The Top Ten Movies to Watch With Your Father This Father’s Day.

Another Father’s Day is upon us. If you are anything like me you celebrate every holiday with a movie.  If you have a chance to watch one of the following gems with your own father, instead of a traditional gift like a tie or cologne, then go for it.

These movies feature many different characters that run the gamut of cinematic spectrums. Here are the movies I think are the best to watch with your father on Father’s Day.

10. Road to Perdition- Tom Hanks plays an enforcer in the Irish Mob. After his son witnesses him murder a group of people, his boss kills his family and then goes after both Hanks and his son.  Tom Hanks goes on the run while the mob hunts them. Tom Hanks must now protect his son from the man who raised him as a surrogate son. The colors are muted which really enhances the Depression era look of the film. It is dark, moody, and shows the skill of the cast which ha really gone out of the their comfort zone.

9. Mr. Mom- Michael Keaton plays a father of three in Detroit who loses his job at an auto plant. His wife gets a job before him and he becomes a househusband. Hilarity ensues as he befriends other housewives. He learns how to cook, clean, and do other various things while his wife experiences the corporate world.  Being written by John Hughes in the eighties, it has the perfect mix of humor and cheese. It is fairly dated but the charm of the actors makes it a fun movie to watch.

8. National Lampoon’s Vacation- Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo play Clark and Ellen Griswold. Clark wants to load up his family in their crappy station wagon and drive across the country to go to the theme park, Wally World.  On the way they deal with car troubles, getting lost, meeting horrible family members, and staying in shady hotels. We watch a man who just wants to spend time with his family get pushed to the brink of insanity with hilarious results. 

7. Raising Arizona- Nicolas Cage plays H.I., an ex-con who marries a woman who cannot have kids.  The news tells them about a rich family that recently had quintuplets. So they come up with a plan to kidnap one of the babies for themselves. The rest of the movie is a comedy or errors that only the Cohen brothers could create. The script is witty and the characters are incredibly likeable for the poor white trash that they are.  It is a slice of life that is humorous and smart.

6. Kick Ass- You might be asking, how this is a Father’s Day movie? Nicolas Cage plays the father of a little girl he is training to be a costumed vigilante.  Kick Ass is about a teenage kid that puts on a costume and tries to make a difference by becoming a hero. He finds allies in a man and his little girl who call themselves Big Daddy, played by Nicholas Cage, and Hit Girl.  The relationship between Big Daddy and Hit Girl is really amusing to watch. At first it comes off as completely normal but soon reveals a bizarre and a violent upbringing.  The movie is really amusing and says a lot about what it takes to be a hero.  Nicolas Cage steals the show with his performance. 

5. It’s A Wonderful Life- When it comes to good fathers and good men, George Bailey give of himself until it hurts.  In fact he has given so much that he has driven himself nearly suicidal. George Bailey is like the Giving Tree of characters. He gives so much of himself that he gives up on his own dreams in order to make those around him happy. It always seems more tragic the more I watch it. He is a better man than he takes credit for and he deserves a lot more than he gets from life. Still, it is a lovely movie with a great message. He tries so hard for his family and in the end it takes an angel warping time and space to convince him to not kill himself after Old Man Potter rips him off.

4. Finding Nemo- Marlon is a clownfish that losses his entire family save his son Nemo. When a diver takes Nemo to an aquarium in a dentist office, Marlon goes on a long trek in search of his son. On his long journey he comes to face fears like sharks and schools of jellyfish, and he makes new friends like Dory and several sea turtles.  Pixar makes the sea look bright and colorful. Each fish had a very unique personality and it works very well with the narrative. When each element comes together it is a sweet and sentimental story.

3. Life is Beautiful- Roberto Benigni plays Guido, an Italian Jew that uses humor to find the love of his life and to keep his son safe in a Nazi concentration camp. When the Nazis take him and his son to a concentration camp, he does everything he can to use his humor to shield his son from the horrors they will face. It is an incredible performance from everyone involved. It is incredibly believable that a father would want to protect his son from the horrors Guido experiences.  It is almost impossible to make it through this movie without the accompaniment of tissues. It is a charming and lovely film that showcases the selflessness of a devoted father.

2. The Descendants- George Clooney plays Matt King, whose wife is seriously injured in a boating accident. As his wife is being kept alive by machinery, he must take care of his two young daughters. He soon discovers that his wife was having an affair. He and his family must come to terms with both the loss of his wife and the infidelity as well. It is a very genuine and heartfelt movie. George Clooney takes a character that is going through a lot of pain and gives him a sense of humanity, which is a nice change of pace from his typical charmer persona roles.

1. The Godfather- The Godfather is all about family. The Godfather, Vito Corleone, played by Marlon Brando, takes care of not only his entire family but also much of his Sicilian community; usually expecting payments for his favors with favors. He expects his sons to be strong men. While the sons have a lot of flaws, they all look up to their father and know that he has their best interest at heart. He even tries very hard to steer his youngest son Michael away from the criminal life. Vito Corleone is a loving man who is dangerous when crossed.

Whether you watch this in the spirit of the holiday or you watch this with your father, you will likely find these movies enjoyable. Some of the films might even help your dad get in touch with a sensitive side you never knew he had. In either case they are great movies that will be fun to watch.  So enjoy the films and have a safe and happy Father’s Day.

Katie Parker: A Star On The Rise.

For the past couple years Katie Parker has become a rising star. In 2011 she starred in the hit movie ABSENTIA as Callie, the main character who is battling with addiction in a Lovecraftian story.  Katie played a very challenging role and impressed a great many people, both audience and critic alike. Katie has also appeared in the films THE FAMILY, OCULUS, and ALLEYCAT. She has shown to be a very talented and capable actress. I had the opportunity to correspond with Katie and talk to her about her life and career.

You received a B.A. in Theater from Christopher Newport University. What was one of your favorite plays you were involved with?

When I was a sophomore in college I was cast as Claire in David Auburn’s PROOF. It was a big deal for me because the 3 other actors were seniors. I was so intimidated by the rest of the cast as well as our director who was the head of the theatre department. The rehearsal process and performances were pivotal to my development as an actor. I fell on my face quite a bit but also had a few breakthroughs. Having a breakthrough as an artist feels like winning an award of recognition. You feel yourself growing, thinking beyond yourself and making bold choices. I think every young actor ends up working on PROOF at some point in their career. It’s a great story with lots of dramatic action and interesting characters. PROOF was a very intimate and special experience for me.

What made you decide to go into film acting?

There was no decision, I just went where the work was for me. I had an opportunity to be on The Young and the Restless and the casting director at the time suggested I pursue a career in film. This was 2008. I wanted to move to Chicago or New York City and pursue theatre but once I had the connection in LA I thought, “Well, I should go there!”

What was it like to work with an actress that was pregnant at the time of filming?

Courtney Bell WAS SUCH A TROOPER! I mean, we dragged that woman on the floor! She was just amazing. Courtney’s a phenomenal actress, pregnant or not, but her emotional capacity was extraordinary while she was pregnant. Everything was right on service. She could deliver in every take.

In Absentia you played a character struggling with addiction. What did you do to prepare for the role?

There wasn’t a lot of time to prepare. I have some family members who struggle with addiction so I’m familiar with their journey towards recovery. That helped. I also thought a lot about what she would wear. Baggy clothes. Courtney and I also talked a lot about the back story of Callie and Trisha and their relationship.

What are some of your favorite movies?

This is always so hard to answer but right now:

Old Boy

Tootsie

Singing in the Rain

Tree of Life

When Harry Met Sally

A Muppets Christmas Carol

What are your future show business goals? Would you ever want to write or direct?

I want to work with exceptionally talented people- actors, directors, writers, cinematographers. I want to work with the best people possible. It’s such a lucky thing to be able to work with professionals, masters of their craft. I will only get better if I’m working with people who will push me.

I’ve been working on a script. Not quite sure where it’s going but I’d love to direct it. I directed in college and learned a lot about actors and how important a specific vision is.

Do you have any good stories from the set?

Our DP Rustin picked up a virus from his son who was a toddler at the time. We were shooting on a sound stage in Laguna Beach CA and all of a sudden Rustin became violently ill and vomited everywhere! Naturally, he had to go home and Mike Flanagan took over. Thing was, he didn’t know how to operate the camera! Everyone was a bit freaked out but Mike really took control and figured it out. He had to! The interrogation scenes in Absentia were shot by Mike. I think he did a really nice job!

What was it like to meet Doug Jones?

Doug is like sunshine. He is so charismatic and kind. He’s a true talent and professional. He really took me under his wing while we were filming and gave me some acting for the camera pointers. Absentia was my first film so I really appreciated and needed the advice! He was nurturing to the whole cast and crew.

You have appeared in a number of horror films. What frightens you?

It frightens me that some people don’t believe in Global Warming. This Earth is all we have and we are destroying it everyday. I think a lot of people think they are invincible. Truth is, mother nature is going to kick our ass one day and it’s probably going to be our fault. It frightens me that some people don’t seem to care.

What do you enjoy doing when not working?

Hiking, reading, yoga, wine, theatre, museums, painting/drawing, dinner with friends!

Show business is incredibly hard to get involved with. Do you have any advice for people attempting to get into the industry?

Make sure you really want it. No, really. You have to want it more than you want anything else in your life. Truly. There is so much personal sacrifice that goes along with this job. That sounds dramatic, but it’s true. You miss stuff. Weddings, funerals, births, relationships, family trips. Especially while you are building your career. I’m sure it gets a bit easier when you have more control. Also, finances are a hit or miss. One year you have no trouble paying your bills, the next.... This industry is all about perseverance. Keep working on your craft, take care of mind and body and just stay in the game.

If you could be involved in any movie throughout the history of film what would it be and why?

This is such a hard question, Ryan! There are too many brilliant films that I would have given my limbs to be a part of! I’ll just say that I think director Steve McQueen is a genius. He understands the human condition, the good, bad, and the ugly. His films are gorgeous and brutally truthful. I want to be a part of work like that. It would be an honor to work with him and act in one of his films.

What are some of your future projects?

I recently wrapped, ALLEYCAT, MOVE ME and had a brief cameo in a short film called TRIBUTE. Projects coming up are, CLOUDLAND, DAISY DELIVERED, SLEEPWALK, SCARE DARES and WHISPERS FROM THE SHADOWS! Lots to look forward to :)

Aaron Mento: What an iPad2 can do.

Many in Hollywood seem afraid to try new things. Thankfully there are people who take the leap where others dare to tread like writer, director, producer, and cinematographer Aaron Mento. Aaron wears many hats in his productions and has produced several short films. His first full-length film STANDARDS OF LIVING was filmed entirely on an iPad2. It is a fun and inventive thriller with themes of humor and dread. It is available to view for free online here: http://www.standardsoflivingmovie.com/. I had the opportunity to correspond with Aaron regarding his work.

You have mentioned in other interviews that you are a Twilight Zone fan. Do you have a favorite episode?
So many of these are great, but maybe “Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?” I love the whodunit aspect of the episode and it’s also really funny. The episode happens mostly inside the diner, and that kind of limited location writing has always inspired me.

What were the biggest challenges in directing Standards of Living?
I shot the movie myself, and had almost no crew, so stamina and endurance were definitely a challenge. Some takes would last over twenty minutes without a break, so trying to compose a steady shot with the iPad for that amount of time was difficult. We only had the location for two weeks, and everybody had jobs to go to in the morning, so we could only shoot for 6 hours a night. It was a really tight schedule.

What influenced the decision to film Standards of Living using only an iPad?
One day, after writing on my computer for a few hours, my left eye went partially blind for fifteen minutes. I thought I had a brain tumor, but the doctors said it was actually an ocular migraine, which is like having a headache inside of your eyeball. After this health scare, I realized that life was really fragile and it was high time to achieve my biggest goal: I was going to make my first feature film, and I wasn’t going to let any excuses stop me. I decided to use an iPad 2 because it was the only camera that I had, and because I loved the challenge of shooting a feature-length film on something so non-traditional.

What movies influence you most as a director?
I watched PHANTASM a lot before shooting STANDARDS OF LIVING, because it’s so “homemade” and ambitious. I’m also a big John Carpenter fan, and am always re-watching THE THING, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, and HALLOWEEN. Low-budget movies with attitude and balls are definitely my biggest influence.

Standards of Living had a very small budget. What were some of the challenges of such a small budget?
I didn’t have multiple versions of the actors’ costumes, so we had to try and get the blood FX to work right on the first take. There wasn’t anybody else responsible for dressing the set, so I had to do all that myself. I also painted all of the artwork in Mariella’s room. Without a big budget, you have to wear a lot of hats, but that also allows your fingerprints to be seen in all levels of the production (for better or worse).

If you could be involved in any movie throughout the history of film what would it be and why?
A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET is probably my favorite movie of all time, so to be on that shoot would be a dream come true. I wish I could have seen that rotating room screw up and accidentally dump blood all over everything.

What lead to the naming of your production company?
Ocular Migraine Productions was named after my health scare, which prompted me to make STANDARDS OF LIVING in the first place. It also serves as a reminder to myself to keep moving forward, to keep climbing that mountain, because it could all end at any second.

What lead to the concept of the “talking peanut” act for the comedian character in Standards of Living?
You’re the only person who ever asked about this, it’s a really good question. I wanted the comedian to be truly awful, and for his “soothsayer” shtick to be awkward and pathetic. Him interacting with a circus peanut seemed like the bottom of the barrel of stand-up comedy. I wanted to drop the audience right into this terrible act at the beginning, and have them think “Oh shit, is this what the whole movie is going to be like?!” Plus, I love the fact that the comedian is supposed to see the future, but he has to look at note-cards to remember his jokes.

How did you find such an interesting cast for Standards of Living?
I’ve worked with Derek Houck (who plays Stu) on other projects, and he was in my thesis film when I was at Loyola Marymount University. Through Derek and other friends, I was able to gather an incredible cast who were game for anything. Everybody trusted that I could make a good movie on an iPad, and I’m eternally grateful that they went along for the ride.

What made you decide to allow your film to be seen for free?
STANDARDS OF LIVING is the first feature film in the world shot entirely on an iPad, but nobody would know that if I didn’t release it right away. If I waited for traditional distribution, or did the festival circuit, somebody else could hear about my movie, make another movie on an iPad, and then release it online first. I’m working on securing distribution down the line, but for right now, I’m glad that people can check out STANDARDS OF LIVING online for free.

Show business is incredibly hard to get involved with. Do you have any advice for people attempting to get into the industry?For filmmakers, don’t ever let “no” stop you from making a movie. There are a lot of people who want to see you fail, so never ever give them the satisfaction. If you don’t have any money, then the only thing that can make you stand out is your own unique voice. STANDARDS OF LIVING takes place entirely in a handful of rooms, and while this was difficult, I also didn’t have anybody telling me what I could and could not do with my movie. Stay true to yourself and make a movie that you would want to buy and re-watch, again and again.

You seem to be a fan of the horror genre. What scares you?
In the EXORCIST, when Father Merrin warns, “The demon is a liar. He will lie to confuse us. But he will also mix lies with the truth to attack us.” That scares the shit out of me.

What are some of your future projects?
I recently finished writing an 80’s action comedy with my buddy Louis Sweeney, who also went to Loyola Marymount University. We’re in talks to attach some actors who we are huge fans of, so that’s been a lot of fun. I’m also writing a slasher movie with a unique hook that I can’t wait for people to see. I’ve also been writing some articles over at RUTHLESS REVIEWS, so be sure to check those out.

Maleficent- review

Much like The True Story of The Three Little Pigs, Maleficent tells the story of Sleeping Beauty from the point of view of the villain.  The acting in Maleficent is genuine but there are a lot of aspects to this film that make this a fairly unlikable movie. The effects are decent but the story is mediocre. Maleficent banks a lot on Angelina Jolie’s talent though it is debatable if that is enough to carry the weight of the movie.

Maleficent begins with a young fairy with the unfortunate name of Maleficent. As she grows into a young women she falls in love with a young man named Stefan. After learning that the king will succeed his crown to the person responsible for defeating Maleficent, Stefan cuts off her wings. This creates a longstanding hatred of Stefan, which eventually leads to the events of Sleeping Beauty, with some major changes.

One big question that I had from the beginning of this story: Who was the jerk that named the good fairy Maleficent? It means harmful or evil in intent or effect. That is like naming your newborn baby Evil Satan Von Hitlerton. I don’t usually have problems with stories like these altering things to make things different and original. The problem in this case is that the creators made odd choices. For example, the three fairies that raise Aurora are painfully stupid. So much so that they nearly kill Aurora a couple of times until the villain, Maleficent, saves her.

Angelina Jolie does a great job. She just can’t be expected to carry the whole film alone. I found myself not caring; not even about Sharlto Copley or Elle Fanning who were at least trying. I think the big reason that I found myself not caring is that the protagonist is almost invincible. Even without her wings she has a wealth of magic at her disposal; she is strong; she heals rapidly and even can change her raven friend into any conceivable creature. The CGI is well developed for the most part except for when it came to the three fairies, which looked crude and cartoonish. 

I can’t say I enjoyed this movie. Still, it is not badly made.  They even seem to use a similar idea as the ending from Frozen. There are interesting scenes that people will enjoy. If you are a big fantasy fan or you have little kids you might enjoy it. Personally though, it was not to my taste and I can’t recommend it to folks beyond seeing it at a matinee if you a curious. It just did not seem like a movie that seemed worth waking up for.

X-Men: Days of Future Past – review

X-Men: Days of Future Past is the sequel to both X-Men the Last Stand as well as X-Men: The First Class. It bridges the gaps well between the young and old cast and makes a pretty exciting story.  The acting is really top notch. The story is gripping and the characters feel rich and developed.  The effects are exciting and have an almost gruesome element to them, which makes for a very entertaining film.

The future is bleak for both humans and mutants. Relentless giant robots called Sentinels have hunted mutants to near extinction.  A small group of mutants lead by Magneto, played by Ian McKellen, and Charles Xavier, played by Patrick Stewart, devise a plan to send the consciousness of Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman, back into his past self. There he will attempt to stop the events from occurring that will cause this horrible future.

The cast does a great job with the material. Jennifer Lawrence gives a solid performance as Mystique. Michael Fassbender as Magneto is also very entertaining. James McAvoy is the one who really knocks it out of the park though. His portrayal of young Charles Xavier battling a drug addiction and fear of his powers is incredibly powerful and moving.  Another performance of note was Evan Peters as Peter Maximoff.  It was a very nuanced and amusing way to portray the character of Quicksilver.

The effects are gratifying since they switch from the dystopian future to the 1970s past and the camera work seems to reflect this. In the future the camera captures darkness and shadow nearly constantly, while the 1970s scenes simulate the look of being filmed with the grainy style of a 1970s camera.  In this case, the contrast works well.  The movie has a much darker tone then any of the other films so the ante has to be raised to some degree.

X-Men: Days of Future Past is a damn satisfying movie. It has some silly moments such as the distractingly bad hair they gave Peter Dinklage, or how supposedly JFK was a mutant. At the end of the day though, it is an X-Men movie; it’s going to be a little silly.  The movie is still worth seeing in the theater, especially if you were a fan of any of the past films. Just be sure to stay through the end of the credits.

Godzilla (2014) – review

Godzilla is the latest attempt to reboot the film franchise. In many ways it succeeds in capturing the mood and essence of the original film. The effects are great and the monsters seem to have a personality all their own, much like the director Gareth Edward’s previous work Monsters. The acting ranges from good to excellent with the gallery of characters. The story itself is really entertaining, though I can see why it might be polarizing to some people.

The movie begins by showing an accident that occurred involving the characters at a nuclear power plant in 1999. Joe Brody, played by Bryan Cranston, lost his wife in the accident and is still looking for answers 15 years later. He discovers that recent signs are pointing to another devastating event. He brings his son Ford, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, to a quarantined zone to investigate. What are these mysterious people hiding from Joe and Ford? Will it spell doom for a great many people?

The acting in the movie is pretty good for the most part. Aaron Taylor-Johnson is unfortunately pretty wooden considering the horrors that he is witnessing. Elizabeth Olsen does a fine job as Ford’s wife Elle, but it is not her most remarkable performance to date. Ken Watanabe is pretty solid and shows a great amount of awe and reverence for the creatures he is witnessing. The person who knocks it out of the park is Bryan Cranston. He really sells the fact that he is a desperate man looking for answers and has been plagued with guilt over the death of his wife for over 15 years.

The effects are fantastic. The MUTO creatures and Godzilla all seem to possess a great range of personality. When the villainous MUTO lose their eggs I felt sorry for them. The development of the visual and audio effects of the creatures came together perfectly to give the viewer an emotional attachment to them. Godzilla does not get a ton of screen time; when he does appear he owns your attention. His presence and roar are enough to give you goose bumps. When he breathed his nuclear fire it reminded me of seeing one of my first kaiju movies as a kid.

The story itself is reminiscent of the original story in that it is a cautionary tale. Where the original foretold of the dangers of nuclear weapons, this is more about the balance of nature and who is really in control. The monsters take away power, cause tidal waves, earthquakes, and even cause sinkholes. They are grim reminders that we are not fully in control of our world and that the powers of nature are bigger than us. Godzilla does not play the biggest role compared to the humans, or even the MUTO for that matter. However, looking back on the original film Godzilla was not the main focus in that film either.

Godzilla is a really entertaining movie. The few flaws I mentioned should not deter anyone from seeing it. The visuals are stunning and the story is really gripping. I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the series or anyone who has never seen a Godzilla film and might like to try one. When it comes right down to it, Godzilla shows that he is still the King of Monsters.

The Top 10 Giant Movie Monsters

When you want big action you can’t get much larger than giant monster movies.  We love these movies because threat is often intensified and people need to find unique ways of overcome colossal odds. Some are misunderstood creatures, others are just creatures out of their element; regardless, they are dangerous.  With that being said, here are the creatures that bring the “badness” to the cinema in the biggest way.

10. The Kaiju –Pacific Rim

The Kaiju are aliens that managed to come to our world through cracks in the ocean.  While there are different varieties of Kaiju, humans developed giant robots called Jaegers to defend against them.  Pacific Rim showcases great scenes of cheesy dialogue and incredible effects as giant monsters and giant robots duke it out. The monster design is very impressive. It is the perfect cinematic eye-candy to enjoy without having to think too deeply.

9. The Kraken- Clash of the Titans (1981)

The Kraken is the mythical creature that is near unstoppable.  Only with the head of Medusa can the hero Perseus stop the Kraken from killing the Princess Andromeda or destroying the city of Joppa. The Kraken was one of the many bits of stop-motion created by the genius Ray Harryhausen.  His care and skill gave the illusion of life and personality to each of his inanimate figures. The Kraken is an impressive beast with multiple arms, which had to be a challenge to animate. It is a great display of story and animation.

8. The Aliens- Monsters

Giant tentacled aliens that inhabit sections of Mexico are leaving entire areas quarantined zoned. Two young people attempt to travel though the restricted zone and slowly come across the creatures that they have only heard stories about.  They soon discover that these creatures are not nearly the dumb monsters that the stories report but are fascinated by electric light and actually show signs of tenderness with one another. The film is a lovely story and is worth watching for beautiful imagery and scenes that will leave you talking long after the film is over.

7. The Creature- The Host (2006)

A South Korean film about a large mutated fish-like creature that leaps out of the Han River and takes a man’s young daughter.  The movie follows his family as they search the sewers for their missing kin.  The story faces elements of redemption and courage. The whole family must overcome their weaknesses in order to fight this very literal monster.  The effects are great, the story is well done, and the actors do a great job making this situation seem plausible.  

6. Cloverfield- Cloverfield

As a monster, Cloverfield is like watching a wild elephant running amok. The movie shows that the creature is immense in size, incredibly strong, and apparently covered in tiny creatures (which sometimes seem worse than Cloverfield itself). It is capable of tearing the head off the statue of liberty and hurling it like a baseball across New York. The movie as a whole is interesting as far as P.O.V movies go. It is fairly clever and has wit and is very entertaining.  Sure there are a few cheesy scenes, but it is a movie about a giant monster roaming around New York.  What do you really expect?

5. The Ants- Them!

The 1950s were a time when the fear of radiation was at its peak. Them! was the first of the giant insect movies. Atomic test sites yield giant ants which cause a great deal of trouble for the military as they not only have to take out the nest but find the queens and her hatchlings which can fly. The movie is fun and goofy and is still a cautionary tale of the dangers of the atomic age. It is a corny movie by today’s standards but looking at it for what it was in 1954, you can see how this movie became nominated for an Oscar for its special effects.

4. The T-Rex- Jurassic Park

The T-Rex from Jurassic Park was what stole the show in that movie. Every scene, every roar, was like watching something real. The movie itself is a bit goofy today, however the effects still stand up.  The story of nature not being controlled and not fitting in our world still works (especially as the science of DNA has advanced over the years).  The T-Rex may not have the brains of the velociraptors but it wins by being a huge killing machine.

3. The Graboids- Tremors

In Tremors a Southern town is attacked by colossal worms that kill just about anything they can swallow. The town is filled with many colorful characters and a great deal of the fun and drama comes from seeing how they cope with these bizarre creatures.  The Graboids sense the tremors on the surface but are otherwise blind. They have four large anaconda-like tongues that they use to grab ahold of things and drag things into their gaping maw.  The movie has good effects, fun humor and Kevin Bacon hamming it up. What is not to like?

2. Godzilla- Godzilla (1954)

Godzilla, or Gojira in Japan, was a symbol for the nuclear holocaust. He was unstoppable by conventional weapons, he breathes nuclear flames, and he brings destruction wherever he goes.  Over the years Godzilla would fight a great many monsters as a good guy and a bad guy. In the beginning though, he was used as a destroyer and as a warning that development of destructive weapons will lead to greater suffering and death.  The movie is haunting and also very somber.  This is a very well made and still holds up as a classic of the monster movie genre.

1. King Kong- King Kong (1933)

 King Kong not only is one of the greatest monster movies, it might also be one of the best classic movies. King Kong is a giant ape that fell in love with a blonde woman, played by Fay Wray. Kong is kidnapped and taken to New York where he escapes and climbs the Empire State Building.  The story of beauty and the beast is as classic and as old as the icons, which the film is famous for. This film changed the way movies were made buy showing that advanced techniques could be successful. The film was partially filmed using projected screens behind the live actors and other times scenes were made by building elaborate sets. Many different methods of filmmaking came together to bring this story to life in 1933 and it remains impressive today. It is evident when watching Kong observe humans and after his fight scenes the work the filmmakers put into making him seem very emotional expressions.

A couple of honorable mentions would be to both versions of The Blob films. Giant monsters have been around since the first days of film. They will continue to be there rather it be stop-motion or CGI. They are fun to see in the wake of their destructive force. They can be cathartic in nature making us look inward at ourselves.  Take a chance and see if there are any that you like. Hopefully you will be in for a giant surprise.