My Top 25 All Time Favorite Movies

“I sure picked a bad week to quit (smoking, drinking, amphetamines and sniffing glue).” This classic parodies so many movies of the day that you (ok, at least I) can’t help but bust a gut while watching. Although I have plenty of favorite scenes in the movie, the interaction between the young boy (Tommy) and the Captain Oveur (Peter Graves) in the cockpit of the airliner as well as Lloyd Bridges in the control tower are absolute gems.

Who wouldn’t have wanted to been a member of Delta House? A little back story here: Remember, I graduated from high school in 1978. The movie was released during the summer between my graduation and starting at the University of Buffalo. It might surprise people today how many college students around that time used this movie as a blueprint for college. Judging by the fact that I actually graduated in four years, I didn’t quite live the “Delta House Life” like some others who were pretty much done in a year. Every time I visit Universal Studios in Orlando I have to wonder why there isn’t an “Animal House” attraction. I stopped asking for Babs a long time ago. Of course, upon some sober reflection I realize there is no way you could capture the spirit of this movie in an attraction suitable for all ages. Still, I have to wonder if a bar/restaurant themed as the Delta House wouldn’t be successful.

To this day, the thought of Gunnery Sergeant Foley (Louis Gossett, Jr.) barking orders at me still sends a chill up my spine. Louis Gossett proved in this film that you can win an Academy Award even for great acting even in a so-so overall film. I have had people ask me if this movie had any influence on my decision to join the Coast Guard in 1983. Quite frankly the answer is no. I had long considered the Coast Guard prior to the release of the movie. When I finally saw the movie the first time I had already been through the application process and was waiting to hear if I would get accepted. After seeing it, I was smart enough to know that well, it was a just a movie. When I did join the Coast Guard I quickly realized that I was right. In spite of a good deal “artistic license” that the filmmakers took, I still enjoy this movie a great deal. The casting is excellent and the acting very good. The movie is a little dark in places. I am pleased to see one of the stars – David Keith – pop up as a veteran Navy SEAL in Hawaii Five-O.

A DeLorean converted into a time machine? The whole story is well done and I could watch it over and over. The fact that the film addresses the paradox problem (and plays off it nicely) really helps. The second and third installments of this trilogy are alright movies and while they don’t quite make the cut for the top 25, they both get honorable mention and make the top 100.

If I wasn’t a Coast Guard veteran, I might not enjoy this movie so much. Sure, the story is a little far-fetched, but I have known many of the characters throughout my 26 year Coast Guard career. Either the producers of this movie spent some time around the Coast Guard or they just got plain old lucky in casting many of the characters. I don’t think they got a lot of cooperation from the Coast Guard during filming. Yes, the movie is full of holes (any Commanding Officer of a ship involved in a collision will generally be relieved of command quite quickly) but it’s a movie! Of course when the guys on the ship he hit ask for them to “call the Coast Guard” the reply “we are the Coast Guard” is priceless. Even if you don’t like the story, you can still enjoy Stephanie Powers at her absolute peak of hotness.

It’s hard to believe watching this movie that it is almost 40 years old. The movie is as fresh as the day it was released. I’d like a dollar for every time someone quotes this movie on a golf course. Best line in the movie; when Rodney Dangerfield is losing in a golf match and tells his partner “I should have stayed home and played with myself.” It’s odd, but I don’t recall ever seeing this movie at a theatre. It was released in the summer of 1980 and I just never went. I didn’t really pick up on this film until way later. Go figure that one out! Sadly, Caddyshack 2 doesn’t even make my top 100 and wouldn’t make my top 1000 if I did such a list.

If Malcolm McDowell beating a man senseless while singing “Singing in the Rain” doesn’t give you a chill, check your pulse. This is not a movie for the faint of heart just because of the “ultra-violence”. The thing is, as you’d expect from Stanley Kubrick, there is a little more here than a casual watcher may actually pick up. This is a movie that requires you watch it several times to actually “get it” and I know some people may have trouble getting through it once. Like I said, this is not a movie for the faint of heart. Although I don’t normally like “challenging” movies, this one challenges me in a way I like.

What a feeling! This was the one that started it all. If you had a fast paced movie with a good sound track, did the story really matter that much? The story here is disjointed and the acting in a lot of ways is not particularly good. Still for some reason I am drawn to this film. This movie qualifies a little bit as a guilty pleasure.

“Bond, James Bond” – Not the first, but in my opinion, still the best ever James Bond movie; great action, super villain and plenty of high tech gadgets (for 1964!). Bond’s Aston-Martin DB7 “spy car” remains the absolute classic. To me, this movie represents the “Gold Standard” for James Bond movies – or any film of this genre for that matter. I suspect that in the fullness of time that "Skyfall" will be a contender for this list but not quite yet.

This is my newest movie on the list being just six years old but I absolutely like everything about this move. I can see a little of Walt in myself. The movie is well cast, well written and the acting is excellent. He isn't Dirty Harry anymore, but Clint still had going on in this one.

“We’re going to need a bigger boat.” When Jaws came out in 1975, there was no CGI; still, this movie managed to scare millions. The back stories on the movie are great. Almost 45 years after its release you still have to ask if it’s safe to go back in the water. This is an absolute classic.

Before he became Walker, he really could kick some butt. Chuck Norris is extremely convincing as J. J. McQuade, Texas Ranger. Toss in an excellent supporting cast (especially a young Robert Beltran) and a lot of gratuitous violence and you have a winner. Best line in the movie - a crook asks Robert Beltran's character "remember me, greaser?" and just before dispatching him with a single shot he replies "yeah, I never forget and ass hole". Generally people I know who pan this movie weren't even alive when it was released and frankly just don't "Get it".

John Wayne made a lot of awfully good movies during his life, but this little gem never gets old. The movie is basically about nothing but a week in the life of “cattle baron” George Washington McLintock. You can pretty much expect to see many of Wayne’s “regulars” in various roles. This movie looks like it was fun to make and almost 50 years later is still a pleasure to watch.

The most recent movie to make this list. One of three animated movies to make my list; Monsters, Inc. is great for all ages, not just the kids. Frankly I have never really cared that much for Billy Crystal, but he gives an absolute gem of a performance in this movie. It took Disney/Pixar a long time to get this movie out and it was certainly worth the wait.

A somewhat dark look at professional football that probably wasn’t (isn’t?) too far from how it really is (was). If you can get over that Nick Nolte and Mac Davis do not really look like professional athletes (yet the cast is full of pro ball players), you can really enjoy this one.

The second animated movie to make the list; this is a timeless classic that has spawned a number of sequels as well as video games for kids that may have never even seen the original. When this was released in 1961, it was cutting edge technology. While not as glitzy as today’s CGI riddled films, it’s a good story and a great movie. Cruella De Vil should pretty much make any top 5 all time list of movie villains. In my opinion, she makes the wicked queen in Snow White look like the girl next door.

If you can get past the extremely high number of F-Bombs (by my count there are 68), this is a pretty decent movie. It probably helps that I was raised in a minor league town. Paul Newman really pulls it off as an aging player/coach of a minor league hockey team. The casting was excellent and in many ways I have no trouble believing the storyline.

This is absolutely my favorite all time movie and I offer no apologies for that either. I have probably watched this movie over 100 times and never get tired of it. Sadly the sequels were nowhere near as good as the original. I thought for sure that a Bandit II would pick up with the gang heading up to Boston. This is another movie that even 40 years old is still fresh. RIP Bandit and Snowman - I know you're hauling illegal Coors somewhere!

Although I liked the Star Trek movie series, this is really the only movie that I feel captured the true Wild West spirit of Captain James T. Kirk. Winging back through time and rescuing the entire population of earth is pretty much all in a day’s work for Kirk and his crew. Naturally, Kirk is in trouble with his superiors, but when you save several billion people from certain death you can get over on them.

Paul Newman and Robert Redford were perfect in this 70’s classic. If this movie doesn’t want to make you play poker on a train or place a few bets on the ponies I don’t know what to say.

“That’s the fact jack”. Bill Murray was at his peak of funniness and this very well cast movie will keep you rolling. The fact that it was filmed in the Louisville area makes it even better.

The third animated picture to make the top 25. This movie was the first Disney/PIXAR effort. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen were absolutely perfect as Woody and Buzz. Add in a great supporting cast and you have a winner. The sequels were all pretty good too.

When this movie came out I was very young. I remember seeing it in a theatre when I was a little older and absolutely fell in love with everything about it.

“Trust Me” – this is a good movie! I know some people who at one time sold used cars and this film isn’t all that far from the truth in a lot of ways. This film is a great example of just how much range Kurt Russell has. A friend of mine referred to this as “the best movie no one ever heard of”. I tend to agree with him.

After a lot of thought I replaced The Matrix with this movie. Steve McQueen was just too cool as Jake Holman. Seeing this as a young boy certainly influenced me regarding my love of machines and naval service. I ended up in the Coast Guard but never forgot this film.