mood of the film. I think the best bit about Toy Story is that it is suited for all ages. The adventure and the characters are suited for a younger audience, and the slipped-in innuendos and comedic elements are for an adult audience. The film leaves you with a smile on your face and a general sense of enjoyment and happiness.
Why do I think it’s on this bucket list?
As mentioned before, Toy Story is Pixar's first feature film. It blends a unique story idea with the creativity and humour that Pixar films always bring to us. The combination of the soundtrack and the level of animation for its time make it an amazing film to watch.
Would it be on my personal bucket list?
Of course! It's up there with The Dark Knight and is my favourite animated film!
Would I recommend it to others?
Yes, it's definitely a film you can sit down and watch with anyone and whoever you watch it with is sure to enjoy it. You honestly can't go wrong with Toy Story.
Would I watch it again?
Yes, as I have done many times before, I'll watch Toy Story many times again. I love the humour in it and no matter how many times I watch it, it will always make me laugh.
This brings me to the conclusion of Review #1 of the 100 Bucket List Films. It seems that it's so far, so good! I've enjoyed each of the five films that we've watched so hopefully the films yet to come will be just as enjoyable.
Let me know what you thought about my reviews in the comments. Have they inspired you to watch these films? Do you agree with my opinions? Would these films be on your own personal bucket list? I'd love to hear from you!
Scribble to you soon,
Scarlett
Comments