1950-1954: My Top Ten Favorite Movies

597   8.6   8.8 

Considered Akira Kurosawa's most accomplished work, Seven Samurai is a black & white classic whose story has inspired many a film afterwards, most notably (& one of my favorites) the Magnificent Seven.
It's a story of the Old East, which coincidently enough, runs themes which will eventually become staples in movies dealing with the Old West.
Here, the heros are truly heroes, but each is shown as a distinctive individual, with human traits & flaws that allow for the empty space to be felt whenever a warrior falls, in battles that, as the movies states, are never truly won.

The Mighty Celestial's rating:

163   7.9   8.3 

Real time in the Old West.
A simple tale of suspense building tension, as a newly wed marshall must make a decision between a new life by flying the Coop, or staying and standing as a "lone star" until the strike of twelve, in a town that has turned its back against him.
High Noon is a film that for me, falls under the category of being based more on sentimental value than anything else since it was one the first black & white cowboy flicks I saw & enjoyed as a kid.

The Mighty Celestial's rating:

306   7.7   8.1 

In this entry, it's the famous play by Tennesse Williams adapted onto the big screen, featuring an in-his-prime Marlon Brando. Watching Streetcar, even today, it's easy to see how the character of Stanley Kowalski is the one that became famous for Brando, as his portrayal has the actor shuffling the landscape of method acting styles (specifically, the styles up to that time) & burns up the screen in a performance that can only be described as "stellah".

The Mighty Celestial's rating:

324   7.9   8.1 

Audrey Hepburn's American film debut as a European princess who, overstressed by the demands of her royal duties, decides to unwind by going "slumming" about all over Rome. And not once throughout the entire journey, does she fail to exude the radient beauty that not only contributed to forever mark her place in film history, but also, that epitomizes the phrase "Lighting up the screen".
Therefore, as a result, I find that, even with it's well-written script, direction, supporting cast & chemistry,
at least 80% of the success of this movie's depiction of romance still belongs to Hepburn's presence alone.

The Mighty Celestial's rating:

203   7.5   8.1 

Humphrey Bogart & Katherine Hepburn in a "gritty" riverboat "journey movie" set along an East African river during WW II, & portraying two individuals, each with a mindset on a completely different side of the spectrum.
However, after confronting a series of obstacles during their quest, they begin the process of developing a relationship, & soon, the old romance adage of opposites attract starts to take affect as two people from two different worlds end up coming together, first for a common cause, & then for each other.

The Mighty Celestial's rating:

232   8.1   8.4 

After a series of Oscar nominations, the Brando train of new-style method acting continues in On The Waterfront, with what could probably be Marlon's 2nd. most famous role after Streetcar.
This time, instead of an abusive working class husband in the sweaty French Quarter of New Orleans, Brando's brings his down-to-earth gritty charisma to the role of a working class longshoreman working on the chilly, mob-fronted docks of Hoboken.

The Mighty Celestial's rating:

114   8   8.2 

A great WW II movie with an "escape from prison" flair, and a bit of stalag espionage thrown in for good measure.
An excellent production from Billy Wilder (one of my favorite directors/writers of film from this time) & stars William Holden, perfectly cast in a role as an indifferent, advantageous prisoner of war trying his best to make the most of his limited situation & at the same time, keep his nose out of the inevitable trouble that usually results when one goes about not choosing sides or doing his bit for the cause.

The Mighty Celestial's rating:

697   8.5   8.8 

A psychological mystery thriller that stands out on it's own not just because of it's distinctive formula (particularly for it's time), but also because of Hitchcock's ability to make the most of it's "limited" theme. The story of a man who can't walk, is stuck in his apartment, but with good observational instincts, honed by his job, that all end up putting him in a situation where his immobility makes for a simple, yet in Hitch's hands, an excellent plot device that incrementally builds & builds on it's suspense towards it's finale.

The Mighty Celestial's rating:

335   7.4   7.8 

When it comes to romance films, the name that tends to come more than any other on my limited list, is that of Audrey Hepburn.
For me, no one else can seem to ever capture that glass slipper quality that she has that can help me to suspend my belief far enough to enter the unbelievability of most romance films for me.
Sabrina is a "modern" Cinderella story that, IMO, on paper can seem as very typical in terms of it's plot, yet rises above that level mostly through the strength & presence of it's actors.
Sabrina is an entertaining & engaging escapist film about beautiful people having beautiful people problems.
A colorful tale told in vivid black & white.

The Mighty Celestial's rating:

86   6.1   6.9 

A group of scientists go out on a South American expedition in search of a missing link to help them fill in the void of evolution.
However, once they find it,
the no longer missing link begins on his own quest, in search of a mate to help fill in the void within his heart.
Or maybe his dorsal-finned butt is just horny.
Either way,
the female crew member of this expedition ends up getting wet & screaming alot.

The Mighty Celestial's rating: