Top 10 Movies of All Time Review

For the 10 Best movies in my opinion, I think you need to know these are no ordinary movies.  By today's standards, these movies probably don't cut it, don't have enough special effects, the photography is shabby, whatever.  But, these films in some way or another changed an era in movies and are pretty darn good.  So here they are in my humble opinion:

10. Indiana Jones Movies:  I wouldn't so much add the fourth installment to the list, but especially the first- Raiders of the Lost Ark deserves so much attention based on the wild ride, humor, action and scenery associated with it.  The great scene at the end of the people's faces melting is especially interesting- they used Jello to melt the faces.

9. Wizard of Oz:  Who can't say they've never seen this movie?  It used to be a yearly staple on regular old 3-network TV for years.  In the day and age of more channels, DVD's and internet, this movie lost a lot of luster and seems "corny" to today's kids.  But, it was such a large-scale, landmark movie and great launching pad for Judy Garland- who by the way- was around 30 years old playing little Dorothy!

8. Lord of the Rings Trilogy:  Wow.  Whether you're into sci-fi fantasy movies like this, you still have to give it to Peter Jackson.  These are masterpieces in action, special effects, and stories.  I'd especially recommend watching the longer un-cut versions of all three to see some interesting storylines not in the regular movies.

7. Gone with the Wind:  Everyone recognizes the end line, "Frankly my dear, ...." but this was also a visual masterpiece for the time.  It also ushered in some big time kudos for African-American actors with the maid getting Academy Award recognition for her role. 

6. High Noon:  This is underrated.  What I love about this movie is its set in a small western town, with an over the hill sheriff, and it all goes in actual minutes leading up to the showdown at high noon.  That's the key to this one.  For a more modern-day version of this movie-- rent "3 O'clock High" sometime.  A very underrated gem produced by Aaron Spelling.  The edits in that version are fantastic.

5. The Kid:  One of Charlie Chaplin's best.  If you can't stand the "non-talkie" silent movies, rent this anyway.  This shows just how good of an actor Chaplin was without saying a word.  The kid is actually played by the same actor who became Uncle Fester on the Addams Family.

4. Citizen Kane:  This is usually considered the best movie of all time.  For what it had to go through to get made, for all the editing tricks, great lighting, camera angles, it was ahead of its time.  The story is ho-hum, but it still packs a punch.  Unfortunately, Orson Welles never achieved the same glory on any other movie.

3. Psycho:  Alfred Hitchcock at his best.  The editing, the use of a flushing toilet for the first time in a movie (!), and Anthony Perkins looking evil/innocent.  Watch this in a dark theater sometime, and the violin score will scare you to death.  Notice as well that you never, ever see the knife in the shower scene puncture her skin.  You only see the blood trickle down the drain.

2. Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back:  Talk about a pioneer in special effects.  I'd include the others, but they just lacked story and the same punch as these two.  If the first was crude in a lot of ways, the 2nd got it right.  A great soap opera in outerspace. 

1. Godfather trilogy:  The acting, the stories.   For as much flack as the 3rd installment got, you still have to watch the final scene of Al Pacino sitting helpless on those steps waiting to cry- and then the howl of years of pent-up anger, frustration, and now the death of his daughter on his hands.  Love it.