My Movies Fave Five

I started off the month talking about my five all-time favorite television shows in a post that can be found here, so I thought I'd follow that up with a list of my favorite movies. Before anyone reads the list and gets all up in arms about some of the picks, I want to be clear: I'm saying they're my favorite movies inasmuch that's how much I love them; I'm not saying they're the best movies ever made in terms of quality. I'm also totally cheating in a couple of the categories because I couldn't quite narrow it down to five. If you don't like it... well, tough, its my blog!

5.) The Breakfast Club/Ferris Bueller's Day Off

True story: the original version of this pic also had Sixteen Candles and Pretty in Pink on it

but I took them off because, well, who cares? 

Call it the Shermer, Illinois connection, if you want. Were you alive in the 80's? If yes, I don't really need to explain why these are on the list, do I? And if you weren't alive in the 80's... well, I'm not going to explain it, because you'll just never get it. I mean, you probably don't even know who Abe Froman is...

Talk about a double entendre...

And don't even get me started on poor Larry Lester.

4.) Empire Records

Damn the man, save the Empire!

I always thought Empire Records was the answer to the question "What if John Hughes made The Breakfast Club in the late 90's instead of the 80's?" Kids stuck in a central location, one authority figure, great characters played by a bunch of actors who for the most part never did anything all that great, quotable lines, and an awesome soundtrack... it all fits. Plus, one of my favorite karaoke songs is on the soundtrack!

3.) The Empire Strikes Back/The Two Towers

It's impossible for me to say which one of these sagas I love more. Consequently, I can't pick which saga I think has the better cream of the crop movie. And don't argue with me, we all know Empire is the better movie out of the original trilogy. As for The Two Towers, I prefer it over Return of the King. I think it's just a tighter movie overall... maybe that's because it doesn't have eighteen endings that make it feel like it drags on interminably at times. Also, I just think the battle at Helm's Deep was the best battle scene in the trilogy.

2.) Garden State

Y'know, I can't really say why I love this movie so much. It helps that I'm a huge fan of both of the leads, Zach Braff and Natalie Portman and that they both put in what I think is, to date, the finest performances of their careers. It also helps that the supporting cast is wonderful as well, and that the story has a lot going on emotionally. I can really identify with the sort of lost, coming-of-age thing Braff's character is going through. Plus, great visual storytelling and an awesome soundtrack. Here's one of my favorite parts:

1.) The Crow

This should come as a surprise to absolutely no one who knows me, but this right here is my favorite movie of all time. I could go on and on, describing everything good about it... the story, Brandon Lee's performance, the cinematography, Ernie Hudson, the amazing soundtrack... really, I'd be here all night. Instead, I'm going to direct you to a previous blog I wrote about this movie on good ol' Heckling from the Balcony back when it was still going entitled "Picture Perfect - Brandon lee: The Only Crow" and give you one last clip:

There you go. Like my faves? Hate them? Want to share yours? That's what the comment box is there for, folks!