Movies 111: Top Five Picks

I know, I'm terrible. I'm going to be hideously self indulgent and share my personal favorite films of all time. I don't have any particular order of preference unless it's sorted by genre, because you can't really compare apples and oranges without just saying, "they're both fruit."

Click the title for their movie trailers!

Epic/Action:
#1 - Avatar, because it is amazingly well produced and the most perfect inspirational story ever, however much of a rip off it may be of Pocahontas. And Jake Sully is hot.
#2 - Gladiator, because the ending makes me cry and I'm a sucker for tragedies and coup d'etats.
#3 - The Matrix, because the cinematography is gorgeous and the plotline is so philosophically inspired. And Neo looks good in those specs.
#4 - V For Vendetta, because it's another coup d'etat story that makes me cry.
#5 - 300, because the cinematography left me breathless and Gerard Butler had some really nice abdominals.

Romance:
#1 - Amelie, because the cinematography was so original and colorful, the story was very cute and I could relate to main character.
#2 - P.S. I Love You, because I'm a sucker for tragedies and second chances.
#3 - Penelope, because I'm a huge fan of James McAvoy and the cinematography has the same sort of vibe as Amelie. The story is also just so adorable, I want to squeeze its cheeks.
#4 - Romeo + Juliet, because, what can I say, it's a tragedy. And Shakespeare is awesome. The mesh between modern day world with old world language is fantastic.
#5 - The Notebook, because it's just so sweet. Timeless love wins.

Thriller:
#1 - Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, because it has an amazing score, acting, cinematography, story, everything. It's the perfect movie. With Alan Rickman in it, too. What more could you ask for?
#2 - Inception, because the story is so original and perplexingly mesmorizing. The film was well made and the acting was really great.
#3 - The Usual Suspects, because Kevin Spacey is totally wicked in it and you could never expect the huge twist at the end.
#4 - The Orphanage, because you're just not quite sure what to think at the end, even with everything explained. Foreign films have a different sort of element to them than American ones.
#5 - Pan's Labyrinth, because it's so vivid and brutish and dreamlike with lovely cinematogrpahy and acting.


Comedy:
#1 - Monty Python & the Holy Grail, because the Monty Python crew are all comical geniuses and I can quote along with the movie.
#2 - Hot Fuzz, because I just cannot get over the granny getting drop kicked.
#3 - The Princess Bride, because the story is sweet and it's really funny when Princess Buttercup and Will are rolling down that hella steep hill. I could rewind that over and over again.
#4 - Arsenic and Old Lace, because it's a G rated horror story with Cary Grant and his crazy expressions and yelling about. Good times.
#5 - Young Frankenstein, because a Mel Brooks movie should make the list and I get a kick out of Madeline Kahn's performances.

Animated:
#1 - Spirited Away, because the animation is gorgeous, the music and story is so sweet and poetic, and I want to hug Haku and No Face.
#2 - Howl's Moving Castle, because the music and story is also so sweet, directed by the astounding Hayao Miyazaki, and I love Turnip Head and Christian Bale's voice as Howl.
#3 - Wall-E, because the romance between robots is so freaking adorable I just burst into fits of squeeing and wiggling my arms in front of my chest. Also, it helps kids understand the importance of protecting the Earth.
#4 - The Emperor's New Groove, because it's randomness never fails to please and Yzma wants to put the mouse-sized emperor in a box, inside of another box, mail it to herself, and smash it with a hammer.
#5 - Up, because I'm a sucker for tragedies and the story of a romance through old age tugs at my heartstrings.

What are your top 5?