I've been wanting to do this for years. I love movies, and I'll always say, "That one is on my top 20 list!"
But no list really existed. And I have to say that actually making that top 20 list wasn't easy to create. Too many great movies! (Disclaimer: these are DAWN'S Top 20 Movies - I don't expect anyone to agree. I have my own wacked criteria.)
After #1 and #2, they aren't really in any order, but it's hard to do a list without it being in a linear order. (Hence, the image above.)
1. Stardust - for completely sentimental reasons. It's fantasy, and it has deep meaning for me and my beloved.
2. Shawshank Redemption - the only perfect movie that exists. Amazing acting, great characters, good writing, fantastic music...
3. A Few Good Men - it comes close to being perfect, except that Jack Nicholson is a little over the top at the end.
4. Aliens - gotta love a woman who kicks ass.
5. Ferris Bueller's Day Off - yeah, it's fun, but it has deep messages too.
6. Philadelphia Story - Cary Grant is one of my favorite actors, and the dialogue is witty and fast.
7. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner - the ending scene is one of my favorite ever. Katherine Hepburn never watched the movie as Tracy died within 3 weeks of finishing the movie. Her tears at Tracy's speech are real.
8. The Thin Man - silly or not, the connection between Nick and Nora is fabulous, and she is not a doormat, even in the 1930s.
9. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - Both Newman and Taylor are so delicious looking. And there's some good acting, too. ;->
10. Princess Bride - Perfect characters, and I love the grandfather-narrator breaking into the story. Great storytelling. (And it's an amazing book, too.)
11. Casablanca - How can this not be on the list?
12. All About Eve - Great lines, good acting, and quick wit.
13. Charade - Another Cary Grant movie, and I love the connection between Audrey Hepburn and Grant.
14. Die Hard - I watch it every Christmas. Great hero and even better villain.
15. Oceans 11 - Another great dialogue movie, as well as such subtle acting.
16. Sound of Music - so sue me.
17. Laura - Intense love story, and Gene Tierney is breathtakingly beautiful.
18. Braveheart - best non-lyric soundtrack ever. I get choked up hearing "Murron's Theme" every time.
19. Galaxy Quest - Adore how it lovingly makes fun of Star Trek, and it's a great buddy movie
20. Operation Petticoat - Yes, another Cary Grant movie, and a great example of his subtle acting (and a model for George Clooney.)
Sidenote: The following are, in my opinion, absolutely excellent movies that I don't watch over and over. Filmmaking, screenplay, acting, dialogue... and they're just not my favorites: Godfather and Schindler's List.
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