My Favorite Movies

Beauty and the Beast is the Casablanca of animation. Moreso than other animated movies from the '90s Disney renaissance, this one's perfectly paced with some wonderful character development—and as Howard Ashman's swan song, it's got a lot more heart.

The Balrog vs. Gandalf scene alone is worth the price of admission, but then, so are a dozen other moments that are just as potent. It's the perfect beginning to the epic trilogy of the decade (and dare I say, "century"?).

The Extended Cut, of course, is the preferred one to watch.

Even after Crouching Tiger and Brokeback, this is still Ang Lee's best film. Surprises abound at every turn, and you will never see the climax coming. It's a touching and funny story about food, modern life, family, and tradition.

Get over the subtitles, you philistines. You don't know what you're missing.

Everyone (Magnificent Seven, Three Amigos, Bug's Life, to name a few) keeps stealing this movie's plot for a reason. Mifune and Shimura are awesome, as always.

"Rob Reiner, please make me a witty, sweet but not overly saccharine, totally quotable fantasy swashbuckling romance cult classic."

"As you wish."

The. Perfect. Movie.

Spielberg's masterpiece. Even at his most restrained, he still falls to the temptation of a few gimmicks (e.g., red coat girl), but they're all surprisingly functional and ultimately serve the narrative's purpose.

Liam Neeson gives a wonderfully controlled performance. His final monologue is a little manipulative--but after holding a straight poker face for nearly three hours, both his character and the audience need that release.

Like an adrenaline shot to the heart. If it's not Tarantino's best film, then it's certainly his most fun one.

Best crime movie of the 90s. This is the film that took the term "unreliable narrator" to new heights, made Kevin Spacey a star, and turned director Bryan Singer into THE go-to-guy for directing ensemble superhero fare. Phenomenal cast.

The first 15 minutes include the most brilliantly packaged piece of exposition I've ever seen: a narration within a flashback within a flashback within a villain's introduction. Then, after a single-cut sweep through the ship and all its inhabitants, you have everything you need to know about the Firefly/Serenity universe.

I promise: if the first 15 minutes don't have you hooked, you can turn off the movie. But you won't. And you'll be rewarded with the best sci-fi film of the decade.

Surprisingly intelligent and charming without being syrupy. It sounds weird, but Babe really does transcend the whole animal kiddie genre; one critic even rightfully crowned it "the Citizen Kane of talking pig pictures." Cromwell delivers a beautifully understated performance as Farmer Hoggett.

One big '80s lovefest, and Adam Sandler's best movie. Sandler's stock character actually exudes genuine charm and idealism in this one.

Beautifully shot, brilliantly written, exquisitely acted by a pitch-perfect cast.

Great friggin' soundtrack, too.

Carrey and Winslet, cast against type, are brilliant in this literally mind-bending reinvention of the romantic comedy. Gondry brings Kaufman's surrealist, Oscar-winning script to vertiginous life.