Spring Break
Oldies but goodies
Cat Potter
Issue date: 1/15/09 Section: Features
Over the break, I had a chance to catch up on many new movies releases. Although I found some of them to be painfully adorable (Marley and Me) and others to be slightly over the top (Bride Wars) I couldn't help but think about my own movie collection at home, and how many of my friends had never seen some of my all time favorites. I guess with the hundreds of films released each year; it is easy to overlook many of the classics.
So, if you can't exactly afford to see the newest releases at your local cinema, checking out a couple of "oldies but goodies" is definitely the thing to do. Here are a few suggestions:
Harold and Maude
Released: Dec. 20, 1971
Director: Hal Ashby
Stars: Ruth Gordon, Bud Cort
Why watch?: This is my absolute favorite movie of all time. In a few sentences, this movie is about an elderly woman with the energy and spirit of a teenager, Maude (Ruth Gordon) and an actual teenager, Harold (Bud Cort) who both attend funerals on a regular basis but for very different reasons. Harold and Maude can both be described as very eccentric characters but to the opposite extreme. Maude has endured many hardships in her 80 years but sees every situation as a learning opportunity and embraces life and lives it to the fullest. Harold's life is a bit stagnant and his adventures don't really begin until he meets his new friend Maude. This movie is amazing with a rather surprising end, and the soundtrack (featuring all Cat Stevens songs) is just as great.
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Released: Jan. 29, 1964
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Stars: Peter Sellers, James Earl Jones
Why watch?: This black and white movie is one of the most unusual films you will ever see. It is about a U.S. Air Force General, Jack D. Ripper, who is insane and calls for a nuclear war on the U.S.S.R. because he believes that they are conspiring to contaminate the "precious bodily fluids" of the American population. When the president gets word of the order he must frantically communicate with the Russians to stop the nuclear holocaust before it is too late. Oddly enough, with such a "serious" plot, the movie is full of humor and the viewer will undoubtedly find the communication between characters extremely odd. The ending will blow your mind…or maybe just confuse you. Also, if you like this one you might also want to check out another one of Kubrick's more well known films, A Clockwork Orange.
So, if you can't exactly afford to see the newest releases at your local cinema, checking out a couple of "oldies but goodies" is definitely the thing to do. Here are a few suggestions:
Harold and Maude
Released: Dec. 20, 1971
Director: Hal Ashby
Stars: Ruth Gordon, Bud Cort
Why watch?: This is my absolute favorite movie of all time. In a few sentences, this movie is about an elderly woman with the energy and spirit of a teenager, Maude (Ruth Gordon) and an actual teenager, Harold (Bud Cort) who both attend funerals on a regular basis but for very different reasons. Harold and Maude can both be described as very eccentric characters but to the opposite extreme. Maude has endured many hardships in her 80 years but sees every situation as a learning opportunity and embraces life and lives it to the fullest. Harold's life is a bit stagnant and his adventures don't really begin until he meets his new friend Maude. This movie is amazing with a rather surprising end, and the soundtrack (featuring all Cat Stevens songs) is just as great.
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Released: Jan. 29, 1964
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Stars: Peter Sellers, James Earl Jones
Why watch?: This black and white movie is one of the most unusual films you will ever see. It is about a U.S. Air Force General, Jack D. Ripper, who is insane and calls for a nuclear war on the U.S.S.R. because he believes that they are conspiring to contaminate the "precious bodily fluids" of the American population. When the president gets word of the order he must frantically communicate with the Russians to stop the nuclear holocaust before it is too late. Oddly enough, with such a "serious" plot, the movie is full of humor and the viewer will undoubtedly find the communication between characters extremely odd. The ending will blow your mind…or maybe just confuse you. Also, if you like this one you might also want to check out another one of Kubrick's more well known films, A Clockwork Orange.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Sinjun
posted 1/15/09 @ 6:28 PM EST
Dr. Zhivago
Clash of the Titans
LadyHawke
are three other really good films too
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