Godzilla returns to attack Japan, but this time with an unlikely ally: a sclerotic Japanese government that is disastrously slow to respond. Shin Godzilla credits: [Dir: Hideaki Anno, Shinji Higuchi/ Hiroki Hasegawa, Yutaka Takenouchi, Satomi Ishihara/ 120 min/ Action-Adventure, Sci-Fi/ Incompetent Government, Individualism/ a.k.a. Godzilla Resurgence/ Japan] Mary Shelly … [Read more...]
Don’t Be an Individual: Best High School Graduation Speech Ever
Nick Kocher gives what is probably the best high school graduation speech ever, offering an impassioned (and satirical) plea against being an individual and in favor of mindlessly joining the crowd. The talent Nick went on to become the co-creator of BriTANick, which has made a number of excellent short comedy skits including the excellent Award Winning Movie Trailer. … [Read more...]
Die Hard (1988)
When robbers seize hostages in an LA high-rise, an off-duty cop fights alone to save them, including among the hostages…his wife. Die Hard credits: [Dir: John McTiernan/ Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia/ 131 min/ Action-Adventure, Thriller/ Individualism] Two lines in this film sum up its theme. When bad-guy Hans Gruber says to John McClane, the hero at the … [Read more...]
Sully (2016)
When a plane suddenly loses power after takeoff, the pilot follows his own judgment instead of established procedure and saves the lives of all on board -- but he is besieged by skeptical investigators, and his own self-doubt. Based on a true story. Sully credits: [Dir: Clint Eastwood/ Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney/ 96 min/ Biography, Drama/ … [Read more...]
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
#1 HIGHEST-GROSSING FILM OF 2016 When political pressure mounts for the Avengers to submit themselves to UN control, Captain America refuses, leading to a violent split among the superheroes. Captain America: Civil War credits: [Dir: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo/ Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson/ 147 min/ Action-Adventure, Sci-Fi/ Individualism, … [Read more...]
Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
A run-away orphan is pursued in a nationwide manhunt by Child Services. [Dir: Taika Waititi/ Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rima Te Wiata, Rachel House / 101 min/ Comedy, Adventure/ Individualism, Abuse of power] As the film opens, an orphan boy is just being delivered to his quirky new foster family -- a down-to-earth couple eking out a crude existence deep in the rugged … [Read more...]
Still Mine (2012)
WINNER: TOP 25 LIBERTARIAN FILMS When a rural farmer builds a new home as a kindness to his ailing wife, a government bureaucrat threatens to tear it down for building code violations. Based on a true story. [Dir: Michael McGowan/ James Cromwell, Ronan Rees, Geneviève Bujold/ 102 min/ Drama/ Anti-regulation, Individualism] The title Still Mine has a double-meaning. … [Read more...]
My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)
WINNER: TOP 25 LIBERTARIAN FILMS A young Pakistani immigrant and his English boyfriend overcome all obstacles to launch a fabulous laundromat. Credits for My Beautiful Laundrette: [Dir: Stephen Frears/ Saeed Jaffrey, Roshan Seth, Daniel Day-Lewis/ 97 min/ Comedy, Romance/ Pro-Capitalism, Individualism & Independence] Enter the broken world of lower-class … [Read more...]
Atlas Shrugged Movie Trilogy (2011, 2012, 2014)
Atlas Shrugged Part 1 (2011) Creative and hard-working entrepreneurs fight government red tape and interference to build a railroad that will save the country…but are harried by a secret enemy who is somehow convincing the most talented workers to quit. [Dir: Paul Johansson/ Taylor Schilling, Grant Bowler, Matthew Marsden/ 97 min/ Drama/ Ayn Rand, Creator-as-hero, … [Read more...]
The Giver (2014)
When a 16-year-old boy discovers that the "perfect" managed society in which he lives is simply a drugged potemkin village, he must decide whether its superficially happy character is worth the price in terms of foregone human experience and lost liberty. [Dir: Phillip Noyce/ 94 min/ SciFi-Drama/ Individualism & Independence, Government enforced morality, Equality & … [Read more...]