Over 100 movies and 11 posts later, here is the final part of my Top 100 Favorite Movies ever made!
At Number 5: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/Extended Edition
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, the Star Wars of my generation. Does it even require an explanation as to why I love the movie? Even though those with short attention spans might not enjoy it, the Fellowship of the Ring's pacing was perfect for building the world and setting-up the characters, a perfect launching point for second best trilogy of all-time.
At Number 4: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/Extended Edition
The final chapter in the most epic trilogy of the 21th Century, The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. Everything built up to this epic finale and it did not disappoint in the slightest. It validated the fantasy genre as a serious genre by winning the Oscar for Best Picture, not even a sci-fi film has done that, unfortunately.
At Number 3: Star Wars Episode IV: Return of the Jedi
The epic conclusion to the most incredible cinematic experience ever conceived. While some may complain that the Ewoks were out of place, they worked well in the film for me. Jabba Palace rescue is awesome, especially Leia. Luke's epic struggle with the Emperor, Vader, and the Darkside is perfectly symbolized in the final battle. Han and Leia's relationship and characters are further developed and come a fitting end. Just about everything works, it trilogy could not have ended any better.
At Number 2: Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars, the first film in the greatest and most influential franchise of all-time. Basically, Star Wars, created the modern Sci-Fi genre. Sure there was 2001 and Forbidden Planet, but Star Wars made science fiction a legitimate genre. Nothing has been more original than Star Wars, a perfect mix of science fiction and fantasy into a completely new universe. The characters are one of the many keys to the trilogy's greatest because they are so relatable and likeable. No film has influenced me more than Star Wars, without it, I would have never even started this blog.
At Number 1: Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Hands Down Best Movie Ever Made! It is hard to describe how beyond incredible The Empire Strikes Back is in words. It had an amazing opening, the most shocking plot twist ever, amazing special effects, the best soundtrack ever, outstanding action, and that is not even half of it. It is a true masterpiece of cinema in every sense of the word. There are no flaws in the film, it is the closest thing there ever will be to a perfect film to me. While I am opened minded, the chances that I will ever see a film that surpasses Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back is incredibly slim to none.
While it may seem that the this list is finished, I have two special video tributes planned for the coming weeks and an updated version of the list will be posted in the near future featuring many of my new favorites that I have seen since starting the list and some honorable mentions. Hopefully the first video, featuring mostly films in the top 20, will be posted next week and the other one in the following week with a special challenge.
In a previous post, I asked you, the readers to guess which are my Top 10 Favorite films and the winners are Shena Tokala at Pens, Thespians, and Words and JT at JT's Tales and The Window on the South. Both where quite close and just about everyone guessed that Empire Strikes Back was my favorite since it is kind of obvious.
What are your thoughts on my list? I hope everyone enjoyed it, look for my video tribute soon.
Top 100 Movies: Part 1: 100-91.
Top 100 Movies: Part 2: 90-81.
Top 100 Movies: Part 3: 80-71.
Top 100 Movies: Part 4: 70-61.
Top 100 Movies: Part 5: 60-51.
Top 100 Movies: Part 6: 50-41.
Top 100 Movies: Part 7: 40-31.
Top 100 Movies: Part 8: 32-21.
Top 100 Movies: Part 9: 20-11.
Top 100 Movies: Part 10: 10-6.
A big thanks to everyone for the many comments, feedback and support!
If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.
Great list! I had a feeling the Top 10 would be dominated by LoTR and Star Wars. But for good reasons!
ReplyDeleteGood job!
Thank you Jordan! I suppose it is kind of obvious since both of those franchises are basically what I based my on.
Delete-James
Great ending to the list!! :D Star Wars and Lord of the Rings are both amazing and definitely deserve to be at the top of the list :D(the Star Wars saga and the Lord of the Rings trilogy are the two best film series made :D). I agree, Return of the Jedi is amazing and everything works so well in it and it ends perfectly :D. (And Return of the King was one of the few films that one best picture that I felt deserve it; now we just need to get a science fiction film to win that award).
ReplyDeleteGreat, glad to see I did good! :)
Thanks Meagan! 100% agreed, no film series are better! :D Yes, a sci-fi film seriously needs to win Best Picture, there have been so many opportunities and they have never even acknowledged them.
Delete-James
Love it! I totally agree with what you said about the Ewoks, I always loved them and saw nothing wrong with them!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I honestly do not see what so many hate them either, Ewoks are great.
Delete-James
The LOTR Trilogy is one of my all time favorites. Great list all the way through.
ReplyDeleteB2B.
Glad you like them as well, Peter Jackson made true classics of our time. Thank you B2B.
Delete-James
STAR WARS!!!!!!!!! *passes out*
ReplyDeleteI loved reading your lists, they were lots of fun. I am sad they are all over. :) I am looking forward to the videos, though! :D
~Jamie
Glad you woke up to continuing commenting. :D
DeleteI am sad too, the list was so much fun to make and reading the comments were the best. :) Glad you enjoyed them as much I did making them!
The videos are coming, they just need a little more work.
-James
Great list all around James, The Empire Strikes Back is the best of the SW films in general.
ReplyDeleteThanks Daniel, and glad we agree.
Delete-James
Great last list!! All of which I have seen and love! :D
ReplyDeleteNow you need to think of another awesome list to do as I really enjoy reading this entire 100 movies ;)
God Bless,
Vellvin.
Thanks Vellvin! You are right, after my update of the list, I need to make another list. Thank you for the idea. :)
Delete-James
You may be one of the few people I know who would rate Star Wars in a countdown list. I'm shocked at how many people dislike the movies. I think part of it might be the good guy character. Now, I've noticed, people want more of a bad good guy, the kind that has alter motives for his actions. (Flynn Ryder for example.) Although, sometimes these characters are fun and do turn good in the end, if a character, a hero is good at the being they say he is perfect and annoying. As if a hero should have a certain amount of rule breaking and bad boy-ness to him.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I've heard other complaints as well. About Han and his "I know" line. And other things.
Personally, I think the plots are brilliant and the characters are cool. I love the characters, all of them.
Actually, I'm in the middle of trying to re-watch all three original movies. So far I've only been able to find the first one, I'm surprised at how impossible it has been to find them. I'd have thought I'd have an easier time than this. I shall have to expand my search. *Grin*
Really? That is quite interesting since it is the most popular franchise of all-time. Good point, maybe that is why people dislike the amazing films, a lot of people particularly dislike Luke as you said in your post, but I view him as a analog for the viewer: a normal person, who is trust into greatness.
DeleteAlmost surprised you are having difficulty finding them, unless you are looking for the original theatrically released film, those are nearly impossible to find on DVD.
-James
This is awesome! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Solace! :)
Delete-James
Awesome project completed. I saw Star Wars trilogy in their original theatrical release. Chance are I had an illegal smile at the time as well. Nothing will ever compare to that experience, the movies hold up incredibly well, so I would think my top five would have at least two of them in it. My number one is still Apocalypse Now. In contemporaneous time, Star Wars was pure entertainment with a classic good vs evil theme. Apocalypse Now was a revolutionary statement, and had an evil vs evil theme.
ReplyDeleteThank you Steve. What I wouldn't give for the experience of seeing Star Wars in theaters in 1977 for the first time. I can only imagine it felt. Although it has been several years, I have seen Apocalypse Now, or at least most of it, and I have read, "Heart of Darkness" the story was based on. I've always enjoyed the "Flight of the Flight of the Valkyries scene.
Delete-James
Cool, you really compiled a list of three films from two great series, The Empire Strikes Back is also my number #1 favorite and that is good that it rises with the seriousness and the moments made it a compelling film that I could watch a hundred times over. The post you written was mostly following and nothing that could best Empire in superiority.
ReplyDeleteAlways great to see fellow Star Wars fans, glad we agree. I agree with everything you said about Empire, it will never be topped as the best.
Delete-James
Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. Very nice. Excellent list, by the way. I enjoyed each new section.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ian, glad you enjoyed it.
Delete-James