TOP 20 FILMS LIST

I've done other film lists on here, and now its time to do the definative. All time PERSONAL Top 20 list. Some of these may shock you as to why I picked them. But remember, different movies speak to different people and some that are not as good as critically acclaimed versions may be great, but just fit a little different into our brains. Conditioning I guess. No order, but kinda/sorta, here's my top 20 all time films and why.

20-AMERICAN BEAUTY-I cannot believe how blown away I was by this movie. No, film. It deserves the distinction. It certainly divides people. Either you get it or don't. It came at a time where I was losing my mother to cancer and I was just in a troubled spot in my life. And it spoke to me to focus on the deeper things. Seeing the beauty around me. I've lived my life that way ever since. I saw this nine times in the theater. No shit. And for those that think its just about a pedophelliac, are completely missing the point.

19-McCLINTOK!-Every time I see this movie, it reminds me of my father. I at heart am a huge John Wayne fan. And this one is undoubtably at the top of my personal favorite list of his films. Its goofy, full of sarcasm and heart. Just like my dad. Very quotable. No way could you do a movie like this today.

18-WARRIOR OF THE LOST WORLD-I am a huge MST3K fan. And my pal Dean loaned me his copies of bootlegs to watch once. This one was the first one I watched and I fell in love with it. Its hokey, badly acted and directed. And there are certainly better post-apocolyptic films out there. But this one has always stuck with me. I love crappy movies. I can appreciate masterpieces and failures all the same. And this one fits into both catagories in my head. Its so awesomely bad, that I love it.

17-SUPERMAN-Yes, the Richard Donner 1978 film captured the imagination of a young Adam and I cannot tell you how many times he's seen it. To me, its the perfect comic book movie. Yes, it does seem a tad dated now, but in many ways, I think it still holds up. And I'd argue that its the BEST John Williams score ever done. (oh boy!) Yes, I said it. I love this movie. I love all the Chris Reeve Superman Movies. But this one is the best.

16-CLERKS-This used to be higher on my list, but I find as I get older, I've disconnected with it. But hard to deny that it came at a time when I needed to hear it. It spoke to me as a 20 year old male trying to make his job more important than it actually was. I think its a major reason why I quit McDonalds and went to college to pursue my dreams. Love the film so much that I travelled all the way to Jersey to visit the convenience store it was shot in. Now that's hardcore!

15-EVIL DEAD 2-I love the splatterpunk genre of horror. And this is the best example of it. Its more comedy than horror. You can tell that Sam Rami was a huge three stooges fan from this film. At times, its scary and creepy, but mostly laughably Wagnerian. A simple must watch.

14-THE RUNNING MAN-I have an affinity for bad or cheesy 80's films and this one is the best of the best. The best Arnold movie (I don't count the great CONAN as an "arnold" movie, because it has no one liners. Although it is greatness). The one liners alone make this the greatest. The actors, the genius casting of Richard Dawson as the game show host. It symbolizes 80's action flicks to a T. And quite an allegory for today's reality based TV fanatics.

13-THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK-I know, I got the hate on for STAR WARS ever since around 1997 or so. But its hard to deny what an impact this movie had on my childhood. It was one of the only x-mas presents I got from my brother. I must have watched it a hundred times on betamax. The tape wore out! Alone in the winter, I'd play in the snow as though it were hoth. And the ending... who cares about Vader is Luke's father... I was more worried about my hero, HAN SOLO! Was he dead? Would he come back? The heart-wrenching moment of him being lowered into the pit, but still remaining cool, unsappy with a simple "I know" response to Leia's confession. Pathos! And every STAR WARS video game is CRAP unless it has a scene of Luke vs. Imperial Walkers. I never got an Imperial Walker as a kid. Never got one. Always wanted one. One day, I will. Just to say I did. So yes. Empire. Hard to deny it. I loved the movie so much, even though I'm soft on the STAR WARS universe now. If any film were my childhood, this would be it.

12-ROCKY 4-Yes, I know its not as great as part 1 or 6. In truth, I love ALL the Rocky movies equally. But I've seen this one the most. And given my love of 80's cinema in general, this one undoubtedly feels the most like that decade. Its more a superhero film than a "rocky" movie. But a killer soundtrack, oily, greasy over the top action and kinda cheesy/hokiness of the entire thing win me over every time. I don't care how dated it seems. Yes, I said it.

11-ED WOOD-Everyone lauds TIM BURTON as a great man. Okay, he's had some great films in the past. But for me, my absolute favorite is this one. A biopic about the most misunderstood man in film history. A guy who struggles with his big ideas and always seems to never win. (hey, an allegory for myself perhaps?) Just love this. Faithful recreations of BRIDE OF THE MONSTER and PLAN 9, to great casting, and quotable lines. And Johnny Depp is a steal of the show. Landau as Bele Lagosi is absolutely wonderful. All in all, a great package. Possibly the best biopic film ever done. For Tim, its all downhill from there.

10-THE BIG LABOWSKI-Easily my favorite comedy of all time (Next to the GREAT DICTATOR). Very quotable, great characters and the Coens at their finest. I love this movie. Still laugh when I watch it today, for the millionth time.

9-CITIZEN KANE-Yeah, its probebly on everyone's list. But I simply love this movie. So innovative and deep. And Orson Welles is one of those people whom I really idolize. And it gets no better than this. The greatest film ever made.

8-GHOSTBUSTERS-As a kid, these movies captured my imagination. I had all the toys, video games, action blaster packs and played it with my friends as much as I could. Somehow I always got stuck playing Ray. Dunno how that works. Anyway, easily still funny, sometimes creepy and overall has that 80's movie feel. Its action and comedy mixed with horror. Just hard to describe. If I WERE to cosplay at a convention, I'd go as a Ghostbuster. But only if I get to drive the ecto-1.

7-METROPOLIS-Saw this in film class and love it. Of course, the Georgio Moroder version too. The 80's soundtrack and crap coloring with 5 extra minutes. Yes! And with the recent discovery of the missing hour or so of footage thought lost forever, its gonna get cleaned up and released for all to see. The true version of Fritz Lang's vision. I cannot wait to see it. Its gonna be wonderful! I'll leave the other reasons as to why this film is great to film scholars.

6-THE TIME MACHINE-Easily the best sci-fi film of all time. And the best George Pal movie too. I live for the day that I actually get to see the prop time machine. This movie captured my imagination as a kid and today I still debate about what three books I'd take back with me to the Eloi. I love this movie.

5-STAR TREK 2: THE WRATH OF KHAN-Okay, you knew one of these had to be on this list. And of course, its the best one. Why is it great? Well, aside from all the usual reasons, its got this dual allegory going in it. Tale of Two Cities and Moby Dick. Its the heart of the movie and cannot be defined either way. Two classic tales collide in a futuristic sci-fi movie filled with characters we all know and love. And the ultimate sacrifice. It began something we never thought possible in our Trek, that of being an epic. And I epically love this movie.

4-THE LORD OF THE RINGS-And yes, I'm counting all three together, cause they were shot at the same time. My list, my rules! And what a set of films. Every thanksgiving, the wife and I sit through all 6 discs of the extended version of this movie. The score, the effects, acting, words, just... everything. Pure perfection on screen.

3-FREE ENTERPRISE-Not a great movie, but it reminds me so much of me, that I have to include it on a list of my personal favorites. Its all about older obsessive compulsive geeks like myself. And not in a stereotypical TREKKIES NERD type of way. But more cool, down to earth people that wear their geek proudly, but can tuck it in when need be.

2-A CLOCKWORK ORANGE-When I learned what film as art meant. Hands down, my absolute favorite movie for a long time. I cannot even rightly explain why. Just that it deserves it. Its challenging, dark and over the top in so many ways. a Perfect combo for any film I love. I will meet Malcolm McDowell one day.

1-HIGH FIDELITY-Always in battle with #2 as to which reigns as my favorite. This film is so autobiographical to me, its not even funny. At times, I am like all three characters in the record store. Rob, and all his relationship troubles. Barry, and his crazy antics and cynicism. And Dick, shy, quiet but a nerd with heart. At a time in my life when I was trying to still figure myself out, this one spoke to me. For that, and many other reasons, this stands as my current #1. Killer soundtrack too!