A-"Muse"-ing Thoughts

Top 100 American Movies

The American Film Institute's 2007 list of the top-100 American movies:
(in Bold are the ones I have seen already - I would love to complete this list personally)

1. Citizen Kane, 1941
2. The Godfather, 1972
3. Casablanca, 1942
4. Raging Bull, 1980
5. Singin' in the Rain, 1952
6. Gone With the Wind, 1939
7. Lawrence of Arabia, 1962
8. Schindler's List, 1993
9. Vertigo, 1958
10. The Wizard of Oz, 1939
11. City Lights, 1931
12. The Searchers, 1956
13. Star Wars, 1977
14. Psycho, 1960
15. 2001: A Space Odyssey, 1968
16. Sunset Blvd., 1950
17. The Graduate, 1967
18. The General, 1927
19. On the Waterfront, 1954
20. It's a Wonderful Life, 1946
21. Chinatown, 1974
22. Some Like It Hot, 1959
23. The Grapes of Wrath, 1940
24. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, 1982
25. To Kill a Mockingbird, 1962
26. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, 1939
27. High Noon, 1952
28. All About Eve, 1950
29. Double Indemnity, 1944
30. Apocalypse Now, 1979
31. The Maltese Falcon, 1941
32. The Godfather Part II, 1974
33. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, 1975
34. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, 1937
35. Annie Hall, 1977
36. The Bridge on the River Kwai, 1957
37. The Best Years of Our Lives, 1946
38. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, 1948
39. Dr. Strangelove, 1964
40. The Sound of Music, 1965
41. King Kong, 1933
42. Bonnie and Clyde, 1967
43. Midnight Cowboy, 1969
44. The Philadelphia Story, 1940
45. Shane, 1953
46. It Happened One Night, 1934
47. A Streetcar Named Desire, 1951
48. Rear Window, 1954
49. Intolerance, 1916
50. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, 2001
51. West Side Story, 1961
52. Taxi Driver, 1976
53. The Deer Hunter, 1978
54. M-A-S-H, 1970
55. North by Northwest, 1959
56. Jaws, 1975
57. Rocky, 1976
58. The Gold Rush, 1925'
59. Nashville, 1975
60. Duck Soup, 1933
61. Sullivan's Travels, 1941
62. American Graffiti, 1973
63. Cabaret, 1972
64. Network, 1976
65. The African Queen, 1951
66. Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1981
67. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, 1966
68. Unforgiven, 1992
69. Tootsie, 1982
70. A Clockwork Orange, 1971
71. Saving Private Ryan, 1998
72. The Shawshank Redemption, 1994
73. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, 1969
74. The Silence of the Lambs, 1991
75. In the Heat of the Night, 1967
76. Forrest Gump, 1994
77. All the President's Men, 1976
78. Modern Times, 1936
79. The Wild Bunch, 1969
80. The Apartment, 1960
81. Spartacus, 1960
82. Sunrise, 1927
83. Titanic, 1997
84. Easy Rider, 1969
85. A Night at the Opera, 1935
86. Platoon, 1986
87. 12 Angry Men, 1957
88. Bringing Up Baby, 1938
89. The Sixth Sense, 1999
90. Swing Time, 1936
91. Sophie's Choice, 1982
92. Goodfellas, 1990
93. The French Connection, 1971
94. Pulp Fiction, 1994
95. The Last Picture Show, 1971
96. Do the Right Thing, 1989
97. Blade Runner, 1982
98. Yankee Doodle Dandy, 1942
99. Toy Story, 1995
100. Ben-Hur, 1959

The Nativity Story

I had the opportunity yesterday to go to a special advanced screening of "The Nativity Story".  I, personally, thought it was INCREDIBLE!!!!!

I plan to take my Jr. Highers to see it as a group when it is released, and I would highly recommend everyone to see it.  It is not a low-budget, B-made, Christian movie.  It had a 37.5 million dollar budget for the making of the movie, and the producer, writer and director are all strong Christians. 

I really admired how they handled some of the "creative license" on scenes that we do not know about - such as how did Mary's parents respond when they found out she was pregnant; and how did she respond back to them.  I felt it was well done.

It was biblically accurate and scripturally correct.  Historically it was also very accurate other than one major area - the wise men coming to see Jesus in manger right after he was born.  We had a chance to ask the producer about why he chose to err in that way and he said the because most people (especially non-believer) don't know that the wise men were not at the manger - because that is how all of our nativity scenes show it is with them there - he felt too many people would walk out of the move feeling confused and focusing on the question of "why weren't the wise men there" rather than focusing on the power of the story and the birth of Christ.  So he decided that was a historical stretch that he felt was worth making for this movie because it does not communicate an theological or biblical errancy, but rather just a shifting of the historical timeline for these few individuals.  I can see his point, and I didn't have a problem with it given the power and clearness of the rest of the movie.

The actress who played Mary is the girl who was in the movie "Whale Rider" and she did an amazing job.  The actor who played Joseph is basically an "unknown" and was also incredible.

This movie will move you, bring you to tears, cause you to re-think some things, and definitely impact you.  It is a GREAT movie to share with others who do not believe.  I still feel moved 1 day later just thinking about the movie.  I can't wait to see it again on Opening Weekend (Dec. 1-3).

Eight Below

Christi and I went to see the movie “Eight Below” today.  I was wanting to see this movie, but didn’t really know if it was going to be any good.  I knew it was based on a true story as well, which often makes these movies more powerful and sometimes makes them seem unrealistic.  But I have to say this movie exceeded my expectations.  It was a very powerful and moving movie.  It was entertaining the entire time and definitely captured my attention.  It was also very emotionally moving.  Good times – Good movie!!!

Failure to Launch

Christi and I went to see the movie “Failure to Launch” tonight.  It was a very funny movie and we really enjoyed it.  The ending was slightly slow and they could have wrapped it up a little quicker, but overall the movie was wonderful and funny and a great way to relax this evening.

Today has been a day filled with all kinds of emotions.  It is hard at times to know what to do with all of them.  I am also struggling today with being angry at God.  I am thankful we have the Psalms to show us that it is OK to be angry with God and to express that anger to him.  My prayer is that God will help me to rest in him and trust in him and not be so angry.  I know the way I am feeling is not good – but it’s honest, and even if I were to pretend otherwise, God knows my heart.