Let’s Go To The Movies!

By Luismari Ramirez, Staff writer
February 21, 2020

Movies are a source of entertainment that bring a variety of people together. From adaptations of books and comics to new and original screenplays, there is something for everyone. Even something that was considered to be “geeky” ten years ago can prove to have a cultural impact, such as the wide success of “Avengers: Endgame”, which grossed nearly 3 billion dollars, and became a staple in pop-culture.

My Favorite Movie

There are many reasons why someone may fall in love with a movie. My favorite movie by far is “Goodfellas”, based on the book “Wiseguy” by Nicholas Pileggi. Personally, I became enamored by the characters and the camera work in the movie.

It tells the story of Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) and his life in the mob, covering his relationship with his wife Karen Hill (Lorraine Bracco) and his mob partners Jimmy Conway and Tommy DeVito. He works very hard to advance himself through the ranks and enjoys his life of money and luxury but is oblivious to the horror that he causes. Overall, it is a feel-good movie that somehow manages to get gritty and dark yet maintain its high energy throughout.

I also love “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” because of its scenic shots and how it manages to transition between greenscreen and real landscapes. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo, (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Chewbacca face attacks from the Imperial forces on the ice planet Hoth. While Han and Leia escape in the Millennium Falcon, Luke travels to Dagobah in search of Yoda who helps Luke survive when the dark side of the Force beckons him into the ultimate duel with Darth Vader.

I’m sure most of you know what Stars Wars is but for those who don’t, “The Empire Strikes Back” continues the adventure where “A New Hope” left off. The original “Star Wars” trilogy managed to change the film industry, by kicking off a series that would change the meaning of the term blockbuster, revolutionize special effects, and bring modern movie merchandising to the world.

My Favorite Genre

With such a wide offering of genres such as action, adventure, romance, crime, horror, comedy, and fantasy, there is some kind of movie for everyone. My favorite genre is crime as it mostly has both action and adventure while still being grounded in reality.

A classic crime movie I enjoy watching is “Pulp Fiction.” It stars Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis, John Travolta and follows the lives of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster and his wife, and a pair of diner bandits whose lives intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.

If I’m not watching crime movies, I tend to linger and watch movies whose genres overlap. One I really enjoy watching is “The Matrix.” It’s a mix of fantasy, sci-fi, and action, and stars the legendary Keanu Reeves as Neo who believes that Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), an elusive figure, can answer his question — What is the Matrix? Neo is contacted by Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), who leads him into an underworld where he meets Morpheus. They fight a brutal battle for their lives against vicious intelligent secret agents. It is a truth that could cost Neo something more precious than his life.

Recent Favorite

More recently, the best movie I’ve seen in the last few months is “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” The story is about actor Rick Dalton (Leonardo Di Caprio) who gained fame and fortune by starring in a 1950s television Wester, but is now struggling to find meaningful work in Hollywood. He spends most of his time drinking and pal-ing around with Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), his easygoing best friend and longtime stunt double. Rick also happens to live next door to a filmmaker and budding actress whose futures will forever be altered by members of the Manson Family.

I like this movie because of Leonardo Di Caprio’s performance as Rick Dalton and how it presents his life story. The action is also well directed, and how it has a handful of cameos and references to old Hollywood.