Best Movies from A-Z
Cool Material has published their list of The Best Movies from A-Z. There are a lot of fantastic movies on that list, many of which I loves, though there are also others I don't and these sorts of lists always makes me wonder how they were compiled and what criteria they used and what sorts of debates went down among the editors as they narrowed down the movies to one.
Of course, I couldn't just leave it there. Seeing this A-Z list made me want to compile my own. For most of the letters there was a clear top movie, but working via the alphabet limits your selections in a unique way, and a few of the letters (H, L, M, P, S), I had a really hard time picking, so I listed the close runners up, as well.
# - 3-Iron
A transient young man breaks into empty homes to partake of the vacationing residents' lives for a few days and fixes their broken belongings while there before disappearing again. But one home turns out to not be empty after all. It's been a while since I've seen this one, but I'm feeling all happy inside thinking about it, so I'm going to have to rewatch soon.
A - Amelie
Since this falls into my list of favorite movies ever, this sweet French movie about a lonely women who tries to fill her days by doing good for others was an easy selection. Top of a great romantic story with fun cinematography and creative design and you have a fantastic movie.
B - Breakfast at Tiffany's
I don't really know what to say about this movie that hasn't been said. I love it. That's enough.
C - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Awesome action sequences, combined with strong women, a compelling storyline, and tragic romance, not to mention gorgeous location shots. This movie is another one of my all time faves.
D - Donnie Darko
Creepy and stylish, I love how all the pieces fit together and how the end always makes me cry. Also, I adore the theme song, "Mad World."
E - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
If you could erase unpleasant memories would you? It's a great premise that presents a messy romance in a unique way. I love this couple, because even though they tear each other apart and are likely to do it again, they are willing to say "okay" to love.
F - Frida
I adore Frida Kahlo as an artist and Salma Hayek's depiction of her int his indie movie captures the spirit of not only her personality, but of her amazing, emotional wrought paintings.
G - Garden State
I think by this point, you should be noticing a pattern..., that my favorite movies tend to be indie flicks. This is another great one (which I saw before I even heard of Scrubs, the show Zach Braff became known on). Natalie Portman is adorable as life loving woman and habitual liar, who helps Zach Braff come out of the numbing, blank state of his life.
H - Heathers
Ah, murder mayhem and the viciousness of teenage girls. Also, Christian Slater, even if he's evil maniacal. This cult classic is actually on even keel with each of the "Runners Up", but I had to choose just one, so this is it.
Runners Up: Happy Accidents, How to Train Your Dragon, and Howl's Moving Castle
I - The Iron Giant
A giant robot crashes into earth and befriends a lonely boy in the 1950s. The story reflects on old paranoia-induced alien invasion movies, while presenting likable characters and a sweet story of friendship. Great animation, too.
J - Juno
The dialog has to be one of the greatest parts of this movie, which is full of pop culture references and dry humor. Also, there's a bitter-sweetness to the story and a sense of finding exactly the person right for you.
K - Kill Bill, Part I and II
I want to marry the Bride, even if she is an assassin and might murder me in my sleep. Uma Thurman is great in this role, and though it's not the most talky of Tarantino's movie, I love how it's all put together into a bloody and stylish revenge spree.
Runner Up: Kamikaze Girls
L - La Femme Nikita
This is the original that has spun off a so-so U.S. remake and two TV series. None of the offshoots match the gritty appeal of Luc Besson's orginal though.
Runners Up: Labyrinth, The Last Unicorn, Let the Right One In, Little Miss Sunshine, and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
M - Magnolia
A lot of movies have tried to show the interconnectedness of disparate people, but this one succeeds the best, each story weaving into the next with a compelling theme of purposefullness in a seemingly purposeless world. And yes, I even love the song sequence. I've met a lot of people who don't understand why I love this movie so much, but I just do.
Runners Up: Memento, Midnight in Paris, Moulin Rouge, and The Muppets
N - Night of the Living Dead (1969)
This is THE definitive zombie movie, and as a major zombie fan, there's no question that this would be at the top of my favorite movies ever.
O - O Brother, Where Art Thou?
This loose adaptation of the Odyssey has Ulysses McGill escaping from a chain gang to convince his wife not to marry another. The reinterpretation features a depression era setting and great old-timey music throughout, as well as great dialog and comedic timing.
P - Princess Mononoke
I had a tough, tough time with this letter. I finally narrowed it down by deciding that I had to have a Ghibli movie on this list and this one, with it's complex cast of characters, each with clear motivations, is by far my favorite.
Runners Up: The Professional, Pan's Labyrinth, Pi, Pleasantville, Pieces of April, Pitch Black, The Princess Bride, and Pulp Fiction
R - Run Lola Run
Another all-time fave! Creative storytelling format and an awesome red-headed lead actress. I've recently heard this described as a video game movie, which makes total sense in retrospect and is also awesome.
S - The Secret of Roan Inish
John Saul presents a movie about a family with deep connections to an island home and with a mysterious history that may include selkies. A lot of fantastic runners up, but I love the way Saul dives into a cultural realm and makes it come alive.
Runners Up: Samurai Fiction, Saved!, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Session 9, The Shawshank Redemption, Stranger than Fiction, and Strictly Ballroom
T - Timecrimes
This is one of the most brilliant time travel movies I've seen in a long time. The story starts off mysteriously and then reveals bits and pieces in perfect timing.
Runners Up: Terminator 2, Tokyo Godfathers, and The Truman Show
U - Unleashed
I love Jet Li's acting in this, his innocence and his hurt, not to mention his amazing martial arts skills, which he makes seem not only recklessly unbeatable, but also sloppy as an improperly trained fighter would be.
V - Versus: The Director's Cut
Okay, so the character's motives aren't always clear, if ever, and the story is kind of strange, and some of the scenes are just plain wacky, but I loves this cult movie about an escaped prisoner, who stumbles into trouble with mobsters in a cursed forest. The result is an awesome martial arts movie with zombies. What's not to love?
W - Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Gene Wilder is the best Wonka, hands down. This version of the story is zany and fun and brightly colored, all combined with just the right amount of heart.
Runner Up: Who Framed Roger Rabbit
X - X-Men
Not many "X" movies to choose from (the X-Files movie just didn't match up to the TV show), but fortunately I love X-Men one and two, especially the friendship between Wolverine and Rogue. Both great portrayals of the characters.
Y - Y Tu Mama Tambien
Only saw this sexy movie from Mexico once, but it was a memorable tale of two friends on a road trip with a married woman, who is looking for her own means of escape.
Z - Zombieland
Again, this is me, the zombie fan, so this one should also be no surprise. A smooth integration of action and comedy with some fun creative sequences and awesome use of a theme park setting.
* * *
My summaries and thoughts were very brief for each of these, so if you want to know more about a particular movie, mention it in the comments.
Also, tell me about your favorite movies, or create your own list and let me know, so I can check it out.
Of course, I couldn't just leave it there. Seeing this A-Z list made me want to compile my own. For most of the letters there was a clear top movie, but working via the alphabet limits your selections in a unique way, and a few of the letters (H, L, M, P, S), I had a really hard time picking, so I listed the close runners up, as well.
# - 3-Iron
A transient young man breaks into empty homes to partake of the vacationing residents' lives for a few days and fixes their broken belongings while there before disappearing again. But one home turns out to not be empty after all. It's been a while since I've seen this one, but I'm feeling all happy inside thinking about it, so I'm going to have to rewatch soon.
A - Amelie
Since this falls into my list of favorite movies ever, this sweet French movie about a lonely women who tries to fill her days by doing good for others was an easy selection. Top of a great romantic story with fun cinematography and creative design and you have a fantastic movie.
B - Breakfast at Tiffany's
I don't really know what to say about this movie that hasn't been said. I love it. That's enough.
C - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Awesome action sequences, combined with strong women, a compelling storyline, and tragic romance, not to mention gorgeous location shots. This movie is another one of my all time faves.
D - Donnie Darko
Creepy and stylish, I love how all the pieces fit together and how the end always makes me cry. Also, I adore the theme song, "Mad World."
E - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
If you could erase unpleasant memories would you? It's a great premise that presents a messy romance in a unique way. I love this couple, because even though they tear each other apart and are likely to do it again, they are willing to say "okay" to love.
F - Frida
I adore Frida Kahlo as an artist and Salma Hayek's depiction of her int his indie movie captures the spirit of not only her personality, but of her amazing, emotional wrought paintings.
G - Garden State
I think by this point, you should be noticing a pattern..., that my favorite movies tend to be indie flicks. This is another great one (which I saw before I even heard of Scrubs, the show Zach Braff became known on). Natalie Portman is adorable as life loving woman and habitual liar, who helps Zach Braff come out of the numbing, blank state of his life.
H - Heathers
Ah, murder mayhem and the viciousness of teenage girls. Also, Christian Slater, even if he's evil maniacal. This cult classic is actually on even keel with each of the "Runners Up", but I had to choose just one, so this is it.
Runners Up: Happy Accidents, How to Train Your Dragon, and Howl's Moving Castle
I - The Iron Giant
A giant robot crashes into earth and befriends a lonely boy in the 1950s. The story reflects on old paranoia-induced alien invasion movies, while presenting likable characters and a sweet story of friendship. Great animation, too.
J - Juno
The dialog has to be one of the greatest parts of this movie, which is full of pop culture references and dry humor. Also, there's a bitter-sweetness to the story and a sense of finding exactly the person right for you.
K - Kill Bill, Part I and II
I want to marry the Bride, even if she is an assassin and might murder me in my sleep. Uma Thurman is great in this role, and though it's not the most talky of Tarantino's movie, I love how it's all put together into a bloody and stylish revenge spree.
Runner Up: Kamikaze Girls
L - La Femme Nikita
This is the original that has spun off a so-so U.S. remake and two TV series. None of the offshoots match the gritty appeal of Luc Besson's orginal though.
Runners Up: Labyrinth, The Last Unicorn, Let the Right One In, Little Miss Sunshine, and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
M - Magnolia
A lot of movies have tried to show the interconnectedness of disparate people, but this one succeeds the best, each story weaving into the next with a compelling theme of purposefullness in a seemingly purposeless world. And yes, I even love the song sequence. I've met a lot of people who don't understand why I love this movie so much, but I just do.
Runners Up: Memento, Midnight in Paris, Moulin Rouge, and The Muppets
N - Night of the Living Dead (1969)
This is THE definitive zombie movie, and as a major zombie fan, there's no question that this would be at the top of my favorite movies ever.
O - O Brother, Where Art Thou?
This loose adaptation of the Odyssey has Ulysses McGill escaping from a chain gang to convince his wife not to marry another. The reinterpretation features a depression era setting and great old-timey music throughout, as well as great dialog and comedic timing.
P - Princess Mononoke
I had a tough, tough time with this letter. I finally narrowed it down by deciding that I had to have a Ghibli movie on this list and this one, with it's complex cast of characters, each with clear motivations, is by far my favorite.
Runners Up: The Professional, Pan's Labyrinth, Pi, Pleasantville, Pieces of April, Pitch Black, The Princess Bride, and Pulp Fiction
R - Run Lola Run
Another all-time fave! Creative storytelling format and an awesome red-headed lead actress. I've recently heard this described as a video game movie, which makes total sense in retrospect and is also awesome.
S - The Secret of Roan Inish
John Saul presents a movie about a family with deep connections to an island home and with a mysterious history that may include selkies. A lot of fantastic runners up, but I love the way Saul dives into a cultural realm and makes it come alive.
Runners Up: Samurai Fiction, Saved!, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Session 9, The Shawshank Redemption, Stranger than Fiction, and Strictly Ballroom
T - Timecrimes
This is one of the most brilliant time travel movies I've seen in a long time. The story starts off mysteriously and then reveals bits and pieces in perfect timing.
Runners Up: Terminator 2, Tokyo Godfathers, and The Truman Show
U - Unleashed
I love Jet Li's acting in this, his innocence and his hurt, not to mention his amazing martial arts skills, which he makes seem not only recklessly unbeatable, but also sloppy as an improperly trained fighter would be.
V - Versus: The Director's Cut
Okay, so the character's motives aren't always clear, if ever, and the story is kind of strange, and some of the scenes are just plain wacky, but I loves this cult movie about an escaped prisoner, who stumbles into trouble with mobsters in a cursed forest. The result is an awesome martial arts movie with zombies. What's not to love?
W - Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Gene Wilder is the best Wonka, hands down. This version of the story is zany and fun and brightly colored, all combined with just the right amount of heart.
Runner Up: Who Framed Roger Rabbit
X - X-Men
Not many "X" movies to choose from (the X-Files movie just didn't match up to the TV show), but fortunately I love X-Men one and two, especially the friendship between Wolverine and Rogue. Both great portrayals of the characters.
Y - Y Tu Mama Tambien
Only saw this sexy movie from Mexico once, but it was a memorable tale of two friends on a road trip with a married woman, who is looking for her own means of escape.
Z - Zombieland
Again, this is me, the zombie fan, so this one should also be no surprise. A smooth integration of action and comedy with some fun creative sequences and awesome use of a theme park setting.
* * *
My summaries and thoughts were very brief for each of these, so if you want to know more about a particular movie, mention it in the comments.
Also, tell me about your favorite movies, or create your own list and let me know, so I can check it out.