Time really does fly past. 2015 is the year of several film anniversaries from The Sound of Music to Pretty Woman, but let’s a look at those that are closer to home and our fave era – the naughty noughties. Here’s a list of fifteen-year-old-to-be films that provoke nostalgia… or perhaps a little bit of ageing misery over how old you’ve become.
1. Gladiator
It was the film that made Russell Crowe known to the world. The Academy Award-winning film tells a story of a Roman soldier who is betrayed by his own allies and gradually seeks his revenge as a gladiator who has more influence over the crowd than the emperor-villain himself. Gladiator will hit its milestone in May. I am Gluteus Maximus the second…
2. Mission: Impossible II
A homage to Hitchcock’s Notorious theme-wise, the sequel to Mission: Impossible is about agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) on a mission to prevent a virus from being released by a terrorist – but in true filmic fashion, his mission is interrupted by another party. It leaves you on the edge of your seat fifteen times over as it celebrates its 15th anniversary on May 24.
3. Cast Away
Tom Hanks is Chuck Noland in Cast Away – stranded on an isolated island due to a plane crash. Chuck has to learn how to survive without any contact with the outside world, leaving us wrecked with worry and tears. It will celebrate its anniversary on December 22. Sob, sob, sob.
4. Centre Stage
Centre Stage danced its way into our hearts and continues to keep on movin’ and shakin’ in there. The film focuses on a group of ambitious dancers from different backgrounds entering the world of professional ballet. Each deal with the stresses that that world puts upon their shouldwrs. Centre Stage will celebrate its milestone on May 12.
5. Shanghai Noon
This buddy movie charmed us and continues to do so. Mixing martial arts and Western together, Shanghai Noon is about a Chinese imperial guard (Jackie Chan) on a mission to rescue a princess in the Wild West. On this journey, he encounters a smart-mouthed cowboy (Owen Wilson) who helps him, eventually forming an unlikely friendship. Shanghai Noon will celebrate its milestone on May 26.
6. X-Men
X-Men is considered to be the superhero film that influenced later films due to its success, and it’s the film that made Hugh Jackman (and his creepy slicy hands) known to the world. It centres on a group of gifted mutants, the X-Men, who become involved in a conflict when the villainous Magneto (Ian McKellen) plans to unnaturally transform all humans into mutants. In other words, human extinction. X-Men will celebrate its milestone on July 14.
7. Billy Elliot
Teaching us to live our dreams no matter what, Billy Elliot is a heart-warming film about a boy who aspires to be a ballet dancer, against the wishes of his alpha-macho brother and father. He learns to deal with the expectations placed on his and all the negativity associated with male dancers. Celebrating 15 years on September 22, Billy Elliot was eventually adapted for the stage as a musical and like the film, it was a success.
8. Charlie’s Angels
Charlie how your angels get down like that? Revitalising girl-power and female-led action/comedy, Charlie’s Angels was a hit. The film focuses on a trio of highly-trained detectives on a mission to protect a billionaire and retrieve his stolen voice-recognition software, but be prepared for a plot twist. Charlie’s Angels will celebrate its anniversary in early November.
9. Chocolat
It was the film that sparked your appetite and left you drooling. Chocolat centres on a single mother with a dream of owning her own chocolate shop. Once she does open a store, her unique chocolates cause controversy and temptation in her traditional village. Get your box of chocolate and dim your lights for the film’s anniversary on December 15. Stupid, sexy Johnny Depp.
10. Bring It On
It was the film that was a part of your teen life and underpinned the spirit of the ‘90s. Celebrating its 15th year on August 25, Bring It On is a cult classic following a high school cheerleading team trying to make their way to the highest-ranking competition through creating an original routine…since they unknowingly cheated to the top in the past.