Every week at SiftPop.com, we challenge our writers to choose what they think is the best movie under a certain topic related to a recent release. So this week, with the release of The Many Saints of Newark, we’re counting down our favorite movies based on TV shows! Let us know @SiftPop what your ranking is!
I’ll admit, I knew or cared very little for the TV show that A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon came from, and although I’d seen it’s predecessor, I never paid much mind to it following my initial watch way back when. So when I went into the movie, my expectations were tempered. Color me surprised when I ended up not only enjoying the film, but having one of my most enjoyable new movie experiences of the year! On paper, Farmageddon doesn’t sound like anything special; in fact, one may even call it juvenile. However, it’s magic really is in the execution. From the adorable and magical extraterrestrial creature, to the enigmatic titular Shaun, and his flock of friends, this film’s characters create an adventure that’s a roaring good time for anyone. Not to mention that it’s been crafted by the minds at Aardman, whose stop motion craftsmanship is yet to be rivalled (yes, yes Laika, but Aardman have a quaint quality about them that sets them apart). A short, silly, fantastical romp, this is a movie that literally anyone can enjoy, so give it a watch this weekend and enjoy the ride. (Alice-Ginevra Micheli)
The first time I saw Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan was in a packed theater with three of my childhood friends while we were in college. I had never heard of Borat, but I was familiar with The Ali G Show (didn’t have HBO growing up, but it was at least known). I honestly didn’t know what to expect since all I knew were the trailers which made me laugh a lot. This will always go down as one of my favorite theater-going experiences because of how much everyone laughed. Sasha Baron Cohen doesn’t get enough credit for what he’s doing in this and subsequent movies he’s made since. I was not expecting this to be commentary about American culture that still reverberates to this day: America does not have a single set culture but is becoming more and more separated into tribes where different regions have different ways of life that are wildly different. Spliced in between laughs are some dark moments where you see things about America that the rest of the world may not want to see. Coen thankfully shares this not as a “got ya” moment, but revealing how this is the true America. The sequel is also worth noting because this does this but with more humility. (Mike Hilty)
Browncoats wishing for a second season of Firefly, and damning Fox for sabotaging the first has become its own sci-fi cliché. And quite rightly too! Gorram it all, who in the ‘verse do I have to bribe to get more Firefly?!Anyway, although any further televisual installments seem about as likely as a director being allowed to release a four-hour version of a film that had already been released under the stewardship of another director years prior, at least the fans were gifted a film to tie up a few loose ends. In my opinion, Serenity does a great job of being a movie based on a TV show that actually works excellently with no prior knowledge of the show itself. Yes, I watched the criminally few episodes we were given help to add more texture, but the film is incredibly enjoyable even if you are brand new to the crew of this plucky little cowboy ranch in space. In this movie, we are positively spoiled bySummer Glau kicking all of the ass, Nathan Fillion being the captain of the Enterprise that we have always needed but never deserved, and some beautifully epic Star Trek-worthy space combat. The real reason Serenity sticks with me, though, is its climax. A bold and controversial decision is made before the epic finale, which frames the final battle in a way that honestly makes you uncertain who, if any, of our heros are going to survive. One of the rare occasions in an action movie where the stakes feel real and a happy ending is far from guaranteed. Like a leaf on the wind, I shall now depart to continue compiling a compendium of Firefly fan-fiction. Now, how difficult is the cloning process, I wonder? (Ian Whittington)
Three years after being introduced to the world in A Nightmare on Elm Street, Johnny Depp further launched his career by going undercover in our televisions as officer Tom Hanson in the 1987-1991 Fox run of 21 Jump Street. And while Channing Tatum may have already been known for his prior roles, 2012’s 21 Jump Street played a part in launching a new phase of his career as well by offering him the challenge of a leading comedic role in the film adaptation, and boy is the world better for it! This wonderful trip into the recurring nightmare everyone has of returning to high school, gifted to the world by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, is chock full of hilarious reminders of the letterman jacketed, palm sweating days of yesteryear. Tatum and Jonah Hill mesh incredibly naturally as Jenko and Schmidt as they navigate the challenges of being drug busting undercover cops, pretend brothers, fully role-reversed from their original high school tropes in a teenage world that is nothing like the one they left behind. Tatum delivers an especially great performance, and I’m grateful that this film gave him the confidence in his comedic talent to keep it up and deliver further gems down the road. Adding to the joy on this A+ journey we are treated to some brief, but can’t-help-but-smile appearances from the likes of Nick Offerman, Ellie Kemper, Chris Parnell, and of course Rob Riggle as the worst gym teacher since Mr. Woodcock. If you haven’t yet, carve out a couple of hours and enjoy this visit back to your teenage years. Afterwards, do as I did and be thankful that in my case, for most of high school Facebook wasn’t really a thing yet, thus the only photographic evidence I ever dressed so cool, rocking frosted tips and a clear backpack, is hidden safely away from the world in an album somewhere in my parent’s attic… allegedly. (Matt Lawson)
It’s hard not to adore the Oscar-winning The Muppets (2011) isn’t it? It hits every challenge it sets itself. It’s charmingly quaint and funny. Plus it perfectly captures the humour of the original ‘70s/’80s series, but somehow manages to have evolved into modern sensibilities. The plot is a lot like a drive to your favorite holiday spot. Sure it’s familiar, but the journey is still exciting from the anticipation of a feel-good ending you know is coming. Written by and starring Jason Segel with Amy Adams playing his woman-in-waiting while he spends too much time with his best friend Walter, a literal Muppet. Chris Cooper plays the antagonist Rich Texman, and even sings a tune for us. I love his maniacal laugh bit. The original songs are pretty great too, qualified by winning an Oscar for original song “Man or Muppet,” written by Flight of the Conchords’ Bret McKenzie. The main cast are great — Adam’s is especially memorable as Mary. Her performance during her solo songs are a lot of fun, and show a side of her rarely seen. Filled with a ton of fun and funny cameos, The Muppets is a delight for even the casually casual fan of the show or many other movies spawned by these cotton creatures. (Adam Ritchie)
Now Aaron’s policy is delivering the best BEC possible, but taking the time to cross a movie from the list of shame is my policy, one that thankfully leaves Shakespeare in the park intact. Yes, this week I’m tackling the comedy classic The Naked Gun, a film that is able to do perfectly what many modern comedies can’t even come close to doing: make a bunch of straight laced performances in some greatly absurd moments. This film is why Leslie Nielsen is an all-time great, always able to keep a straight face in some downright hilarious scenes. I can’t help but crack up at a moment’s notice, with a glorious comedy that’s parodying the detective drama. Not to mention one of, in my opinion, the best actors to portray a villain in Ricardo Montalbán. Also, The Juice himself is in this film, which provides a glimpse into what it was like before his life took a… let’s say drastic turn (also, had a coworker who told me he never knew where O.J. got his nickname from). So if you’re looking for a good laugh in the veins of slapstick taking itself seriously, much like Airplane!, The Naked Gun is worthy of the time to watch it. Fun fact, by the way, Weird Al Yankovic would take dates to this movie, and if that’s not a life goal, then I don’t know what is. (Joseph Davis)
The very title is a puerile phallic joke, and as easy as it is to chalk that up to the juvenile sense of humor of Trey Parker and Matt Stone, it’s actually part of the point of the movie. Being that BLU – as nobody calls it – was meant for theatrical release, and not TV airtime, the creators of South Park knew they had free reign where the language was concerned. Cartoon violence was already much less of an issue, and they used that to steer into their point. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut turned into a statement about the disparity between violence and adult language on television: what’s censored where and what you’re allowed to say in certain types of media. It’s inherently the same as the show in every other way – though perhaps with a few more invasions of Canadian territory, but hey — but the longform story could have been a multi-episode arc on the show if not for the restrictions on language. Mrs. Broflovski states the point of the movie outright at one point: “Horrific, deplorable violence is okay, as long as people don’t say any naughty words!” I’ll leave you to consider what it means when a movie whose title is a crude joke asks its audience to consider exactly what kind of content they’re being allowed to watch in certain venues, and which they aren’t. (Chris Bakker)
Who has watched a procedural drama or two over the course of their lives? Who wouldn’t want to spend week after week with Elliot Ness? Over time, TV shows have been able to evolve into a darling art form with plenty of talent being drawn to the medium. But the adventures of Mr. Ness in the world Prohibition and Capone were ripe for the big screen with The Untouchables. The legendary gangster is brought to life with pizzazz and force by acting legend Robert De Niro, and must avoid the efforts of the lawful good Treasury Officer Ness (portrayed by the young and upstart Kevin Costner). Director Brian DePalma packs this film with impressive shots, big violence, and suspense to spare while paired with another top-notch score from Ennio Morricone. But what is the biggest selling point to me? Seek it out and witness the performance that gave Sean Connery his Oscar (which was surely well-deserved with this veteran performance). (Shane Conto)
Long before the Mission: Impossible film series was a multi-billion dollar giant, before Limp Bizkit asked us to “Take a Look Around,” and before Tom Cruise had even made his first film, we had Mission: Impossible, the 1966 television series. A quaint Cold War era espionage tv procedural. Now, over 50 years later, it has turned into an empire culminating in one of the greatest action films ever made, Mission: Impossible — Fallout. From top to bottom, this movie is exceptional. It takes all of the elements that were successful in previous iterations of the series and amplifies them to a higher level. It showcases some of the the most intense white-knuckle action you could ever imagine including an anxiety-fueled skydiving scene and a helicopter chase that will have you spinning. This is a cracker-jack movie deserving of the highest praise. Be sure to check out Fallout when you get the chance. (Heath Lynch)
1993’s The Fugitive, based on the TV show of the same name, follows Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) who — just so we’re clear — didn’t kill his wife! Given the countless iconic roles we’ve seen from Ford over the years, it can be easy to forget what an excellent dramatic actor he is, but his terrific performance in The Fugitive solidifies his status as one of the greatest movie stars of all time. Wrongfully convicted in the murder of his wife, Kimble becomes a fugitive of the law as he is pursued by Deputy Samuel Gerard, flawlessly portrayed by one Tommy Lee Jones, whose Oscar-winning role in the film is the textbook definition of a scene-stealer. The cat-and-mouse dynamic between Kimble and Gerard is even more fascinating once you realize that neither one of these characters is the villain. Kimble is on a mission to prove his innocence while Gerard is simply trying to do his job, and by the end of the movie, both men understand that. Intelligent, fast-paced, and strangely quotable, The Fugitive is a true thriller in every sense of the word. Watch it. (Foster Harlfinger)
The Simpsons Movie
This movie, as some would say, came out when The Simpsons was past their prime. Many didn’t give this movie the time of day. Then there was me, who dragged my very pregnant fiance out to a movie theater almost two hours away to the early midnight showing of it on release day. Let me tell you, bud — this movie delivered. It was prime, classic Simpsons humor that dared to be shown on the big screen, from the prologue all the way to Green Day’s Simpsons theme cover, this moving ROCKS. It wasn’t just an extended episode, drawn out of 90 minutes. It was a cinematic story that could only be told as a movie with its widescreen cinematic presence and bountiful PENIS! (Frank Kemp)
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
The granddaddy of TV-shows-turned-movies has to be Star Trek. TOS or “those old scientists” as they’re better known, had a great run in the ‘60s and found new life on syndication in the ‘70s; but once they broke into the movies, the franchise only grew from there and solidified itself as one of the greatest franchises of all time. I love them all to varying degrees, but my personal favorite is Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. This entry most encapsulates the social commentary and mystery elements of the show combined with the adventure and excitement of a ‘90s movie. The late, great Christopher Plummer plays this entry’s villain, General Chang, a Shakespeare-loving Klingon out to ensure that the Federation and the Klingon Empire will never have peace. The conspiracy to frame Kirk for the assassination of the Klingon Prime Minister was fun and full of twists. This was also a perfect final outing for the cast of the original Enterprise (no bloody A, B, C, or D!). I’ll be honest, there may be some nostalgia bias at play here because it was the first Trek movie I ever saw on the big screen. But like a vaporized pot of mashed potatoes, this movie set off a ship wide alarm in my heart! (Nick Ferro)
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
The hip crew of the Bebop are well-known by adoring fans for their exploits across the galaxy hunting down bounties. The exclamation mark of this experience is in 2001’s Cowboy Bebop: The Movie. The film itself plays out like a lost entry of the Bebop crew that falls in between Episodes 22 and 23 of the main series. Cowboy Bebop as a show already provides one of the sleekest experiences in all of anime, but the movie kicks things up a notch with this trip to the big screen. The stakes have never been higher for Spike, Jet, Faye, Ed and the ever-adorable data dog himself, Ein. When chasing down a routine bounty head, they are confronted with the enigmatic Vincent, an ex-military squad member/bio terrorist with a serious chip on his shoulder and it is up to the crew of misfits to stop his devious endeavor. Director Shinichiro Watanabe is one of the brightest talents to come out of anime, and he utilizes this larger budget to its full extent with some gorgeous and fluid animation. To get the full experience, it is recommended to ingest the fantastic world he has created via the anime series (which spans 26 episodes. 27 if you include this film). Enjoy the vast space western galaxy that Watanabe has crafted and SEE YOU SPACE COWBOY… (Joe Vargas)
Addams Family Values
While the initial Addams Family flick is solid, I think Addams Family Values is a step above. There’s a lot to juggle in the sequel. The Addams have a new baby — earning the ire of Wednesday (Christina Ricci) and Pugsley (Jimmy Workman) — while a black widow heiress (Joan Cusack) targets Uncle Fester (Christopher Lloyd). The cast from the original that made the first film a fun experience return after successfully bringing the ‘60s TV classic to the big screen. While that’s a plus, I think the bigger reason this works better is the improved plot. Case in point: everything about Wednesday Addams in summer camp. Wednesday is my favorite part of these films and the Thanksgiving play is the best scene of the entire Addams Family cinematic cannon. Watching the saccharine counselors, played by Christine Baranski and Peter MacNicol, get their comeuppance is glorious. Even if you don’t have nostalgia for these films, this one in particular is worth a look. (Jake Bourgeois)
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
I’ve said it before and I will say it again, if you haven’t yet seen The Man from U.N.C.L.E. yet, you need to watch it immediately. Yeah, I said immediately. Do you like action/adventure movies? How about spy thrillers? Comedies? Boom. This is the movie for you. This may also be one of Guy Ritchie’s most criminally underseen and underappreciated films. I should probably give the warning that Armie Hammer is a lead, but if you can get past that, the chemistry between the leads is fantastic. Hammer, Henry Cavill, and Alicia Vikander are all giving top-tier and fun performances and play brilliantly off one another. Hugh Grant shows up, too! In all seriousness, it’s a really wonderful spy film with all the cornerstones of a fun Ritchie flick. If you are looking for a great little spy movie, please look no further than this movie. I promise you it will be worth your time. (Nashua Doll)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
In 1990, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was no longer an animated television series — it was now a theatrical film. It was the first time we see Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo in the flesh, taking on New York City, along with April O’ Neil and Casey Jones, trying to save their Master Splinter from Shredder and his Foot Clan. The ‘90s version aimed for the teens and not so much for kids, being on the darker, gritty side, but still having the light, comedic side as well. It gave us some fun fight sequences and great puppeteering done by the late great Jim Henson. The film became a trilogy, along with a reboot in 2014. The original will always give nostalgia. The first moment of seeing the turtles on the big screen was anything better than a 27 inch TV. After 30 years, TMNT has become a cult classic and a childhood favorite by many. (Chantal Ashford)
Charlie’s Angels
First thing’s first: this mini-review — or blurb, if you wish — is for the “OG” Charlie’s Angels from 2000, staring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu. And yes, I have seen the latest attempt to bring it to a newer audience, but don’t even get my started on that. Actually, let’s do that, as the main difference between those films sums up exactly why I still like the 2000’s version better. It’s way more fun and they don’t feel the need to mention they are women at all. That’s right, in 2000’s version, you won’t find any dialogue that mentions their sex, because they don’t feel like asking for permission to kick ass — they just do. They are smart, funny, and sexy, and utilize all three of these attributes to succeed in any mission they do. Plus, each one brings something different — Cameron is the bubbly one, Lucy is the serious one, and Drew is the “most normal” one. But they all are awesome in what they do and their chemistry works. Is this film some sort of masterpiece? No. But is it still a great film with an amazing cast (young Sam Rockwell, Tim Curry, Bill Murray and more)? Hell yeah. It is as 2000s as it gets, and you will either love it or hate it for it. (Luke Burian)
Scooby-Doo
I grew up watching Scooby-Doo animated reruns on Cartoon Network, and when a live action movie was announced, I knew I needed to see it. Scooby-Doo (2002)tells the story of the Mystery Gang at the height of their popularity in Coolsville breaking up and going solo. Then one day, Shaggy (Matthew Lillard), Scooby, Fred (Freddie Prince Jr), Daphne (Sarah Michelle Geller), and Velma (Linda Cardellini) are tracked down by Spooky Island Theme Park owner Mondavarious (Rowan Atkinson) to solve a big mystery. Still being mad at each other, the team tries to solve the mystery alone until they realize they need to work together. This live action film was written by James Gunn and is absolutely bonkers in the best way possible. The film is funny and clever and has a real threat for the gang other than just a guy in a mask. Matthew Lillard is absolutely incredible as Shaggy and really understands the character he is playing. Scooby-Doo has heart and I still love this movie even today after so many rewatches growing up. Scooby-Doo is a franchise that has lasted and still puts out excellent content. If you haven’t seen this movie, it is currently streaming on HBO Max. Go check it out. (Austen Terry)
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