2018 NFR Nominees: The Dark Knight, The Haunting, And Somewhere In Time

It's that time of year again, folks.

I am pleased to note that four of my nominees, Superman, Titanic, Spartacus, and Guess Who's Coming To Dinner? were selected for preservation into the 2017 National Film Registry. Other notable inductees included Dumbo, Die Hard, La Bamba, Field Of Dreams, and The Goonies. The total number of films in the registry is now a massive 725.

Martin Scorsese's Film Foundation estimates that "one half of all films made before 1950 and over 90% made before 1929 are lost forever" (Novak). This makes the mission of the NFR all the more pertinent, as we can no more afford to lose these amazing shadows of our national heritage. Every year since 1989, the film archive selects 25 American films to be listed as deserving of preservation due to their historical, cultural, or aesthetic significance. The films must be at least 10 years old and the public is free to nominate up to 50 films each year.

Without any further ado, here are my nominations:



The Dark Knight
(2008)

Highly regarded as one of the greatest films in the superhero genre, The Dark Knight brought the classic American characters of Batman and the Joker into the modern era. What many consider the high point of Christopher Nolan's "Dark Knight Trilogy", the films deals with matters of justice, morality, and heroic symbolism, all with the nuance of a post-9/11 world. The film is also fondly remembered for Heath Ledger's chilling performance as The Joker, which earned him as posthumous Oscar.


The Haunting
(1963)

Based on Shirley Jackson's classic novel The Haunting Of Hill House, and adapted by Sound Of Music and West Side Story director Robert Wise, this film is about four people who enter into a house that is believed to be haunted. The Haunting is skilled in ambiguity, as the ghosts are never shown, and the black-and-white cinematography adds a menacing air to the house, a demonstration most evident in the notable staircase sequence. The film is also bold in its addition of the lesbian character Theodora, whose lesbianism while not explicitly stated, added a nuanced and sensual LGBT representation on film. The Haunting is also the standout performance of Julie Harris as a psychologically fragile Eleanor who is driven mentally insane.


Somewhere In Time
(1980)

Based on the romance novel Bid Time Return by I Am Legend novelist Richard Mattheson, the film stars Christopher Reeve, who goes back in time to meet his love Elise, played by Jane Seymour. It is also the first and only movie to be filmed almost entirely on Michigan's Mackinac Island, and a treasured visual representation of that land. While met with lukewarm reviews in theaters, the film earned a a strong fanbase after its replays on cable television and the resonance of John Barry's musical score. Activism from the fanbase helped lead to both Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour earning stars on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, and the annual "Somewhere In Time Weekend" at Mackinac, where fans dress up as characters from the film.


Lonely Are the Brave
(1962)

A film that Kirk Douglas himself regards as his best, Lonely Are the Brave belongs alongside Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven and John Ford's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance! as a mediation on the death of cowboy lifestyle. The films stars Douglas as a cowboy on the lam, and with a screenplay by Dalton Trumbo, it could be interpreted, like Spartacus, as a statement on the McCarthy era.



1. Barney Oldfield's Race For A Life (1913)
2. Bottle Rocket (1980)
3. The Shining (1980)
4. The Cat Concerto (1947)
5. Der Fuehrer's Face (1947)
6. 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (1954)
7. The Defiant Ones (1958)
8. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
9. Jurassic Park (1993)
10. Rape Culture (1973)
11. Gimme Shelter (1970)
12. What's Up, Doc? (1972)

13. The Patterson-Gimlin Film (1967)

14. Return of the Jedi (1983)

15. Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan (1982)

16. Jason and the Argonauts (1963)

17. Carrie (1977)

18. The Blues Accordin´ To Lightning Hopkins (1968)

19. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer´s Stone (2001)

20. Fight Club (1999)

21. Batman (1989)
22. Mulholland Dr (2001)
23-26. The Mind's Eye (film series) (1990-1996)
27. The Secret of NIMH (1982)
28. The Color Purple (1985)
29. The Truman Show (1998)
30. Pleasantville (1998)
31. WarGames (1983)
32. The Crow (1994)
33. Crumb (1994)
34. Lake Of Fire (2006)
35. Mutiny On The Bounty (1935)
36. Boogie Nights (1997)
37. Inherit The Wind (1960)
38. Clerks (1994)
39. Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? (1962)
40. Scarface (1983)
41. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
42. Humorous Phases Of Funny Faces (1906)
43. Bambi Meets Godzilla (1969)
44. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987)
45. Strangers on a Train (1951)
46. The Sixth Sense (1999)
47. The Dark Knight (2008)
48. The Haunting (1968)
49. Somewhere In Time (1980)
50. Lonely Are The Brave (1962)



Previous NFR Nominees and Justifications:


1.      Barney Oldfield's Race For A Life
       (1913)

           

A classic silent comedy that immortalized the famous image of a damsel in distress being tied to the train tracks by a mustachioed villain. The film also features the Keystone Cops, who stand along with Chaplin and Keaton as comedy icons of America's silent film era.

2.      Bottle Rocket 
       (1996)

Wes Anderson's films have gone on to represent independent filmmaking in America for many years, and much of that started with his meandering debut Bottle Rocket. The film, though flawed, maintains a strong focus of friendship between its cast, through the adventures of bored middle class suburban teenagers who try to become professional criminals. Bottle Rocket is a looking-glass, perhaps, into America's restless Generation X, as well as into the creativity of Anderson's own mind.

3.  The Shining 
      (1980)

The Shining goes alongside 2001: A Space Odyssey and A Clockwork Orange as one of Kubrick's more iconic films. This psychological horror film that deals with insanity, alcoholism, and isolation, is set against a haunted house, with the writer Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) suffering a violent mental breakdown, and his son Danny, who's supernatural abilities grant him an extra sense to the spirits around him. Kubrick's visual cues here draw out the unknowable tension in the film with his tracking shots behind Danny, the elevators of blood, and the Grady twins. Jack Nicholson pulls off one of his best performances as the mad Jack Terrance who gives the popular line, "Here's Johnny!" The Shining, much like The Exorcist, is one of the more intelligent horror films that asks that its audience interpret its events for themselves as opposed to explaining things to them. The film is also the best visual representation of Stephen King's works, which have captured the imaginations of American pop culture for ages. The film was added to the American Film Institute's "100 Years…100 Thrills" and Roger Ebert's Great Movies collection.

4.      The Cat Concerto 
       (1947)

Tom and Jerry are one of the most popular duos in animation history, and the oft copied Cat Concerto stands as one of their finest examples. Tom and Jerry compete with a piano while Franz Liszt's famous Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 plays on. The film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Subject and was included on Jerry Beck's 50 Greatest Cartoons.

5.      Der Fuehrer's Face 
       (1943)

During World War II, Disney produced multiple animated propaganda films to sway public opinion in favor of the war. Der Fuehrer's Face is an excellent example as it features Donald Duck living under the horror of the Nazi regime. Much like Chaplin's The Great Dictator, it is a great satire of Nazi Germany. The film one the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Subject.

6.      20,000 Leagues Under The Sea 
       (1954)

Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea is one of the most famous and critically acclaimed adaptations of Jules Verne's enduring novel. The film has a cast of some of Old Hollywood's best actors: Paul Lukas, Kirk Douglas, Peter Lorre, and most famously, James Mason as the chilling Captain Nemo, who stands as one of the most morally complex characters ever put onto film. The film is one of Disney's most mature, carrying many of Verne's themes on personal freedom, the dangers of science, and the failings of society. It is especially interesting that the film was released during the Cold War, so much of the growing fears about nuclear war are cleverly added to the film. The movie itself is a special effects milestone, featuring an impressive giant squid and winning the Oscar for Special Effects that year.


7.     The Defiant Ones
       (1958)

Stanley Kramer's The Defiant Ones is great film about America's changing attitudes towards racism against blacks. The film stars Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier as prisoners on the run chained together. The two, in many ways, are a microcosm for the racial tensions between blacks and whites in America, but their ultimate ability to work together shows the superiority of friendship over racial prejudice. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.

8.      The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring 
       (2001)

Peter Jackson's opening feature of his critically acclaimed Lord of the Rings Trilogy, which along with Harry Potter, reinvigorated an interest in fantasy, and promoted the accessibility of blockbusters over two hours long. The film is a fantasy epic with an ensemble cast, including the likes of Ian McKellen, Christopher Lee, and Hugo Weaving among others, which centers on the friendship between its leads, Frodo and Sam, as they go on an odyssey to throw the One Ring into the fires of Mt. Doom. The film echoes back to older epics, such as Ben-Hur and Gone With The Wind, that has a memorable grand score, along with a balanced use of computer animation and practical effects to create truly breathtaking shots and scenes. The author of the original trilogy, J.R.R. Tolkien, once called his books "unfilmmable". Conversely, The Fellowship of the Ring as one of the first major pictures of the 21^st century represents just how far American films have come since D.W. Griffith's opuses. Indeed, it is a culmination of all the breakthroughs American movies have made in the 20^th century, and a golden standard by which future American films would be set to.Fellowship of the Ring was nominated for numerous Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and was added to the American Film Institute's list "100 Years…100 Movies (10^thAnniversary Edition)."


9.  Jurassic Park 
      (1993)

Jurassic Park is Steven Spielberg's popular blockbuster that convincing showed audiences photo-realistic dinosaurs for the first time, and exhibited the power of computer animation. The story is a simple morality tale on the dangers of exploiting nature for profit and has a quirky cast, and is competent enough with the script to keep the movie from lowering into the stupidity of a standard slasher movie. The film's success guaranteed computer animation as a staple of future movies, altering the paradigm of special effects, which have been both a blessing and a menace. It won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, and was added to the American Film Institute's "100 Years…100 Thrills" list.

10. Rape Culture
      (1973)

A raw documentary produced by Prisoners Against Rape, the DC Rape Crisis Center, and political filmmakers Margaret Lazarus, and Renner Wunderlich, Rape Culture is probably one of the first movies to examine the crime of rape in its ugly forms and the roles that Hollywood films, pornography, masculinity, and racism have played in its persistence. The film also features various feminists such as Mary Daly, who give viewers a glimpse into radical second-wave feminism. Although many aspects of the film may seem quite obtuse today, the film represented a time in American history when the causes of rape began to be identified, or at least discussed. Whether or not one agrees with all of its assertions, or even the existence of rape culture, the film represents a visual milestone in the start of a conversation that still continues to this day.

11.  Gimme Shelter 
      (1970)

Ever since the British Invasion of the 1960's, The Rolling Stones have been a staple of American rock music. The first half of the movie shows their energetic live performances on concert and the stresses that go into recording their songs. The Stones were not at Woodstock, but they did have their own sort of festival at the Altamont Free Concert. Thus, the second half of Gimme Shelter depicts the concert itself, set up at the Altamont Highway. This section of the film shows some of the crude excesses of the counterculture, which tragically culminated in a murder during The Stone's song, "Sympathy For The Devil". In a sense, this film is a gritty contrast to idealistic flower power of Woodstock. Gimmie Shelter has since been added into the Criterion Collection.


12.  What's Up, Doc?
      (1972) 

Peter Bogdanovich's excellent tribute to the screwball comedies of the 1930's that manages to be something of a great comedy in itself. The movie keeps in the tradition of the New Hollywood era which were the first films directed by people who had grown up on films. The American Film Institute included it as one of the nation's best comedies.

13. The Patterson-Gimlin Film

      (1968)

The Patterson-Gimlin film is believed by many to be the best evidence for Bigfoot captured on film. At the very least, it has captured the fascination of many since its release. Even if one doesn't believe in Bigfoot, the film has played a big role in shaping our popular understanding of the elusive beast. Indeed, if there could be one film you would use to symbolize our ongoing fascination with Bigfoot, this one is probably it.

14. Return of the Jedi

      (1983)

Episode VI of the Star Wars saga may not be the best in the Original Trilogy, but it's a undoubtedly a great film that's worth preserving. The special effects were second to none at the time, with grand spectacles being Jabba´s Palace, the Battle of Endor, and the final showdown at the Second Death Star. VI also brings an acceptable end to Luke Skywalker's bildungsroman as a Jedi who conveys tact and wisdom upon his confrontation with Darth Vader. Indeed, it is the essential resolution to an American mythos.

15. Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan

      (1982)

The series, Star Trek, has proven to be iconic in the world of American television. So too does The Wrath of Khan hold an enduring impact for bringing the best of Star Trek onto the silver screen. Leonard Nimoy's role as Mr. Spock has become lauded within the annals of science-fiction. Of course, Spock's place in Wrath of Khan is particularly famous, including a heartfelt moment where he utters, "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." Of course, none of this is to diminish the superb cast of the USS Enterprise, played by William Shatner, Deforest Kelley, George Takei, James Doohan, Walter Koening, and Nichelle Nichols. Though few stick out as well as the fearsome Khan himself, portrayed viciously by Ricardo Montalban.

16. Jason and the Argonauts

     (1963)

This work is a marvel of Ray Harryhausen's spectacular stop-motion effects, from the many headed Hydra to the army of skeletons.

17. Carrie

     (1977)

Based on Stephen King's debut novel of the same name, Brian DePalma's horrifying adaptation has helped launch King's narrative into a popular myth of contemporary America's culture. Carrie touches a nerve in many, the social outcast with an unappreciated talent. The horror film has particularly haunting performances by Piper Laurie, as Carrie's fundamentalist mother, and Sissy Spacek, whose portrays our conflicted protagonist's spiral into madness. Both of whom were nominated for Oscars, a rarity among horror films today.

18. The Blues Accordin' To Lightning Hopkins

      (1968)

Lightning Hopkins is considered one of America's finest guitarists, and Les Blanc's documentary shows just why. Blues is an integral part of our cultural history and Hopkins plays with an emotional understanding of this fact. Throughout we see the impact of his music on ordinary people. The Blues Accordin' To Lightning Hopkins has been added to the Criterion Collection

19. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
     (2001)

Harry Potter launched from more than a bestselling book series and into a global phenomenon. This influence was felt no less by film. The inaugural entry into the popular film series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, was successful in creating Hogwarts, the fantasy world where goblins run banks, sports are run on broomsticks, and chess pieces can run you over. Harry Potter also provided America with a showcase of Britain's best talent, from Alan Rickman to Richard Harris to Maggie Smith, as well as catapult for bringing fantasy novels and young adult fiction onto the silver screen.

20. Fight Club

     (1999)

Based on the equally controversial book by Chuck Palaniuk, David Fincher's Fight Club is a film that examines masculinity, consumerism, and meaning in a changing society. Edward Norton plays the unassuming narrator, whose directionless life is given an injection of adrenaline by the wild Tyler Durden, played by Brad Pitt. Tyler starts a fight club, which allows men to fight out their aggression, within various rules, of course. The first rule of Fight Club being that you cannot talk about it. Fight Club is a dual image, both a condemnation and a celebration of our twisted society, along with the men who reside in it.

21. Batman
      (1989)

Batman, along with Superman, Wonder Woman, or Spiderman, is one of the most iconic superheroes in American comics. Tim Burton's adaptation of the character in 1989 is considered, alongside Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight, one of the definitive interpretations of Batman on film. The film was successful in returning Batman to his darker origins from his campy image on the Adam West show. The movie is a showcase of talent: Tim Burton's artistic use of sets, models, and lighting, Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson's performances in the leading roles, Danny Elfman's sweeping score, and Prince's pop additions. Batman would go on to define the character, and superhero films for the years to come.


22. Mulholland Dr.
      (2001)

David Lynch's magnum opus, and one of the most acclaimed and divisive films of 2001, Mulholland Dr. was directed in pure Lynchian style: obscure, enigmatic, strange, thoughtful, ambiguous, and addictive. The film explores identity, desire, dreams, and the many faces of Hollywood. Much like Sunset Boulevard, Lynch's Mulholland Dr. is as much a critique of the Hollywood system as it is a celebration of it. The film is also among the first to start the craze of Internet forums and websites analyzing and interpreting movies of this kind. Mulholland Dr. is also one of the few films from the 2000's that came of BFI's Sight and Sound poll for greatest films of all time.


23-26. The Mind's Eye (film series)
           (1990-1996)

4 films:

- "The Mind's Eye: A Computer Animation Odyssey." (1990)
- "Beyond the Mind's Eye." (1992)
- "The Gate to the Mind's Eye." (1994)
- "Odyssey into the Mind's Eye." (1996)

In the past, the NFR has recognized the relevance of computer animated films, having previously selected Toy Story, Luxo Jr, Tin Toy, and The Computer Animated Hand for preservation. The experimental Mind's Eye films made by Odyssey Productions pushed the technological boundaries of computer animation at a time when it was still a novel device. The films have found a new life in the vaporwave genre of music, which often recycles images from these shorts to express the aesthetic of 1990's computer technology.


27. The Secret of NIMH
(1982)

While Disney floundered throughout the 1980's, former Disney animators Don Bluth and Gary Goldman filled the gap in quality cartoon films. The best of these works was Bluth's magnum opus The Secret of NIMH, based on the book Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert O'Brien. NIMH stands above many other animated features, in that it has a subtlety and adult sensibility that is often left by the wayside in children's entertainment. It also carries a female protagonist in the lead who has no special powers or alluring beauty, but simply seeks to save her home.
 

28. The Color Purple
      (1985)

Based on the critically acclaimed novel by Alice Walker, the film, directed by Steven Spielberg, provides an important lens into an area of American history, particularly the struggles of African-American women in the early 1920's, who had to deal with racism, poverty, and sexism, as seen through the eyes of Celie, a woman who takes a slow odyssey of liberation from her abusive husband. The film is also a grand showcase of African-American talents, Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Margaret Avery, Adolph Caesar, and Oprah Winfrey. The Color Purple was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress In A Leading Role, and Best Actress In A Supporting Role. Film critic Roger Ebert added it to his Great Movies list.


29. The Truman Show
      (1998)

One of Jim Carrey's most acclaimed films, which is about a man whose entire life is a well-constructed television show, but he's the only one who does not know it. The film satirizes and questions the utopian concept of the "American Dream", like The Matrix, examines the concept of simulated reality, and like Network, examined the endless shock factor of burgeoning reality television.


30. Pleasantville
      (1998)

A clever tribute as well as parody of the black and white sitcoms that were popular during the 1950's. The film features two 90's teenagers who enter the world of the fictional 1950's television show, "Pleasantville", and come face to face with the ideals that America projected onto the screen, and see their strengths as well as shortcomings. The film also examines the conflict between the culture of that era and the culture of the later decades, through art, music, literature, and sex. This is mainly achieved through the film's mixture of black-and-white and color visuals. The film also stars the late Don Knotts of The Andy Griffith Show as a guiding force.


31. WarGames
     (1983)

One of the first films to accurately portray hacker culture to a mass audience, WarGames also examines the strategy of "mutually assured destruction" and the growing roles of computers and artificial intelligence in governmental affairs.








32. The Crow
      (1994)

Alex Proyas's film adaptation brought to life James O'Barr's gritty comic book that features the resurrection of Eric Draven, a rock musician who seeks to avenge the rape and murder of his fiance. The film is foremost the last, and perhaps best performance of Brandon Lee, who died during the production of the film, just as he began to emerge from his father's shadow. The film's creative special effects echo the minaturesque macabre of Tim Burton's Batman, and the dystopian hell of Ridley Scott's Blade Runner. Also, keeping in the theme of Draven's former role as a rock musician, The Crow also serves as a showcase of some of the 90's most popular rock groups, from The Cure to The Stone Temple Pilots.


33. Crumb
      (1994)

A documentary which examines the strange and obscene lifestyle of one of America's most famous underground cartoonists, Robert R. Crumb. Through the film, we see his legacy through creations such as Fritz The Cat, Mr. Natural, Keep On Truckin', and his album cover for Big Brother and the Holding Company's Cheap Thrills, as well as the grotesque and pornographic side of American cartoons never explored through the films of either Disney or Warner Bros. In the film, we also see the broken lives of Crumb and as his brothers as they struggle with loneliness and depression, and how for Crumb, cartooning provided him a unique escape.


34. Lake Of Fire
     (2006)

Abortion, alongside gun control, remains one of the most divisive topics in American politics, will a comfortable resolution yet in sight. Through this 152 minute documentary, filmed over 16 years, and costing $8 million dollars, director Tony Kaye allows for all points of view from across the political, religious, legal, medical, and philosophical spectrum to be heard, without editing or judgement. The film examines the pro-life movement, the murders of abortion doctors, the pro-choice movement, and shows us two actual abortion procedures. Among those interviewed include Norma McCorvey, Noam Chomsky, Peter Singer, Alan Dershowitz, Nat Hentoff, and most importantly, the women who have been directly affected. The film is shot in black, white, and shades of grey, reflecting, perhaps, the various perspectives.


35. Mutiny On The Bounty  
      (1935)

Considered by many to be finest film on the true Bounty mutiny, if not the most historically accurate, is the most influential in shaping the popular perception of what occurred during the incident. Most notably framing Christian Fletcher (Clark Gable) as righteous and Captain William Bligh (Charles Laughton) as sadistic. For their convincing roles, Gable, Laughton, and Franchot Tone, were all nominated for the Oscar of Best Actor that year, with none of them winning. Mutiny did, however, win the Oscar for Best Picture. The American Film Institute has listed it as the 86th greatest film of all time, and Laughton's depiction of Captain Bligh as the 19th greatest villain of all time.


36. Boogie Nights
      (1997)

Paul Thomas Anderson's Boogie Nights is one of the few dramas to depict the Golden Age of Pornography in American cinema, and as well as one of the few to humanize pornographic filmmakers, producers, actors, and actresses as people. With its ensemble talent of Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, Don Cheadle, John C. Reiliy, William H. Macy, Heather Graham, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Luis Guzman, and Alfred Molina. Through the film we see the behind the scenes of how pornographic films were made, their near-mainstream popularity, the effects of the rise of home video, and the discrimination these people faced, and indeed, still do face, for their work. The film also has cameo appearances from Golden Age porn stars Nina Hartley and Veronica Hart.


37. Inherit The Wind
      (1960) 

Inspired by the famous Scopes Monkey Trial, which to many Americans symbolized the conflict between scientific progress and religious fundamentalism, the film is a rarity, as it acutely and boldly explores questions of faith, education, and fraud. At the center of the film are powerful performances from Spencer Tracy, Gene Kelly, and Fredric March, all playing characters inspired by the American icons, Clarence Darrow, H.L. Mencken, and William Jennings Bryan. Film critic Roger Ebert added Inherit The Wind to his Great Movies list.


38. Clerks
      (1994)

The directing debut of geek culture commentator Kevin Smith remains one of the great milestones of low-budget, independent cinema in the 1990's, from Richard Linklater's Slacker, Wes Anderson's Bottle Rocket, Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs, and Robert Rodriguez's El Mariachi. Smith's Clerks is a comedic day in the life of a cashier at a convenience store, who goes through episodes inspired by Smith's own working experiences. While not only providing a comedic venue into middle class America, the film, through its dialogue, often explores gender relations, gross video rentals, and popular culture, such as Return of the Jedi.


39. Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?
      (1962)

The only film where Joan Crawford and Bette Davis share the same screen. The film like Sunset Boulevard, is an examination of old stars who no longer fit into a changed Hollywood, as well as a popular representation of the infamous rivalry between the two leading actresses. The film launched the psycho biddy sub-genre of horror, garnered Davis an Oscar nominee for Best Actress, won an Oscar for Best Costume Design (Black and White), and helped to further establish Davis and Crawford as LGBT icons adopted by many drag performers. Indeed, the film the egos behind it have gone into popular myth, most recently examined by the acclaimed FX series Feud: Bette and Joan. The American Film Institute listed the movie as the 63rd greatest thriller and Davis's depiction of Baby Jane Hudson as the 44th best villain in cinema. Film critic Roger Ebert added Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? to his Great Movies list.


40. Scarface
     (1983)

Brian De Palma's controversial remake of Howard Hawk's 1932 mob film. Scarface is the story of Tony Montana (Al Pacino), a Cuban refugee from the Mariel boatlift who rises to great wealth through his involvement in cocaine trafficking. Much like Bonnie and Clyde, the film pushed the limits of violence that could be shown on screen. The script, written by Oliver Stone, it both a critique of the American Dream as well as the War On Drugs. The film launched the career of actress Michelle Pfeiffer, and made Montana an icon for rap and hip-hop artists. The American Film Institute listed it as the 10th greatest gangster film of all time, and film critic Roger Ebert added it to his Great Movies list.


41. The Nightmare Before Christmas
      (1993)


Conceived by Tim Burton and directed by Henry Selick, The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of the signature stop-motion animation films, which carries elements of both Christmas and Halloween, and is an effective tale for both holidays. Drawing from the German Expressionist movement, the film is a great palette of Tim Burton's creativity, Danny Elfman's musical talents, and Henry Selick's attention to detail. The Nightmare Before Christmas has gone on to become a seminal part of America's gothic subculture.


42. Humorous Phases of Funny Faces
     (1906)

James Stuart Blackman's three minute short carries the unique significance of being the first animated film. An important landmark in the history of animation.

 
43. Bambi Meets Godzilla
     (1969)

One of the most famous student films of all time, that features a brief, but humorous, encounter between Bambi and Godzilla. Created by Marv Newman, it reveals the creative skills of one who can make a memorable joke with limited resources. Animation historian Jeff Back listed it as one the greatest animated shorts of all time. Bambi Meets Godzilla was also preserved by the Academy Film Archive,


44. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
     (1987)

Regarded as the best as most popular Thanksgiving film, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles signified a shift in John Hughes's direction from movies about teens to those about adults. The film also portrays the ranging comedic talents of John Candy and Steve Martin. Film critic Roger Ebert added the movie to his Great Movies list.


45. Strangers On A Train
     (1951)

Alfred's Hitchcock's thriller, which like North By Northwest, portrays an innocent man caught up in an extraordinary situation. In this case, Guy Haines (Farley Granger) meets Bruno Anthony (Robert Walker), who tempts the young tennis player with a murder. Strangers On A Train is probably the best portrayal of Walker's acting talents, as the seductive and sexually ambiguous Bruno. The film also shows Hitchcock's ability to translate thrills through unusual situations, from a tennis match to a carousel. The American Film Institute listed Strangers On A Train as the 32nd greatest thriller of all time.


46. The Sixth Sense
      (1999)

The debut film of director M. Night Shaymalan, which remains his most famous and critically acclaimed work. Drawing upon elements of Hitchcockian thriller and the Twilight Zone, Shyamalan crafts a sentimental tale of death and the afterlife. The film established Shyamalan as a director of thrillers, particularly those with twist endings, and launched the career of child actor Haley Joel Osment. The Sixth Sense was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and the American Film Institute listed it as the 60th greatest thriller of all time, and in 2007, the 89th greatest movie of all time. The Writers Guild of America listed its screenplay as the 50th best of all time.



 
National Film Registry

2017 NFR Nominees
http://sansuthecat.blogspot.com/2017/04/2017-nfr-nominees-color-purple.html

2016 NFR Nominees
http://sansuthecat.blogspot.com/2016/04/2016-nfr-nominees-tim-burtons-batman.html

2015 NFR Nominees
http://sansuthecat.blogspot.com/2015/08/my-2015-national-film-registry.html

2014 NFR Nominees
http://sansuthecat.blogspot.com/2014/08/my-national-film-registry-nominations.html


Films In The Registry

"Star Wars"
http://sansuthecat.blogspot.com/2017/05/skywalkerlied.html

"The Exorcist"
http://sansuthecat.blogspot.com/2017/02/communion-with-pazuzu.html


Bibliography

Novak, Matt. "About 90% of the movies made before 1929 are lost forever." Gizmodo, July 2, 2014. Web. http://gizmodo.com/13-enchanting-posters-from-hollywoods-lost-years-792599020/1599159742

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It has been more than 10 years since the first Roman legions landed in Britannia. Celts and Brits tried to resist but the Roman army was stronger. Most of Britannia's territory has been captured but the war continues. You, as a young Roman patrician, will take part in the suppression of rebellious tribes. Build powerful weapons and plan strategy of protection. Wisely lead battles with many units on each level. Upgrade your weapons and spells.
 
Game Features:

- Non-linear storyline and exciting quests;

- Fun and addictive tower defense gameplay;

- Beautiful graphics & interesting sound effects;

- Over 60 levels with multiple difficulties;

- Over 30 types of enemies;

- 8 types of fighting weapons, each containing a variety of system upgrades;

- 5 types of installable gears for combat vehicles.



Screenshot

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Requirements

    Game Size: 118 Mb
    Windows 98/XP/Vista/7/8/10

Important
All free games provided at this web-site were licensed, sublicensed for distribution by other game developers, game publishers or developed by internal game studio and provided free legally.

If you have questions about this game, please contact us using this form.




                               

Ben 10 Game On Android || Download Now

Hello Friends That is My Blog And I am Showing How To Download Ben10 Ultimate Alien Game On Android With Highly Compress That Game Is Very Good Graphic With Osm Gaming Controller.

                     Screenshot

Game Features

🔲Mission Type game.

🔲Awesome graphics.

🔲So many missions to enjoy.

🔲Original Size=1.25Gb
🔲Compres File=500Mb

How To Install

◾️So before you start download the files for the games please read this steps to install the game.

◾️Download all the files.

🔲First Download ppsspp Emulator or Ben10 Game rar File.

🔲Then Install ppsspp Emulator.

🔲Afer Extract Ben10  game file With zarchiver Apk.

🔲Then open ppsspp apk And search Ben10 Extract File and Finally Play Ben10 game.

Minimum Requirements

Ram 1GB

Storage 1.25GB

OS 5.0 Or Higher

My Phone(Game Played Successfully)

Redmi Note 4

3GB Ram,32GB Storage,Adreno GPU,Android 7.0

How To Download

Download The Required Files From The Link Given Bellow

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🔲Download ppsspp Emulator

         Click here

🔲Download Ben10 Ultimate Alien compress Fille

         CLICK HERE

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Rise Of The Valiant - The First Week

Week 1 - Day 1 

Those mutinous bastards left me here to die. I don't even know where here is. We dropped out of hyperspace long enough for them to drop me on the nearest planet with breathable air, and frankly, that was their mistake. They should have killed me. At the very least, they should have pried this matter manipulator off my arm, or taken my arm off at the elbow. They may not have agreed with my decisions as their captain, but they have no idea how resourceful I can be. I am stranded on this deserted planet, but I will not die here. Those thieving bastards better pray I don't get my hands on another ship because I will hunt them to the ends of the universe to make them pay for this transgression.

 

Revenge aside, food and shelter are my biggest concerns. The first thing I've learned about this planet is that there is no shortage of rain. I beamed down into the middle of a tremendous rainstorm with winds so fierce I'm surprised my molecules weren't scattered upon entry into the atmosphere. Angry and wet, I took out my aggression on nearby trees so that I could pull some kind of shelter together to weather the storm.

The rain didn't last all day. Once the storm had passed over, I managed to scout the surrounding area. To my east there is a tall mountain, and to the west there is a shallow canyon. I plan to conquer both in time, but before I can venture out on excursions, I need to make sure there's enough food and water to last me the entire week. At the very edge of the western canyon, I found an old storage capsule chest from some forgotten previous excursion. I managed to drag it out of the canyon and back to my lean-to. I plan to store whatever food and seeds I can scavenge from the nearby area.

So far today I managed to find 2 ears of corn, 2 potatoes and roughly 4 servings of rice. It's almost enough to get me through an entire week if I ration it right. Enough rain has accumulated in the shallow recesses along the canyon that I have a decent supply of dirty water to drink for the next day or two, but tomorrow I need to work on something better.


Week 1 - Day 2

Today I dug out a shallow drinking well not far from the lean-to in order to catch some clean drinking water with the next rains. I reinforced it with stones that I hauled out of the mountain in the east. There are some expansive caves running through the mountain that I can see from the foothills, and it didn't take long to find enough loose stone to build a small ground cistern. Once it rains, I should have a decent supply of fresh water.

I found no more fruits or vegetables in my travels between the mountain and the canyon today. The local wildlife could be a good source of protein, but I haven't tried to eat one yet. I'm sure the bastards aboard the Indomitable would like to think these beasts have gotten the better of me. To be fair, I've had a few scares. Beasts I can't even begin to describe right now are coming at me like ravenous wolves, or territorial jumping slugs as it were. I've been able to beat them back with a bent piece of metal I found near the canyon, but a real weapon would be nice. I managed to carve a couple steaks out of the ones I've managed to kill with the sharpened end of this metal rod. The steaks aren't pleasant to look at, but once I throw them on the fire I'm sure they'll taste all right.

 Oh, speaking of - I built a campfire. I've also taken a few moments today to reinforce the lean-to a bit. Ultimately, I will need something more sturdy to keep the damn wildlife out of my hair. If I can't find shelter from them soon, they will wear me down one day at a time and they will have the last laugh - or the last meal.


Week 1 - Day 3

I'm discouraged because the cistern doesn't appear to be collecting much water. It rains everyday so I'm not dying of thirst, but it would be nice to build up a reservoir and not worry about the day it decides to stop raining. I've made some improvements to the rock wall lining the cistern. I also transformed the lean-to into a true shelter. I put up walls and doors which help protect me from the elements and the local fauna. The ground around the shelter is not arable, but it's clear I will need to start growing food in order to survive. I needed to venture out beyond the canyon or over the mountain, and the canyon seemed the lesser of two obstacles.

It was a bit shallower than I previously thought. I managed to get to the other side quite quickly. I noticed several caves leading deeper underground and a crevasse or two as I made my way across. Beyond the canyon, I found some pearlpea plants. It's not my favorite food by any stretch of the imagination, but food is food. I can't afford to be particular right now.

I found a cave in the foothills of a western mountain that looked like it had been occupied by a vagrant like myself not too long ago. Unfortunately, a bottle of some sweet-smelling rum was completely empty. However, after a wash in the cleaner pools of the canyon, the sleeping bag I found is quite serviceable.

I decided that one man's cave dwelling aught to be another man's farm. The ground here is less rocky and I assume a bit more fertile than on the other side of the canyon. I'm not really a farmer, so I don't know much about it. Nevertheless, I spent the rest of the day leveling out the land and clearing out the rocks. In days to come, I may relocate my own abode to these new farmlands.

Week 1 - Day 4 & 5

Yesterday (4th Day) I ventured into some of the mountain caves in search of resources. There is an abundance of coal which I used to fashion some rather rudimentary torches. I saw a bit of copper and iron in those caves, but without proper tools they are currently useless to me. My matter manipulator can move wood and small stones, but will need serious repairs before it can do any true mining. As I mentioned before, the canyon is also full of nooks and crannies waiting to be explored and my inner child wants to map out every cave and tunnel, but I don't have the time for that right now if I'm going to survive. I have to focus on what matters most - revenge. After spending - perhaps wasting - most of the day exploring a few caves in the mountain and tunnels in the canyon, I set back to work on the new farmhouse and surrounding farmlands.

It wasn't until today that I feel like I finished my work on the house itself and actually began toiling in the fields. The house isn't much to look at, right now, but it will serve its purpose. It will protect me when I'm working or sleeping over here, and it will eventually make a nice place to store some food. Before settling in for the night, I planted several wheat seeds and pearlpea seeds. I only found one potato seed. I'm not quite sure what I'll do with the wheat since I'm no baker - nor do I have an oven for that matter - but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

 It rains several times a day which makes for lousy working conditions, but at the very least the crops and I will stay well hydrated. The small cistern I dug out is actually filling up now, so my fears are abated somewhat. I'm really pleased that it's finally holding water in and I have a relatively clean and steady supply of water now.


Week 1 - Day 6 & 7

I spent two full days exploring and unlike last time, I don't feel like they were wasted. I'm not alone!

Just beyond the farmhouse is a steep cliff. I tried my best, but I simply can't scale it without proper tools. There are also some pretty deep caves just beyond the farmhouse leading into the face of the cliff. I thought about sealing them up to protect me from anything lurking in that darkness, but I'm so glad I didn't. I got up early two mornings ago and made my way into the caves with nothing but a handful of unlit torches to light along the way. I had to widen a few passages, and keep from falling into a deep darkness occasionally, but eventually I made it through the cliff to the other side of this western mountain. As I stumbled out into the light, I couldn't believe my eyes. There was another house just sitting there in the foothills - not unlike the farmhouse I'd built on the other side!

 I made the acquaintance of a Glitch woman. She calls herself Margaret Haddaway and she's been living alone for quite some time. Although she was initially frightened by my sudden appearance in her backyard, she was eventually grateful for someone to talk to. We exchanged stories. I told her briefly of the mutiny and the marooning. She told me that she had no memory before awakening on this planet herself. From what I understand of these self-aware Glitch, they are often hunted by their own kind as some kind of abomination. I surmise that Margaret became self-aware and was similarly abandoned on this planet, but there's no real evidence to support this assumption. She has been content to live a simple life tending her garden and working on her skills as a seamstress - a profession she believes she had prior to her awakening.

The trip through the cliff caves is not easy. It is cramped, dangerous and wholly unpleasant. That said, I'm happy to have a new neighbor and someone to talk to from time to time. Margaret and I made a promise to help each other out with food and supplies whenever we had need of one another. We took comfort in not being alone - she more than I, perhaps, but I do not quite know the ways of the Glitch.

Margaret told me that from her side of the mountain, it is not that difficult to scale. She also said that at its peak she had built a small, but beautiful, lake gazebo where she often went to relax. I promised to return so that she could show it to me, but I wanted to get back to my side of the world before dark.

I slept in the farmhouse last night. It was cozy. I set out today to try and climb the eastern mountain. The trek up was not bad and there is a beautiful view from the top. I found some old camping equipment at the summit. I would have to inquire with Margaret if she knew who lived on this side of things before me - she made no mention of anyone else. Unfortunately, the eastern face of the mountain is just as sheer a drop as the eastern face of the western mountain. Again, without proper equipment moving forward is impossible, I fear. Despite these setbacks in the east, it has been a momentous week. I am confident now that I will survive on this planet as long as I need to. Hopefully I will figure out a way to get back into the stars before too long.

- Excepts from the Journal of Edge Valiant on the Founding of the Valiant Empire​