In recent days, I’ve been asked to name the movies that had the greatest influence on me – the ones that made me want to write about cinema. Of the thousands of films I’ve seen, these are my definitive top five:
- ‘The Last Airbender’ (2010, M. Night Shyamalan)
The best use of 3-D I have ever seen, subtly employed by master filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan of ‘The Happening’ fame.
2) ‘Ishtar’ (1987, Elaine May)
It’s as epical a film as ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ but with Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty supplying the soundtrack.
3) ‘Catwoman’ (2004, Pitof)
Many say the golden age of superhero movies began in 2005 with ‘Batman Begins’. Actually, it began a year earlier with ‘Catwoman’.
4) ‘Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace’ (1999, George Lucas)
This is the one that began it all. This is why we love ‘Star Wars’, right? Right?
5) ‘I Spit On Your Grave’ (1978, Meir Zarchi)
An uplifting, life-affirming experience!
Happy April, folks!
CINEMARAJAH 