Wanna see some of the greatest films ever made, of all time? I am absolutely nuts about epic movies- those great, big, larger than life movies with a sweeping musical store, casts of thousands, and, most importantly, a solid plot with great acting. Here they are!
Bridge on the River Kwai (1957). This is one of my favorite movies, ever. It’s set in World War II. A British regiment is captured iby the Japanese and sent to work in a labor-camp. Their assignment is to construct a bridge for the new Japanese railroad, but the British colonel (played by Alec Guinness) has his own plans. The plot develops and develops, and the end is brutally suspenseful. My favorite part is when the Japanese keep Guinness in “the oven” (Guinness is just AMAZING in this film), and when the secret commando team places explosives on the bridge. It’s a brilliant movie, directed by one of my favorite directors, David Lean. The movie is based loosely on a true event. Stars Alec Guinness, William Holden, Jack Hawkins, and Sessue Hayakawa.
Lawrence of Arabia (1962). Wow, I love this film. I watch this movie just about every year, sometimes twice a year. I like to watch it in the winter, when it’s cold (watching movies set in the Middle east makes me feel warmer, lol). It’s about T.E. Lawrence, a British officer during World War II. He’s a misfit among the British, and does not like Britain’s plans to dominate the Middle East (the British tell the Middle East they will expel the vicious Turks from the land if the Arabs agree to British influence after the war). Lawrence believes the Arabs can set themselves free, and he tries to unite the thousands of small Arab tribes into a guerilla army against the Turks. My favorite part is when Lawrence and some of Prince Feisal’s men cross the Nefud Desert to liberate Aqaba from the Turks. The movie is *loosely* based on the real T.E. Lawrence; this movie is not completely accurate about him. Such is Hollywood. It stars Peter O’Toole, Omar Sharif, Anthony Quinn, and Alec Guinness. Directed by David Lean.
Ben Hur (1959). Everybody thinks of that chariot race with this movie, but there is waay more to this movie than that. This is an incredible film. It’s about Judah Ben Hur, a prince of Judea caught up in the turmoil of Judea under the iron fist of the Roman Empire. Ben Hur loves his country, but he also loves his childhood friend, Masala, who has returned to Judea to rule over the Roman legions. When Ben Hur will not betray his countrymen to Masala, Masala finds opportunity to punish Ben Hur and gain more power. The two men are against each other for the remainder of the film, with the intricate plot and Ben Hur’s travels weaving in and out. Bitter and full of hatred, Be Hur finds his chance to get his revenge on Masala, but his rage nearly eats him up. It’s just an incredible film, just mind-blowing. My favorite parts are when Ben Hur gets water while he is on the chain-gang trek to the ship gallies, and the scenes with Balthasar (one of the “three wise men” searching for the Messiah) and Sheik Ilderim. Stars Charlton Heston, Hugh Griffith, Sam Jaffe, Haya Harareet, Stephen Boyd. Directed by William Wyler.
Kingdom of Heaven (2005). This is one of the rare modern movies that makes it into my top epic movies list. It’s set in the Middle Ages, and is about a lowly blacksmith named Balian who meets his father, a knight protector of Jerusalem and her king (Baldwin). The movie is a mish-mash of pseudo-historical events (it blends into one several hundred years of history). So the history of the thing is very misleading. But the scope of the movie is just stunning- I love movies about the Middle Ages, and this catapults you right into the political and social world of the Crusades. There are some scene not suitable for children, though (there are very gory scenes, and it has “love”- more like lust- scenes well worth fast-forwarding). My favorite parts are the death of Ibelin (his oath to protect the helpless always makes me cry), the quick training of Bailan with the sword fight, and the amazing battle for Jerusalem when Saladin comes to take her. The scope and scale of the film is stunning. Stars Orlando Bloom, Liam Neeson, Alexander Sidig, Jeremy Irons, Eva Green, and Ghassan Massoud. Directed by Ridley Scott. And here’s a little personal trivia for ya- I have traced my genealogy back to this era, and am a descendant of Guy de Lusignan, the King of Jerusalem. Don’t be fooled by Hollywood’s version of history, though- Queen Sibylla did really crown Guy de Lusignan King of Jerusalem, and she did it willingly and intentionally.
So these are some of my favorite epic movies. I really wish more movies like these were made today… I’m watching the same ones over and over again! The modern movie seems to put so much emphasis on the looks of the actors and not the stories anymore. I mean, if you’re not gorgeous and skinny and on the best diet pill or aren’t pumping iron, it’s like you can’t be in the movies. :-p It’s a good thing the old ones are still in circulation.
And by the way, most public libraries offer videos, too. I get practically all my videos free from the public library.
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:) I’m a married mom of four teenage children. We live in Upstate New York in a soon-to-be-renovated 1855 house with our dog, cockatiel, and three cats. Life is never dull, and exciting things just seem to always happen to me... why me...
Wed, May 6, 2009
Culture