There will always be that film; a movie that inspires and carries on with you long after the credits role. That aching haunting moment when you stumble away from a screen only to feel that you are still in the movie, that takes something special,
So here; Cookie, Robbie, Laura, Jack and Leah tell us theirs.
So here; Cookie, Robbie, Laura, Jack and Leah tell us theirs.
Repo! The Genetic Opera by Cookie N Screen
To turn around and ask a film journalist what movie impacted them or their favourite movie is a ridiculous hard question. It’s kind of like asking a musician what song. Thousands of ones go through my mind, like “pick me, pick me, pick me.” Just when I decide on one, another vying for attention comes rushing to my brain. It is endless. Truth is; most movies impact me. That hazy feeling when leaving the cinema where you still feel you are in the movie. That need that is fed. That constant need to be in movies. So, yes it is difficult to pick just one because every movie that I love has affected me, impacted me and changed me at some point. But I remember…. So with that in mind, you understand how difficult it was to pick my choice. The thing is, this movie didn’t come into my life until roughly two years ago when a date showed me it. The date didn’t end in epic romance but the love affair with this movie did.
Repo! The Genetic Opera. This is a movie that shouldn’t work but does. When I first watch it, I billed it as a guilty pleasure but I was very wrong too. See, the movie is utterly amazing. It is that mixture of campy fun, blood and guts and catchy music. The plot is amazing; in a future, synthetic organs are given after an epidemic hits the globe. However, if you don’t pay back that debt (this isn’t the NHS) the company behind it, GeneCo, will send repo men to rip the still beating heart from your chest. In the midst of this is Shiloh, a girl with a blood disease that keeps her locked away from her world. Nathan is caught between caring for her and meeting the commands of his bos Rotti Largo who happens to be the head of GeneCo and also dying. Nathan, you see, is a feared Repo Man and his secret won’t stay secret for long.
This movie is ace. This is the third time I’ve written about this; the first, the second better one and themore recent third time. Written by Darren Lyn Bousmann and Terence Zdunich, the songs, the acting and the bloodbath are all on cue. Together with Anthony Stewart Head they create a truly haunting character in Nathan that tips between evil and caring. That split and switch makes it a compelling view. The music is on point, singing as an opera but telling an intriguing tale.
The reason this movie impacted me in some way is because there would be no Cookie N Screen without it. It was the article that started to feel and direction of my obsession with films. I wouldn’t be into cult movies and I wouldn’t be into “guilty pleasures” if it weren’t for Repo! What’s more is that I have met friends along the way because of this song and I will strive to get it back in movies at a level such as Rocky Horror Picture Show. It certainly has the strength to. It re-ignited that passion for cinema and more importantly, fun cinema writing. It started off The Mistress of Cult and Guilty Pleasures. It made me, well, me. Repo! made me the writer I am today. It made me love and cherish cinema in all it’s dirty glory. It showed me that cinema can be have a killer soundtrack and open that door to the world of cult. There will never be a day where I don’t listen to the songs, I don’t quote the lines and I don’t feel the urge to watch it. It’s ones of my favourite movies (at least top five) and more people need to see it so we can resurge this movie.
To turn around and ask a film journalist what movie impacted them or their favourite movie is a ridiculous hard question. It’s kind of like asking a musician what song. Thousands of ones go through my mind, like “pick me, pick me, pick me.” Just when I decide on one, another vying for attention comes rushing to my brain. It is endless. Truth is; most movies impact me. That hazy feeling when leaving the cinema where you still feel you are in the movie. That need that is fed. That constant need to be in movies. So, yes it is difficult to pick just one because every movie that I love has affected me, impacted me and changed me at some point. But I remember…. So with that in mind, you understand how difficult it was to pick my choice. The thing is, this movie didn’t come into my life until roughly two years ago when a date showed me it. The date didn’t end in epic romance but the love affair with this movie did.
Repo! The Genetic Opera. This is a movie that shouldn’t work but does. When I first watch it, I billed it as a guilty pleasure but I was very wrong too. See, the movie is utterly amazing. It is that mixture of campy fun, blood and guts and catchy music. The plot is amazing; in a future, synthetic organs are given after an epidemic hits the globe. However, if you don’t pay back that debt (this isn’t the NHS) the company behind it, GeneCo, will send repo men to rip the still beating heart from your chest. In the midst of this is Shiloh, a girl with a blood disease that keeps her locked away from her world. Nathan is caught between caring for her and meeting the commands of his bos Rotti Largo who happens to be the head of GeneCo and also dying. Nathan, you see, is a feared Repo Man and his secret won’t stay secret for long.
This movie is ace. This is the third time I’ve written about this; the first, the second better one and themore recent third time. Written by Darren Lyn Bousmann and Terence Zdunich, the songs, the acting and the bloodbath are all on cue. Together with Anthony Stewart Head they create a truly haunting character in Nathan that tips between evil and caring. That split and switch makes it a compelling view. The music is on point, singing as an opera but telling an intriguing tale.
The reason this movie impacted me in some way is because there would be no Cookie N Screen without it. It was the article that started to feel and direction of my obsession with films. I wouldn’t be into cult movies and I wouldn’t be into “guilty pleasures” if it weren’t for Repo! What’s more is that I have met friends along the way because of this song and I will strive to get it back in movies at a level such as Rocky Horror Picture Show. It certainly has the strength to. It re-ignited that passion for cinema and more importantly, fun cinema writing. It started off The Mistress of Cult and Guilty Pleasures. It made me, well, me. Repo! made me the writer I am today. It made me love and cherish cinema in all it’s dirty glory. It showed me that cinema can be have a killer soundtrack and open that door to the world of cult. There will never be a day where I don’t listen to the songs, I don’t quote the lines and I don’t feel the urge to watch it. It’s ones of my favourite movies (at least top five) and more people need to see it so we can resurge this movie.
Man on the Moon - Robbie Jones
I don’t think there’s a story I tell more often than the story of how I got into films. In fact, I’ve even told it on this site. But it’s a story I just don’t get bored of. The film that truly started this passion for me, was Milos Forman’s Man on the Moon.
Man on the Moon is the biopic of comedian Andy Kaufman, played by Jim Carrey and also starring Danny Devito and Courtney Love. At the time, my favourite person in the world was Jim Carrey. I didn’t care about films apart from his comedies. And whilst exploring Blockbuster that Friday night, looking for something to enjoy with my Subway and I saw his rubbery face on the bottom shelf. Didn’t know what the film was about, didn’t care either. Jim was the star and I was sold. It was unlike anything I had ever seen. It wasn’t just the fascinating story and beautiful direction that won me over. It was seeing this man, my idol, who made his name by pretending his arse could talk, turn into this fragile human being. It was incredible.
From then on, films became a passion. I started showing more interest in other genres and what not, and started watching lots of different films, even joining my schools’ Film Club. And here I am today, writing about film for IWG. And the fact is, if it wasn’t for Jim Carrey, I probably would’ve passed this film over completely. If it had been any other actor, I wouldn’t have cared. So I thank him every day for deciding to star in that film, because it changed my life and gave me something new to follow. And I have to wonder if the passion would ever start, or if I’d even be writing for this site if it wasn’t for Man on the Moon.
So thank you, Jim Carrey. Thank you, Milos Forman. Thank you, Man on the Moon.
I don’t think there’s a story I tell more often than the story of how I got into films. In fact, I’ve even told it on this site. But it’s a story I just don’t get bored of. The film that truly started this passion for me, was Milos Forman’s Man on the Moon.
Man on the Moon is the biopic of comedian Andy Kaufman, played by Jim Carrey and also starring Danny Devito and Courtney Love. At the time, my favourite person in the world was Jim Carrey. I didn’t care about films apart from his comedies. And whilst exploring Blockbuster that Friday night, looking for something to enjoy with my Subway and I saw his rubbery face on the bottom shelf. Didn’t know what the film was about, didn’t care either. Jim was the star and I was sold. It was unlike anything I had ever seen. It wasn’t just the fascinating story and beautiful direction that won me over. It was seeing this man, my idol, who made his name by pretending his arse could talk, turn into this fragile human being. It was incredible.
From then on, films became a passion. I started showing more interest in other genres and what not, and started watching lots of different films, even joining my schools’ Film Club. And here I am today, writing about film for IWG. And the fact is, if it wasn’t for Jim Carrey, I probably would’ve passed this film over completely. If it had been any other actor, I wouldn’t have cared. So I thank him every day for deciding to star in that film, because it changed my life and gave me something new to follow. And I have to wonder if the passion would ever start, or if I’d even be writing for this site if it wasn’t for Man on the Moon.
So thank you, Jim Carrey. Thank you, Milos Forman. Thank you, Man on the Moon.
Switchblade Romance - Jack Morris
First off, I would just like to say that every film has made an impact on me in some way or another, sometimes it is a positive impact and others it is a negative one; but a film has to be lacking in something completely to not be able to make some sort of impact on me.
I feel that the film that has made the most overall impact on me though is the 2003 French horror film, Switchblade Romance or Haute Tension if you want to use the original French title. Before this I had never really experienced a foreign horror film, I had seen non-English films, but had never truly appreciated one like this. It opened up a whole new genre of horror to me New French Extremism and since then I have become a fan of the genre; I know it isn’t to everyone’s taste, but each to their own at the end of the day!
Many people have argued that the ending of the film is a disappointment and let down, but people don’t say that about Fight Club. I am not going to go any further into the ending than that, because if you haven’t seen the film and the more I talk to people, the more I find out that no one has really heard of it, I don’t want to spoil anything for you. The plot simply follows two girls going to visit one of their parents and find themselves attacked by a mysterious man who follows them from a petrol station. Whilst this may not seem like the most gripping of horror films, in my opinion it is absolutely brilliant. Due to the fact that there is only about seven minutes of dialogue in the whole film, you don’t feel like you are watching a foreign movie; I know some people are put off by the idea of having to read subtitles whilst also watching a film, you are more engrossed in the action on the screen.
This film also introduced me to the film making pair of Alexandre Aja and Grégory Levasseur who went on to remake The Hills Have Eyes and were involved in the recent remake of Maniac. They are a brilliant duo in the world of horror.
I know that my choice of film is not going to be to everyone’s taste, but it is a film that will always stay close to heart, unless I have it ripped out of my chest by a switchblade wielding maniac!
First off, I would just like to say that every film has made an impact on me in some way or another, sometimes it is a positive impact and others it is a negative one; but a film has to be lacking in something completely to not be able to make some sort of impact on me.
I feel that the film that has made the most overall impact on me though is the 2003 French horror film, Switchblade Romance or Haute Tension if you want to use the original French title. Before this I had never really experienced a foreign horror film, I had seen non-English films, but had never truly appreciated one like this. It opened up a whole new genre of horror to me New French Extremism and since then I have become a fan of the genre; I know it isn’t to everyone’s taste, but each to their own at the end of the day!
Many people have argued that the ending of the film is a disappointment and let down, but people don’t say that about Fight Club. I am not going to go any further into the ending than that, because if you haven’t seen the film and the more I talk to people, the more I find out that no one has really heard of it, I don’t want to spoil anything for you. The plot simply follows two girls going to visit one of their parents and find themselves attacked by a mysterious man who follows them from a petrol station. Whilst this may not seem like the most gripping of horror films, in my opinion it is absolutely brilliant. Due to the fact that there is only about seven minutes of dialogue in the whole film, you don’t feel like you are watching a foreign movie; I know some people are put off by the idea of having to read subtitles whilst also watching a film, you are more engrossed in the action on the screen.
This film also introduced me to the film making pair of Alexandre Aja and Grégory Levasseur who went on to remake The Hills Have Eyes and were involved in the recent remake of Maniac. They are a brilliant duo in the world of horror.
I know that my choice of film is not going to be to everyone’s taste, but it is a film that will always stay close to heart, unless I have it ripped out of my chest by a switchblade wielding maniac!
Edward Scissorhands - Laura W.
This was difficult, ever so difficult. It was a toss up between Fantasia, which was the first film I ever saw in theatres and first film I ever saw period, or Edward Scissorhands. After mulling over it, I ended up choosing Edward Scissorhands.
The film was, and still is, one of Tim Burton’s finest pieces of work to date. Beautiful score, scenery, a brilliant cast, but to me, the most important thing was the brilliant story. The film had so many things I could relate to. I felt connected to the character of Edward, who is considered an outcast, simply because he’s different. Also portrayed, at times quite realistically, was the consequences of societal pressure, along with what happens when something isn’t the norm. What made the biggest impression on me about this film was that didn’t have a happy ending. I felt the ending more true to real life than of any other film that I’ve seen. Noone in the film really gets a happy ending. Edward must return to the mansion on the hill, never to be seen again, nor does he ever see Kim and her family again. Kim marries and has a family of her own. Kim has lived her life, still holding onto memories of a man she loved and will never see again.
Johnny’s portrayal of the title character gives a certain brilliance to the film, as a misfit invention, but also as a brilliant, “product” of an inventor. I cannot see anyone else playing the part. Throughout the film, Edward deals with so many different emotions - love, hurt, rejection, sadness, happiness, and Johnny brings a certain humanity to it. Winona Ryder brings a certain warmth, innocence, and life to the character of Kim.
I think, overall, what made an impact for me was that there were characters I could relate to, a story that I could understand and sympathize with, and the finished film was still human, while still being a story all at the same time. The film deals with love, happiness, loss and everything in between - everything that each human experiences in their lifetimes. Both Tim Burton and Danny Elfman (the composer of the amazing score) have said that Edward Scissorhands, for each of them, is their most personal work. It’s nice to finally have a film that is actually relatable, and that has such an impact.
This was difficult, ever so difficult. It was a toss up between Fantasia, which was the first film I ever saw in theatres and first film I ever saw period, or Edward Scissorhands. After mulling over it, I ended up choosing Edward Scissorhands.
The film was, and still is, one of Tim Burton’s finest pieces of work to date. Beautiful score, scenery, a brilliant cast, but to me, the most important thing was the brilliant story. The film had so many things I could relate to. I felt connected to the character of Edward, who is considered an outcast, simply because he’s different. Also portrayed, at times quite realistically, was the consequences of societal pressure, along with what happens when something isn’t the norm. What made the biggest impression on me about this film was that didn’t have a happy ending. I felt the ending more true to real life than of any other film that I’ve seen. Noone in the film really gets a happy ending. Edward must return to the mansion on the hill, never to be seen again, nor does he ever see Kim and her family again. Kim marries and has a family of her own. Kim has lived her life, still holding onto memories of a man she loved and will never see again.
Johnny’s portrayal of the title character gives a certain brilliance to the film, as a misfit invention, but also as a brilliant, “product” of an inventor. I cannot see anyone else playing the part. Throughout the film, Edward deals with so many different emotions - love, hurt, rejection, sadness, happiness, and Johnny brings a certain humanity to it. Winona Ryder brings a certain warmth, innocence, and life to the character of Kim.
I think, overall, what made an impact for me was that there were characters I could relate to, a story that I could understand and sympathize with, and the finished film was still human, while still being a story all at the same time. The film deals with love, happiness, loss and everything in between - everything that each human experiences in their lifetimes. Both Tim Burton and Danny Elfman (the composer of the amazing score) have said that Edward Scissorhands, for each of them, is their most personal work. It’s nice to finally have a film that is actually relatable, and that has such an impact.
The Lion King - Leah Stone
I don’t remember it completely, the first time I watched The Lion King. Now, it just seems to be a mass of colours of fast moving images, funny sounds coming from the square box in the corner. However old I was, I was very, very young. Perhaps not even able to speak yet. The present my Dad had bought me for my birth was a Simba cuddly toy. He could have got me a massive one, the size of me now, but I think it would have been rather difficult for a baby to cuddle.
The Lion King was my childhood. I watched it over and over and over again as I grew up, singing the catchy songs, Hakuna Matata became my motto, and besides, every child had an obsession with talking animals at some point in their life. I still have my Simba toy in a box in the loft, and I vow to never get rid of it.
From a cinematic perspective, instead of just looking at the emotional attachment, The Lion King is a great piece of animation, especially for the time it was created. The storyline was extremely emotional and enticing for a children’s film (yes, you all know the specific part I am talking about.) It has a wide variety of characters, from the hilarious Timon and Pumba, to the scary Scar and the boisterous Nala, there is a character to fit every type of person. And you cannot deny that there have been times in your life that you have suddenly broken out singing one of the incredibly catchy but well composed songs.
The Lion King was the first film I can actually remember watching. It is a film that will always make me happy when I watch it. I have so many memories revolving around it, so much happiness and laughter, that it would be a crime to not have this film on this list.
Hakuna Matata!
I don’t remember it completely, the first time I watched The Lion King. Now, it just seems to be a mass of colours of fast moving images, funny sounds coming from the square box in the corner. However old I was, I was very, very young. Perhaps not even able to speak yet. The present my Dad had bought me for my birth was a Simba cuddly toy. He could have got me a massive one, the size of me now, but I think it would have been rather difficult for a baby to cuddle.
The Lion King was my childhood. I watched it over and over and over again as I grew up, singing the catchy songs, Hakuna Matata became my motto, and besides, every child had an obsession with talking animals at some point in their life. I still have my Simba toy in a box in the loft, and I vow to never get rid of it.
From a cinematic perspective, instead of just looking at the emotional attachment, The Lion King is a great piece of animation, especially for the time it was created. The storyline was extremely emotional and enticing for a children’s film (yes, you all know the specific part I am talking about.) It has a wide variety of characters, from the hilarious Timon and Pumba, to the scary Scar and the boisterous Nala, there is a character to fit every type of person. And you cannot deny that there have been times in your life that you have suddenly broken out singing one of the incredibly catchy but well composed songs.
The Lion King was the first film I can actually remember watching. It is a film that will always make me happy when I watch it. I have so many memories revolving around it, so much happiness and laughter, that it would be a crime to not have this film on this list.
Hakuna Matata!
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