I've finally posted it, but these are in no particular order.
1. Contact - 1997, directed by Robert Zemeckis. Based on a novel by the same name from Carl Sagan this movie tells the story of a woman who finds out what happens if we finally make contact with aliens from outer space. This movie has it all, action, drama, romance, and a little humor thrown in. It's completely engulfing and thoroughly entertaining. I watch it at least once a year.
2. The Matrix - 1999, directed by Andy and Lana Wachowski (Yes, they used to be brothers, but now, one has changed over to a female. Larry to Lana.) This is a story about a man who seems like the rest of us, just going through life, work, you know, the usual. One day he learns our lives are not what they seem and finds out he is the chosen one to wake up the entire population to the real world. This movie takes the audience on a magic carpet ride into a place none of us have ever been before. A fantastic, well thought out plot, and rock solid film. One of the most unique movies ever and groundbreaking special effects.
3. Inception - 2010, directed by Christopher Nolan. I know my list is heavy on sci-fi at this point, but there seems to be some incredible imagination in this genre of stories. A team of dream experts are sent into the mind of a man to plant an idea that he must accept as his own. This movie is so complex and fascinating to watch, I pick up on something new every time I see it. Fantastic special effects, a gripping and powerful plot with great acting and a story you cannot stop watching.
4. The Dark Knight - 2008, directed by Christopher Nolan. You notice how Christopher Nolan is on this list twice, that's because he's one of the best directors of our time. This movie took superhero movies to a new level and raised the bar for all other superhero films to follow. The caped crusader and Gotham are under attack by the Joker and Two Face with mind blowing special effects and a story so solid, no one can even come close to beating this plot. It also just happens to have one of the best performances by anyone I've ever seen, Heath Ledger as the Joker shortly before his untimely death. Not only the best superhero movie of all time, but with the intense drama, and perfect plot, this easily slides into my Best Movie list.
5. Artificial Intelligence A.I. - 2001, directed by Steven Spielberg. This one is kinda' messy with Steven Spielberg taking over for directing duties when Stanley Kubrick died before he could finish the project, but the end result is the one movie that has touched me the deepest. I cry every time I see it and it moved me so much that I broke down in the theater when I saw it. Cried so hard I couldn't move for minutes. A little boy that really doesn't understand he's a robot, tries desperately to win the love of his "mother" and will do just about anything to be a real boy. Fantastically interesting idea followed by some incredible special effects and make up.
6. 2001: A Space Odyssey - 1968, directed by Stanley Kubrick. Truly one of a kind idea here. Mankind finds an artificial and alien artifact on the moon and with the help of a computer named HAL, tries to find out where it came from and who made it. This movie is incredibly profound and powerful. This movie should be seen by everyone on the planet at least once, that's how good and important it is.
7. Forrest Gump - 1994, directed by Robert Zemeckis. Although Forrest is not the most intelligent man in the world, he's had one hell of a life with experiences that most of us can only dream of. He makes great business decisions, becomes a decorated war hero, falls in love, and makes some amazing friends. Sweet, thoughtful, and touching, this one will melt your heart and then break it.
8. Lord of the Rings Trilogy - Fellowship of the Ring/The Two Towers/The Return of the King 2001, 2002, 2003, directed all by Peter Jackson. Ah, TLOTR - the best selling book only second to the Bible; what an incredible story this is. An innocent hobbit has the immense and seemingly impossible task of taking the one ring to Mount Doom and destroy it forever. However, he can't do it alone and is sent along with eight companions to help protect him and guide him. A modern day classic. Even if you didn't like the books, you'll like these movies.
9. Star Wars original Trilogy - Star Wars/The Empire Strikes Back/The Return of the Jedi 1977, 1980, 1983 directed by George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, and Richard Marquand respectively. Let's all go to a galaxy far far away and stay there. Let's not talk about the more recently released series that sucked. The originals are classics that are so fantastic with imagination and great iconic characters there's no way that anyone will convince me that these aren't great pieces of cinema history.
10. Shawshank Redemption - 1994, directed by Frank Darabont. There is a reason this film was nominated for 7 Oscars, it's that good. Great acting, fantastic story from the mind of Stephen King, totally engrossing, and so well rounded....you just can't see this film without liking it. Two prisoners bond over many years, and dream of getting out of their daily torture. One is a self admitted murderer, the other, an innocent man who tries to make the most of a very bad situation.
11. Jurassic Park - 1993, directed by Steven Spielberg. Ok, this is probably the weakest movie on my list of great films, but I will say the special effects are amazing and the film really makes you feel like a kid again. The fascination with dinosaurs captures all of our imaginations and this film makes you believe they roam the Earth again. A new theme park suffers a bad electrical malfunction during a storm that allows all of their cloned dinosaurs to run amok on a remote tropical island. I absolutely LOVE Jeff Goldblum in this one.
12. Philadelphia - 1993, directed by Jonathan Demme. Partly based on a true story, a lawyer suffering from AIDS is fired due to his condition and sues his former law firm for a discrimination suit. The acting in this is top notch and won Tom Hanks his first Oscar for best lead actor. The story is strong and powerful and will bring just about anyone to tears. This one is a dramatic heart breaker, but oh so good.
13. L.A. Confidential - 1997, directed by Curtis Hanson. Wow this movie has such a fantastic cast with a great engaging story, it's hard not to get sucked into 1950's Los Angeles. A corrupt band of L.A. police officers aren't the only thing mucking up the reputation of the well-meaning and straight-laced good guys. This one is a mystery right down to the wire. Guy Pearce and Kevin Spacey are hypnotic.
14. Indiana Jones Series - Raiders of the Lost Ark/Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom/Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade/Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull 1981, 1984, 1989, 2008 all directed by Steven Spielberg. Ok so the first 3 are classics and the last one wasn't so good, but I had to put the entire series and judge them all at once. The first three have such an iconic character, with fantastic scores, solid acting, great story lines, and filled with drama, humor, romance, and action that I kinda' gave the last one a free pass. How can you not like Indiana?
15. District 9 - 2009, directed by Neill Blomkamp. Such an original film but with a familiar and unfortunately all too real similarity to our injustices forced on some members of humanity; this is the story of an Earthbound race of aliens that are forced to live in South African slums after they cannot get back to their spaceship because humanity will not let them leave, and will not let them live integrated into society. What's an alien to do? Only one man learns to accept them and trust them after he is exposed to some of their biochemistry. Very imaginative, amazing special effects, heart breaking story, great acting, this one is so hypnotic and mesmerizing, you have to know what's going to happen next. I am so hoping the sequel actually can be made.
16. Momento - 2000, directed by Christopher Nolan. Imaginative and unique story only the Nolan brothers could tell. This is the story of a man who has short term memory loss and uses notes and tattoos to try to find the man he thinks killed his wife. This story is also told going backwards, or in pieces, kind of like the audience is suffering from short term memory loss as well, it's completely genius, but sometimes a bit confusing to follow. This one is a must see for everyone. Guy Pearce is top notch.
All right guys, let me have it. What movie did I leave out that you loved? What was I totally wrong about? I wanna' hear it.
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