1. Star Wars Trilogy
	I have to lump in all of the films from the original Star Wars Trilogy (A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi) into one film in order to make room for other movies. Of those three, Empire is the best, as most Star Wars and film fans agree. These movies are simply amazing and have limitless rewatch value. I probably watch them once every couple of months. It is a crime that they are not yet available on DVD. As for the new prequel trilogy, I am a fan of these as well but they are obviously not in the same class as the originals. I grew up with these movies and that certainly has something to do with it, but barring that, these are still among the best examples of what film has to offer (excluding dialogue). The idea that the villain could be the father of the hero may seem "been there, done that" today, but it was truly original and shocking at the time. And when Vader admits it, it still gives me chills.

2. Pulp Fiction
	This movie has stood the test of time for me. Many loved it when it came out and later decided that it was only a trendy movie to like and that it really wasn't all that good. For me, however, I find that it also has tremendous rewatchability. I'll never forget the first time I saw it, and what a bad mood I was in, and how when I left the theater, what a great mood I was in. As soon as the opening credits start and the words "Pulp Fiction" slowly roll up the screen, you know you're in for a treat.

3. Unforgiven
	For the top 3 or 4 movies, it's tough to place them. This one has been one of my favorites since about a week after I saw it the first time, just after graduating high school. It won best picture and director at the Oscars that year, and I was up late in my dorm room the following March rooting for it. This movie is one of the all-time greats because of its subtlety. We don't need to see Eastwood as the badass throughout the entire movie, we've seen that in countless movies before; instead, we just hear people allude to it. He spends the entire movie denying it, while the "kid" wants to be him oh-so badly. At the end of the film, though, we find out that people never change - Eastwood is the horrible man he denies being, and the kid is nothing but a wannabe.

4. Lord of the Rings
	After having seen this entire trilogy and getting somewhat involved in the books and lore of Tolkien's world, I have to admit that these movies are among the best ever made. I'm not yet ready to place them above the Holy Trilogy, but I have a feeling that it will happen eventually, after time has passed. They are just that good. Sometimes I'm not sure if I like them more for having watched the countless documentaries that show how much work went into their creation. Regardless, there is so much to love in these films. I'm sure with repeated viewings, they will only go farther up on this list.

5. The Usual Suspects
	This is perhaps the only "suprise-ending" movie that doesn't get old for me (unlike the Sixth Sense). Forget the fact that the film has a great ending like that, the whole movie is great, start to finish. The performances are top-notch, the mood is just right. The music is fantastic, too.

6. Die Hard
	This is the original modern-day action movie, if that makes any sense. Once this movie was released, the action genre was forever changed. Some say it was the combination of this one along with Lethal Weapon - which did come out first, but I prefer this movie by quite a margin. The reason is tension. Unlike its inferior sequels, Die Hard creates a serious amount of tension by trapping the protagonist in a building where the bad guys are trying to get him, not the other way around. The beauty is that he's not Superman - he's terrified, and he gets hurt, a lot. This film is pure genius, if you ask me (which you did). It is a little dated but it still kicks the crap out of any action film since. As with any good chase story, the key ingredient is an intelligent and comptent hero and villain.

7. The Shawshank Redemption
	I don't think I've ever heard anyone say anything bad about this movie. This is a feel-good movie without making you feel dumb or guilty for feeling good about it. Another one that's thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to end.

8. Fight Club
	What can you say about a movie that includes all the bad reviews on the DVD insert? This is one of the rare movies that I actually realized how good it was while I was watching it. Usually it takes a while for it to sit and stew before I realize it. Ed Norton is always a treat to watch, and the role of Tyler Durden seems hand-made for Brad Pitt. The tone of the movie is perfect for Fincher's directing style and it works flawlessly. I have a really hard time with the critics who bashed this movie. I don't think that I'm so dumb that I'm not seeing what they're seeing - I just don't think they took this movie for what it is. It's not some deep treatise on the state of materialism in modern society - it's about some guys who do stupid shit when they reject that state. Oh, my two favorite laugh-out-loud moments: 1) Tyler in the background practicing with nuncucks. He looks so stupid, and it's even funnier when you listen to Brad Pitt's commentary that thinks he almost looks like he knows what he's doing. No you don't, Brad. 2) To avoid the cops coming down the hall in the apartment complex, Tyler pulls Marla into a corner and starts dancing in front of her, so as to look inconspicuous. I cry with laughter every time.

9. Raiders of the Lost Ark
	Raiders is obviously a classic. It probably ranks among most critics as the finest action/adventure movie of all time. I'd say that as an "adventure" movie, this is true, though it's not action-packed enough to call an "action" movie in my mind. This is also one of Spielberg's best films, in that he doesn't lay it on too thick for us, emotionally speaking. This is a simple popcorn movie that happens to be about the best of its kind.

10. LA Confidential
	Wow. That's all I could think while watching this movie. Though this might not be my favorite movie, I'd say that this is the closest one to perfect in my list. This is what started Russell Crowe down the path to stardom, and for good reason. Guy Pearce is also fantastic, as he is in Memento. But the real star is the story, which is so tight and well-told. This is a gem of a film.