Top 10 John Travolta Movies Review

Overall 4.64 of 5 view all 11 reviews

MikeMaroon
Chattanooga, TN

Travolta's the word, is the word, is the word, is the word, is..

movie lover, a John Travolta fan

Pros

They all star John Travolta, Eclectic collection of films, Something for everyone

Cons

Your favorite might not be here

JUL

2008

I used to tell people I loved John Travolta so much, he's lucky I'm not gay. That's my kind of humor, you either get it or you don't. I will say this, for a dude who got his start in a cheesy 70's sitcom (can you guess which one?), John Travolta has done alright for himself, and by definition, us. He, at first, gained fame as a cheesecake pinup boy. In other words, he was Keanu Reeves before there was a Keanu Reeves, the key difference being Travolta is an actor. "Whoa!. Did I just say that?" Yep.

Having appeared in some 50 or so movies over the last 30 years, Travolta has proved himself diverse as he has acted, sang, and most famously, danced his way to his current status as one of the most popular actors of our time. His career has had its ups and downs, for sure. He went 9 years without a hit film in the 80's and then another 5 years before jump-starting himself yet again with "Pulp Fiction." If his career were a highway and all the movies cars, a drive along it would find more than a few wrecked vehicles along the way. Some of them would be totaled. Can you say, "Staying Alive" or "Perfect", boys and girls? He would probably rather you didn't. But, he's driven some Cadillacs and Lexus's, not to mention a famous '49 Mercury, too, and these are the ones that we want.

So, here they are, the 10 movies with John Travolta that I enjoyed most:

10. GET SHORTY - Travolta is Chili Palmer in this Barry Sonnenfeld directed adaptation of an Elmore Leonard novel. Now Leonard can be a tough nut to crack and make palatable to the masses because his humor is so dry. But, neatly transferring that wit and some tight dialog to the big screen, this talented cast succeeded. See, Mr Palmer is a loan shark who, due to a series of events winds up working for boss Ray Bones (Dennis Farina), who sends him to collect a debt. He winds up going after a B-movie director (Gene Hackman) in Vegas and there finds himself attracted to a has-been movie star (Rene Russo) and to making a movie about himself. The characters are quirky, the script sparkling and the movie a fun time.

9. SWORDFISH- A lot of people thought this was absolute slop. I loved it, and not because Halle Berry appeared topless in it. Didn't hate on it for that, either.   A lot of critics attacked it vehemently for all the violence and alleged amorality. Just knowing the little I do about Hollywood and film critics, that allegation seems just a tad hypocritical. Travolta is slick as a terrorist bent on transferring a huge sum of money from a secret government account and delivers an opening monologue as good as anything you will hear at the movies. Hugh Jackman is an up and comer as a computer hacker and Don Cheadle is excellent, as always, as the FBI agent and also the film's only character whose allegiance is never in doubt. The action scenes are sometimes spectacular and the plot, if muddled, is engrossing. John could have washed the hair, though. I mean, come on!

8. PHENOMENON- George Malley (Travolta) is zapped by a strange light, never fully explained, and becomes a different guy. Kyra Sedgwick is the woman he wants to be with but she mistakes his ambivalence for dishonesty when the truth is Malley can't explain whats going on himself. Travolta brings a sweetness and innocence to this role few actors can match and George wants to use his newfound genius for the public good, but this film seems to be about folks not accepting things they don't understand. So, the FBI simply wants to accuse him while his neighbors, once his friends, become afraid of him, but not so much so they don't want to exploit his powers of telekinesis. Forrest Whittaker and Robert Duvall have nice supporting roles and, in the end, the townsfolk appreciate George for what he is, the man we all want to be.

7. URBAN COWBOY- Or Saturday Night Fever goes to Texas and another fad is born. Tony Manero trades his dancin' shoes for a cowboy hat to become Bud Davis. This time Travolta is an oil worker sizzling on-screen with Debra Winger as they meet at Gilley's (at the time the largest night club on the planet) to develop a love-hate relationship among country tunes and complicated by ex-con Wes (Scott Glenn) and a mechanical bull. In true cowboy macho BS fashion, Bud gets incensed to learn Sissy has been learning to ride the bull behind his back and the more angry he gets the more determined she gets to "show him." John was so popular by this film, country dance clubs, mechanical bulls and line dancing popped up like rabbit babies to create a fad of pet rock proportions.

6. FACE/OFF- John Travolta and Nick Cage switch faces to showcase their acting chops. As far-fetched as this John Woo thriller is, it's just as highly entertaining. The action, in true John Woo fashion, is frantic. The plot is not hard to follow, but the "who's who?" is. FBI agent Sean Archer (Travolta) captures nemesis Castor Troy (Cage) and, in an implausible twist, has Troy's face removed and reattached to Archer in order to gain information from Troy's brother in prison about a bomb that could blow up L.A. Needless to say, Troy awakes from his coma, forces the doctors to remove Archer's face and put it on him and off they go. The highlights come when Archer confronts Troy's brother wearing Troy's face and Troy goes to see Archer's family wearing Archers' face. This confusion both creeps us out a little and puts us on the edge of our seats. With a supporting cast including Joan Allen and Gina Gershon, FACE/OFF is a "thriller" in the truest sense.

5. HAIRSPRAY - In a movie that's just some good old fashioned fun, Travolta very nearly steals the show as Edna Turnblad, MOTHER of Nikki Blonsky's Tracy Turnblad, the little fireball aspiring to be the next dance senstaion in Baltimore, MD sometime in the 60's. HAIRSPRAY slips some serious issues in amongst the song and dance and manages to do so without being preachy. A remake of the John Waters film of the same name from 1988, this version seems like one of those sequels that's actually better than the original. Travolta steals the role first played by Devine and defines Edna as a conservative, shy housewife whose inner star has yet to shine. One of the film's highlights and most touching moments is a dance number with Edna and her doting husband Wilbur (Christopher Walken) among the hanging laundry, "(You're) Timeless to Me".

4. PULP FICTION- Travolta's big comeback after years of inactivity and flops. Did I mention it also did a little something for its writer/.director Quentin Tarantino? Here's a film like no other, made in a way that's confusing yet entertaining. This movie is a polarizing one, you either love it or you hate it. I've never heard anyone say, "Pulp Fiction? Eh, it's awright." Just about every scene packs a punch and it isn't lacking for star-power. We first see Vincent (Travolta) with his partner Jules (Samuel L Jackson) as they are on their way to even the score with some wanna-be drug dealers. Starting a dialog that is exquisite through-out, we watch characters jump from the frying pan to the fire to a bigger frying pan. Non-linear in form, the film jumps all over the place, just about ensuring we will need to see it again and maybe a third time. Uma Thurman and Bruce Willis have nice meaty roles, too. This one is an all-time classic.

3. SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER- The movie that catapulted John Travolta's star into the atmosphere. Who can forget the opening scene with Tony Manero strutting down the sidewalk to the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive"? Paint shop worker by day, he's a dancer by night, not only that, but the BEST dancer. Tony can have just about any girl he wants, but naturally he wants the one who seems least interested.   Travolta and Karen Gorney are magic as dance partners and the film immerses us in its disco world so effectively we want to be part of it. The plot takes a back seat to the music and dancing, but the view from back there ain't bad at all.

2. MICHAEL- While SNF is technically superior to MICHEAL, this movie makes up for it with a chain-smoking, womanizing, cursing angel. Pretty hard to top that. These are the roles Travola was born to play, complicated characters with bucket loads of charm and good intentions to make up for their flaws. Discovered by 3 "World Weekly News" type reporters (William Hurt, Andie McDowell, and the late Robert Pastorelli) in a run-down motel in Iowa after getting a post card from the owner (Jean Stapelton), we soon discover the reason for an angel's existence on earth. We watch the cynicism melt away as Michael points out to our reporter friends the thing they each lost and shows them how to get it back. Played with equal parts scruffiness and kindness, John Travolta develops perhaps my favorite of all his characters.

1. GREASE - If SNF catapulted John's career into the atmosphere, this hugely popular musical sent it right into orbit. This adaptation of the Broadway musical tribute to the 50's came storming into the 70's and became a cultural landmark. In spite of some lukewarm reviews proclaiming it shallow and plastic, it was only 1978's highest grossing film, as Travolta became the ultimate greaser and every teen-age boy's crush, Olivia-Newton John, became hopelessly devoted to him. A high spirited musical that not only capitalized on that decade's fascination with the 50's, it produced music and attitude that resonates across generations. Oh, and Sandy taught us a valuable cultural lesson. If you want to become popular, smoke cigarettes and dress like a whore.

All of these films are available on DVD.

Last edited on Nov 10, 2008

Top 10 John Travolta Movies is recommended by MikeMaroon

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Comments about MikeMaroon’s Review

In response to bookfan5555's comment from Sep 16, 2009 at 1:10PM:

Thanks! :)

Enjoyed your review of John Travolta's movies.

I love this review, and that is the best Sound Bite - ever!

Got my attention with the picture, hubba hubba ;+) 50 movies?? I didn't know that--WOW!

I loved Grease (and Grease 2), Michael, SNL, and Hairspray. Didn't he play in Welcome Back Kotter?

I need to get my hands on a copy of Michael. I haven't seen it in a while. ~Gigi

I absolutely love this title!

I like many JT movies, however my guiltiest pleasure is Urban Cowboy. Thanks for including it.

In response to lisamarie31069's comment from Jul 15, 2008 at 5:30PM:

Nice to meet a fellow Travolta-ite! Thank you!

Mike--we have something in common. Biggest John Travolta fan. Absolutely love his work. And I definately agree with your top 10 movies!!!

this list in incredible ... and has all my favorite Travolta movies too (esp. Face Off) but where is Broken Arrow? He was so very good at being bad!

Grease is my favorite! Can't imagine anyone else playing that role. Awesome list Mike! I loved it!

Face Off, very good movie, my favorite of those listed.
Pulp Fiction, I just don't get the interest in this movie. I didn't like this movie at all. My opinion. Thank You

I love John Travola AND your review!!!

Soundbite is sticking with me.......

Super review! I love it.

Incredible! The sound bite is beyond awesome too! Now, I can't get that song out of my head.

I am so jealous. I've been thinking about lists of reviews by actors but I must say I hadn't thought of Travolta. Great list!!!!

Good review. I agree on your choices, but would have to debate the chronilogical order of thus. Ya gotta have Pulp at 1, it was just too good.....and Halle Berry topless....it just has to do better than 9!