Saturday 8 March 2014

24 Movies I Want to Watch in 2014


So recently, so many people have told me of movie that they loved so much and that I "just have to watch". So, every time, I've written them down, and I now have this big sticky note on my laptop with all these movies. So I thought I'd share them here and cross them off as I go. I have also included the Rotten Tomatoes rating next to them. Rotten Tomatoes  is a movie critic site that is usually super accurate. Apart from a few exceptions (they are not a big fan of chick flicks, unlike me), I can almost always tell if a movie is good or not from their ratings. So, when I look at their ratings, generally, anything over about 80% is brilliant and anything between 55% and there is good. I haven't actually watched the Oscars yet, even thought they were on a few nights ago. I have them recorded and am just waiting for some time, but I think most of the good movies that won, I have on this list anyway...

So yeah, let me know if you've watched any of these and if any are particularly good. Otherwise I'll write my own rating type thing next to them when I cross them off after watching them, and maybe you too can have some good tv over the next few months. 



1) The Shawshank Redemption 
1994- Crime/Drama
"Two imprisoned men bond over a number of years, finding solace and eventual redemption through acts of common decency."
Nominated for 7 Oscars!

CAST: Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, Tim Robbins

Rotten tomatoes rating: 90%


2) Spring Breakers
2013- Comedy/Drama
"Four college girls hold up a restaurant in order to fund their spring break vacation. While partying/drinking/taking drugs they are arrested only to be bailed out by a drug and arms dealer."
CAST: James Franko, Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson, Vanessa Hudgens (what a cast <3) 
Rotten tomatoes rating: 66%


3) Frozen 
2013- Animation
I'm not usually a huge fan of animations, but this one has had such amazing ratings that I have to watch it!
"Fearless optimist Anna teams up with Kristoff in an epic journey, encountering Everest-like conditions, and a hilarious snowman named Olaf in a race to find Anna's sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom in eternal winter."

CAST: Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad

Rotten tomatoes rating: 89%


4) Blue Jasmine:
2014- Drama
"A New York socialite, deeply troubled and in denial, arrives in San Francisco to impose upon her sister. She looks a million, but isn't bringing money, peace, or love..."

CAST: Cate Blanchett, Sally Hawkins, Alec Baldwin

Rotten tomatoes rating: 89%


5) The Hangover 3:
2013- Comedy
"When one of their own is kidnapped by an angry gangster, the Wolf Pack must track down Mr. Chow, who has escaped from prison and is on the lam."

CAST: Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms

Rotten tomatoes rating: 19%
I'm fully aware that this sequel is not meant to be very good. But let's be honest, the first one was pretty great (it got 79%!) and I kind of just want to follow through. I didn't like the second one either, and I think this one has a lower rating than it, but anyway, I just want to watch it anyway. 




6) The Way Way Back
2013- Comedy/Drama
"Shy 14-year-old Duncan goes on summer vacation with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and her boyfriend's daughter. Having a rough time fitting in, Duncan finds an unexpected friend in Owen, manager of the Water Wizz water park."

CAST: Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Jannie

Rotten tomatoes rating: 85%


7) Jobs
2013- Biography/Drama
"The story of Steve Jobs' ascension from college dropout into one of the most revered creative entrepreneurs of the 20th century."

CAST: Ashton Kutcher, Josh Gad, Dermot Mulroney
Rotten tomatoes rating: 27%
Despite the low rating, I watched the trailer for this and it looks very interesting. I think Steve Jobs was a truly inspirational man, and so I'm interested to see this movie's take on his life. Not to mention that I luurve Ashton Kutcher. 



8) Despicable Me 2

2013- Animation
"Gru is recruited by the Anti-Villain League to help deal with a powerful new super criminal."

CAST: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt
Rotten tomatoes rating: 75%
Everyone seemed to love this movie, and I did quite like the first one, so I thought why not try out the second one too?
9) One Direction- This Is Us
2013- Concert Film
"A look at Niall, Zayn, Liam, Louis, and Harry's meteoric rise to fame, from their humble hometown beginnings and competing on the X-Factor, to conquering the world and performing at London's famed O2 Arena."

CAST: Niall Horan, Harry Style, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson
Rotten tomatoes rating: 64%

I'm such a fan, I can't wait to watch this!







10) About Time
2013- Rom Com
"At the age of 21, Tim discovers he can travel in time and change what happens and has happened in his own life. His decision to make his world a better place by getting a girlfriend turns out not to be as easy as you might think."

CAST: Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighty
Rotten tomatoes rating: 69%








11) August: Osage County
2013- Drama
"A look at the lives of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose paths have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Oklahoma house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them."

CAST: Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Dermot Mulroney
Rotten tomatoes rating: 65%
Even though the Rotten Tomatoes rating is quite low, this movie got lots of nominations for awards, particularly (I remember thinking) for the Golden Globes. 






12) Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
2013- Biography Film/ Historical Drama
"A chronicle of Nelson Mandela's life journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa."

CAST: Idris Elba, Terry Pheto, Naomie Harris
Rotten tomatoes rating: 58%

Again, despite the rating being quite low, this movie got lots of nominations for awards and being a proud South African, this is really something that I want to watch!


13) 12 Years A Slave
2013- Drama/History
"In the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery."

CAST: Lupita Nyong'o, Chiwetel EjioforMichael K. WilliamsMichael Fassbender
Rotten tomatoes rating: 96%

The reviews of this movie are amazing! I've heard it is very heavy and intense, but I can't wait to watch it and apparently the acting is phenomenal!




14) The Hunger Games 2- Catching Fire
2013- Science Fiction Adventure

"
Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem."


CAST: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hensworth
Rotten tomatoes rating: 90%

I found the first movie in this sequel so so intense and gripping and while it was very emotional and I kind of felt shocked for ages after it, the actual film was so so good, and I have to watch this next one!



15) The Descendants
2011- Drama/Comedy

"A land baron tries to reconnect with his two daughters after his wife is seriously injured in a boating accident."

CAST:  George ClooneyShailene WoodleyAmara Miller

Rotten tomatoes rating: 89%

This won so many oscars and golden globes, etc. in 2012 and I always planned on watching it and then never got round to it. 


16) Silver Lining's Playbook
2011- Rom Com Drama

"After a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own."

CAST:  Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro

Rotten tomatoes rating: 92%

This also won loads of Oscars and awards last year, and I love both Jennifer and Bradley. 




17) American Hustle
2013- Crime Drama

"A con man, Irving Rosenfeld, along with his seductive partner Sydney Prosser, is forced to work for a wild FBI agent, Richie DiMaso, who pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and mafia."

CAST:  Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper 

Rotten tomatoes rating: 93%

Even thought I haven't watched this year's Oscars yet, I know that this was nominated for loads and won so many awards. I can't wait to watch this one!
18) Gravity
2013- Sci Fi Thriller/Drama

"A medical engineer and an astronaut work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space."

CAST:  Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris

Rotten tomatoes rating: 97% (!!!)

This also was nominated for a lot of oscars and I have heard that the effects, etc. were just brilliant!









19) A Beautiful Mind
2001- Drama

"After a brilliant but asocial mathematician accepts secret work in cryptography, his life takes a turn for the nightmarish."

CAST:   Russell CroweEd HarrisJennifer Connelly 

Rotten tomatoes rating: 77% 

I think this is actually in French, but apparently it is so good despite the language barrier thing, so I definitely want to give it a try with subtitles. 


20) Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
2011- Adventure Drama

"A nine-year-old amateur inventor, Francophile, and pacifist searches New York City for the lock that matches a mysterious key left behind by his father, who died in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001."

CAST: Thomas Horn, Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 47%

I started watching this at school and it just seemed like a really well produced movie, so I want to give it another go, even though it did seem a bit depressing...


21) The Intouchables
2011- Comedy/Drama

"After he becomes a quadriplegic from a paragliding accident, an aristocrat hires a young man from the projects to be his caretaker."

CAST:   François CluzetOmar SyAnne Le Ny 

Rotten tomatoes rating: 77% 


As far as I know this is a true story, and everyone just raves about it! 

22)Geography Club
2013- Comedy

"At Goodkind High School, a group of students of varying sexual orientation form an after-school club as a discreet way to share their feelings and experiences."

CAST:   Cameron Deane StewartMeaghan MartinJustin Deeley 

Rotten tomatoes rating: 56%



23) Admission
2013- Rom Com

"A Princeton admissions officer who is up for a major promotion takes a professional risk after she meets a college-bound alternative school kid who just might be the son she gave up years ago in a secret adoption."

CAST: Tina Fey, Paul Rudd

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 38%
Even though Rotten Tomatoes don't seem to like it, I watched the trailer and it looks very good.

24) The Wolf of Wall Street
2013- Biography/ Crime/ Comedy

"Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government."

CAST: Leonardo Di Caprio, Margot Robbie, Jonah Hill

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 77%
This was also a big one for nominations at the Golden Globes and Oscars!



Quite a few of these movies are pretty "heavy" and I'm not usually the type to watch intense movies, I'm much more of a chick flick/rom com girl, but I really appreciate good, genuinely brilliant film, acting or cinematography, and I think it's about time I start watching some good films. So I'm really looking forwards to watching these. 


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