Nostalgia overload: Rick Dangerous

Back in the olden days my brother and I were given a Commodore 64 for Christmas and let me tell you, it was the best Christmas ever. Through the years we got allot of different games (on cassette tapes of all things), but the only one that really stands out in 20+ years of hindsight is a little game known as Rick Dangerous.

Rick Dangerous was released in 1989 on a multitude of systems and is a parody/spoof on the Indiana Jones franchise and not shy about showing it. The first level starts with you running from a rolling bolder and Rick himself is sporting a hat and jacket reminiscent of Dr. Jones.



As Rick you are tasked with crawling through dungeons and Nazi hideouts in order to recover rare artifacts or rescue prisoners of war. There are only 4 levels, but each one will have you tear your hair out trying to figure out how to get by the multitude of traps, hazards and patrolling enemies. It is very much a trial and error game, but figuring out how to get past a screen is extremely rewarding and keeps you coming back for more.



Seeing as this is an old game, Rick Dangerous is extremely unforgiving. Die and you are transported back to a checkpoint (which are few and far between). Game over? Back to start. No saves, no mercy.

The reason I bring Rick back to the spotlight is because I recently discovered Rick Dangerous on the iPhone. Though the ability to change between all 4 levels from the get-go and being able to switch between the old graphics and a new enhanced mode (which looks pretty good), the controls are horrible and none responsive which is disappointing to say the least. Instead I suggest you play the online flash version which lets you use the arrow keys to control everything.

You can find it at: http://rickdangerousflash.free.fr/

Rick Dangerous spawned one sequel which had you battling aliens of all things. But for me the nostalgia lies in crawling through dungeons and crypts, trying to figure out the next trap and groaning loudly when failing. Good times.

Top 100 movies of all time: 05 - 01

Merry Christmas! Well, here we are. End of the road, so to speak. I hope you've enjoyed this little countdown and hope to see you again in the new year. The list might be over, but the blog is just getting started. Who knows, maybe there is a surprise in the wings (could be, I actually don't know). Either way, see you in 2011!

PS: things might be a little short today as well. Not a good trend, I know. But there is Christmas to be enjoyed and Disney cartoons to see.

NR. 05:

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)

Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen and Paul Freeman



Archeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the US government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis.

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 5

The ultimate adventure movie inspired by the adventure serials of the 20's and 30's. Harrison Ford embodies the role of Henry 'Indiana' Jones Jr. so well it is hard (and rather scary) to imagine the role almost went to Tom Selleck. Due to Harrison's charm and crooked smile, the hat wearing, whip cracking archeologist became a world famous icon. What Raiders does so well is mix the fast paced adventure genre with the supernatural seamlessly, which until then was truly unique (and still stands the test of time). If you like adventure then look no further then to the raiders of the lost ark. It doesn't get any better then this.



NR. 04:

THE SHINING (1980)

Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall and Danny Lloyd



A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where an evil and spiritual presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from the past and of the future.

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 5

The shining is, to me at least, the scariest movie ever made. Kubrick never did anything half way and when adapting the Stephen King novel he spared no expense on the creep factor. From the dead twins to Jack's (masterful performance by Jack Nicholson. A role he was born to play)descent into madness all fills the film with a sense of dread and foreboding from the very first scene onward.



NR. 3:

STAR WARS
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980)

Directed by: Irvin Kershner
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher



While Luke takes advanced Jedi training from Yoda, his friends are relentlessly pursued by Darth Vader as part of his plan to capture Luke.

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 5

The second movie in a trilogy seems to be the dark one. Indiana Jones had its Temple of Doom. Back to the future's part 2 got pretty dire and The Dark Knight was just that; dark.. But the grand pappy of them all has to be The Empire strikes back. A movie that took all the optimism and sense of hope that Star Wars introduced and trampled it into the snow with a barrage of AT-AT's. Regarded by many (including me, obviously) as the best Star Wars movie and this is in no small part due to the gravity of the situation presented in the movie. The theme? Hopelessness and the struggle to survive when the entire galaxy is hostile. Well written (since it was not written by Lucas)and introduces you to a wider galaxy filled with wonder and adventure.



NR. 2:

DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978)

Directed by: George A. Romero
Starring: David Emge, Ken Foree and Scott H. Reiniger



Following an ever-growing epidemic of zombies that have risen from the dead, two Philadelphia SWAT team members, a traffic reporter, and his television-executive girlfriend seek refuge in a secluded shopping mall.

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 5

When there is no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth. As a huge zombie fanatic there should be no surprise that Dawn of the dead (almost) tops the charts. They don't make zombie movies like this anymore. There is a sense of dread in Dawn that you can not shake off. Perhaps its the low budget that makes everything feel more real and gritty and lends almost a historical gravitas to everything. The dead walk the earth and no matter what you do, you will end up joining their ranks. Now or later. It is this sense of never ending horror that makes Dawn of the dead the best zombie movie ever made. Slow and unrelenting, just like the dead. Pure brilliance.



Well, here we are. The grand finale, the moment we have been building towards for 24 days now. For some of you this will be no surprise at all. For the rest of you I present my number one movie of all time:

*drum roll*



NR. 01!

JAWS (1975)

Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss



When a gigantic great white shark begins to menace the small island community of Amity, a police chief, a marine scientist and grizzled fisherman set out to stop it.

WHY ITS NUMBER 1

Jaws. One of the earliest blockbuster movies ever made and still one of the greatest. It is my ultimate summer movie and one I can watch over and over without getting tired of it. The mash up of a idyllic summer paradise and an unrelenting great white shark with a great appetite for human flesh is enough to make an entire generation afraid of the water. The shark may look rather fake by today's standard, but even that is not nearly enough to take away from the suspense of Jaws. The fact that you seldom actually see the shark itself, but just shadows and parts makes it all the more terrifying. And when you do see it, only one phrase comes to mind: We're gonna need a bigger boat.



Well, that's it. End. Finito. Hope you had a good time and that you still have a very merry Christmas and a fantastical new year. See you at the movies!

Top 100 movies of all time: 09 - 06

Only one day left! Be sure to tune in tomorrow for my top 5 films of all time. Also let me know what you think of the list in general and what you would like to see in future blog posts on the Paper Penguin.

NR. 09:

INCEPTION (2010)

Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Ellen Page



In a world where technology exists to enter the human mind through dream invasion, a highly skilled thief is given a final chance at redemption which involves executing his toughest job to date: Inception.

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 100

It was a long time coming and Inception glides right in at number 9 on my list. A smart, mind twisting and stylish look at the world of dreams, but done with a sense of realism that seems to be the trademark of Nolan films. The film has gotten allot of criticism (more then any other movie in resent memory)which centers on the argument that just because the movie is complex does not means its cool. This is kind of absurd since that is a criticism on the people who think its cool and not the movie itself. But I understand that Inception polarizes its audience to a degree as many films do. But for me Inception stands out as one of 2010's absolute highlights and would easily come in at number 1 of 2010 films.



NR. 08:

FOUR LIONS (2010)

Directed by: Christopher Morris
Starring: Will Adamsdale, Riz Ahmed and Adeel Akhtar



Four Lions tells the story of a group of British jihadists who push their abstract dreams of glory to the breaking point...

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 100

A laugh out loud comedy with some severe undertones. Four Lions mixes the impossible and manages to make you laugh out loud while you are thinking in the back of your head that is this really something you should be laughing at. In a world where suicide bombers are a reality all over the world, it takes real guts and good film making skills to take a satiric spin on it all. What makes it all work so well is that these terrorist wannabees just aren't very good at what they do, but they try so hard. A must see film of 2010.

!!!WARNING!!!

If you wish to see this movie I strongly suggest you DO NOT WATCH THE TRAILER. I saw the movie unspoiled in any way and some of the jokes and events revealed in the trailer is something you should see in context. The trailer also contains some spoilers.



NR. 07:

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (2007)

Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin



Violence and mayhem ensue after a hunter stumbles upon some dead bodies, a stash of heroin and more than $2 million in cash near the Rio Grande.

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 100

The Coen brothers sure are well represented in my list which probably stems from them being two of the best writers/directors we have now a days. I had no expectations to No Country for old men and went to see it only because it was a Coen brothers film. And let me tell you, the movie was better then I could ever have imagined. The film follows a narrative, but very loosely. You get more the sense of events simply unfolding in front of you (as with allot of Coen films). It doesn't feel like you start watching from set beginning and the movie doesn't really wrap the story up. Instead you watch a slice of life where extraordinary events take place and gruesome acts are committed. A modern day western that all along the ride manages to be thrilling, funny and smart.



NR. 06:

THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994)

Directed by: Frank Darabont
Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman and Bob Gunton



Two imprisoned men bond over a number of years, finding solace and eventual redemption through acts of common decency

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 100

The one thing I take away from this film is its writing. I know, there are many (many) other aspects to the film worth mentioning and admire, but for me the writing simply shines here. As an aspiring writer I can only hope that one day I will be good enough to write something half as good as this. The writing is good due to the fact that Stephen King (who's book the film is adapted from) worked on the screenplay and it really shows. As I said, you can say allot of good things about this movie but for me it boils down to solid writing that flows through the entire movie and makes everything else shine.

Top 100 movies of all time: 13 - 10

December 22nd and Christmas preparations reaches its peak. Hopefully the next two blog posts will arrive a little earlier then the last two.

NR. 13:

SHUTTER ISLAND (2010)

Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Emily Mortimer and Mark Ruffalo



Drama set in 1954, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels is investigating the disappearance of a murderess who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane and is presumed to be hiding on the remote Shutter Island.

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 100

Shutter Island was the first movie I saw in 2010 that stood out and made me take notice. A journey through Shutter Island is a journey through sanity and its many twists and turns and uses the entire spectrum of cinema to do so. From the sudden and almost flawed editing (it SEEMS flawed and imprecise , but mirrors the main character) to the music (a film score almost designed to drive you mad), all comes together to make a deep jigsaw puzzle that warrants multiple viewings.



NR. 12:

BRAZIL (1985)

Directed by: Terry Gilliam
Starring: Jonathan Pryce, Kim Greist and Robert De Niro



A bureaucrat in a retro-future world tries to correct an administrative error and himself becomes an enemy of the state.

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 100

Terry Gilliam is a very visual director and with Brazil you get a feast of details in a dark, overly bureaucratic society where every action you make results in a myriad of paper work. Brazil is satire done pretty broad, but it works so well due to the humor from the crazy mind of Gilliam. A truly unique film that leaves a lasting impression.



NR. 11:

CORALINE (2009)

Directed by: Henry Selick
Starring: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher and John Hodgman



An adventurous girl finds another world that is a strangely idealized version of her frustrating home, but it has sinister secrets.

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 100

Coraline is a return to basic puppet animation and done with such perfection that you are left wondering how on earth they managed to do all that with puppets. The story is fun, wonderful and surreal with something to offer both the adult and child viewer. The moods created in this film (accompanied by a brilliant soundtrack)suck you into the many worlds of Coraline and makes it impossible to leave.



NR. 10:

THE NINTH GATE (1999)

Directed by: Roman Polanski
Starring: Johnny Depp, Frank Langella and Lena Olin



A rare book dealer, while seeking out the last two copies of a demon text, gets drawn into a conspiracy with supernatural overtones.

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 100

The ninth gate is an occult thriller/mystery revolving around a book said to be written by Lucifer himself. The brilliance of this film is that it keeps the supernatural elements in the background and only hints to it here and there throughout the story. A film where you notice new things when watching it multiple times and with a cast that makes everything shown on screen feel real. If only one word could describe this film it would be: 'haunting.'

Top 100 movies of all time nr. 17 - 14

Sorry that its a bit late today and that my writings about each film is a bit short, but the christmas rush has taken hold and she is not an easy mistress to handle.

NR. 17:

SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)

Directed by: Jonathan Demme
Starring: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins and Scott Glenn



A young FBI cadet must confide in an incarcerated and manipulative killer to receive his help on catching another serial killer who skins his victims.

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 100

It is hard to imagine a time before Anthony Hopkins' portrayal as Hannibal Lectre which is the true testament to the powerful performance in this film. A brilliantly executed thriller that will stand the test of time as one of the best of its genre.



NR. 16:

FIGHT CLUB (1999)

Directed by: David Fincher
Starring: Brad Pitt, Edward Norton and Helena Bonham Carter



An office employee and a soap salesman build a global organization to help vent male aggression.

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 100

Fight Club is truly a movie unlike anything that came before and have arrived at cinemas since. It is not so much a film as a manifesto to a way of life that flies in the face of everything IKEA cataloges and self help groups want you hold dear. Fight Club is not a movie you can read about and study. It is simply a movie you need to see and see it again.



NR. 15:

UP IN THE AIR (2009)

Directed by: Jason Reitman
Starring: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick



With a job that has him traveling around the country firing people, Ryan Bingham leads an empty life out of a suitcase, until his company does the unexpected: ground him.

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 100

Up in the air is a close look at a world going through a financial crisis, seen from the point of view of the average working man. A film about reevaluating ones life and discover what is truly important in life. Yet, it does not tell you that a life dedicated to work is bad, but rather that there are possibilities available either you take it or not.



NR. 14:

SEVEN (1995)

Directed by: David Fincher
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt and Kevin Spacey



Two detectives, a rookie and a veteran, hunt a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his modus operandi.

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 100

A mix between classic detective stories and the epic poem Dante's Inferno elevates this thriller to a class of its own. It is as inventive and smart as it is heinous and really examins the darker sides of the human mind and its capabilities. if todays post has shown anything it is that David Fincher is a film maker you should pay attention to (except maybe Alien 3 ;-)

Top 100 movies of all time: 21 - 18

Time movies so fast (see what i did there?). 21 to 18 already? Best get to it then.

NR. 21:

THE THING (1982)

Directed by: John Carpenter
Starring: Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley and Keith David



Scientists in the Antarctic are confronted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of the people that it kills.

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 100

The Thing is all about the paranoia and the sense of isolation. And it provides both in spades. The thing is not so much a science fiction film (though certainly it has heavy elements of it) as it is a horror/thriller of the highest caliber. The only thing more scary then a monster you can not see (for example in Alien) is a monster that can be anyone, or even several people at once (or even animals). John Carpenter really flexes his film making muscles here in what I think is by far his best movie.



NR. 20:

FANTASTIC MR. FOX (2009)

Directed by: Wes Anderson
Starring: George Clooney, Meryl Streep and Bill Murray



An urbane fox cannot resist returning to his farm raiding ways and then must help his community survive the farmers' retaliation

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 100

Fantastic Mr. Fox is a quirky, hilarious and, at times, just plain weird. It is a Wes Anderson film after all and if you are unfamiliar with his style and tone, then you might not realize just how different Fantastic Mr. Fox is from other animated films and certainly has a lot more heart and soul. The voice acting is superb by everyone involved (from George Clooney to a one-line role by a background character) and the dry whit comedy strikes home every time. A film I can watch over and over again and still come back for more.



NR. 19:

CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND (2002)

Directed by: George Clooney
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore and George Clooney



An adaptation of the cult memoir of game show impresario Chuck Barris, in which he purports to have been a CIA hitman.

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 100

Another Sam Rockwell film on this is should stop being a surprise to anyone. What can I say, the man is in good movies (he even had an uncredited role in the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film) and most of them have made this list already. Confessions of a dangerous mind might be my favorite of them though. A quirky (is that today's theme?)and bizarre story that is claimed to be true by the author of the biography the film was based on. It is a roller coaster ride that is as unpredictable as it is strange and allot of fun.



NR. 18:

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE (2006)

Directed by: Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris
Starring: Steve Carell, Toni Collette and Greg Kinnear



A dysfunctional family determined to get their young daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country trip in their VW bus.

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 100

That settles it, quirky is today's theme as Little Miss Sunshine is exactly that and then some. The story is about the most dysfunctional family in recent memory; from the overly horny and loud mouthed grandfather to the suicidal uncle who is only coming along because he can't be left alone. It is a touching story about family that, sometimes, touches on the familiar and overused cliches, but the good far outweighs the tropes in this film. When the credits rolled for the first time I was simply amazed by what I had seen and it has been with me ever since. Quality through and through and a must watch for any film enthusiast or cinephile.

Top 100 movies of all time nr. 25 - 22

A tad early today due to the busy holiday season. Also, the WHY IT MADE MY TOP 100 was written in a car so if it is a litte...sub par thats why. Alright, lets get getting:

NR. 25:

CHILDREN OF MEN (2006)

Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón
Starring: Julianne Moore, Clive Owen and Chiwetel Ejiofor



In 2027, in a chaotic world in which humans can no longer procreate, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea, where her child's birth may help scientists save the future of humankind.

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 100

A truly original science fiction movie that roots itself if gritty realism. It is a future you can believe in and is done so well with only a few touches here and there hinting to a time not or own. The atmosphere you get from that, accompanied with the hopelessness of the human race in decline sets a tone in the film that you don't find anywhere else.



NR. 24:

BLADE RUNNER (1982)

Directed by: Ridley Scott
Starring: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer and Sean Young



Deckard, a blade runner, has to track down and terminate 4 replicants who hijacked a ship in space and have returned to earth seeking their maker.

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 100

Blade runner is one of the few science fiction noir films out there, which is a shame because the two genres compliment one another so very well. A dark, almost dystopian future lends a perfect back drop to a noir detective story that puts its characters in the foreground while the futuristic scenery remains in the background, adding that little extra flair many other noir films sometimes lack. No matter if you like science fiction or noir, Blade runner is a film that can be enjoyed on both levels.



NR. 23:

THE DARK KNIGHT (2008)

Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger and Aaron Eckhart'



Batman, Gordon and Harvey Dent are forced to deal with the chaos unleashed by an anarchist mastermind known only as the Joker, as it drives each of them to their limits.

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 100

Batman begins rediefined the comic book movie genre, but the Dark Knight perfected it. It is not a movie without its problems (mostly length and pasing of the story), but it is still a movie that bridges the gap between comic books and serious film making. The darker tones and even darker subject matter is perfecly executed in a world where someone like Batman and the Joker excist, which easily can become cheesy and a tad silly (like some of th Batman movies before). The dark knight is a comic book movie, crime drama and detective story all rolled into one, which is exactly what a Batman movie should be.



NR. 22:

INVASION OF THE BODYSNATCHERS (1978)

Directed by: Philip Kaufman
Starring: Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams and Jeff Goldblum



In San Francisco, a group of people discover the human race is being replaced one by one, with clones devoid of emotion.

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 100

Invasion of the bodysnatchers has een remade several times in different vartiations, but the 19?? Is by far the best (having not seen the original). What makes Invasiopn of the bodysnatchers stand out is the creeping menace that slowly but surely takes over society, one person at a time. This escalation is perfectly implemented as well as the paranoia that sets in when the characters (and you) realize that the people around may not be who they seem to be. A chilling tale that will never tell you: ”it will be alright.”