Post by andrew8798 on Dec 22, 2008 9:37:14 GMT -5
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (originally released as Star Wars) is a 1977 space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It was the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films continue the story, while a second trilogy contributes backstory, primarily for the troubled character of Darth Vader. Ground-breaking in its use of special effects, this first Star Wars movie is one of the most successful films of all time and is generally considered one of the most influential as well.
Set far in the past in a distant galaxy, the movie tells the story of a plot by a group of freedom fighters known as the Rebel Alliance to destroy the flagship space station/weapon of the oppressive Galactic Empire. The plot follows the tale of farm boy Luke Skywalker who is suddenly thrust into the role of hero when he inadvertently acquires the robots carrying the schematic plans of the station. He must accompany retired military general and rebel sympathizer Obi-Wan Kenobi on a mission to rescue the owner of the robots, rebel leader Princess Leia Organa, deliver the plans to the rebels' secret base, and help destroy the station before it reaches and destroys the rebel base.
Inspired by films like the Flash Gordon serials and the samurai films of Akira Kurosawa, as well as such critical works as Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Lucas began work on Star Wars in May 1973. Produced with a budget of $11,000,000 and released on May 25, 1977, the film went on to earn $460 million in the United States and $337 million overseas, and receive several awards, including 10 Academy Award nominations. It was re-released several times, sometimes with significant changes; the most notable versions are the 1997 Special Edition and the 2004 DVD release, which were modified with computer-generated effects and recreated scenes.
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It's a Wonderful Life (1946) is an American film produced and directed by Frank Capra and loosely based on the short story "The Greatest Gift" written by Philip Van Doren Stern.
The film takes place in the fictional town of Bedford Falls shortly after World War II and stars James Stewart as George Bailey, a man whose imminent suicide on Christmas Eve gains the attention of his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers) who is sent to help him in his hour of need. Much of the film is told through flashbacks spanning George's entire life and narrated by Franklin and Joseph, unseen Angels who are preparing Clarence for his mission to save George. Through these flashbacks we see all the people whose lives have been touched by George and the difference he has made to the community in which he lives.
The film is regarded as a classic and is a staple of Christmas television around the world, although, due to its high production costs and stiff competition at the box office, financially, it was considered a "flop." The film's break-even point was actually $6.3 million, approximately twice the production cost, a figure it never came close to achieving in its initial release. An appraisal in 2006 reported: "Although it was not the complete box-office failure that today everyone believes … it was a major disappointment and confirmed, at least to the studios, that Capra was no longer capable of turning out the populist features that made his films the must-see, money-making events they once were."
It's a Wonderful Life was nominated for five Oscars without winning any, but the film has since been recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the 100 best American films ever made, and placed number one on their list of the most inspirational American films of all time.
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A Christmas Story is a 1983 American/Canadian comedy film based on the short stories and semi-fictional anecdotes of author and raconteur Jean Shepherd, including material from his books In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash and Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories. It was directed by Bob Clark.
Day 52: New Hope beat Terminator 2 (33-12)
Day 53: New Hope beat A New Beginning (27-1)
Day 54: New Hope beat King Kong Versus Godzilla (16-3)
Day 55: New Hope beat Resident Evil: Extinction (16-3)
Day 56: New Hope beat Hellraiser (7-1)
Day 57: New Hope beat Halloween (28-9)
Day 58: New Hope beat Spider-Man 3 (40-8)
Day 59: New Hope beat Smokey and the Bandit (27-14)
Day 60: New Hope beat Revenge of the Creature (27-4)
Day 61: New Hope beat E.T (34-12)
Day 62: New Hope beat GoldenEye (26-10)
Day 63: New Hope beat Child's Play (33-10)
Day 64: New Hope beat Halloween H20 (27-11)
Day 65: New Hope beat Die Hard 2 (26-8)
Day 66: New Hope beat Dracula (31-9)
Day 67: New Hope beat Titanic (34-11)
Day 68: New Hope beat 101 Dalmatians (34-7)
Day 69: New Hope beat A Bug's Life (32-8)
Day 70: New Hope beat X2 (23-16)
Day 71: New Hope beat The Mummy (1999) (28-12)
