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.
The majority of women want to have children. You can argue that they don't have to, that there is a choice, and a lot of them are not cracked up to be mothers (not even one feminist wants to be closed in the kitchen). But there are millions of those who love their children, they do want them, anticipate them, and fear any complications that may occur. And without those women, the world wouldn't be the world, and we, human beings, wouldn't even be here. Sometimes, however, things don't go according to plan, and no one gets pregnant, taking these issues into account. How to deal with an unbelievable loss? How does it influence your relationship and family? How difficult is it to get back on track and go on with your life after an unexplainable trauma, and is it possible to forgive? A woman and her tragedy that so many of us can relate. Pieces of a Woman.
Life. Ranging from monotonous to exciting. Full of ups and downs. Falling in love and breaking up. Excitement and depression. Kindness and the ugly truth. Life goes by and before you know it, you fall into the trap of your routine and grow miserable. But if, quite depressed by your current daily chore of being alive, you found yourself in an almost magical trap without escape? What if every day you had to experience the same exact day over and over again? How would it affect you and would it change you for the better? All that life has to offer in the short space of one day and a lot of human self-reflection. Bill Murray at his best. Groundhog Day.
When you make plans, you have to take into account the unexpected. Especially, when big money is at stake and the world, in general, doesn't want to cooperate with you. Or you're simply unlucky. Getting money from the ransom and arranging your wife's kidnapping might not be a piece of cake. The same goes with hiring a group of totally not like-minded people, renting a room in an old lady's house, which seems to be a perfect starting point, and planning a casino robbery. Even though on paper it looks like an easy way to become a millionaire, the consequences might be tragic. Or hilarious. Coen brothers' humor and two plans for a better future which for some end in a disaster. Enjoy.
It's difficult to follow your dreams. You devote hours of training and preparation without any guarantee that it will go according to plan and you'll be appreciated. You have to have luck. And you have to learn how to get up once you fall with a bang. That requires courage. A group of young people in a ruthless world, stuck in their everyday jobs dreaming of something bigger than just a paycheck. How to deal with failure and rejection? How to dream when you're a woman learning that men can destroy you with the power of their choices and you cannot get by on your own without love? How to accept that time can only work against you? Who can you trust and do you have everything that will guarantee success? A cult movie from the 80s and still an inspiration for many girls who count on their talents to make their dreams come true. Flashdance.
While the majority of writers dream about instant success and leaving the legacy along the lines of Jane Austen, Emily Bronte, or the financial paradise of J.K. Rowling or Stephen King, a lot will face the bitter pill of professional drawbacks. And if your literary career is dying a slow and unappreciated death, can you use your talents for a bit different craft? Yes, winning literary prizes is glorious, but when your rent is unpaid, your pet is sick, and you have literally no money, how can you truly get by another day? What if entering the path of crime was a temporary fix to your problems? Based on a true story, hilarious, and real - a struggle of a writer who found a peculiar literary vocation. Can You Ever Forgive Me?
If there is someone you can associate with adventure, it's Indiana Jones. A scholar beloved by his students can also be the protagonist of a series of exciting films and a womanizer. And, as every complex character, he's bound to have some women issues and father and son issues to make him more of an ordinary human. Ordinary is not something he seeks, however. He is there for the unattainable - magic, legend, and power of religious artifacts. All the above are hidden, protected, and to reach them, you have to come up against some deadly challenges, fierce and dangerous competition, with a lot of stamina and self-wisdom involved. But is there a better adventure? At this point almost legendary, a series of entertaining and compelling films, and one lonely hero against the power of history: Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Temple of Doom, The Last Crusade, and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Enjoy.
We all come from somewhere: our current location, dream job and desired destination in the world of emigrants and immigrants cannot wipe out our roots. And these roots, entangling our toes, feet, and ankles, remind us of long-forgotten history, ancestry, and family. But in the melting pot of new traditions, Starbucks' culture, borrowed ideas, foreign fashion and languages isn't it good to go back to the square one and appreciate our own uniqueness, diversity and depth? Maybe family meetings are great lesson of being humble and in peace with oneself? All cultures, however, have their unwritten rules which need to be accepted. One of Chinese traditions is lying to someone who is about to die about their actual health. Knowing that someone dear to you is sick, can you really blend in and maintain a lie? The Farewell.
Seventeen is not really a dream come true age to get pregnant. That's right, you can glorify it in teen reality TV dramas about how teenage girls try to juggle growing up and motherhood, but you can have a better idea about your future and not really want a child in it (either at all or for now). But your country/state/politics might not help you to deal with your situation especially when you're left without the support of your family, friends, and a boyfriend. You might have to find money, travel miles, and take with you someone who you can trust the most. A Thelma-and-Louise-like journey with a contemporary problem. How to deal with the world when you're a young woman in the country full of religious fanatics and irrational paradoxes? How valuable does a real friendship turn out to be, and why so many of us, young women, will find it a heart-warming story about a heartbreaking life choice. Unpregnant.
We love the lives of the rich, beautiful, and successful. However, there are only a few of those who will have a chance to enjoy luxury lives without limits. The reality is far harsher. Some of us will at some point in our lives lose their jobs, witness the break-up of their marriages, and face the struggle with the system that doesn't respect the old, weak, sick, or in need. How humiliating can be acquiring help from officials, dealing with people's lack of imagination, unwillingness, and indifference? Why can it happen to us all, many of whom are just one salary away from being homeless, hungry, or in debt? Why providing for your children forces you to take up any profession, even one socially condemned? A story of an unusual friendship in need and one man's fight with the British social system: I am Daniel Blake.
We got used to male detectives: Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie's Hercules Poirot occupied our consciousness for decades. What we needed was someone new and fresh. And a woman. Because what was for decades ignored by others, was female intelligence, bravery, and the ability to notice what to man's eye is unseen. So wouldn't you like to engage in a detective mystery and a brave escape from the strict rules of conventions, tight structures of corsets in the male-dominated world of 19th century England? Enola Holmes is a smart aspiring detective and an example to follow for many girls growing up nowadays with access to Netflix. Based on a series of novels by Nancy Springer, Enola Holmes.
You can't be successful forever and in any profession, there will come younger, more talented and eager. But giving them a chance, might change your outlook on your career and allow you to go with the time dynamics. The values of each generation won't stand the test of time for the younger, just as video casettes were replaced by on demand streaming platforms. But wouldn't it be great to merge experience and reputation with the fresh perspective? Maybe this is what a true cooperation should look like in the changing times, allowing the young to learn and the old to get to know the new exciting stuff. Television is a great example of how experience supports novelty. What if two young women at the beginning of their careers were to face very stubborn established TV personalities and win their hearts? Late Night and Morning Glory. Enjoy.
Go fight the forces of nature and find out how small you are and how weak! Pride is our greatest sin; our belief in our unstoppable, unsinkable, undefeated - laughed by Mother Nature with countless casualties. And we tend to forget about it just as often as we are reminded. We established rules, which are here to curb our wild tempers but up there, far away at sea, those rules don't apply. Imagine a ship that sets sails to hunt for whales' oil. Imagine a monster whale that can destroy a human plan with one move of its tail. Imagine being lost, stranded, and alone: with death breathing into your neck and choices no one wants to make. Inspired by America's epic Moby Dick, a story of the sea, friendship, and a sense of duty to the core of human values. In the Heart of the Sea.
We've been obsessed with immortality for centuries. The fact that we believe in Jesus Christ's resurrection, reincarnation, and afterlife tells us that we, people, do fear death and the unknown beyond it, and, having gotten used to the life's charm, would like to prolong our stay on Earth as long as possible. This leads us to the pursuit of life eternal. Imagine people who never die, but heal from every wound and every excruciating unsurvivable crash. Imagine a team of such individuals who meet at some point in history to work together. What can be done with such potential? Is the mystery of immortality reserved for the few selected or should it be available to everybody? Is eternal life possible without pains of the hostile world or does it lead to loneliness and abandonment? And is there really something like a bottomless well of life energy or there's an end to everything? The Old Guard.
The human body doesn't have the limitless potential and godlike powers. Unfortunately, either the brain or the muscles have finite capacity and can't accomplish the impossible. For anything that should work we need teams. And maybe one Ethan Hunt alone (or if you prefer Tom Cruise alone) wouldn't be able to save his beloved from certain death or the world from collapsing, but with a team of qualified friends, gadgets and technology, a plan and a bit of luck, he might leave you speachless. At the end of the day, is there anything that the cinema can't create? The suspencion of disbelief can allow you to take part in a series of action films and grant you that no mission is impossible indeed. Enjoy.
You cannot treat Hollywood too seriously. At the end of the day, it's a business. Award-winning shows, gossip, scandals, blockbusters and flops, big money, bigger loves, even bigger falls, and sexual exploitation are the background for the hundreds of stories which are just stories with fictitious characters, decorations, and costumes. But what is great about it all is the fact that this business can actually laugh about itself in the way the best Hollywood magic allows. So can you make fun of all historical films, Robin Hood legends, Star Wars glory and the fear of Dracula? Of course, you can. With the naughtiness of a boy, who pokes fun at our naivety and far too serious creator's ideas. Mel Brooks had a gift for being such a naughty clever boy in the middle of Hollywood pompousness. History of the World, Part 1; Spaceballs, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and Dracula: Dead and Loving It. Honestly, so much fun!
What a better way to be entertained than to engage in a police case of chasing ruthless criminals, with the assassination of Elizabeth II, the President or guests at the Academy Awards in the background? Especially, when your protagonist, a policeman, Sergeant Frank Drebin is not a typical successful representative of the profession. Full of unbelievably bizarre situations, hilarious serendipities, no respect for any kind of authority, be it power, age, and good taste, comes a series of films which after over thirty years can make you laugh and find the situations relatable. At the end of the day, the good guy wins it all along with a beautiful woman, so no time wasted. The Naked Gun.
There are very few stories that are known by practically everybody in the World, and truthfully so, they deserve to be. Whether you're in your seventies or in your teens, you are familiar with Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, R2D2, C3P0, Darth Vader, Chewbacca, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padme Amidala, Rey, Kylo Ren, Yoda, and many many more. George Lucas did something unthinkable for the human race. He created a myth, not even claiming to base it on reality, and amassed a cult following of willing, younger and younger fans. He provided children and adults with game ideas, Halloween costumes, and dreams. He launched careers, made personalities alive, inspired toys and gadgets. But also, he left a saga of unforgettable, funny, original characters who are willing to stand up against the forces of evil. Nine films in the saga, spanning from 1977, additional stories and TV series, hours of entertainment: endless possibilities to become a fan yourself. And can there be a greater Force? Star Wars.
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.
The most frustrating thing in life is to run into a stumbling block of your ambition. But some things are just so difficult to overcome. Money, class, background, education - these things you won't easily acquire and there are no shortcuts. But if once rejected, you badly needed to be accepted back? What can you resort to in order to make your plan work and the girl of your dreams like and trust you back? Is there a limit to your scruples or Machiavelli was right and "The end justifies the means"? How a boy with no money and prospects tried to make it in the city of Warsaw. The Hater.
