My 100 Favorite Movies with Reviews (20-16)

20. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

Those who know me well know that I enjoy cheesy sci-fi B-movies of the ‘50s. However, despite when this was made and some aged special effects, this is by no means a B-movie. It’s an intelligent, suspenseful, well-made film with a great script.

The plot is that an alien ship lands in Washington, DC, and the humanoid alien is immediately shot by a paranoid soldier. This then reveals a robot that has the power to make all weapons aimed at him disappear. The alien, named Klaatu, is taken to a doctor where he says he wants to meet with every nation’s leader at once because he has something important to share. The US does not want the USSR to be involved, so Klaatu escapes and hides out at a boarding house.

He befriends a single mother and her little boy as he still tries to find a way to meet with leaders of all nations. The middle of the film, while containing no action, is still interesting because the script, actors, and characters work so well.

In the end this is just a great movie, filled with a strong and effective anti-war message and some wonderful religious symbolism. When I first saw this movie, I love it, and that has never change. In fact, it gets better every time I see it.

19. Vertigo (1958)

Vertigo is a truly captivating film with the most complicated mystery plot, romance, and lead performance I’ve ever seen.

Arguably Hitchcock’s best film (though not my favorite) this is a slow-moving suspense film that covers themes of obsession, deception, and loss.

A retired police detective (James Stewart in what I would argue is the greatest performance of all time) is hired to keep an eye on his old friend’s wife, who is believed to be somehow possessed by someone long dead. Some of these scenes are actually my favorite parts of the movie. It’s slow moving but it lures you in the way only Hitchcock can and fills you with some beautiful images of San Francisco as well as some wonderfully chilling visuals. In addition to this, the musical score is absolutely amazing. With perhaps one exception which you will see later on the list, I’ve never seen a movie utilize a score so well. The music is chilling, understated, thrilling when it needs to be, and quite sad at times.

There is a plot twist about halfway through the film that I am not going to give away because it is so magnificent. While not entirely realistic, it works so well in the movie because of the way it’s been lead up to.

What follows is Jimmy Stewart’s character falling madly in love and then basically going insane, and this is what I mean when I say it’s the greatest performance I’ve ever seen.

This is a difficult movie to describe because it is so unique. I’ve never seen another movie that bears any resemblance to this, really. Even the complexity of Chinatown’s plot is completely different than this. All I can say is this has to be seen to be believed.

18. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

This is how you end a trilogy. It’s visually satisfying, powerful, heroic, and entertaining as hell. It’s really no surprise that this won so many damn Academy Awards and it’s not because of lack of competition; this movie really is that good.

This is far better than The Two Towers because again, it focuses mostly on the Hobbits. The battle of Pelennor Fields and the Siege of Gondor and Osgiliath are all great, of course, but really the film focuses on the struggle of Frodo and Sam, and those are the most interesting parts. Of course, they’re being led by Gollum, whom the film provides some attention-grabbing backstory on, and who finally gets his due as a character. You knew it was coming and it doesn’t disappoint.

My favorite individual scene is all the stuff with Shelob, the giant spider, but not just because it’s a great action scene. It’s great because it’s about the heroism of Sam, how he fights for Frodo’s life even though he has himself been rejected. Great action scenes are always made all the more greater by what’s going on with the characters.

The argument has been used that the ending goes on a little too long. I disagree. I think the roughly half-hour following the climax—while not entirely needed—adds a great deal of power to the theme of sacrifice prevalent throughout the series. Everyone who went through the whole ordeal has completely changed, and it is up to the individual to determine if it is for the best. A wonderful film, satisfying on every level.

17. The Wizard of Oz (1939)

This is probably the most timeless film of all time. If someone says they dislike this movie, I literally refuse to associate myself with them. Why, you ask? Because it’s so transcendent of time, of age, that it has become such a fixture on American culture. I once hear that this is the most watched movie in history and it doesn’t surprise me one bit. While primarily for younger audiences, it is still quite satisfying for older audiences because the story, characters, and music are ultimately irresistible.

I’m sure you’re all familiar with the plot, and likely every single one of you but Maria Howe has seen this movie, so I’ll spare you the plot details.

The music and dialogue are so memorable. “Over the Rainbow,” and lines like “there’s no place like home” and “I’ve got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore” are so wonderful that just about everyone is familiar with them.

But overall, this movie is fun. It’s a fantasy story that is escapist entertainment at its best; it draws you in to its fantasy world. The singing, the dancing, the costumes, and the visuals are all so much fun.

16. Unforgiven (1992)

Does it make any sense that in my list I have gone immediately from the happiest movie of all time to one of the most brutal, bittersweet, and dark films? Well that’s the beauty of Unforgiven.

It’s a revisionist western, seemingly made by Eastwood to dispel all the myths of his old films like A Fistful of Dollars and Hang ‘Em High, and all other westerns before him. In this film each bullet fired means something and every death or murder has an effect.

The film opens with a violent crime in a brothel that I would actually argue is the film’s weakest point; it literally all gets better after that. The men guilty of nearly killing the prostitute are let off by Sheriff Little Bill (Gene Hackman) extremely easily. It comes to retired gunner William Munny’s (Clint Eastwood) attention that a hefty sum is being offered to whoever kills the two men, so he sets off with his old partner Ned (Morgan Freeman) and the Schofield Kid.

Little Bill, though, is so intent on having order in his town that he brutally beats anyone who comes to kill the two criminals. That’s another wonderful thing about this movie; there’s not really a clear-cut good and evil. Ultimately the climactic scene shows even Munny—entirely up to that point to seem completely different from his older days—becoming a violent murderer, though the audience can at least sympathize with his reasons.

This is extremely satisfying as a piece of character development. The script is one of my favorites of all time because there is so much development devoted to every single one of the characters. Hell, even English Bob’s ghostwriter has an important scene. In addition to this, it has some of the most wonderful dialogue ever written. It has the one-liners that made Eastwood’s younger days so iconic, but here they’re spit with brutality rather than in a kind of tongue-in-cheek way.

And in the end, this film is satisfying to anyone who enjoys a damn good gunfight. While certainly more a drama than an action film, the ending is one of the greatest action scenes of all time—again largely due to the fact that there’s so much going on with the characters.

This is of course a wonderfully made film. Eastwood won his first two Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture, and was nominated for Best Actor in a very competitive year. And Gene Hackman won an incredibly-deserved Oscar for his supporting role.

My 100 Favorite Movies with Reviews (25-21)

25. The Godfather Part II (1974)

Yes, this is my favorite Godfather movie. Why, you ask? Mostly because of the backstory of Vito Corleone, a young Italian immigrant played by Robert De Niro who would of course later become Marlon Brando. It’s such a captivating and revealing look at the dark side of the American dream and why organized crime exists.

In addition to this, it shows Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) a few years after the first film, in which he is every bit as ruthless as he was at the end. This narrative is very strong, too, but I do prefer the flashbacks to Vito’s youth.

This is a very long movie but it’s entertaining the whole way through. Michael emerges as a true villain and you can’t take your eyes off him.

24. The Searchers (1956)

One of the most emotionally resonant of all westerns and probably John Wayne’s best film, The Searchers is the story of Ethan Edwards (Wayne) hopelessly pursuing the Indians who killed his family and kidnapped his niece. Edwards is such an interesting character because he has your sympathies for what happened to him and his family but he’s also a racist and a great deal of what he does in the film is very wrong. This is what makes this stand up better than a lot of the old westerns: the social problems it addresses.

The scenery is absolutely beautiful, filmed in John Ford’s favorite location of Monument Valley. The music perfectly accentuates the scope.

This movie has a good deal of comic relief, too, such as the wedding scene, which has me laughing out loud every time I see it.

It’s got great characters, some great scenes of action, and some very powerful moments. Definitely worth seeing.

23. GoodFellas (1990)

GoodFellas, to my limited knowledge, is the most accurate film depiction of life in the mafia. It’s exciting, suspenseful, entertaining, provocative, and occasionally funny.

It’s a Martin Scorsese film and my favorite of all of his that I’ve seen. Everything about it is wonderful—its acting and its characters, its captivating story about the rise and fall of someone in organized crime.

The directing is really outstanding. This is one of those movies you absolutely need to see before you die.

22. The Right Stuff (1983)

I think the only possible complaint someone could have on this movie is that it’s very long. But in its defense, how could you make a film of the Mercury Program and make it any less than three hours? There’s so much history and information in this movie that it really had to be as long as it is.

The Right Stuff is an epic film on the origins of the Space Race, and all the American heroes that were a part of it. But it starts with planes and the breaking of the sound barrier, perfectly setting up the theme of the rapid changing of technology and the earth.

It’s a very interesting movie, full of historical detail, character development, outstanding acting by an ensemble cast, and some great examples of true American heroism.

21. Schindler’s List (1993)

Schindler’s List is certainly one of the greatest films ever made. Steven Spielberg directs the Holocaust drama wonderfully, capturing the horrors of the Holocaust and including his signature inspirational humanism.

It’s a brutal film and quite difficult to watch, the main reason why I’ve only seen it once. It’s a movie you need to be in the mood to see, but it’s also a movie that will certainly not let you down. It’s so well acted and well made, and is incredibly powerful.

My 100 Favorite Movies with Reviews (30-26)

30. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

I fail to acknowledge that this had any sequels because it is basically the perfect action/adventure movie to begin with. It never should have had sequels. It has great action, an interesting fantasy premise, memorable characters and performances, excellent stuntwork, and it fills you with a wonderful sense of adventure for the high seas.

While the sword fights and the pirate ship battles are certainly great, what makes this better than just a good action movie is the characters, particularly Jack Sparrow. Johnny Depp does such a great job playing him, making him humorous and mysterious; you’re never certain if he’s good or bad because the second you’re convinced one way, he does something that contradicts your thoughts. Because of Depp and Sparrow, the film doesn’t feel nearly as long as it is, at almost two and a half hours.

29. Strangers on a Train (1951)

Alfred Hitchcock’s simultaneously completely believable and ridiculous thriller/noir also happens to be one of the greatest black comedies ever made.

The film starts off right away with two strangers meeting on a train. It turns out they both have someone in their lives that would make it easier if they were to be dead. Bruno Antony (Robert Walker) proposes the idea that they swap murders, which they have a nice laugh at. However, Antony was completely serious.

Guy Haines (Farley Granger) finds out that his wife is dead and he is the prime suspect, though there is no physical evidence against him, preventing an arrest. The rest of the film is Antony intimidating him and trying to convince him to kill Antony’s father, or else threatening to frame him for his wife’s murder.

It’s a fascinating premise, one that is so darkly humorous and ridiculous yet somehow extremely believable. I remember my father telling me the premise of this movie years before I ever saw it and I thought it sounded like a great movie. However, my father failed to express just how entertaining it is.

It’s highlighted by a great and underrated villain in Bruno Antony, and accentuated by a great sense of humor. There are some great set pieces and Hitchcock’s signature suspense I’d argue is better in this than in any other film except maybe Rear Window and Psycho.

28. Miracle (2004)

The Miracle on Ice is probably the greatest moment in sports history and this is the film that the game deserved. My favorite of the Disney sports movies—which are all pretty damn good—is great because of the great story it’s based on, and because of the way it’s filmed, making the hockey scenes some of the best ever filmed.

The cast is led by veteran actor Kurt Russell and a bunch of amateur hockey players who look a great deal like their roles. It works surprisingly well for the dialogue scenes, though clearly the hockey scenes are what makes this a great movie.

It’s of course an inspirational film but it’s not so much schmaltzy. It’s a character study on legendary coach Herb Brooks and how his being cut from the 1960 Olympic team influenced just how bad he wanted to win in ’80. Russell makes every emotion feel genuine, even if his Minnesota accent is exaggerated a bit.

27. The Sixth Sense (1999)

Twist ending aside, this is still a great movie. M Night Shyamalan’s script and directing made this both a unique and powerful horror film, leaning more towards chills than actual scares. In that sense, it’s an old-fashioned horror film that has a very modern look.

Haley Joel Osment plays a young boy with a secret that I’m sure you all know. He is quiet and introverted until he opens up to his psychiatrist, played by Bruce Willis. Both these performances are fantastic and it helps that both characters have a great deal of depth to them. Horror movies can make you feel emotions if the characters are well-developed. That’s what makes The Exorcist as good as it is.

This film is very understated and relies on slow-building suspense and chills…until the ending. The ending might be the only shock moment of the movie which is part of what makes it such an effective twist.

26. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Saving Private Ryan has been considered by many to be the greatest war movie ever made, and one of Spielberg’s many masterpieces. It’s about the invasion of Normandy and a group of soldiers assigned to go deep into France to find a certain Private Ryan.

The characters are all interesting and help make the movie just as much about humanity as it is about war. The main question the film asks is if one man’s life is worth risking so many more, and the film does a great job with this.

And then the battle scenes are fantastic, easily the greatest I’ve seen. They’re horribly violent and so well shot that they perfectly capture the horrors of war.

My 100 Favorite Movies with Reviews (35-31)

35. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

What a great end to a great trilogy…wait…there’s a fourth one, never mind.

Regardless, this is an outstanding action movie that has the thrills and the humor you hope for in an Indiana Jones movie. Harrison Ford is the titular character yet again, this time paired with his father, played by Sean Connery. The two make for an interesting and hilarious duo and a great deal of the enjoyment of the film comes from the two of them interacting.

The story concerns the pursuit of the Holy Grail, though it begins with a flashback to Indy as a teenager, played by River Phoenix. It’s a good action scene to open up the film and shows how Indy became such an adventurer and how he got his image.

The best scene, of course, is the action scene on the tank. The stunt work is great as always, and it’s quite thrilling. That would have been a perfect climax, but like Raiders, the climax turns out to be a supernatural scene involving a religious object. Unlike Raiders, however, this isn’t disappointing at all.

34. On the Waterfront (1954)

On the Waterfront is the best-acted movie I’ve ever seen. It stars Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, and Rod Steiger, all of whom are outstanding.

The film follows Terry Malloy (Brando), a young Hoboken gangster who, through his relationship with the sister of a man he was influential in killing and a local priest, begins to see the wrongs of his way of life. Not only that, but he becomes sort of a hero to the union which was dominated by Johnny Friendly (Cobb).

This is a great and inspirational film about salvation. Brando delivers one of the greatest performances in film history, and won his first of two Academy Awards.

33. Back to the Future (1985)

This seems like one of those movies that literally everyone can enjoy. It has virtually everything: an intriguing and complicated time travel plot, a compelling love story, exciting action, memorable and likable characters, and some excellent humor.

The plot concerns high school student Marty McFly accidentally traveling through time to 1955 where his own mother falls for him. In addition to this, he must get his eccentric friend, Doc, to help him get back to the present.

The script is great and all the cast delivers fine performances. In addition to this, the climactic scene is tension packed and exhilarating. There’s a reason why so many people love this movie.

32. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

This is one of the few movies out there that has a certain magic quality to it. It makes you feel like a kid, yet it’s an entirely mature film. It elicits strong emotions but is not overly sappy; it doesn’t forget that it is telling a narrative.

It’s the story of an alien that is separated from its companions and comes across a young boy. The boy, Elliott, forms a unique bond with the creature. This film is bittersweet, dealing with not just friendship and family, but with loss and loneliness. But the ending concludes it in a way that will make you feel very good inside.

31. 12 Angry Men (1957)

This film, while not completely unrealistic, is an interesting film that shows both the greatness and the flaws in the American judicial system. And because of that, it’s a powerful film.

Following a pretty obvious murder case, a jury decides on whether or not the young man is guilty of killing his father. Eleven say he is and one, Henry Fonda, says he isn’t, merely because the man’s life is in his hands and Fonda doesn’t think they should jump to conclusions.

As Fonda goes on debating, he begins to become more and more convinced that the man is innocent. At first, he annoys the others, but eventually he draws more and more to his side. However, some men are still vehemently against him, seemingly drawing pleasure from sending a man to his death.

When I say it isn’t realistic what I mean is that the jurors do all the work. Almost everything that was brought up in the case (which you do not see) is ignored, and they focus on what wasn’t said. It’s mentioned that the young man’s lawyer sucked but we really don’t know much about the trial.

This film is relentlessly entertaining despite being essentially nothing but dialogue. There are some outstanding performances, particularly by Fonda and Lee J. Cobb. Fonda emerges as a hero and Cobb as a villain. Perhaps it’s a little black-and-white but it works quite well in the movie.