Roger Pavelle's Top "Ten" Movie List

Tim comments: Roger cheated. I mean a lot. He chose categories and put 5 or more movies in some of them. This is, in fact, a top 36 list. Since it was so much work, we didn't pull the Amazon links for this list. Again, these are all great movies and if you are reading this list and see some you have never had the opportunity to watch, rent it!

In no particular order:

1. Casablanca
   This is probably the most copied, quoted, misquoted, parodied, referenced movie in history. Why, because no matter how many times I've seen it, the movie remains exquisitely enjoyable. And, on top of all that, there's Ingrid Bergman looking her most gorgeous.
   
   
2. Field of Dreams
   This movie is about the essence of Baseball which, as James Earl Jones says in the movie, has marked the time, provides a link between the past and the present, and between fans of all ages. It's also about connecting with people, being true to yourself and following your dreams, no matter how crazy they may seem to others. It's the kind of movie that doesn't get made often enough and, when done right, is memorable.
   
   
3. Pinocchio
   At first I was thinking about grouping together Disney's animated movies since there are so many that are fun, from Dumbo and Snow White to Aladdin and the more modern ones. However, to my mind Pinocchio stands as the pinnacle to which all the others should aspire but have not yet reached. The animation itself is the most incredible I've seen (Fantasia is the only one that is comparable, unsurprising since they were done back-to-back), the songs are fun and singable, the story is not aimed solely at children ("Give a boy enough rope and he'll soon make a jackass of himself"), and the characters are among the most memorable. If you haven't seen it recently, do so!
   
   
4. Frank Capra made some of the best movies ever made. Many of my favorites are, again, those that show how one person in the right place can make a difference. Others are some of the best comedies made, throw in some musicals (most of which, unfortunately, I haven't seen yet). A list of my favorites includes:
   1. It's a Wonderful Life
   2. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
   3. You Can't Take It With You
   4. It Happened One Night
   5. Here Comes The Groom
   6. State of the Union
   
   
5. Star Wars (the original ones, especially the first two)
   While Empire may be a better made movie, Star Wars (no, it is not appropriately titled A New Hope, it's Star Wars) is much more memorable. From Luke's whining to his uncle, C3PO's whining to everyone, the cantina scene, Obi-Wan vs. Darth, Leia being tough instead of weak on the Death Star, the final battle, and everything else in the movie set the stage for most of the science fiction movies that have come since. Then there's Empire , whose biggest fault is the fact that it doesn't stand alone and whose biggest asset is the obvious enjoyment everyone had making it. Throw in Yoda and more great battles and you don't miss.
   
   
6. I'm going to cheat again by throwing all my favorite Spielberg movies together. After all, there are too many good ones to leave off, all for different reasons but equally enjoyable. My top list here follows (in mostly chronological order) and doesn't even include his "Important" films like Shindler's List and Saving Private Ryan , or others like Jurassic Park:
   1. Jaws
   2. Close Encounters of the Third Kind
   3. Raiders of the Lost Ark
   4. ET
   5. Empire of the Sun (which has the most evocative soundtrack I can remember in a movie)
   
   
7. This next bunch are the ones that I grew up with, remain favorites, and can't really be left off any top ten list (interestingly, they are all musicals):
   1. Mary Poppins
   2. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
   3. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
   4. The Sound of Music
   5. The Wizard of Oz
   6. Singin' in the Rain
   
   
8. I'm going to throw in a couple of Danny Kaye's films, which combine music, tongue-twisters, actions, and high enjoyment:
   1. The Court Jester - This one also has the best fencing scene I've ever seen.
   2. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - What happens when a dreamer faces reality?
   3. Wonder Man - Mistaken Identity with twins, a great finale at the opera.
   
   
   
9. This ones a bunch of the comedies that have held up over time (I would have included South Park and There's Something About Mary except I've only seen them once and therefore can't really call them favorites yet):
   1. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
   2. Young Frankenstein
   3. Blazing Saddles
   4. High Anxiety (half the fun of this one is spotting the films scenes are based on)
   5. The Pink Panther Strikes Again - I feel this is the best of the bunch
   6. Victor/Victoria - Again, I love the music.
   7. The Sting
   
   
   
10. Here is where I'll throw all the other ones that are favorites or have things in them that make it worth watching:
    1. Amadeus - Great story, better music
    2. Diner
    3. Labyrinth - The helping hands are impressive, the finale in an Escher building even moreso.
    4. Dark Crystal - Amazing what Henson was able to do with Muppets.
    5. Searching for Bobby Fischer - again, follow your dreams, with a solid family element.
    6. Easter Parade - Judy Garland and Fred Astaire, music by Irving Berlin...how can you go wrong?