Category: MM Top 5 (Page 6 of 7)

MM Top 5: Characters that should join the Avengers

27 April 2015 / Adam Brannon / 4 Comments

Contributor Rob Stoakes takes on his first MM Top 5 with a look at a selection of Marvel characters that should probably join the Avengers – and why they probably won’t even get their own movies.

So, Avengers: Age of Ultron came out last week. However, today, we’re taking a break from movies at Movie Metropolis to look at the comics that spawned the films we know and love, and look at the Marvel characters who would make great cinematic experiences of their own…

…and also why it probably won’t happen anyway. Continue reading

MM Top 5: 2014 Films

1 January 2015 / Adam Brannon / 26 Comments

Bringing things to a close for 2014, the MM Top 5 series will focus on the very best films of last year. From animated adventures to dystopian thrillers, which movie will be crowned the pinnacle of 2014’s offerings?

Shall we begin? Continue reading

MM Top 5: 2015 Films

24 December 2014 / Adam Brannon / 5 Comments

There hasn’t been an MM Top 5 since January this year, so I thought it would be high-time to bring the much beloved series out of retirement for a special Christmas edition. Yes, today we will be looking at the most anticipated films of 2015.

I’ll be guiding you through what to expect, a prediction of their box-office forecasts and any other vital information you may need.

So without further ado, let’s start. Continue reading

Best Disney Songs: Top 5

26 April 2014 / Adam Brannon / 15 Comments

It’s back! It’s been a while since the last edition of the Top 5 series, in fact it was in January that we last looked at a topic. Due to time constraints it is with great sadness that I announce the series will now be done on the second Sunday of every month rather than fortnightly like previous editions.

Emotions aside, it’s time for a comeback and April’s topic looks at the Best Disney Songs. But what has made the cut? Continue reading

MM Top 5: Film in 2013

5 January 2014 / Adam Brannon / 7 Comments

In the first edition of the MM Top 5 series in 2014, we look back at 2013 and which films stood head and shoulders above the rest. After whittling the contenders down to just five, it’s time to announce the best five films 2013 had to offer us.

5. You’re Next: August 2013: Dir: Adam Wingard

5. You’re Next

The Film: In a year when horror films took a back seat to big blockbusters, remakes and uninspiring sequels, director Adam Wingard decided to think outside the box when creating his horror masterpiece You’re Next. Taking style tips from lesser films in the genre like The Strangers, When a Stranger Calls and to some extent Black Christmas, Wingard managed to create a horror film which wasn’t only downright terrifying, but genuinely funny.

Following the story of a family coming together to celebrate a special occasion, Wingard cranks up the tension three-fold when a group of masked killers start terrorising the innocent family unit. The scares come thick and fast but it is the comedic social references which really hit home. Hilarious scenes involving the family scrapping over a delightful meal are brilliantly juxtaposed to create something which simply doesn’t sit right in the mind of the audience.

Gore abound, with deliberately terrible dialogue and hideous over-acting, You’re Next is nearly perfect, however, it’s generic middle sequences stop it from placing any higher than fifth in this MM Top 5.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufUQWpEkbf0&w=560&h=315]

Success: You’re Next is a film which proves you don’t need a-list Hollywood talent, a massive budget or even a well-known director to garner box-office success. On a budget of just $1million, the movie went on to gross over $26million at cinemas across the globe.

There are rumours that a sequel is in development for release in a couple of years time, but details are still exceptionally sketchy, though this reviewer would love to see the masked murderers return in one form or another.

Receiving over 75% positive reviews from critics across the globe, it is one of the best praised horror films in recent times and fully deserves its success. For an in depth review of You’re Next, Click Here.

Click to pre-order You’re Next (UK Readers Only)

4. Iron Man 3: May 2013, Dir: Shane Black

4. Iron Man 3

The Film: After the huge disappointment that was Iron Man 2, director Shane Black takes over from Jon Favreau to helm the next sequel in Marvel’s biggest franchise. Robert Downey Jr continues his brilliant form as Tony Stark/Iron Man and brings to the table a much softer, more delicate side to the character than perhaps we are used to, especially considering his acid-tongue in Avengers Assemble. Gwyneth Paltrow returns as Pepper Potts but is sorely underused once again, even though her character has been fleshed out, a little.

Set at Christmas (for some reason), Iron Man 3 follows Tony Stark as he comes to terms with his anxiety after the events in Avengers Assemble and tries to battle a foe who isn’t all he seems.

The film requires a suspension of belief, more so than any other Marvel offering and takes on a much darker, sombre tone to portray Tony’s fears and deepening depression. In fact, the majority of the film takes place out of the Iron Man suit and fleshes out Tony’s character rather than his alter ego. A risky move by Shane Black but one which works, for most of the its enormous running time.

Joining the cast are Guy Pearce as Aldrich Killian, a man who has a bone to pick with Stark after events which took place decades before, and a brilliant Sir Ben Kingsley as new foe, the Mandarin. Iron Man 3 is a film which took the strong points of each of the other films and apart from a few lapses, manages to remove the negative aspects. A fully deserved fourth placing in 2013’s top five films.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke1Y3P9D0Bc&w=560&h=315]

Success: There really is no denying the popularity of the Marvel franchise and Iron Man 3 broke many records when it was released in May last year. Ranking as 2013’s highest grossing film at the box-office, it took an incredible $1.25billion in cinemas worldwide, including over $57million in the UK, Ireland and Malta alone.

Critics were equally as impressed as the audiences who went to see the film, only criticising the lacklustre 3D which has blighted many films since its resurrection a few years ago. With a rating of 78% positive reviews, it remains one of the most highly rated Marvel films ever released, which is a true testament to Downey Jr’s brilliant characterisation and Shane Black’s new, bolder and darker direction.

Click to buy Iron Man 3 (UK Readers Only)

3. World War Z: June 2013, Dir: Marc Foster

3. World War Z

The Film: Perhaps a controversial choice here as World War Z was released to a mixed critical response after its turbulent production, but what a film we ended up with. Directed by Marc Foster, who took charge of the rather disappointing Quantum of Solace, World War Z is a roller-coaster ride of adrenaline pumping action, from start to finish.

Starring Brad Pitt as Gerry Lane, a UN operative who has retired to spend more time with his children and wife, the film follows his story as he is thrown into the middle of a zombie apocalypse, trying to find out the root of the problem by travelling to numerous countries across the world.

Yes, the plot is paper thin, but once you’re strapped in for the ride, you couldn’t care less. Pitt commands the screen and steals the show from the other, rather stilted characters which appear from time to time. World War Z is a truly astounding film, it throws the rule-book of zombie invasions out of the window and creates its own thinking. Gone are the slow, brain-eating corpses of yesteryear, in their place are creatures which move at cheetah-like speed, forming swarms of their own kind to obliterate anything in their path.

In one particular scene, mentioned in a previous MM Top 5, we see Pitt’s character on-board an aeroplane as he does battle with infected passengers. A truly horrifying, chest-pumping moment in a film filled with them.

Only the anti-climatic finale stops World War Z from placing any higher, but it fully deserves its bronze medal.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EC7P5WdUko&w=560&h=315]

Success: A massive budget which kept increasing ($190million) rendered World War Z dead in the water before it was even released, and after a very slow start many of the nay-sayers looked like they would be right on this one, but word of mouth finally managed to spread and in the end, the film was a box-office success, grossing over $540million worldwide, much better than the studio was hoping for.

Critical acclaim was in short supply, which was partially the reason why the film suffered from a slow opening weekend, but there were people who appreciated the movie for what it was. With an approval rating of 67%, World War Z is the lowest rated film in this list, but it deserves much more than that. For an in depth review of World War Z, Click Here.

Click to buy World War Z (UK Readers Only)

2. Pacific Rim: July 2013, Dir: Guillermo del Toro

2. Pacific Rim

The Film: Released in July 2013, Pacific Rim was the brainchild of visionary director Guillermo del Toro and he fashioned a corker of a movie here. Taking cues from many like-minded films such as Godzilla, Jurassic Park and the Transformers franchise, Pacific Rim adds enough story and differences to make it stand out from the rest.

The film follows the story of Earth as it comes under attack from a race of monsters from deep within the Pacific ocean. These beings, the Kaiju are truly gargantuan in size and nothing our planet can do will stop them. Enter the Jaeger program, a group of enormous man-made robots designed to take on the Kaiju and destroy them before they can cause too much damage and death.

The special effects are truly revolutionary and show just how much we have come on in the last decade. From the CGI recreations of cities like Hong Kong, to the Jaegers and Kaiju themselves, everything is painstakingly detailed to ensure that these monstrous creatures and robots are as realistic as is physically possible.

With a cast of actors like Brit favourite Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam and ex-Eastender Robert Kazinsky, audiences are treated to characters who play their roles well, because they aren’t getting over the egos that some more well-known people could have put into their characterisation.

However, a first-act lull stops the film from clinching the gold medal, and finishes in second place in this top five countdown.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5guMumPFBag&w=560&h=315]

Success: Pacific Rim was a victim of poor marketing and suffered at the global box-office because of it. With a budget of $190million, it grossed just over $400million, well below the studio’s expectations.

It was a bitter blow for director Guillermo del Toro who expected the film to rival Iron Man 3 as the year’s biggest and best film. It certainly rivalled it in the latter stakes, with superior special effects and a greater focus on creating something which would be remembered for being exceptional and awe-inspiring.

Despite its less than stellar performance, a sequel is already rumoured to be in the pre-production stages with Guillermo del Toro returning as director. If it can be half as entertaining as its predecessor, then they’re onto a winner. For an in depth review of Pacific Rim, Click Here.

Click to buy Pacific Rim (UK Readers Only)

1. Hunger Games: Catching Fire: Nov 2013, Dir: Francis Lawrence

1. Catching Fire

The Film: Based on the second in Suzanne Collins’ successful trilogy of novels, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire was cleverly released in a fairly quiet November when the majority of the big blockbusters had already had their run in the cinematic marketplace.

Continuing the story of Katniss Everdeen as she battles the Capitol after winning the 74^th annual Hunger Games tournament with her ‘fake’ love interest Peeta Mallerk, the film showcases numerous new additions to the series, from actors and actresses, to foes and arenas, everything has been updated to ensure it can stand away from its predecessor.

Jennifer Lawrence returned to the series fresh from her Oscar win alongside Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson and of course the effervescent Stanley Tucci. The acting talent is sublime, with every performance being simply excellent.

Special effects were also given a much-needed boost. Those of you familiar with my opinion of the previous film will know that I wasn’t a fan of the CGI used in creating the Capitol and the ridiculously fake-looking fire. Thankfully one of those has been stepped up a gear, with the Capitol no longer looking like a Star Wars rip-off; the CGI flames still need work however.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is everything a film should be. From its detailed story to its excellent acting and decent special effects, it is fully deserving of being crowned 2013’s greatest film.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keT5CRhhy84&w=560&h=315]

Success: It was a film which was predicted to top the billion dollar mark; though it didn’t quite meet analysts expectations it still bettered the previous film’s takings. On a budget that had almost doubled to $140million, it’s box-office gross is a staggering $806million and still growing as the film remains in cinemas now.

The sequel, Mockingjay, will be in theatres in November this year and is already hotly tipped to become 2014’s highest grossing film, in a year which may prove tough with the release of Transformers 4 this summer.

Catching Fire is truly a film of epic proportions and its critical response rating of 89% positive reflects its standing in the market place. For an in depth review of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Click Here.

Click to pre-order The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (UK Readers Only)

So there we have it, 2013 has been ranked, what do you think? Head on over to the 2014 Film Tracker to take a look at what’s coming over the next 12 months.

If you don’t agree with my thoughts, as always, leave a comment in the section below, I read and reply to each and every one!

[polldaddy poll=7692035]

MM Top 5: Liam Neeson Roles

9 November 2013 / Adam Brannon / 14 Comments

Last fortnight’s edition of the series has been very well received and has already become the second most viewed after only two weeks. Continuing the theme of screen icons, I’ve decided to look at the best roles of a man who has only recently become one of the most sought after actors in the world. Who? Liam Neeson of course!

As always, spoilers will feature this fortnight, so please look away now if you don’t want to ruin the films!

5. Daniel: Love Actually: Dir: Richard Curtis

5: Daniel

The Film: Love Actually is a marmite film, you either love it or you despise it. Directed by rom-com connoisseur Richard Curtis, it was released in 2003 to impressive box-office takings despite its mediocre reviews. With a budget of $45m, Love Actually managed to bring in a whopping $247m worldwide to become of the most financially successful British romantic comedies ever.

With a whole host of British talent including the likes of Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant and Rowan Atkinson, the story centres on a group of people living very different lives in the run-up to Christmas. Watch out for an overzealous jeweller played by Rowan Atkinson which will have you in stitches.

The film itself is very basic, with no bangs and no shocks but what it does have is a lot of Christmas cheer, a good helping of teary eyes and of course a nice dollop of cheese to warm the cockles. So, like marmite, give it a go, you never know what could happen…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yO9yNFCt4M&w=420&h=315]

The Role: It would be particularly easy to include five films that starred Liam Neeson as an ‘action hero’, someone who isn’t afraid of getting his hands dirty to look good up on the silver screen, a modern day Arnold Schwarzenegger if you will. However, not including his role as Daniel here would be downright criminal as it shows his softer side brilliantly. The Irish actor is definitely good at beating people up as we will see later on, but there are scenes in Love Actually which show just how versatile he truly is.

Whilst the film itself may divide audiences across the world, the performances from everyone involved, especially Neeson, certainly don’t and that is why a 5^th placing here is thoroughly well-deserved.

Click to buy Love Actually (UK Readers Only)

4. John Ottway: The Grey, Dir: Joe Carnahan

4: John Ottway

The Film: The Grey remains one of my favourite films from 2011. Fitting into the thriller genre, the movie follows a group of men stranded in the Alaskan wilderness after a serious plane crash. Much to their dismay, they are hunted by a pack of hungry grey wolves, one of the most feared predators on the planet. The only way for them to survive is to keep moving, but it’s easier said than done in a place so desolate.

Directed by Joe Carnahan, The Grey was well received by critics but suffered at the box office due to stiff competition on its December 11^th release date. On a budget of $25m, it grossed just over $77m, a success, but not as pleasing as it could’ve been given the right timing and the right marketing campaign. Nevertheless, the film is a crowd-pleaser, with a brilliant score, terrific acting and some truly terrifying scares. For an in depth review of The Grey, Click Here.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9hnYXb9y9I&w=560&h=315]

The Role: Neeson really put everything he had into the performance here, and whilst it lacks the character development of some of his other characters, that is down to the script writers and not Liam’s excellent work. The character of John Ottway is a broken man who has tried numerous times to end his own life – to no avail.

After the plane crash which killed over half of the passengers on-board, he and the survivors head out into the wilderness in search of aid with Neeson’s character leading the pack. His strong, confident performance here really paid off and you felt every strain and heartbreak he suffered along the way as the reality of death slowly seeped back into his mind. The role was physically demanding with cold, wet shoots that were often hampered by the weather.

His role here may not be as deep as some others, but the fact Liam managed to pull off such a fantastic and credible performance despite poor filming conditions makes it all the more remarkable.

Click to buy The Grey (UK Readers Only)

3. Aslan: The Chronicles of Narnia: TLWW, Dir: Andrew Adamson

3: Aslan

The Film: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is in my humble opinion, one of the best family fantasy films ever made, and it is hugely underrated. Whilst it proved a powerhouse at the global box-office, taking just shy of $750m, it was less enthusiastically received my some critics who argued that it was a shallow mess that robbed everything that was great about C.S Lewis’ dramatic novel.

The film starred a huge array of acting talent, with the likes of Tilda Swinton, James McAvoy, Dawn French, Ray Winstone and Jim Broadbent amongst others and followed the story of a gateway to a magical land filled with adventure and danger. A must for any good children’s fantasy film.

Filled with charming special effects, stunning scenery and some great performances, this film opened a gateway for adaptations of Lewis’ other novels, and whilst neither of the two successors were as warmly received as this, they both brought in big bucks at the box office.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsOBsj8g6Dw&w=560&h=315]

The Role: By 2005, Neeson had already proved he was an incredibly versatile actor, with lead roles in Star Wars and an Oscar nominated performance in Schindler’s List, but the Irish born thespian had never taken on a voice only role, something which it is claimed he had always wanted to do. What better way to start than with one of the greatest characters in children’s literature; Aslan. This mighty lion had been brought to life before but never with such a gravelly, awe-inspiring vocal performance as Liam gave to him.

Aslan needed to be a powerful beast with a warm heart and Neeson brought this to him. A well-deserved bronze medal in this fortnight’s MM Top 5.

Click to buy The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (UK Readers Only)

2. Oskar Schindler: Schindler’s List, Dir: Steven Spielberg

2: Oskar Schindler

The Film: Schindler’s List is one of the most positively reviewed films of all time, and it regularly received full marks from critics and audiences from around the world who said it was a defining moment in cinema history. It also marked a huge turning point in the careers of everyone involved. Director Steven Spielberg was already making his mark as the king of blockbuster cinema, but after his two releases in 1993, one being this and the other being the year’s highest grossing film Jurassic Park, he cemented his place at the top of the pecking order and he has never looked back.

It also performed exceptionally at the box-office with its miniscule budget of $22m being turned into a handsome profit of almost $300m. The film proved very profitable for Universal Pictures and Spielberg’s own production company, Amblin Entertainment.

With stars like Liam Neeson and Sir Ben Kingsley in lead roles and a poignant score from John Williams, it had all the right ingredients for a deliciously moving portrait of the life of Oskar Schindler.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIp_8RNNX4k&w=560&h=315]

The Role: Liam Neeson had remained largely undetected at the time Steven Spielberg was fashioning his 1993 masterpiece, but after a casting call for the role of Oskar Schindler, the veteran director knew he had found the right man for the job.

Neeson played Schindler, a German businessman who saved the lives of thousands of Jewish refugees during the holocaust. A harrowing film at best and one that should not be watched lightly, Liam gave a brilliant performance alongside Ben Kingsley and Ralph Fiennes. There is no doubt the film will always have been one of the most emotional ever brought to the silver screen, with or without Neeson’s involvement, but his passion for acting really comes across brilliantly on screen.

It is impossible to truly understand just how horrific these events were in the past, but even the small glimpse we see here, the terror of Schindler being discovered by the authorities, is enough to put a lump in your throat thanks to a resonant performance from Liam Neeson. It really is a wonderfully moving portrait and from director Steven Spielberg a thank you, to the man who saved so many lives.

Click to buy Schindler’s List (UK Readers Only)

1. Bryan Mills: Taken, Dir: Pierre Morel

1: Bryan Mills

The Film: Released in 2009, Taken was a massive hit for director Pierre Morel and 20^th Century Fox who had no idea just how popular the film was going to be. After release, fans raved about the tense plot and excellent acting, and for the majority, the critics were doing the same. The numbers speak for themselves, a budget of $25m was recouped in no time and by November 9^th 2013, Taken has grossed a massive $225m worldwide. There’s no wonder a good, if rather pointless sequel was released last year.

The film follows the life of ex-CIA agent Bryan Mills (Neeson) as he comes to terms with his retirement and relocation to be closer to his teenage daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) who lives with ex-wife Lenora (Famke Janssen). Unfortunately it isn’t plain sailing for Bryan as Kim is kidnapped whilst holidaying with friends in Paris. From here-on in, the film takes the viewer on a rollercoaster ride as Bryan searches Paris for his daughter before it is too late.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IPt91Yf8_M&w=560&h=315]

The Role: This is the role that made people sit up and realise that Liam Neeson was a fantastic action hero. From his tall stature, to his gruff Irish accent, he was physically and mentally intimidating and a perfect fit for a film such as this.

The movie itself suffered from a lack of plot and a very poor sense of direction, but it really didn’t matter as we saw Bryan Mills go head to head with drug smugglers, traffickers and even French politicians, beating his way through them with as much force as a bulldozer to save his little girl.

Neeson has now signed on to play Mills in a third Taken film, and whilst this was met with dismay from fans of his work, there is no denying that seeing him punch some bad guys is a massive guilty pleasure and hugely deserving of a gold medal in this fornight’s MM Top 5.

Click to buy Taken (UK Readers Only)

An Honourable Mention

Peyton Westlake – Darkman, Dir: Sam Raimi

Henri Ducard – Batman Begins, Dir: Christopher Nolan

Valjean – Les Miserables, Dir: Bille August

Priest Vallon – Gangs of New York, Dir: Martin Scorsese

Which do you think was best, or perhaps none of those float your boat? Vote in our fortnightly poll and share your views in the comments section below. Thanks for reading!

[polldaddy poll=7548200]

Meryl Streep’s Best Roles: Top 5

27 October 2013 / Adam Brannon / 13 Comments

Who doesn’t love Meryl Streep? Apart from Donald Trump of course, but nobody counts him right? Arguably seen as one of the planet’s greatest actresses, she’s had a diverse career that has spanned decades.

From musicals to political dramas, there is no genre this talented lady can’t excel in, and this is what we’re celebrating with our latest top 5. These are our picks for Meryl Streep’s best performances and a countdown of her top 5 roles ever! Without further ado, let’s begin, but will any of your favourites make the cut?

MM Top 5: Movie Plane Crashes

28 September 2013 / Adam Brannon / 7 Comments

The MM Top 5 series returns after a two month break, and kicking off as we mean to go on, this edition looks at the top 5 Movie Plane Crashes. Starting from this week, there will be a new layout to the series with each nominee being separated into categories to describe the film, why it has placed in its respective position and other features depending on the topic. Plus, check out our new hyperlinks, clicking on the name of the nominee will take you to an outsourced page to give you even more information on each item for a truly interactive experience. Enjoy!

Oh, and please be aware, there will be spoilers!

5. Knowing: 2009, Dir: Alex Proyas

5: Knowing

The Film: Knowing was released in the spring of 2009 to a mixed reception by critics and fans of lead actor Nicolas Cage. However, its lukewarm response was overshadowed by some impressive box office takings, over $180m worldwide on a relatively modest budget of just $50m.

Cage starred as Jonathan Koestler, a widowed, single father of one living in the sparse town of Lexington, Massachusetts who notices some strange patterns in the numbers found in a time capsule dug up by his son at school. As time goes on, Koestler notices that these digits foreshadow certain disasters, past and present.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V9XEPg74R0&w=560&h=315]

The Scene: Stuck in traffic, Cage gets out of his vehicle to talk to a police officer, who suddenly turns and runs away. After looking behind him, Cage’s character sees a large jetliner as it slams through a set of power lines and cars as it explodes at the side of the road.

If that wasn’t terrifying enough, the sight of people running engulfed in flames is enough to make some people turn away from the screen. It is a truly terrifying sequence and one which serves as the highlight of a much understated but ultimately average Nic Cage action adventure. Sorry Nicolas, but 5^th is where you place in this edition.

Click to buy Knowing (UK Readers Only)

4. Final Destination: 2000, Dir: James Wong

4: Final Destination

The Film: Final Destination is a rare thing, a horror film which manages to do everything right. Creating a new premise which had never been done before, it revitalised a seriously flagging genre and captivated blood lovers across the globe. Its success has been truly unbelievable, with 4 sequels and a rumoured 5^th on the way, the series has grown from strength to strength, as long as you forget the 4^th instalment that is.

The first film, released in 2000 was ridiculous fun. Its cringe worthy dialogue and vomit inducing death scenes perfectly captured 21^st Century horror. Starring Devon Sawa and Ali Larter, it followed a group of high-school students and their teachers after they survived a horrific plane crash, but one-by-one, death picked them off and sent them on their way in a series of ludicrous scenes not afraid of using the blood effects.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFZg21g5_RY&w=420&h=315]

The Scene: A turbulent take-off leaves passengers on board flight 180 with white knuckles, but sighs of relief are heard all around when things start to even out again, but it doesn’t last long. Suddenly, the plane shakes violently, with cabin lights constantly flickering on and off.

As oxygen masks descend into the cabin, a severe explosion tears through the aircraft, causing the seats to break free from their mounting, which sends them into the night sky. Finally, the camera switches back to the airport where horrified passengers see the plane explode, with the resulting shockwave shattering the windows. This was a brilliantly choreographed scene which still serves as one of the series’ highlights.

Click to buy Final Destination (UK Readers Only)

3. Con Air: 1997, Dir: Simon West

3: Con Air

The Film: Con Air remains one of the finest action films ever released in cinemas and has a cult following with many throughout the world. It was released as a summer blockbuster which had to compete with the likes of The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Titanic, it performed moderately well at the global box office, earning over $220m on a budget of $75m.

Starring Nicolas Cage, John Malkovich and John Cusack as well as a host of other big Hollywood names, Con Air followed the story of some of America’s most dangerous criminals and parolee Cameron Poe (Cage) as they travelled to a new maximum security facility. However, things don’t run to plan as the criminals hijack the plane, sending the viewer on a terrifying journey to see whether Poe will get his parole at all!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uiBwg6DPXI&w=420&h=315]

The Scene: Trigger-happy Agent Malloy, played by Colm Meaney, is in pursuit of the hijacked plane in an Apache helicopter. Arming the aircraft, Malloy looks for a target lock when Nicolas Cage’s character radios through to say that he’s taken control of the plane. Malloy stops his attack but it’s too little, too late, after firing at it numerous times, the plane is heading for the ground.

As the jet approaches Las Vegas, the pilot informs Cage that the plane simply will not make it to the airport, and they’ll have to emergency land on the strip. Exciting!

The plane passes over the crowded streets of Las Vegas, clipping the Hard Rock Casino’s giant guitar logo before colliding with the ground as well as several different vehicles, trees and street signs. It’s all rendered in truly terrible CGI, but is an amazing scene to watch nonetheless.

After a bit of a bump, a flash and a sparkle, the aircraft comes to rest, with notably less in the way of wings, tail and fuselage than it started with all those hours ago. It’s an exciting sequence that allows the viewer to truly escape into the film, but the shoddy CGI stops it from clinching the silver medal in this MM Top 5.

Click to buy Con Air (UK Readers Only)

2. The Grey: 2011, Joe Carnahan

2: The Grey

The Film: It is possible that The Grey is perhaps the most understated film of 2011. Starring Liam Neeson as the central character, the film grossed less than $100m at the worldwide box office yet remains one of the finest thriller creature features ever released. Director Joe Carnahan utilises some breath-taking scenery to great effect and the story is as deep as you would want it to be for the genre.

Neeson plays deeply troubled John Ottway, a sharpshooter working in the Alaskan wilderness, protecting a team of workers who are hunting for oil. On the last day of work before the holiday season, the plane which carries the team to civilisation crashes, stranding them in a deadly game of cat and mouse with a pack of wolves. For an in depth review of The Grey, Click Here.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6coTNaZuz_c&w=560&h=315]

The Scene: In a scene which for me clinched it as the best movie plane crash ever until the winner below stole the crown, Liam Neeson’s character John Ottway is relaxing on his journey back to civilisation when all of a sudden, an explosion rips through the cabin knocking some passengers out and causing others to freeze in panic. This part of the sequence is exceptionally tense and makes the audience feel incredibly claustrophobic as the plane tears through the sky, wind and snow rushing past the people on board.

Once on the ground, the surviving members of the team realise they have landed in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness. Ottway knows this isn’t good and sure enough, each of them is picked off by a pack of hungry grey wolves, leaving only a couple of members hiking to safety. The entire film is an absolute rollercoaster ride of tension and relentless claustrophobia, but the plane crash sequence is truly horrifying and fully deserves the silver medal in this fortnight’s list.

Click to buy The Grey (UK Readers Only)

1. World War Z: 2013, Dir: Marc Forster

1: World War Z

The Film: World War Z was a film plagued by production problems, constant reshoots, recasting and soundtrack issues, so even making it to the cinema was an achievement for director Marc Forster. What is an even greater achievement however is at how damn good this film is.

With Brad Pitt at the helm and a supporting cast which includes Peter Capaldi (the new Dr Who), World War Z has cemented its place as one of the best films of 2013. Predicted to be a worldwide flop at the box office, it actually did rather well, grossing over $530m on a budget just shy of $200m.

Pitt stars as Gerry Lane, an ex UN advisor now living as a full-time parent in Philadelphia. After an unnamed virus takes over billions of people across the globe, turning them into blood thirsty zombies, Pitt is thrown back into the ring to try and find out just what was the source of the epidemic. For an in depth review of World War Z, Click Here.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4tRW6k4sos&w=560&h=315]

The Scene: As Lane and his injured soldier partner Segen board a flight to leave the hordes of zombies attacking Jerusalem, they relax and finally think their ordeal is over. How wrong they are! A stowaway zombie boards the plane and begins infecting members of the crew and some unlucky passengers.

Realising there is no way out of the predicament they are in, Pitt’s character throws a grenade, which then explodes, blasting a huge hole in the side of the plane. As zombies and remaining passengers are sucked out of the disintegrating aircraft, Pitt and his partner strap themselves in and brace for the emergency landing. Utilising the rolling Welsh hills as a backdrop, the plane comes into land in excruciatingly impressive fashion, colliding with coniferous trees and breaking up into several pieces. It is one of the finest films of 2013 and its plane crash will no doubt go down in history as one of the most tense, electrifying pieces of aviation disaster cinema ever. A fully deserved gold medal in this MM Top 5.

Click to buy World War Z (UK Readers Only)

An Honourable Mention

Jurassic Park III – 2001, Dir: Joe Johnston

Cast Away – 2000, Dir: Robert Zemeckis

United 93 – 2006, Dir: Paul Greengrass

Which do you think was best, or perhaps none of those float your boat? Vote in our fortnightly poll and share your views in the comments section below. Thanks for reading!

[polldaddy poll=7433320]

MM Top 5: Tearjerkers

27 July 2013 / Adam Brannon / 17 Comments

The MM Top 5 series has become like a well-oiled machine over the past few months and I hope you’ve enjoyed reading them as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them. To ensure the quality of the series continues I am going to be taking a break from the series to find some new lists for you, my loyal readers. So for now, this will be the last Top 5 until further notice; oh it’s Tearjerkers by the way. Remember to leave a comment and vote in the poll for your voice to be heard.

5. The Land Before Time: Don Bluth, 1988

5. The Land Before Time

I always find children’s films to be some of the most upsetting of any put to screen and The Land Before Time is definitely no exception. Released in 1988 to capitalise on the success of hand-drawn Disney cartoons it was one of the most loved animated films of the decade and spawned an unbelievable 12 sequels, though the first was the only one released in cinemas.

Following the adventures of baby dinosaurs Littlefoot, Cera, Petrie, Ducky and Spike, Land Before Time was an emotional tale of their journey to a wondrous ‘Great Valley’ where they could be safe from the dangers of carnivorous dinosaurs and the ever-changing landscape around them.

But why is it a tearjerker? Within the first 20 minutes of the film, Littlefoot’s mother is brutally killed by a Tyrannosaurus Rex leaving the tiny Apatosaurus to fend for himself. Throughout his journey to the Great Valley, he constantly reminisces about his mother and the life he was forced to leave behind. Add to this a moving soundtrack with a song by Diana Ross that could even make those with hearts of steel cry and you have one of the most upsetting and yet uplifting animated films ever.

As a note on the side, the little girl who voiced tiny duck-bill Ducky was tragically killed by her father as she slept in her American home.

I defy any of you reading this to watch The Land Before Time and not shed a tear.

4. The Notebook: Nick Cassavetes, 2004

4. The Notebook

Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams starred in 2004’s saddest film by a country mile. The Notebook follows the two leading actors as they fall in love in the 1940s and is narrated throughout by an elderly gentleman who is living in the present day.

The film itself received mixed reviews from critics but was a huge success at the global box-office as romantic drama movies always go down exceptionally well with audiences. It wasn’t the film itself which became such a tearjerker, as deep down it was just the usual run of the mill love story, it was the excellent source material on which it was based, the novel of the same name by Nicholas Sparks, perhaps the king of the tearjerker.

Add to this two brilliant performances from Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams and you have a Romeo & Juliet-esque love story that explores the themes of heartbreak, redemption and true love better than any film I have ever seen.

3. ET – The Extra Terrestrial: Steven Spielberg, 1982

3. ET – The Extra Terrestrial

Director Steven Spielberg features twice in this fortnight’s list. Here we have his 1982 blockbuster classic E.T – The Extra Terrestrial; a film which stunned cinemagoers across the world with its amazing special effects, rousing soundtrack and poignant story.

Spielberg really tugged at our heartstrings in a film which has simply become one of the greatest pieces of cinema of all time. E.T the cute little alien lost on Earth after crash-landing brought tears to the eyes of many as he struggled to come to terms with being stranded on a planet which was never meant to home him.

Thankfully he is taken in by Elliot, a lonely little boy and his family, including a very young Drew Barrymore, who learn to love him and teach him the ways of the planet in some hilariously staged sequences including trick or treating at Halloween and of course the moment he is introduced to Barrymore’s Gertie in the garden shed.

Alas, perfection is never meant to be and scientists finally get hold of E.T bringing with it the first of many hugely emotional scenes signalling the climax of the blockbuster. For me, the tears continue as our little alien buddy finally gets to go home, lifts his finger and says ‘I’ll be right here’ as he points to Elliot’s heart.

Emotional stuff.

2. War Horse: Steven Spielberg, 2011

2. War Horse

Oh Spielberg, will you ever cease to make your loyal cinema-going fans cry. For now, it seems like the answer will be no as the veteran director showed in 2011 with his adaptation of the play War Horse, a film that will make even those of you who class yourselves as non-animal lovers weep like little babies.

Starring Jeremy Irvine, Peter Mullan, Emily Watson, Tom Hiddlestone and David Thewlis; War Horse was an emotional rollercoaster from the very start, right up until the end credits being to roll.

Focusing on the plight of horses used in World War One, Spielberg introduced audiences to Joey, a beautiful young stallion who is snapped up as a plough horse. Predictably, he is useless and is soon sold off to the army to be used as a trusty steed.

However, it wasn’t just the horses we felt for, there was real emotion invested in the human characters as friends were lost in battle to mustard gas and machine guns. There is one heart-wrenching scene in particular involving two German deserters who are found inside an old windmill that will leave your jaw on the floor in sheer disbelief.

War Horse is not a film to watch if you’re feeling blue, it is pure emotion from beginning to end and just as you think the tissues can go away, in typical Spielberg fashion, there is a finale which is so joyous and happy, your eyes will sting.

Why do you do it to us Mr. Spielberg? Why!?

1. Marley & Me: David Frankel, 2008

1. Marley & Me

I’ll probably get a fair bit of criticism for including so many films which lack investment in their human characters and instead get the tears rolling with animals, but for one reason or another, people are so invested in animals that they often will have you blubbing more than any human character could.

We finish this edition of the MM Top 5 series with Marley & Me, a film directed by David Frankel who is no stranger to the romantic comedy drama as he was also at the helm of the brilliant Devil Wears Prada. With Jennifer Aniston, Owen Wilson and Alan Arkin on board you would expect nothing more than your usual rom-com, but you’d be so wrong.

Enter Marley, a naughty but adorable Labrador who steals every scene he’s in. The problem with Marley & Me is that you know what is coming, even if you haven’t read the book. We spend as the audience a good 90 minutes learning about his naughty streak and his adorable side and then, right at the end he is cruelly ripped away from us like pets generally are.

For any of you out there who have a dog or owned one previously, Marley & Me is the ultimate no-go area. It is simply too sad, I have tears writing this as I think about the film.

Yet it constantly makes me want to watch it again, because I love seeing how happy animals can make their owners and how the bond between man and dog is truly one of the most beautiful relationships on this planet, and for me it is the biggest tearjerker of all time.

Thanks for reading, please leave comments and vote in our fortnightly poll.

An Honourable Mention:

Bambi

The Lion King

Titanic

The Green Mile

P.S. I Love You

[polldaddy poll=7280260]

MM Top 5: Characters you Love to Hate

13 July 2013 / Adam Brannon / 15 Comments

After receiving some feedback from the loyal readers of Movie Metropolis, I decided to focus on a more character driven edition of the MM Top 5 series to see how popular something a little less ‘boyish’ would be. After all, I need to represent my female readers too.

So, this fortnight we will be looking at those ‘Characters you Love to Hate’ there’s literally hundreds to choose from, but I managed to whittle it down to the best 5. Let’s take a look.

5. Draco Malfoy: Tom Felton, Harry Potter

5: Draco Malfoy

When J.K. Rowling released the very first Harry Potter book in 1997, it was released to critical acclaim because of its dynamic mix of characters and the magical world in which it was set. However, it wasn’t until the first film was released in 2001 that we really saw just how powerful the series had become.

We saw a group of young actors grow up before our very eyes including one particular ‘villain’ who captured the imagination of young teenagers across the world. Tom Felton played Draco Malfoy throughout the series and despite rumours of a re-cast after Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix, he managed to hold on until the series concluded in 2011.

Malfoy was everything the school bully should be, slick and slimy, with an air of superiority about him, proving that it wasn’t only the muggle world that suffers from individuals like him. This was of course down to the excellent charisma Felton gave the character throughout the series.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWGYKrh2YEo&w=560&h=315]

The Slytherin house member got more and more irritating as the series progressed right up until the final film when we realised that he had some inner demons that could not be destroyed easily. For an actor so young, Felton’s portrayal was one of the stand-out parts of a series which is loved universally. I know I loved hating him, did you?

4. Hans Gruber: Alan Rickman, Die Hard

4: Hans Gruber

Is Alan Rickman the ultimate actor to play a character you adore, but hate in equal measure? It would seem so; after all he played the brilliant Severus Snape in Harry Potter and here, he lands at number 4 with Hans Gruber, the villain from Die Hard.

Throughout the course of Die Hard all you wanted was Bruce Willis’ increasingly irritating cop John McClane to be killed and unbelievably, he’s lasted another four films with possibly more to come, yet Rickman’s entertaining character meets a rather sticky end. Sorry Mr Willis but Mr Rickman really stole your crown in 1988 and his influence is still felt today. The British thespian was definitely the right choice to play Gruber, his German accent is completely on point and his strange charisma meant that whilst he was a man to be feared, he was also one to be admired.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qxBXm7ZUTM&w=420&h=315]

Gruber’s official description is ‘criminal mastermind’ which seems perfectly apt considering he is the head of a German terrorist gang who are as ruthless as they come. He is a character you definitely love to hate.

3. The Joker: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

3: The Joker

Heath Ledger’s mesmerising performance in The Dark Knight ensured that it stood above nearly every other superhero film that had ever been released before and still does so today, despite the constant onslaught from Disney and their yearly Marvel releases. Whilst Christopher Nolan’s second attempt at directing the caped crusader was far too long, Ledger’s creepy portrayal of one of the most loved villains ever meant that it never felt like a drag.

Things were turned up a notch for The Dark Knight with the Joker losing his almost humorous edge, to be replaced with sheer terror, a crazed man not to be messed with. Jack Nicholson’s turn as the Joker in Tim Burton’s take on Batman was well received but Ledger’s added another dimension to the proceedings. It was this depth that was attributed to the actor’s depression before his death aged 28 in 2008.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K3E5tLoado&w=420&h=315]

As was the case with Hans Gruber, Ledger’s Joker stole the spotlight away from the film’s lead character to such an extent that audiences really didn’t care about the scenes without the clown-like villain involved. An excellent performance, making us love and hate a character that had previously been side-lined as another cardboard villain.

2. Miranda Priestly: Meryl Streep, The Devil Wears Prada

2: Miranda Priestly

Meryl Streep is the best actress alive today, fact. A pretty bold statement you’re probably thinking, but every film the performer has a role in proves to be a success and fashion rom-com The Devil Wears Prada is definitely no exception.

The film, based on Lauren Weisberger’s rather uninspiring novel exceeded expectations in 2006 and became one of the biggest hits of the year, grossing over $300million on a budget of just $30million. Directed by David Frankel and with Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci being cast in lead roles, it was bound to be a film worth watching.

What audiences weren’t prepared for however was Streep’s undeniably excellent performance as the cold-hearted Miranda Priestly, based loosely on Vogue editor Anna Wintour. It’s widely reported that Wintour was deeply unhappy with the film, but has since warmed to Meryl’s portrayal.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LVptO7o4L8&w=560&h=315]

Her psychological bullying of Anne Hathaway’s Andy Sachs became a sick highlight throughout the course of the film and audiences lapped it up with word of mouth being one of the movie’s best advertisements. Towards the end of Prada we saw a softer, more reasoning side to Priestly and by the finale, we understood why she is the way she is, but that didn’t matter, she was already loved and loathed in equal measure.

1. Darth Vader: James Earl Jones, Star Wars

1: Darth Vader

It is testament to this character and the actors who did such a wonderful job bringing him to life that he has appeared at the top of two MM Top 5 lists, previously being the ultimate Movie Bad Guys.

Darth Vader who played Star Wars’ original villain has become a figure of society since A New Hope was released in 1977. The iconic mask, the breathing and that unique voice all came together to create one of the best film characters of all time, one which I doubt could ever be matched for sheer Love/Hate value.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-DeI3ohVbY&w=560&h=315]

Voiced by the excellent James Earl Jones and portrayed in the flesh by David Prowse, Vader was a symbol to teenagers and adults alike – look what happened when you turn to the Dark Side, you become awesome! I think to most people, the Rebel Alliance were like the group at school that you never wanted to be seen with: the geeks, the nerds, the football team – in my case. Therefore, by association it was always the cool kids you really wanted to be with; e.g. Darth Vader and the Dark Side.

There we have it, 5 Characters you Love to Hate and what a bunch of vile cretins they all are – you just can’t help loving them though. As always, leave a comment and vote in the fortnightly poll, I reply to them all.