MOAR MOVIE CHAT!
So, these are probably my 10 favorite movies of all time. Now, I'm not saying by any technical standard that they are the best, but they are the films I can go back to over and over and fall in love with again. I'm not putting them in order, but when asked which movies would top my list these would be on there in some form or fashion. Please list some of your favorites, I'd like this to be a recommendation thread of sorts too.
1)The Dark Knight (2008):
The quintessential comic book movie, and the only superhero fare that would appear in my top 10 (although certain others might come close, like Spider-man 2, Spiderverse, and Logan). My selection is largely on the basis of Heath's mind blowing performance as The Joker, but the rest of the movie from the portions with Harvey Dent to Rachel's heart breaking death all just come together to make this, in my estimation, the super hero flick that will never ever be touched by anything Marvel produces (or DC for that matter, although see above for The Joker trailer).
2) Inglorious Basterds (2009):
Tarantino's opus, if you haven't seen it do yourself a favor and watch this WW II era paean to wartime vengeance. No spoilers, but to say that it takes some creative liberties with history is an understatement, but don't let that deter you. From an amazingly tense and memorable opening scene showcasing Tarantino's flare for effective dialogue, to my personal second favorite film villian of all time....
....the movie is all around superb. Extra props for the dark humor ("say aufedersehen to your Nazi balls").
3). Mad Max Fury Road (2015)
Hands down the quintessential action movie, this sequel took a long time to come out of developmental hell, but what it did holy Jesus did it not dissappoint. A gorgeous feast for the eyes, with just about some of the most wonderfully insane imagery I've ever seen (The Doof Warrior, Nathan Jones ripping the massive engine out of the truck), I have yet to see a movie that was just so full throttle balls to the wall and almost never let up. I almost don't want there to be another one because I'm not sure any sequel could be more perfect than this.
4)Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
Me, watching the end: THERE IS DUST IN MY EYES I AM NOT CRYING!
One of the films that ended up making Guillermo del Toro a household name, this foreign language film is a beaut, blending fanciful story telling set amidst the brutal backdrop of Spain during World War II. I have a deep abiding love for movies that ambiguously cross back and forth over the line between fantasy and reality, and they way this film does it is masterful.
5) Beetlejuice (1988)
The movie that pretty much was the defining film of my entire childhood (seriously, I was obsessed), if you want to see Tim Burton before his aesthetic became whored out and stale, this should be your first stop. Yeah, the effects are a bit dated, but the art direction and design is something that, to this day, I have never quite seen rivaled. And Michael Keaton absolutely killed it in the lead, losing himself in the role and playing off that perfect combination of charismatic and irreppressably sleazy. Also keep your ears peeled for that pre-PG-13 rating utterance of "fucking", lol.
6) Ghostbusters (1984)
Also defined my childhood, and a comedy classic for a reason. To this day I'm just in love with this movie's ability to seemlessly blend comedy, horror, and mythology to create it's own unique vision of a world where reality co-exists with the paranormal. The sequel is ok (I LOVE Vigo), but kind of lost a bit of the magic.
7) Sunshine (2007)
What's with all the mid-2000's movies on the list? This is one of my science-fiction go-to's, a powerful story about a team trying to reignite the dying sun to save all life on Earth. Naturally, it's not that easy. The movie is a psychological masterpiece, portraying the enormity and power of space as something that can inspire both awe and madness. Critics will (rightfully) tell you the movie has a jarring shift in tone about two-thirds of the way through, but it's not like it was out of left field and it certainly doesn't ruin the movie for me.
8) Blade Runner (1982)
Another psychologically oriented sci-fi masterpiece, the movie's reflection on just what it means to be human still captures my imagination. Also, the environment and effects that they were able to pull off in 1982 are iconic and mind blowing, and were also put to good use in the sequel Blade Runner 2049 (which, given some time and reflection, will likely end up on my list). Tune in for Rutger Hauer's haunting and iconic final scene.
9)Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983)
No, shocking not the better known Holy Grail (although that's a classic for a reason), the dark humor and irreverence of Meaning of Life always put it at the top of the list for Python material for me. From the forced organ donation, to "every sperm is sacred" to Mr. Creasote, I still laugh my ass off all the way through.
10)Brazil (1985)
More Terry Gilliam! This madcap satire strikes me in a lot of the same ways Meaning of Life does, utter absurdity mixed with dark comedy, this time given a dystopian bent that hits a little too close to home for me at times. Great movie, but an odd duck for sure.