January

• Paul Blart: Mall Cop: Kevin James stars as the title character, a clumsy mall security guard who must deal with a hostage situation at the local mall. This could be a fun spoof of action films for those looking for a quick, good laugh. (Jan 16)
• Notorius: A biographical film about the life of rap star the Notorious B.I.G. Fans of the late musician, and of musical biopics like “Ray” and “Walk the Line” in general, will be interested in this movie, produced by his former manager Sean “Diddy” Combs and his mother Voletta Wallace, who appear in the movie played by Derek Luke and Angela Bassett, respectively. (Jan 16)
• Hotel for Dogs: A pair of orphaned siblings and their friends turn a closed hotel into a home for stray dogs. Based on the novel by Lois Duncan, what could be a cute, fun film for the whole family. (Jan 16)
• Underworld: Rise of the Lycans: The latest film in the “Underworld” series, which chronicles a war between clans of vampires and lycans (werewolves), is a prequel revealing the events that led to the war. Bill Nighy and Michael Sheen reprise their respective roles of vampire leader Viktor and lycan leader Lucian from the first film, though speculation remains if Kate Beckinsale will back as the tough and sexy Selene. (Jan 23)

February

• Coraline: Young Coraline discovers a parallel world that looks like an ideal version of her dull life, but must later escape when she discovers its not what she thinks it is. Based on Neil Gaiman's novella, the stop-motion animation effects will appeal to fans of Tim Burton. (Feb 6)
• Fanboys: In 1998, a group of “Star Wars” fans decide to break into the Skywalker Ranch and steal a copy of “The Phantom Menace” before its release so that their friend, who is dying of cancer, can see it before his death. While obviously appealing to “Star Wars” fans, others may be brought in by the touching plot. (Feb 6)
• Friday the 13th: The latest horror franchise reboot borrows elements from the first three original films, with the focus on infamous hockey masked-killer Jason right from the start. Marcus Nispel, who directed the successful remake of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, directs the new version, which features “Supernatural” star Jared Padalecki as main character Clay, who is searching for his missing sister. (Feb 13)

March

• Watchmen: The long-anticipated adaptation of the greatest graphic novel of all time, about a group of outlawed superheroes in an alternate 1985 world investigating the murder of one of their own and discovering an even more sinister plot. A lawsuit from 20th Century Fox to block the film's release over alleged copyright infringement doesn't seem to be downing interest in the film or its release. (Mar 6)
• Monsters vs. Aliens: When a UFO full of aliens appears and demands that the Earth be turned over to them, the military decides to use a group of “monsters” - including a 50-foot woman, an insect-headed mad scientist, a living gelatinous blob and a giant fuzzy bug - to fight them. The first CGI-animated film shot in 3-D and a fun take on the sci-fi films of old. (Mar 27)

April

• Fast & Furious: Fugitive street racer Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and ex-cop Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) are reunited and forced to work together to take down a common enemy. The latest in the Fast and the Furious series (set between the second and third), the return of original star Diesel should help bring in viewers. (April 3)
• Dragonball: Evolution: The live-action adaptation of the hit manga and anime Dragon Ball features young Goku (Justin Chatwin) battling the evil Lord Piccolo (James Marsters) over the powerful, wish-granting dragonballs. The film was pushed back from it's original August, 2008 release to allow more time for work on the film, though the negative reaction and success of Speed Racer could play a factor. (April 6)

May

• X-Men Origins: Wolverine: The first of a series of prequels to the hit X-Men franchise focuses on the history of the clawed mutant (Hugh Jackman) as he seeks revenge against the villainous Sabretooth (Liev Schreiber) for the murder of his lover. Jackman returns to the role that made him a star for the film fans have been clamoring for since the first X-Men. (May 1)
• Star Trek: J.J. Abrams' reboot of the hit franchise features the characters of the original series played by a new cast (Chris Pine as Kirk and Zachary Quinto as Spock, for example) in their early days as they battle a group of time traveling Romulans who are trying to change history. The film is still highly anticipated despite the pushing back from its original Christmas, 2008 release. (May 8)
• Angels & Demons: Prequel to The Da Vinci Code, in which Robert Langdon discovers a plot by the Illuminati Society to destroy St. Peter's Basilica while investigating a bizarre murder. Based on Dan Brown's book and starring Tom Hanks, a definite hit for fans of the book and author. (May 15)
• Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian: The action moves to the Smithsonian, with pieces such as Amelia Earhart's plane, Al Capone's rap sheet and Archie Bunker's chair coming to life. More family fun for fans of the first film, with Ben Stiller and Robin Williams returning to star with Amy Adams and villain Hank Azaria. (May 22)
• Terminator Salvation: Set in the future following the supercomputer Skynet's attempt to wipe out mankind, the fourth film in the series focuses on John Connor's (Christian Bale) rise as the leader of the resistance against the machines. The new film also features a young Kyle Reese (hero of the first film and Connor's father) and a Model 101 T-800 played by someone other than Arnold Schwarzenegger. (May 22)

June

• Land of the Lost: Film version of the 1974 TV series about a group of people who find themselves in a parallel world filled with dinosaurs, monkey people and the vicious reptilian Sleestaks. Will Ferrell stars in the film version of the cult classic, and one has to wonder what the Sleestaks will look like with today's CGI effects. (June 5)
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: Optimus Prime and the Autobots return to continue their war with the evil Decepticons, as human ally Sam (Shia LaBeouf) makes a discovery about the origins of the Transformers. Directed by Michael Bay, the anticipated sequel is set to feature more robots, including the female Arcee and the combining Constructicons. (June 26)

July

• Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs: The third film in the hit CGI-animated series finds the mis-matched herd of prehistoric animals coming across a group of dinosaurs who survived extinction. Lots of laughs and adventure to be had for the whole family. (July 1)
• 2012: When the world is devastated by an apocalyptic disaster as prophesied by the Mayan calendar in the year 2012, survivors (including John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Danny Glover and Woody Harrelson) struggle for their lives. The latest sci-fi, special effects-laden epic from director Roland Emmerich. (July 10)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: The film version of book 6 finds young Harry searching Voldemort's past to learn how to defeat him while dealing with girl problems and trying to uncover the identity of the mysterious "Half-Blood Prince". Expect a strong following despite negative reaction to the decision to push the film's release back to summer rather than its original November, 2008 date. (July 17)

August

• G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra: Stephen Sommers directs the film adaptation of the hit toyline, which features the origins of both the G.I. Joe team and the terrorist organization Cobra. The success of Transformers gives high hopes for this film, and the casting of Ray Park as fan-favorite character Snake-Eyes already has fans jumping. (Aug 7)

September

• WHITEOUT: Based on the graphic novel, a U.S. Marshall (Kate Beckinsale) has three days to solve a murder in Antarctica before the winter season begins. The unique plot and the casting of Beckinsale (as well as Spirit star Gabriel Macht) should make for an interesting film. (Sept 11)
• Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs: Animated film version of the popular children's book about a town whose weather comes in the form of food and drink that feeds them, but soon goes bad on them. The movie tells the origins of the town's weather, as well as parody disaster movies like Twister and The Day After Tomorrow. (Sept 18)

October

• Ashecliffe: While investigating the disappearance of an inmate from a Massachusetts mental hospital, two U.S. Marshals became trapped by an inmate riot and a hurricane. The latest thriller from Martin Scorsese, based on the novel Shutter IslandOct 2) by Dennis Lehane. (
• Where the Wild Things Are: Based on the hit children's book about Max, a boy sent to bed without supper who journeys to a world filled with monsters who are wild as he is. Originally set for release last year, the film was said to be completely reshot to director Spike Jonze's satisfaction but seems to be back on track. (Oct 16)
• Astro Boy: CGI-film adaptation of the long-time hit manga and anime series about a boy robot trying to find his place in the world while fighting evil. A long-awaited film finally arriving after years in development hell. (Oct 23)
• Saw VI: The latest installment in the hit horror series featuring more traps and mind-games from the devious Jigsaw while revealing more of his past and just what was in the package ex-wife Jill received in Saw V. As they say, it's not Halloween without Saw, in what could be the final film of the series. (Oct 23)

November

• The Wolfman: Remake of the 1941 horror classic about Lawrence Talbot (Benicio del Toro), who becomes a murderous monster after being bitten by a werewolf. Other cast members include Anthony Hopkins as Talbot's father and Hugo Weaving as the detective investigating the murders committed by Talbot in his transformed state. (Nov 6)
• A Christmas Carol: Robert Zemeckis directs this latest version of Charles Dickens' classic novel about miserable miser Ebenezer Scrooge who receives a visit from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet-to-Come (Jim Carrey in all four roles), who take him through his life on a path of redemption. Gary Oldman also stars as Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and Jacob Marley. (Nov 6)
• Sherlock Holmes: Robert Downey, Jr. stars as the title character, where he and Dr. Watson (Jude Law) race to stop a conspiracy to destroy Britain. Downey's success in Iron Man could help make the film, said to reinvent the franchise and character in the same manner as Batman Begins, a hit. (Nov 20)

December

• The Lovely Bones: After her brutal murder, a woman observes both her family and her killer from Heaven and must choose between revenge on her killer and helping her family recover their loss. Based on Alice Sebold's best selling novel and directed by Peter Jackson. (Dec 11)
• Avatar: James Cameron's first original film since Titanic, about an ex-marine who undergoes an experiment to become an avatar, controlling a genetically-engineered body on an alien world. The film already has some notoriety in being the reason for Cameron's delay in working on the live-action version of Battle Angel Alita, but should still be sure to draw sci-fi fans. (Dec 18)
• Alvin and the Chipmunks 2: The Squeakuel: Alvin, Simon and Theodore deal with having to go to school and new singing rivals, the Chipettes. Sequel to the live-action film starring Jason Lee with family fun just in time for Christmas. (Dec 25)

Bear in mind that this list contains the opinions of only one passionate movie follower. It is by no means absolute. So, if you agree/disagree then please add your own comments to the form.

25. Ray Quirk vs The Number 5 Bus-

"The Specialist"

In terms of developing the plot of the movie this scene was utterly pointless, but who cares? As ever, Sly Stallone plays the nice guy with muscles, and kindly gives up his seat to a pregnant lady who is left standing- bless him- but along comes some inconsiderate goon to jump in the seat to the astonishment of surrounding passengers. You can guess what happens next...

24. Dutch vs The Predator-

"Predator"

If it bleeds, Arnie will kill it. In this, possibly his toughest challenge yet, he does battle with an outer space warrior who likes to skin his victims alive, and save the skulls to show his brothers and sisters back home. It's safe to say this isn't a routine victory for Arnie, who is picked up by the throat, tossed around like a rag doll, and beaten senseless for a majority of the fight. A classic man vs monster spectacle, which notches up another victory for the human race. Right on!

23. Joe Hallenbeck vs Some Cocky Moron-

"The Last Boy Scout"

In this hilarious scene, Hallenbeck (Bruce Willis) has been captured by the mob and asks for a cigarette. He gets his wish, but is takes a couple of knocks to the jaw for his trouble. He kindly warns the guy "If you touch me again I'll kill you." But does he listen?

22. Mickey O'Neill vs Good Night Anderson- "Snatch"

"One Punch Mickey" has been given orders not to knock out his opponent and throw the fight, or feel the wrath of "Brick Top".

21. John Spartan vs Simon Phoenix-

"Demolition Man"

In the year 2032 violence and crime is virtually unheard of. Fortunately for us, Wesley Snipes and Sylvester Stallone, who were both cryonically frozen in prison, are woken up and begin to slug it out in an epic final battle which leaves Phoenix (Snipes) decapitated. Awesome.

20. Trevalyan/006 vs James Bond/007-

"Goldeneye"

In easily my favourite Bond film, Trevalyan (Sean Bean) does battle with 007 (Pierce Brosnon) with both men having personal scores to settle. Oooo you can feel the tension. For England James?

19. Tyler Durden vs Narrator-

"Fight Club"

I was always confused to how a person with a split personality could pull himself along the floor with his own hair. Anyways, the final scene where the film's unnamed protagonist (Ed Norton) brutally kicks the crap out of "himself" is still pretty awesome. If you haven't seen Fight Club where the hell have you been?

18. Daniel LaRusso vs Johnny Lawrence-

"The Karate Kid"

Who hasn't tried the crane kick? Daniel, barely able to stand, takes it Johnny and wins the all valley karate championship, even gaining respect from his opponent. Of course, all the credit should go to his mentor Mr Miyagi. What a legend.

17. Maximus Decimus Meridius vs Commodus- "Gladiator"

Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife; and he will have his vengeance. The so called "slave" Maximus (Russell Crowe) is trained with formidable combat skills, which lead to his rise in popularity with Rome's blood thirsty audience, and the eventual overhaul of the ruthless emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix)

16. Frank Leone vs Gateway Prison Guards-

"Lock Up"

A man can only be pushed so far until he reaches breaking point. One night a stranger in a wheelchair visits Leone's cell and informs him that the Warden made a deal to reduce his jail time, and in exchange, this stranger will rape his girlfriend Melissa. Not taking this too well, Leone goes berserk and tries to escape, but is soon captured by the guards. It's 3 on 1 but he still comes out on top. Let's not forget the classic line "Rape This!" preceding a blow to the family jewels. Gets me fired up every time.

15. T-800 vs T-1000-

"Terminator 2: Judgement Day"

In short, but brilliant scene, John Connor's protector and killer first meet at the Galleria. They proceed to shoot each other senseless and smash up the decor. Why use humans when you can use robots. Sorry, I mean "Cybernetic Organisms".

14 John Rambo vs Some Dude in Thailand-

"Rambo III"

The rest of the movie wasn't much cop, but shortly after the opening credits Rambo ignites our screens with an explosive stick fight. Why use fists?

13. Bruce Lee vs Bob Wall-

"Enter The Dragon"

In this one sided contest Bruce Lee straight up owns his opponent. Watch him dance.

12. Jake LaMotta vs Sugar Ray Robinson-

"Raging Bull"

The biography of real life boxer Jake LaMotta boasts that he was never knocked down once. Here, the brutal fighter is played by Robert De Niro and takes the beating of his life from his most famous opponent Sugar Ray Robinson. And still he stands.

11. Chun Li vs Vega- "Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie"

Not to be confused with that crock of shit live action adaptation starring Van Damme, this brilliant animated movie stays true to its video game roots, and has some of the best fight scenes in anime history that I've witnessed. Watch in awe.

10. Gino Felino vs Everyone-

"Out For Justice"

Before Steven Seagal piled on the pounds and started playing the guitar he went into American bars and kicked everyone's arses just for the hell of it. The pick of his fights comes when he is on the search of Richie Madano, who foolessly shot his cop friend in broad daylight. He walks into a bar, asks a few questions, slaps a few people around, and even breaks jaws with a pool ball in a hanky. Hilarious.

9. Tang Lung vs Colt -

"Way of the Dragon"

Aside from the very disturbing moment when Chuck Norris strips down to reveal his insanely hairy chest, this is a must see.

Lung (Bruce Lee) is matched all the way, but eventually defeats Colt, who is then covered with his white gi to represent respect and admiration. A good fight gentlemen. Next time bring the wax.

8. Rocky Balboa vs Tommy Gunn-

"Rocky V"

Ok, this one is going to cause some controversy. I could have quite easily included every one of the fights from films I-VI but I've selected this one because it sees Rocky with his classic "street fighter" persona. He came from the gutter and, due to bankruptcy, he ends up back there, taking under his wing the up and coming fighter Tommy Gunn. When Tommy dumps his mentor and sells out; thus failing to gain respect from the fans he goes hunting for Balboa and challenges him to a fight. Reluctant at first, Rocky walks back to the bar, only for Paulie to get a crack to the jaw for getting involved. "You knocked him down now why don't you try knocking me down now?" says Rocky. Into the alley they go. Completely unrealistic, but I still love it. Nothing like seeing a guy with a mullet get his arse kicked by a down-on-his-luck-snow-white-underdog.

7. John Matrix vs Bennett-

"Commando"

In quite probably the most over the top action movie in cinema history, Arnold Schwarzenegger has taken out the entire world's army and is now one on one with a guy who wants to "shoot him in the balls." On the contrary, Arnold would prefer if he "stuck a knife in him." It all gets a bit homoerotic in the end, but you still got to love it.

6. Raphael vs Leonardo-

"TMNT"

Despite its critics, I loved the new Turtles movie, and I'm not even that fond of CGI. In this brilliant scene, Raphael has had enough of Leonardo being the big leader of the Turtles clan and sticks it to him. The animation is wonderful, and its great for nostalgia seeing two classic cartoon characters slog it out in a contemporary form. There ain't no room for grown men in Jim Henson suits here; the turtles have an edge, and are as cool as ever.

5. Sean Archer vs Castor Troy-

"Face/Off"

One of the most insane action movies ever made. Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) has been relentlessly pursued by FBI agent Sean Archer for years after the execution of his son. Troy is arrested, but has been knocked into a coma, and things get messy when the FBI discover his briefcase and the plans to blow up Los Angeles. Archer must assume the physical appearance of his sworn enemy and find out the location of the bomb by interrogating Troy's brother in prison. Unfortunately, Troy then wakes up from his coma and foils Archer's plan; this all results in a spectacular final cat and mouse chase scene that ends up on the beach, where Archer (who is really Troy) and Troy (who is really Archer) beat the living crap out of each other. You get me?

4. Ellen Ripley vs The Alien Queen -

"Aliens"

All be it with the aid of a cargo loader, Ripley had some balls taking on the queen of the alien nest. Even with a squad of trained marines getting their arses kicked beyond belief, and the previous experience of the Alien taking over her ship, she wasn't bothered. In this, one of the most intense and accomplished science fiction films ever made, the female heroine and the alien end up tumbling into a large airlock, which Ripley then opens, expelling the queen into space. Not bad for a woman eh?

3. Nick DiMarco & Kristi Jones vs Stingray-

"Undeletable"

Regrettably, I am yet to see the entirety of this film, but this heavily overracted and deliberately stereotypical (well at least I think it is) fight scene was brought to my attention via the internet. Some dude named "Stingray" licks his knife and does battle with a police officer, and then this chick gets involved. Its all pretty ridiculous, but I loved every minute of it.

2. Rocky Balboa vs The USSR-

"Rocky IV"

In another ridiculously over the top fight scene, The Italian Stallion manages to overcome superhuman strength of Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), and the entire country of Russia to defeat Communism once and for all. It's all very American, and all very patriotic, and the ranks easily at the top of many people's guilty pleasures list for entertainment value.

1. Martin Riggs vs Mr. Joshua-

"Lethal Weapon"

Even after all these years I am yet to see a better man-on-man fist fight than this hardcore encounter on Detective Murtaugh's front lawn. Mel Gibson and Gary Busey go at it like animals while the police crowd around and watch; there's everything from dropkicks, headlocks, elbows, headbutts, poles to the face; this is how fight scenes should be done.

Steve McQueen

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He was one of the all-time greats of Hollywood and gave a new face to the Western genre: Steve McQueen. His cool demeanour was his label and made him an idol for young actors and fans worldwide. His first film appearance was in Somebody Up There Likes Me in 1956. His fame was made with The Magnificent Seven. One of his most famous movies was Getaway where he starred besides Ali McGraw. His yearly average income these days is estimated at $6 million.

Marilyn Monroe

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Her name stands in for the word sexy: Marilyn Monroe. Her first film appearance was in Dangerous Years in 1947. Her fame was made with Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. One of her most famous movies was Some Like It Hot. Privately she was unhappy and lover to a President and his brother. As a singer she was just plain awful. Her yearly income these days is estimated at $6.5 million.

Andy Warhol

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His name is synonymous for pop art: Andy Warhol. His colourful screen prints of celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, or Audrey Hepburn are known to everybody. Actually he was very talented as painter, photographer, and videographer, but these expressions of his art are widely ignored. He is estimated to earn $9 million a year.

John Lennon

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His name is a legend in itself: John Lennon. He is one of the members of the unforgettable Beatles, husband to the aristocratic and eccentric Yoko Ono, a fighter for peace. After the split of the Beatles, he became successful as a singer and songwriter in his own right. Just imagine he is still earning $9 million every year.

Dr. Seuss

His most famous figure is the Grinch: Dr. Seuss. His children's book The Cat in The Hat is still a favourite in the United States. His many books and comics are still selling. Estimated income from his writing and drawing is at $12 million a year.

Aaron Spelling

One of the most famous producers ever was Aaron Spelling. His series are cult. Whatever he took a hand to was made to money. Starsky and Hutch was a big hit even in German, after all the fun had been translated out of it. And of Charlie's Angels we must face further spinoffs, I think. His income a year is estimated at $12 million.

Albert Einstein

His name is used instead of the word genius: Albert Einstein. His physical theories changed the way we look at the world today. He was not only one of the most brilliant scientists of all time, but also one of the best earning ones as well. Put in relation to the income of the top earner of this list, it's relatively small, but his income these days is $18 million a year.

Heath Ledger

Brokeback Mountain put his name on the map: Heath Ledger. Coming to the screen in some rather quirky films, he made it big with Brokeback Mountain. He was nominated for an Oscar for the role of a gay cowboy in that movie. His last role as Joker in Batman - The Dark Knight made a legend of him. His income this year is estimated at $20 million.

Charles M. Schulz

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Peanuts are money, too: Charles M. Schulz. His Peanuts conquered the world and have enriched children for it. They also generate a yearly income of $33 million.

Elvis

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The King: Elvis. Even though he lives, he tops this list with ease. Even his awful films are still being shown. His acting potential was on a par with Marilyn Monroe's voice power. His estimated income is at $52 million a year.

If you have a phobia of clowns, stay away from this movie.  If you love a good campy romp, however, then dig in.  The title says it all.  These creepy clowns either kill the townspeople or wrap them in cocoons of cotton candy (delish!).  I saw this when I was around 10 or so, and laughed and laughed and laughed.  There's a little clown that was my favorite character and even a murder that takes the form of shadow puppetry.

This Is Spinal Tap

 The Mockumentary that set off all mockumentaries.  Christopher Guest and company are clearly at the peak of their powers in this 80s cult classic.  If nothing else, watch it for the Mini-Stonehenge with the mystical midget.  I have no proof of this, but I feel like this must have been an inspiration for Flight of the Concords.

Rocky Horror Picture Show

Nothing will stick out more from my high school years then when a friend showed up on my doorstep with a copy of Rocky Horror Picture Show.  I hate musicals, but I loved this one.  With deliciously naughty songs and outlandish characters, it's probably the best party movie you can find.  Having this on in the background will make almost every party seem tame by comparison.  Come on, transvestites and cannibals?  How could you not love it?

Harold and Maude

If you've never seen this, you have to.  First off, the main character fakes his own suicide regularly and convincingly and he goes to funerals for fun.  If you needed any other reason to watch it, he drives a converted hearse and falls in love with an elderly lady.  You should see this movie just for the scene with the priest where he talks about "flabby buttocks."  This is one of my all-time favorite cult classics.

Plan 9 From Outer Space

This movie is occasionally labeled "The worst movie ever made".  While I think that's going pretty far, it is pretty awful.  If you have a chance, watch "Ed Wood" first.  It's a movie based on the life Plan 9 director, Ed Wood.  It will clear up why Plan 9 is so...different.

Evil Dead

"This is my boom stick!".  Wait, that's from the sequel.  From the chiseled jaw of Bruce Campbell to a character being molested by trees, this early work by Sam Raimi is definitely a wild ride.  I'm more of a fan of the sequels because they're far campier, but I don't like sequels on movie lists.  Give me the original baby, let me see where it all came from!

Barbarella

I ran across this one at an anti-Oscar party.  The point was to watch all the movies that were in no way Oscar worthy.  This was at the top of the list.  I've blocked most of it from my memory, but the parts I remember are just strange, like the machine that can dole out sexual pleasure in lethal dosages.  Just something to keep in mind.

A Clockwork Orange

The book is better.  I'll come right out and say it, but the movie is super enjoyable as well.  It's dark, creepy and full of strange, made-up slang.  "Red red grovvy" and "pain in my Gulliver".  There are some uncomfortable moments, some very uncomfortable moments, but that's the price you pay for seeing a futuristic movie about the good old ultraviolence.

Pink Flamingos

 Eating poop and trying to claim the name of Filthiest Person in Baltimore?  How can things go wrong?  This one has some serious raunch appeal.  John Waters is at his disgusting best with incest and many other unspeakable acts.  And the last scene?  Definitely the pay off.

The Big Lebowski

The Dude and his crew are more than fun to watch.  Take a crazy but broke ex-millionaire, his artist daughter and way too young wife, and mix in a middle aged bum with a taste for white russians and you just have a lot of fun.  Oh, did I mention the Nihilists, the pornographers, the peed on carpet and a missing toe?  Oh, and bowling, let's not forget the bowling.  It's too much to try to do a plot summary because too much happens, and all of it is hilarious.  This movie has more quotes than Monty Python.  My favorite?   "I don't roll on Shabbos!"

Eraserhead

You can't have a cult movie list without mentioning the King of Cult: David Lynch.  Eraserhead is his first movie and it took him years to make.  It's full of cool little moments like a drawer full of dirt, a singing miniature woman that lives in a radiator and a baby that's more monster than infant.  It's one of the best shot movies on the list.  Every moment is well thought out.  I highly recommend this movie to all and everyone.
  

A classic romantic comedy that barely makes it into this chart being released in 1990, and although the costumes and general feel of the movie is, to me, like an 80s movie, it is still technically a 90s flick. This brilliant movie kicked off impressive careers for both Julia Roberts and Richard Gere during the 1990s.

19. Fargo (1996, Joel & Ethan Coen)

A thrilling and humorous film from the Coen brothers, this was an instant cult classic and a stroke of genius from two of the greatest filmmakers of recent years. Winning two Oscars and being nominated for a further five Academy Awards, this film belongs in your collection!

18. Aladdin (1992, Ron Clements & John Musker)

One of Disney’s greatest achievements as Disney went from being humorous to hilarious with the casting of Robin Williams for the voice of the Genie. This is one for the whole family that certainly takes me back to the 1990s.

17. Goodfellas (1990, Martin Scorsese)

This gangster classic again barely makes it into the list of movies from the 90s but is instantly recognised as a classic of its time. Ray Liotta is brilliant in this story about Henry Hill, a boy from New York who always dreamed of being a gangster! And the story is beautifully told too.

16. Fight Club (1999, David Fincher)

An action thriller that packs a punch. This film is highly absorbing with a few twists and turns that will keep your eyes fixed on the screen. I don’t want to give too much away if you haven’t seen it but this is a brilliant movie.

15. The Nightmare Before Christmas ( 1993, Henry Selick)

Most would call this a triumph of animated cinema where others would call it Tim Burton’s best! This definitely reminds me of when I was younger in the 90s and I hope it brings back nostalgic memories for you too!

14. Toy Story (1995, John Lasseter)

Pixar’s first feature length animation with each frame taking 4-13 hours to create, but isn’t it worth it? This is the story that every kid told themselves; that toys come to life when they leave the room. But here Pixar told it in a way that made us want to hear it again and again, even through to adulthood I still love this movie!

13. Life Is Beautiful (1997, Roberto Benigni)

This Italian masterpiece captured the hearts of people all over the world in the 1990s with this tale of World War II and its impact upon the people and their families. A must see for anyone but be warned, tissues are needed!

12. Reservoir Dogs (1992, Quentin Tarantino)

Yet another fine piece of work from Mr Tarantino. This man can do no wrong in my eyes! This slick masterpiece was released in 1992 and coined a generation of parodies, copycats and homages that continue to be made to this day.

11. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, James Cameron)

Although technically a 90s movie, its still reminiscent of the 1980s where the Terminator franchise first came about. A must see for all science fiction fans, although in the most part, not as good as the first.

10. Beauty and the Beast (1991, Gary Trousdale & Kirk Wise)

Another appearance for Disney and this is a genius adaptation of the popular fairytale that inspired it. A magical adventure for the whole family and, again, takes me back to when I was a child and would watch this until I could watch no more!

9. Independence Day (1996, Roland Emmerich)

My absolute favourite alien invasion movie with a few possible exceptions, this is an incredibly entertaining movie that I could watch over and over, and I did in the 90s! Will Smith is of course brilliant and Jeff Goldblum is amazing in a humorous story of how aliens tried to conquer Earth. It’s also incredibly moving in some parts and could possibly have you reaching for the tissues.

8. The X Files: Fight the Future (1998, Rob Bowman)

Where would this countdown be without the ultimate 90s franchise of: “The X Files”? This movie was probably at the peek of X Files fame and recognition and came at a time when everybody thought it couldn’t get any better. And how wrong we all were! I could probably talk about this film for hours on end because The X Files is very dear to me, as I’m sure if you’re reading this and hence probably a child of the 90s, it is to you too.

7. Forrest Gump (1994, Robert Zemeckis)

Tom Hanks won his second Academy Award for his portrayal of Forrest Gump, a not-so-bright athlete from Alabama who stole the hearts of many in this story of his life. Beautifully filmed by the great Robert Zemeckis the film takes the audience through the history of America through the eyes of the innocent and childlike Forrest Gump. Incredibly moving and also holds one of cinema’s greatest quotes: “Run, Forrest! Run!”

6. The Sixth Sense (1999, M. Night Shyamalan)

This is a movie I remember seeing countless times in the 1990s, despite only being 9 years old upon its release. This is an incredible movie which manages to scare and move the audience in equal proportions. A favourite for many and amazing work by Mr. Shyamalan.

5. The Shawshank Redemption (1994, Frank Darabont)

An extremely moving tale of an innocent prisoner seeking freedom from Shawshank prison. Based on a story by Stephen King this is an affecting story, beautifully filmed and easily one of the greatest films of the 90s, if not all time.

4. Jurassic Park (1993, Steven Spielberg)

Steven Spielberg is the one who beat Star Wars Episode IV to the number one spot as the highest grossing movie worldwide with this movie, and rightfully so. This is a wonderful escapist movie that brings back memories of parents removing me from the room whenever anyone got eaten! Definitely deserves a spot in the ranking.

3. The Matrix (1999, Andy & Larry Wachowski)

This visual spectacular wowed critics upon its release, however some less enthused critics didn’t like its ‘too-different’ style. If you ask me, these people are idiots! This is a brilliant movie combining a terrifically intricate plot with amazing special effects and innovative cinematic techniques! A must have in any DVD collection!

2. Pulp Fiction (1994, Quentin Tarantino)

Probably Mr Tarantino’s greatest achievement, Pulp Fiction amongst Tarantino’s other work is a God among many kings. But this is the one that did it for me. This film canonised Tarantino’s status as a saint among filmmakers and it’s a title he holds proudly to this day.

1. Titanic (1997, James Cameron)

The second appearance from James Cameron with the highest grossing movie to date: Titanic. This is a beautifully done piece, subtly blending romance, disaster, action and, at times, comedy to create the ultimate entertainment experience. This is a film I watched repeatedly in the 90s, if not for the romance then for the adventure and the history and fact behind the story. It’s beautifully written by Mr Cameron himself and the on screen chemistry between all the actors is amazing. It truly is a film for everyone and it’s no wonder that it’s still number one today.

As a result, we find that the worst Stephen King adaptations often cone from the best books. That said, a surprising number of Stephen King's novellas and stories have been translated fairly well to the big screen, and on occasion, the small screen as well.

Here, in my estimation, are the ten best such works, with justification:

The Dead Zone

The usual Achilles heel for a book-adaptation movie is changing major plot points. In this case, the story lends itself well to a continuing saga, but in the book, the protagonist is killed (King had this habit, especially in his early work). If one ignores the necessary alterations, one can enjoy the six-year USA series which follows Johnny Smith through his recovery, and his attempts to rebuild his life while coping with visions of an apocalyptic future that he make an ongoing mission to avoid. (There is also a movie based on the film starring Christopher Walken, I would rank it somewhere around eleven or twelve).)

The Shining (Original Theatrical Version)

Often, a single actor's performance can make a film something special. Love it or hate it (King himself hated it, by the way), Nicholson's crazed portrayal of Jack Torrence turned this film into a horror classic. The book's unsuitability is camouflaged to a great extent by good effects, and the performance of Nicholson. These deficiencies are further highlighted by the made-for-TV remake in the form of a mini-series.

Firestarter

Little kids are always scary. Say what you want about Drew Barrymore's early bouts with substance abuse and recent flirt with rom-com mediocrity, the chick was brilliant as “Charlie”, the title character in this film. Yes, a lot of background was left out, but this story plays out better as an action-packed thriller more than your average King novel.

Stand By Me

A lot of exposition can be taken care of with a good voice-over. Lots of folks don't even know that this story is an adaptation of a King novella entitled “The Body”. One of King's better “coming of age” works, Rob Reiner directs a stellar cast including Richard Dreyfuss, Jerry O'Connell (the fat kid), River Phoenix (pre-death) Wil Wheaton (pre-Star Trek), Corey Haim (pre-career-crash-and-burn), and Keifer Sutherland (pre-Jack Bauer). As a general rule: Rob Reiner + Stephen King = Box office Gold.

The Running Man

Very few King novels are meant to be a non-stop suspense/adrenalin-fest. This one is an exception, which allowed it not only to translate well into theater, but also lent itself well to be a shoot-em-up Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle. The film dumped a lot of the social commentary that the book had, but folks don't line up for movies focused on social commentary anyway (Sorry, Al Gore, Sean Penn, etc.). Richard Dawson was a brilliant stunt-casting move as the evil game-show host.

Carrie

This one put King on the map both as an author and a source for the horror genre in movies. The film itself is fairly dated, but it remains the standard of GOOD teen horror. An excellent acting turn by Sissy Spacek and a solid anti-prom theme help lift this film into the top five.

Cujo

Frankly scarier than the book. The efforts to ramp up the action are forgivable, considering that two-thirds of the book takes place entirely inside the protagonist's Pinto. Dog-lovers will also be amused as the “killer, psycho-dog” WAGS HIS TAIL in a decidedly un-maniacal way during his attacks. Despite its faults, this movie continues to scare the bejeesus out of horror aficionados everywhere.

Misery

This is Rob Reiner again. Unless you were a really huge fan of the novel-within-a-novel that was featured in the book and ignored (in terms of content) in the movie, there is much to enjoy in this film. Kathy Bates scored a home-run (and an Oscar) in the role of Anne Wilkes, and the film conveys the so-crazy-it's almost (but not quite) funny atmosphere very effectively.

The Green Mile

Who said social commentary doesn't make a good movie.(oh, yeah, I did) A period piece focusing on the death penalty, with a healthy dose of theology (healer is martyred) this film was brilliantly acted by all involved. Despite its length, the narrative moves along quite well, and surprisingly little of the book is left out.

The Shawshank Redemption

Another one that people don't know is Stephen King, (it's from the same collection of novellas that featured “The Body”) this movie combines all the best aspects of the adaptations discussed herein: excellent voice-over, spot-on character interpretation (Making “Red” a Black guy was genius, and the way they explain the nickname in the movie is funny), following the book fairly religiously (except for the ending, which they extended, rather than altering), and excellent acting, directing and writing. Surprisingly, this film bombed at the box office, only to be hailed as a modern classic after its DVD/Video release. King fan or not, you should get busy watchin' or get busy dyin.

Before Eastman, various people tried making motion pictures. Most notable were Louis Le Prince, a Frenchman living in the US, and William Friese-Green in England, but the brilliant and innovative Thomas Alva Edison put an assistant to work with the Eastman film to produce moving pictures. By 1891 the invention became available for use by 1891. It was called the kinetoscope, designed for one person to view the pictures at a time.

The Lumière Brothers, Auguste and Louis

The real inventors of the modern movies were the French brothers Auguste and Louis Lumière because the main issue that time was the film projector. Seeing a film, what they actually saw was an enormous number of separate photographs. Each still remained for one-sixteenth (for silent films) or one-twenty-fourth (for sound films) of a second before it moved on and the next one took its place.

Because of what is known as "persistence of vision" in the eye, what seems to be seen were pictures actually moving. Stopping and starting the film so often would break the material of which it was made.

The Lumière brothers solved the problem. After watching how a sewing machine worked, and then using a somewhat similar type of claw movement to that which moves the cloth under the needle, it gave them idea and utilized the concept for the film. They managed to keep the film moving while actually stopping it many times per second in front of the lens. How did they do it? They kept the film slacked above and below the claw mechanism by means of a loop.

First Modern Movie

The first 'modern' movie was demonstrated by the Lumière brothers in 1895. This was considered as the first 'cinema' and the first film show for the public was given at the Grand Café in Paris on December 28, 1895.

Made by the Lumière brothers, the films were of a train entering a station, a rowing boat in a harbour, and workers coming out of the Lumière factory at Lyons. More improvements followed.

Early Permanent Cinemas

The following year, the first 'real' permanent cinema was the Vitascope Hall, in New Orleans, USA, which was opened by William Rock in June 1896. It took another 14 years, in 1910, when the first 'picture palace' was opened at the Gaumont Palace in Paris, which could hold an audience of 5,000 people.

Films with sound appeared at least as early as 1902.     

When unexplained happenings and connections started to come into play that affected the actors after they ended production well, someone had to ask.

Power One

When news hit that our beloved Heath Ledger was taken before his time, we were all perturbed. It was so surprising to so many people. How can these people lead such secretive lives when their working lives are so out in the open?

It was terrible to think that Ledger had some sort of disorder or conflict that led him to this point.

As time went on, information started to rear its ugly head. It was said in the news that Heath had gotten so enthralled in his role as the "Dark Knight", that he brought his work home with him. He was unable to sleep, eat, or even think coherently. Ultimately the stress of the situation led to his death. So we believe!

Power Two

Do you remember a movie by the name of "American Psycho"?

Christian Bale just happens to have been the leading role. He was a high power businessman that ruled the industry by day and murdered innocent women by night. He was said to bully the other lead actors out of playing the role because he said he was born to play it. He was sick of others saying Leonardo Dicaprio was a bigger star so he wouldn't get the part.

"I kept saying I was going to play the lead and people wondered if I was losing my mind. It reached the point where the film studio said about me, 'don't mention his name again.'

Christian Bale's acting merits ultimately led to his role in "Batman Begins" in 2005. I loved this movie. It wasn't filmed with an over exaggeration on weapons and gadgets but, the skills of the character.

However, when the second installment of the Batman movies wrapped, Christian was left with a bad taste in his mouth. There was so much attention on the recent demise of Heath Ledger that it took away some of the spotlight for him.

However, the spotlight was not skewed for long. While the movie was destroying box office records, Bale was in London, where his mother and sister reportedly leveled assault allegations against Bale.

Christian spent 4 hours in jail but, he was not charged; at least not yet.

And so the darkness surrounding "The Dark Knight" continued.

Power Three

In the 2005 installment of Batman Begins, Morgan Freeman had actually fashioned the Batman suit in this movie. It was one of his most secret inventions at the Wayne Corporation.

He was a voice of reason and a mentor to Christian while he was on the set.

Every opinion of Morgan Freemen that I have ever had has been an optimistic one. I've never heard of any antics on set or negative press associated with him.

However, after the filming of "The Dark Knight", the Academy Award winner was seriously injured in a car crash.
Freeman was traveling East on Highway 32 when his car skidded off the road and flipped several times.
Freeman was catapulted from the vehicle and then airlifted to a hospital in Memphis where he is still in serious condition.
Undisclosed accidents on the set

There were also unusual circumstances that had occurred during the filming.

A technician on the film died when the truck he was in reportedly struck a tree following a test run. It was also said that one of the actresses was set on fire as well.

I am sure there is one missing that would prove the aspect of Power of 3 but, the press has not released any information.

Another example of the Power of Three

Just the other day, I noticed that my Triond account had an odd amount of funds in it within a few hours. I was excited and skeptical at the same time.

On the same day, I lost my keys on campus and spent 2 hours looking for them. Did I mention my skirt was tucked into my red bikini underwear at the same time?

Not only did I have a humiliating day but, Triond took the money back which is what I expected.

If you put the humorousness aside about my story, you would realize that there were 3 dreadful things that happened to me that day.

This goes to show you that the Power of 3 is alive and affecting others all over the world.

 

The idea that Hollywood is a different culture than that of the rest of America is an idea that must be agreed upon before one continues reading. Though most of the filmmakers in Hollywood are indeed American, several factors shove it further away from the mainstream culture. The most prominent is that Hollywood is an industry rather than a geographical location with citizens and a local economy (though this area does exist, it is not being discussed in this piece). The context of culture within an industry, then, is different than the culture of a country in many aspects. One difference is that the industry is young. It does not have the history or timeless quality of many nations. Also, the industry is faceless, as opposed to nation who has many faces, women and children. When something is faceless and removed from human experience it is much easier to become the victim of prejudices and ridicule, making it perhaps more sensitive than a country. This is represented in the many times Hollywood has been attacked over the years for being too liberal, too sexual, or too violent. Another aspect to consider when thinking of Hollywood's culture is that, like it or not, Hollywood communicates to the world, even more effectively than any other speaker for the United States.

Hollywood also looks at money differently than the rest of America. America is Hollywood's target audience. The need to cater to America's culture, thoughts, and feelings is all about survival. In his book Hollywood Genres, Thomas Schatz points to the real ruler of Hollywood, the audience that pays to see the film: “We are considering a form of artistic expression which involves the audience more directly than any traditional art form had ever done before.” With an estimated average cost of sixty million dollars per film, the producers need to be tied to the audience and create works that they will pay the money to see. Schatz goes on to say “The American cinema has been able, in an extraordinarily competent way, to show American society just as it wanted to see itself.” Because the industry caters to the audience in what they create, one could think that Hollywood then mirrored American culture. But Schatz' last quote elucidates us to the fact that Hollywood is something different, though it supplies society with what it wants it does so through the lens of its own different culture.

Suggestive of many studies into literacy it is imperative to learn the culture of the communicators. If the worldview is different, than the literacy of the community is different. In the article “Literacy and Individual Conciousness,” F. Niyi Akkinaso expounds upon this idea of “individual consciousness” and worldview affecting literacy.

“In this view (recognizing literacy as not simply being able to understand marks on a page), literacy is given an extended definition to include ways of perceiving, thinking, speaking, evaluating, and interacting that characterizes a group of individuals and sets them apart from others. The implication here is that “literate thinking” involves ways of perceiving the world and talking about it, a perception that may result from interacting with either text or text users”.

If Hollywood has a different culture or world view, than the art they produce will obviously be different (for how could art be produced that was not different when the culture of the producers thinks, perceives, speaks, and evaluates differently?). It is then a great error to assume Hollywood operates under the same cultural stipulations as you or I, especially while taking our worldview and applying it to the art Hollywood creates, assuming all the while that this is a literate choice.

Film is Text. Film is communication, indeed a permanent communication, such as literature, or the epic poem, and unlike speech which is gone the moment it comes into existence. This permanent type of communication is able to be studied and scrutinized. The mysteries hidden inside these “texts” become revealed. In his article, “On Reading a Video Text”, Robert Scholes places the importance of the mass media and film with other “Cultural Reinforcers” of periods past. “What the epic poem did for ancient cultures, the romance for feudalism, and the novel for bourgeois society, the media … now does for the commodified, bureaucratized world that is our present environment.” With film sitting comfortably as a “text”, something to be studied, we bring in ideas of interpretation to shape the true meanings of the text. Now that we understand Hollywood as a different culture in at least that it is an industry rather than a nation, we may lay the groundwork for a literacy study.

Understanding the Discourse of Hollywood and its structures for telling a story will help involve the audience more thoroughly in the film and the culture. In “Literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics”, James Paul Gee writes, “A Discourse is a sort of "Identity Kit" which comes complete with the appropriate costume and instructions on how to act, talk, and often write, so as to take on a particular role that others will recognize.” Belonging to a Discourse separates your culture further from others. In this case the structure of storytelling in Hollywood, or the “instructions on how to act, talk and write”, might seem foreign to many onlookers. It is important to realize the culture's structure for storytelling (films) because we will use these films as markers and indicators that show a shift in the industry. Films are broken up into three acts, introduction, rising action, and climax. The inciting incident appears on page seventeen roughly seventeen minutes into the film (a page of screenplay is roughly a minute of finished product) this is the point the conflict is introduced. Films have two plot points. The first comes just before the end of act 1. This is the point where the protagonist chooses to either continue the conflict or not (most do to prevent boredom in the audience). The second plot point carries the second act into the third. It is the point of hopelessness where the hero is furthest from his goal. One of the clearest example of these is the recent film The Matrix. In this, near the thirty minute mark, the hero is given a choice, the red pill or the blue pill. He is then furthest from his goal at the end of act two when he dies. Understanding the different discourse of this culture helps define it. It sets in stone within the minds of those who study it.

Films, like all texts, are a response to other texts, texts such as manners, morals, values, the things children begin to learn before they can read and write. In “A World Without Print”, Victoria Purcell-Gates suggests children read their world through the society presented them. “… children do not wait to begin to learn to read and write until they start school. Rather, they begin to learn about reading and writing from birth, in their homes and communities, as they observe others using print for various life purposes…” They begin to learn the meanings of stop signs and pick up the social norms of storytelling and even the discourse of those around them. When we study the texts and learn what they are in response to, this defines the culture and brings us closer to becoming literate in our study of film. Since examining film as a text in response to another is something different for most, we will look at a few examples of particular films which act as cultural indicators, showing us what Hollywood is thinking, perceiving, placing value in, and evaluating culture. We will understand the communication of Hollywood like never before.

Hollywood released the film Invasion of the Body Snatchers in 1956. Around this time, several major social occurrences rocked America and Hollywood. This was the time of the “red scare,” the “duck and cover”, and the “Hayes Code”. If one, when interpreting this film, asks the question, who are the body snatchers supposed to symbolize? The answer could definitely be the communists, with dialogue describing the snatchers as “cold”, “Souless”, “Evil”, “About to take over the world” or “They look like you and me”. This is an acceptable argument, especially when considering the impact of the “red scare” and the similarities between the snatchers and America's view of communists. With our understanding that Hollywood may perceive things differently, let us look at the film from the point of view of the industry. During this time a man named Hayes was implementing a code, a stamp of approval he gave to socially acceptable films. It was a pass or fail system, unlike the varying degrees of rating the Motion Picture Association of America has today. The considerably Christian conservative Hayes imposed his morals on an industry that needed to transform in order to survive. They acted as most artists do when censorship is imposed upon them, they lashed out. The retribution came hidden in subtext and beneath as symbol. Perhaps the body snatchers in this film are the Christians that are imposing their morals on them, taking over slowly and soullessly. I am not here to judge the Hayes Code as right or wrong; this is simply an observation of how Hollywood reacted.

Implementing your own culture to interpret a film from a different culture is akin to what Renato Rosaldo experienced when studying the world of Headhunters. In his article “Grief and a Headhunter's Rage” Renato Rosaldo tried to impose his own culture and beliefs onto a situation he did not understand. He, at first, explored the “exchange theory” to find a deeper explanation for headhunting; this however was deficient, “puzzling” the headhunters when they heard it. When his wife tragically died he finally understood the grief that was associated with headhunting, this combined with the cultural belief that there was no after-life led to an understanding of the headhunting that was a part of this culture. Just like trying to understand these Philippine people, if we were to impose our beliefs and understanding on something that may not also hold those same beliefs, we miss the messages within, falling short of literacy.

Those mired deep within the entertainment business are affected sometimes because they are simply in the spotlight. This culture is held up on a pedestal for the scrutiny of the world. When studying the culture one must understand the differences brought on by being in the spotlight. This is another attribute that separates Hollywood and the rest of America. This is important when grasping the literacy of Hollywood because the users of this culture, the producers, the writers, the actors and directors, are so entwined with the culture that their work reflects the struggles affecting their world. This is most prominent in a film by Eli Kazan entitled, On the Waterfront. In this film the main character played by Marlyn Brando, is a dock worker who, through family ties, gets involved with the local organized criminals. When an “accidental” death disturbs Brando, he wrestles with the choice of whether to tell on his “friends” (the criminals) or to let it stay hidden and go against what he knows is right. Before we give the ending to this story away let us look at the cultural ramifications of certain political figures of the time. During the period before the movie was released, a man named Joseph McCarthy started a witch hunt to expose the communists that may have already infiltrated the political and entertainment industries of America. During this time he pressed members of the entertainment industry to name names and give up the other communists that may have influence in society. This shook the movie industry. Those who were named as communists included industry greats such as Arthur Miller and Charlie Chaplin. Hollywood was divided into two factions, those who named names and those who did not. Eli Kazan named others “involved” in communist activities or those who even attended a meeting, his friend, Arthur Miller did not. Later each of these men created pieces of art that reflected their own struggle and made an argument for what they did. Arthur Miller wrote a play entitled “The Crucible” where a man was caught up in a witch hunt, started by a little girl who named the names of witches to get out of trouble. Understanding the culture of Hollywood and the pressures placed upon it by McCarthyism will lead you to guess the outcome of On the Waterfront. Eli Kazan Directed a film where the Main character struggled with the burden of truth and whether to tell on his friends or not. In the end he did the right thing and told on them. Realizing the text of the situations that this film responds to helps the viewer make critical literate readings about the film. Knowing how strains on the Hollywood culture affect the players in the spotlight we, as scholars, are able to examine with renewed fervor the literate choices the artists make.

Know that film is text. It is able to be studied and, according to Robert Scholes in his article, “Reading Video as Text,” it is our duty to scrutinize what is placed in front of us. To do this, we must not look only at the surface attributes of film but dive deeper into subtext, theme, and symbol. To do this, we must learn to understand a culture that, though it resides within the boundaries of the United States, is different from our own and reacts in different ways than the rest of us would. This is the burden and the responsibility of viewing film as literature in that it is a permanent text in our culture.