Joel's Top 50 Films Of All Time: 25 - 21

DISCLAIMER: Joel's 'Top 50 Films Of All Time' is a subjective list. This list can change at any time and is not set in concrete. As Joel watches films on a weekly basis, this list is a living organism. This current incarnation of the list is also only as of the time of creating it. Thank you for reading and enjoy! (I do expect some backlash from my decisions.)

On this list, you will find instances where more than one film is listed. This is because either there was a tie or the films somehow tie in with each other and make one selection in my mind. At each occurance, I will do my best to explain the reasoning behind my decision.

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# 25: 'True Romance'

I keep debating about putting this film higher up on the list, but I've settled here and I think it'll stay here. The reason for my second guessing myself, is that this is kind of the first film that made me truly fall in love with film. The story goes a little something like this: I went to the video store with my buddy Josh. It was 1993 and I very rarely watched movies. He directed me towards the box for 'True Romance'. It looked interesting, but I had no idea who all of the people were that were listed on the box. I had never heard of the director, nor did I even care who directed it.... let alone who wrote it. We took it home and watched it. I fell in love from the time the credits began to roll. Every name that came up on the screen was burned into my brain and they have remained there ever since. This was the changing point in my life, granted, it would still be a couple of years before I took the BIG leap into film, but this got my swimming in a slightly deeper end of the pool. If you haven't seen this film, let me break down the people involved: director - Tony Scott (brother of Ridley Scott and director of 'Days of Thunder', 'Man on Fire', 'Domino' and 'The Last Boy Scout' just to name a few), writer - Quentin Tarantino (if you don't know who he is, are you sure you're reaing the right blog....?), original music by - Hans Zimmer and starred: Christan Slater, Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, Christopher Walken, Bronson Pinchot, Samuel L. Jackson, Saul Rubinek, Michael Rappaport, James Gandolfini, Chris Penn, Tom Sizemore, Maria Patillo, Kevin Corrigan and none other than Patricia Arquette. She is, because of this film, my all time favorite actress and I still love her today. How can you beat all of this talent in one place? To be honest, it's hard to do if not impossible to do. Have you stopped reading this to go and watch 'True Romance' yet?

The plot revolves around a comic shop worker who hooks up with a new call girl and their attempts to sell a hell of a lot of cocaine that they got from her former pimp.... on accident. They're being hunted and the whole time are fostering a brand new relationship and marriage. It all ends in a HUGE climax of a Mexican stand off. It's HUGE. This film hits every single pressure point on the body and never misses a beat. 5 stars isn't really enough to give this film, it's just an amazing example of what a perfect storm looks like. Again, I don't know why this ends up here on the list, but it does and it may have something to do with the fact that I want to keep it grounded. If I push it too high, then my expectations will be raised for everytime I see it and I don't want to ever dislike this film.... for any reason. I only hope that this review didn't set an expectation that can never be reached. This is, after all, just a film. It started a lot of careers for people, it furthered the careers for others and it allowed a new writer to get his voice heard so that he could soon start making his own films. (Although, 'Reservoir Dogs' had already been released.) Anyway, I highly recommend that you see this film if you never have before. Seriously. (And deep down, if you want, you can think of this as my #1 pick.... because in a way, it just might be that film.)

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# 24: 'The Shining' (1980)

I'm not 100% sure when my love affair with Jack Nicholson as an actor, had started.... but he was and still is at the top of my list as my favorite actor. 'The Shining' is just one of his many amazing examples of why he's Hollywood royalty. Not too mention, during the 70's and even the early 80's, Jack was in prime form. When you take those factors and tie them in with the direction of Stanley Kurbick, you get this film.... a masterpiece of cinema. It's ilke watching a piece of artwork come to life. Stanley shows us all how to paint a picture with celluloid and lenses. You can easily tell in the first 15 minutes of the film what you're going to expect for the remaining time watching it. Now, the film isn't a super duper barn burner. It is very methodically paced and you have to be willing to spend your time focused on what you're seeing. It isn't one body hitting the floor after another or gunfire every 10 minutes, this film is one that builds up to its climax. It's a worthwhile ending if you can spend the time invested in the beginning. Something else you should know, this film is a departure from the original book by Stephen King. He made his version of it years later, in 1997, with Steven Weber.... a version I haven't yet seen. To be honest, I'm not really sure that I want to see it. The only thing that draws me to this version is that Stephen King, himself, if in the movie and it was filmed at The Stanley Hotel in Colorado.... where the original book had been written.

'The Shining' follows Jack Torrance's life as he takes his wife and son to live at The Overlook hotel over the winter months. He is the onsite caretaker and it's only him and his family that live there. It's a huge hotel and there had been a tragedy with the previous caretaker, he had killed his entire family. Soon, Jack begins to change and his family becomes afraid and we become a wittness to the demise of one man's sanity and his descent into another life. It's a chilling film that only gives up certain details as you need to be made aware of them. There is a lot of times during this film that you're not sure what's real and what isn't. There are obvious ghosts and paranormal activity, but is it just in Jack's mind? And why is it that his son is psychically linked with the former tennants and with the man that he met that takes care of the hotel during the regular seasons? This is my favorite Kubrick film and one of my top 5 Jack Nicholson films. It has all the ear marks of an amazing ghost story and serial killer tale. There are so many good things going for this film that it bleeds over into the special features for this film as well. What I'm saying is, that if you watch this film.... you should make time to watch the extra stuff too. It's worth your time. This film is a 5 star homerun and has an often copied template for modern horror. If you have the time and the focus, this is one film that you need to add to your mental film library, soon. Why? Because "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." End of sentence.

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# 23: 'Hobo With A Shotgun'

I know I've made it no secret that this film was in my 'Top 50' list, I've already written a review for it and rather than bore you with more praise.... you can read the original post here: http://amomentarylapsewithjoel.blogspot.com/2011/04/my-thoughts-on-hobo-with-shotgun.html . 5 stars, brillant film.

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# 22: 'Dumb and Dumber'/ 'Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy'

(the poster is for 'Dumb and Dumber'.... the trailer below is for 'Anchoman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy'....)

I can't say enough good things about both of these films. I've been a fan of 'Dumb and Dumber' since the first time I saw it. I watched it several times in a row the first time I rented it. 'Anchorman' wasn't quite the same story. I was a later fan of Will Ferrell than most. It also took a couple of viewings to really get into this film. However, I'm now a HUGE fan of 'Anchorman' and I have watched it more times then I can count. I love it. Both of these films are so damn good that you can enjoy them by yourself or with friends. That, to me, is a great sign that a comedy is a success. I know that these two films are popular choices and there isn't anything wrong with that, is there? Just because a film is popular, doesn't make it a bad film. I mean, it's popular for a reason, right?

'Dumb and Dumber' follows the cross country trip of Harry and Lloyd as they attempt to return a briefcase full of money to a woman in Colorado. 'Anchorman' is about a news team in the 70's, who are forced to take on a female co-anchor. Fairly basic plots for both.... but there is SO much more to these films than the synopsis's would suggest. Not only have the actors gone on to do bigger and better things, but the directors and writers as well. Most of them had some sort of career ahead of time, but these are the ones that they'll put at the top of their resumes. I feel that 5 stars is well earned for each film and I am proud that they're both a part of my DVD library. As a matter of fact, I just watched them both a few nights ago due to this list. LOL.... I love it and so should you.

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# 21: 'The Exorcist'

I don't know what I can say about 'The Exorcist' that hasn't already been said before. It is always near the top of every list ever made by horror lovers for the scariest film of all time. I can honestly say that I have a hard time watching this film, even now.... it scares the crap out of me. I tried reading the book once and it gave me massive headaches. I had to stop reading it. The film doesn't have that effect, but it still freaks me out. Linda Blair turns in an amazing performance that she has never topped and she was just a kid at the time. It's such a simple concept for a film, but William Friedkin masterfully pulls all of the strings of our childhood fears in such a way that this film has stood the test of time and trials. It's also spawned several prequels and sequels, but none of them have ever matched the original. As a matter of fact, if I was to make a 'Worst 50 Films of All Time' list.... 'The Exorcist 2: The Heretic' would probably be at #1. Ugh.

The story here is about Regan MacNeil, a 12 year old little girl who ends up being possessed by a demon after fooling around with a oujia board and a thing calling itself, Captain Howdy. A priest is eventually called in to try and remove the entity from Regan. The priest is joined by another, younger, priest and they determine who the evil is and fight with it for the little girls life. This film has so many distubring things going on within its 122 minute run time. Some of it implied, some of it not. As if it wasn't scary enough, they re-releaesed the film as "The Version You've Never Seen". It included new footage, including a 'spider walk' down the stairs by Regan. Rarely does added footage enhance a film, see 'Star Wars', but in this case.... I think it does. It made a scarier film, even scarier and has now left us with two versions of one amazing film. This film is probably always going to be #1 on my list of 'Scariest Films Of All Time', but it'll have to settle for #21 on this list.

Joel's Top 50 Films Of All Time: 30 - 26

My apologies folks. Blogger.com has been continually crapping the bed over the past few days. It's not only been unavailable, but it's been deleting things randomly and just basically being a huge a-hole. I don't know why it happened, but it seems to be fixed and regardless of all that.... now I have to re-write this entire entry as it was deleted. Thanks Blogger.com.

DISCLAIMER: Joel's 'Top 50 Films Of All Time' is a subjective list. This list can change at any time and is not set in concrete. As Joel watches films on a weekly basis, this list is a living organism. This current incarnation of the list is also only as of the time of creating it. Thank you for reading and enjoy! (I do expect some backlash from my decisions.)

On this list, you will find instances where more than one film is listed. This is because either there was a tie or the films somehow tie in with each other and make one selection in my mind. At each occurance, I will do my best to explain the reasoning behind my decision.

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# 30: 'Psycho' (1960)

Alfred Hitchcock has a well deserved reputation for being the master of suspense. He created some of the most well known films of his generation. What may not be quite as obvious is that he was also the grandfather of the modern day slasher film. 'Psycho' was the original slasher film and created the prototype for every other one that's come sense then. When you hear the name Norman Bates, you know exactly who I'm talking about. He's a mama's boy with a thing for killing people who check into his motel, the Bates Motel. Not only did Hitchcock create the slasher, he also led us down a path of misdirection that was duplicated later. In 'Psycho', we follow a woman who commits a crime and goes on the lam. She runs directly to the Bates Motel where she meets Norman and is soon dispatched by an unknown woman in the shower. The thing is that her story takes up about the first 20 minutes of the film, so you think that the film is going to be something entirely different from what it ends up being. Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez did something very similar with their film 'From Dusk Till' Dawn'.

I love this film and was a bit disappointed with Gus Van Zant's shot for shot remake. He also kind of started the remake and reimging trend that is so popular today. The only difference is that he wanted a shot for shot remake with no alterations, but now they redo it in their own style and storyline.... just similar characters. If you haven't seen 'Psycho' yet, you really should. Despite it's age, it is still a stellar piece of film making that I love to watch. It's still fairly scary and gives you a reference point for horror films today. I think it earned the 5 for 5 star rating it has and will forever have a special place in horror lovers hearts.

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# 29: 'Delicatessen'/ 'City Of Lost Children'

(this is the poster for 'Delicatessen'.... the trailer for 'City of Lost Children' is posted below.)

If you ever wondered where my film term 'pitch perfect film making' came from, it's from these two tilms. Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro have to be two of the most creative guys in France. In the short time that they were together making films, they made amazing things happen. They're still making films together independently of each other, but they're just not the same. Now, you're probably wondering why these two particular films aren't higher up my list, but they're two films that I can only watch on occasion. The rewatchability factor is limited. It's almost like trying to eat concentrated ice cream, it's just too much of a good thing to eat on a regular basis. They still stand as important examples of film as art. You may not have seen them, but you've most likely seen Jeunet's film 'Alien: Resurrection'. 'Delicatessen' and 'City of Lost Children' are very different from that film. Granted, Dominque Pinon is in both, but that's about it.

'Delicatessen' tells the story of a man hired to take care of the maintanence of an apartment building in a near post-apocalypic future. What he soon learns is that the landlord/butcher is killing the maintanence men he hires and then selling them as meat in his shop. Meat is hard to come by in this future. Our hero falls in love with the butcher's daughter and all kinds of insantiy ensue. 'City of Lost Children' is, what I would call, a modern day fairy tale. It is something that you have to see to believe. Words would not do it justice. Either way, both films are 5 star worthy and will remain as my first examples of what 'pitch perfect film making' can and should look and feel like.

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# 28: 'The Silence Of The Lambs'

'The Silence of the Lambs' was the very first film I ever bought for my home film library. I bought a copy on VHS that was recorded in EP mode and it never held up to repeated viewings like most VHS tapes would.... mainly because of the way it was recorded. It was and still is one of my favorite serial killer films. It paved the way for 'Seven' and led to several decent sequels and prequels. Another end result of viewing this film was that it led to my love of Jodie Foster films. I wasn't a fan when she was a child star, but I watched everything she made after this and I'm still a fan today. This film was also a trailblazer with the way it took something extremely grusome all the way to the Oscars. The Academy takes a dim view on horror or anything remotely grotesque. That's what made this films addition to its ranks that much more surprising. If you haven't seen this one yet, you really should take the time out to watch it tonight. It is a bit dated, but not in a terrible way. The performances are strong, the script is well written and the direction is supurb. I have shared this film with as many people as I could find to watch it, some with hyterical results. Before I even get to the synopsis, I'll just let you know that this is a 5 out of 5 star film and a classic.

The story follows a young FBI agent, Clarice Starling, as she is assigned to interview a serial killer named Hannibal Lector. The idea is to get insight into the mind of a killer to track down another killer named Wild Bill. Over the course of the film, Clarice builds quite a relationship with Hannibal and one that does lead to Wild Bill. I don't want to give the rest of it away, but it is a satisfying ending and one that was copied several times over since this film was released. I have always been curious what Thomas Harris thought about the film adaptations of his novels and if you know, let me know.... I am curious if it was a good thing in his opinon or a bad thing. Either way, this film is an amazing one and one that has earned its spot on my 'Top 50' list.

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# 27: the 'Matrix' trilogy

I am positive that it's no surprise that 'The Matrix' films made their way onto this list. Despite the fact that the film makers haven't been able to do much, if anyting, since these films.... it doesn't matter. What they created changed the face of science fiction and changed the way special effects were done. They also created characters and a mythos that are iconic and the stuff of nerd legend. I am fairly sure that anyone that was alive in 1999, remembered the first time they saw 'The Matrix'. It was like a wake up call that there was a whole hell of a lot more out there then what we thought there was. It also made the careers of several actors and actresses and a marketing juggernaut. They made everything from lunch boxes, to action figures to underwear.... 'The Matrix' was the new 'Star Wars'. For some reason the two follow up films didn't do quite as well, despite the fact that this was a trilogy of films. I think that as a whole they make something so much more amazing than as a single film. However, I feel kind of alone in that thinking sometimes.

I don't feel that I have the time or the webspace to tell the entire story of 'The Matrix' and Neo, but let me give you a brief summary. The human race is enslaved by robots. The robots have put the humans in sleep state where reality is not really reality. Soon, the humans realize what's going on.... at least some of them. They search for the 'one' to free them. He appears, or so they think and all hell breaks loose. A war ensues and that builds up to an amazing climax and the end of the series. Got it? I think that's about it in a nutshell. My personal feeling is that all five films are 5 star worthy. I love to watch them back to back and only regret watching one scene.... the one involving the 'rave'. That part is kind of lame. Anyway.... watch the 'Star Wars' films first and then watch the 'Matrix' trilogy.... that way you've got all the sci-fi you could ever want to see all wrapped up in a neat little bundle of films.

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# 26: the entire 'Star Wars' series

(the trailer below is the original 1977 trailer for 'Star Wars: episode 4 - A New Hope'....)

You've just read my review of the 'Matrix' films, now.... comes 'Star Wars'. I originally wanted to include only the films from the series that I felt deserved top 50 spots. However, once I started to make decisions about which ones deserved a spot, I realized that I just couldn't do it. The first three were such a huge part of my childhood that I couldn't break them up. The last three, although wholly unpopular, deserve some recognition too. They completed a story that was decades in the making. I think the majority of you would agree that 'The Empire Strikes Back' is the best of the 6 films. That being said, let's just focus on the unit as a whole. George Lucas isn't much of a film maker. He's okay at directing puppets, but terrible at directing real people. He created some films that allowed him to overcome that obstacle and that practically created a new religion. He set a new standard for special effects. He made not one, but an entire lexicon of iconic characters and places. He made the lives of children a whole lot more enjoyable with his marketing of the films. It's spawned too many branches to count and it's still as popular today as it was back in the 70's. For that, I tip my hat to George. I also have the utmost respect for him for sticking to his guns no matter what everyone else thinks. That being said, it doesn't mean that I approve of his handling of the new effects he added to the original films or his overuse of EVERYTHING in the newer films. Also, I think the new films have gotten a terrible rap. A lot of it has to do with the fact that the originals are so much a part of the fabric of our lives that trying to add new chapters to the story would be nearly impossible.... for anyone.

After watching all of the films on my own and now with my children, I realize now that the new ones are just as good as the originals, they're just not the same as the originals. For the youth of today, they are the originals and will remain a part of their collective history. Sure, they have their problems.... but what films don't? Not too mention that part III is pretty damn good. Individually, they each deserve their own rating, but as a whole.... 5 stars. These are probably the most important science fiction films to come along in the past several decades. Just about ever sci-fi film made since they've been released owes a debt of thanks to 'Star Wars'. Even some non-sci-fi films. So thanks to George Lucas, not a very good director, but a pretty amazing guy despite all of that. I can only hope that, in time, everyone will have the same mindset that I do.... if not, you're kind of missing out. The end.

Joel's Top 50 Films Of All Time: 35 - 31

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DISCLAIMER: Joel's 'Top 50 Films Of All Time' is a subjective list. This list can change at any time and is not set in concrete. As Joel watches films on a weekly basis, this list is a living organism. This current incarnation of the list is also only as of the time of creating it. Thank you for reading and enjoy! (I do expect some backlash from my decisions.)

On this list, you will find instances where more than one film is listed. This is because either there was a tie or the films somehow tie in with each other and make one selection in my mind. At each occurance, I will do my best to explain the reasoning behind my decision.

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# 35: 'Citizen Kane'

What list would be complete without 'Citizen Kane'? I don't think I've ever seen a comprehensive list without it on there somewhere. I would love to take a poll of all of the readers of this blog and find out how many of you have actually seen 'Citizen Kane'? I don't know that I would have seen it, if I hadn't seen it in film school. In all honesty, I am glad I did see it.... and once it's put into perspective, it makes it that much more impressive. At the time it was made, it was unheard of to have a man as young as Orson Welles at the helm of a big budget motion picture, not too mention to have him also be the writer and lead actor. It was also unheard of to have a man have to overcome so many challanges while making a film. Mr. Welles was out to do something that had never been done before. He was so ahead of his time that he had to create new ways to do things because there was no standard that had been previously set. He dug holes in the floor of the set to get shots looking straight up from the feet of characters. He created a shot where not only the forground, but the background were both in focus at the same time.... this is not possible as the camera always wants to focus on one thing or the other. To put it another way, the man was a genius. Sadly, he never quite reached the same heights after this film, but this one stands as a testament to the desire to be a film maker. It is widely considered to be the greatest film ever made.... and I can see why. Granted, it doesn't make my #1 spot, but that doesn't make it any less amazing.... it just means that it didn't hit me in the same way that some of the other films did. Point made.

If you are a student of film and have never seen this, make a point to track it down and set some time aside to really appreciate it. I think this film has to be absorbed as much as viewed. I would also recommend that you take some time to do some research on all the finer points of the film before seeing it. I only mentioned a fraction of the historical importance of 'Citizen Kane', there is so much more too it. 5 out of 5 stars is where it ends up on my rating scale. I think that's a pretty strong trend for all the films on my 'Top 50' list. This one earned everything.... all the accolades and praise, all the films made about the making of this film, all the books written about it and even all the refrences to it in pop culture. This is the film lovers film.

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# 34: 'Hard Boiled' aka 'Lat Sau San Taam'/ 'The Killer' aka 'Die xue shuang xiong' (1989)

(poster for 'The Killer'.... trailer for 'Hard Boiled' is posted below....)

I have gone over my list over and over again and I keep wondering why these films aren't seperated or higher up in the rankings. In all honesty, I am still not sure why. Regardless, these two films are two of the best action films ever made. Two of the best 'double gun' action films ever made. The two greatest Chow Yun-Fat films ever made. The two greatest John Woo films ever made. Sure, they may be subtitled and a bit dated. The music may be kind of cheesy and the stories may be over the top, but it doesn't make these films any less impressive. These films are pure testosterone. So many action movies since these came out, have taken their cues from what John Woo first put on the screen. However, they are just immitations of the originals. Who do I, personally, have to thank for pointing me towards these gems? Quentin Tarantino. Refrences to these films pop up in many of his films and he has always been very vocal about his love of Chow Yun-Fat. (It was even said that 'Reservoir Dogs' was a direct remake of a Chow Yun-Fat film called 'City On Fire'. I own both films and have seen them several times. 'City On Fire' does have it's similarities, but it's not a direct copy. Watch them for yourself and make up your own mind.)

Both 'The Killer' and 'Hard Boiled' deal with themes of "heroic bloodshed". In 'The Killer', we have a bad guy, turned good after making a mistake and blinding a woman. In 'Hard Boiled', we have a cop out for revenge. As with other films in this list, both of these get a solid 5 out of 5 star rating. I highly recommend that if you're a fan of John Woo, Chow Yun-Fat, double gun action or Hong Kong action cinema.... these are two films you must see. Hell, even if you're just a fan of great action.... you can't feel complete until these are a part of your lexicon. John Woo hasn't quite had the same success since these came out. Chow Yun-Fat has kind of had a bumpy go of it after these films. I don't even know what Quentin thinks about any of this stuff any more. All I know is that we have two amazing that will forever ring out with the sound of gunfire.

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# 33: 'Halloween' (1978)/ Rob Zombie's 'Halloween' (2007)

(poster for the original 1978 'Halloween' and the trailer for the Rob Zombie version from 2007 posted below....)

In what I would call a bit of irony, I went from being a fairweather fan of the 'Halloween' franchise to being a huge fan. Why, you might ask? Well, it all has to do with the re-imaging of it by Rob Zombie. He made me fall in love and understand a character that I just didn't quite have a good grasp on previously. 'Halloween' (1978) is a great film.... don't get me wrong. It took the standard for a slasher film from 'Psycho' and expanded on it. 'Halloween' brought up the concept of a killer without a soul or even much of a motive, if any. Michael Myers was frightening because of his he was like a shark. He didn't seem to have a soul or any remorse, he was just a killer for the sake of killing. This was all groundbreaking territory back in the late 70's. What Rob Zombie did, was continued on with that basic sensability, but gave Michael a bit more of a face behind the mask. Some people felt that this detracted from what John Carpenter set out to do, I disagree. I take each film as its own version of the same story. Kind of like an alternate reality. Each one has its strong points and weak ones. If you can keep an open mind and see them both for what they are, what the directors wanted them to be, then you may walk away from them with two films that are better than most slashers films ever made. That's my perspective.

Just in case you live in a hole or just don't like horror.... 'Halloween' is about a boy named Michael Myers who killed his family (except his baby sister) on Halloween night. He shows no remorse and seems to have no motive. He's promptly locked away and watched over by a doctor named Dr. Loomis. Eventually, Michael escapes from the asylum and heads back to his home in Haddonfield, IL to seek revenge. What people didn't know is that he was there to find his baby sister. The body count rises as he cuts his way through town and it all leads up to a final showdown between Dr. Loomis and Michael and then Michael and his baby sister. I love these both equally, but I tend to watch the Rob Zombie version more frequently than the original. (I love him though. Man crush.) Each film gets a 5 out of 5 star rating and I think that sometimes the original is put on a higher pedestal than it should be on, but I also think that the Rob Zombie version has gotten a much worse rap then deserved. What people need to realize is that when you set out to remake a classic, you aren't going to do a shot for shot remake, that just doesn't make sense. What you're going to do is create your own spin on the original.... make it your own. Respect that or just stick to what you know.... there's no shame in that.

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# 32: 'A Night At The Opera' (1935)/ 'Duck Soup'

(poster for 'A Night At The Opera'.... trailer for 'Duck Soup' posted below....)

Certain films have no equal or point of comparison. The Marx Brothers paved the way for comedy for all future generations. The silent film era brought us many histerical legends. Once the 'talkie' films hit, a lot of them just couldn't make the transistion. So what the studios did was set out to find new comedy acts to make films for the next decade. The Marx Brothers somehow caught a break and ran with it. They ran so long and so far that no one would really ever catch up with them. I still laugh out loud at all of their films and am proud to have them all in my collection. The wit, the timing, the delivery, the writing, the direction.... it's like each film was painted by the Rembrandt's of comedy. Each one a masterpiece. Each one a work of art a thing of beauty. This is why I am the way I am. I even went as Groucho Marx for Halloween when I was in grade school. The Marx Brothers are ingrained in my brain as the blueprint for my brand of comedy. I think they are the best that existed in film.

5 out of 5 stars is just a beginning of a rating, in my opinion. I don't think you can rate or rank something as fantastic as these films. These stand out as being just as funny, if not funnier than anything that Jim Carrey or Steve Martin has ever done. The Marxs Brothers pack more humor in 5 minutes than seems humanly possible. I can hardly keep up with it all. If you count yourself as a fan of comedy at all, why haven't you seen thee already? At least one of them. Maybe I'm just preaching to the choir, I can only hope. If not, head out to your local film place and watch these tonight, if you can. I love a good play on words and so did they.... how about you?

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# 31: 'Monsters, Inc'

We've already seen Pixar films in the 'Top 50', I'll let you know that this is the only other one to make the cut. There were a few that were close, but anyway.... Ever since I was a kid, I've loved monsters. They pre-occupied a whole lot of my time. Halloween was my favorite holiday and I made all of the decorations for the house myself. I loved to draw monsters, watch monster TV shows or films, basically anything to do with monsters. Funny thing is, I didn't like to be scared. I know that seems kind of backwards and in hindsight, I would agree. Anyway, years later my love of monsters and film would continue. The big difference now is that I like to be scared. I consider horror films to be my bread and butter. 'Monsters, Inc.' took all of the things I love and mashed them up. It's like my childhood was brought to life on screen in CGI. I was extremely excited to see this when it came out and it lived up to all my expectations. This is still my favorite of the Pixar films. I'm not sure if it has to do with the cast or the creatures or the story or what, it's just the closest thing to perfection I could think of. I kind of wish it would have been around when I was a kid. I've seen it more times then I can count and it never gets old. I keep hearing about a possible sequel and I am certain that Pixar could pull off a worthwhile one.

The premise behind this film is that monsters need the screams of kids to power their world. Because of that, Monsters, Inc. sends out its best monsters to scare kids and collect their screams and bring them back to monsterland. During one of the trips, a little girl named Boo comes back with one of the monsters and turns all of monsterland on its ear. The rest of the film is about the monsters trying to get Boo and get her back home, but what they learn in the process is something bigger than all of monsterland itself. That's the story in a nutshell. What's great about this film is that none of the monsters are too scary for kids to watch. The ending takes the concept of being scared of the dark and the closet and flips the script. It makes it okay to have the lights off and the closet door open, nothing bad is going to happen. It was an impressive feat by Pixar and I'm not 100% sure what kind of magic potion they used to make it happen, but I'm glad they did. Now I just wait to see what Pixar does next, but in the meantime.... I'm going to watch 'Monsters, Inc.' again. Want to watch with me?

Joel's Top 50 Films Of All Time: 40 - 36

DISCLAIMER: Joel's 'Top 50 Films Of All Time' is a subjective list. This list can change at any time and is not set in concrete. As Joel watches films on a weekly basis, this list is a living organism. This current incarnation of the list is also only as of the time of creating it. Thank you for reading and enjoy! (I do expect some backlash from my decisions.)

On this list, you will find instances where more than one film is listed. This is because either there was a tie or the films somehow tie in with each other and make one selection in my mind. At each occurance, I will do my best to explain the reasoning behind my decision.

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# 40: the 'Toy Story' trilogy

I don't know one single person who doesn't like the 'Toy Story' films.... not one. That doesn't mean there isn't one and that doesn't automatically make them the best films ever made, it does however make them worthwhile additions to any 'Top Films' list. I remember when I saw the original 'Toy Story' in the theater. I was a bit apprehensive and was one of the last people to jump on the CGI bandwagon. I was very anti-CGI back in the day. What 'Toy Story' taught me was that just because something was done on a computer, didn't meant that it couldn't still have heart. This film had so much heart it was overwhelming. Soon, a follow up was released. It was doubtful to me that they could capture that same sense of wonder a second time.... but damn it if Pixar did it. It felt like a bit of a different film than the first one, but it was still 'Toy Story'. I loved it and that was that. Then, it happened. The word came out that a third and final film was being made. I thought that it was going to ruin an amazing franchise. The idea that Andy was going off to college and that everything had moved on, made me sad. Initial reviews, once it came out, were that it was a fantastic way to end the series and that everyone who saw it.... cried. I was so hesitant to watch it, however.... Pixar has proven over and over again that their names stands for high quality entertainment for children of all ages. So, I watched it. What I saw was extremely moving, depressing and ultimately a solid ending to a solid series of films. I think that they sewed up all the loose ends in such a way that you couldn't help but feel like you lived a lifetime with Andy and the gang. And Tom Hanks proved once again why he's one of the Hollywood elite.

I may not have been a child when the first film came out, but I sure felt like a little kid again when I saw it. It was a wonderful thing to see the world through the eyes of Andy's toys. They taught us all a lesson in life, love and friendship. Despite the horrible song stylings of Randy Newman, I still think these films are some of the best CGI films made to date. I had no issues in giving them each 5 out of 5 stars. They possibly deserved even more than that, if that's possible. I loved sharing these films with my own kids and I hope they'll do the same when the time comes with their children. I think the lessons are ones that will always remain important ones. Not too mention that you can't help but love all of the unique characters we're introduced to in Andy's room. "To infinity and beyond!"

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# 39: 'Night Of The Living Dead' (1968)

I love zombies. That is no secret to any person that knows me. Pound for pound, zombies are your best bet for horror entertainment. I love what they represent and every fear that they bring to the surface. However, a lot of people these days take for granted what zombies are compared to what they used to be. Way back in the day, zombies were more akin with the voodoo enduced slaves that we all heard about in scary stories. They weren't the walking dead that lusted after the flesh of the living. Then George A. Romero came along and changed the game. He wrote a brand new mythology that we all still cling to today. In 1968, this was a whole new concept.... you have to keep that in mind when you see the original 'Night of the Living Dead'. I think that a lot of folks miss that fact when they see it. It seems to me that even if you were to discount that fact, this is still an amazing film that holds up after decades of wear and tear. Another thing that gets overlooked with this film is the fact that the hero is an African American man. Put that in context with what was going on in 1968. Therefore, this film not only tells a cautionary tale about the living dead.... it also teaches us a valuable lesson about race relations and uneccessary stereotypes. These things all make this film amazing, but erase all that from your mind and just watch it. What you'll see is expert film making on a minimal budget with maximal effect. This film packs a punch that will hit you in the gut and keep hitting until you give up or punch back. It's gory, visceral and intense. There is nothing about this film that would tag it as a film from the 60's, other than the black and white film and the way the charcters talk and dress. It's timeless.

While I don't think this is the best example of the zombie genre, I think it's the most important. It is the grandfather of every other zombie film that's come after it. It wrote the book on everything you needed to know about zombies. Sadly, I think it kind of pigeonholed George A. Romero, but I don't always think he minds. We all want to leave a legacy so that people will remember us after we're gone. This is his legacy. It's a no brainer (all puns intended) to give this 5 out of 5 stars. It is the watermark that all other zombie films will hold themselves too until the end of time. I am only saddened by one thing.... Mr. Romero didn't handle the copyright issues correctly and he has since lost all rights to the film. It is public domain. That means anyone can market it, sell it and alter it without repercussions and people have taken full advntage of that. So beware when you go to watch it or buy it that you only get a version endorsed by George A. Romero or one that has reviews stating it's an original, untouched version.

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# 38: 'Clerks 2'

So, you want to make a sequel to a film that doesn't need a sequel? You want to make a follow up to 'Citizen Kane' or 'Casablanca'? Sure, why not. That's kind of how I felt when I heard that Kevin Smith was actually making a sequel to 'Clerks'. The only bright shining part of the story was that he was doing it himself. It wasn't the studio doing it without his knowledge, he wanted to make it a reality.... he felt that there was more story to tell. What came out of this desire.... is one hell of an amazing film that is as good or better than the original. 'Clerks 2' picks up after 'Clerks' ends. Randall and Dante are older and wiser and take jobs at Mooby's after Randall burns down the Quick Stop. Dante is about to get married and move away, Randall is hurt and wants him to stay and Jay and Silent Bob are still hanging around outside making mischief. We're introduced to a few new characters who round out the cast and compliment the existing ones perfectly. It is an example of characters living on beyond the written page. The people Kevin Smith created live on their own now.... they don't need to be tended too, they tend to themselves. They are alive and are icons of pop culture for my generation.

This film makes me laugh, cry, feel sick and nostalgic all at the same time. It satisfies on every level that a film should. It's like 'The Empire Strikes Back' of slacker comedies. Granted, it doesn't have At-At's or the Hoth base, but it has 'Lord of the Rings' jokes and a donkey show.... what more could you want people?!?! I slapped a 5 out of 5 star rating on it the minute after I saw it. I wanted to thank Kevin Smith for doing what he wanted to do and what felt right. It took a lot of balls to overcome all of the negativity that was being thrown at him for 'going back to the well'. It puts a period on the sentence and allowed Mr. Smith to finally move on to other things and it allowed us to do the same.

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# 37: 'Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn'

Bruce Campbell. Bruce Campbell. Bruce Campbell. Say it three times while standing in front of a mirror and he will appear. Hell, he'll show up anywhere if it means he can make a film. The man loves what he does and doesn't care if it's a multi-million dollar blockbuster or a Sy-Fy original movie, he'll do it just to keep working. The man is an actor who loves to act. Bruce Campbell is also considered a god of the B-movies. He is a legend in his own time and I think that if it wasn't for Sam Raimi and his 'Evil Dead' films, Bruce wouldn't be the pop culture phenomenom that he is today. 'Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn' is the crown jewel in his collection. It is one of, if not THE, only film that was a remake of a film that was already made by the same cast and crew.... but instead of making it serious, they made it kind of over the top. The original 'Evil Dead' is a pretty dark and straight forward horror film. Whereas, 'Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn' is quite the opposite. It's more tongue in cheek horror with no real attempt to take itelf seriously. It's a fun little film for the geeks in all of us. It has everything you could ever want in a film, right down to the hand that's replaced by a chainsaw that was formerly in the 'WORKSHED!'.

Sam Raimi has gone on to become quite the toast of Hollywood and may someday end up in the same ranks as Peter Jackson, who also started out making low budget horror flicks. Until then, he continues to make a mixed bag of films. He makes big budget blockbusters, but then goes back to his roots and makes kind of cheesy horror films. (see 'Drag Me To Hell') Now, the plot for 'Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn' goes a little like this. A man named Ash ends up at a cabin where he finds an old tape recorder left by the former resident and a copy of the Necronomicon or the book of the dead. He ends up accidentially summoning evil into the cabin and is in a fight for his life. The end, well.... you have to ee it to believe it and you probably already know that they made a sequel to this. A good sequel. I own the two original 'Evil Dead' films and love the fact that I can watch them both at either time and enjoy the similarities that they have with each other. I highly recommend that if you haven't seen 'Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn' yet, that you take some time out of your busy schedule tonight and watch it. You will not be dissappointed. The only thing I ask, is that you don't expect too much. The lower expectations you have.... the more you're going to love this film. I think I'm going to go and watch it now! 5 out of 5 stars, baby.

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# 36: 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'/ 'Better Off Dead'

The 80's were an ugly time. The clothes were horrific, the music had some pretty rough spots and some of the films were terrible. Despite those crappy odds, two films overcame them all and ended up becoming legends in the 80's comedy film library. Those two films are 'Better Off Dead' and Ferris Bueller's Day Off'. Each one of these films have a certain sene of absurdity, but they also are histerically funny and even touching at times. Not too mention, pretty damn funny. The icons of 80's films are all here or at least all involved. In fact, these two flims were instrumental in launching some careers. I know, for a fact, that anyone who's my age has seen these two films and probably counts them as one of their favorites. They are films that almost anyone can enjoy and that have universal themes that bridge time. In other words, they are just as relevant today as they were back in the 80's. I have lost count as to how many times I've seen each one of these films. It's like they're required viewing at least once a year. They're quotable and on cable all the time. These are films that will always be a part of the American psyche.

Back in the day, there were other films being made too. For example, 'One Crazy Summer' is basically the same film as 'Better Off Dead', but just a slightly different storyline. The actor is the same, the director is the same and the themes are the same. However, for some reason.... it never got the same recognition that 'Better Off Dead' did. That, to me, is a shame. And that is just one example. Despite all of that, 'Ferris Bueller' and 'Better Off Dead' are wothy of being in the Smithsonian as a time capsule of what films were back in the 80's. They also deserve the 5 out of 5 star rating that they received. I love them, own them and wil watch them at any given moment. If you need to be picked up from a slump and don't have the money for a therapist, just rent these films and I can promise that you'll be feeling a bit better when they're over. That and you'll want your two dollars.

Joel's Top 50 Films Of All Time: 45 - 41

DISCLAIMER: Joel's 'Top 50 Films Of All Time' is a subjective list. This list can change at any time and is not set in concrete. As Joel watches films on a weekly basis, this list is a living organism. This current incarnation of the list is also only as of the time of creating it. Thank you for reading and enjoy! (I do expect some backlash from my decisions.)

On this list, you will find instances where more than one film is listed. This is because either there was a tie or the films somehow tie in with each other and make one selection in my mind. At each occurance, I will do my best to explain the reasoning behind my decision.

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# 45: 'Barfly'

Charles Bukowski is my 2nd favorite author to ever have lived. Sadly, he is no longer with us.... but he left an amazing legacy of brilliant books behind. During his lifetime, he wrote a film that is somewhat based on his life. Mickey Rourke was cast as Henry Chinaski, the on screen alter ego of Charles Bukowski. The end result of this was a sadly beautiful story of an everyman. This film may not be nearly as good as one of Charles Bukowski's books, but it's the closest thing to bringing one of them to life that you could get. 'Barfly' tells the story of a man who spends his days drinking in a little dive of a bar and ends up getting in fights and writing in his 'spare' time. He eventually meets a rather disturbed woman and they start a relationship of sorts. Soon after that, he is 'discovered' by another woman. The rest of the flim deals with his change in life after a little taste of fame or his lack of change in life.

I love this flim. It's a dirty little slice of life that reeks of realism. The characters are far from perfect, as a matter of fact.... they're completely flawed. There's nothing shiny or pretty about this story. It is gritty.... that doesn't make it any less poetic. Charles Bukowski was a poet of the streets.... of the gutters of human tragedy. He turned the ugly into the beautiful. He lived what he wrote, it was just that simple. This film is a 5 out of 5 star piece of poetry. Sadly, it's not easy to find on DVD or VHS. I'm not sure why that is, but I dream of the day when I can add it to my collection. Unitl then, I have Charles's books to keep me warm at night. Thank you Mr. Bukowski, wherever you are. And thank you Mr. Rourke for bringing a man to life that not everyone would have known without your talents.

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# 44: 'Gangs Of New York'

This film was not originally in this position on the list. I made a last minute decision to change where it was located after re-watching it. I still think it's an amazing film and I still believe that Daniel Day-Lewis gave the most amazing perforamce of his career. He may have even given the greatest performance by an actor, ever. This film had problems though. The ending still bugs me to this day. It's like it was an after thought. I also have trouble with Cameron Diaz's character and Leonardo DiCaprio's character. I think they're both fine actors in their own right, I am just not sure that this was the right vehicle for them. Something just feels off about it all, like they were miscast in these roles. Despite all that, this film is epic in scope. It tells a story about the birth of our nation and makes it entertaining to modern audiences. Everyone in this film seems to want to be involved and they all put forth their best efforts. I think a little time might have been shaved off of this to make it a little tighter, but that may just be me. It's still impressive, none the less.

'Gangs Of New York' tells the story of all of the rival gangs in New York back in the day. How they all compeated with each other and how they all ruled over the streets.... even over the law. The main story focuses on Bill the Butcher and his former enemies son, Amsterdam. Bill doesn't realize who Amsterdam is and takes him under his wing. Soon, Amsterdam is his right hand man and things are going well.... until the weight of everything brings it all crashing down and the two must confront each other to finish off old rivalries. I gave this 5 out of 5 stars, mostly because of Daniel Day-Lewis's performance as Bill the Butcher. He was so amazing that I even had dreams about the character. (not anything really strange, just him in character) This film, despite its flaws, still deserves to be seen and deserves a place on the 'Top' lists of film reviewers. It's a unique film and a great film. A masterpiece in its own right.

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# 43: the 'Die Hard' series

What action movie lover doesn't have a soft spot in their heart for John McClane? He represents the 'everyman' of the action genre. In the original 'Die Hard' film, he was just a cop put in a bad situation where he has to become the action hero to save the day. Despite his heroics, he's still just a guy who's not indestructable and he proves that over and over again in the original film. As a matter of fact, he gets the living crap beat out of him for almost the entire film. It's a wonder he didn't die or just give up. But I think that's why everyone loves him, he's not a superhero. Granted, in the films that followed, he became more and more superhuman, but he could still get his ass kicked. I personally love these films because they blend action, humor and Bruce Willis's charm into a nice big bowl of coolness. I could watch any of these films anytime and love them no matter what. The original 'Die Hard' is a holiday staple. It is a fantastic Christmas film. Now you're asking me, "Why in the hell did you pick the other three films in the series too?" Let me explain. I believe that 'Die Hard 2: Die Harder' is a perfect example of how to make the ideal sequel. You take your hero, throw him into a similar situation, kick the action off within the fist 5 minutes, make everything bigger and VIOLA! instant success. "What about part 3?" Once again, they made the perfect follow up to the over the top sequel.... you take all of the original elements and put them into a new environment. Everything feels fresh again, even if it takes place in the summer and you add a silly sidekick. It's like a reboot of the entire franchise. "Okay. Good points. What about part 4?" Well, you take your main character, add elements from the past and give him a hip young partner for the young folks and once again you have a practical reboot of the franchise. Can this semi-reinvention continue onto a 5th film? I can honestly say that I don't know, but I'd like to find out.

After all is said and done, I gave all 4 of these films 5 out of 5 stars. Are they going to change the world as we know it? No. But sometimes a film isn't just about having something important to say. Sometimes it's just about checking your brain at the door and having a good time with old friends for a couple of hours. These 4 films accomplished that every single time. They are 4 seperate films with the same lead character and the same basic premise, however, each one is independent of the other. You don't have to watch them all, you can just watch one and feel satisfied that you saw a great little action film. I would love to see them make a 5th one, just to see where that film would end up taking us. But until that happens, if it does, I just have to say, "Yippie Ky Yay" Well, you know the rest.

(fan made tribute trailer to all 4 films)

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# 42: 'Shaun Of The Dead'/ 'Hot Fuzz'

Edgar Wright, Nick Frost and Simon Pegg are geniuses.... need I say more? You could write just that one sentence as a review for these films and that would be enough to put asses in seats. These three men have created two of the most perfect comedy films ever made. They nailed both the zombie and buddy cop films so well that no one ever needs to make another attempt at it, these cannot be topped. From the music to the script to the cinematography to the characters to the.... well, everything. They are both spot on perfection. I kind of wonder if these should have ended up higher on my list, but I think that them just being on this list is probably enough. They should be on everyone's list of films that you must see before you die. It helps if you're a fan of zombie films and buddy cop films, but you can still watch either one of these without the previous knowledge of their base films and still love them. I don't know how these three guys ended up together, but I kind of think it was a perfect storm created by the film gods. It is so rare to have something like this happen, so you really have to hold on tight when they do. I own both of these films and watch them fairly often. They never grow old, I always find something new in them when I watch them and I always laugh. Pitch perfect films.

'Shaun of the Dead' revolves around two 'slackers' who are a little slow in realizing that a zombie outbreak has occured and that most of the world is now the walking dead. It's a film about them trying to keep the few of their loved ones that are still alive, together. But to also keep their lives as normal as they used to be. 'Hot Fuzz' is about a "super"cop who is basically driven out of his job because he's too good at it. He is transferred to a little town where not much happens. He struggles to find his place, but soon realizes that there is something more going on and he sets out to uncover a massive conspiracy. Hilarity ensues in both films. By now, I am guessing that you have already come to the conclusion that I gave them 5 out of 5 stars each.... well, you're right. How could I not? I only hope that when they're next project emerges that it can stand up to these. It has to be a hard thing to make lightning strike 3 times in the same spot, but if anyone can do it.... I am pretty sure that they can.

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# 41: 'Seven' aka 'Se7en'

Up to this point, 'The Silence of the Lambs' had set the standard for what a serial killer film should be. As a matter of fact, it was so good that it was brought into the mainstream and even included in the Oscar's.... and won. I don't know that anyone ever saw the possiblity of another serial killer film ever taking a shot at 'The Silence of the Lambs' title, but in 1995.... an up and coming director named David Fincher, took a shot at the championship belt. He took an established genre and put it on its ear. He used a somewhat unknown actor for his primary character of the killer. He put A-list actors in the lead roles as the two detectives on the case. He didn't give up the identity of the killer until almost the end and he created an ending that not only satisfied the audience, but left them wanting more. Maybe 'Seven' didn't earn the awards that 'The Lambs' did, but that didn't make it any less of an amazing film. It's a disturbing masterpiece that you can't really say you love.... because then you feel 'icky', but instead you say that you think it's incredible and original. I know that when I left the theater after seeing it, I felt like I'd seen a shift in film. A shift in the genre. A shift in what the audience wanted to see. This was a new page in the lexicon of crime thrillers.

In 'Seven', we focus on a seasoned detective about to end his career and a young detective just trying to get his started. Of course, they butt heads. Despite that, they start working on a case where a killer is using the 7 deadly sins as a roadmap to kill people. It's a race against time to find him before he completes his masterpiece. One of the things that's subtle, but very effective about this film is the use of rain. It rains for the entire film, until our killer is captured and it doesn't rain again for the rest of the story after that. It is a great use of the environment to reflect what we see on the screen. It's like using color to alter moods. I couldn't help but give this 5 out of 5 stars and it sealed the deal on my love for David Fincher films, Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman and for the amazing talents of Kevin Spacey. If you only see two serial killer films in your lifetime, you must see 'The Silence of the Lambs' and 'Seven'. They are the stick against all other films are measured in this genre.

Joel's Top 50 Films Of All Time: 50 - 46

DISCLAIMER: Joel's 'Top 50 Films Of All Time' is a subjective list. This list can change at any time and is not set in concrete. As Joel watches films on a weekly basis, this list is a living organism. This current incarnation of the list is also only as of the time of creating it. Thank you for reading and enjoy! (I do expect some backlash from my decisions.)

On this list, you will find instances where more than one film is listed. This is because either there was a tie or the films somehow tie in with each other and make one selection in my mind. At each occurance, I will do my best to explain the reasoning behind my decision.

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# 50: 'Irréversible'

I know this choice is bound to get a lot of funny looks from everyone, but this film packs an incredible punch that you will not forget. It is hard to watch, literally. Gaspar Noé, the director, used a low frequency sound during the opening 20 - 30 minutes of the film to disorient and make the audience feel ill. It worked so well that upon release in 2002, this film had people leaving the theater. It may partialy be due to the sound or to the fact that the camera never stops moving. During this entire film, the camera is constantly shifting, turning and spinning. The only time that it stops is during the 9 minute long rape scene. For those 9 minutes, it is completely still on a tripod and is locked solid. It makes the scene that much more powerul because you are finally able to rest your eyes and brain, but what you see is more horrific than anything up to that point. It proves that cinema is art. Gaspar Noé makes use of technology to create a visual representation of what a person might feel in real life. Myself having been held at gunpoint and beaten, can attest to the fact that the whole world just stops during moments like these. It is not unlinke a film and I think Gaspar Noé captured that feeling in real time. Plain and simple.

I intially hated this film. Over time and research and gaining some perspective, I realized what his vision was.... right or wrong. I understood the importance of this film and, although I don't recommend it to people, I do explain to them why this film is necessary and hope they will keep an open mind. It earned a 4 out of 5 star rating from me and cemented my respect for Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci and extended my horizon's into French cinema. If you decide to take on this film, be aware that it is not an easy thing to get through. You will feel sick, you will be disgusted by what you see and you will feel dirty when it's over.... that much I can guarentee. However, if you have an open mind and watch it for all it has to offer, you may just be surprised at what you take away from it when it's over. I know I was and look at where this film has ended up now.

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# 49: 'Robocop'/ 'Starship Troopers'

This is a set of films that will raise a few eyebrows as well and I will be the first to admit that I do not like Paul Verhoeven's films, as a rule. It kills me to have, not one, but two of his films in my 'Top 50' list.... but I will admit that these are truly his masterpieces. "Why are these even here?", you might ask? Let's look at them from a couple of different angles. As action, sci-fi films they are above par. They really hold up well after long periods of time and set a standard for other sci-fi/ action films to follow. They're fun, kick-ass, original and have a lot going for them. The other angle is that they're biting satire in film form. Paul Verhoeven was making his own commentaries on society hidden within an entertaining venue. When you watch these films, you may or may not have caught onto what he was trying to say or do, but it was still implanted in your head regardless. I'm not even sure that I understand them fully, but I challenge you to watch them again and to watch them with your thinking cap on instead of your entertainment hat. Trust me, he's not very subtle about things.

After years of watching these films, I have settled on a 4 out of 5 star rating for 'Robocop' and 5 out of 5 star rating for 'Starship Troopers'. What I find funny about both of these films, is that they spawned such horrible sequels and each one got progressively worse. Also, they both spawned cartoons and toys for children, despite the fact that both films were originally rated a VERY hard 'R'. (almost an 'X' rating for each of them.) I remember seeing the 'Robocop' commercials when I was younger and really wanting to see them and I can understand why the big wigs wanted to make them more accessible for kids. Hell, I was sold on them when I was a kid. And with 'Starship Troopers', I did not want to see it when it came out. I was forced into going with a group of other people.... and when I left that theater, I was 100% in love with it and couldn't wait to see it again. Funny how things work out, eh?

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# 48: 'That Thing You Do!'

It took me a long time to come around to being a Tom Hanks fan After his days on television, it was hard for me to take him serious as an actor, writer, director or producer. However, over the years, he has proven himself over and over again as a jack of all trades and a damn fine actor. He is the new ideal of what a leading man should be. He's well liked and respected in the Hollywood system and I can see why. 'That Thing You Do!' is his baby. He had his hand in every part of the making of this film. EVERY part. This is the fruit of all of his years of labor. What he ended up with, is nothing short of entertainment in its most pure form. It's like drinking the syrup of Coca-Cola before it's mixed with the carbonation. It's almost too much entertainment to handle. It has comedy, drama, romance, music and is damn well done over all. The cast is spot on. The music by Fountains of Wayne is/was the only choice for this film. The script is well paced and never boring. I just can't say enough good things about 'That Thing You Do!'. It's a film about a one hit wonder group in the 60's. It covers their history from being a garage band to an overnight sensation. It deals with a lesser known side-effect of the music scene back then, when a group may have only had one chance at success. They wouldn't always record a full album, they might only get that one 45 rpm record and that was it. Not every band was the Beatles, you know?

Although many of the stars of this film didn't ever really get as far as I thought they should, they still left a legacy. This is a 5 out of 5 star film that, I don't think, ever got the praise and respect it deserved. It has so much to offer the audience and never asks for anything in return. Tom Hanks put all of his love into this and I think you can feel it when you're watching it. He's finally making another film where he's 100% involved in the whole process, it's due out soon and I can't wait to see how it turns out. No matter what happens though, this will last as a testament to a great man who is what Hollywood should be and a film that reminds us why we go to the movies in the first place.

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# 47: 'Before Sunrise'/ 'Before Sunset'

Before I start this review, let me give you a little known fact: when I went to flim school.... I wasn't there to write, produce or direct horror, action or sci-fi.... I was there to write comedy based romantic dramas. In fact, the only script that was ever 100% completed by me, was just that. I'm extremely proud of it and it has all of the Joel earmarks in it. Despite being a romantic comedy-drama, it still has its strangeness and obscure music and movie references. Just because I wrote something based around a love story, doesn't mean it couldn't be its own kind of monster, right? Anyway.... I have a soft spot for these kinds of films and I am surprised that more of them didn't make it into the 'Top 50'. These films concreted my love of both Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke. I first saw Julie Delpy in 'Killing Zoe' (which is in my 'Top 200') and Ethan Hawke in 'Reality Bites' (which is also in my 'Top 200'). I have since followed both of their careers and even read both of the books he's written. (they are REALLY good too!) These films are both directed by Richard Linklater, a man who his hit and miss with his films. I have seen a good chunk of his catatlog and only like a few of them. Despite my opinions, he is considered an artist in his field. Either way, he made a masterpiece of a storyline that bookends each other perfectly. These are the films that I aspired to write. To be able to capture an emotion on screen is something to be proud of and somehow he captured lightning in a bottle, twice.

The two films are 5 out 5 stars and, in my opinion, are classics. The story centers around two characters who happen to meet and spend only 1 day with each other before parting ways. What transpires in that time is magical. It almost seems like a whole lifetime is lived in that short span of time. It captures all of those wonderful feelings that we get when we're first getting to know someone and falling in love with them. The story then continues 10 years later when the two meet again. We get the rare chance to see what happens with those characters in love stories, after the love story ends and the credits roll. I don't think that Mr. Linklater pulls any punches here and although it's still a romantic comedy-drama, it still has a ring of truth to it. I am so thankful to him for making this into a satisfying set of films that will stand the test of time and created two icons of what I could only hope to have created in my lifetime. Wouldn't you want the chance to be either one of them in the situation that they were placed in? I think that's why these films earned a spot in my 'Top 50' and will always remain there.

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# 46: '28 Days Later'/ '28 Weeks Later'

Back in the day, zombies moved slow.... they shambled. Over the years, that didn't change much. Eventually, Danny Boyle created a new mythos. Granted, what he created were people infected by a virus that made them kill for no reason, but it set a new standard for the virus/zombie film. In his film and ever since then.... the infected run. If you aren't in pretty good shape then you're likely to get killed by the infected. Plain and simple. It's become so ingrained in pop culture that 'Zombieland' even made a point ot making it one of the rules to survive a virus/zombie outbreak, 'Cardio'. Now, Danny Boyle is no slouch. He has, to date, not made a bad film in my opinion. '28 Days Later' is an amazing addition to his already amazing library of work and I fell in love with it after the first time I saw it. Then came '28 Weeks Later', the follow up of what happened after the virus infected the world and the soon to follow aftermath. Juan Carlos Fresnadillo took over the directoral duties for Danny Boyle and he ran away with it. The first 15 minutes of this film are probably the most intense, heart racing minutes ever committed to celluloid. My heart races just thinking about it and every time I see it, it doesn't get any easier to watch. Robert Carlyle embodies the everyman. He is, what I imagine, a father or husband would be in the world after it ended. He doesn't make all the right decisions and doesn't do the right thing everytime, but he does his best to survive. This film is an example of what a sequel could or should be. It shows that you don't have to retain the same principle people to make it work, you just have to have a strong script, a good director and a cast and crew willing to give 100%. I know this won't make every film from here on out as good as this one, but it gives me hope for future films.

Both films earned a solid 5 out of 5 star rating and they both worked really hard to earn them. I have no hesitation in coughing up those ratings either. I love these films, zombies or not, and I have watched them over and over and have never felt any different about them. In case you aren't familiar with the story.... a virus, called 'Rage', is let loose from an animal testing facility and infects London. We see the first 28 days through the eyes of a bike messenger who is just waking up unaware of what's happened. Over that course of time, he learns how to live with his new surroundings and eventually settles into life in the new world. The sequel picks up shortly after the first one ends, we're now following a group of survivors who are splintered after letting another survivor into their safe house. Our main hero makes his way to the safe zone and is reunited with his two kids. Soon, the virus infects the safe zone and all hell breaks loose again. The end of this film leaves it open for another one, maybe not with the same survivors.... but another one with 'Rage' victims none the less. It has been reumored that '28 Months Later' is now in pre-production and that maybe Danny Boyle is back on board, only time will tell. I just hope that they don't compromise quality for the almighty dollar. I'd be just as happy with the two films we have, rather than soil them with a crappy 3rd film. End of story.

So, what do you think so far? 45 - 41 will hopefully be posted tomorrow, all things considered. Please feel free to post your thoughts here or on my Facebook page or the Facebook page for this blog. I'd love to hear from you and where these films rank for you, if at all. This has turned into quite the overwhelming task, but I'm committed to finish and am having fun regardless. Thanks for reading!

UPDATE: the 'Top 50 Films Of All Time'.... my list....

Well, it's pretty much a done deal. Granted, it's all subject to change at any time.... but for now, it's a start. As I sit here and stare at the list, I am perplexed as to what order to put it into. I have ideas on certain films as to where they'll go, however it's such a long list that it's hard to figure out where all of them will go. I mean, who says that "this movie" is number 27, where as "this movie" is number 48.... I just can't seem to overcome that hump. I am going to have to sort it out, because I have wanted to put this list together for a long time. I also have talked it up quite a bit and have built up a payoff, now I need to provide that payoff. How would you go about sorting all of this out? How would you even begin to make sense of all of this data? It's like picking out which of your children is your favorite, it's just not possible. (Now that I'm thinking of it that way.... I don't know if I want to finish this list!) Something else that concerns me is the reaction that I might get from this compliation. I am sure that not all of you will agree with a lot of my choices. I made my decisions based on re-watchability, artistic merit, if it changed me in some way or changed cinema, etc. I've including animated films, horror, comedy, drama, foreign, anything that I felt qualified. But the wonderful thing about cinema is how there is a film/movie for everyone out there. Everyone loves a film/movie for different reasons. Everyone won't like the same thing. It could be something as simple as when they watched it for the first time. Perhaps at that point, they were dealing with some really heavy stuff and the film made it so they were able to get through it all. However, the same film when viewed by someone who isn't having any issues and is in a really good spot, may find that the film is boring or terrible. That's what I love about this artistic format.

I would like to extend the invitation again to all of you.... if you have a list of your own, please submit it. I always love to see where different people's heads are at. I also think it would be fun to share and have an open forum about things. It might also be fun to compare mine with famous reviewers lists. ie: Roger Ebert. Whatever happens once this starts, don't judge.... art is up to the viewer. One mans trash is another mans treasure. Cliche after cliche back up what I'm saying and they can't be wrong, right? Something else about my list that you should know, I have taken the liberty of grouping some things together. It's not just out of laziness, there is a reason for it. I, of course, will explain myself as these things come up. Mostly, it has to do with the fact that sometimes a film/movie has counterparts that will always be linked to them. Because of that, I had to keep them as a pair of films/movies not just one by itself.

Please feel free to comment if something hits you in a good or bad spot. I love to chat about film and all it's wonder and I think this could get some good conversations going. Have you been thinking about your own choices at all? I haven't stopped thinking about it and have even gone back into my DVD library to watch some of my favorites just to see if they still hold up. So far, so good. It's what I would refer to as a 'happy side effect' of compiling this. I know it will keep changing and growing over time, I'm not naive about that. I also know that some films/movies will always be in the top spot and I can't wait to share them with you. Until then, stay thirsty my friends.

(The opening commercial for Captain Spaulding's Murder Ride, from the beginning of 'House of 1000 Corpses'....)

my thoughts on.... 'Sling Blade' and other things....

When I was in film school, I had the privilage of seeing the first 20 minutes of 'Sling Blade' before it ever hit theaters. Our instructor must have pulled some strings to make it happen, I'm not entirely sure, but it was worth it. Regardless, I don't remember any time before that day that I had been so fully involved in a film. I became completely lost in everything I was seeing on the big screen, it was like I was in some sort of trance. To this day, there are very few other film going experiences that I've had where I was this mesmerized. When the film finally hit theaters and I was able to see it in its entirety, I was not let down by what I saw. It had an amazingly strong 1st, 2nd and 3rd acts. It's a rare commodity these days to find a film like that. I eventually bought this on VHS and nearly wore out my copy of it. Years after that, I bought the 10th anniversary special edition DVD and in the number of times I've seen it over the years.... it still packs a mean left hook. Now what is it about this film that gives it such amazing lasting power? Why do the characters leap off the screen and live and breathe on their own? I, personally, think it as a perfect storm of passion, right script, right time, right cast and crew, etc. You can't plan and execute a film like this without some kind of divine intervention. What's kind of interesting is that it started out as a 25 minute short film with JT Walsh, Molly Ringwald and, or course, Billy Bob Thornton. Take a look at where it all began:

You could see the seed of genius in this original piece, but you feel, after watching it, that there is a lot more story to tell and I think that's what lead everyone to want to see more.

For those of you who haven't seen this film yet, let me give you the basic story. As you can see in the original short film, we start off in a home for people with special needs. This is where we first meet Carl. He's a unique man with a unique past. As he's being interviewed about his past, we soon become interested in his future. On his release date, he heads back to live in the town where he grew up. He is obviously a fish out of water and does his best to fit in with everyone else. Soon Carl meets a young boy named Frank. Frank is an independent boy whose mother works to support him and has an on again/off again alcoholic boyfriend. He's abusive, mean and makes no sincere apologies about it. Over time, Carl gets a job fixing lawnmowers, moves in with Frank and his family and slowly starts putting his life back together. Eventually it becames painfully obvious that Carl is possibly doomed to repeat history. Frank's mom and her best friend seem to tolerate the abuse, but Frank is doing his best to put an end to it. Meanwhile, Carl visits his estranged father and confronts him about his mistreatment of him growing up. Soon things begin to come to a slow boil and you can feel that things are going to hit a turning point. What happens in the third act is amazingly well done and is something that you just have to see. I refuse to detail what happens.... trust me, it's worth your time to see this film if you haven't already.

As much as I love this film, there is something about it that always makes it very difficult to watch. The Dwight Yoakam character of Doyle, the abusive, drunk boyfriend, reminds me of my brother. He is about as spot on perfect as you can get for an on screen version of what I dealt with growing up. (minus playing in a band) I, literally, almost had to stop watching the film the first time I saw it because of how realistic it felt to watch Doyle. The way he flips the switch between being a calm, gentle person to suddenly becoming a raging, violent person. He's either extremely bi-polar or really drunk.... or both. The funny thing is that he apologizes for his behavior after the fact. His apologies are anything but remorseful, in fact he makes you feel stupid and like it was your fault in the first place. I thought it was just the way my brother was, but I guess there are other people with that same talent, if you can call it that. In the end, did I feel like justice was served for Doyle? Did I live out some kind of sick fantasy? The answer is that I don't know. I'm not a judge and I don't think I ever would want to take it to the extreme that Carl does. It may have been a passing thought, but not a serious consideration to make it a reality. Everytime I watch this film, I know what I'm getting into and regardless of that, I still think this is one of the most amazing films ever committed to the screen. If the price of that is opening up old wounds, so be it.

I'm currently working on a finalized list of the 'Top 50 Films Of All Time' and this will be in those celebrated ranks. Granted, it may just be my own opinion and perhaps it's a bit skewed because of my past.... but I still think that this is an amazing piece of work. And based on the reviews I've read in the past, I don't think I'm entirely alone in my thinking. I believe that Billy Bob Thornton could pack up and leave Hollywood forever and this film would be his masterpiece, something everyone would remember him by. Like Orson Welles and 'Citizen Kane', this is what he'll be remembered for and will stand as a lasting testament to what he's capable of. It's a 5 out of 5 star film going experience and one that I feel everyone should take at some point. It's a fascinating character study of fictionalized people who seem to live and breathe on their own, outside of the film. That, to me, is a sign of good writing. When the thing that you create takes on a life of its own.... then it's something for the ages. Carl is an iconic character that has branched out beyond the walls of 'Sling Blade' and become a part of American pop culture. I just hope that no one gets the bright idea to make a sequel to this. If Billy Bob Thornton decides to follow this up sometime in the future, like Kevin Smith and 'Clerks 2', perhaps that'll be okay.... I kind of hope he doesn't though. All of that being said, I just have one final thing to say, "Thank you Mr. Thornton and thank you Carl, wherever you are." That is all.

my thoughts on.... 'Zero Day'

I think that we all remember where we were when we heard about the Columbine High School shootings. It was an unfortunate chapter in history that was, sadly, doomed to repeat itself. Over the years that followed, Dylan and Eric left a legacy that had a ripple effect and in its wake were countless other loners and outcasts that used Columbine as a blueprint. Perhaps none of them have had the stigma that Columbine had, but that didn't make them any less tragic. One of the other things that came out of that tragic day, was art. Art comes in all forms and one of them is film. There have been several versions of this story brought to the screen, either in part or in whole. The best example was Gus Van Zants 'Elephant'. It was a film that mixed real high school students and non-actors and had them replay the events leading up to and including the day that Dylan and Eric went on their rampage. Granted, it was fictionalized, but it had an amazing punch to the face. I still remember the feelings that came over me during 'Elephant'. There was 'Duck! The Carbine High Massacre'. Not recommended viewing. 'Bowling For Columbine', which allowed Michael Moore to cash in on the blood of the innocent to further his own cause and had little to no real value as a film. It did, however, use the actual footage from the Columbine High security cameras. That brought chills to my spine to watch them. I don't think Mr. Moore used them in his movie for any other reason, but to sell tickets, however. These are just a few examples, but the most recent example I've seen is 'Zero Day'. Once again, this film used unknown and non-actors to portray a version of the Columbine shootings. It was all shot on video, as though the two main characters, Andre and Cal, were doing it themselves to document their build up to "Zero Day". It created a sense of realism that was similar to that of 'Elephant'. Granted, this was not as well done as that film.... but it is head and shoulders above many of the others.

The story follows the Columbine High School shootings fairly closely. It shows two teens, Andre and Cal, as they prepare to exact some kind of revenge on those who treated them poorly all their lives, those who were over privilaged and anyone who got in their way. They firmly believed that what they were doing had a greater purpose to it. What they chronicle is the planning stages of their two man army war on others. How they obtained guns and explosives, how they decided on what day to carry it out and who they were targeting. You can actually see their twisted minds at work. The third and final act of this film walk you through their final execution of their plans, 'Zero Day'.

I can't imagine how terrible it must have been on the students at school that day, let alone the families of the killers and their victims. 'Zero Day' brings it all home and opens up some old wounds that were probably left untouched. On the flip side of that, it serves as a harsh reminder that we all need to pay attention to the signs of troubled teens. To hear what they have to say and to provide support and understanding during one of the most difficult times in a persons life. High School always seems lame in hindsight, but at the time you're living it.... it can be the worst pain and suffering imaginable. I can remember those times like it was yesterday and I could see where it would be very easy to get wrapped up in the idea of taking your frustrations out on those who've harmed you. That doesn't make this behavior right, it just makes it make more sense. 'Zero Day' is a strong attempt to portray a difficult subject with respect and without gratifying the situation. They walked a very fine line here and did it with grace and ease. The film was entertaining, but not in the typical way. I could honestly feel the pressure building and I became more and more uneasy as time went on. When that final sequence of events start, I found that I couldn't take my eyes off the television.... no matter how hard I tried.

This film deserves a secondary viewing. At the time of this review, I'm only giving it a 3 out of 5 star rating. I think that 'Elephant' overshadows this so much that I can't see my way of giving any higher of a rating than 3 out of 5 stars. Perhaps once I've seen this again, I will raise it to 4 out of 5 stars, but until then.... this is where my review will stand. This film is currently OnDemand on Netflix, so add it to your queue soon, before it's a rental only. My final thoughts on this are that if you do buy the ticket to take the ride, be prepared to feel hollow inside again. It's not a plesant film to watch, but I think it's an important one. One that will always remind us that we can never forget, lest history will repeat itself. (BTW: the ending of 'Zero Day' doesn't do it justict, but it doesn't hurt the film either.)

If you like this, check out: 'Elephant' (it is the BEST retelling of the Columbine High School killings.) I can't honestly recommend any other films