The Lion King
Cartoon lions are still lions.
The Ghost and the Darkness
Hunting of two man-eating lions.
Born Free
Cub human-raised, released to wild.
Next: movies with the name of a country in the title.
Brazil
Gilliam’s best film, I declare.
Road to Morocco
The boys play pattycake again.
The Prince of Egypt
Cartoon retelling of Moses’s story.
Next: movies with the name of states (U.S. only) in the title.
California Suite
Ensemble comedy; Neil Simon screenplay.
Mystery, Alaska
Film about small-town hockey players.
The Hotel New Hampshire
Like Garp, but worse. Avoid.
Next: Movies set mostly or entirely in a hotel.
The Shinning
Kubrick’s horror masterpiece. King disagrees.
Four Rooms
Tim Roth as stressed bellhop
Psycho
Bates’ motel has weird secrets
Next up:
Rockumentaries, or movies about bands.
Grand Hotel
Where Garbo wants her aloneness.
The Shining
Nicholson not King’s role choice.
Mystery Train
Memphis hotel connects several oddballs.
Next: color films by Hitchcock.
School of Rock
Middle schoolers learn hard rock.
This Is Spinal Tap
Mockumentary about heavy metal band.
Anvil! The Story of Anvil
Documentary about real-life Spinal Tap.
Next: Color films by Hitchcock. (Thanks, Rivkah!)
Disagree. Analyze This was very funny, I thought.
Color films by Hitchcock
North by Northwest
Starring Cary Grant, impervious suit
Vertigo
San Francisco never looked better
Family Plot
His last and arguably worst
Next: Last films by great directors
Pocketful of Miracles (Frank Capra)
Sentimental comedy with terrific cast.
A Passage to India (David Lean)
Excellent adaptation of Forster novel.
The Osterman Weekend (Sam Peckinpah)
Peckinpah’s done so much better.
Next: Movies about culture clashes.
Gandhi
Epic resistance to British imperialism
Star Trek: Insurrection
Two alien races; same planet
Pocahontas
English settlers, Indians fatefully clash
Next: Movies about diplomacy or peacemaking
Fail Safe
Sidney Lumet’s Cold War thriller.
Dr. Strangelove
“No fighting in War Room!”
Argo
US, Canada, cooperate; Americans freed.
Next: Cold War films, not including Fail Safe and Dr. Strangelove.
The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming
Funny for its time; dated.
The Hunt For Red October
Connery took sub for drive.
The Russia House
Connery took Pfeiffer for drive.
Next: Tilda Swinton films.
Orlando
Androgyny used to full effect
Michael Clayton
Played brittle lawyer; won Oscar
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Unrecognizably brilliant as old woman
Next: Ralph Fiennes movies
Quiz Show
1950s game show scandal; excellent.
Schindler’s List
Fiennes, Neeson; both are superb.
The Avengers
He tries, but movie disappoints.
Next: Movies about the space race.
The Right Stuff
Ed Harris nails John Glenn
Apollo 13
Houston, this is great movie
Hidden Figures
NASA mathematicians overcome racism, sexism
Next: Movies about Soviet-era Russia
Interestingly, I rewatched Hidden Figures just last night. Nice summation!
Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears
1980 Best Foreign Film Oscar.
White Nights
Baryshnikov, Hines thriller; surprisingly good.
Mission to Moscow
US Ambassador examines Russia, Stalin.
Next: Steve McQueen movies.
The Great Escape
Allied POWs wanna break out
Bullitt
Famous for exciting car chase
The Towering Inferno
Fire chief determined to prevail
Next: Paul Newman movies
Cars
Voices Doc; his last movie.
The Silver Chalice
First movie: MST3K material (recovered).
Torn Curtain
Hitchcock film; his only one.
Next: Joanne Woodward movies.
They Might be Giants
Plays Watson to Scott’s Sherlock
Rachel, Rachel
Shy Woman has life-changing summer
A Big hand for the Little Lady
Bets big at Poker Game
Next: Films of George C. Scott
Dr. Strangelove
Worried they’ll see big board
Patton
Yells at battle fatigued soldier
Man Gets Hit With Football
Gets hit with a football
More fictional movies featured on Simpsons
Itchy and Scratchy: The Movie
Academy Award-winning cartoon gore fest.
Alice Through the Windshield Glass
Driver’s-ed film, featuring Troy McClure.
Pukahontas
Barney’s entry in film festival.
Next: More fictional movies featured on the Simpsons.