Newgnfr: The Top 50 Movies of the 2000's (35-31) Christian film reviews

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December 9, 2009

The Top 50 Movies of the 2000's (35-31)

Films 35-31

#35. 300 (2007)

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It is easy to mock this movie. This is primarily because it focuses on a bunch of screaming, half-naked, oiled up Greeks.

What can't be mocked is the sheer visceral power of the production. The inventiveness of this piece makes this worth seeing. From its fully realized art direction to the carefully constructed script, to the effective score, this is one of those films that combine all aspects of film making into a unified and pleasing whole.

Director Zack Snyder tells the well-known story of the last stand of Spartan King Leonidas and his band of 300 soldiers. The brave men hold off the Persian army of thousands. Persian King Xerxes demands Sparta bend to his will. Leonidas refuses to submit to another man. When Xerxes comes to slaughter the defiant Sparta, it’s a battle royale where all of the players are apparently popping steroids between takes.

Beyond the apparent sanguinary elements, there is a marvelously constructed piece of film making to be enjoyed. Each frame of this film is a work of deliberate beauty. I cannot think of another film so dedicated to making each inch of the screen so vibrant.

Cautions: Excessive violence, strong sexual content, nudity, oily Greeks

#34. United 93 (2006)

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Paul Greengrass gives us a glimpse into the horrible events of September 11th, 2001 in gritty detail. The production comes across more as a documentary rather than a fictionalization. The actors, from the air traffic controllers to the terrorists, look like real people stuck in real situations. There is rarely a moment of Hollywood affectation to be seen in this whole film.

The carefully construction reality makes the film a proper monument to those who died that day. Future generations will be able to watch this film and get a vivid idea of what it was like for those on the ground. This film shows all of the fear and the confusion of the day without getting in the way of its subject, like World Trade Center. Greengrass understands that the events of the day carry enough drama without having to conjure narrative tricks to move things along.

Cautions: Language

#33. Kung-Fu Hustle (2004)

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When I first saw this film I simply did not get it. Having seen it several times since, I can say that my original pan of the film was off the mark - way off. I was wrong.

Director Stephen Chow's goofy, spastic film is about Sing, a loser, who dreams of being a powerful gangster. When Sing accidentally sets off a war between a vicious gang and local citizens of a slum, he finds himself stuck in the middle. This film is short on substance but it makes up for it with dazzling visuals and a funny delivery.

This film is little more than a fancy amusement ride but it is a very good amusement ride that I recommend.

Cautions: Violence (mostly cartoonish)

#32. 28 Days Later (2002)

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This is a brilliant film, possibly the greatest horror film of all time...for the first fifty minutes. The first half of this movie is stunningly good. It redefines the zombie genre, giving us a realistic view of the world following such a catastrophe. Director Danny Boyle follows the first rule of horror: take it seriously.

Jim (Cillian Murphy) wakes from a coma in a hospital bed, naked and confused. He finds the hospital is deserted and he has no idea how long he's been unconscious. He stumbles out on to the London streets to find them empty as well.

The scenes of Jim's discovery are perfectly handled. When he discovers that the world has been consumed by an epidemic, and locates other survivors, the film really finds its groove. This film makes the zombies actually frightening since they're not undead, they're infected by a man-made virus. They are not shuffling undead slabs of evil meat. These zombies run and blindly attack with violent rage.

Where the film falters is when Boyle decides to remove the characters from their abandoned urban setting, and has them travel out into the rural areas. This involves a band of soldiers who are hunkered down in a huge mansion. Once the heroes enter the mansion, effectively a second movie begins. This makes the film seem uneven and incomplete.

As a huge fan of zombie movies, this stands as one of the best. This would be the only zombie film that has ever come close to challenging the original Night of the Living Dead as the best of its kind.

Cautions: Language, excessive violence, gore, sexual situations, full frontal nudity

#31. In Bruges (2007)

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Despite the violence and immoral behavior, this is a sharp, well crafted story. Hitmen Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) are sent to hide in Bruges, Belgium following the accidental killing of a boy during a recent job. Ray is a simple, impulsive guy who can't stand being stranded in the old town. Ken is older, wiser and more patient and mentors the twitchy Ray. The two wait to get orders from their boss Harry (Ralph Fiennes). While lying low, Ray falls for local girl/thief Chloë (Clémence Poésy) and befriends a Jimmy (Jordan Prentice), a bitter dwarf who's in town shooting a movie.

The script written by Martin McDonagh blends sharp dialog with symbolism and well delivered twists. Farrell is given a lively, multidimensional character in Ray and he runs with the role. This is easily the best performance of his career. Likewise, Fiennes and Gleeson have plenty to work with and both provide memorable performances. McDonagh's direction and writing is top notch and results in one of the more impressive films I've seen in a long time.

Cautions: Strong language, strong violence, sexual situations

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