Film ► The Bare Necessities – KHI Recommends!

[Silh]

Pop culture enthusiasts! What media have you been consuming? What do you think? Is it something we absolutely shouldn't go without? Tell us!

This new thread will now implement a "three reasons" system. Rather than let everyone take turns spouting off trite garbage, everyone making a recommendation is now required to construct their opinion and provide three reasons that must be briefly elaborated upon as to why a piece of media begs to be seen or heard, preceded by a synopsis. Think of this as your soapbox. If two others agree with your recommendation, it will find its way onto the list here. (Breaking Bad will be the only exception for painfully obvious reasons.)

Film


TV
Breaking Bad (crime drama)
​

 

[Deleted member 36435]

[video=youtube_share;xZCiyw1ZfB0]https://youtu.be/xZCiyw1ZfB0[/video]

TV ► Fargo (Black comedy, drama)


"Aw, heck."

In January 2006, a drifter named Lorne Malvo passes through Bemidji, Minnesota and influences put-upon insurance salesman Lester Nygaard with his malice and violence. Meanwhile, rookie Deputy Molly Solverson and Gus Grimly team up together to solve a series of murders that they believe may be linked to Malvo and Nygaard.

1. It blends comedy and drama together. Flawlessly.

Fargo will have you laughing and gasping several times throughout an episode. Often at the same time. Many shows will just throw comic relief in using characters that only exist to serve comic relief. Fargo finds humor in things that it really shouldn't. No, this isn't "make fun of abortions" humor but have you ever seen a murderous sociopath do a complete 180 in order to execute a hit on someone, turning themselves into an overly charismatic dentist?

2. A clear and focused story.

Fargo is not a show that suffers from having too many loose ends that it needs to tie up in it's season run (truedetectiveseason2) and it does not expand the world beyond it's means. All characters fulfill some purpose and the story is given clear resolution.

3. Glenn Howerton / Key & Peele guest star

They also advance the story. I guess I'll expand on this and just say it boasts an amazing cast. Billy Bob Thornton, Martin Freeman, Bob Odenkirk, etc. It's a real all-star cast.

 

[Grono]

[video=youtube;FwNfsLwQBhM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwNfsLwQBhM[/video]

Secret of NIMH is the first film from Don Bluth Productions, and an excellent film that is a testament to the fact that animation isn't only for children.

1. Stunning animation

Don Bluth was an ex-Disney animator, and picked up this project when Disney rejected it and he left the company. The animation is absolutely stunning, perfectly fitting the mood of each situation and putting the mysterious atmosphere that this film is cloaked in around everything, never expecting what creative thing you'll see next and never being able to anticipate the next visuals you'll be introduced to.

2. A cohesive plot that lets you come to your own conclusion

The film isn't necessarily a narrative that's jumbled and convoluted the whole way through; it is, indeed, a simple narrative that paints you a picture from beginning to end. However, the implications that the ending implies, with Mrs. Brisby victorious in her efforts to raise the block from the mud, leave unclear answers that ensure that viewers will be able to come to their own conclusions while viewing this movie. This, in turn, makes it feel like you've accomplished something by viewing this movie and coming to your own conclusion, not that they told you a clear answer or it was heavily implied that this was exactly what they meant.

3. Interesting characters on top of the gripping narrative

The inclusion that they decided to focus on Mrs. Brisby, the widowed mouse to Jonathan Brisby, is an interesting enough narrative, painting not how Jonathan saved the rats, but how his wife had to deal with his death. This, on top of the narrative with watching and protecting the kids and the meeting with the Great Owl, make the characters alone the reason to watch this movie. Also the Brutus scene is just the bomb <3

 

[Emperor]

[video=youtube;8ixEWrTLiZg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ixEWrTLiZg[/video]

TV ► Game of Thrones (fantasy, drama)

Game of Thrones is an adaptation of the A song of Ice and Fire book series. The show follows an ensemble cast of characters who are caught up in the struggle between several noble family's fighting for control over the mythical land of Westeroes.

1. Suspense - The show tackles darker themes such a massacres, torture, and rape. Characters you think you'll follow till the end of the tale may just end up dying deaths more gruesome than most of the show's Redshirts. You're on the edge of seat every time they're put into dire situation.

2. Characters and Plot - That's another thing, you will be picking a favorite character, even with having the insight of knowing they might not last long. They're just so interesting, not to mention the drama that these characters find themselves in is simply enthralling. Also, if you're a fan of them, the show does a really good job of adapting the books.

3. Visual Effects - Every episode feels like you're watching a movie. The camera work is awesome, and the locations match that of a medieval setting without feeling at all phony. The actors are also awesome at bringing both the characters and world to life.

 

[Silh]

I may not agree with Thornton's Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actor (he's been playing the same character for diddlying years), but Fargo's brilliant script certainly carried him. One of the best shows of 2014. +1

I'll add NIMH to my backlog. I've never seen it so I won't pretend to know what I'm talking about, but I do know of its impact. If you're like me, you've at least had to have seen An American Tail or The Land Before Time. Without NIMH, we wouldn't have either.

I'm reluctant to second GoT, the show, but I'll at least give it a nod. It's a good introduction to Westeros and the known world, yeah, but the books are truly where it's at.

 

[Ophan]

[video=youtube;HgbXWt8kM5Q]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgbXWt8kM5Q[/video]
Directed by Tom Moore, also accredited for "The Secret of Kells"

Ben, a young Irish boy, and his little sister Saoirse, a girl who can turn into a seal, go on an adventure to free the faeries and save the spirit world.

*Animation
First off the animation is stunning alongside the fact that it's very simplistic, and going off the trailer i posted above, this would have been the first thing you would have been captivated by. Easy and yet pleasing to the eyes, and fluid in its motion.

*Plot
The plot carefully unfolds from reality to fantasy. To elaborate on that, early in this film gives you a depressing reality of a family coping the loss of a mother/daughter/wife after the birth of her daughter. However the back story relating to the mother and daughter is a mystery until further into the story where celtic fantasy becomes more prevalent.

*Mythology
If you're into Celtic Mythology/The religion of the iron age, there are sub stories that string along the main plot which can distract a little, but all the celtic mythological stories are as endearing as the main story itself.

 

[Grono]

[video=youtube;seMwpP0yeu4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seMwpP0yeu4[/video]
Although not an original idea from the get-go, Disney-Pixar's Inside Out stands out as an amazingly relatable story that not only knows how to tickle your funny bone, but also knows how to touch your heart in more ways than one.

1. The cast for the emotions and the family is perfectly picked out, from Lewis Black as Anger to Amy Poehler as Joy. Not only does this cast offer an amazing amount of creativity and laughter, but they also compliment the idea that they all want Riley to be happy despite what emotions they encompass. They're not just one-dimensional characters that try to control Riley, not at all; they all have the same goal, despite what their general disposition is, and these personalities serve to entertain and enrich the experience of the audience rather than hinder it.

2. The humor and the drama balance out perfectly. Whether you want an audience-wide cry scene on par with Toy Story 3 or a ROFL scene whenever a gum jingle is brought up in this movie, this movie delivers on the pathological side of the human spirit perfectly.

3. It is a beautiful narrative that speaks a lot for humanity, cinema, and storytelling in general. From the underlying message of having to let the past go to the struggles that Riley, an average 11 year old girl thrown away from her home, struggling to fit in and understand the new world and emotions following her transition to this new life, the story speaks to the entire audience in a way that will melt the coldest of hearts. From the death scene with *insert name here* to the heartbreaking cry scene that *insert name here* has at the end of the movie, this movie easily turns out as a mature, fun movie that will definitely end up as Pixar's most beautiful film to date.

 

[Nayru's Love]

[video=youtube;7d_jQycdQGo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d_jQycdQGo[/video]

1. Running around a little less than 2 hours, Whiplash is a short but sweet film; it's such a great choice to watch with just about anyone on movie night. But it's just so downright mesmerizing, start to finish. You have two central characters, one of them getting an Oscar and Golden Globe for his performance, and their fascinating yet chaotic chemistry they have.

2. When doing a film that draws from jazz culture, the soundtrack has a lot of expectations to be filled; it certainly is versatile, favorite track so far being Caravan. Fast songs, catchy songs, smooth songs, mesmerizing songs, crazy songs...There's plenty of emotions to be captured just by the soundtrack.

3. This story gets uncomfortably dark often; almost every character in this film is lives a tortured life, in some form or another. Yet, all that pain is far below surface level. And that's one of the trademarks of a great cast.

 

[Laeril]

[video=youtube;A8yjNbcKkNY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8yjNbcKkNY[/video]

King Arthur and his knights embark on a low-budget search for the Grail, encountering many, very silly obstacles.

*The Cast
This movie has the Monty Python gang in a multitude of roles besides King Arthur and his knights, many managing to be quite distinct and memorable, such as Tim the Enchanter, the Black Knight, and Dennis. The late Graham Chapman plays King Arthur with an air of seriousness despite the rather silly movie he's in, which just serves to make it even funnier.

*The Budget
Or rather, how well the budget is used. When the crew found out they couldn't afford horses, they went with the coconuts, which just makes it funnier in my opinion. Sure the film is low-budget, but half the time you are too busy laughing to notice that half the castles they visit are just differing shots of the same castle. Or maybe you do notice, but are still too busy laughing to really care.

*The Humor
What can you say about the humor of this movie, or Monty Python in general, that hasn't already been said? It's surreal and unconventional. You'd expect the guards to ask where Arthur and Patsy's horses are, but instead they get into a discussion on the coconuts. Why would you ask the dead collector to take a not-yet-dead relative? And what kind of enchanter is named Tim, anyway? Sure, we expect some level of surreal non-sequitur's in today's comedy, but that's only because Monty Python paved the way for it.

If you haven't seen it, go do so. If you have seen it (and it's quite likely you have if you're a native English speaker), see it again. Maybe this time you'll actually go to Sweden to see the moose.*

*We apologize for that ending comment. The person responsible has been sacked.