55. North by Northwest

What it's about
A man gets mistaken for a government agent.

What I thought
I loved the planes.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "How can I explain why this is my favourite Hitchcock? It's probably Grant's character, Roger 'O' Thornhill. What's the O stand for? Nothing. The script is witty, the dialogue and situations purposefully exaggerated by Hitchcock. It's a James Bond film directed by Hitchcock - particularly if you take into account that Fleming was thinking of Grant's on screen persona as he created Bond and that Grant was the first choice to play Bond."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "Really enjoyed this movie. I find that Hitchcock can be very hit and miss. I didn't enjoy Vertigo but did enjoy Rear Window, The Birds and North by Northwest. Hitchcock is a matster of suspense of course, and this lends itself very well to a spy film. The mistaken identity plot device has rarely been done better. As much as I hate to say it, great acting, great direction and a great script combine to make a great film."

Dexter is 1 today!

The past year has gone very quickly, I can't believe we've not added more blog posts to here since September! It's been so busy here with work and such. Adding a post today because my gorgeous little boy is 1 today. 

Happy birthday, Dexter!

54. M*A*S*H

What it's about 

People who work in an army hospital.

What I thought
I really liked the song and Hawkeye was funny.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "I struggled with this one. Although I have seen it before, I guess most of my memories of MASH were from the TV series instead of the film. The film wasn't as polished as I remembered, the editing needed work, the scenes seemed to jump from one another. The sound and script too, again wasn't as polished as I recalled. Having said that, it does include some brilliant characters bought to life by some amazing actors. The script is well written. Gritty, grim, offensive, but overall a charming look at the insanity of war."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "I vaguely remembered MASH from the TV series but didn't really know what to expect. I did enjoy this film, some scenes were masterful. I loved the scene in which they treat the baby against orders, and how they escape punishment."

53. The Deer Hunter

What it's about
It's about how some men cope with life after fighting in a war.

What I thought
I liked the music, but I thought it was a bit boring.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "It is long, but I don't think it would have worked nearly so well if it had been cut. The film is very much character driven and while some scenes may not progress the plot at all, they do provide a deeper insight into the characters themselves. Brilliant performances from all the cast."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "I was wary going into this film. I thought I wouldn't enjoy it. The general consensus on the net was that it was looonnng.

I really enjoyed it. This film was split nicely into thirds, I loved the scenes where the boys showed their playfulness. The scenes in Vietnam were excellently done and the ending was great.

Happy to have watched but I will wait a while until watching again."

52. Taxi Driver

What it's about
It's about a man who drives a taxi.

What I thought
I liked the man's hair when he cut it.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "I remember really liking this film. I blame Peter for this, but it seemed to drag this time. It's always tricky watching a film with someone you know isn't enjoying it. Great acting, as usual, from De Niro, and Foster is brilliant despite her young age. De Niro's character is an awkward one as he is not used to 'normal' life after life in the Marines, so much so he thinks a first date should involve taking Cybill Shepherd to a porn film. One of Scorsese's finest films. I've never made my mind up which interpretation of the ending to believe."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "I was quite looking forward to this film and I'd heard a lot of good things about it. Unfortunately, while the performances were great, I did not like the direction. I felt the pace of the film was slow and, for example, the scene where the camera pans to an empty corridor as Travis is talking to Betsy on the phone, prevented me from being able to connect with the film."

51. West Side Story

What it's about
Romeo and Juliet with music, set in 50s New York.

What I thought
Loved the music

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "Gotta love a musical. Especially one as dynamic as this one. Some good acting in there, just watch it and let the music and dancing lead you through this tragic story. First time my daughters had seen it and it took some comforting to calm my youngest girl down at the end of it."

What Dad thought
First time for Dad. "To be fair, I like this version of Romeo and Juliet. Songs were good, the choreography were all right. I didn't love it, I liked it. It was okay. No nuns or Nazis in it though."

50. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring.

What it's about
Lots of walking and a ring.

What I thought
The parents watched this one without me. Not sure why.

What Mum thought
Mum had seen this one before. "LoTR drinking games are fun. This film is not. Oh, how I hate Peter Jackson. From forgetting it was also Frodo's birthday at the start to... well the list is too long. Bean's death scene being a great example of Jackson's ability to screw over decent scenes. Slow motion plus sad music does not equal a sad scene."

What Dad thought
Dad had seen this one before. "If I'd have watched this before reading the book, I wouldn't have hated it. It has all the ingredients to be a fantasy I should love. Unfortunately, Jackson's choices whilst adapting the book for film were not ones I would agree with. I've had to reread the books to get the taste of the film out of my mouth. Overall 2 rings out of 10."