PRE-OSCAR LOOK AT MOVIES THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON ME, PART 12 OF 12: X-MEN THE LAST STAND

 

After watching "Batman Forever" on opening day in '95, I did not see a movie in a theater for a full five years. During that time, my taste in movies improved. So the first movie I saw after that Sabbatical was... "X-Men," of course!

I've read some opinion pieces which said that the end of this trilogy was on a weak point. I shook my head. I enjoyed all three movies, but this was my favorite. True, this is the only one to have my favorite X-Man (The Beast, played by Kelsey Grammer) and my favorite X-Man villain (The Juggernaut, played by Vinnie Jones).

To me, there is something deeper. Yes, it carries the same theme of two techniques to deal with opposition that's present in the whole trilogy, but this also deals with free will and determinism. One of the great lines was when Storm (Halle Berry) said she can't see why anyone wouldn't want to be a mutant, and the blue furred Beast replied, "Some mutants don't shed on the furniture."

Hope you found this series interesting, and I'd love to hear what my choice of movies says about me. For those who need a reminder, here's the list:

1. Mary Poppins
2. That Darn Cat
3. Fantastic Voyage
4. Murder On The Orient Express
5. What's Up, Josh?
6. Chariots Of Fire
7. Ghandi
8. Never Cry Wolf
9. Dune
10. JFK
11. Jurassic Park
12. X-Men: The Last Stand
    

PRE-OSCAR LOOK AT MOVIES THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON ME, PART 11 OF 12: JURASSIC PARK

 I mentioned a couple of days ago my favorite actor is Ben Kingsley, and my all-time favorite movie was Chariots. I will admit there's no actress I can say is definitively my favorite, but what is my favorite movie theme? And who's my favorite director? 

Some might guess it might be Vangelis, because of the title of "Chariots of Fire". Good guess. Actually, my second music composition is "Eric's Theme" from Chariots. Others would say, "He's mentioning this while talking about Jurassic Park - there's a connection. Yep, my favorite theme is from "Jurassic Park" by John Williams.

And yes, Spielberg is my favorite director. This movie is an example. For example, one thing I like about Spielberg is how he introduces key characters. In this movie, the first appearances of John Hammond (played by Richard Attanborough, who directed Ghandi), the first braichiosaurus, and the T-Rex. 

Another person mentioned how masterful the suspense was between Dr. Alan Grant and the two kids were climbing a usually electric fence when the power was off and Ellie Sattler restoring power to the park, including the fence the others were climbing. (Apology for the mild spoiler).

I mentioned JFK made an impact but was not a favorite. Jurassic Park definitely is one of my favorite movies.

 

PRE-OSCAR LOOK AT MOVIES THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON ME, PART 10 OF 12

 

 There are movies you want to see, and there are movies you feel need to see. That is the reason I spent a Saturday afternoon in the early '90's watching JFK.

For those who haven't watched this movie, it's not so much about the former President as it was about the trial of one accused of being part of a conspiracy to bring down our chief executive. 

This is one of the films that I won't say I enjoyed but one that made me think. Movies like Blow-Up, Soylent Green, Missing, Clockwork Orange, Schindler's List, and this one. You notice I did not call this list favorite movies? Now, 11 of the 12 movies on this list would be called favorites. This one's the exception. 

Not that I didn't like the movie or regretted seeing it. With this, I feel I know a little more about Kennedy's assassination. If I was on the jury, I would have agreed the lawyer (played by Kevin Costner) didn't prove the suspect was part of the murder of the President, but it did a great job in my believing there is a lot we don't know nor are supposed to know.

PRE-OSCAR LOOK AT MOVIES THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON ME, PART 9 OF 12: DUNE (1984)

 

 Earlier in this series, I mentioned a picture that blew me away with its visuals and special effects (referring to "Fantastic Voyage"). It may be a sci fi film or a great fantasy or one that is more of a cartoonish version of our world like " Dick Tracy" (which claim close to making this list, but fell short). But there is none that compare with Dune, which mixes its technical skills with a Ghandi-like epic feel. All I can say about this picture is "Wow!"

PRE-OSCAR LOOK AT MOVIES THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON ME, PART 8 OF 12: NEVER CRY WOLF

 For the loyal readers who have followed this series thus far, you may have noticed the first two were both Disney movies, but none since. Folks, we're back to Disney today. Not a typical Disney movie - this one is aimed for a more mature audience. Note this was about a year before the creation of the PG-13 rating and the emergence of Touchstone Films, which was a Disney imprint that was aimed for movies less family oriented.

Important to make a distinction. I said this movie was more mature. If it came out later, it would have probably been rated PG-13, and I have no problem with that. However, this is a movie that looks at the balance of nature, and if you have a more mature child or teen-ager (I know these often are two different things), it is one I'd recommend seeing with them and talking about it afterwards.

 

PRE-OSCAR LOOK AT MOVIES THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON ME, PART 7 OF 12:

 

Some movies make you better for having seen it, and others make you worse. For me, "Gandhi" is a clear-cut example of the former. After I watched it the first of two times for a matinee showing, I went to a coffee shop afterward to ponder the movie. Not many movies influence you like this.

Also, this movie introduced me to my all-time favorite actor, Ben Kingsley.

 

PRE-OSCAR LOOK AT MOVIES THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON ME, PART 6 OF 12: CHARIOTS OF FIRE

 We are at the half point of this series, and you may be wondering, "Will Jeff let us know what his favorite movie is?" I'll be glad to, but we need a rolling drum... or better, the pounding low D-flat on Vangelis' synthesizer. Oh, you've already guessed "Chariots of Fire,' because that's the name of the film and the picture. I suppose I'll need to make it more challenging next time.

This is the 1st Best Picture in my collection (my list contains one other best picture winner and two nominees - including "Mary Poppins", which did win best  actress). Unlike the other winner (which you'll see at some point in the second half), this was a surprise, winning over "Reds" and "On Golden Pond." It also won for best original screen play, costumes, and, unsurprisingly, Vangelis' score. (It also was nominated for director, editing, and supporting actor Ian Holm, who lost out to John Guilguld; Guilguld won for his role in "Arthur," but also was in "Chariots.")

I heard producer David Putnam interviewed. He commented some people said about "Chariots," "Great movie about Harold Abrahams, and the Eric Liddle character was interesting," and others commented, "I love that movie about Eric Liddle, and that Abrahams character was intriguing." 

I've watched it about 9-10 times. The last time was about two years ago, and I noticed something in it I didn't before: in one scene Vangelis played "Eric's Theme" in a minor key, and that definitely added to that scene.

 

PRE-OSCAR LOOK AT MOVIES THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON ME, PART 5 OF 12: WHAT'S UP, JOSH?

 If I made a list of favorite albums or songs, you'd find I tend to the obscure. I was in a group when a member asked us to submit our 100 favorite Christian items, and I believe it was around 40 of my top 100 were not on anybody else's list. So far, I've got a hunch my movie list hasn't been as obscure... until now.

"What's Up, Josh?" is a 1975 Christian movie. They may have been inspired for the title by Bugs Bunny's tagline, as well as a '72 WB comedy movie starring Barbara Streisand and Ryan O'Neal. Plot wise, it's what I considered a typical Christian movie, about a young adult overwhelmed with complications in life and learning the answer is in Jesus. 

You probably are guessing the main character is named Josh. That's a good, logical, natural, and wrong guess. Neither is it the protagonist's Christian roommate. No, this is referring to the speaker at on-campus meetings that the roommate invites the protagonist to, named Josh McDowell, who plays himself.

My hunch is most of my readers recognized Josh's name. In the movie, Josh deals with the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and deals with alternative views of what happened. This movie planted a seed on my interest in Christian apologetics. 

Most of the movies I've listed are available on Amazon. Sorry, not this one. However, it is up on YouTube if you want to take an hour and watch it. 

Allow me to add - "Thief In The Night" was a movie that almost made this list. That movie and others I've liked were produced by Mark IV (this one wasn't). One thing I like about Mark IV is that everybody doesn't come to Christ, just as in real life. In fact, sometimes the protagonist doesn't become a Christian.

 

PRE-OSCAR LOOK AT MOVIES THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON ME, PART 4 OF 12: MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (1974)

I have read Agatha Christie's novel twice, and seen three different film adaptations of this movie. I could make an argument for including David Suchet's rendition as well. But one could argue that I may not have watched the other versions or even read any Agatha Christie (who is at the top of authors I read the most novels by at 23, not counting movies I've seen based on other stories) if I hadn't seen this one first. 

This was my favorite of the three versions (though Suchet's my favorite Poirot). I re-watched this recently, shortly after watching the 2017 remake. Windmark's performance as the victim was one that didn't scream "evil" as the novel and the other versions hinted (though in Suchet's version, you had a split frame of the soon-to-be-deceased and Poirot praying that made me think of the Pharisee and Publican, and you can guess which is which).

My introduction to Sean Connery was this star-studded movie; I didn't realize at that time he played James Bond, and I forgot that he was in this movie as I became familiar with 007. In fact, I didn't know any of the actors prior to this film (with the possible exception of seeing Albert Finney's Christmas Carol musical prior to this; I'm not sure which I saw first). By the way, if you're wondering if Bond will be showing up in this list... nope. But if you're wondering what my favorite Bond movies are, those would be "Diamonds Are Forever" and "Man With A Golden Gun."

 
 

 

 

PRE-OSCAR LOOK AT MOVIES THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON ME, PART 3 OF 12: FANTASTIC VOYAGE

 

 This may be the highest on my list of favorite movies of the ones I've looked at so far. It's one I keep rewatching every five years or so. Part of it is the special effects. I will admit that I've been exposed to Sci Fi at this point (Dad took me to see "Robinson Crusoe on Mars," "The Day The Earth Stood Still", and "Planet of the Apes" at this point of my life.

One thing I appreciated in this movie when I watched it as an adult is to realize that this was my introduction of creation vs. evolution, and it didn't make you think the creationist was an idiot either.

PRE-OSCAR LOOK AT MOVIES THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON ME, PART 2 OF 12: THAT DARN CAT (1965)

 

I debated whether this was the second or third movie on my list. Technically, it came out first and thus, I probably saw it first (I was 5 or 6 at that time). However, this movie had a delayed impact - it wasn't until I watched it as a teenager that it climbed to being my all time favorite comedy.

Even when I was a child at its release, this movie had a draw from having two actors I was a fan of. One was Frank Gorshin, who portrayed my favorite villain, The Riddler. The other was, of course, the cat. 

I will add that I could not stand the '97 remake nor, for that matter, John Astin's portrayal in season 2 of Batman. Also, I will also admit I'm not a comedy fan, in spite of me being quick to tell a joke. (Most of the time, my favorite comedies were ones that mixed adventure with the comedy like "Silver Streak" or those that try to keep you on the floor laughing like "Airplane".

One last comment - the first two movies on this list were Disney films. Is that expected from me starting chronological? Or is this a trend?

PRE-OSCAR LOOK AT MOVIES THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON ME, PART 1 OF 12: MARY POPPINS

 

I saw one person in the film industry (maybe Spielberg? Don't remember for sure) comment you can learn a lot about people from their favorite movies. With Oscar's 2 weeks away, I thought I'd use that time to share 10 movies that made an impact on me. Some of these would be in my top 10 favorite list, others aren't far, but I'm focusing on those that I think had an influence on me.

So should I do it as a list of how I'd rank those ten movies either ascending or descending? Maybe alphabetic order? Well, considering that this is dealing with the impact it made on my life, I'll start in basic chronological order. There might be one or two that I might have goofed between two I saw in close proximity; hopefully that's forgiveable.

Thus, I'll start with Mary Poppins. This is the first movie I fell in love with. I also listened frequently to the soundtrack and albums that included Mary Poppins music. I was disappointed, because most did not have my favorite song from the movie: "Step In Time." However, it did not make it to me reading the books - I was just learning to read.

It influenced me both with the movie itself and the music, but I'd also call it the first "event movie." There are few movies that I'd put in that category: these are ones that I consider its viewing an event. Some of them I became familiar with the story before seeing the movie, such as Disney's "The Jungle Book," the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine," or "Star Wars." 

Others are among the five I'd include as seeing on opening night. You might say "Star Wars" fit that category - I saw that on the second showing of its appearance at the Rialto Theater in Cottonwood. Of course, considering that movies didn't reach Cottonwood till the end of their run, this was after being part of the Christmas program at church in '77. I saw both "Hanky Panky" (starring Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner) and "Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan" the night they both opened; I went with some friends to the theater and both Star Trek and "Rocky 3" were sold out, so we saw the other movie. Then, one of the guys who had friends at the theater got us in for the final showing of Star Trek that night. Also in this category was "Batman Forever" and on a lesser scale, "Prodigal Planet" (the final of the four part "Thief in the Night" series.

Without a doubt, though, the one that made the biggest impact on me was "Mary Poppins." 

 

LET'S SEE - IF I SPONSERED AN AWARD PROGRAM, WHAT SHOULD I CALL IT? OF COURSE, IT MIGHT HELP IF YOU READ THIS FIRST...

 

Let's see; instead of Oscar, should the trophies of my Awards show resemble Gian Lorenzo Bernini's statue of David? Okay, maybe, maybe not. I'm open to suggestions.

Of course, you may know that they just released the nominees for two of the most important rewards show this week: The Oscars and the Razzies. 

And then, also on Tuesday, I saw a memory on my Facebook Wall about the INSPYS for fiction. I was about to get excited to find about the nomination process for this year's, but then realized it went on hiatus with the rest of the world in 2021 due to COVID, and unlike much of the world, they have yet to return.

At that point, a light bulb turned on. Why don't I start my own awards program? 

Now, some practical minded people might be picking up your darts. Please, put them down. I can pop that balloon easily enough on my own. Allow me a little space to enjoy this dream before returning to reality.

This blog's title mentions coming up with a name for it, and I've got a picture of an idea for the trophy. But first, what would I like my awards show to feature and honor?

That answer is simple. I want to focus on Christian artists. It will include music, the traditional arts of painting and sculpture, and both fiction and non-fiction writing.

Naturally, the next question would be how to select the nominees. After all, I don't have time to be able to choose a sampling in any one of the above-mentioned fields, let alone all of them. And once the nominees are selected, I could single handedly choose the winner from the nominees, but what would that mean? What makes me the authority? Though, since it's my awards, I can do that if I want! Is that okay with you?

There are three options for getting the nominees. They are:

1. Have the artists submit items to consider. Of course, I'd limit it to one per category. 
2. Have my internet followers recommend nominees.
3. Have an appointed committee of people to provide the nominees That would include artists, and my dream would be to have pastors be a large part of that board.

After getting the nominees, the same would be true for choosing the winners. It could be done by popular vote, or it can be done by a committee.

Bubble bursting time. Let me give two things that bother me about awards shows.

First, let me share why I shake my head at a lot of vote-in awards. The primary reason is it becomes a popularity contest, based on who can get their fans mobilized to vote them the award.  Also, I once saw a vote-in awards show on-line where the organizer of the awards also was a competitor for a couple of categories; guess who won those categories?

The second is more philosophical. At the heart, I want to encourage artists. But I also realize that while some people would be thankful for being nominated, others would be discouraged in not winning the award.

This is one reason that when I list my favorite books (and now music) of the past year, I list them in alphabetic order instead of enumerating who is at the top of my list and who's at the bottom. Plus, I list all that I think deserve mentioning, so I don't stick with a set number like the top ten.

So what do you think? Should I realize I just need to get some extra sleep? Do you want to have fun with a little fantasy? Any other thoughts?