295 of 1001 Movies: Full Metal Jacket (1987)

Full Metal Jacket is disturbingly intriguing and real, but that defines a Stanley Kubrick movie. Released a couple of decades after the Vietnam war, I'm sure it still resonated vivid for many, including R.Lee Ermey who played Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, and was also a real U.S. Marine Drill Instructor during Vietnam. This movie puts everyone on the same feelings while watching the movie. There are many points within in the movie, and within the points themselves, but ultimately this isn't a patriotic movie nor one anti-war, it's about being human.

Summary: During 1967 in the Vietnam War, new recruits are arriving at Parris Island for basic training. Upon arriving most the guys are young, and excited to explore. They haven't recognized what they got themselves into though. After several weeks of training together, and even graduating the first cracks in sanity are beginning to show among some of the men, and one, Joker, witnesses it firsthand. The rest of the movie conveys the men in Vietnam fighting for a cause even they seem confused about.

The first half of the movie involves the training. Most might note this as their favorite part. Hartman provides many memorable liners, though I would hope I would never hear any of them repeated around me. In keeping with the realism of it though, Ermey ad libbed many things he had said as an actual drill instructor. Kubrick directs well in conveying the breakdown of one character nicknamed, Gomer Pyle.

The scene building up to the break of Pyle could easily be noted as one of the most memorable. While it was intense and kept me on edge I couldn't help but think of earlier works like The Shining or A Clockwork Orange. It's always done well when he conveys the breaking of the psych, but also I felt there were more unique moments and realizations in the movie. I think the oncoming breakdown of Pyle is obvious, but what it does to Joker not so much, who witnesses it firsthand.

I don't think Pyle's scene where he breaks is as much as it is about what happens to Pyle as it is what happens to Joker when he sees firsthand what he is already signed on to do, and the effects it will have on those around him. He stands loyally by his friends, but he approaches the leadership with skepticism. He embodies many feelings people had about the war, and shows they were also rising in those fighting it.

Joker perhaps justified what he was doing with a light and protective attitude regarding his friends, but he never becomes inhumane. I think seeing what can happen early on keeps him the most levelheaded though he is damaged.

The range of other characters make for an interesting mix up to the story. You have some who seem to have justified their acts in various ways. None seem to be quite patriotic anymore.. Most are fighting back in revenge, because they believe the Vietnamese are unthankful, some who seem to enjoy killing, and others who are just trying to survive. Whatever the reason the whole thing is a bad situation, and in their own human ways everyone is trying to cope. It's not as much about the war as it is about the depths a human might plunder into without good reason to stay afloat.

251 of 1001 Movies: The Dead (1987)

There are two reasons to watch this movie, and neither apply to me. If you're a huge John Huston fan, or if you're a fan of the James Joyce short story included in his collection The Dubliners. I've seen some good Huston films, but I wouldn't call myself a fan, and I've only read one Joyce story and it wasn't something that really caught me. So I didn't have a lot really going for me, but for those who enjoy these types of  movies that have a lot of obscure character analysis then this might be one to watch.

Summary: Gretta and Gabriel Conroy area attending a Christmas party that in a way will be an epiphany for them. The dinner is put on by Gabriel's aunts who fill the evening with dancing and singing. Also an array of interesting characters show up including Mr. Brown, Freddy, and an array of other people Aunt Kate and Julia though are the focus of the party though as the guests respect them. There is something brewing though between Gretta and Gabriel that begins to reveal the rockiness of their marriage throughout the evening though.

413 of 1001 Albums: Michael Jackson's Bad

It's true. I had been awaiting the day that Michael Jackson arrived on the list, and he finally did. I've thought Thriller sounded good and it's a tune that gets stuck in my head when the Halloween time of year happens. This isn't the album that contains that hit, but it has other enjoyable tunes like "Smooth Criminal", which I did give a couple of listens.

History: Michael Jackson didn't have everyone so welcoming to the follow up to Thriller, but that isn't very shocking considering how huge of an album that went on to be. Bad showed a bit more a serious side of Michael Jackson with tunes like "Man in the Mirror". This album would be one of the first albums in music history to produce five hit singles as well. Jackson did intend for this album to have more duets to it, but the duets actually fell through. Recently, a 25th anniversary of this album was released falling Jackson's death.

406 or 1001 Albums: Astor Piazzolla and Gary Burton's The New Tango

The New Tango is very modern, a little jazzy, and has a lot of dance. It has so many flavor of instruments in this album. The instrumentals are well composed, and you of course don't need lyrics for music like this. It's more about hearing it and just letting the music flow as you listen to the tunes. While I can appreciate all the artistic arrangements of this album I don't think I will be one to embark on the instrumental listening of tango anytime soon.

History: Astor Piazzolla was an artist who would update the genre of tango into something called the nuevo tango. It mixed in elements of jazz with classical styles to create the new sound. For this album he teamed up with musician, Gary Burton, to add more musical variety to the music and composure of the sound.

203 of 1001 Movies: A Chinese Ghost Story (1987)

A Chinese Ghost Story is good for many reasons. It's compelling, it has a story that makes you feel, and the special effects are really not too bad for the 80's. There are some other things about the movie though that would keep me back from ever recommending it to someone though. For a movie to be really over the top good it has have this element that expands across many people with the ability to appeal to them. The audience for this movie is very narrow. You're going to find a lot of people who say they like it as fans of the genre in the first place, or people like me who think a movie is appealing if it entertains. If you're really picky about some elements though then this movie will eat you.

Summary: Ning is a tax collector who finds his arrival in a small town isn't so welcome.  To really mess him over the townsfolk recommend a haunted temple for him to stay at overnight, and as you can guess he has no idea it is haunted. Upon arriving there though he meets Lip, a ghost, who is being forced to marry the ruler of the underworld. Ning's growing feelings for her send him on a brave mission to rescue her from her fate.

401 of 1001 Albums: Guns N' Roses' Appetite for Destruction

So I've got to admit this is one of the better albums I've listened to in a long time on the list. There is a ton of instrumental talent, creative lyrics, and vocals that are just great. Guns N Roses exploded onto the scene with their album that would set them up to be names through the future even if they never made another album. While a few songs aren't near as intriguing as the beginning one, they throw in enough to keep you listening and begin and end perfectly with "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Rocket Queen."

History: The band members are very open about what each song is about on the album. Whether it's about a girlfriend, heroine, or just moving to the big city, the guy's share lots of personal stories about their lives within the songs. The earliest song written in 1981 was "Anything Goes." The album itself wouldn't come out till 1987. The album was worth taking the time to make though as it received great reviews by critics and topped charts. It went on to be one of the best selling debut albums of all time.

397 of 1001 Albums: Anthrax's Among the Living

Of the metal I've listened to so far I think Anthrax might be the strongest. I'm still not a huge metal fan at all, but the song lyrics seemed to try to be more creative and the instrumentals did show case a lot of talent.  The album does have a lot of banging at the beginning, but by the end the sound sort of smooths out into something better. Overall, it makes a more appealing argument for metal and seems to have more thought processed geared toward the lyrics.

History: For Anthrax, their third studio album Among the Living, would be known as their breakthrough album and one of their more popular ones with fans and critics. What I personally find interesting since I am a fan of Stephen King's is how a couple of the songs are based on his stories. Among the Living is based on the character Randall Flagg from The Stand, and A Skeleton in the Closest gets inspiration from the novella, "Apt Pupil."

175 of 1001 Movies: Moonstruck (1987)

Moonstruck is probably one of the cutest movies I've seen, and that is shocking for me to say since I didn't expect to find a movie with Cher and Nicholas Cage as the stars that I found cute. I like how simple the story is though, and how it never gets vulgar in any way. I wouldn't even label this a romantic comedy. While comedic in some ways, it seems to be just the story of a family's life that can also be looked into in one night when the moon is big and bright.

Summary: Loretta Castroni seems to be stuck in a rut. She is a book keeper from Brooklyn, New York who has agreed to marry the man that was a friend of her late husband. She doesn't seem to truly love him though, but she also doesn't want to be alone, and it seems the best option to marry the man who was close to the one you were married to before. The widow finds that her life is about to become very complicated though, when her fiance asks her to ask his brother to the wedding. They had a falling out, and he is still too scared to talk to him. When she goes to ask his brother though she discovers she have may feelings for the other brother though.

385 of 1001 Albums: Pet Shop Boys' Actually

A second album can be a hit or miss for some bands, especially if their first album was a huge success. Pet Shop Boys created one of the most successful albums in their career with Actually.  I also could just be biased to synthpop though. While there are many guest musicians on the album there are two main guys who are the band, and they create quite intricate music.

History: This album would go on to be one of the top selling albums for the band. This album also has had more singles than I've heard come from one album with ten. Ten songs were released to the public just as singles. I think there are enough songs to make it as being single worthy on the album though. The album proved to be a success not only with sales, but also with how critics received the albums as well.

159 of 1001 Movies: Brightness (1987)

Brightness, otherwise known as Yeelen, is a movie, that explores themes and ideas that it doesn't seem westerners would really put into a movie, or make a movie in a way that would appeal to our senses. It does lull in a lot of spots though, and I think gets lost from it's ultimate goal, but there is still something that pulled me in enough to get my attention, and keep me there till the end of the movie. It isn't a movie with a perfect lead character out to get the bad guy, but instead broken individuals seeming to try to keep things from getting worse.

Summary: Niankoro is a young man who is very special, because he has magical powers. He tries to use those powers for good, but as a human he does sometimes weave bad places for himself. His mother knows though that he is in danger because his father, who abandoned him when he was little, is returning and wants to kill him. She sends him away to find his uncle to ask for help against his father who has strong sorcerer powers.

155 of 1001 Movies: Broadcast News (1987)

Broadcast News is a movie directed by James L. Brook highlight the scene of broadcast news life. He also weaves in the private lives of the three who work there behind and on the scenes. While there is a bit of romance sprinkled into the movie it might mislead you with the slight dose it gives, when it actuality this is just a story about three people, and how their different roles on the news work, and they are working hard to advance their careers their without sacrificing their personally held beliefs.

Summary: Tom and Aaron become rival television reporters after Tom joins the crew. Aaron is still stuck on weekend shift while Tom seems to be finding his way in advancing. Jane is the producer at the station and finds her career soaring as well. Both the men also find themselves not only rivals at the station though, but also behind the scenes in trying to compete for Jane. The decisions they make at work though may affect their friendships and love lives off screen though especially as they are called to report and bring the news to the public in their own ways.

122 of 1001 Movies: Raising Arizona (1987)

Before Nicholas Cage was known as he is now he did a movie that was still back when he was picking movies that had good backing to them. Raising Arizona is one of the early Coen brothers movies, Joel Coen, to be specific. It's an odd comedy that may take a couple of viewings for some to get, but for those that know what to expect beforehand it is an enjoyable movie to watch. The comedy seems reminiscent of the style that Wes Anderson would follow with the odd but likable characters in a very out there scenario.

H.I is a repeat con, and one time on his way to jail he meets a cop, Edwina, that he is determined to marry once he gets out. After falling in love and getting married though she begins to desire more, and wants a family, but upon discovering she can't have one and neither make great candidates for adoption they begin to hatch another plan. Nathan Arizona has recently had four children with his wife, and the couple figure if they kidnap one they will be doing them a favor, but once they kidnap the kid only bigger chaos ensues.