If there could be anything more exciting than a sequel that actually works! The mix of freedom offered by the skies, Tom Cruise, with his naughty sex appeal, and a story about a friendship that shaped a brilliant pilot for years to come, returned even better and bolder. Top Gun was a dream of 1986 with a taste of adventure, slightly forbidden romance, and love for the air force. 2022 brought us a slightly older Maverick and a young brave cast who were to conquer the world in their F18s. No wonder the cinemas have been packed with viewers of various ages and sexes in awe of possibly the best film of 2022. A jewel of the film industry that can bring experiences of a few selected to us, billions; the values of friendship, bravery, and comraderie we can all relate to, and let's be honest, loads and loads of fun. Top Gun and Top Gun Maverick, just enjoy.
In the celebrity culture, everyone secretly wishes to be someone else. To experience life in a different way, to be successful and recognized. There are very few accomplished hitting the headlines of gossip magazines and millions of those who buy them and follow the latest gossip.
But if you could have a chance to become someone else for a short period of time and live the life that was not given to you? What if you just opened a door to another person's mind and body? Isn't that an appealing concept? To this day, a cult movie and an idea so original that no one had yet surpassed it. A failed puppeteer finding a door to John Malkovich and how this influenced those around him. Enjoy.
But if you could have a chance to become someone else for a short period of time and live the life that was not given to you? What if you just opened a door to another person's mind and body? Isn't that an appealing concept? To this day, a cult movie and an idea so original that no one had yet surpassed it. A failed puppeteer finding a door to John Malkovich and how this influenced those around him. Enjoy.
Tell us the future, we ask now and again the fortune tellers, whom we partially trust, holding our hopes higher than our reason. If The Jetsons' cartoon reality of video conferences, internet schooling, application shopping, and robotic machines doing our kitchen chores came true, other scenarios might also turn into reality. The world consisting of humans and androids is not so difficult to imagine. The world cut to fit your size in terms of your cravings and wildest dreams is a must if we want millions appeased and satisfied. Finally, the world where everything is controlled and regulated, as we tend to colonize what is yet uncolonized and it seems that in time we just make this control stricter. Science, technology, and social rules, however, won't wipe out the inborn need to belong and layers of self-consciousness, posing constant questions about identity. And that will make you rebel regardless of the times you live in. Two films thirty-five years apart, proving that we're not there yet. Let's wait for the year 2049 or another film. Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049.
Old money and new money. Getting inside the circles of the super-rich is equally strange as immigrating into a new country with a different language and culture. You want to fit in. You want to be respected. But will having enough guarantee you the love of a woman spoilt by her upbringing? Or will you find yourself inside a messy affair and an even messier marriage? The 20s with their abundance of women, alcohol, and parties and one Francis Scott Fitzgerald enabling a reunion of lost lovers. One of the greatest love stories of our times and a spectacle to watch. You choose, Robert Redford and Mia Farrow from 1974 or Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan from 2013. Two different takes on one love. Enjoy.
The definition of success is different for everyone. Swimming in the sea of financial sharks, owning a great apartment, and enjoying the pleasures of a big city is considered a great achievement for some but, possibly, you need to redefine things in life. Going back to your roots gives you an opportunity to climb not the career ladder but expand your own personal space which is way more horizontal. Beautiful Italy in the background, a house to renovate, a few friendships to build, and a romance to start. Yes, you can have a good money year, but also A Good Year, and the latter is far more worthy. Enjoy.
You can live your quiet, uneventful life, not bothering anyone, getting in trouble, or aiming too high in life or career opportunities. But trouble tends to find you. What if you were mistaken for a millionaire with a reckless wife and thrown into a crime you had no intention of getting involved in? What if someone pissed on your carpet, and while having no other grudges, this one was offensive enough to trigger your anger? What if you were called like someone else, and this surname made you entangled in a weird family situation and placed among some greedy enemies? The Big Lebowski. When a guy just can't be left on his own. Enjoy.
In our teenage dreams, we are great explorers and achievers, independent artists, and freelance photographers. Then, even if we pursue our passion and complete our dream education, the reality comes back to us with the necessity of having odd jobs to make ends meet. Our parents discourage us from being archeologists, singers, actors, presenting the opulence of life for lawyers, doctors, and businessmen. But to the few, the gift of a vocation has been given along with unprecedented opportunities to find something yet undiscovered. And for the sake of history and memory, it's worth pursuing the passion and literally dig deeper. Based on a true story, one of the greatest archeological discoveries of modern times, and a few fates entangled just before the doom of war. At times like these, it's even more worthy to be true to oneself in terms of work, money, relationships, and love.
What is our sinful nature the most attracted to? Beauty, money, power, exploration. All this - the best that the world has to offer - you can see in Ian Fleming's series of novels, which have been turned into a series of blockbuster films. There isn't a person in the world that doesn't know the 007 agent of Her Majesty's Service, handsome, a bit cynical but sexy, James Bond. The impersonation of masculinity and idol of every man. Since the 60s, all the newest technological devices, the most beautiful women, bizarre and ecstatic action moments, and breathtaking places on Earth (especially requiring money to get to) have been given to everybody in a form of a two-hour long gift. And it is difficult not to enjoy what has been given. The luxury was granted, the thrill of a fight with good and evil always present, real deaths guaranteed our attention, and out-of-this-world goddesses left us, both men and women, obsessed for years. Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig carried on their shoulders the charm and effectiveness of the contemporary hero, adding their pieces to the puzzle of our perception, and making it difficult to resist. Still, so much fun to watch, with anticipation of every following film, personal favorites, and the epitome of boyish dreams and adult entertainment. Enjoy.
It's funny how as teenagers we dream about our ideal future and as young adults, we tend to plan our lives, marriages, children, careers, but these dreams and plans turn up to have little to do with reality. But can you really plan these things? When all your friends are dating guys their own age can you expect to fall in love with a much older man? Can you dream about being someone's stepmother? Do you picture yourself as a second or third wife? Do you take into account that fairy tales happen usually only in fairy tales and the prince is just a regular guy with a lot of kingdom-related problems and a wandering eye for ladies of the court? What if you (realistically assessing your personal life) decided on single motherhood, but life got in a way? And if you aren't happy with the result, can you really plan a way out? Maggie's Plan.
Every epoch has its do's and don'ts. And if you're set firmly in the society and wish to fit in the norms for the reasons of career and financial security, your personal feelings and happiness might be completely disregarded. What if a man on the verge of getting married met a woman who redefined his idea of love and passion? Would he follow his heart, abandoning what he had and deep down didn't want and chasing after what he really desired? Or would he conform for the sake of security and reputation? In every epoch, there are women more independent and scandalous than the accepted norm. Not all marriages of love survive and not all liaisons out of reason are unhappy, which makes the choice even harder. But despite the glamorous clothes, society's balls and slightly outdated lifestyle, is the situation any less different than what can happen to you at present? The Age of Innocence.
What can you do for love? Can you change your bad habits and turn back on the route to righteousness? Can you repent for your sins and save a life that was doomed to be lost? Can you give a taste of life for those who have lost it kept in the bubble of protection? When the cruelest of hearts are melted by the purest of lives and set to fight demons, this is when magic arrives. Remember when the Beast met Bella and transformed back to the Prince? Now, this is a different story; this time a conman meets terminally sick girl and falls in love. An equally enchanting fairy journey of loss and atonement, quite underrated, Winter's Tale.
Can one coincidental meeting on a train outline your fate for the years to come? Can one tragedy put a break to happiness and family bliss? How complicated is a mother-daughter relationship, especially when the roles reverse and the younger has to take care of the older one? Why do you get disappointed with both your parents and children and all are individuals with their own needs and flaws? A mother in search of a daughter and a story about the woman's growth and lots of self-seeking. Julieta.