Shichinin no samurai/Seven Samurai(1954)
IMDB rating : 8.8/10(49,021 votes) Top 250#9

Directed by : Akira Kurosawa

Plot : A poor village under attack by bandits recruits seven unemployed samurai to help them defend themselves. (view trailer)

Runtime : 160 min
Certification : PG-13

Rotten Tomatoes-
Reviews Counted: 41
Fresh: 41 Rotten: 0
Average Rating: 9.4/10

"Perhaps Akira Kurosawa's greatest triumph, The Seven Samurai is a bona fide classic of cinema, a regular on many critics all-time top tens. So, if you haven't seen it before, why not?" - Keith H. Brown

"Akira Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai (1954) is not only a great film in its own right, but the source of a genre that would flow through the rest of the century." - Roger Ebert

"The movie sucks you in so thoroughly you're actually pissed when you have to swap in a new disc during intermission." - Christopher Null

"This movie is so successful because of its flawless direction and very balanced combination of powerful human drama and exciting action." - Dragan Antulov


Awards for Seven Samurai

My rating: 8.0/10
Hailed as one of the greatest films ever made, Seven Samurai does not disappoint. But i felt it is over long and at times it tests the viewer's patience. But maybe it is just me. Perhaps i need a second viewing to understand the film fully. But other than that, this film is a great piece of art. There are lots of different themes in it. The battle sequences at the end contains lots of elements such as rain and mud. The amount of detail is sensational. I did not enjoy Seven Samurai as much as other people did. I really need a 2nd viewing.

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1951-1955

Shichinin no Samurai(1954)
Rear Window(1954)
Singing in the Rain(1952)
Toyko Story(1953)



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Rope(1948)
IMDB rating: 8.0/10(11,904votes)

Directed by : Alfred Hitchcock

Plot : Two young men strangle their "inferior" classmate, hide his body in their apartment, and invite his friends and family to a dinner party as a means to challenge the "perfection" of their crime.(view trailer)

Runtime: 80 min
Certification: PG

Rotten Tomatoes-
Reviews Counted: 29
Fresh: 28 Rotten: 1
Average Rating: 7.7/10

"A minor masterpiece; Hitchcock could turn out brilliance even when he considered himself to be simply playing around." - Ian Waldron-Mantgani

"Worth the effort just to watch the talent and innovation of maestro Alfred Hitchcock" - Robin Clifford

"Hitchcock's 'one take' classic gets better with age." - Ken Hanke

"Rope remains worth seeing, for its difference from cinema in general and from the rest of Hitchcock's work in particular." - Keith H. Brown

My rating: 7.5/10
Rope is certainly not one of Hitchcock's best films but it is one of the most unique movie i have ever seen. Because it seems that the whole film is done in one take. There are at least 10 cuts in Rope but i can only spot 3 or 4 cuts in my first viewing. This is the type of film that get better with repeated viewings. The acting is impressive and so is the direction. The camera is constantly moving around the whole apartment as if you are inside it. There is reasonable amount of tension but not as high as Hitchcock's greater works such as Psycho or Rear Window. This film showcases Hitchcock innovative camera work. I give only 7.5/10 for this movie because it is not as exciting and entertaining as other of his films.

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1930-1950
Citizen Kane(1941)
It's a Wonderful Life(1946)
City Lights(1931)
The Lady Vanishes(1938)
Monsieur Verdoux(1947)
All Quiet At The Western Front(1930)
Rope(1948)

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All Quiet on the Western Front(1930)
IMDB rating: 8.0/10(9,973 votes) Top 250 #226

Directed by : Lewis Milestone

Plot : A young soldier faces profound disillusionment in the soul-destroying horror of World War I.

Runtime: 138 min
Certification: PG

Rotten Tomatoes-
Reviews Counted: 22
Fresh: 21 Rotten: 1
Average Rating: 8.7/10

"A gripping, disturbing, emotionally affecting movie about the loss of innocence and idealism." - Matt Easterbrook

"This uncompromising drama makes a bleak statement of war fighting in trenches, stressing the inanity of WWI (or any war) for both sides; perhaps the most memorable moment is the one in which Lew Ayres reaches out for a butterfly to disastrous effect." - Emanuel Levy

"Heavy stuff, especially for 1930." - Christopher Null

"All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) is the first major anti-war film of the sound era, faithfully based upon the timeless 1929 novel by Erich Maria Remarque." - Tim Dirks

Awards for All Quiet on the Western Front

My rating: 8.0/10
This is the first war film ever made. Although it is not the greatest in my opinion, it is still a good war movie. It is remarkable that this film is made in 1930. Audiences were greatly disturbed by this movie when they view it back in 1930. It contains some memorable scenes, especially the last one. The sets built are also very impressive and realistic. Because of the lack of technology, the battle sequences are not that powerful. But one must remember that this film is made in 1930 and it is still effective when viewed today. This only show that this film can stand the test of time and is great a achievement by director Lewis Milestone(he was only 25 when he directed this film).

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Monsieur Verdoux(1947)
IMDB rating: 7.6/10(1,958 votes)

Directed by : Charles Chaplin

Plot: A suave but cynical man supports his family by marrying and murdering rich women for their money, but the job has some occupational hazards.

Runtime: 124 min
Certification: PG

Rotten Tomatoes-
Reviews Counted: 11
Fresh: 11 Rotten: 0
Average Rating: 7.9/10

"Stunningly daring social satire." - Alex Sandell

"A fine black comedy, not one of Chaplin's best, but still offers some illuminating moments." - Bob Bloom

"Truly great Chaplin film, seldom seen, about love, war, and murder. And it's a comedy too." - Steve Crum

"The intensely felt social criticism that audiences had seen growing in Modern Times and especially The Great Dictator is elevated to an astonishing level of sarcasm and subversive irony." - Mark Bourne

Awards for Monsieur Verdoux

My Rating: 9.5/10
Monsieur Verdoux is a clever film that is filled with many characters and each of the characters are developed so well you will think that everything happening on screen is all real. Chaplin's direction is outstanding and the editing and pacing of the film is close to perfect. You will never get bored watching this. This film also contains some scenes which are so hilarious that it will leave you gasping for air. Highly recommended.
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The Lady Vanishes(1938)
IMDB rating: 8.1/10(6,975 votes) Top 250 #193

Directed by : Alfred Hitchcock

Plot : While traveling in continental Europe, a young British couple realize that a passenger seems to have been kidnapped from their train.

Runtime: 97 min
Certification: PG

Rotten Tomatoes-
Reviews Counted: 18
Fresh: 17 Rotten: 1
Average Rating: 8.3/10

"While Hitchcock went on to make even better films, this one sets a standard of pure entertainment that has only occasionally been matched in succeeding decades." - Brian Webster

"Hitchock combines thrills and fun in this wonderful offbeat spy yarn. A winner." - Bob Bloom

"This British Hitchcock picture is one of the master’s best." - Marjorie Baumgarten

"If you can keep from yelling at the screen, you are a better person than I." - Michael W. Phillips, Jr.

My rating: 9.0/10
This is one of the earlier works from The Master of Suspense. The film starts out slowly and you will think that nothing much will happen. The slow pacing is essential for the development of the story. When the lady mysteriously disappears, the tension starts to build up and it can be unbearable at times. This is a typical Hitchcock film filled with twists and turns. The great thing about this film is that it can maintain a constant level of excitement, tension and suspense.

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