vivian334
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Throughout the history of cinema, the sources of inspiration for the best films have varied greatly. Some are based on real-life occurrences, such as documentaries or dramatizations. Others have been inspired by graphic novels, epics, and other written works. They can also be wholly original, products of the writer’s personal experiences and their unique take on life.
Desperado
The sequel to director Robert Rodriguez’ debut film, El Mariachi, this film sees the return of Antonio Banderas as El Mariachi – a gun-slinging guitarist who is bent on revenge. Desperado is a great mix of legendary music, flawless acting, and phenomenal storytelling. This film has become a cult classic, alongside the other two entries in the franchise. Though this film ended up getting mixed reviews, many critics praised its stunning visuals and novel themes. The most notable aspect of this film is the music, however. Mostly performed by Los Lobos, a Los Angeles-based rock band, the score also includes music from Dire Straits and Carlos Santana (among other artists). In fact, the rendition of ‘Mariachi Suite’ by Los Lobos ended up winning the Grammy for the Best Pop Instrumental Performance at the 1995 awards.
Toy Story 3
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
When you think of swashbuckling films from the 21st century, the first series to come to mind will undoubtedly be Pirates of the Caribbean. Starring Johnny Depp as the usually-drunk, always-comedic pirate Captain Jack Sparrow, the series has received a lot of positive reviews over its years of existence. The second film in the series, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, was no exception. It followed Jack Sparrow, alongside Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) as they attempt to find the chest that contains the heart of Davy Jones, terror of the seas. The record-setting film was (at the time) the fastest film to gross $1 billion worldwide. It also received several Oscar nominations – including Best Art Direction, Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing. It ended up winning one Academy Award for the Best Visual Effects.
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
Arguably the best high fantasy film ever created, The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King was the third and final installment in the trilogy directed by Peter Jackson. The film was based on the second half of the original novel by J.R.R. Tolkien (that is, the second and third volumes). It boasted stunning visual effects, perfect casting, and stayed quite faithful to the source material. This film was incredibly popular when it was released. In fact, it remains the 17th highest-grossing film, even fifteen years after it first came out. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King is most famous for winning every Academy Award it was nominated for – including Best Picture, which was the only time a fantasy film has won this award. It also won ten other awards, making it one of the three films tied for winning the most Oscars (including Ben-Hur and Titanic).
Desperado
The sequel to director Robert Rodriguez’ debut film, El Mariachi, this film sees the return of Antonio Banderas as El Mariachi – a gun-slinging guitarist who is bent on revenge. Desperado is a great mix of legendary music, flawless acting, and phenomenal storytelling. This film has become a cult classic, alongside the other two entries in the franchise. Though this film ended up getting mixed reviews, many critics praised its stunning visuals and novel themes. The most notable aspect of this film is the music, however. Mostly performed by Los Lobos, a Los Angeles-based rock band, the score also includes music from Dire Straits and Carlos Santana (among other artists). In fact, the rendition of ‘Mariachi Suite’ by Los Lobos ended up winning the Grammy for the Best Pop Instrumental Performance at the 1995 awards.
Toy Story 3
The third entry in the famous Toy Story franchise was quite well-received. Critics mentioned stellar performances by the voice actors and great writing in many of their reviews. It also grossed over $1 billion at the box office – making it the highest-grossing film of 2010. It also was nominated for five Oscars and ended up winning Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song. Toy Story 3 saw the return of fan favorites Buzz Lightyear, Sheriff Woody, and the rest of the crew of toys. This film also had a marked thematic departure from the fare that had made up the previous entries in the series, focusing on more mature themes. It was a perfect and honest blend of humor and emotion. Critics all across the globe praised the way that it portrayed impermanence, friendship, and love in a way that was easily-accessible to the younger generation.Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
When you think of swashbuckling films from the 21st century, the first series to come to mind will undoubtedly be Pirates of the Caribbean. Starring Johnny Depp as the usually-drunk, always-comedic pirate Captain Jack Sparrow, the series has received a lot of positive reviews over its years of existence. The second film in the series, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, was no exception. It followed Jack Sparrow, alongside Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) as they attempt to find the chest that contains the heart of Davy Jones, terror of the seas. The record-setting film was (at the time) the fastest film to gross $1 billion worldwide. It also received several Oscar nominations – including Best Art Direction, Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing. It ended up winning one Academy Award for the Best Visual Effects.
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
Arguably the best high fantasy film ever created, The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King was the third and final installment in the trilogy directed by Peter Jackson. The film was based on the second half of the original novel by J.R.R. Tolkien (that is, the second and third volumes). It boasted stunning visual effects, perfect casting, and stayed quite faithful to the source material. This film was incredibly popular when it was released. In fact, it remains the 17th highest-grossing film, even fifteen years after it first came out. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King is most famous for winning every Academy Award it was nominated for – including Best Picture, which was the only time a fantasy film has won this award. It also won ten other awards, making it one of the three films tied for winning the most Oscars (including Ben-Hur and Titanic).
