By Rusty
(Who needs the Kwik-E-Mart?)
I enjoy movies. With that being said there are some movies that invariably end up becoming favorites. Treasured classics in my collection that end up being watched again and again. I’ve decided to list my top ten personal favorite movies. This isn’t by any means the top ten movies ever, it is just the movies I enjoy the most. I’ll probably do top tens for specific genres at some point down the road. You won’t find The Godfather or Citizen Kane on this list. Don’t get me wrong, they’re good movies, but they arn’t the type that I want to watch again and again.
Alrighty with that out of the way here is number 10.
# 10. Darkman
Darkman was Sam Raimi’s first big studio film. Originally Raimi wanted to adapt The Shadow into a movie. However, he was unsuccessful and he decided to make his own superhero. This movie has a lot of Raimi trademarks in it (his brother Ted plays one of the bad guys and Bruce Campbell makes a cameo). It has a wacky dark comedy to it, while still being an action/thriller movie. Liam Neeson, Larry Drake, and a pre-Fargo Frances McDormand all star in Darkman.
Dr. Peyton Westlake (Neeson) is developing a synthetic skin for burn victims. The skin however can only last 99 minutes in the light. His girlfriend, lawyer Julie Hastings (McDormand) comes upon incriminating evidence proving that bribes have been given to zoning commission officials. Unfortunately mobster Robert G. Durant wants the documents. Hastings leaves the incriminating evidence at Weslakes lab/apartment. Durant shows up with his goons and kills Westlake’s assistant and leaves Westlake for dead. The rig the lab to explode. Westlake survives the explosion, but is horribly disfigured. He is though to be dead. Thanks to a revolutionary medical procedure, he is given super strength and the ability to take alot of physical damage. However, he is emotionally unstable. He dons himself a trench coat and fedora and calls himself the Darkman, seeking revenge on Durant.
# 9. Field of Dreams
I know, its not anything remotely nerdy or geeky. But this is my list, so I’ll put on any movie I please. Field of Dreams isn’t a simple baseball movie. The movie is about a person’s dreams and wishes. It follows the relationship of a father and son, and how baseball had such an effect on it. I’m not sure why I like this movie so much. Maybe its because I love baseball, I simply don’t know. The movie has some memorable scenes (the ending being the most memorable.)
Kevin Costner plays a man named Ray Kinsella. One day when Ray is working in the fields on his farm, he hears a voice telling him “If you build it, he will come”. At first Ray believes he is imagining things. The voice is persistent however, and eventually Ray builds a baseball field in the middle of his crops. The voice doesn’t stop however and Ray goes on a journey to help people fulfill their dreams.
# 8. The Warriors
The Warriors is a 1979 action/thriller directed by Walter Hill. It has become a cult classic (long before Rockstar created a videogame out of it.) The basic plot of the movie is as follows: The Warriors are a gang from Coney Island. The biggest gang in New York, The Riffs, have called a meeting together, inviting all the gangs in the city. During the meeting the Riff’s leader, Cyrus, is shot and killed while giving a speech. All the gangs believe that The Warriors are responsible for the killing of Cyrus. The Warriors have to get back to Coney Island before they get killed.
The Warriors features a cast of unknowns (although some have gone on to fame). The film has a great musical score and numerous enjoyable fight scenes. There are a couple lines that you are bound to recognize. Its a good movie to get the blood pumping.
# 7. Big Trouble in Little China
In what is to be the first of many John Carpenter movies on this list, Big Trouble in Little China is another action/adventure/comedy movie. The film is a western set in modern times. This movie flopped at the box office, but it has gone on to have a cult following. Its has a good musical score and some very funny moments. The character of Jack Burton is great because he messes things up just as often as he does things right.
Jack Burton (Russell) is a truck driver. Jack goes with his friend Wang to the airport to pick up Wang’s soon to be wife. Wang’s wife is kidnapped by a Chinese gang. Burton goes with Wang to get his girlfriend back, but is soon is faced with the evil sorcerer Lo Pan. Lo Pan plans to marry Wang’s girlfriend and then sacrifice her, so he can be free from a curse. Its Jack’s job to stop him.
# 6. First Blood
First Blood is the first movie to feature John Rambo. Unlike the next two installments in the series first blood is much more serious and darker (Rambo would bring back this look). Sylvester Stallone stars in this movie. Although Stallone was already popular from the Rocky movies, it was this movie that made him a superstar. First Blood deals with some serious issues including the effects of war on the human mind, and the treatment of American Vietnam War vets.
John Rambo is a Vietnam war veteran, who is going to visit his friend from the war. He finds out his friend has unfortunately passed away due to agent orange. Rambo passes through the town of Hope where Sheriff Teasle (Brain Dennehy) notices Rambo passing through. He immediately escorts Rambo out of the town, while telling Rambo he dislikes drifters. After being dropped off by the Sheriff, Rambo immediately heads back towards Hope where he is arrested for his persistence. Although he has done nothing wrong, Rambo is put in jail by the police. While being processed, Rambo is beaten by one of the police officers. This reminds him of his time as a P.O.W. Rambo snaps and escapes the police station. The film eventually ends in Rambo’s assault on the police station.
# 5. The Thing
The Thing is probably my favorite horror movie. It is directed by John Carpenter. The Thing is great movie with spectacular special effects. However, if you get queasy easily this movie isn’t for you. The Thing didn’t perform well at the box office, however it has gained a cult following and respect among critics. Kurt Russell stars in this movie along with Keith David and Wilford Brimley. Ennio Morricone provides the musical score. It is mostly synths, but it works for the setting and feel of the movie.
The plot follows a group of American researcher’s time in the Antarctic. At the beginning of the movie, a dog is being chased and shot at by a Norwegian helicopter. They eventually reach the American outpost. Both people in the helicopter die (one is shot, the other is killed by his failure of using grenades). The Americans are puzzled, but they let the dog stay with them. It turns out that the Dog is a “thing”. A “thing” can assimilate and impersonate any organic creature it comes across. This creates distrust among the research stations occupants. The occupants must battle themselves and the “thing” in order to survive.
# 4. UHF
UHF is a comedy starring Weird Al. The movie also stars a pre-Seinfield Michael Richards AKA Kramer. This is yet another movie that didn’t do well at the box office, yet it found open arms with the viewers at home. The humor is this movie is goofy. There are alot of visual gags, slapstick, and parodies in this movie. This film was Orion’s last huzzah. Unfortunately it didn’t turn out too well for them. The gags in this movie are hilarious. My personal favorite being the Rambo parody “Rampo”
Harvey Bilchik (Stanley Brock) wins Channel 62. 62 is an unheard of station and has very little viewership. Harvey’s nephew George is given the job of managing the station. George’s overactive imagination has lost him several jobs before. However, Stanley’s imagination works for him this time. UHF 62 wacky programming gives it the most viewership in the city. As UHF 62 improves, Channel 8 (which is run by the evil R.J. Fletcher) does everything in his power to get UHF 62 off the airwaves.
# 3.Sin City
With a stellar cast and IP, there wasn’t a single possibility that Sin City could be bad. That is of course unless Uwe Boll or Michael Bay got their hands on it. But they didn’t, and this movie is awesome. Visually Sin City looks great. Its black and white, but some items are colorized for effect. Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez produced, directed, and wrote the film. Sin City is a perfect example of how a graphic 2D medium can be translated to the big screen. The trailer describes this movies greatness in ways I can’t.
Sin City follows three of Miller’s graphic novels. “The Big Fat Kill” is a story about a group of mercenaries and prostitutes engaged in a street war. “That Yellow Bastard” (my personal favorite) tells the story of Hartigan (Bruce Willis) a cop who protects Nancy (a smoking hot Jessica Alba) from the pedophile, the Yellow Bastard. “The Hard Goodbye” is about Marv (Mickey Rourke) who has a one night stand with Goldie (Jamie King). Goldie is killed and Rourke goes on a destructive search to find out who did it.
# 2. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
If you haven’t seen Star Wars (yeah I’m not using the huge title), then you have been living under a rock. I mean c’mon who hasn’t seen Star Wars? Do I even need to explain why this movie is awesome? George Lucas was at his finest when he made this movie. Even though critically The Empire Strikes Back is considered better, I don’t care. This movie is Star Wars. Every kid was in awe when they first saw Luke’s attack run on the Death Star. This movie still holds up today. People, old and young alike, enjoy this movie. Its an experience for the ages.
# 1. Escape From New York
This movie is John Carpenter at his finest. The first time I saw this movie, I was hooked. Kurt Russell does the best acting of his career as Snake Plissken. Snake is one badass mofo and you don’t mess with him. The cast include a lot of good actors: Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence Lee Van Cleef, Harry Dean Stanton, Adrienne Barbeau, and Issac Hayes fill out this great cast. The movie is dark and the music fits in perfectly. John Carpenter scored the music (as he does with many of his own films.) The action sequences are well done and quick paced.
In the year 1997 the US has been turned into a police state and New York City has been turned into a giant prison. While Air Force One is flying over New York, it is hijacked and crashed into New York. The President (Donald Pleasence) was on his way to a conference of global leaders with important information about Nuclear Fusion. The inmates led by The Duke of New York (Issac Hayes) quickly find the president and hold him hostage. Snake Plissken, who is about to be made an inmate, is given a deal: If he gets the president out of New York alive, he will be a free man. To ensure his cooperation he has two microscopic capsules put into his veins. They will explode in 24 hours but if he saves the president the capsules can be reversed.
EFNY is my favorite movie of all-time. Go rent it. In fact go rent every movie on this list. I know they’re awesome.
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Hey, its your list. But the only one I agreed with was The Thing. That movie was just badass. I blew off my g/f one night because it suddenly came on AMC. She understood.
Yup, MY list. Its how much I enjoy them. Granted, there are far better movies out there, but will I drop whatever I’m doing to watch them. Nope.
Thats disgusting Beeslo, there are children reading
To each his own I guess…
But I completely disagree. :-D
I give mad props for Sin City, Escape from NY, Darkman, and The Warriors. Surprisingly enough, there’s a decent chunk of these that I’ve never seen.