My Favorite Movies

As close to a perfect action/martial arts movie as I've ever seen, with a fantastic soundtrack as a bonus! I honestly don't think that I could ever see it too many times.

There are a few movies that I like as much as this one, and only one that I like more. If you haven't seen it, you're missing out. This movie forms a connection between the characters and the audience in a way that makes you completely forget that you're watching a movie. That's the highest compliment that I can give.

You don't have to be a fan of boxing to enjoy Million Dollar Baby. Heck, boxing is one of the few sports that I don't really care for. But if you have a heart, even a tough manly steel heart, you will love this movie.

Just as good as the Volume 1, but very different. The over the top action of Volume 1 takes a backseat to a revealing look at the tragedy of The Bride.

Traditional Disney animation at its finest. Great music, breathtaking animation, and some of the best voice work ever bring this surprisingly mature story to life. An all-time classic.

Yes sir, I love me some Sin City. Each of the stories are incredibly interesting and are told flawlessly, the casting was absolutely perfect, and the visuals were simply amazing. I'm hoping that they can hit another homerun with Sin City 2!

Brilliant, and scary as hell. Gave zombie movies a much-needed kick in the pants.

If you don't like this movie, you must simply hate fun. Watching Toy Story is like reliving all the absolute best parts of my childhood.

Tom Hanks could make horrible movie after horrible movie, for the rest of his career, and he would still be my favorite male actor of all time because of this movie. Don't you wish we had more people like Forrest in the world? One of the most consistently entertaining movies ever. I could watch it over and over.

A wonderful story that may be a little too deep for younger kids.

Wow, I didn't see this one coming. It's been quite a while since I've been surprised by the quality of a movie like this. It kept me guessing and engrossed from beginning to end. The way that the narrative shifts back and forwards in time can be a little hard to follow on the initial viewing, but that's the only possible negative that I could ever think of for The Prestige.

What do I love about No Country? The beautiful, beautiful locations where it's filmed. The atmosphere that grips you and doesn't let you breath until about an hour after the movie is over, when you're still trying to decide whether you should like the ending. The way it becomes better and better with repeated viewings. The way that it avoids tired movie cliches with ease, and without effort. The characters that swiftly carry the fictional movie into the reality of your mind, and firmly leave it there.

Wow, wow, wow! Fargo was simply a pleasure to watch! I feel like I'm gushing, but this one is totally deserving. There are clear similarities between Fargo and No Country for Old Men. Both movies deal with the results when average people get mixed up with unfathomable evil and violence. And all for just a bit of money.

I really can't think of a single thing about the movie that I would change. I loved the ending. The music was top notch. The setting was perfection from the accents to the scenery. Every actor fit their role like a glove (Marge has to be one of my favorite characters in a movie, ever). There was just the right balance between the light and dark elements of the film. I absolutely loved it all!

One of the best and most stylish martial arts films of all time.

The pinnacle of Japanese animation. 125 minutes of art on screen.

The Wrestler has been sitting on my computer for the past week or two, and after all the ruckus I've been hearing about Mickey Rourke's performance and his win at the Golden Globes, I thought I should stop being lazy and watch the film. I have to say, there's something to all the adoration that this movie has received. The Wrestler is solid through and through.

People who have followed Rourke's career see this as his big comeback. I've personally only seen him in Sin City prior to The Wrestler, so I think my experience with the movie was less tinged with nostalgia than that of a die hard Rourke fan. I'm proud to say that enjoyment of this film certainly doesn't depend on being a Rourke devotee.

The Wrestler is filmed in a realistic style that makes it seem almost like a documentary. The realism extends to the wrestling scenes, the dialogue, pretty much everything except the idiots who kept turning down private dances from Marisa Tomei (right, like that would ever happen). In my opinion, the realism is essentially what makes the film work. Rourke's reaction to his circumstances and his interactions with the people in his life are the bread and butter that keeps the film interesting.

Speaking of the people in his life, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood are simply outstanding. They make the acting invisible and really make the documentary vibe even stronger. Nearly every scene they are in sticks out. They managed to be just as three dimensional as Rourke's character with significantly less screen time. Tomei is officially now one of my favorite actresses (and way too gorgeous to be 44 years old), and Wood is now on my list of talented young actresses to watch.

All in all, The Wrestler is a movie that I'm happy to recommend to any and everyone. It has so many memorable scenes: the day that Ram and his daughter spend together, his face as he looks at all the old, washed-up wrestlers at the autograph signing, and let's not forget the entire emotional end sequence. Do yourself a favor and watch The Wrestler, it's a genuine treat.

Hands down, one of the best movies that I've seen in recent years. It doesn't matter if you don't like sci-fi (I generally don't) and it doesn't matter if you don't know a single thing about Firefly (I didn't before seeing Serenity), this moive is entertaining from beginning to end. Great characters, a great story, and great action scenes.

Sideways is a bittersweet mix of a somber drama, a buddy comedy, a mid-life crisis or two, and a wine education course. I honestly can't think of any other specific movie to compare it to.

I've seen it on four different occasions as I write this, and every time it strikes me how brilliant and nuanced Paul Giamatti's performance is. He makes Miles into a real person, with all the flaws that authenticity brings. The rest of the cast is good too, but he stands out even among those other stellar performances.

The gorgeous settings of the California wine country, the air-tight script, and the general atmosphere of the movie all combine to make this a winner in my book. I plan on enjoying Sideways many more times in the future.

For me, The Ring restored a love of horror movies that I had thought long lost. It proves once again that mood and atmosphere (as opposed to gore and loud sound effects) are the keys to a good horror film.

Will Ferrell at his funiest.