#3 The Godfather Part II:

This movie feels nothing like a sequel. Every drop of essence from the first is carried into the second. It is exactly what it says it is, Part II. Part II of a two part epic. (I chose to discount the third as it was made for other reasons than to complete the story.) I’m glad that I watched these two within the span of a few days. It really helped to tie them together, as they were meant to be. There really isn’t all that much more to say, except to briefly talk about Robert DeNiro. How did Coppola know? Why chose a relative unknown to star as the young Vito? In present day minds, DeNiro and Pacino are inevitably tied together, and not because of Righteous Kill, which sucked. They were two of the best and most intense actors of the 70’s and early 80’s. Names that are almost synonyms. I find it very strange. Having said that, why DeNiro? He gaze in particular is so different from Brando’s Vito Corleone that it almost feels like a different character. I had a difficult time with this aspect. But maybe that’s because I’ve seen too many DeNiro movies. That aside, don’t ask me to choose which of the two is the superior. It’s not like one half of a good sandwich is different from the other.

#2 The Godfather:

Some say it insists upon itself. And to that, I would only slightly agree. It does this only as far as Coppola knew he was making a movie that people would remember. The work is a masterpiece. Everyone in it is spectacular, even showcasing Al Pacino before he became a cartoon character. It’s even a little funny. Michael’s two Italian bodyguards sporting shotguns at his wedding is probably funnier than it is meant to be. One thing I have to commend this film for that has fallen out of practice these days is the careful consideration given to how the film was built. The first 2 hours or so take place over a time period of a few months in late 1945. The coloring, ambience and style on this part are spot on. And then somewhat chaotically, we shift to a few years later, and these same attributes have all changed to comply with the early 1950’s. It’s subtle, but really draws me in, even when I’m trying to think of what to review. The last bit of subtlety I’ll bring up is the character Michael Corleone. His transformation is obvious, and yet not, at the same time. He starts out as an innocent, and becomes cold and cutthroat. He handles the family business in such an absolute manner, to the point of dispatching all his enemies in a single day. The previous Don's manner of governance was more reasoning than bludgeoning. The film almost leans towards vilifying the young Michael. It is certain that Michael sees himself in this way. In the end, it was the acting that really shines though. Pacino and Brando's portrayals of deep and exceedingly complicated men of power put this above and beyond other films. I look forward to Part II.

Blood Diamond (2006)

Blood Diamond (BD) squeaks onto the list holding on to the bottom rung at #250. Most people know that diamonds are highly valued and come at a high cost, but usually consider this cost in dollars - not lives. BD attempts to give the viewer a peek into the world behind the diamond market, while entertaining them for a couple hours too (of course).

I am not going to pretend to know all the facts about the diamond-mining industry and its' related market(s) or what proper South African/African-native accents should sound like, so I will be considering the movie to be mostly accurate in those aspects. Before viewing BD, I had heard a bit about the movie through others' opinions and my own previous experience with DiCaprio movies - some I like (The Man in the Iron Mask, Catch Me If You Can) and some I don't (Gangs of New York) - leaving me unsure of what to expect. I liked Blood Diamond - it kept a pace that held my interest while telling a story that most people (including myself) find intriguing. While the ending may not surprise, BD will certainly entertain and please anyone looking for a film with action, drama, and a straight-forward plot.

#1 The Shawshank Redemption

....As long as I can remember, people have enjoyed the sound of my voice...All kidding aside, this movie deserves the top spot on the list. You’ve seen it. Everyone you know has seen it. If you haven’t, go watch it ten or twelve times. It wins in all categories. Fantastic acting, intriguing and suspenseful story, great score and soundtrack, and delving deeply into common unanswerable questions: What does it mean to be free, to be a man, and how does time affect us? This movie asks the audience these questions that we try not to ask ourselves, but not in a heavy handed sort of way. It is plain and simple, just like we like to think Morgan Freeman is.

Introduction

My friend and I like movies. We have seen more than our share and we tend to form opinions. We also tend to be argumentative. We have decided to take our big brains and apply them to a project. We are going to watch every movie on IMDB.com's Top 250 list and tell the world how we feel about each. This is going to take awhile; even though we decided to split it up. He starts from the bottom and I start from the top. We'll try to meet in the middle. We'll go as long as we can and make any adjustments we decide as situation demands. It's our list, so we can do whatever we want. We will try to keep it interesting.