Ten months ago, I made my Top 10 Most Depressing Films and I just feel like adding some more to the list. So, here you go guys.

The Constant Gardener (2005)

Director: Fernando Meirelles

IMDb synopsis: A widower is determined to get to the bottom of a potentially explosive secret involving his wife’s murder, big business, and corporate corruption.

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

Director: Steven Spielberg

IMDb synopsis: A highly advanced robotic boy longs to become “real” so that he can regain the love of his human mother.

Mystic River (2003)

Director: Clint Eastwood

IMDb synopsis: With a childhood tragedy that overshadowed their lives, three men are reunited by circumstance when one loses a daughter.

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As you can probably tell this post will be exactly like the title says. I just hope people don’t kill me because of this list. After all we have different and distinctive taste in movies, right?

Hulk (2003)

I personally think this movie is very underrated. I think people already have this mindset that all superhero movies must have action and more action. This movie wasn’t about Hulk smash shits up, it’s more of an idea of the Hulk itself. This is a movie about a guy’s nightmare of his traumatic past and a tragedy that led him to be this thing, this huge green thing. This is about how Bruce Banner became the Hulk. Well, at least that’s from my point of view. Ang Lee didn’t make this movie to be merely a mindless action movie. I dare say the movie has more in depth and has so much more to offer than any other superhero movies which is quite popular in the last decade. Ang Lee’s direction is just great and original with an interesting use of split screen that makes you feel like you’re reading a comic book. I think it’s kind of cool at that time.

Armageddon (1998) / The Island (2005)

I’m aware that most people hates Michael Bay. But I gotta say I really like The Island. It’s exciting and the story is quite interesting too although it’s pretty standard for a sci-fi movie (cloning, etc). And obviously I just love seeing Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson running around in tight track suits. The movie could have been better though but what the heck, right? Armageddon is probably quite special for me. Many years ago my cousins and I always rented this movie every time we had a sleepover. It’s like our thing. Every time I see Armageddon all I can remember is that how my cousins and I really did have a great time watching the movie over and over again. After all we were just a bunch of small town kids who got caught up with this huge Hollywood blockbuster. As I grew up, I realize that the movie didn’t really make sense at all honestly. But it doesn’t matter you know, because what matters is the experience I’ve had.

Psycho (1998)

Before you freak out, give me a chance to explain why I (kind of) like Gus Van Sant’s Psycho. I’m pretty sure it took a lot of guts for Gus Van Sant to make this movie. It is basically a scene-by-scene recreation of the classic. They even use the same lines as the original yet somehow I think they create a whole different concept of the movie. The use of color also makes the movie, in a way, more expressive. The acting is also very well done. Honestly, I like Vince Vaughn’s portrayal of Norman Bates. This is obviously a tough role to play especially when the role itself was played wonderfully by Anthony Perkins in the original. You can imagine all those pressure. The thing about remakes is that it’s inevitable not to compare it to the original one. I think people should keep an open mind that this movie was never trying to be better than original. It’s difficult to decide whether this movie is good or bad. I don’t think it’s wrong to love the original and also liking this one. Why not, right?

The Spirit (2008)

Now this is an interesting movie. Although I know that this movie won’t win many moviegoers’ hearts out there. I think The Spirit is great movie.  It’s hilarious and it has some cool visuals. Many people are saying this movie is over-the-top, cheesy, and ridiculous. Well, I personally think it was the intention. This movie is like when you’re reading a comic book and then the pages coming right out and they come to life. That’s where the over-the-topness came from. The Spirit is one of those movies that you don’t have to  take it too seriously in order to enjoy it. It’s a parody after all. Obviously a lot of people would compare this movie with Sin City. It does look like Sin City and it reminds you of Sin City (well yeah because both Sin City and The Spirit is written by the same person). Like I said before, comparing movies in inevitable but all you need to do is just enjoy the ride.

The King and I (1956) | Director: Walter Lang

IMDb synopsis: Musical about a widow who accepts a job as a live-in governess of the King of Siam’s children.

Cabaret (1972) | Director: Bob Fosse

IMDb synopsis: A female girlie club entertainer in Weimar Republic era Berlin romances two men while the Nazi Party rises to power around them.

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Home Alone (1990) | Director: Chris Columbus

IMDb synopsis: An 8-year-old boy, who is accidentally left behind while his family flies to France for Christmas, has to defend his home against idiotic burglars.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) | Director: Henry Selick

IMDb synopsis: Jack Skellington, king of Halloweentown, discovers Christmas Town, but doesn’t quite understand the concept.

Bad Santa (2003) | Director: Terry Zwigoff

IMDb synopsis: A miserable conman and his partner pose as Santa and his Little Helper to rob department stores on Christmas Eve. But they run into problems when the conman befriends a troubled kid, and the security boss discovers the plot.

Meet Me in St. Loius (1944) | Director: Vincente Minnelli

IMDb synopsis: In the year before the 1904 St Louis World’s Fair, the four Smith daughters learn lessons of life and love, even as they prepare for a reluctant move to New York.

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I really do enjoy watching romantic comedies every now and then. Whenever I stay at home on the weekends, before I go to bed in a chilly night, or when I’m having a sleepover with a couple of friends. I’m pretty sure most people (mostly women) can’t resist a good romantic comedy. And sometimes the actors’ chemistry or the storyline can make us go all mushy and overly sentimental. So I made a list of my favorite romantic comedies in random order. Oh, and you’ll be seeing a lot of Meg Ryan and Hugh Grant on this list.

1. Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001) | Director: Sharon Maguire

IMDb synopsis: A British woman is determined to improve herself while she looks for love in a year in which she keeps a personal diary.

I love this film because… It’s hilarious, very romantic, and who wouldn’t want to see two mighty gorgeous English men Hugh Grant and Colin Firth smack each other. And the fact that Bridget Jones was perfectly portrayed by Renee Zellweger. That role also landed her an Oscar nomination in 2002.

2. When Harry Met Sally… (1989) | Director: Rob Reiner

IMDb synopsis: Harry and Sally have known each other for years, and are very good friends, but they fear sex would ruin the friendship.

I love this film because… It made me laugh and cry and laugh again. I couldn’t get over this film and I’ve seen it over and over. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan’s chemistry was undeniable. Nora Ephron’s script is overflowing with wit, humor, and amusing observations about the nature of men and women. This film is a classic.

3. Love Actually (2003) | Director: Richard Curtis

IMDb synopsis: Follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely and interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England.

I love this film because… It’s not just a love story, but it’s a story about love. It’s the ultimate romantic comedy with a big cast. And despite the limited time spent on each one, we got a fair insight into the characters and their lives. Richard Curtis did an admirable job keeping so many stories in motion.

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I’m actually not a big fan of horror films. I’m probably the biggest coward in the whole world. But, as a film lover, I tend not to be picky in watching films. I can watch almost anything. So, here’s a casual list of my top 10 horror films in random order. Enjoy!

Saw (2004) | Director: James Wan

IMDb synopsis: With a dead body laying between them, two men wake up in the secure lair of a serial killer who’s been nicknamed “Jigsaw”. The men must follow various rules and objectives if they wish to survive and win the deadly game set for them.

In my opinion, “Saw” was one of the most horrifying and twisted film ever made. It’s an original modern horror with few surprises. I think I saw this film in 2005. Me and my cousins rented the film and we saw it together at my house. It was crazy. We never thought the film would end that way. It was far from predictable. “Saw” had a simple plot yet it managed to deliver more thrills than big-budget horror films that mostly turned out to be cheesy. 

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) | Director: Wes Craven

IMDb synopsis: In the dreams of his victims, a spectral child murderer stalks the children of the members of the lynch mob that killed him.

I had no idea this film was going to be creepy as hell when I first saw it. I only saw this film because Johnny Depp was in it and it’s his first ever film. Yeah, typical me fangirling all over the place. Wes Craven introduced us one of the scariest villain of all time: Freddy Krueger. “A Nightmare on Elm Street” was a very entertaining horror classic. A great film that still delivers today.

Carrie (1976) | Director: Brian De Palma

IMDb synopsis: A mousy and abused girl with telekinetic powers gets pushed too far on one special night.

“Carrie” is based on the classic horror story by Stephen King. It was a great film but it actually wasn’t really scary. It’s more like a very strong horror/drama with interesting characters. Everything about this film was just excellent. Especially the acting. Definitely a classic. 

Ringu (1998) | Director: Hideo Nakata

IMDb synopsis: A mysterious video kills whoever views it, unless that viewer can solve its mystery.

I saw this film on a plane. It was an 18 hour flight, I couldn’t sleep, and then I found “Ringu” in one of the channels. I had already seen the remake and it scared the crap out of me. I hate watching horror films alone. So I thought since I was on a plane, practically I wasn’t alone because there’s people around me. The theory didn’t work out. I jumped off my seat several times and this guy woke up beside me. The director was so good at building and maintaining the suspense. “Ringu” was also very disturbing and exciting at the same time. One of the best Asian horror film and definitely better than the remake.  

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Sometimes it’s hard for me to make a list of my “favorite film” because I love film so much. I have tons of favorites and it’s really not fair to narrow them down into a top 10 or top 9, let alone top 5. It’s just cruel. But, I’ll make an exception this time. I made this list as a request from one of my followers and I also wanted you guys to know some of my favorite film that have left a huge impression and completely wowed me over the years. Here’s my list in random order:

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) | Director: Stanley Kubrick

I personally think that every single Stanley Kubrick film have totally wowed me. Literally every single one of them. But my ultimate favorite is “2001: A Space Odyssey”. It’s one of the most visually stunning film I’ve ever seen. Also one of the most multi-layered and greatest film ever made. Kubrick once said this film was intended to be experienced more than to be understood. This film was pure art. In order to enjoy this film, you must let your imagination runs freely.

Jurassic Park (1993) | Director: Steven Spielberg

I saw this film at a very young age. I didn’t even know that there’s a thing called special effects. I thought the dinosaurs were real. I was really freaked out. But when my parents told me they were not real, I was totally blown away. I mean, how the hell did they even do that? It’s incredible how realistic the effects look. This film was a roller coaster ride. It almost felt like I was in an adventure with the cast. Spielberg was certainly the ideal director for this kind of film.

The Sound of Music (1965) | Director: Robert Wise

My mom showed me this film when I was also at a very young age. She said it’s one of her favorite film and she wanted to share that with me. I was completely in love with this film from the first moment Julie Andrews spread her arms and sang, “The hills are alive… with the sound of music.” It was beyond this world. “The Sound of Music” was a big part of my childhood and watching this film was one of the best experience I had my entire life. A timeless classic.

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Let’s be honest. We all have that particular film that we secretly love and watch repeatedly while the film itself is not considered remarkable. So, I made a list of my own top 10 “guilty pleasure” films. I hope you enjoy and here it is:

10. The Nanny Diaries (2007) | Director: Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini

IMDb rating: 6

IMDb synopsis: A college graduate goes to work as a nanny for a rich New York family. Ensconced in their home, she has to juggle their dysfunction, a new romance, and the spoiled brat in her charge.

> I saw this film out of curiosity. But I actually really liked it. It’s simple and the plot was not complex at all. The way the film told the story was very unique with the narration and stuff. The film also set in New York. I always wanted to go to New York so it’s kinda fun to see the city through this film. Also, Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson was such a lovely pair.

9. Miss Congeniality (2000) | Director: Donald Petrie

IMDb rating: 6

IMDb synopsis: An FBI agent must go undercover in the Miss United States beauty pageant to prevent a group from bombing the event.

> This film was such a great comedy. Although it was very predictable from the beginning, but it was hilarious and entertaining. My favorite part was the transformation of Sandra Bullock’s character from a messy female FBI agent into a gorgeous beauty pageant contestant. Bullock herself delivered a wonderful performance. This isn’t the kind of film you watch for the plot, but for the fun of it.

8. EuroTrip (2004) | Director: Jeff Schaffer

IMDb rating: 6.5

IMDb synopsis: Dumped by his girlfriend, a high school grad decides to embark on an overseas adventure in Europe with his friends. 

> From the moment the film started until it ended, I laughed uncontrollably. It’s not a masterpiece but it’s genuinely funny. Anyone who has seen this film must know that awesome song Scotty Doesn’t Know. I had that song as my ringtone for months. It’s weirdly addictive. There were also some unexpected cameos from Matt Damon, David Hasselhoff, Lucy Lawless, and so on.

7. Twilight (2008) | Director: Catherine Hardwicke

IMDb rating : 5.3

IMDb synopsis: A teenage girl risks everything when she falls in love with a vampire.

> I’ve read the Twilight books although not all of them. I was 18 when I read Twilight and I was so disgustingly in love with Edward Cullen. Yes, guilty as charged. I think this film was good and Robert Pattinson looked pretty amazing as Edward. And I loved the soundtracks so much. Those were great songs. But then the sequels came out and they’re all garbage (sorry).

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10. Never Let Me Go (2010)

Director: Mark Romanek

IMDb synopsis: As children, Ruth, Kathy and Tommy, spend their childhood at a seemingly idyllic English boarding school. As they grow into young adults, they find that they have to come to terms with the strength of the love they feel for each other, while preparing themselves for the haunting reality that awaits them.

9. Candy (2006)

Director: Neil Armfield

IMDb synopsis: A poet falls in love with an art student who gravitates to his bohemian lifestyle and his love of heroin. Hooked as much on one another as they are on the drug, their relationship alternates between states of oblivion, self-destruction, and despair.

8. Vanilla Sky (2001)

Director: Cameron Crowe

IMDb synopsis: A successful publisher finds his life taking a turn for the surreal after a car accident with a jaded lover.

7. The Fountain (2006)

Director: Darren Aronofsky

IMDb synopsis: Spanning over one thousand years, and three parallel stories, The Fountain is a story of love, death, spirituality, and the fragility of our existence in this world.

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Spoiler alert.

10. One Hour Photo (2002)

Director: Mark Romanek

IMDb synopsis: An employee of a one-hour photo lab becomes obsessed with a young suburban family.

Why?  Robin Williams gave a haunting performance in this film. His character is so disturbed and lonely. It’s one of the reasons why he was obsessed with this particular family. He created this imaginary reality where he thought he was a part of them (as an uncle) just because he was so freaking lonely.

9. Cloverfield (2008)

Director: Matt Reeves

IMDb synopsis: Revolves around a monster attack in New York as told from the point of view of a small group of people.

Why? I saw this film alone in my dorm. The constant fear and suspense of a mysterious creature haunted me the whole time and it’s really uncomfortable. This film was made to look like a documentary footage with shaky camera. I threw up after watching this. It was horrible. It’s a good film though.

8. Caligula (1979)

Director: Tinto Brass, Giancarlo Lui, and Bob Guccione

IMDb synopsis: Details the graphic and shocking, yet undeniably tragic story of Rome’s most infamous Caesar, Gaius Germanicus Caligula.

Why? I think I was 13 when I saw this film. What really disturbed me was all the realistic sex scenes (almost too pornographic). I was probably too young to understand what was really going on the whole time. I had no idea that this film was going be like that. 

7. Irréversible (2002)

Director: Gaspar Noé

IMDb synopsis: Events over the course of one traumatic night in Paris unfold in reverse-chronological order as the beautiful Alex is brutally raped and beaten by a stranger in the underpass.

Why? I just sat in my bed for hours after watching the film. It was just brutal. The 10 minutes rape scene? Most fucked up scene ever. The ending (or the beginning because it was shot in reverse) was the saddest ending to a film. We found out that Alex (Monica Bellucci) was actually pregnant when she was brutally raped in the middle of the film. It’s hurtful.

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