#231. The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

"It's a funny thing about coming home. Looks the same, smells the same, feels the same. You'll realize what's changed is you."

The movie begins with an elderly lady lying in a hospital bed. She asks her daughter Caroline to read the diary of Benjamin Button, her former love. The diary recounts Benjamin's entire life story; all the experiences of a man who lived his life backwards.

I've seen Benjamin Button once before. My boyfriend and I actually saw it on our first date a year and a half ago. And it's still the only movie we can never agree on. He thought the concept was horrible, boring, and that it made no sense, while I found it touching and profound. And I've got to say, after watching it a second time, my opinion still hasn't changed. To me, it's still a wonderfully made film with a unique concept.

There were a lot of special and well-rounded characters in this movie. My favorite was Queenie, who played Benjamin's adopted mother, because she was a very caring and warm-hearted character. I love how she adopted Benjamin even despite his unusual disability, and cared for him like he were her own son.

Overall, I really enjoyed watching this movie a lot, maybe even more the second time. There were many quotes and scenes in this movie that were very touching. I'll give it an immediate rating of 8.

Characters: 7.8/10

Acting: 8.2/10

Storyline: 8.2/10

Entertainment Value: 7.7/10

Immediate Rating: 8/10

Total Score: 39.9/50

#232. Little Miss Sunshine

"Everyone, just... pretend to be normal."

In this film, a dysfunctional family goes on a road trip to California after 7-year-old Olive is selected to compete in the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant. On the way, the family encounters a countless amount of trials, but will stop at nothing until they reach their anticipated destination.

This is one of my favorite movies. I've only seen it once before now, but it was even better the second time. I love absolutely everything about it. The bittersweet sadness of the music fits the film like a glove, and the dialogue is so realistic. Actually everything about this movie is realistic in every way, which is why I believe it's held to such high acclaim. 

Every character is great in this movie, but I have a couple of favorites. I loved the dad, Richard, (played by Greg Kinnear) because his character is so believable. His failure in his career has ruined his self-esteem, yet he yearns to be known by others as being an ambitious confident man. My other favorite character was Dwayne (played by Paul Dano) because his acting captures the epitome and frustration of being a teenager, along with the drama that tags along.

There's nothing more I can say about this film. It's different, it's depressing in a very comforting sense, and I think it's perfection. My rating is an 8.7.

Characters: 8.8/10

Acting: 9/10

Storyline: 8.6/10

Entertainment Value: 9/10

Immediate Rating: 8.7/10

Total Score: 44.1/50

#233. Barry Lyndon

"I'm not sorry. And I'll not apologize. And I'd as soon go to Dublin as to hell." 

Set in the eighteenth century, Irishman Redmond Barry travels from a small village in Ireland to Dublin after killing a man in a duel. He ventures through his life as a soldier in the British army, then in the Prussian army, and then as a professional gambler. He then meets a wealthy lady named Lady Lyndon and marries her in England. His name is changed to Barry Lyndon, and he plans to acquire her fortune as well as gain his own importance. 

After reading a lot of reviews that said this movie was boring, I wasn't too excited too see it, especially considering its three hours in length. But I found myself being very pleasantly surprised while watching it. I wasn't bored at all through out the whole movie; I actually thought it was entertaining. In some ways though, I felt the plot was kind of pointless. Some events were unnecessary, as well as a few of the characters. I don't even think I had a favorite one. I thought the main character, Barry Lyndon, was interesting though not exactly likable, and the others were just a bit dull. Thankfully though, there were recognizable characters unlike the last movie I watched.

The movie overall wasn't bad at all. There were some really compelling scenes as well as gorgeous landscapes captured through out the film. I'll give it an immediate rating of 7.

Characters: 6.8/10

Acting: 7.3/10

Storyline: 6.7/10
Entertainment Value: 6.4/10

Immediate Rating: 7/10

Total Score: 34.2/50

#234. All Quiet On The Western Front

"Our bodies are earth. And our thoughts are clay. And we sleep and eat with death."

Unlike some other war movies, this film does not highlight the heroism of World War I, but the reality and drudgery of its constant adversities and a soldiers' undeniable struggle to survive. This movie basically follows the experiences of a group of young soldiers after being talked into enlisting the first world war.

I'll be very honest about this movie. I thought it was almost unbearably boring, especially the initial half hour. And I love history too, but I guess that I'm just too young to understand this movie's significance. Or maybe it's the fact that it was made 80 years ago; it's just out of my time.

I couldn't really tell who was the main character, or if there was even supposed to be one. I only heard a couple of select names through out the film. Paul did stick out to me though. I liked his character because he seemed very real. His speech near the end of the movie to the aspiring soldiers was an honest interpretation of what he felt about war, and I liked that he was almost warning them of the upcoming anguish they would face.

So I did like the ending because it captured my attention more than the rest of the movie did. And I know I missed a lot due to my mind drifting on-and-off, so it's probably a lot better than I say it is. But I'm guessing the main reason for this movie's acclaim is because it's known for being the first "good" movie of its time. It is from 1930 after all.

My immediate rating is a 6.3.

Characters: 5.8/10

Acting: 6.2/10

Storyline: 6.5/10
Entertainment Value: 5.8/10

Immediate Rating: 6.3/10

Total Score: 30.6/50