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Listal's 100 Movies To See Before You Die [Final Push]

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Listal's 100 Movies To See Before You Die {revamped}

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All reviews - Movies (64) - TV Shows (17) - Books (6) - Games (28)

Can I come with you?

Posted : 2 weeks, 5 days ago on 22 April 2008 03:51 (A review of Screamers)

This is what I'm talking about! Classic Dystopia. The future is literally in ruins. It didn't have a glorious budget but the story alone was thrilling and grainy. A good mixture of science fiction and horror, which I'm not a massive fan of. But what the hell.

Sometime in the future, an outpost on a stranded planet on the frontlines of an interstellar war has hit an all time low on communications and zeal.

Due to the radiation, everyone has become smoke-aholics and there isn't a smile in the joint! After a shuttle crash, the Commander Henderson (Peter Weller) sets off on a quest to broker a treaty with the opposing frontline.

However, in the no man's land is a prototypical machine that stalks by your own pulse. Subterranean, armed with buzz saws and great leaping potential. A force to be reckoned with. Henderson finds that more has been going on in no man's land than he first thought.

Life has changed, technology has changed. Loads of surprises and a tactical nuke explosion later, you have a face-off. I seriously think more of you Dystopa-likes will consider this film. K. Dick was behind it all. How can you refuse!

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Hog fattening time!

Posted : 2 weeks, 5 days ago on 22 April 2008 03:34 (A review of Eldest (Inheritance Trilogy 2))

This is the longest book I've read in recent years. It just kepy going and going! I had a schedule to keep for my Book Quest and this book brought me up to the deadline because of its length!

After seeing Eragon and finding it intriguing, I did some research and read various reviews and comparison between book and film lists. Eragon must have been the most watered down epic film of recent years.

I skipped to Eldest though as I wanted to read a book where I didn't know what was going to happen.

Eldest is the continuing story of Eragon Shadeslayer. A young boy who was chosen by a dragon to be its rider. He has become a hero in the resistance against the Empire and now goes to get trained by the Elves.

The alternate focus on this story is that of Ronan, Eragon's cousin. He returns from a neighbouring town to find his Father Dead, his cousin missing and his home & Heritage destroyed.

Ronan has no powers and no immediate Deus Ex. He relies simply on his own strength and will. The underdog always gets respects in this case. His trials were much more challenging than Eragon 'OP' Shadeslayer.

I thought the disappearance of Murtagh from the entire bulk of the novel was a cop out. A character of true torment and they just brushed him aside to cameo later.

The elf customs were also laborious and monotonous. Them and their traditions, it was a wind up mission! Once again, Elves in a fantasy narrative are just a source of hate and bore!

The Battle of the Burning Plains was somewhat enjoyable. A real Minas Tirith if you will. It wasn't too long and the action was sharp. I think thats where Paolini's talent lies, in the heat of battle.

Read this book if you want to kill a month with reading. I look forward to the final installments of Inheritence.

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Hold the oglop.

Posted : 3 weeks, 2 days ago on 18 April 2008 07:26 (A review of Final Fantasy IX)

I don't know what everyones complaining about. Yes, Zidane was a cocksure and Kuja was a nancy but the game had a lot more to it than those two!

It took a step-back on the technology part compared to the other PS1 Gens but at least that provided the fantasy which we all used to yearn for as a youth.

When this game, hit the shelves. I really couldn't be asked to play it as I was working my Trident! However, once I got down to it I found it quite delightful. If you try to not take it seriously as there isn't a single bit of drama in this entire flopcomedy!

I feel that Final Fantasy 9 needed to be made. It filled that gap between the now and the then of the FF Saga. Obviously the further we go into future, we are going to want to see more advanced things. FFIX gave us that last gleaming of the games we used to know.

If a game can bring me back to a simpler time where the only thing I have to worry about is my next Dyne Bar Wasted, then have at it.

Final Fantasy IX was the last transitional step toward lesser RPGs of the modern age. If anything it was a closing chapter in the PS1 RPG Era which I will always cherish and always miss.

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In the world of the blind, the plant is

Posted : 3 weeks, 2 days ago on 18 April 2008 07:05 (A review of The Day of the Triffids (Penguin Modern Classics))

From an early age, my Dad would always talk about this book as if it were the Bible. His favourite book by far and always on his recommendation list whenever I'm in a bookstore or a library.

After seeing the film and the TV series, I thought I'd best try this sucker out. Both were low budget and didn't do the storyline any justice.

After an accident causing his eyes to shut down temporarily, a man in hospital wakes up to no noise and nobody. He plucks up the courage to take his bandage off and can finally see that his world has turned upside down.

After an eerie but spectacular meteor storm the night before, everyone who saw it has been blinded. Now being one of the few people who can see he finds himself in a moral predicament.

I, myself, imagined walking around the streets as the only person who could see surrounded by blindies. Would you help them? Could you help them? It is just too big a question to pose. They'd be totally dependent on you and all you'd have is the dying establishment around you. You'd have to supply everything to them.

For good measure, throw in another antagonising force. The Triffid. A walking tripod of a plant with a poision stinger that stretches ten feet from its stalk. This puts man on the endangered species list! The only real advantage man has over the Triffid is his eyesight...

The origin of the triffid is different in every medium. However, the one that has the most significant theory is the man-made one. We created our own destruction. The human race will always be willing to fuck everyone over. It is even posed in the book that the blindness caused by the meteors were man-made satellites.

It just goes to show that even though we all cherish life, that some lives are more important than others. It is a horrible way to look at it but seeing as the world is literally ticking over to Doomsday, we might aswell not bother with optimism that we won't destroy ourselves.

Whether its by nuclear war, global warming or being blinded and becoming plant food. We're all going to end up dead by our own means.

Read book?

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Tell me what you like about me.

Posted : 3 weeks, 2 days ago on 18 April 2008 06:37 (A review of Nip/Tuck)

On a Sky One catch up, I managed to see the Season Two Finale which was very intriguing. I knew the show was about a pair of hot-shot surgeons sorting out peoples phyiscal dilemnas but to see so many issues and soap-like dramatic moments was too much!

I managed to catch up with all the current episodes before Season 3 aired and it was quite a journey. The stories were similar at points but Sean and Christian would always struggle to a point where money could be the cure.

Each season had a standard villain aswell. Although the surgeons would face various forms of conflict, it would always lead back an Individual in particular who was the Puppet Master. The series was therefore defined by the Intro-Rise-Fall of these villains who were all cultivated for that purpose. Whether its a drug-lord, a she-male, a psychopath or a midget; there was always someone who the boyos didn't get on with.

Not to mention, it has a very twisted and dark humour about it that I find quite appealing. It also added that mystery clause in the narrative with the Carver Storyline which I am all for.

Sadly Season 4 didn't do it for me. It felt so washed up and outageously shallow that I started to hate it toward the end.

Season 5, although in a different locale with EVERYONE along for the ride, was a saving grace. It felt fresh and new, I doubt we've seen the last of it for at least another season.

Vanity, Greed, Image, Betrayal are all heavily stitched into this tapestry so if you are a fan of any. You'll be a fan of this!

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Hey squeaker!

Posted : 3 weeks, 2 days ago on 18 April 2008 06:18 (A review of All Dogs Go to Heaven)

Yes, this film will give you nightmares but at least it explains heaven and hell in a roundabout way!

A young scoundrelous dog called Charlie has become more and more involved in crime because of his corrupt partner Carface (?). He eventually gets assassinated and goes to heaven where he meets the 'registrar' to sign in. However, he feels his time isn't up and fancies some revenge so he swipes his Watch which represents his time left alive and rewinds it. He's back down on Earth where he begins to start his plan to foil Carface and save a little girls life.

Lodas of memorable musical numbers and some classic Don Bluth animation. Burt Reynolds provides the voice for the hero which was a good shout.

The scenes depicting hell are the most fearful and frightening moments for any child to watch. One of my friends still wets herself when she even hears the name of this film.

That irrational fear manages to bring a whole new spectrum of emotions that doesn't usually show up in animated films in western culture.

If you wanna give your kids or younger sibling a good film where they can sing-along and then get scared shitless. Sign them up for this!

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Doom! Doom! DOOM!

Posted : 3 weeks, 2 days ago on 18 April 2008 06:02 (A review of The Flight of Dragons)

I can't remember when this film came about in my life but I was young. My Grandpop would tape various animation/kids films for me with his latest VCR. I would get monthly installments of new films this way!

Anyway, this film follows the World of Magic which is about to kick the bucket due to the real world becoming more and more involved with Science. Four wizardly brothers convene to discuss sealing their world off before humans stop believing in mysticism and magic. Three of the brothers (a white guy, an oriental guy and a black guy (McDonald's Advert)) agree with this but the fourth brother, Ommadon, who is somewhat grotesque in appearance fancies corrupting the world of men so he can take over all worlds. Voiced by James Earl Jones, he couldn't really lose!

The only way to defeat him is by taking his Red Crown which bestows him his powers. Carolinus the Green Wizard Brother summons forth a Man of Science (Peter) from the real world to aid their cause. He, along with Gorbash the Dragon and Sir Orin the Knight must trek across the land to defeat Ommadon.

After a sneak attack and a mishap, Peter and Gorbash get absorbed into one body. Gorbash' Body and Peter's Mind, and so the old dragon Smrrgol has to go along too to teach Peter how to be a dragon. They eventually pick up a Wolf, a female archer and a treetop elf whuch completes their party. They face many trials and many casualties along the way.

My love for a fellowship joining up and going on their merry way was what drew me back to this film again and again. Each person had their own unique skill and purpose. Their reliance on each other was commendable. The sacrifices they make for everyones freedom is beyond the call of duty.

The film also poses the question between logic and belief which isn't very subtle. An enjoyable animation though!

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Swing low, sweet chariot.

Posted : 3 weeks, 2 days ago on 18 April 2008 05:40 (A review of Addams Family Values)

I believe God himself casted this film. Never has there been a more perfect collaboration between actors on screen! Its also a comedy which makes that fact even more amazing.

Morticia was up the duff at the end of the first film, so that sets up the beginning of this one. A new addition means change and not for the best. The older siblings of newly born Pubert are jealous of the attention he receives from the older generations. After various whacky and cruel events, the Addams' hire a nanny who isn't what she appears to be.

Fester once again becomes an integral role to the plot, which further seperates this film from the original TV Series.

I can almost picture the film in my mind because I am so familiar with it. Laughs all round, cheery dispositions dealt with and an almost glowing feeling left when you finish up watching.

Raul Julia died after hearing they were making a sequel without him and the other greats of this Duology!

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I'm repelling fire of THAT magnitude.

Posted : 3 weeks, 2 days ago on 18 April 2008 05:25 (A review of X-Wing vs. Tie Fighter & Balance Of Power)

I hate flight simulators. Airplane Sim 1, Airplane Sim 2, Airplane Sim 3D. There is no difference. If you really want to fly in a plane, join the RAF or go to an airport!

This was one of my favourite games as a Tween. Before the revival of Star Wars, I managed to procure this game just after completing a very dated 'X-Wing'. However, the game did not become magnificent until this expansion.

It features updated graphics and better content. Not to mention a campaign that'll blow your tits off. All the medals you can muster.

Before every mission, I'd customise my HUD for maximum efficiency. There wasn't a ship in the galaxy that I couldn't waste. My personal favourite addition was the new movie shorts you achieved but beaten each mission.

Being able to fly all the regular and basic fighters of both the Empire and Alliance was enough for any man to chew on. Kamikaze-ing the SSD with an A-Wing was my favourite past time though.

Looks like I'll never play it again. We had fun though.

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Chas and Cem together again.

Posted : 3 weeks, 2 days ago on 18 April 2008 04:35 (A review of The Machine Gunners)

This book always brought a smile to my face. Whether reading it or hearing it mentioned, it was a fucking laugh regardless.

Young Chas McGill lives in WW2 Britain in some nowhere town in the North. At his local school, they collect memorabilia from crashed aircraft as their only hobby. Chas manages to get the ultimate prize one day when he manages to salvage a fully operational machine gun. He teams up with his bezzie mate, Cemetary Jones (Legend) and a bunch of other misfits to create a fortress to protect their town from ensuing German bombers.

The childrens mentality usually reflects the opinions of the time. All about paranoia and like. There is almost substantial growth involved from when they start as little kids playing fort to guardians of the Northern shore.

I felt the novel didn't need any female characters at all. Stereotypes and hinderances throughout.

Follow the adventures of Chas, Cem, Audrey, Carrot Top, Nicky, Clogger and Audrey *rolls eyes* as they fight for ideals that even we don't have.

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