From thrillers to dramas, our KLIO 2023 staff has compiled a list to share their current go-to movies. Follow along to find out what our staffers are watching!
Annika Shastry (Editor-in-Chief) – “Little Women” (2019)
I recently rewatched Greta Gerwig‘s take on Louisa May Alcott’s life, as well as the story of “Little Women,” and I remembered just how much the film meant to me in the first place.
The movie was the last one I saw in theatres before the pandemic struck and I am grateful for the opportunity to have gotten to see it with two of the women who I love most in life: my mother and my twin sister.
During my rewatch, I realized how well the film captures the experiences of being a woman, daughter, sister and a creative. With Jo and her struggles with writing, Amy and her passion for art, and Beth and her adoration for music, the film is a kind of love letter to not just complex female relationships, but to all the different kinds of art.
Rivka Wolin (Webmaster) – “Castle in the Sky” (1986)
My favorite movie is “Castle in the Sky” by Hayao Miyazaki. I remember the day I picked it out from the Skokie Public Library. I was in a big “princess and castle” phase, so this movie caught my eye on the shelf. I remember it being not quite what I thought it was going to be, but it was so good. Every time we went back to the library after that I looked for it and I was unsuccessful.
For my 18th birthday my brother got me the DVD, that way I would always be able to watch it. This was the first in a collection of other Studio Ghibli films he would gift me throughout later birthdays.
I was so happy to enjoy this film again. The themes of preserving the natural world and antiwar messaging are prominent themes throughout many Studio Ghibli films, and now I can appreciate these more as an adult. I love this film and it will always have a special place in my heart. I hope that many others can get a chance to watch this brilliant piece of art.
Sobi Mere (Art Coordinator) – “Along Came a Spider”(2001)
If you are looking for an early 2000s psychological thriller with several twists and turns, add “Along Came a Spider” to your next watch list.
Starring Morgan Freeman (playing Alex Cross), this film is about Cross and his sudden reintroduction back into investigative work after a US Senator’s daughter (Megan Rose) is kidnapped and held for ransom. Safely returning Megan Rose is made a difficult task given the moles in the film.
What sets this movie apart from other action-packed films is the unexpectedness. Just when you think you can predict what will happen next, the opposite occurs. I was pleasantly surprised by the several plot twists that kept me on my feet and made me constantly question who was truly a trustworthy character.
In addition, I’ll never say no to a chance to view early 2000s cinematography (what nostalgia!). “Along Came a Spider” is without a doubt a movie that challenges you to think beyond your initial expectations.
Adam Waxman (Film Coordinator) – “Back to the Future” (1985)
The film follows Marty McFly, a high school senior from Hill Valley, California, with a love for music, as he is introduced to a time-traveling DeLorean made by his crazy scientist friend, Dr. “Doc” Emmett Brown.
During the introduction at a local mall parking lot just after midnight, it is learned that to make the DeLorean travel through time, it needs a small amount of plutonium, which was pretty hard to find back then. Doc agreed to build a bomb for a group of Libyan terrorists in exchange for some plutonium. That bomb ended up never getting made, so the Libyans came for Doc, attempting to kill him on-site.
Just after Doc is shot, Marty cowardly hops in the DeLorean and hits 88 miles per hour (the speed needed to make time travel possible) sending him back in time.
It is clear and obvious as to why so many people consider this to be their favorite movie of all time, myself included. 38 years later and Back to the Future remains an iconic, must-see movie.
Christine Choung (Creative Non-fiction Editor) – “Everything, Everywhere, All At Once” (2022)
In light of the Oscars, I was encouraged to watch the movie, “Everything, Everywhere, All At Once.”
This movie was by far one of the best movies that I’ve watched in a very long time, not just for its amazing pictures, actors, and original script, but because it was a movie that broke down the culture between Asian immigrant families. The relationship between an Asian mother and daughter, between husband and wife, and even father and daughter, the movie shares so many struggles within these dynamics that are often seen throughout many Asian immigrant families.
The movie resonated with me on a personal level, but it had a twist of silliness and absurdity that made it so unique and fun to watch. It was like an adult children’s book.
I would recommend this movie to anyone and everyone because it isn’t just about culture, but love and relationships within your kin. It makes you really appreciate and reflect on what your loved ones have done for you.