My Top 100 Movies – Part 3: #80 – #71

About the list

And so I’ve decided to tackle the great white whale and try to come up with the list of my 100 favourite movies.  This was not easy, but I decided to try anyway.

Please note that these are my favourite films, and as such some choices will be based on a personal sense of nostalgia (especially the top 5, once we eventually get there).  There are movies that I have connections to that may rank them higher than you might expect.  That being said, if there are films here you disagree with, don’t hesitate to argue them in the comments, and if there are choices you do agree with, feel free to show your support.  If you think something it too high or too low, let me know.  I’m not going to resort to the “well its my opinion” argument.

Keep in mind that this list is not made in stone, and some films in the future may go up or down in my estimation, as is wont to happen.  Also, there may be films that I haven’t seen yet which may take a spot on the list later.  I guess what I’m saying is that this is my 100 at the present time, though its a pretty good indicator of my taste in films.

80. Sunshine

When I first watched Sunshine, I thought it was absolutely brilliant science fiction, until I got to the end and it broke my heart by becoming a slasher film.  However, I gave it another chance, and realized that it really is a brilliant science fiction film, it just has an unexpected twist which is necessary, though it may not seem like it at the time.

Sunshine does a great job of taking an Earth saving mission and dealing with all the stresses and decisions that come with it.  And oh yeah, it looks and sounds amazing.

 

79. Aliens

An expertly made action film which also works as an innovative sequel, completely changing the tone and even the genre from the original film.  James Cameron took Alien from a thriller to an action-packed romp.

 

78. Shrek

I struggle with this one, mostly because of how bloated the Shrek franchise has become.  But I still love the original film, which completely surprised me with its humour and heart.  Yes, there were some missteps, like some silly pop references and the use of modern day music, but the characters are very likable, the animation is rich, and the story is a solid modern fairy tale.

 

77. Black Hawk Down

Ridley Scott makes a war film which puts us right there involved in the conflict.  We see it from the operational and ground level.   We feel the claustrophobic feeling of being in hostile territory, we sense the clash of control and confusion, and we grip our seats until its all over.

 

76. On the Waterfront

With a simple story synopsis, there doesn’t seem to be anything special about a former boxer being caught up in a gang that controls the waterfront.  But this film is a master craft.  The drama is amazingly compelling, and the acting is revolutionary.  We really feel for Brando’s Terry Malloy and go through his moral dilemmas with him.  Outstanding movie.

 

75. Avatar

One of those great cinematic adventures.  The sense of discovering a new world is all encompassing, and the new world itself looks stunning.  Amazing visual effects and one of the best 3D experiences I’ve ever had.  Yes the story is straight-forward, but it works well in this type of film and allows us to enjoy everything around it that much more.

 

74. King Kong

One of the first great effects films and first great adventure films.  King Kong to this day is one of the most influential movies in film history.   The reason is because its awesome.  We get to explore a mysterious island, watch a giant ape fight a tyrannosaurus rex, then see the same ape try to survive in New York city.  Its just a lot of fun and a true, true classic.

 

73. Titanic

If you were too young to remember the film landscape of 1997, it would be hard for you to realize just how massive of an event Titanic was.  Yes, Avatar may have surpassed it in box office figures, but Avatar didn’t even come close to the fervour and hype that surrounded this film.  And there was good reason.  James Cameron crafted a film with an amazing sense of atmosphere.  He made me feel like I was on that ship with the passengers as it was sinking.  Don’t be dissauded by the naysayers, Titanic is a powerhouse film.

 

72. The Terminator

I’m just realizing how much Cameron is in this set of 10.  Interesting.  So why is Terminator here?  Because it just feels like a pure sci-fi thriller.  Its a simple plot with a very interesting concept, and the idea of a non-stop machine trying to kill you with nothing in its way is terrifying.

 

71. Seven Samurai

Has Kurusawa ever made a bad film?  If so, I haven’t found it yet.  Seven Samurai is his most famous and my personal favourite of his.  Its long, yes, but that just lets us spend a lot of time with these great characters, and provides a lot of anticipation for the awesome battle sequences which come up in the later half.  Not to mention Kikuchio kicks ass.