A film is amasterpiecewhen it comes out and connects with the audience at the rooted level. Irrespective of the names associated with a film, the key note to keep in mind is the movie’s ability to inspire the mind and fill the hearts of the viewer, giving them the out-of-the-world experience they otherwise miss in real life.
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Irrespective of afilm’s genre, most of them have a skeletal undertone that has been deeply rooted in the minds of humanity ever since the dawn of literature. One such winning undertone is the story of the underdog going to conquer things in life, or the David Vs. Goliath formula.
8Kung Fu Panda - 2008
The 2008 animated movie from Dreamworks,Kung Fu Panda,is funny, emotional, and, above all, inspirational! In the story of an animal kingdom set in ancientChina, the realm must choose the dragon warrior as its sole protector.Four contestantshave been training for the highest honor, but by fate or misfortune, a noodle-selling Panda is destined to become the elite warrior of all.
Was it an accident, or was it destiny? The movie addresses everything, but in the end, it’s all about staying true and being oneself that helps conquer all.
7300 - 2006
WhenZack Snyderdecided to make alive-action adaptation of the comic bookof the same name, many of its ideas and innovative approach in terms of technical finesse were new to the industry. Although movies likeSin Citycame a tad bit before the300, fans were glued and obsessed with the ramp-up fight sequences that still serve as an industry benchmark today!
But what made the movie so special is the faith and belief of the heroic 300 Spartans who took to the battlefield to withstand and protect Sparta (reeling from political turmoil) against the herculean armada of the Persian Army.
6Braveheart - 1995
The 1995 American war classic is still revered by many as one of the most prestigious cinemas in Hollywood. Written, Directed, and Starring the Academy Winner Mel Gibson in the lead, the movie follows Sir Wiliam Walance of the Scottish lands leading his people in the first war of independence against the might of England’s King Edward I.
Although the movie does not have a fairy tale ending, the narrative of a frail Scottish cavalcade having King Edward I of England on his toes is something to take inspiration from.
583 - 2021
83is an Indian sports drama released in 2021 during the fag end of the pandemic. The film takes inspiration from actual life events of the 1983CricketWorld Cup, where captain Kapil Dev and his men shocked the entire cricketing world by not only winning the world cup but also defeating two-time champions West Indies while doing so. In a fictional context, this would be on par with England beating the New York Yankees.
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Although a bomb at the box office (due to a toxic outburst in the film fraternity), people privy to the historical event relived moment of joy when the film was available onNetflixfew months after its theatrical release.
4Predator - 1987
Predatormight be the closest adaptation (not official) of a modern David vs. Goliath folklore. The story of a platoon commander taking on the most vicious predator in the known universe was etched down in pop culture history.Arnold Schwarzeneggerwas in his career’s prime, and this movie cemented his seat on the throneas a top-action hero like no other.
Despite various disappointing sequels and a far-fetched prequel withThe Prey,no other movie in the franchise could recreate the Predator’s tension and horrors.
38 Mile - 2002
Eminemis not a name. Instead, he’s a phenomenon to which over a million people connected through his songs. However, his life wasn’t as easy as it seemed, and the movie8 Miledraws loose inspiration from the rapper’s life and has theRap God playing the lead role.
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The film has many things that can upset the viewers today. Racial themes and domestic violence do paint in on the screenplay. But the last 20 minutes of the movie are pure gold, making one think impossible is nothing, once youlose yourselfto it!
2Avatar - 2009
The biggest blockbuster in world cinema before the Marvel Cinematic Universe had its dig at the box office. The release ofJames Cameron’sAvataron the big screen made the world stand still. Thefight between the humans and Na’vi of Pandoraover the unobtanium was uneven right from the get-go.
The conflict between the highly sophisticated military-grade oppressors and the non-budging inhabitants putting their life on the line for their homeland with nothing but stones and sticks is more than justvisual storytelling. A decade and more later, its sequelAvatar: The Way of Wateris already hyped for a great holiday season movie!
1Rocky - 1976
Rockyis undoubtedly one of the most iconic movies from the 70s and is still a benchmark for sports drama worldwide. The story ofRocky Balboa’s ascensionfrom being a petty debt collector to winning the heavyweight championship against the reigning champ Apollo Creed made monstrous waves around the globe connecting with every viewer of the movie.
The movie went on to win the best picture at the Academy Awards and spanned several sequels until the late 90s, before a spin-off on theCreed family soft rebooted the franchisein the 2010s.
