My 20 Favorite Movies

About a year ago, I put together a list of my top 25 favorite albums of all time. I had a lot of fun compiling that list, so I thought I would do it again, only this time with my favorite movies. What follows is my top 20 favorite movies of all time.  Now before I get into the list, just a quick disclaimer, there is no rhyme or reason for my selections other than, my own personal preferences. A common theme throughout this listing will be that many of my selections were favorites when I was growing up, and I continue to still love them.

20. Disney's Robin Hood (1973)



Whenever I watch this film, I smile, but interesting enough, I was never a hardcore Disney fan. Which is surprising because I came of age during a "Golden Era" of Disney films. The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Lion King, and Beauty and the Beast were all released when I was a young Peter. Yet, the only Disney film I ever really LOVED was Robin Hood. Its a great adventure film, which is really funny and fun to watch. To this day, there are a couple of scenes that will make me laugh out loud.

19. Wayne's World (1992)



This was the first "adult" comedy I saw growing up that I was allowed to watch, and that I got the humor. Wayne's World is a timeless movie, and I feel that a good portion of my professional career in broadcasting slightly mirrors the antics of this film. A huge bonus goes to Wayne's World for also introducing me to the music of Queen. So thank you Wayne's World.

18. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)



"Come with me and you'll be in a world of pure imagination". This is one of the opening lyrics sung by Gene Wilder as we enter the chocolate room for the first time in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I feel as though the verse I quoted above perfectly sums up this absolutely magical film. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is a magical, timeless movie.

17. V For Vendetta (2005)



V For Vendetta was the film that introduced me to the works of Alan Moore. It's a serious, thought provoking film that is based off of a graphic novel, and that shows the audience that they need to take the works of graphic novels seriously. It was a real eye opener for me. Think of George Orwell's 1984 only with a "superhero" in it.

16. Frankenstein (1931)



At almost 100 years old, Universal's Frankenstein is still the gold standard of what horror films can accomplish. The iconic makeup of Jake Pierce on Boris Karloff still strikes terror in the mind of young and old alike. But what is the brilliant part of Frankenstein is the fact that, the monster isn't the villain, but is made into the villain.

15. Thor (2011)



The first Thor movie is by no means the "best" film out of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it is my favorite. For me, this film has a total mythological feel to it, which I feel like majority of superhero films don't explore. Most tend to be action/adventure, or sci-fi based, and while the first Thor film does have all of the aforementioned elements, its the mythological aspect that I feel makes it different from other superhero films. It's funny, beautifully directed by Kenneth Branagh, and most importantly has a heart. It's a perfect "popcorn" film.

14. Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror (1942)



I've always been interested in world history, specifically 20th century history. It's fascinating all the events which took place in the past 100- 118 years. Especially during World War II. I'm not so much interested in hearing about battles thought. I'm more interested in learning about what the everyday person experienced or felt like. And for me, Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror gives me a slight idea of what life was like. This film is total war propaganda, using one of the most beloved characters ever created. But it has a feeling. A feeling of dread. A feeling a fear. It's beautiful to look at, and I love watching it when it is pouring rain outside.

13. Midnight in Paris (2011)




The setting. The characters. The surrealism. All of these elements make up one of the most unique films I've ever seen. Midnight in Paris is a coming of age story, historical drama, romantic comedy, and a film that commentates on the dangers of romanticizing the past, and the necessity of moving forward in life. It's absolutely beautiful. And I hope that one day, the Ernest Hemmingway portrayed in this film, gets his own movie. I would be the first one to buy a ticket.

12. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)



So I was almost didn't see this movie in the theaters. It was a super cold evening, like sub-zero weather, and my best friend and I were debating about whether or not we should go see a movie. We finally decided to go. And guess what. I was carded. Carded to see a rated R movie. By a teenager. It should be stated that I was 29 at the time. Anyways, once we got past all of that drama, we saw Silver Linings Playbook. And it was magnificent. Being blown away by a movie you weren't expecting is such a great feeling.

11. The Post (2017)



This was one of the most important movies I've ever seen in my life. In the current political climate, this should be required viewing for anyone who wishes to become a journalist.

10. Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)



What a movie!! Probably my favorite romantic comedy of all time, and the film that introduced and caused me to fall in love with the one and only Audrey Hepburn. While there are a few parts of the film that are difficult to watch (I'm looking at you Mickey Rooney), I feel like Breakfast at Tiffany's captures that optimist, and almost dreamsical feel of the early 1960s. This actually might be the one of the movies that gives me the best idea of what it was like to be alive during the Kennedy administration.

9. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)



Oh man!!! What can I say about The Empire Strikes Back. It's perfect! Utterly, utterly perfect! The score, the emotions, the action, everything. I love absolutely everything about this movie. The Empire Strikes Back is the movie that sets the blueprint for sequels that aspire to be better than their original.

8. Help! (1965)



Growing up, my family and I watched a lot of PBS because we didn't have cable. Late one night, there was a movie on PBS that my sister wanted to watch, so my dad set the VCR up to record it for her. The next day she watched it, and  I was not pleased.  We only had once VCR in the house, and that meant I had to watch "her movie". Well the movie she record was Help!, and it's the movie that caused me to fall in love with The Beatles. Things have a way of working out, don't they.

7. The King's Speech (2010)




We all have that one friend who is "ahead of the trend" when it comes to what the next great movie, band, or whatever is. For me, it's my friend Gina. She introduced me to Arcade Fire, Bloc Party, and Muse. She is also the one who insisted I go with her to the movies one cold January night to see this little known British movie about Queen Elizabeth's father. The King's Speech is absolutely incredible. I love the cinematography, the story, and the music. It's one of my all-time favorites, and it could of very easily been higher on my list.

6. Batman (1989)



I was six years old when Batman was released in 1989. I still remember the hype around this movie. I remember asking my Grandma how the movie was when she saw it. (She told me I was too little to see it.) I remember waiting almost a year to watch it with my family on VHS. It was well worth the wait.  Michael Keaton is, and probably will always be my Batman. This is a great Batman movie, and one of my all time favorite superhero movies.

5. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)



In my humble opinion, it is always a good idea to watch an Indiana Jones movie, and The Last Crusade is my favorite Indiana Jones movie. It has every. Action, adventure, romance, comedy, betrayal, and Sean Connery, the original James Bond as Indiana Jones' father. It's the perfect action movie.

4. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)



Growing up I was a HUGE Star Trek fan. I would even say I liked Star Trek more than Star Wars, and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home is the reason why. I feel like in today's society, a movie like this could not be made. There's no real clear villain. There isn't a lot of action in it. It's a race against time film that is truly fun for the entire family. About two weeks ago, I re-watched it for the first time in a couple of years, and I had a smile on my face the entire time. It may not be the best Star Trek film made, but it is certainly my favorite.

3. Superman: The Movie: (1978)



The original and the best superhero movie ever made. It's now forty years old, and I still believe that a man can fly. What more can be said about this movie, that hasn't already been said. It's magical!

Before I get to my number 1 and 2 favorite movies of all time, I would just like to say that this decision was really hard!! I love both of these films equally, and the reason why my number one is number one is because I've known it longer. I've loved it since I was four or five. But Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind took my idea of what a movie can be and turned it upside down.

2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)



I have watched Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind probably fifty times, and each time I've watch it, I see something new. In my estimation, this may be one of the three perfect movies I've ever seen. (The other two being the Godfather and Citizen Kane.) If you cut a single scene, a single scene,  it changes the entire dynamic of the movie. Between the cast, Michel Gondry's direction and cinematography, the score, and by far the Charley Kaufmann script, what you have is a receipt for pure perfection. I love this movie so much!

1. Ghostbusters (1984)



Who you goin' call? Ghostbusters! I never tire of Ghostbusters. I love everything about it. I even own it on DVD and Blu-Ray. Just encase. It's simply the best.