My Dinner with Andre, The Incredibles, Pulp Fiction

Jung-Ho Pak
Artistic director/conductor, San Diego Chamber Orchestra

2001 is an example of how to execute a brilliant screenplay while still elevating the vision into a more profound work of art. Kubrick’s eye for combining steely objectivity with tense emotional subtext is masterful. I love Kubrick’s audacious courage to follow his individual voice. Kubrick’s score is entirely made up of classical music. Richard Strauss’s Also Sprach Zarathustra is beautifully matched by the meaning of the opening evolutionary scene, and so goes with his brilliant integration of works by Ligeti, Strauss, Shostakovich, and Khachaturian.

My Dinner with Andre is an art-house hit that helped launch Wallace Shawn’s long and quirky career. Blending reality and fiction in the most simple way, it’s a great demonstration of how a simple human exchange can be as absorbing as any Hollywood blockbuster.

2001 - A Space Odyssey (England/USA) 1968, Warner
My Dinner with Andre (USA) 1981, Fox Lorber

Paige Satter
Artistic administrator/education outreach coordinator, San Diego Chamber Orchestra

Two words about Raiders of the Lost Ark: John Williams. There’s no question that when you hear the trumpets play four simple notes, Indie’s nearby, the treasure will be saved, and the bad guy’s about to get it. King of the leitmotif, Williams has composed music for nearly 90 films.

Set in Paris at the turn of the 20th Century, Moulin Rouge combines the brilliant imagination of director Baz Luhrmann, operatic themes from La Boheme and La Traviata, and song compilations that include lyrics by Elton John, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Nirvana, Madonna, the Beatles, and more.

The Incredibles is perfect for the entire family. The writing is grown-up friendly and the story is witty and creative. I like it because it sends a message of confidence to girls, and the interaction between Holly Hunter and Craig T. Nelson is fantastic.

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (USA) 1981, Paramount
Moulin Rouge! (Australia/USA) 2001, 20th Century Fox
The Incredibles (USA) 2004, Walt Disney

Tyler Richards Hewes
Executive director, San Diego Chamber Orchestra, www.sdco.org

The gangster-noir Pulp Fiction ushered in an era of rapid dialogue, pop-culture references, and deadpan humor. The extras on the Collector’s Edition are excellent, and include deleted and expanded scenes, Charlie Rose’s interview of Tarantino, and a great pop-up video feature.

HBO’s Band of Brothers tells the story of Easy Company and their battles in WWII. Extras include a video diary by actor Ron Livingston, a documentary featuring the real veterans of Easy Company, and a field guide that gives insight to the real events.

The Godfather and The Godfather: Part II are two of the greatest films ever produced. The Corleone family’s story is tragedy at its finest, transcending the “mob movie” and delivering very human tales of ambition and familial duty. Enjoy the first two and use Part III as a beverage coaster.

Pulp Fiction (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) (USA) 1994, Miramax
Band of Brothers (USA) 2002, HBO
The Godfather DVD Collection (USA) 1972–’90, Paramount