1,001 Movies – Week 58

“Europa” to “The Exorcist”

 

 

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Europa (1991) – A Kafka-esque film from director Lars von Trier about an American of German decent working in Frankfurt after WWII who’s trying to stay neutral between the Allied Forces and the Germans; when he discovers a terrorist group killing anyone sympathizing with the Allied Forces he’s forced to make a decision. Filmed in both color and B&W, it’s a languid, surreal film that leaves an impression on the viewer. (GS)


Europa, Europa (1990) – Based on the true story of a young Jewish boy in Nazi Germany who pretends to be a German orphan and eventually joins the Hitler Youth. Terrifying and transfixing; well worth seeing. (GS)


Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998) – Drew Barrymore is darling in the lead role. With marvelous co-stars Angelica Huston and Dougray Scott, this is an enchanting retelling of the classic romantic fairy tale that the entire family will love. (GS)


Excalibur (1981) – As close to being the definitive movie version of Arthurian legend as anyone has yet managed. John Boorman’s fine, often enchanting, film features the one thing normally missing from such a serious text – humor. Nicol Williamson is spectacularly good as a wild-eyed, “that-worked!” Merlin. Cherlie Lunghi is dazzling as Guenevere. (KT)


The Exorcist (1973) – Unlike anything that had come before it, and much-parodied since, this is a riveting film that dealt with a spine-chilling supernatural theme. A great-looking film that makes terrific use of music to convey some of the terror that the characters are going through. (SB)

 

 

 

 

Originally published in Raspberry World – Volume 2, Issue 1 (June/July 2007)