johnlink ranks MANHATTAN (1979)

I’ve yet to review a Woody Allen film on these pages. I watched quite a few of them in high school and college, but have never been a big enough fan to hunt them down. MANHATTAN, though, is said to be one of the great intellectual comedies of the 70s and, perhaps, of all time. With the new high def transfer of this beautifully shot black-and-white New York film, I thought it was time to give it a look. SOME SPOILERS BELOW

johnlink ranks PSYCH:9 (2010)

This is a movie which I found on FearNet. Often times the movies found in this manner are horrendous, or funny-bad. I have found a gem or two (NIGHT OF THE CREEPS, for example), but there is a certain amount of masochism which goes into picking a movie off of FearNet. However, this one had Cary Elwes, so I didn’t care if it was bad or not. SOME SPOILERS BELOW

johnlink ranks TO CATCH A THIEF (1955)

This is one of the lighter fare Hitchcock flicks. While certainly suspenseful, this at times plays more as a romantic comedy. I’d seen this once, years ago, and remember the witty banter and the general plot. I remember it being a great light Hitchcock movie, and have been itching to see it again.

johnlink ranks NEXT (2007)

I had a couple of hours to kill before the Patriots AFC Championship, and decided to throw this in. I remember it being average, but somewhat entertaining. It had been on my mind since watching another movie based on a Philip K. Dick story, THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU. I knew NEXT wasn’t great, but then, not all movies can be classics. Right?

johnlink ranks HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN (2004)

Back to the Harry Potter series with this third installment. I haven’t watched these movies in consecutive order in some time, but I’ve always held the opinion that the third movie is where this series really got rolling. Having very recently watched the first two, it was time to put that theory to the test.

johnlink ranks DEADLINE U.S.A. (1952)

There aren’t too many Bogart films left which I had never even heard of. Well, this was one of them. Usually I discover these things on Turner Classic Movies, but this was one that happened across HBO. Go figure. I’m not sure I’ve really seen anything pre 1980s on HBO before.

johnlink ranks MEN IN BLACK (1997)

Liz and I cracked open a bottle of wine and decided to watch something that was pure fun. Neither of us had seen MEN IN BLACK in several years, and we were in the mood to laugh. Decision made.

johnlink ranks KEY LARGO (1948)

We interrupt this series of HARRY POTTER rankings for an old Bogart film. And not just any Bogart film, but a Bogie/Bacall film with Lionel Barrymore in a solid role, and Edward G. Robinson as the heavy! I saw this about a decade ago, and could instantly recall the premise (some gangsters and some ‘good’ people stuck in a hotel together during a hurricane), but the details had mostly faded. I do remember very much liking it though, so it was time to see it again.

johnlink ranks HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS (2002)

Continuing on with the Harry Potter series, is film number two. For whatever reason, this one I feel as though I’ve seen less than the third and fourth. Or maybe it just doesn’t stick to your bones the same as the third and fourth. Either way, off we go…

johnlink ranks HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE (2001)

In my end of 2011 review, I mentioned that I wanted to get at some series which I had not ranked. With our new Harry Potter Blu Rays in hand (thanks John!), Liz and I decided to watch that group of films first. It’s not hard to convince Liz of this, since she has seen all the HP movies dozens of times. Anyway, I have the last few movies on these pages from seeing them in theaters, but hadn’t seen the first bunch in awhile.