Happy Halloween, everybody! Or, to all our Pagan friends, Samhain!
We thought we'd give an update. We're on our way to produce Bloodaxe: Part III, which should be happening at the beginning of next year. We're also on the verge of revamping the blog, so keep an eye on this space.
Enjoy tonight's festivities, let us know what you dress up as and what horror movies you watch.
So, here it is, the film that appeared on most lists. Yes, we were just surprised as you were. Apparently this is the best film ever made...according to you guys. This movie surprised everyone. The fact that it worked was a miracle. Many feared that it would be a mess, similar to Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3 (2007) and then it blew us all away. Certainly not without its faults, there is a large amount of cheesiness that goes along with it, it is nevertheless a great blockbuster. It was handled with care by Joss Whedon, who we all know can handle large groups of characters, and made some of the less successful characters (Captain America) fun! Tom Hiddleston as Loki steals the show and the humour plays great with genuinely poignant and sad moments the film squeezes in during its 142 minute runtime.
So, there it is. The Top 10 Films of all time, as voted by you. Thank you all so much for participating and hope you enjoyed the ride just as much as we did! If your choice for the greatest film didn't appear, neither did ours. Ferocious Bloodaxe: The Movie was only on our list!
And on to the final two. We have Christopher Nolan's Batman epic The Dark Knight. Batman Begins (2005) surprised everyone and Nolan made Batman cool once more after the Joel Schumacher's horrible and unforgiving take on the Dark Knight, Batman Forever (1995) and Batman & Robin (1997). Where Batman Begins has Nolan's trademark use of non-linear narrative, The Dark Knight was a linear, almost classical crime epic. It is debatable if this truly is the best incarnation of Batman (many find it to be a crime film with Batman characters in it) and although not without its faults, it remains one of the best sequels, and blockbusters, of all time. The performances all around were solid and though there was much hesitation about Heath Ledger portraying the Joker, all worries were laid to rest. Of course, much publicity went into the fact that Ledger was emotional and mentally exhausted whilst researching and performing the role, he sadly passed away just before completion of the film. He was rewarded nonetheless for his efforts, receiving posthumously a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. It will remain one of cinema's true losses. You guys voted for it and it's your second favourite film of all time.
Paul Thomas Anderson came out of the '90s boom of independent filmmakers taking on Hollywood. being a contemporary to the likes of Quentin Tarantino and Steven Soderberg, Anderson has matured with each of his projects. His first film, Hard Eight (1996), received little distribution due to friction between Anderson and the producers. It remains an underrated, and underseen, gem. His next project looking at the porn industry of the '70s, Boogie Nights (1997), brought him to the public's attention as well as receiving solid critical notices. It is considered one of the strongest films to come out of the '90s and put Anderson on the map. His next film, Magnolia (1999), an epic, multi-narrative drama focusing on the intertwined lives of residents in the San Fernando valley, was a critical success and has found a strong audience since. His assured direction and skill at maintaining a large narrative has made him a darling of critics and audiences alike, and it came as a surprise that he went for a small-scale comedy starring Adam Sandler, Punch-Drunk Love (2002) following the epic structure of Magnolia. Punch-Drunk Love became a cult hit and was successful in Europe, with Anderson shaping a commendable performance out of Sandler. His next was an epic in both scope and theme: There Will Be Blood. It became an instant American classic, with Anderson slowing things down and focusing on the complex, and deeply troubled oilman Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) as he develops a rivalry with the almost insane preacher Eli Sunday (Paul Dano). Many view it as a horror film and it's hard not to find the reasons why. Plainview's decent into madness is similar to Jack Torrence's demise in The Shining (Stanley Kubrick, 1980). It is one of the greatest films ever made and we're glad it made the list.
Considered by many to be the greatest crime film ever made, Coppola's masterpiece still continues to seduce and dazzle, taking us in to the world of organised crime through the Corleone family. Adapted from Mario Puzo's pulp novel, Coppola remained faithful to the source material, managing to chop off sub-plots that took us away from the Corleones. It was a major risk for Paramount. Coppola was not their ideal choice - he hadn't made anything that brought substantial box-office up to that point - and his choice for playing Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) was deemed as too much as a risk as the actor was notorious for being troublesome. Of course we can't imagine the film without the two being involved. It took the Oscars by storm, winning in the major categories, and it was inevitable that a sequel would be in the works. In 1974, we got Part II, which is often considered to be the greatest sequel ever made. You guys voted for this and it is a solid choice.
One of the greatest horror films ever made, it continues to scare and fascinate viewers to this day. Film critic Mark Kermode stands by that it's the greatest film ever made and more and more film-makers reference it as a key influence on their work. You can now no longer look at a film that has anything to do with possession without thinking about this. It's been parodied, spoofed and ripped-off so many times, but it's still able to hold viewers from its enigmatic start to its harrowing ending.
5. JAWS
(Steven Spielberg, 1975)
A favourite of many, it is one of the greatest films ever made. The direction, script, acting, editing - it all works. Its hellish production is almost as famous as the film itself, with Spielberg being driven insane from studio pressure and malfunctioning mechanical sharks. It kick-started the summer blockbuster but has yet to be equalled. A true cinematic masterpiece.
This is the only Pixar/Disney film to reach the top 10 but what a choice. The opening 10 minutes stand as a harsh depiction of shattered dreams that had many in tears even before the story got into full swing. It is a brilliant film and a mature effort on behalf on Pixar.
7. MULHOLLAND DR.
(David Lynch, 2001)
David Lynch's masterpiece baffles viewers every time they watch it. It is an extraordinary effort from one of cinema's true originals. It's a haunting, and at times, horrific depiction of Hollywood dreams that has been interpreted in numerous ways. It's a puzzle that may never be solved but it sure as hell needs to be experienced.
