Film Flashback

By | 12:22 pm Leave a Comment


By Gabbi Gane and Bella Cristol, Year 12

Are you looking for a #tbt film? Do you want to throwback that Thursday? We’ve made it easier for all of you! We’ve collected our top two favourite films made or set in different eras. If you need a break from your current century or are having some Friday night blues, pick a blast-to-the-past and you’re sure to have a fantastic film flashback.

50's
SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)
Rating: 6/10
Genre: comedy / music / crime
Featuring: Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon
Director: Billy Wilder
Makes you want to: listen to 50’s music, go on trains and wear glamorous clothes

After two male musicians witness a Mafia murder, they flee from Chicago and create a quin plan to join an all female band, disguising themselves as women. Hopping a train bound for Florida, these two “girls” must keep up their facade as things heat up and so the mob catches them. This funny and oh-so-noir glamorous film is one of Miss Monroe’s most famous films, and strangely enough, Frank Sinatra was actually an early choice for one of the lead roles. Definitely a classic you must watch!

“I can stop if i want to, only I don’t want to.”

FLIPPED (2010)
Rating: 7.5/10
Genre: romance / comedy / drama
Featuring: Madeline Carroll, Callan McAuliffe
Director: Rob Reiner
Makes you want to: fall in love with your neighbour and befriend an elderly person

Juli Baker instantly falls in love with her new neighbour, Bryce, when they meet in the second grade and has been smitten with him for 6 years. However, Bryce isn’t feeling the spark. Frankly, he thinks Juli Baker is a little weird - after all, who raises chickens and sits in trees for fun? Then, in eighth grade, everything changes. Juli begins to feel that Bryce’s dazzling brown eyes are as empty as the rest of Bryce seems to be. Annoyingly, it’s just at this time that Bryce begins to think he was wrong about Juli too. Being set in the 50’s only makes this flick more loveable. Flipped takes in interesting approach in presenting the male and female psyche, allowing the viewers to understand the thoughts of the opposite gender. Trust us on this, guys: after watching this film, you start to understand the other side a bit more!
“Every once in awhile, you find someone who’s iridescent, and once you do, nothing will ever compare.”

60's
MOONRISE KINGDOM (2012)
Rating: 9/10
Genre: adventure / romance / comedy
Featuring: Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward, Bruce Willis
Director: Wes Anderson
Makes you want to: run away with someone you love, go camping, and explore

Made in 2012 but set in 1965, two twelve-year-olds living in a small island fell in love and decided to run away. As a storm was about to strike, a group of interesting, quirky adults called a local search party in hopes of finding the two love birds before the storm. A coming of age film juxtaposing themes of youth and adulthood, Moonrise Kingdom is a wonderful film directed by the incredible Wes Anderson. Bill Murray also stars in this film and, as a fun fact, he is featured in all of Wes Anderson’s films. The colour scheme emits an almost vintage atmosphere, and this is definitely an underrated film to watch!

“I love you, but you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

HAIRSPRAY (2007)
Rating: 7/10
Genre: musical / comedy / romance
Featuring: John Travolta, Nikki Blonsky, Zac Efron
Director: Adam Shankman
Makes you want to: travel back to the 60s, fight racial segregation, and join a television dance show

In 1960’s Baltimore, a dance-crazed teen Tracy Turnblad obsesses over “The Corny Collins Show”. Every afternoon after school, she and her best friend run home to watch it and drool over Link Larkin (played by the wonderful Zac Efron). With the help of her friends, Tracy makes it on the show and becomes an overnight celebrity. The movie - hilarious and fun in all departments - also has a strong stance against racial segregation, making it that much more refreshing and interesting. Plus, watching Zac Efron sing and dance isn’t too bad either! Filled with many musical numbers that make you want to get up and dance, Hairspray is an upbeat film that advocates being different and standing up for what you believe in.

“Brace yourselves for a whole lotta ugly coming from a never-ending parade of stupid.”

70's
ALMOST FAMOUS (2000)
Rating: 9 / 10
Genre: music / drama / adventure / comedy
Featuring: Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup, Patrick Fugit
Director: Cameron Crowe
Makes you want to: road trip and chill and indulge in music   

Made in 2000 but set in the 1970’s, a young highschool boy has the opportunity to write for Rolling Stone Magazine about an up-and-coming band. Making friends with groupies and interesting music lovers along the way, he embarks on an interesting adventure with the band as they go on tour, whilst juggling his overprotective mother and his hidden young age. This coming-of-age film has an incredible soundtrack and even features Jimmy Fallon and Zooey Deschanel. Almost Famous is a must-see for music lovers or for anyone who appreciates great cinematography. Such a classic!

“Maybe we don’t see ourselves the way we really are.”

STAR WARS: EPISODE IV - A NEW HOPE (1977)

Rating: 9/10
Genre: sci-fi / action / adventure
Featuring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher
Director:  George Lucas  x  Director: George Lucas
Makes you want to: control the force

In a galaxy far, far away, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope tells the tale of young Luke Skywalker and the Galactic Civil War - a fierce battle between The Galactic Empire and The Rebellion. This is a classic that any film enthusiast must watch; Star Wars created a whole new genre in the movie industry, and it is actually one of the first “block busters” in movie history. Bella and I think that the best way to appreciate the Star Wars Saga is to watch it in this order: IV, V, I, II, III, VI, VII, so that you can understand the ending by watching the prequels first. However, the most common way to watch it is IV, V, VI, I, II, III!

“In my experience, there’s no such thing as luck.”

80's
BREAKFAST CLUB (1985)
Rating: 9.5/10
Genre: comedy / drama
Featuring: Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Emilio Estevez
Director: John Hughes
Makes you want to: talk to a diverse range of people and appreciate your high school life

Five high school students from opposite ends of the high school social hierarchy endure a whole-day detention on a Saturday under a power-hungry principal. A “princess,” an athlete, a criminal, a brain, and a basket case each have a chance to tell their own story, making the others see them in a new light. The Breakfast Club will convince you to stop judging your peers based on what they look like and that, despite an abundance of differences, you can have a lot more in common with each other than you ever thought. This movie is a must-watch for any teenager going through educational, social, or personal problems! Also, let’s not forget the great theme song the film made famous, “Don’t You Forget About Me.”

“Spend a little more time trying to make something of yourself and a little less time trying to impress people.”

FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF (1986)
Rating: 9/10
Genre: comedy / adventure
Featuring: Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara
Director: John Hughes x Director: John Hughes
Makes you want to: Be carefree, have an adventure with your best friends, and have no worries

This is another 80’s classic - a mischievous high schooler cuts another day off school with his best friends before graduation by trying to outrun his principal and persuade his parents that he’s sick at home. A comedy filled with great music and iconic scenes in movie history, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is a film painted in adventure and humour and a definite must-watch (if you’ve somehow never seen it before!)

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t look around once in awhile, you could miss it.”

90's
10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU (1999)
Rating: 9/10
Genre: comedy / romance / drama
Featuring: Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Director: Gil Junger
Makes you want to: Experience high school in the 90’s, listen to 90’s bops

An adapted and modernised version of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, 10 Things I Hate About You follows the life of a new student at Padua High, who falls in love when he first sees Bianca Stratford. There is, however, one problem: she isn’t allowed to date. Neither is her older sister, Kat, a senior who loves indie rock, feminist prose, and hates conformity (spirit animal, anyone?) But Kat and Bianca’s father alters his house rule: Bianca can now date… as long as Kat has a date too. Therefore, the solution: he has to find someone to date Kat. The only guy up for the challenge is bad boy Patrick Verona, played by the late Heath Ledger, who may be the only boy able to win Kat’s heart. This classic modern love story will truly grip you. Young Heath Ledger is an absolute gem, too.

“But mostly, I hate the way I don’t hate you. Not even close. Not even a little bit. Not at all.”

EDWARD SCISSORHANDS
Rating: 8.5/10
Genre: fantasy / drama / romance
Featuring: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest
Director: Tim Burton
Makes you want to: Live in a Tim Burton film

In a castle high on top of a hill in a suburban neighbourhood lives a scientist’s greatest creation - Edward, a near-complete person. The creator died before he could finish Edward’s hands, leaving him with metal scissors at the ends of his wrists. Loving saleswoman Peg one day discovers Edward and takes him home, where he falls for Peg’s teen daughter, played by the gorgeous Winona Ryder. Despite his kindness and artistic talent for cutting hair, Edward’s hand make him an outcast, and causes things to go downhill. Fun fact: Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder were actually in love at the time of the filming, which makes the film that much more gripping and captivating.

“People are afraid of me because I’m different.”

00's
BRING IT ON (2000)
Rating: 8/10
Genre: comedy / sport / romance
Featuring: Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku, Jesse Bradford
Director: Peyton Reed
Makes you want to: Join a cheer-leading squad

One of the first original cheer-leading films to be made, Bring It On follows the story about a champion high school cheer squad that discovers that their winning cheers have actually been stolen from an underrated hip-hop squad down town. Their new captain must start from the bottom in order to win the championships, whilst breaking free from their past stereotypical conventions, and embrace originality and diversity. Some cast members actually previously had some cheer-leading experience, like  Kirsten Dunst! Bring It On is an exciting film to watch and it follows the tenacity and dedication of what it means to be a cheerleader.
“This is not a democracy. It’s a cheer-ocracy.”

THE INCREDIBLES (2004)
Rating: 8.5/10
Genre: animation / adventure / action / family
Featuring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter
Director: Brad Bird
Makes you want to: Have super powers

Married superheroes Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl are forced to assume mundane lives as Bob and Helen after all superpowers are banned by the government. Having been the world’s greatest and most famous crime-fighting superheroes, Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl’s three children have all also been born with superpowers. Itching to get back into a life of action and adventure, Bob gets his chance when a mysterious communication summons him to a remote island for a top secret assignment. However, this mysterious job results in an emergency rescue, and it’s up to his family to save the day. This animated film is a must-see for any Disney or Pixar Lovers!

“I never look back, darling! It distracts me from the now.”

~

Newer Post Older Post Home

0 comments:

Powered by Blogger.