Your top 10 (Descriptive version)

[Cloud Strife X]

Hmmm... well, this thread is somewhat old, but I need an intellectual challenge... and sorting my top 10 movies and explaining why I like them is, believe it or not, kind of an intellectual challenge. That being said, here's the list.

10. Kelly's Heroes
This is a Clint Eastwood WWII movie from back in 1970. What I really like about this one is that it's not your average war movie - the title character is a sergeant who hears about a cache of Nazi gold, and persuades his entire crew to leave the Army and steal it. It's put together excellently, and this is one of those movies I can watch over and over again.

9. Star Wars Episode VI: The Return Of The Jedi
Back when I was a kid, I was a Star wars nut. When I saw the end, when Darth Vader died, I was crying. Now, I recently watched it again, and it's still as epic as ever. I wasn't quite brought to tears this time, but nonetheless, it still rules.

8. Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
What can I say? This is an absolutely hilarious film about two heavy metal-loving teenagers who will go on to form a rock band that will bring world peace and harmony - but only if they don't flunk a big history assignment that's due tomorrow. So a guy from the future gives them a time machine and has them travel through history and kidnap "historical figures" such as Abe Lincoln and Napoleon for their presentation. It's brilliant.

7. The Shawshank Redemption
I first saw this movie a long time ago, before I could understand what it meant. Once I was old enough to get it, everything clicked. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman are at top form for this movie, and it's a crime that the latter didn't win an Oscar for his performance. Another one of those movies I can watch over and over again.

6. Seven Samurai
The Western take on this movie, Magnificent Seven, was what got me into western films. So, naturally, I wanted to see the original version, and I had a chance to do that about half a year ago. What can I say? It's an incredible film with great acting and a top-notch story, helmed by one of history's greatest directors. Amazing.

5. Monty Python And The Holy Grail
I first saw this film in sixth grade, and I found it hilarious. The Dark Knight segment and the French taunter were most appealing. After watching it again a year ago, however, I began to see the deeper meaning to the humor, and that made me enjoy it even more. (Yes, there is deeper meaning. I'm not joking.) It's a comedic classic.

4. Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King
Stunning. Absolutely stunning. I remember back when I thought that Helm's Deep (from The Two Towers) was awesome... but it's nothing compared to Pelennor Fields. Everything, from the visuals to the acting to the music, falls almost perfectly into place to create an absolutely epic film. The first time I saw the movie in theaters, I was in the aisle during the ending, on my knees and begging for it to never end.

3. The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
The first two movies in the "Man With With No Name" trilogy, Fistful Of Dollars and For A Few Dollars More, were pretty cool. But this final episode bests them all. This is one of the original "spaghetti westerns", which were westerns directed by Italians, and it shows. Sergio Leone is my favorite director, because it just wouldn't be the same without him in the chair. But, of course, the most integral part is the actors. Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach all give (in my opinion) the best performances of their careers, portraying, well, the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. The final shootout, enhanced by a score by Ennio Morricone (one of my favorite modern composers), is dramatic and legendary like no other climax that you've ever seen.

2. Blazing Saddles
The only thing better than a dramatic western is a properly made mockery of one. Mel Brooks is a comic genius, and it certainly shows here. The story: The bad guy (the state Attorney General, played by Harvey Korman) wants to run a train track through the town of Rock Ridge. But the citizens don't want to go. So the bad guy appoints a new sheriff (Cleavon Little) who's black, counting on his mere appearance to drive the citizens out. But things aren't that simple. It's delighfully un-PC and makes fun of every single western cliche that you've ever heard. Little touches (such as Mel Brooks' portrayal of a Yiddish-speaking Sioux chief) also help immensely. If you're easily offended, though, stay away. Far, far away.

1. Braveheart
In the end, i'm a sucker for drama, and this movie delivers. It's based on the story of William Wallace, a Scottish freedom fighter during the 1300's who tries to free his nation from English control, and eventually pays the ultimate price - death. This movie left such an enormous mark on me that I can't even begin to describe it. It's funny, it's dramatic, and it's epic all at once. As a person of Scottish descent, this movie means a lot to me, and it was because of this film - and this film alone - that I began to read more into that side of my heritage. What else can I say? I love this movie to death.

So that's my top ten. If you haven't seen any of these films, I highly recommend them - especially my top three.

[Amano]

10. The Warriors - A gang movie from the late 70's. This must be the film i've played to death. Ever since i was about 5 years old til my early teens, i played and played this film. It's just the type of film that every boy would worship in that 'Movie Star' era of the 90's. Back in school when you were 7 and the only films that mattered were Stallone/Schwarzengger/Van-Damme. A street gang who are on the run from -every- gang in the city, fights, chases and not much else. Pretty mindless, but one hell of a ride. A film that will just stay with me always.

9. Conan The Barbarian - Maybe the fact Schwarzenegger has little to no dialogue makes this great? Nah, great soundtrack, good fantasy story. I just get into this film so much, a tingle down my spine when Valeria saves him from beyond the grave in a blinding light. Giving Thulsa Doom what he deserves... a good ol' beheading.

8. The Crow - This film is just sad. It made me feel for the character, imagine that everything is taken away from you and then your given the chance to get revenge... You would just go and butcher them. Brandon Lee's last film, who knows what he would have gone on to do, he was known as Bruce Lee's son, but The Crow wasn't a martial arts film and he did so bloody good. A shame.

7. Ichi The Killer - An extreme film, maybe a little too graphic or disturbing for some... or most. It was just differant and wild from anything I'd seen before. A Masochist hell bent on finding the ultimate sadist. Kakihara in this movie just blew me away, he was crazy.

6. The Wild Bunch - What I love about this film is the realism, these guys really were a wild bunch. They shot to kill wether it was man, woman or child. They weren't clean, well built, handsome actors like in a lot of other westerns, *cough*Magnificent Seven*cough*. A classic western.

5. Predator - What's great about Predator is you just don't exactly know what it is until about half way through. Something moving thrugh the trees picking off these commando's one by one. Schwarzenegger's finest hour, what with dialogue like "Rahn! Go! Ged to zaa choppah!". One of the best 80's/90's action flicks easily.

4. Nightmare on Elm Street - Do Horror film's even exist anymore? Shouldn't they just rename the genre 'intense thriller' or 'another redneck cannibal film', society is just so ****ed up these days, horror films just dont have the impact they use to. Nightmare on Elm Street part 1, still creeps me out though. I mean, whats scarier than a paedophile burnt to crisp... getting you in your dreams with his claw. You can run from Michael Myers, Stay away from Cedar Lake and Jason won't bother you, but you have to sleep eventually. Great Stuff. The sequals were weak and took a more comedic turn, but the original is awesome.

3. Harold & Kumar Get the Munchies [Go to White Castle - if your American] - From start to finish, this film is just one joke to another. Most comedies have one or two 'wild' scenes that make you think 'what the hell', but every scene has you saying it with a laugh. From the crazy Burger Shack employee who wants to burn it down, to the crazy jamie kennedy appearing in the middle of nowhere and starting an argument about a bush. Great Stuff and John Cho is a legend and needs to be in more stuff, damn them for cancelling Off Centre!

2. Donnie Darko - Mind Blowing, the first time i watched this film, I was stumped. I spent more time thinking abou it afterwards than i spent actually watching it. For most of the night it was all I could think about, so thought provoking and so sad. The scene that gets me is when the young boy asks Gretchin 'Did you know him?' and she says 'No.' Thats just wrong, so sad. Brilliant film and a great performance by Jake Gyllenhaal.

1. The Goonies - The ultimate feel-good kid's movie ever. Everytime i see The Goonies i just wished i lived in some city where adventures like that were possible. I don't even think its aged, my younger brother asked me what it was a while ago and I told him to just go watch it. All i kept hearing for and hour an half was him laughing, he wathed all my comedy films and i haven't heard him laugh like that.