My Neighbor Totoro

Although My Neighbor Totoro (Tonari no Totoro in its original language, Japanese) is a children's movie, it is especially eerie and intense to be one. It tells the story, through beautiful animation and fitting music, of two young girls who find a spectacular creature living in the woods behind their house. The creature helps them through a tough time--their mother is sick in the hospital. The movie is wonderfully beautiful and great for all ages.

Harold and Maude

Harold and Maude is an interesting love story, and a film that was of great influence for its time. The music of the film is done entirely by Cat Stevens, and fits the film perfectly. The movie shows the lightheartedness of the period (the early 70s). The dry humor and subtle facial expressions were new to films at that time, and were done perfectly by actor Bud Cort. This movie is touching and funny, with a wonderfully fitting soundtrack.

West Side Story

West Side Story is a classic story, retold in modern times with amazing music and dancing. It is the story of Romeo and Juliet, set into 1950's in New York. The "families" are gangs of Americans and Puerto Ricans, the Jets and the Sharks respectively. The love story is one that we all know and can appreciate. The wonderful, jazzy music and the amazing dance moves take the whole thing up a notch and make it that much more interesting and intense. The acting in this movie, by Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer and Russ Tamblyn.

WALL-E

WALL-E, one of the newest films by Disney Pixar studios, is innovative, creative and can be appreciated by all ages. It shows an Earth ruined by our greed and laziness, covered in too much trash to pick up or live on. All of the humans now live in space, getting fatter and fatter and lazier and lazier. The movie, with the aid of the most adorable Disney character ever, shows us how bad life here can become if we continue the way we are. This movie is touching for all ages. I personally have watched it with both 5 year olds and 57 year olds, both of whom loved it.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, directed and co-written by Michel Gondry (with Charlie Kaufman), is a story that most people can relate to, with elements and superb acting that keep it interesting. The relationship shown in the film is quirky, intense, and very real, with two characters who are not necessarily movie-star perfect. When Jim Carrey's character decides to erase his ex-girlfriend Clementine (Kate Winslet) from his memory, in a way that seems ALMOST believable, the story becomes more interesting, as does the cinematography. The scenes where the mind-erasers are erasing Clementine are unbelievably brilliant and touching as Joel, our main character, realizes he doesn't want to forget her at all. This movie is beautiful, colorful, and touching in its reality.