As I wrote about the Top 5 Action movies, it was hard to narrow them down to pure action.  What about Bourne movies?  LOR?  Star Wars?  Are they action?  Well I opened up and I am going to try and list my top overall favorite movies that if I only could own these DVD’s or vote it would be the following (in no order).

• Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope – Let me start by saying having kids is terrific.  You can live as a child all over again.  My son (7) is a HUGE Star Wars fan, he probably knows more about the movies then I do.  What can I say about this one that has not been said before?  The first of a great line of movies, products and marketing that is still ranking in the dough today.  Harrison Ford (Han Solo) was great, stole the show, Darth Vader was a dominating figure, Obi Wan, very Grandfather-esque, weird creatures and interesting plot line.  Definitely top pick.
  
• Good Fellas – One of a few terrific De Niro and Pesci movies.  Great mob action with good story telling from Ray Loitta.  Eating dinner at the mom’s house at 3 in the morning after whacking a guy or should I say “hitting a deer”.
  
• Gladiator – This might be my number 1 favorite movie.  I must have watched this about t 30 times within the first 2 weeks that I bought the DVD.  Maximus is one tough dude.  Russell Crowe portrayed him perfectly and Joaquin Phoenix was great enough to actually hate him.  I think I need to watch this one tonight.
  
• Forest Gump – Totally cool movie.  Feel good, you know?  I am a sucker for movies that follow someone’s life especially in a great story telling format like Gump.  Awesome soundtrack too, that never hurts.  (I should have mentioned that with Good Fellas).  Gump was a heart-warming yet funny yet sad look at a gentleman life that intersected with historic events in our nation.  Very interesting way to show it but kept me wanting more.
  
• Cars – Yes, the Disney/Pixar animation.  This was a terrific movie; my father-in-law actually got choked up watching it.  A man (car) who loses his way during his life finds it again with loving and caring people (other cars) and shows him what is truly important, friends (cars) and family (more cars).  Let’s not forget the animation and the marketing behind this was unreal.
  
• Transformers – I know it just came out and it is fresh on my mind but this was an AWESOME movie.  Made me feel like a kid again.  I took out my comics and went to my mom’s house to get my old toys so I can play with them with my kids.    Bigtime cool with this movie.
  
• The Breakfast Club – This was the ultimate 80’s movie (actually the second ultimate), it had the original brats of Hollywood, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, and Anthony Michael Hall.  Degenerates, nerds and cool peeps all form a special bond in detention hall.  Detention is for everyone, no one was able to escape, unless you played girls softball and was in Mr Vingos class then you were exempt.  (Argh)  I knew every line to this movie at one point and still recite lines every now and then when stuff comes up.  (“you forgot ugly, lazy and disrespectful..”.. (Does Barry Manilow know that you raid his wardrobe?)
  
• Raiders of the Lost Ark – While the 3rd one was pretty darn good, the second made my cousin puke when we went when we were 11, the first was the best.  Here was Han Solo in the ark..Wait a minute..Not Han?..I was so confused when this came out.  Star Wars was all in my head and Han was just shipped out with Boba Fett and know he is looking for an ark?  Great series of movies I cannot wait for the next one to come out.
  
• Saving Private Ryan – I was trying to figure out what war movie would be my favorite.  Black Hawk Down, Flags of our Fathers, Bridge Over River Kwai, Full Metal Jacket?  So I picked 2.  Saving Private Ryan.  Great flick.  Huge battle in the beginning, story line that followed a person’s life, little sad, little funny overall a tremendous film that makes me proud to be an American.
  
• Stripes – Here is the second.  Stripes was so funny.  I am laughing just thinking about it.  Bill Murray was hilarious.  Pound for pound this has to be one of the funniest movies ever made.
  
• Better Off Dead – Sticking with the 80’s theme.  If you never saw this movie you need to go out and get it.  But before you watch it, pretend you’re in 8th grade again.  Sweet looking Camaro, guy gets girl film, totally funny yet stupid.  This has to be the ultimate 80’s movie hands down.
  
• Caddy Shack – This is on everyone’s list but it has to be.  It was so funny.  Chase, Dangerfield, Murray, Knight..oh man..that was so funny.  This movie made me want to work on a golf course so bad.  Talk about lines – “It’s in the hole”, “I like you Betty, Its Danny sir.”, “You’ll get nothing and like it”.  Too many to list. 
  
• Fast Times at Ridgemont High – Another one of those iconic 80’s movie (I have 1 more still).  This movie should not of been view by my 9 year old eyes.  2 words.  Phoebe Cates.  Sean Penn was great and so was Mr Hand.  Classic lines and classic humor that can go toe to toe with any new comedy now.  Probably the 80’s version of American Pie (which was funny but did not make my list).
  
• Back to The Future – I want to stop picking 80’s movies since I have to add some more from the 90’s but these movies influenced me when I was growing up.  Ranging from humor to likes and dislikes and was responsible for who I am in a weird sort of way.  Do I pick, Animal House, Blues Brothers, Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueler ..the list can go on.  I thought about those and said which ones would I watch over and over again and Sixteen Candles jumps out but Back to The Future jumped even more.  The reason is when I watch it; I think there will be a different outcome.  Maybe he won’t go to 1955, maybe the lightning won’t hit, maybe Biff beats him up, maybe..
  
• Grease – Grease is the word.  John Travolta’s finest moment on film.  Singing and dancing, fast cars, fast women – wait this is on Fast Times.  Still. Pretty funny and pretty cool.  They definitely don’t make movies like this anymore.

That was pretty hard.  If I did this again I would think about ½ of them would change.  There are so many movies that were great and it is fun to think and discuss them again.

Here are some others: