The Return of the King
Pippin smirking at the end. Legolas riding an oliphant. Gollum sinking in the lava. Elijah Wood staring into the camera for too long.
Far, far too long.
The Dark Knight
Not sure which one is better - Ras Al Ghul is a personal favorite villian and the first movie is a great origin story, but it's hard to top Ledger's Joker.
Batman Begins
What a well-done movie. I can finally forget the previous Batmans were made.
Back to the Future
"Doc, you're not going to believe it! We have to go back to 1955!"
"I don't believe it!"
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Try to find more joyous movie moments than Ferris's parade or the trip through the art museum.
The Princess Bride
Never get involved in a land war in Asia.
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Donnie Darko
... and right now there's some fat guy over there staring at us.
Groundhog Day
Phil? Phil Connors? Phil Connors, I thought that was you! Am I right or am I right or am I right?
What sequels? I don't know what you're talking about. No sequels were ever made.
Spider-Man 2
Sure, it has its flaws (what, inventing mind-controlled arms wasn't enough of a scientific breakthrough - he needed to invent mini-fusion too?) but also the best action superhero scenes ever. Or, I'm biased because it takes place in our neighborhood.
Gandhi
Never get involved in a land war in Asia ... unless you're waging it nonviolently.
So I Married an Axe Murderer
Af yah want my bawdy, ond yah think Ah'm sexxxy...
The Fellowship of the Ring
See Return of the King, but with less lava and more hobbits. Elijah Wood looks at camera ... hold it ... hold it ... ah, remembering the Shire ... ah, remembering Gandalf ... still looking ...
Garden State
Natalie Portman's character was so cute and endearing in this movie that I decided to date her identical twin.
X-Men 2
Best comic book movie ever made. Except for Halle Berry's hair.
Cashback
This is the closest I've seen a movie come to a perfect expression of being a visual artist. And appreciating the female form.
Serenity
I am a leaf in the wind ... and I aim to misbehave.
The Zero Effect
I always say that the essence of my work relies fundamentally on two basic principles: objectivity and observation, or "the two obs" as I call them.
Pulp Fiction
It's no Look Who's Talking Now, but it makes up for Battlefield Earth. But not Face Off.
South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut
Finally exposing the hidden danger of Canadians.
Primer
If you can figure this movie out in less than 10 viewings, you're a better man than me. And you're not allowed to use Wikipedia.
Harry
Potter 3
Wow - a Harry Potter movie with an interesting plot, acting, and creative direction and cinematography. Bonus: time travel.
Austin Powers
Like the Ferris Bueller parade, the opening montage here is a blast. I guess Beatles homages are invariably enjoyable.
Eternal Sunshine
of the Spotless
Mind
Another wonderful job by Charlie Kaufman, this movie beats out Adaptation
on this list because Kirsten Dunst dances around in her underwear.
Also, the only movie ever made in which Jim Carrey acts like a five-year
old.
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Mulholland Drive
Who's scarier? This cowboy guy, or the other David Lynch scary guy from Lost Highway? Or, the bunny in Donnie Darko?
Now... did you answer cause you thought that's what I wanted to hear or did you think about what I said and answer cause you truly believe that to be right?
Gigantic:
A Tale of Two Johns
To a lifelong fan of They Might Be Giants, a documentary about TMBG is akin to Skittles falling from the sky in a rainbow of exuberance.
View the rest of my list here ...