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Mannen på taket (1976)
One of the greatest
This is one of the greatest Swedish police movies ever made. Sure, it is a child of is time, the mid 70's, but is has something other movies lack: tension and a documentary feel.
Yes, it has a slow beginning. It doesn't have the mantra of modern movie makers: pace.
Modern movies, regardless of genre, are to often cut to hard. One scene too much is often removed. Not in this movie, though. It is something so rare as an action movie with a slow pace and actual police work.
One of Sweden's most famous comedy actors of all times plays Martin Beck: the late Carl-Gustaf Lindstedt. He's doing the greatest portrait of this disillusioned policeman ever. Gösta Ekman, Peter Haber and Walter Matthau were not even close.
Mannen på taket is a great movie, has great actors, and is a great time document. A must see in my opinion. If you can see past modern movie cliché heroes and big explosions that is. There is a reason that no one has done a remake of this movie. All other books with Martin Beck has been filmed countless of times, but not this one... (It's named Den vedervärdige mannen från Säffle in Swedish or The Abominable Man in English).
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
One of the greatest movies ever!
This is an example that Hollywood CAN do a great movie that doesn't solely build on special effects.
This is also a proof that not all movies need to have more "pace" or "action". The ingredients in this movie is the interaction between two great actors, Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, a very good support cast, a superb story by Stephen King and a professional crew. This "soup" is very tasteful and gets 10/10 by me.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Higher quality, but lacks something
Great action, great actors (as Sean Connery and Harrison Ford)
and a great story make this a very good movie. The interaction
between Connery and Ford is very good.
However, it does lacks something. Something I can't put my finger
on... The feeling that was present in the first movie I believe. So the
vote is high, but not as high as the Raiders
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
What an adventure!
I rate this movie with the highest available vote. Is it worth it? Not really, seen as a movie. But for me, the Raiders are
something special. When I saw this movie for the first time as a
child, I loved the action.
Later, I've realized that the movie lacks in other qualities. It's
moves to fast and has a touch of low budget and a tight filming
schedule. On the other hand, I've come to appreciate Indiana
Jones weaknesses (he's all but perfect) nicely portrayed by
Harrison Ford who is supported by a great cast.
However, I might have discovered the movies weaknesses, but
that doesn't matter. When I watch this movie, I can't "help" feeling
an childish anticipation and joy, and I love it. This movie will
always have a special place in my movie-heart...
Die Hard (1988)
A great action movie
When I saw this movie in 1988, I thought it was the best action
movie I had ever seen (Raiders of the lost Ark not included). Then
it was the good and intense action scenes that were important.
When I see the same film today, the action scenes still are good
and intense, but I can appreciate the plot and acting more. Bruce
Willis is actually good in this movie! He actually lets his character
John McClane to be cool, scared and even a bit vulnerable. In the
sequels he is just a cool mean killing machine.
But do not be fooled. Die Hard is not an `Ingmar Bergman'-drama,
nor it tries to be. Never the less, Bruce Willis gives his character
more than a single dimension (I can not say the same thing about
the sequels or other action movies he has done).
So, Willis acting (not to forget good actors as Alan Rickman), John
McTiernans directing, great footage/camerawork and a good script
(based on a novel) lifts this action movie above many others made
before, during and after this one.
Happy Gilmore (1996)
Great comedy
One of the funniest movies I ever seen. Sometimes it's good to see a movie that's just make you laugh. Unfortunately doesn't the movies with Adam Sandler that follows have the same "we have a lot of fun filming this movie"-feeling. However, Happy Gilmore is a great comedy that I recommend.
Mission: Impossible II (2000)
This is NOT Mission: Impossible
This was a really, really bad movie. If it supposed to be Mission: Impossible. But as a plain action movie, it's quite good. The Mission: Impossible-series and movies are not particulary realistic, but it MIGHT happen in real life some way. But this movie..., for example the way Tom Cruise handled the motorcykel is not serious or realistic. In this movie, Tom Cruise is a superman. He is doing everything by himself and his co-workers are just sitting by.
In Mission: Impossible, there SHOULD be a TEAM solving the impossible mission.. If you are a Mission: Impossible-fan, use your money to rent the first movie and watch that again. It's much, much better. If you just want to see some nice, well done, braindead action (as we would sometimes) this is a good movie (and should have the name "SuperTom fixes everything").
The Matrix (1999)
One heck of a f/x-movie
God story line (yes it has some logical holes, but tell me any movie who doesn't), incredible stunts and unbelievable special effects.
Can it be any better? Of course it can, but this movie would be difficult to beat in its genre.
One drawback, though, you can tell that The Matrix has too much influences of Anime films.