It’s September 1st, which means that a) I’ve got a three-day weekend (most of which so far I’ve spent working, and b) my August blogging project — “Scenes I Go Back To” — has come to an end. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much I enjoyed writing it, which is to say quite a bit. I’m already thinking about my next blogging project, which will probably be musically related.
Here’s the reasoning behind the project and here’s the complete list of project entries, in reverse chronological order.
Scenes I Go Back To: Chinese Super Ninjas
It just doesn’t get any more freaking awesome than Chinese Super Ninjas.
Scenes I Go Back To: Fist of Legend
This brilliant action sequence whets your appetite while barely preparing you for the martial arts mayhem to come.
Scenes I Go Back To: The Matrix
A beautiful, aesthetic scene to watch as well as one full of signature kick-ass moments.
Scenes I Go Back To: OldBoy
It undercuts viewers’ expectations and forces us to rethink our assumptions and expectations, to question why we got so excited in the first place.
Scenes I Go Back To: The Sacrifice
The Sacrifice has often been labelled Tarkovsky’s “last will and testament.”
Scenes I Go Back To: Naked
In one brief, spiteful speech, the film’s “hero” sums up all that is wrong with modern society.
Scenes I Go Back To: Go
This was the movie that first got me thinking about “scenes I go back to.”
Scenes I Go Back To: Police Story
Jackie Chan wants you to know that only he, and no mere mortal, can pull something like that off.
Scenes I Go Back To: Raising Arizona
A mix of manic comedy, inventive camerawork, absurdism, and a surprisingly touching bit of family drama.
Scenes I Go Back To: Terminator 2: Judgment Day
To this day, the movie’s effects remain some of my favorites.
Scenes I Go Back To: The Return of the King
It may be the height of fantasy, but there’s still great, undeniable Truth contained within these minutes.
Scenes I Go Back To: True Romance
Transcends mere obscenity through amazing dialog and stellar performances.
Scenes I Go Back To: The Color of Paradise
This film’s stunning visuals forever changed my view of the country of Iran.
Scenes I Go Back To: Swing Girls
A decidedly offbeat and absurd scene that is, in fact, a stroke of genius.
Scenes I Go Back To: The Innocents
Chilling because of great acting, great dialog, and above all else, great atmosphere.
Scenes I Go Back To: Hero
A scene that’s as soul-stirring as it is jaw-dropping, a visual feast as well as an adrenaline rush.
Scenes I Go Back To: Hard Boiled
It’s worth noting that John Woo’s most bullet-riddled sequences are incredibly artistic.
Scenes I Go Back To: Paprika
An opening sequence that constantly twists and tweaks that which is “normal” and “real.”
Scenes I Go Back To: The Seventh Seal
The film’s position in pop culture does nothing to deny its power and depth.
Scenes I Go Back To: The Royal Tenenbaums
It feels like the entire movie was building up to this one moment.
Scenes I Go Back To: Only Yesterday
It’s a beautiful, even haunting film, and its closing credits sequence is especially powerful.
Scenes I Go Back To: Pulp Fiction
The first time I realized that profound, even spiritual truth could be conveyed via post-modern, pastiched-up, obscenity-laden pop culture.
Scenes I Go Back To: Orpheus
Despite using simple practical effects, the resulting scene is no less magical and haunting.
Scenes I Go Back To: Donnie Darko
A little messy in places due to its ambitions, but it still works in all sorts of beautiful and mysterious ways.
Scenes I Go Back To: Blade Runner
It’s easy to see why Scott would consider Blade Runner to be his most complete film.
Scenes I Go Back To: Last Life in the Universe
Hints at the bittersweet and otherworldly melancholy that gives Last Life in the Universe its emotional heft.
Scenes I Go Back To: My Neighbor Totoro
Filled with boundless creativity, joy, and a child-like wonder at the simplest and seemingly most mundane of things.
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