johnlink ranks THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971)

•February 3, 2013 • 2 Comments

If you scroll along the right side of this blog, you will notice that much of my movie viewing for this site falls into the 21st century. Most every year from pre-2000 is represented going back to the 1920s, but there is no doubt that there is a modern tilt to my movie viewing. So far, for whatever reason, 2013 has been a little bit different. THE FRENCH CONNECTION marks my 18th viewing of the young year. From those 18 movies we have: 1910s (1), 1930s (1), 1950s (1), 1960s (2), 1970s (2), 1980s (4), the 2000s (2), and the 2010s (5). 11 of 18 movies, thus far, have been 20th century films. What does that mean? Well, I’ve gotten a chance to hit up some things I’ve always wanted to see, but never have. THE FRENCH CONNECTION certainly falls under that category.

the-french-connection-1971

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Posted in johnlink favorite flicks, ~ F ~, ~~~ 1971 ~~~
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johnlink ranks LITTLE CAESAR (1931)

•February 2, 2013 • Leave a Comment

Before watching this, were I ever to have made a bucket list of a hundred movies I needed to see, this would have been on it (albeit towards the bottom). LITTLE CAESAR is a film which has influenced several generations of mob movies. While this isn’t always my favorite genre, my recent love for BOARDWALK EMPIRE has ignited in an interest in that era’s criminal dynamic. Anyway, LITTLE CAESAR showed up on TCM recently, and I snagged it for a viewing.

little-caesar

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Posted in ~ L ~, ~~~ 1931 ~~~
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johnlink ranks THE ITALIAN JOB (1969)

•January 31, 2013 • 6 Comments

For my money, the remake of THE ITALIAN JOB, from 2003, is one of the most entertaining films of the 21st century. I’m a sucker for heist movies, and I love a good ensemble. The tone of that film is just a perfect mix of humor and intensity. While it certainly wasn’t an Oscar nominee or anything, it was just pure unhinged fun. I’ve always wanted to see the original and now I can say that I have!

Italian Job 1969 pic

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johnlink ranks RAMBO III (1988)

•January 29, 2013 • 4 Comments

So I have been living a lie for the past dozen years. I thought I had seen all three Rambo films from the 80s. Would have bet money on it. But in the course of watching the third RAMBO film, I realized that either A) I had never seen it before or B) had only seen it on a day I had suffered a concussion and had no recollection of it. I literally did not recognize a single thing about the film. I am going to go ahead and call this a first viewing.

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Posted in ~ R ~, ~~~ 1988 ~~~
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johnlink ranks PAYCHECK (2003)

•January 27, 2013 • 5 Comments

I have to admit that I go into this knowing that it just isn’t one of my favorite movies. I’ve seen it twice before, and remembered thinking (after the second viewing) that I probably never had reason to watch it again. But Liz and I were looking to scratch an itch by watching something with mild action and sci-fi which was more fun than art. We picked PAYCHECK, though I didn’t expect to be enthralled.

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Posted in ~ P ~, ~~~ 2003 ~~~
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johnlink ranks THIS MEANS WAR (2012)

•January 27, 2013 • 5 Comments

I love the spy genre, and I usually like the sub-genre of romantic-action-spy-comedies. It is not a large genre, but it usually creates a fun experience. MR. AND MRS. SMITH is one of my guilty pleasures, if only for the wonderful chemistry between Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt which, obviously, carried over to an off-screen drama. So I came to THIS MEANS WAR not expecting much, but hoping to be entertained.

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Posted in johnlink poops on, ~ T ~, ~~~ 2012 ~~~
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johnlink ranks RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD PART II (1985)

•January 25, 2013 • 3 Comments

After watching the under-appreciated FIRST BLOOD, I went back to the series for the follow-up. This is the Rambo we all know and love and love to laugh at. If FIRST BLOOD is a throwback to a 70s style of paranoia film, then the second RAMBO is all 80s excess and action. The goal is to make everything bigger, louder, and bloodier. But does that make it better?

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johnlink ranks FIRST BLOOD (1982)

•January 24, 2013 • 8 Comments

I watched the Rambo films once, years ago, towards the end my high school life.  I remember liking them, but especially being fascinated by the first installment. Years of spoofs had happened between when they were released and when I saw them (notably HOT SHOTS) and I just assumed they were all these sort of 80s action-flick blood-spattered films. I had no idea that the first Rambo movie was a nuanced character study and a 70s-style look at American society. Go figure. I decided it was time to back to these movies. I haven’t seen the newest one, so I am looking forward to getting to it after hitting up the originals.

firstblood3

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johnlink bundles his MEN IN BLACK rankings

•January 22, 2013 • Leave a Comment

It’s been nearly a month since I finished up this series (at least until an inevitable fourth rolls around), so it is about time to bundle ’em up for convenience. This is a fun, if inconsistent, set of films.

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johnlink ranks THE FUNHOUSE (1981)

•January 21, 2013 • Leave a Comment

Desperately needed to wash the sour taste of the Patriots losing in the AFC Championship from my mouth. As I perused HBOGO, I thought some cheese might do the trick. Specifically, some early-80s horror cheese!

funhouse sans fun

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Posted in ~ F ~, ~~~ 1981 ~~~

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