Well, it's finally here. I will now start my list of all the great movies I've seen through the years. You can also look at these posts as reviews of the movies themselves, though I am, unlike in gaming, horrible at rating movies. I tend to be way too optimistic on everything.
Anyway, I know of no film that will start this off better than one of my favorite films made from one of my favorite books: To Kill a Mockingbird.
-Gregory Peck at his finest.
This 1962 film is without a doubt a timeless cla$$ic. Having read the book and seen the film twice, I am at a loss at which is better, and that is saying much, since the book won a Pulitzer prize at the time of its release. The social and mental reflection on society, the focus on segregation and poverty, the scrutiny of the different creeds and color of skin in the society of Maycomb, Alabama (a fictional town); all of these superb studies in the book were perfectly transferred to the film and showed true knowledge of not only the book's moral code, but also its deepest intricacies. The actors portray there roles with superb skill and feeling, and you feel you can either identify with or deeply despise every character, based, of course, on how they are supposed to be taken by the audience. The story revolves around Scout, a young girl and narrator of the story, and her brother Jem, and their experience over the years in Maycomb. To Kill a Mockinbird is as much a coming-of-age story as a story about the harshness of the world, and how you can never take it for granted. Traumatic events shift these children's lives to the core, making them change their overall look on the world as they grow older. The character of Scout is especially noteworthy andis faithfully played by Mary Badham. It is her tomboy aura and attention to the finer points of Scout's character that makes the narration of the film particularly entertaining and enlightening. The spotlight, however, is reserved for the late Gregory Peck in his Oscar-winning role as Atticus, Scout's father. Gregory Peckportrays the character so well that you will never doubt his sound judgement, his calm attire and soothing presence. You will automatically identify with him, trust him and feel sure that his choices will always be sound. Atticus is a lawyer who, despite what it seems like, despises the practise of law. Atticus is the paragon of virtue and righteousness, believing in the equality of man as a species, asa whole. The scene where he speaks to the jury is among the best in cinema history.
-Mary Badham in her role as Scout Finch
To Kill a Mockingbird went on to be nominated for 8 Academy Awards, like Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Mary Badham as Scout) and Best Music, Score. It won 3: Gregory Peck won the Oscar for best leading actor, the film won the award for Best Art Direction and also the Best Writing Adapted Screenplay. Not only that, the American Film Institute named Atticus the number one hero in American cinema of the 20th century, beating out household heroes like John McClane and any role acted by Arnold Schwarzenegger, and if you've seen the film, I think you'll know why. To Kill a Mockinbird is the epitome of the prime values of life: tolerance, compassion, justice, maturity and perseverance in face of hardships. The title sums it up nicely: the main lesson the book tries to teach us is that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. They don't do nothing to nobody, just sing and make the world a happier place. However, metaphorically, two "mockingbirds" exist in the story, and the fate of them both shape one of the best books ever, and in effect, one of the best movies to ever grace the silver screen.
-Calvinsora