Movie Enjoyment: To each her/his own

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David Chan
29 May 2020

Every person has her/his own movie-going tastes and needs.

Some want to see their favorite stars. Some want to see scenes expensively shot. Some want to have a great time laughing. Some want to have a meaningful time shedding tears.

After all, different individuals have different movie-going objectives. Some go after a single objective. Others pursue several objectives. Apart from the four movie-going objectives listed above, other common longings include: twists and turns in plot, crème de la crème acting, passionate depiction of romance, eye-opening and mind-blowing action, unforgettable dialog, spectacular cinematography, visionary science fiction universes, inspirational exploration of themes, breathtaking singing and dancing, exotic foreign locations, historic costumes and sets, highbrow cinematic styles, etc., etc., etc. They are so diversified and yet so unique in their own ways.

Therefore, it would be a difficult task to recommend movies to our readers.

Let us start with movies in the past. A workable scenario of recommendation is to list movies that are masterpieces in meeting certain criteria. If any of these movies appeal to our readers, such movies can be enjoyed through buying their DVD’s.

The criteria I recommend include:

1.Chinese language movies that appealed to popular Hong Kong taste: The yearly top grossing Chinese language movie in Hong Kong, 1970 to 2019.
2.English language movies that appealed to popular Hong Kong taste: The yearly top grossing English language movie in Hong Kong, 1970 to 2019.
3.Chinese language movies acclaimed by the Hong Kong movie industry: Hong Kong Film Awards’ yearly Best Picture, 1981to2019.
4.English language movies that appealed to popular American taste: The yearly top grossing English language movie in North America, 1960 to 2019.
5.English language movies acclaimed by the American movie industry: The yearly Academy AwardBest Picture, 1960 to 2019. 6.Romance movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
7.Comedy movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
8.Drama movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
9.Musical movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
10.Epic movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
11.Detective movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
12.Cop movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
13.Spy movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
14.Fantasy movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
15.Modern-dayaction movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
16.Science fiction movies: Recommending 5 English language masterpieces.
17.Animation movies: Recommending 5 English language masterpieces.
18.Courtroom drama movies: Recommending 5 English language masterpieces.
19.Heist movies: Recommending 5 English language masterpieces.
20.Superhero movies: Recommending 5 English language masterpieces.
21.Chinese swordsman movies: Recommending 5 Chinese language masterpieces.
22.Kung Fu movies: Recommending 5 Chinese language masterpieces.
23.Movie Westerns: Recommending 5 English language masterpieces.

Chinese language movies that appealed to popular Hong Kong taste: The yearly top grossing Chinese language movie in Hong Kong, 1970 to 2019.

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Yearly Top Grossing Chinese Language Movie in Hong Kong, 1970 to 2019
Year	Movie Title
1970	The Chinese Boxer
1971	The Big Boss
1972	The Way of the Dragon
1973	The House of 72 Tenants
1974	Games Gamblers Play
1975	The Last Message
1976	The Private Eyes
1977	The Pilferer's Progress
1978	The Contract
1979	The Fearless Hyena
1980	The Young Master
1981	Security Unlimited
1982	Aces Go Places
1983	Aces Go Places II
1984	Aces Go Places - Our Man from Bond Street
1985	My Lucky Stars
1986	A Better Tomorrow
1987	Armour of God
1988	The Eighth Happiness
1989	God of Gamblers
1990	All for the Winner
1991	Fight Back to School
1992	Justice, My Foot!
1993	Flirting Scholar
1994	God of Gamblers Return
1995	Rumble in the Bronx
1996	First Strike
1997	Mr. Nice Guy
1998	The Storm Riders
1999	King of Comedy
2000	Needing You
2001	Shaolin Soccer
2002	Infernal Affairs
2003	Infernal Affairs III
2004	Kung Fu Hustle
2005	Initial D
2006	Fearless
2007	Lust, Caution
2008	CJ7
2009	All's Well Ends Well 2009
2010	Ip Man 2
2011	You Are the Apple of my Eye
2012	Cold War
2013	Unbeatable
2014	Golden Chickensss
2015	Ip Man 3
2016	Cold War 2
2017	Love Off the Cuff
2018	Agent Mr. Chan
2019	Integrity

English language movies that appealed to popular Hong Kong taste: The yearly top grossing English language movie in Hong Kong, 1970 to 2019.

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Yearly Top Grossing English Language Movie in Hong Kong, 1970 to 2019
Year	Movie Title
1970	Tora! Tora! Tora!
1971	Melody
1972	Diamonds Are Forever
1973	The Poseidon Adventure
1974	The Sting
1975	The Towering Inferno
1976	Jaws
1977	The Spy Who Loved Me
1978	Grease
1979	Moonraker
1980	The Fog
1981	For Your Eyes Only
1982	Somewhere In Time
1983	ET: The Extra-Terrestrial
1984	Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
1985	Rambo: First Blood Part II
1986	Rocky IV
1987	Robocop
1988	Rambo III
1989	Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
1990	Ghost
1991	Terminator 2: Judgement Day
1992	Basic Instinct
1993	Jurassic Park
1994	Speed
1995	Die Hard with a Vengeance
1996	Independence Day
1997	Titanic
1998	Tomorrow Never Dies
1999	The Mummy
2000	Mission: Impossible II
2001	Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
2002	Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
2003	The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2004	The Day After Tomorrow
2005	Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
2006	Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
2007	Spider-Man 3
2008	The Dark Knight
2009	Avatar
2010	Toy Story 3
2011	Transformers: Dark of the Moon
2012	Marvel's The Avengers
2013	Iron Man 3
2014	Transformers: Age of Extinction
2015	Avengers: Age of Ultron
2016	Captain America: Civil War
2017	Beauty and the Beast (2017)
2018	Avengers: Infinity War
2019	Avengers: Endgame

Chinese language movies acclaimed by the Hong Kong movie industry: Hong Kong Film Awards’ yearly Best Picture, 1981-2019.

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Yearly Hong Kong Film Awards Best Picture, 1981 to 2019
Year	Award Year No.	Movie Title
1981	1	Father and Son
1982	2	Boat People
1983	3	Ah Ying
1984	4	Homecoming
1985	5	Police Story
1986	6	A Better Tomorrow
1987	7	The Autumn's Tale
1988	8	Rouge
1989	9	Beyond the Sunset
1990	10	Days of Being Wild
1991	11	To Be Number One
1992	12	Cageman
1993	13	C'est La Vie Mon Cheri
1994	14	Chungking Express
1995	15	Summer Snow
1996	16	Comrades, Almost a Love Story
1997	17	Made in Hong Kong
1998	18	Beast Cops
1999	19	Ordinary Heroes
2000	20	Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
2001	21	Shaolin Soccer
2002	22	Infernal Affairs
2003	23	Running On Karma
2004	24	Kung Fu Hustle
2005	25	Election
2006	26	After This Our Exile
2007	27	The Warlords
2008	28	Ip Man
2009	29	Bodyguards And Assassins
2010	30	Gallants
2011	31	A Simple Life
2012	32	Cold War
2013	33	The Grandmaster
2014	34	The Golden Era
2015	35	Ten Years
2016	36	Trivisa
2017	37	Our Time Will Come
2018	38	Project Gutenberg
2019	39	Better Days

English language movies that appealed to popular American taste: The yearly top grossing English language movie in North America, 1960 to 2019.

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Yearly Top Grossing English Language Movie in North America, 1960 to 2018
Year	Movie Title
1960	Swiss Family Robinson
1961	West Side Story
1962	Lawrence of Arabia
1963	Cleopatra
1964	My Fair Lady
1965	The Sound of Music
1966	The Bible: In the Beginning
1967	The Graduate
1968	2001: A Space Odyssey
1969	Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
1970	Love Story
1971	The French Connection
1972	The Godfather
1973	The Exorcist
1974	Blazing Saddles
1975	Jaws
1976	Rocky
1977	Star Wars
1978	Grease
1979	Kramer vs. Kramer
1980	The Empire Strikes Back
1981	Raiders of the Lost Ark
1982	ET: The Extra-Terrestrial
1983	Return of the Jedi
1984	Beverly Hills Cop
1985	Back to the Future
1986	Top Gun
1987	Three Men and a Baby
1988	Rain Man
1989	Batman
1990	Home Alone
1991	Terminator 2: Judgement Day
1992	Aladdin
1993	Jurassic Park
1994	Forrest Gump
1995	Toy Story
1996	Independence Day
1997	Titanic
1998	Saving Private Ryan
1999	Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
2000	How the Grinch Stole Christmas
2001	Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
2002	Spider-Man
2003	The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2004	Shrek 2
2005	Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
2006	Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
2007	Spider-Man 3
2008	The Dark Knight
2009	Avatar
2010	Toy Story 3
2011	Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
2012	Marvel's The Avengers
2013	The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
2014	American Sniper
2015	Star Wars: The Force Awakens
2016	Finding Dory
2017	Star Wars: The Last Jedi
2018	Black Panther
2019	Avengers: Endgame

English language movies acclaimed by the American movie industry: The yearly Academy Award Best Picture, 1960 to 2019.

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Yearly Academy Award Best Picture, 1960 to 2018
Year	Award Year No.	Movie Title
1960	33	The Apartment
1961	34	West Side Story
1962	35	Lawrence of Arabia
1963	36	Tom Jones
1964	37	My Fair Lady
1965	38	The Sound of Music
1966	39	A Man for All Seasons
1967	40	In the Heat of the Night
1968	41	Oliver!
1969	42	Midnight Cowboy
1970	43	Patton
1971	44	The French Connection
1972	45	The Godfather
1973	46	The Sting
1974	47	The Godfather Part II
1975	48	One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1976	49	Rocky
1977	50	Annie Hall
1978	51	The Deer Hunter
1979	52	Kramer vs. Kramer
1980	53	Ordinary People
1981	54	Chariots of Fire
1982	55	Gandhi
1983	56	Terms of Endearment
1984	57	Amadeus
1985	58	Out of Africa
1986	59	Platoon
1987	60	The Last Emperor
1988	61	Rain Man
1989	62	Driving Miss Daisy
1990	63	Dances With Wolves
1991	64	The Silence of the Lambs
1992	65	Unforgiven
1993	66	Schindler's List
1994	67	Forrest Gump
1995	68	Braveheart
1996	69	The English Patient
1997	70	Titanic
1998	71	Shakespeare in Love
1999	72	American Beauty
2000	73	Gladiator
2001	74	A Beautiful Mind
2002	75	Chicago
2003	76	The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2004	77	Million Dollar Baby
2005	78	Crash
2006	79	The Departed
2007	80	No Country for Old Men
2008	81	Slumdog Millionaire
2009	82	The Hurt Locker
2010	83	The King's Speech
2011	84	The Artist
2012	85	Argo
2013	86	12 Years a Slave
2014	87	The Birdman
2015	88	Spotlight
2016	89	Moonlight
2017	90	The Shape of Water
2018	91	Green Book
2019	92	Parasite

Romance movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
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1. Chinese Language:
  1. You Are the Apple of My Eye (2011)
  2. The Autumn’s Tale (1987)
  3. Comrades, Almost a Love Story (1996)
  4. Fly Me to Polaris (1999)
  5. The Ex-File: The Return of the Exes (2017)
  English Language:
  1. Casablanca (1942)
  2. Roman Holiday (1953)
  3. An Affair to Remember (1957)
  4. Ghost (1990)
  5. Pretty Woman (1990)

Comedy movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
1. Chinese Language:
  1. Justice, My Foot! (1992)
  2. All’s Well Ends Well (1992)
  3. The Private Eyes (1976)
  4. Shaolin Soccer (2001)
  5. The Mermaid (2016)
  English Language:
  1. Home Alone (1990)
  2. Tootsie (1982)
  3. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
  4. Ghostbusters (1984)
  5. The Graduate (1967)

Drama movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
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1. Chinese Language:
  1. Little Big Master (2015)
  2. After Shock (2010)
  3. A Simple Life (2011)
  4. Summer Snow (1995)
  5. Dying to Survive (2018)
  English Language:
  1. Forrest Gump (1994)
  2. Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
  3. The King's Speech (2010)
  4. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
  5. Rain Man (1998)

Musical movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
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1. Chinese Language:
  1. I Have a Date with Spring (1994)
  2. Para Para Sakura (2001)
  3. Perhaps Love (2005)
  4. Last Song in Paris (1986)
  5. He’s a Woman, She’s a Man (1994)
  English Language:
  1. The Sound of Music (1965)
  2. La La Land (2016)
  3. My Fair Lady (1964)
  4. Mamma Mia (2008)
  5. Grease (1978)

Epic movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
1. Chinese Language:
  1. Bodyguards and Assassins (2009)
  2. Red Cliff (2008)
  3. The Taking of Tiger Mountain (2014)
  4. The Soong Sisters (1997)
  5. The Warlords (2007)
  English language:
  1. Titanic (1997)
  2. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
  3. Schindler's List (1993)
  4. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
  5. Gladiator (2000)

Detective movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
1. Chinese Language:
  1. Blind Detective (2013)
  2. The Bullet Vanishes (2012)
  3. Detective Dee And The Mystery Of The Phantom Flame (2010)
  4. Eye in the Sky (2007)
  5. Confession of Pain (2006)
  English Language:
  1. Sherlock Holmes (2009)
  2. Chinatown (1974)
  3. Side Effects (2013)
  4. Body Heat (1981)
  5. Fracture (2007)

Cop movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
1. Chinese Language:
  1. Infernal Affairs (2002)
  2. Project Gutenberg (2018)
  3. Cold War 2 (2016)
  4. A Better Tomorrow (1986)
  5. Cold War (2012)
  English Language:
  1. Speed (1994)
  2. Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)
  3. The Fugitive (1993)
  4. The French Connection (1971)
  5. Heat (1995)

Spy movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
1. Chinese Language:
  1. The Accidental Spy (2001)
  2. Tokyo Raiders (2000)
  3. Downtown Torpedoes (1997)
  4. Hot War (1998)
  5. Helios (2015)
  English Language:
  1. Casino Royale (2006)
  2. Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)
  3. Mission Impossible – Fallout (2018)
  4. Jason Bourne (2016)
  5. Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015)

Fantasy movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
1. Chinese Language:
  1. Monster Hunt (2015)
  2. Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons (2013)
  3. Young Detective Dee : Rise of the Sea Dragon (2013)
  4. Painted Skin (2008)
  5. The Monkey King 2 (2016)
  English Language:
  1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011)
  2. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
  3. Alice in Wonderland (2010)
  4. Maleficent (2014)
  5. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

Modern-day action movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
1. Chinese Language:
  1. CZ12 (2012)
  2. First Strike (1996)
  3. Rumble in the Bronx (1995)
  4. Who Am I? (1998)
  5. Operation Red Sea (2018)
  English Language:
  1. Furious 7 (2015)
  2. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
  3. The Fate of the Furious (2017)
  4. Fast Five (2011)
  5. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)

Science fiction movies: Recommending 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
1. 1. Avatar (2009)
  2. ET: The Extra-Terrestrial (1983)
  3. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
  4. The Martian (2015)
  5. Back to the Future (1985)

Animation movies: Recommending 5 English language masterpieces.
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1. 1. Frozen (2013)
  2. Minions (2015)
  3. Zootopia (2016)
  4. Finding Nemo (2003)
  5. Coco (2017)

Courtroom drama movies: Recommending 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
1. 1. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
  2. The Verdict (1982)
  3. A Few Good Men (1992)
  4. And Justice for All (1979)
  5. Erin Brockovich (2000)

Heist movies: Recommending 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
1. 1. Inception (2010)
  2. Ocean's Eleven (2001)
  3. Now You See Me (2013)
  4. The Italian Job (2003)
  5. National Treasure (2004)

Superhero movies: Recommending 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
1. 1. The Dark Knight (2008)
  2. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
  3. Marvel's The Avengers (2012)
  4. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
  5. Black Panther (2018)

Chinese swordsman movies: Recommending masterpieces:
(click open)
1. 1. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
  2. Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (2011)
  3. Hero (2002)
  4. Seven Swords (2005)
  5. Dragon Inn (1992)

Kung Fu movies: Recommending masterpieces.
(click open)
1. 1. The Way of the Dragon (1972)
  2. Fist of Fury (1972)
  3. Enter the Dragon (1973)
  4. Once Upon a Time in China (1991)
  5. Kung Fu Hustle (2004)

Movie Westerns: Recommending masterpieces.
(click open)
1. 1. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
  2. The Magnificent Seven (1960)
  3. A Fistful of Dollars (1967)
  4. High Noon (1952)
  5. How the West was Won (1962)

Now that I have recommended many movies of the past, next time, I shall talk about upcoming movies.

Thank you for reading.

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