The 10 Most Popular Movies Of All Time -- A Cheat Sheet (Part 2)

Are you a movie dunce? Do you not know yourShawshank Redemption tells the story of Andy
Corleone from your Kurosawa? Would youDufresne, a successful banker wrongly convicted
recognise a lightsaber if it hit you in the face?for the murder of his wife and her lover. Given
Well, don't panic. To help you catch up on yourtwo life sentences, Dufresne is sent to the
movie knowledge here's the second instalment inmaximum security Shawshank Prison where he
your 2-part crash course in the top 10 movies ofbefriends Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding, a lifer who
all time, as voted by the readers of the Internethelps him adjust to prison life.
Movie Database. Careful, though... here be spoilers.Over the next twenty years their friendship
5. Casablancagrows while Andy has a positive effect on the
Hiding out in Casablanca, Morocco during Worldinmates, helping to establish a prison library and
War II, exiled American and former freedomeducation system. Unfortunately, the
fighter Rick Blaine passes the time running amean-spirited and criminal warden beats down
popular nightspot. Blaine's tedium is interruptedAndy's spirit until he finally escapes through a
when Czech Resistance leader Victor Laszlotunnel that took him two decades to dig.
arrives with his beautiful wife Ilsa -- Blaine'sIn a final act of revenge Andy exposes the
ex-lover.warden's crimes, driving him to suicide to avoid
Blaine holds the key to Laszlo's safe passage outbeing sent to prison. Red is later released on
of the country, and Ilsa offers herself to him inparole, and tracks down Andy to a beach in
exchange for her husband's safety. Blaine facesMexico.
the choice of sacrificing Laszlo to win back Ilsa,Quote: Get busy living, or get busy dying.
but in the end decides to do the honorable thing...Trivia: The mugshots of Morgan Freeman as a
Quote: If that plane leaves the ground and you'reyoung man are actually pictures of his real life
not with him, you'll regret it. Maybe not today.son, Alfonso.
Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest1. The Godfather
of your life.Adapted from Mario Puzo's seminal Mafia novel,
Trivia: The line 'Here's lookin' at you, kid' wasthe first instalment of The Godfather movie
voted the 5th most well known movie line intrilogy sees Don Vito Corleone, head of the
history by the American Film Institute.Corleone crime family, struggle with the realities
4. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the Kingof a changing world. When he refuses to work
The third and final instalment of the Lord of thewith drug dealer Virgil Sollozzo in a scheme to
Rings trilogy, The Return of the King offers anpush heroin in New York, he falls foul of Sollozzo's
epic finale to Frodo's quest (thousands of extrasbackers the Tattaglia family.
took part in the filming to add to the drama).When Vito is wounded in an attempted
Finally arriving at Mt. Doom, Frodo is overcome byassassination his son Michael -- previously
exhaustion and the stress of bearing the Ring.determined to have nothing to do with the family
Helped by Sam, Frodo manages to make his waybusiness -- volunteers to kill Sollozzo. Following the
into the volcano.execution Michael is sent to Sicily to hide out until
At the last moment he finds himself unable toit is safe to return.
throw the Ring into the magma, choosing insteadAfter Michael's brother Sonny is executed by the
to wear it. Gollum, surviving Frodo's earlierrival Barzini family, Michael safely returns and
attempt on his life, attacks Frodo and bites off histakes his place as the head of the family in time
finger, removing the ring. Losing his grip, Gollumto see Vito Corleone die of a heart attack. In
falls into the pit along with the Ring, breaking itsrevenge for the attacks on his family Michael
hold over Frodo and killing Sauron.arranges for the murder of the heads of the
With Sauron's death his army is destroyed, just inother families, to take place during the baptism
time to save the army of Men, poised to fight toceremony of his nephew.
the death at the gates of Mordor.Following the baptism Michael orders the execution
Quote: Come on, Mr. Frodo. I can't carry it forof the father of the baptised child -- and his own
you... but I can carry you.brother in-law -- Carlo Rizzi, in retribution for
Trivia: The Return of the King used over sevenCarlo's role in setting up Sonny's death. The movie
times the number of special effects shots used inends with the widow, Michael's sister Connie,
an average movie.suspecting that Michael was involved in Carlo's
3. The Godfather: Part IIdeath.
Split between two timelines, the second instalmentQuote: I'll make him an offer he can't refuse.
of The Godfather trilogy follows Don VitoTrivia: Sofia Coppola, the director's daughter,
Corleone through his adolescence in Sicily and Newplayed the baby baptised at the end of the
York during the early 20th Century, and later hismovie. She returned to play the role of Michael's
rise to power as a Mafia Don. It also returns to adaughter Mary in The Godfather: Part III).
point a few years after the conclusion of the firstSo there you have it. If you've been paying
movie, with Michael Corleone running the familyattention you should now have just enough
interests following his father's death.knowledge of the top ten movies of all time to
After learning that his brother Fredo has betrayedbluff your way through a conversation with a
the family, Michael must order his execution.movie buff. These bare bones won't take you
Quote: I know it was you Fredo. You broke myfar, though, so I suggest you set aside some
heart. You broke my heart!time, get a big bucket of popcorn, sit back and
Trivia: Robert de Niro won an Oscar for hisenjoy the best of Hollywood. You won't be
portrayal of a young Vito Corleone. De Niro anddisappointed.
Marlon Brando are the only actors to win OscarsJames Shenton is a freelance writer and
for the portrayal of the same character.Hollywood expert whose writing can be an
2. The Shawshank Redemptionextremely useful resource in helping your
Based on a novella by Steven King, Theknowledge of the movie business.