Best First Time Watches in 2021-Part 2

Today I'm continuing my countdown of films I watched for the first time this year that came out before 2021. If you missed the first two yesterday, check out the post, then read on to find out which films landed at my number 8 and 7 spots.

8. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020)

This film is one of those occasions where the sequel can't possibly come close to matching the original, yet somehow this film managed to do just that and more. Not only is Sasha Baron Cohen a much bigger name and better known face around the United States in 2020 than when he made the original Borat in 2006, but everyone has a smartphone in their pocket these days, which they didn't at that time. It's harder and harder to keep prying eyes away from movie shoots these days, which is why this film feels even more incredible.

I urge you to go back and read my original review of the film. What I will say here is that some of the scenes stuck with my and I think it's a testament to the brilliance of this type of filmmaking that it can get recognized by not only the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild, and the Writers Guild of America, but the British Academy of Film and even the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. HIGH FIVE!

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7. Seven Samurai (1954)

It's a little bitter sweet that I put this film on this list of top films as it's a reminder of something I had high hopes of achieving this year, yet also fell by the wayside. I started the year working on watching a new film every week in my 52 Week Film Challenge but only got a few weeks into the year before the task became a bit much for where I was in life a year ago. That said, I am hoping to give it another go this year. For anyone interested in joining me, I will be posting a bit more about it after the Christmas holiday.

But on to the film itself. Considered a classic by just about any measure, there is so much in this film to digest. Many of today's directors are obviously influenced by Kurosawa's filmmaking, not the least of which was George Lucas when he made Star Wars. The style of the film has been reflected down through the intervening decades, and I found it interesting that Star Wars even returned to a VERY Kurosawa style and story with the release of the Visions anime short films this summer on Disney+. I highly encourage anyone interested in this film style to check out "The Duel" either just before or just after watching Seven Samurai. The similarities are obvious, and it was incredible to see Star Wars bring that style full circle.

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