Walt Disney is well known for producing some of the top grossing films in animation. Their partnership with Pixar is a very impressive move as they have become not just the leader but a trend setter when it comes to storytelling and modern film making.
The following is a list of the top grossing and award winning films that Disney Studios have created in the recent years:
Christmas is more than just a holiday where you give out and receive gifts. It’s also a time to relax with your family with some home entertainment. Since it’s also the Christmas season, it’s fitting to enjoy some movies with a Christmas theme and there are tons of films focusing on the holiday season.
We have listed the top five films perfect for family viewing:
Many of the horror movies today are fun to watch only during the holiday season. These movies are a little bit scary but ultimately amusing. They provide some type of entertainment with few bits of horror along the way.
On the other hand, there are horror films that withstood the test of time. These are horror films that can give chills and entertainment any time of the year.
10. SAW – The movie franchise that started “torture porn”. Although the story gets a little bit tired in the later sequels, the gripping scenes are still there.
9. REC – This Spanish movie disguised as news is one of the most chilling films of modern movies. The fact that it was remade for American viewers is a testament of its quality.
8. The Others – The acting chops of Nicole Kidman is in full display of the film. Complement her acting with superb writing and unique twist in the end, you easily get a good horror movie.
7. Alien – Sigourney Weaver’s Alien is a thrilling ride of suspense perfectly blending with Sci-Fi.
Hollywood is scrambling for fresh ideas that would appeal to young movie goers while attracting the older crowd through nostalgia and familiarity. This is the reason why many of the movies today are sequels, prequels and remakes. Some movie fans complain about the lack of idea but adapting a movie for modern times or showing how the characters from past films progress can still be very interesting.
Prequels may be connected to a past hit film, but they do differ from sequels and remakes. You are not required to have watched the previous films because the films are set before the original story. Even though prequels can gain a buzz due to the franchises past success the can also end up as a disaster. Fortunately, there are some prequels that are as good or if not better than the original film;
Casino Royale
The common reaction to Casino Royale is that it’s trying to emulate the “Bourne” series. But Casino Royale is actually a true return to its form because the spy film now focuses on the character instead of the advanced gadgets. Daniel Craig provides a fresh face to the new gritty character of James Bond.
Film villains are as important to films as the heroes and heroines. Without the villains, the movie becomes bland because the film will has no conflict and therefore no struggle and emotion.
In some case the villains practically take over the film. The following top movie villains are not only great character but also huge influencers on their films stories. While there are main characters in the film, these villains practically carry the movie from start to finish.
3 Freddie Krueger (Nightmare of Elm Street)
Played by Robert Englund and Jackie Earle Haley, Freddie Krueger is the only character that stayed in the movie franchise. It’s practically a movie about kids being chased in their dreams with real world consequences. The main characters change but Freddie Krueger is still there no matter what and you’ll always cringe whenever he’s in the scene.
Mexican director Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth is a wonderful movie. Really, wonderful is the word for this fantasy tail that nevertheless has so much reality in it. For those who loved Benigni’s Life is Beautiful, we are sure the same feeling will go for Pan’s. Although these might look to be two very different movies, there is in fact endless food for thought that spurs out of both these two great pieces of work. That is because both have skilfully put the viewer in the fading margin that lies between reality and imagination.
Natasha Richardson had just died after a skiing accident. Her death came as a shock to all her fans and family. She left us with a handful of great movies to watch and enjoy and one of these movies is Maid in Manhattan of 2002.
Natasha Richardson played Caroline Lane, a socialite who was a guest at a Manhattan hotel who asked Marisa Ventura (Jennifer Lopez) to return an expensive designer clothing for her. Marisa tried the designer clothes after being persuaded by her co-worker, Stephanie. While wearing the expensive outfit, there comes her son Ty with Mr. Christopher Marshall, an aspiring senator behind him. He spots her and felt an attraction. With what she was wearing, he didn’t think for a second she was a maid but a hotel guest and he asked her to join him and that’s where the lie started.
Mamma Mia is a feel-good movie with lots of singing and dancing but although it is a musical, there is still a funny story behind it. All the songs sang in the movie are all from the famous pop group ABBA while there are some additional music there too as composed by Benny Anderson who was also a member of ABBA.
The story rotates around Donna Sheridan portrayed by Meryl Streep, Sophie portrayed by Amanda Seyfried and how Sophie was trying to find her real father. She was about to get married and she was in the quest to find who her real father is and she sent 3 invitations to the 3 men who he suspects could be her father. She read her mom’s diary and learned about them. After sending the invitation, they came but Sophie wanted to keep it a secret to her mother so she could surprise her but of course, eventually Donna found all 3 of them and was shocked and the story just started from there.
It’s funny how in the end it wasn’t Sophie who ended up getting married but Donna did. It reminds me of a similar scene from Princess Diaries 2 when the queen got married during the ceremony that was intended for her daughter.