What is your favorite movie?

a . West Side Story .b. Ben Hur .c. Blade Runner .d. Star Trek ll : the Wrath of Khane. A Clockwork Orange .f. War of the Worlds, george pal movie .g. The Shining , jack nicholsonh. 12 Angry Men .i. On Golden Pond .j. Dune , the sci fi channel version .k. Stir Crazy                                          rkallao@aol.com

OK, I don’t think there is a greatest movie of all time or 100 greatest movies of all time because a big part of that is opionion. But here are a few movies I love:

West Side Story-An incredible story of gang warfare and true love set in 1950’s New York City. This movie said so much about racism and was truely groudbreaking. It really can be called the greatest musical of all time.

Schindler’s List-The list is and absolute good. The list is life. This is the brutal tale of the holocost and how one man risked everything to do the right thing. This movie inspired me more than any other. At the end when the Jews lay rocks on Schindler’s grave in the form of a cross I just get goosebumps.

On the Waterfront-Directors today need to see this movie to know that you don’t have to put swearing and violence in a movie to make people understand the mafia. A great work of art about a thug who has a concience and risks his life to do the right thing. One of the most triumphant moments in the cinema is when Terry Malloy yells, “I’m glad what I done to you!” to Johnny Friendly.

E.T.-By far the most inspiring Sci Fi movie of all time. E.T. touches my heart.

Doctor Zhivago-It’s an absolute outrage that this masterpiece didn’t make the list. A timeless love story about a man who’s heart is torn between two women. An epic masterpiece.

Rebel Without a Cause-A movie that kids everywhere can relate to. One of the first movies that doesn’t make teenage kids the “bad guys” James Dean, Sal Mineo, and Natalie Wood give incredible performances. Quite possibly the greatest ensamble cast of all time. I just love this movie because I can really relate with it.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington-An incredible triumphant and inspiring movie.

It’s a Wonderful Life-This is the reason we watch movies!

Saving Private Ryan-No one but Spielberg could have made such and inspiring movie about WWII. Epic and incredible. Tom Hanks is our finest living actor.

Lawrence of Arabia-Epic all over! A tremendously beautiful movie. Peter O’ Toole is the only person that could pull off T. E. Lawrence like that. This movie might be the climax of American Cinema. Incredible for it’s time and ours.

Apollo 13-Inspirational!

Love Story-Heart Breaking

by Jordan Nichols

This is a classical masterpiece whose emotionally moving songs were etched into the hearts of that generation that saw it. “Somewhere” is not only the fervent expression of this story’s two central characters, Tony and Maria, in their plight; it is a song of hope for every person who is somehow caught in a hostile situation.

The second singing of “Tonight,” where the two main character groups (Tony-Maria, and the two street gangs) each sing — at the same time — their respective “Tonight” songs, is obviously one of the most excellent theatrical feats ever put on the screen.

There is though something negative that needs to be pointed out: The explicit scene of Tony and Maria in bed. It is totally unnecessary (it is obvious in the story that Tony and Maria are virtually husband and wife and fully living together), and it greatly lowers the status of what is otherwise a great motion picture.

There is significant violence and even murder shown. However, on the contrary, this is all right for the whole showing of the terrible hatred and violence is in order to fully condem it. Thus, the moral message of the production dramatically rings out from beginning to end: people must stop hating each other! This forceful condemnation of the problem of hatred for no reason is really a major theme in the teachings of all religions.

And it is something that we can apply to our own lives. We are probably not in a position to stop two street gangs from fighting; we certainly are not in a position to stop two countries from making a war. But in our daily activities, in our numerous interactions with the people around us, we can and we must and we are obligated to totally stop all of the petty squables and resentments that so often build up and ruin relationships.

In a mock conversation that the Anglo street gang has with a policeman in the “Gee, Officer Krupke” song, the gang member exclaims:
“My Daddy beats my Mommy,
My Mommy clobbers me, . . .
My sister wears a mustache,
My brother wears a dress.
Goodness Gracious, that’s why I’m a mess!”
(http://www.westsidestory.com/lyrics_krupke_movie.php, accessed on July 12, 2007)

So here is a clear statement that gender switching perversions are very horrible. They can terrorize a child and cause him or her to be mentally disturbed just as much as the torment of experiencing physical violence between parents and from parents to children mentioned at the beginning of the stanza.

Wow, it is wonderful that the producers of WSS were able to say this. Today in 2007, with all of the homosexual rights and transsexual rights that have been forced on the world, if someone were to make such a remark, he or she would be called a homophobic and maybe even thrown in jail for a discrimination crime!

West Side Story is ny favorite film of all time because it has everything:
action, music, dance, romance,l suspense, and a tear-jerking ending!

There are so many to choose from, but this is my all-time favorite. Loved the music!

The story based on Romeo and Juliet is excellent, also the singing and dancing is beyond compare. Richard Beymer and Natalie Wood are superb.

It has everything for everybody. The most beautiful score/soundtrack in any movie ever made. It has a love story. It has fighting between races which is still prevalent in today’s times. It is comedic and tragic at the same time. It was way ahead of its time. You are physically spent when this movie ends. It always was and always will be my favorite movie of all time.

West Side Story is simply the greatest movie of all time.

West Side Story is simply the greatest movie of all time. It is so touching and the music and dancing are simply phemomanal. It really is the only classic that actually grows younger. The acting is great, the dirction is great, and the timeless Romeo and Juliet story with gang warfare is perfect. Nothing will ever match the greatness of West Side Story
By: Jordan Nichols

WEST SIDE STORY has it all. The romance, the music, the dancing, everything. It still brings tears to my eyes after seeing it many, many times that’s how much it moves me. No matter what the AFI list says is the best musical (Singin’ in the Rain? Come on!!) West Side Story has and will go down in history as the greatest movie musical of all time. Most musicals that come from Broadway shows aren’t as good as their Broadway versions. West Side Story is better. It brought in new and better camera angles to be sure, but that isn’t the only reason it’s on the list, unlike SOME movies. (Citizen Kane) This movie set the standard for musicals back in 1961 and it hasn’t been surpassed to this day. West Side Story is a tribute to the theatre, a look at how racism separates us, a triumph in acting and directing (George Chakiris blows me away as the serious and elegant Bernardo, as does Rita Moreno as Bernardo’s spunky girlfriend Anita. Richard Beymer and Natalie Wood do a great job as Tony and Maria as well.), And a flat-out perfect movie. I think the romance in West Side Story blows Casablanca and Gone with the Wind out of the water. The only other movie I can think of that would actually challenge it for the title of greatest movie of all time is Schindler’s List. West Side is perfect.

West Side Story is one of the greatest if not *the* greatest stage to film adaptation.

West Side Story is one of the greatest if not *the* greatest stage to film adaptation. Every element of this story: music, song & dance is powerful in a modern-day retelling of William Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet”.

A timeless score by Leonard Bernstein & Stephen Sondheim featuring the classics, “Somewhere”, “Tonight”, “One Hand, One Heart” and “America” are perfectly complimented by powerful energetic dances re-created for the screen from their original stage versions by master choreographer Jerome Robbins who along with Robert Wise received co-directing credit on the picture.
By: Carlos Lopez

MOVIES BROADENS MY UNIVERSE Before TV and Internet, movies, together with literature,since my childhood have provided me a much farther scope than my own real life experience. Movies are for me a chance to learn from other’s good or bad experiences.

West Side Story is an extraordinary mix of the best of music, dance, theater and a wonderful story.
By: Arturo Benoit

Modern day Romeo and Juliet story circa the 1950’s. Two street gangs clash over street turf on the west side of New York City. In the middle of the bigotry and intolerance, lovers from two different backgrounds must find peace.

With the civil rights movement coming to the forefront of our nation’s concern during the time of this movie, it was a backdrop in getting people to talk and act upon the injustices that were portrayed in the story. I know, it’s only a movie, but what a movie! Wonderful acting, story, dancing…and the music, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, music by Leonard Bernstein, their music…is Music!
By: Cheryl Hoyt

A perfect blend of all the arts.

A perfect blend of all the arts.

By: Tom Ferrini