Movies: The List

I just came back from the movies after watching The Wolverine with the J Man. Great movie. Not one of my all-time favourites, but very good.

And that got me thinking about my favourite movies. I’m not a movie buff, so there’s lot’s I haven’t seen, but I’m old, so I’ve seen a lot of movies. Number one on my list is – and always will be:

Apocalypse Now!

I’ve blogged about my favourite Vietnam movies (love the genre) and this one comes out on top on my all-time everything list as well. I’ve seen it many times, most notably at the front row (we were late) at the IMAX Theatre at the Cinesphere at Ontario Place. Always epic. The Director’s Cut is pretty awesome too. "I love the smell of napalm in the morning. It smells like…victory.” Duvall damn near steals the movie – he’s that good.

The Departed

This was the movie where I learned to appreciate Leo’s craft. And if I had any doubts as to his action hero chops, they melted away quickly. It's Martin Scorsese’s best film, and he has directed some of the best movies ever produced in Hollywood.

Schindler’s List

The most evocative movie I’ve ever seen and a shining example of how true heroism can be found in the most unlikely places. A magnificent film.

Shawshank Redemption

This one is on everybody’s list, no? It’s on mine. Triumph of the human spirit stuff. A classic.

After the big four, I have a bunch of great movies that are on my list. I just can’t rank them. They’re all awesome. They include thrillers like the Bourne Identity, action movies like Raider’s of the Lost Ark and Die Hard, and classics like Casablanca (more memorable lines than any movie in history, with Apocalypse Now! a close second) and To Sir With Love.

There are sports movies like Bull Durham (I wish I’d written Crash’s speech to Annie), super hero films like The Avengers (spectacular)and Dark Knight and more Vietnam movies, such as Full Metal Jacket, Boys in Company C and Platoon.

I have courtroom drams like 12 Angry Men and Philadelphia, movies that I can’t even begin to categorize, such as Last Tango in Paris, and more thrillers like Untouchables and Blood Diamond. Coming of age films like Stand By Me make my list, as does Green Mile, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Rain Man.

I didn’t forget comedies and animated features either, such as Austin Powers: Goldmember (that behind-the-curtain scene with Austin and Mini-Me gets me every time), Mask, Aladdin and Kung Fu Panda.

And I can't forget The Untitled Work of Paul Shepard, because it stars the wonderful and legendary (not to mention my sister-in-law) Mary Krohnert.

That makes 28 movies, which is a pretty arbitrary number. So I better post this now before I change my mind.