Best.
Movie. Ever.
By The
Renegade Monkey Nuns Staff - 04.26.02
Movies
are fun!
While
the of majority movies are bad, there are always a
handful of films that provide such an exhilarating and
innovative experience, that one can't help admit:
"This doesn't suck." The Renegade Monkey
Nuns Staff has differing tastes, but all the movies
that make our list all have one thing in common: they
were films that, after we saw them, left a great
impression on us. Here are the lists...
 Randal
Graves - Staff Writer
5
(tie). Office Space
Director:
Mike Judge
Starring:
Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston
Well,
the other number five on my list (and yes, I have the
right to have a tie) is from the maker of Beavis and
Butthead, and it's great. It makes any working person
want to just stop caring and do nothing. Great
characters, a funny plot, and fire make it a fun movie
to watch.
Favorite
Moment: The scenes where Peter first decides to
stop caring. Hilarious.
5
(tie). Fight Club
Director:
David Fincher
Starring:
Ed Norton, Brad Pitt, Meat Loaf, Helena Bonham Carter
Great
books often make crappy movies, but not in this case.
This movie rules. Fincher brings the book to life
amazingly, and Ed Norton is just brilliant as the
Narrator. This movie will change the way you look at
life, while at the same time kicking ass.
Favorite
Moment: The scene where Tyler Durden pulls a gun
on the guy in the convenience store and forces him to
change his life. Awesome.
4.
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
Director:
Kevin Smith
Starring:
Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes, Shannon Elizabeth, Will
Ferrell, and a whole bunch of other celebrities. Oh
yeah, and a monkey.
The
last movie in Kevin Smith's Jersey Saga certainly
delivers. I saw it in the theater at 11:30 at night,
and laughed my ass off. It's funny if you are a fan of
Kevin Smith's and get the inside jokes. It's funny if
you've never heard of Kevin Smith before. And it
features Shannon Elizabeth in tight spandex. Yes!
Favorite
Moment: God, there's so many. I think the best is
the discussion between Will Ferrell and John Stewart
over the existence of the CLIT. Trust me, watch the
movie and you'll understand.
3.
Clerks
Director:
Kevin Smith
Starring:
Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Kevin Smith, Jason
Mewes
There
are two Kevin Smith movies is in my top five, and
there's a reason why. This is one of the funniest
movies ever. In fact, after I got a job at a
supermarket, it got even funnier. Any person who has
ever worked in a convenience store/supermarket will
love this movie. It mirrors real life. Plus, the main
girl has sex with a dead old guy in the store's
bathroom. What's not to love?
Favorite
Moment: Any scene involving Jay and Silent Bob.
Oh, and Randal is the man. Long live Randal Graves!!!
2.
Friday the 13th Part 7: The New Blood
Director:
John Carl Buechler
Starring:
Kane Hodder, Lar Park Lincoln, and random people whose
sole purpose is to die in painful, imaginative ways.
Ok,
so number two is actually the sixth sequel of one of
the most profitable horror franchises ever. Why do I
like this particular Friday out of every other movie?
First, this is the first Friday the 13th where Kane
Hodder plays Jason Voorhees, and he truly becomes the
character. There's a reason why he is the only person
to ever play the part of Jason twice (and he's going
on his fourth). Second, the plot is more imaginative
than the other movies, involving a girl with psychic
abilities fighting Jason. Finally, the mayhem! The
mayhem! It's beautiful, man. It almost makes you want
to become a serial killer... er...I mean, forget that.
Favorite
Moment: The scene where Jason wraps the girl in a
sleeping bag and proceeds to bash her against a tree.
I haven't decided if it's gruesome or funny, but it
certainly is a sight.
1.
Evil Dead 2
Director:
Sam Raimi
Starring:
Bruce Campbell
Although
he directed Tobey Maguire in Spider-Man and Katie
Holmes's breasts in The Gift, Sam Raimi was once a
small b-movie director who happened to make a kick ass
movie. Originally intended to be a remake of the
first, Evil Dead 2 kicks ass. Combine genuine horror
with a little comedy and a lot of gore, add Bruce
Campbell playing Ash at his animated best, mix in a
chainsaw for a hand and a sawed off shotgun, and you
have my favorite movie of all time.
Favorite Moment: The scene where Ash
fights the giant granny-monster. Just see it.
 Norm
- Staff Writer
Coming
Soon!
 Sideshow
Rob - Senior Editor
5.
The Truman Show
Director:
Peter Weir
Starring:
Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, Ed Harris
I
must admit, I like thinking at a movie.
What if this was happening to me, or to someone
I know? I
think this was Carrey’s first shot at serious acting
if you discount Liar, Liar, a comedy but with a
serious role for Carrey… uh, at least compared to
Ace Ventura. Great
movie, great originality before anything in the idea.
Favorite
Moment: Carrey ultimately escaping was pretty
good, but the sequence where Carrey tries to escape
originally is quite comical.
That’s a funny phrase: quite comical.
I don’t know why.
4.
American Beauty
Director:
Sam Mendes
Starring:
Kevin Spacey, Annette Benning, Mena Suvari, Thora
Birch, Peter Gallagher, Wes Helms
When
I first saw this movie, I walked in on the scene with
Kevin Spacey masturbating in the shower.
Disgusted, I walked out of the room to return
20 minutes later.
For the rest of the movie (except for four
bathroom breaks… I had had a lot of Pepsi), I was
engrossed in the depressing story of the
not-so-typical dysfunctional family.
Favorite
Moment: Nudity!
Especially Ms. Suvari… what a hottie.
Plus the whole bag-in-the-air scene was very
thought-provoking before Not Another Teen Movie ruined
it. Then
again, that movie had nudity too... Decisions,
decisions.
3.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Director:
Mel Stuart
Starring:
Gene Wilder
Best…
musical… ever.
And I saw RENT!
Well, even though that wasn’t great, Willy
Wonka is always fun. I suppose its the old-school movie techniques that makes the
movie unique: humorous without cursing and sexing up
the pastries (though American Pie would have ranked in
the top ten on my list)
Favorite
Moment: Gene
Wilder shouting “Wrong!” excitedly when Violet
guesses about his gum.
Doesn’t seem so funny in text, but I crack up
every time I see it.
2.
Star Wars: Episode 4 - A New Hope
Director:
George Lucas
Starring:
Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, James Earl
Jones, Alec Guinness, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker,
Peter Mayhew, David Prowse
Believe
it or not, I never saw this or any of the Star Wars
Trilogy for that matter until it hit the silver
screens once again as the Special Edition.
The only movie I can watch again and again
without getting bored, I can practically quote the
movie word for word.
Did I mention the collection of action figures
I have? I’m
such a nerd…
Favorite
Moment: The
Death Star go blammo!
Amazing feeling, especially to watch it in
theaters and hear everyone cheering around you. Hey, shut up! I’m
watching this…
1.
Requiem for a Dream
Director:
Darren Aronofsky
Starring:
Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly
Without
a doubt, the most powerful movie I have ever seen.
Ironically, I chastised several of my friends
for putting this atop their best movie lists without
even seeing it myself.
Sign of knowing a great movie: I was tired
after watching it.
Requiem is an intense movie with four
connecting plotlines, including awesome conclusions to
each character’s separate story.
Favorite
Moment:
The parting shot of each character, made to look like
each other yet finishing off four completely separate
journeys. Great
filmmaking.
 Disco
Stu - Editor in Chief
5.
The Godfather and The Godfather II
Director:
Francis Ford Coppola
Starring:
Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, James Caan,
Diane Keaton, Robert De Niro
These
are truly some of the greatest films ever made. In
fact, Coppola accomplished something with Godfather II
that only happens rarely: he made a sequel that was as
good as the original. Each scene is dramatic,
each scene is classic. If you happen to like movies at
all, then The Godfather films must be watched.
Favorite
Moment: The scene where the movie executive finds
his prize horse's head in his bed is... classic. Plus,
any scene with Robert Duvall.
4.
The Indiana Jones Trilogy
Director:
Steven Spielberg
Starring:
Harrison Ford, , Kate Capshaw, Sean Connery, River
Phoenix
Harrison
Ford + Steven Spielberg + George Lucas + Action and
Excitement = Great movie. The equation is as simple as
that. Based on a George Lucas story, the Indiana Jones
truly were masterpieces in swashbuckling action. And
with Harrison Ford--who is perfect for the
role--playing the lead in all three films, Spielberg's
dynamic style really shines. My favorite Indy movie? The
Last Crusade.
Favorite
Moment: How can you beat Indy trying to outrun
the boulder in Raiders of the Lost Ark?
3.
Saving Private Ryan
Director:
Steven Spielberg
Starring:
Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper,
Vin Diesel, Jeremy Davies, Adam Goldberg, Giovani
Ribisi, Matt Damon
Tom
Hanks is an amazing actor. He is great in this movie
as Capt. Miller. But, what really makes this movie is
Steven Spielberg. He injects his dynamic way of
putting images on film with a solid World War II
story. The ensemble is stupendous and the action are
exciting, but believable.
Favorite
Moment: The
amazing (and sobering) first 30 minutes which showed the
Normandy Invasion is the best invasion scene ever put
on film.
2.
Forrest Gump
Director:
Robert Zemeckis
Starring:
Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Sally Field
With
Forrest Gump, Tom Hanks really solidified
himself as a respected actor. What I really like about
this movie is how the story progresses from decade to
decade and chronicles how Forrest deals with the major
events that happens in those decades. The movie has
nearly everything: great acting, humor, drama, and a
worthwhile ending.
Favorite
Moment: So
many great moments to choose from... but, my favorite
would have to be the scenes in Vietnam.
1.
Every Star Wars Movie Ever Made
Director:
George Lucas (The Phantom Menace and A
New Hope), Irvin Kershner (The Empire Strikes
Back), Richard Marquand (Return of the Jedi)
Starring:
Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, James Earl
Jones, Alec Guinness, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony
Daniels, Kenny Baker, Frank Oz, David Prowse, Peter
Mayhew
Words
can't really describe how I feel about the Star Wars
movies. I had never appreciated them until the Special
Editions were released; that was when I finally saw
them on the big screen. To me, they combined the
vastness of epic myths, with the excitement of visual
effects. Every time I see these movies, I realize once
more why I love them so much.
Favorite
Moment: Way too many to list.
We
are geeks.
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