Best Movie Soundtracks (Epic Individual Songs)

When I made my first top five list, it was celebrating the top five soundtrack composers (read that here: http://bit.ly/1DFprh2). I am now starting a new series where I will take a close look at different parts of movie soundtracks (where would we be without them).  In the first one, I will be looking at the best epic individual songs from movie soundtracks.

*Disclaimer:  No lyrics (a later list in the series)*

#5: The Avengers Theme (The Avengers)

Composer:  Alan Silvestri

http://bit.ly/1QnghIv

An epic team-up like the Avengers is going to need an epic theme song to represent them.  Alan Silvestri, the brilliant mind behind the scores of Forrest Gump, The A-Team, and Back to the Future franchise, did not disappoint.  The theme builds up as we imagine Captain America, Iron Man, and the rest of the team coming together.  It’s music like this that gets fans pumped for the upcoming fight.

#4: Driving With the Top Down (Iron Man)

Composer:  Ramin Djawadi

http://bit.ly/1GPvqvg

Before he was creating the amazing theme song for Game of Thrones (I may not be a fan of the show at all but check out how great this is: http://bit.ly/1khg7kb), Djawadi created the soundtrack for the first movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Entering the movie, superhero fans didn’t know what to expect and he helped use his great music to pump up fans even more.  Driving With the Top Down has become Iron Man’s theme and will be remembered as one of the most epic songs from an Avengers movie.

#3: Mind Heist (Inception)

Composer:  Hans Zimmer (originally Zack Hemsey)

http://bit.ly/17xI73s

Zimmer borrowed a great song from Zack Hemsey and turned it into an iconic soundtrack.  While this individual song isn’t necessarily in the movie itself (it was the music in the trailer), it quickly became associated with Inception and a form of it is used in almost every trailer released today.  Check out the trailer that propelled this song into pop culture: http://bit.ly/1hRDPET

#2:  Star Wars Theme (Star Wars)

Composer:  John Williams

http://bit.ly/1niMyA5

I know a ton of people are surprised not to see this as the number one song on this list, but the theme for Star Wars falls second on our list (check out the honorable mentions though!).  Whenever anybody hears this song, them immediate think of the opening crawl to one of the greatest movie franchises of all-time.  John Williams is the greatest composer of all-time and it’s tracks like this that cement him there.  It will be a long time before anybody can even begin to rival him (sorry Hans Zimmer).

Honorable Mention

The Imperial March (Star Wars/John Williams)

A Dark Knight (The Dark Knight/Hans Zimmer)

Duel of the Fates (Star Wars/John Williams)

Welcome to Jurassic Park (Jurassic Park/John Williams)

Binary Sunset (Star Wars/John Williams)

Ride of the Valkyries (Apocalypse Now/Carmine Coppola)

#1: Bridge of Khazad Dum (The Fellowship of the Ring)

Composer:  Howard Shore

http://bit.ly/1cPbZHR

It doesn’t get any more epic than this.  This song from Lord of the Rings is in the first installment of the franchise and follows the fellowship as they make their way through the Mines of Moria and battle with the Balrog.  It is as epic as they come.  Imagine charging into battle with this music blasting in the background.  Watch the scene here and tell me the music doesn’t add to it:  http://bit.ly/1H1umdb

Which songs do you think were the most epic in movies?  Comment and let me know what you think.  Check in later tomorrow for the best songs performed from Musicals in movies.

Top 5 Best Casting Decisions in Movies

In my last post, I talked about the worst movie casting decisions ever (read that here: http://bit.ly/1PXWNdt).  Today, I am taking a look at some of the best casting decisions in movies.  These actors and actresses were the perfect fit for their role.  Without them, these movies would not be as good as we know they are.

 

#5:  Jake Gyllenhaal (Lou Bloom – Nightcrawler)

Without Gyllenhaal, this movie would just be another film swept under the rug without any serious consideration. Gyllenhaal’s snub at the Oscars for not even being nominated for Best Actor is absolutely ridiculous.  He carried the movie on his back and turned it into one of the greatest films of 2014.  Gyllenhaal plays a sociopath who will, literally, do anything for a good news story, legal or not.  The movie is a great critique of the 24-hour news cycle we live in today and would not be what it is without Jake Gyllenhaal.  Here is a great featurette describing Gyllenhaal’s character Lou Bloom: http://bit.ly/1ECVPzo.

 

#4:  Andy Serkis (Gollum – Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey)

This man is responsible for the ever-increasing use of motion capture in Hollywood today.  His breakthrough role as Gollum completely changed cinema.  Serkis has been in so many historic franchises (Lord of the Rings, Planet of the Apes, King Kong, Avengers, and soon to be Star Wars) but his best job was Gollum.  I have a hard time believing that anybody could have done as great of a job as the deranged creature as Serkis.  It takes a lot of skill to do this:  http://bit.ly/1DWcgCe

 

#3:  Sean Connery (James Bond – James Bond franchise)

Sean Connery was the original James Bond that turned the Ian Fleming novel’s into the hit movie franchise it is today. He was in the first seven Bond films and solidified him as a cultural mainstay.  Nobody could have started off the franchise better and it will be a long time before anybody is a better “Bond.”  Anybody who has seen Skyfall or plans to watch Spectre this summer needs to god back and watch some of the original James Bond films with Sean Connery.

 

#2:  Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark – Iron Man franchise, Avengers)

The entire Marvel Cinematic Universe rode on the success of Iron Man and the success of Iron Man rode on Robert Downey Jr.  If he didn’t do a great job as Tony Stark (Iron Man’s alias), we would not be lining up to go see Avengers 2 this May. He is responsible for building the second most successful movie franchise of all-time (and it’s poised to surpass Harry Potter a month after the release of Age of Ultron).  Although the decision to cast Downey Jr. was an extremely controversial one after his documented history with narcotics, Marvel made a great choice.  He skyrocketed from a B-list celebrity to one of the biggest names in Hollywood.  It also helps that Tony Stark looks and acts just like Robert Downey Jr. in real life. This was one of the best casting decisions ever made.

 

Honorable Mention

Sigourney Weaver (Ellen Ripley – Alien franchise)

Humphrey Bogart (Rick Baine – Casablanca)

Anthony Hopkins (Hannibal Lecter – Silence of the Lambs)

Benedict Cumberbatch (Alan Turing – The Imitation Game)

 

 

#1:  Heath Ledger (The Joker – The Dark Knight)

Heath Ledger thrust himself into this role when he was selected by Christopher Nolan to portray The Joker in the Batman Begins sequel.  He played the perfect psychotic movie villain that even had some psychological on Ledger when filming was done.  From the laugh to the facial features, he absolutely nailed this performance.  I mean wow just look at how great he is at playing insanity incarnate http://bit.ly/1DPXXFi.  Ledger completely dedicated himself to the role of the Joker and it is pretty evident when you watch the movie.

Top 5 Movie Bromances

Everybody loves a good bromance.  While there are a ton of lists with different bromances throughout all of television, there are plenty of great movie bromances as well.  Here is a list of the best out there:

 

#5: Wanye and Garth (Wayne’s World, Wayne’s World 2)

These two bros are classic early 90s rockers.  After deciding to start their own camcorder show, the two defuses are hired to do their show professionally.  As Wayne falls in love with a bass guitarist, the two need to watch out for Ben Oliver (Rob Lowe), an advertiser for the station that threatens to send off the bassist if they aren’t successful.  Mike Myers (Austin Powers, Shrek) and Dana Carvey (Spaceballs, Master of Disguise) do a great job of bringing the SNL duo to the big screen.

 

#4: Fezzik and Inigo (The Princess Bride)

Who thought a movie called The Princess Bride could give us one of the best movie bromances?  After capturing Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright) and being bested by her love Wesley, these two realize their mistake and decide to partner up with Wesley after Buttercup is taken away to marry a dim-witted prince. It is so funny watching Andre the Giant and Mandy Patinkin work together in this huge cult comedy.  The Princess Bride is a hilarious movie that everybody should try to watch at least once in their life.

 

#3: Woody and Buzz (Toy Story franchise)

You’ve got a friend in me was the theme of the Toy Story franchise and no where was it better represented than with Woody and Buzz Lightyear.  While these two couldn’t stand each other initially (http://bit.ly/1Gp4Ad5), we watch them become best friens as they share their love for their owner Andy.  These guys are like peas in a pod that we can’t even imagine being seperated today.

 

#2: Han and Chewie (Star Wars original trilogy, Star Wars: The Force Awakens)

These guys were the original big-time bromance.  An angsty pilot and his furry eight-foot tall friend are the perfect combo for the Star Wars universe.  There was no greater moment in any trailer ever (and you can watch the Top 5 trailers here (slightly outdated): http://bit.ly/1DdeAsA) than when we saw Han Solo and Chewbacca return at the end.  Here is some of the perfect chemistry between Harrison Ford and Peter Mayhew:  http://bit.ly/1zf120c.  I know we are all excited for The Force Awakens when the duo returns for another bout together.

 

Honorable Mention

Harold and Kumar (Harold and Kumar franchise)

Murtaugh and Riggs (Lethal Weapon franchise)

Bill and Ted (Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure)

 

 

#1: Frodo and Samwise (Lord of the Rings trilogy)

 

Deep down, every guy wishes he was as close to his best friend as Frodo and Sam.  These guys would give their life for the other and (literally) carry each other up the mountain just to see the other succeed.  After they are separated from the rest of the fellowship, the two only have each other to rely on in their quest towards Mount Doom.  Even when Gollum threatens to ruin their friendship, they are able to recreate their perfect bromance by the end of the movie.  There are a few points where the bromance seems almost like a relationship.  Here is a funny fan-made trailer the has pulled together multiple scenes where their friendship seems like a little more than a friendship: http://bit.ly/1Dtmnhe.

 

Who do you think makes up the perfect bromance?  Comment and let me know!

Top 50 Movies of All-Time (#10-1)

Here we go! The final part of my Top 50 movies of All-Time series.  Make sure to catch up on the 40 movies leading up to this!

Honorable Mention:  http://t.co/v85d8L17a9

#50-41:  http://t.co/J9gALKkZpc

#40-31:  http://t.co/S3IgVOVBG3

#30-21:  http://bit.ly/17ZYgPc

#20-11:  http://bit.ly/1ATYtu6

Without further ado, here are the top 10 movies out there:

#10:  American Hustle (2013)

David O. Russell struck gold for the second year in a row with American Hustle.  After being nominated for Best Director with Silver Linings Playbook the year before, Russell earned another nomination during the 86^th Academy Awards.  This movie set the record for most Oscar nominations ever with 10 but somehow managed to not win a single one.  Loosely based on a true story, American Hustle is an amazing movie with a star-studded cast:  Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, and Jeremy Renner.  It doesn’t get much better than American Hustle.

#9:  Argo (2012)

The winner of Best Picture during the 2013 Oscars, Argo was a brilliant historical movie telling the unknown story of six embassy workers that escaped during the Iran Hostage Crisis.  They were able to seek refuge with the Canadian ambassador, but the Iranians started getting suspicious.  Portraying CIA agent Tony Mendez, Ben Affleck helps orchestrate a plan to film a fake movie in Tehran in an attempt to bring everybody back to the United States.  The movie is highly suspenseful and keeps you on the edge of your seat.  While I may not be a huge fan of Affleck, he did a great job directing and starring in Argo.

#8:  Star Wars (IV):  A New Hope (1977)

This movie completely changed American cinema.  When George Lucas released his first Star Wars movie, everybody thought it was going to be a complete joke until they went to the theater.  Audiences around the world were stunned by the visual effects that were decades ahead of its time.  We would not have the visual masterpieces we have today without Lucas’ willingness to take a risk with Star Wars  As a huge part of pop-culture, there is no question as to why New Hope cracked the top 10.

#7:  Schindler’s List (1993)

This Steven Spielberg classic brought the story of Oskar Schindler to the masses.  Few people knew the lengths Schindler went to in order to protect Jews during the Holocaust.  A revered businessman, Schindler risked everything he had and saved over 1000 Jewish lives.  Liam Neeson gave a spectacular performance in the black-and-white movie that shows some of the most brutal actions ever done by human beings.  Here is a brilliantly created scene where Schindler is discussing the true meaning of power with a Nazi general:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5lQA3bipHc  Schindler’s List is a must-see for anybody who calls themselves a movie expert.

#6:  Whiplash (2014)

Although I gave Birdman the movie of the year when giving out my movie awards, Whiplash has grown on me over the last few months.  J.K. Simmons and Miles Teller give two of the best performances I have ever seen (aside from Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance in Nightcrawler)—Teller even taught himself how to become an expert at the drums just to take the role.  Look at the beautiful chemistry as Simmons berates Teller in an effort to get him to improve:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnuImW1dWAk  While it only won three Oscars, Whiplash is definitely one of the better movies from 2014.  That final scene was far and away the most intense final scene I have ever seen in my life.  Who ever thought a movie about a jazz band could become one of the best movies out there?

#5:  The Dark Knight (2008)

The second installment of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy shocked audiences everywhere.  Heath Ledger’s role as the Joker is the best portrayal of a super villain in existence.  The movie took superhero flicks to a new level by showing the moral quandaries Batman is faced with, primarily:  how long is too long before killing somebody is right if it saves the lives of thousands of others?  We watch the transformation of the shimmering “White Knight” of Gotham, Harvey Dent, descend into madness.  The Dark Knight is the best superhero movie out there and Marvel will have to try pretty hard to ever top DC’s Batman masterpiece.

#4:  Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

The final installment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy is the perfecting ending to the second best trilogy out there.  As the winner of the Oscar for Best Picture, Return of the King left the show with an armload of Oscars.  While it felt like it was going to end like five different times, the action in Return of the King makes it one of the top five movies in existence.  For those of you who don’t agree, let’s see if Aragorn can change your mind:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXGUNvIFTQw  If  you haven’t already, make sure to check out the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

#3:  Star Wars (V): The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Usually the sequel is not better than the original, but The Empire Strikes Back blew that generalization out of the water.  After a victory in New Hope, the rebels find their backs against the wall as Darth Vader and the rest of the empire unleashes everything they have to put them down.  It is the first time we meet Yoda, the first time Luke fights Darth Vader, and it has the greatest movie plot twist of all-time.  I wish I could travel to the past just to see everybody’s reactions when Vader said, “No, I am your father.”  It still sends shivers down my spin whenever I see it.  Even after removing the nostalgia factor from Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back still stands up as the third best movie out there.

#2:  Inception (2010)

Nobody left the theater and had nothing to say about Inception.  Christopher Nolan’s pet project that he had been working on since 2004, Inception solidified Nolan as one of the greatest directors out there today.  Nobody thought that he could follow up The Dark Knight with a movie even more interesting, but he proved them wrong.  A visual, technical, and creative masterpiece was a refreshing original movie in an industry filled with reboots and sequels.  Since Inception, almost every trailer has followed this format with the same music and “bwah””s: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66TuSJo4dZM  Nolan’s dedication to his craft has never been more evident except in…

#1:  Interstellar (2014)

There is not a person out there who thought Interstellar was just “okay.”  This movie was either terrible or the best movie out there and I guess you can see where I land on it.  After witnessing Gravity’s success despite being filled with scientific holes, Nolan one-upped the sci-fi movie by delivering even better visuals, a hypothetically perfect scientific explanation, and managing to get great performances from actors who have been known to cheese it up a little bit (I’m looking at you McConaughey).  Even if you thought the movie was trash, it still dwelled on your mind days after you saw it.  I still can’t get it out of my head!  Interstellar was out of this world and had the best visuals I have ever seen in any movie.  I mean look at this:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xu4sinVuK14  That wormhole scene is one of the most beautiful technical pieces out there.  The fact that it did not get more love at the Oscars is nothing short of criminal.  Nolan took a huge risk with Interstellar and it paid off by giving him the distinction of having created the best movie ever.

How far off was my top 50?  What are your favorite 10 movies?  Let me know how much you agree or disagree.

Top 50 Movies of All-Time (#30-21)

We are approaching and passing the halfway point of my 50 greatest movies ever!  Make sure that you have read up on my honorable mentions and #50-31!

Honorable Mention:  http://t.co/v85d8L17a9

#50-41:  http://t.co/J9gALKkZpc

#40-31:  http://t.co/S3IgVOVBG3

Now to get into the top 30!

#30:  The LEGO Movie (2014)

This is the greatest animation I have ever seen.  While it was marketed as a kid’s movie (and let’s be honest it’s one huge commercial), The LEGO Movie was just as enjoyable for adults as well.  I would list the star-studded cast, but we would be here forever.  Just go to IMDB and prepare to be stunned by just how many celebrities were in this movie.  I still can’t believe it was snubbed for Best Animation at this year’s Oscars.

#29:  It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

The oldest movie on this list, It’s a Wonderful Life is the best Christmas movie out there (with Elf as a close second).  It is such a feel-good movie and the perfect one to sit down to with the family on Christmas Eve.  This Frank Capra film is a classic and will never be forgotten.

#28:  Star Wars (VI): Return of the Jedi (1983)

As the conclusion to the original Star Wars trilogy, Return of the Jedi did a great job wrapping up the best movie trilogy out there.  The passionate lightsaber battle between Luke and Darth Vader kept fans wondering if Luke would fall to the dark side all the way to the very end.  It was also the first time that we got to see an extensive look at the Emperor and force lighting.  The second Star Wars movie to crack the top 50, Return of the Jedi is the perfect way to cap off a “trilogy night” with the guys.

#27:  All the President’s Men (1976)

A grossly underrated movie, All the President’s Men is a film based on the two reporters who investigated the Watergate Scandal during the Nixon administration.  Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford portray Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward as two Washington Post investigators that pull and pry at every source or leak they can get their hands on.  We get a behind the scenes look at how these two men unraveled one of the biggest political cover-ups in US history.

#26:  The Social Network (2010)

This historical flick was a nice variation of director David Fincher’s string of thriller crime movies.  While it had all of the typical “Fincherisms” like dark lighting and low-key but powerful soundtrack, The Social Network was a lot different than Fincher’s usual movie.  It won three Oscars and was nominated for Best Picture.  We got to see the breakout of two up and coming actors Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield.  Both of them gave strong performances in The Social Network and have definitely ridden the wave of fame they got from the movie.  Who ever thought a movie about Facebook could have a trailer this cool? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RB3edZyeYw

#25:  Captain America:  The First Avenger (2011)

Captain America was the first time we got to see Chris Evans suit up as the famous superhero.  I love how Marvel decided to keep him as more of a “boy scout” than giving him a new gritty persona.  It also was the final movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe before the first Avengers movie.  It is a great movie to benchmark as the halfway mark of the top 50 movies.

#24:  Lord of the Ring:  The Two Towers (2002)

The first installment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy to crack the top 25, The Two Towers was primarily a movie to bridge the first and second. That being said, it is still a great stand-alone film.  We see the fellowship get broken up and the role of Gollum grows enormously.  Whether it is Aragorn preparing his army for the Battle of Helms Deep (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXC-jJhFaUI) or Frodo and Sam slowly working their way to Mount Doom,  The Two Towers is definitely one of the top 25 movies out there.

#23: The Naked Gun:  From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)

The Naked Gun is probably the funniest movie I have ever seen.  Based on the short-lived TV series Police Squad, The Naked Gun follows detective Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) and his mission to protect the Queen of England on her visit to the United States.  The dry humor and satire are similar to the humor found in Airplane!, but it carried over better in The Naked Gun. The movie is filled with random cameos and celebrities like O.J. Simpson, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Reggie Jackson, Dick Vitale, Jim Palmer, Dick Enberg, Tim McCarver, and the USC marching band.  It’s scenes like this that make the movie so great: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koPEnaz0Qm8

#22:  Iron Man (2008)

The second Marvel movie to crack the top 25, Iron Man changed the game for superhero movies in 2008.  It was the flagship for Marvel’s Cinematic Universe which has grown to encompass a ridiculous amount of comic books and superheroes.  Without the success of Iron Man, the whole thing would have fallen flat on its face.  The soundtrack was exciting, Robert Downey Jr. gave a great performance as Tony Stark, and the movie was pretty realistic for a comic book.  Plus, there has never been an end credits scene that got people more excited than the one at the end of Iron Man.

#21: Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

This David O. Russell masterpiece was one of the best films of 2012.  Bradley Cooper stars as a former teacher with slight mental issues trying to win back his ex-wife before he meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) who agrees to help him if he helps her win a dance competition.  It shows just how great a celebrity couple Cooper and J-Law would be but we can only dream.  Silver Linings Playbook deals with romance, mental instability, lying, death, and overcoming adversity while still maintaining a positive vibe throughout.  It is a definite must-see for movie fans everywhere.

Roles that Almost Went to Nicolas Cage

Nicolas Cage has become a bit of a laughing stock in recent memory.  Despite having a family filled to the brim with acting talent, Cage seems to have drawn the short end of the stick.  Believe it or not, he has either declined or almost been offered a couple substantial roles.  Who knows how different his legacy could be if he played even a small handful of these roles.

John Bender (The Breakfast Club)

When we watch The Breakfast Club, a small part of us can relate to the angst of John Bender.  Bender, who pays little attention to rules, was played by Judd Nelson, but imagine if the 1980s image of a cool teen was Nic Cage.

Tony Stark (Iron Man)

What if Marvel had attempted to start their big cinematic universe with Nicolas Cage as Iron Man.  If this had gone through, we definitely wouldn’t be lining up to see Avengers: Age of Ultron later this year (because it probably wouldn’t exist).  Aside from Robert Downey Junior being perfect for the role, Cage probably would have tried to add some sort of extra flare to it.

Aragorn (Lord of the Rings)

Viggo Mortensen did amazing as the ranger from The Lord of the Rings.  Cage was actually offered the role by director Peter Jackson but turned it down because he did not want to spend three years in New Zealand filming the movie away from his family. Crisis averted!

Willy Wonka (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)

Unlike the other movies on this list, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory didn’t go over so well.  I couldn’t even begin to imagine if Cage was cast in place of Johnny Depp though.

Neo (The Matrix)

The role of Neo was offered to a lot of actors before Keanu Reeves landed the role.  Imagine if Laurence Fishburne had approached Nicolas Cage and offered him the choice of the red or blue pill.  While Reeves did great, Will Smith was also offered the role and how cool would that be?

The Green Goblin (Spiderman)

Tobey Maguire almost squared off against Nicolas Cage in the first Sam Raimi Spiderman movie.  He was already crazy enough in the movie without Cage’s antics.  There’s no way that the movie would have gone over as well with Cage riding on Green Goblin’s hoverboard instead of Willem Defoe.

Scarecrow (Batman Begins)

Could you imagine Nicolas Cage and Christopher Nolan working together in the same movie?  I don’t know if Cage drag down Nolan’s talent, or Nolan would turn Cage into a decent actor (it worked with McConaughey in Interstellar).  I think Kilian Murphy did an amazing job.  Plus, Murphy’s astounding job in Batman Begins landed him the job Inception.  I just laugh at the thought of Christian Bale grunting at Nicolas Cage in that scarecrow mask.

Just imagine if Nicolas Cage had been in any of these films.  The last thing we need is this guy trying to take over the movie industry.  To wrap it up, here’s a clip of Nic Cage reciting the alphabet.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68BjP5f0ccE

Top 5 Movie Trilogies of All-Time

Great things come in threes and that phrase couldn’t be more right with these movies.  Here is a list of the top five movie trilogies of all-time:

#5:  Back to the Future trilogy

This trilogy got everybody interested in time travel.  Michael J. Fox (Teen Wolf, Family Ties) plays Marty McFly, a high schooler who is great friends with the scientist “Doc Brown” (Christopher Lloyd).  In the first movie, Doc discovers how to turn his Delorean into a time machine.  Marty has to travel from the 80s back to the 1950s to help Doc discover time travel earlier and save his life.  He accidentally runs into his parents when they were in high school.  He has to work to make sure his parents end up together while trying to help Doc.

In the second movie, Doc approaches Marty telling him that they have to go to the future to help his son.  Marty travels 2015 where he sees the Cubs win the World Series (sorry fans but it’s not going to happen but you can imagine it happening here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADXs2C4Vmho).  After a few misadventures, he travels back to the past and returns to the future a few times.  By the end of the movie, Doc is launched back into the 1800s and Marty has to go back and save him.

The final installment takes place in the wild west as Marty tries to help Doc rebuild the time machine with rudimentary equipment.  It is the perfect final movie to the trilogy as it ties off all extra storylines and brings the whole thing to a perfect ending, making it one of the greatest trilogies ever.

#4:  Indiana Jones trilogy

Steven Spielberg has been behind numerous blockbusters, but Indiana Jones  is definitely one of his most recognizable works.  Notice that I am saying trilogy because Crystal Skull does not count!  While I love Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy, The LEGO Movie), his reboot will never be as good as the original classic trilogy with Harrison Ford (Star Wars).

Ford used his success as Han Solo in Star Wars to springboard his career and get himself the role as Indiana Jones.  This trilogy is one of the best to sit down with a bunch of your best friends and binge watch over the weekend.  The trilogy follows professor and adventurer Indiana Jones and his travels to find certain artifacts ranging from the holy grail to the arc of the covenant.  It also is one of the reasons that the PG-13 rating was established.  Melting faces were a little too much for PG but not enough for R.

Everybody should make sure to check out the Indiana Jones trilogy and watch him explore the world with his hat and bullwhip.  Here is probably one of the most famous movie clips that almost everybody has seen:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr-8AP0To4k

#3:  The Godfather trilogy

I am going to make you an offer you can’t refuse:  watch The Godfather trilogy!  Considered some of the greatest movies of all-time, The Godfather movies focus on the Corleone crime family and their transition of power.  The trilogy stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, and Robert De Niro.  Director Francis Ford Coppola (Nic Cage’s uncle) burst onto the movie scene with some of the greatest movies of all-time.

The Godfather was one of the first successful trilogies created.  While the first two came out three years apart in 1971 and 1974, the third installment came out in 1990 and showed that there was still a huge interest in the genre.

Brando gave a particularly amazing performance in The Godfather.  Here is one of the best scenes from the trilogy that shows just how intense the scenes could feel:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i96VS_z8y7g (btw I had to post this in class so I couldn’t hear the dialogue and it had subtitles in English so I am praying that it is actually in English…sorry, I’ll fix it after class.)

While the third one pales in comparison to the first two, the trilogy as a whole is definitely one of the best trilogies ever.

#2:  The Lord of the Rings trilogy

Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J.R.R Tolkien’s famous book series was a huge success.  When The Fellowship of the Ring came out in 2001, everybody realized that they were in for a treat over the next few years.  Both The Two Towers and Return of the King were just as successful as the first.  The trilogy completely reinvigorated interest in Tolkien’s Middle Earth world.

The trilogy follows a fellowship of four hobbits, 2 men, an elf, a wizard, and a dwarf as they travel to Mordor to destroy the ring of power, which has the power to bring back the evil Sauron.  The group goes through setback after setback as they struggle to reach Mt. Doom and get rid of the ring once and for all.

I binge watched the Lord of the Rings trilogy when I had my wisdom teeth pulled during my sophomore year of high school.  I was out of school for a few days and pretty immobile on my couch.  I watched the trilogy over two days and I was blown away.

If you haven’t seen the trilogy, maybe Aragorn’s speech can change your mind:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXGUNvIFTQw

Honorable Metion

Toy Story

The Dark Knight

Terminator

The Matrix

The Naked Gun

#1:  Star Wars the original trilogy

A long time ago in a studio far, far away, George Lucas created the greatest movie trilogy to ever grace the face of the Earth.  Star Wars episodes four, five, and six are three of the greatest movies ever made.  The three compliment each other so perfectly.  The first movie portrays a desperate group of rebels revolting against a corrupt empire.  After a short-lived victory for the rebels, evil makes a comeback in The Empire Strikes Back.  It is also the first time we see a passion-filled lightsaber battle between Luke and Darth Vader.  Also, it contains one of the biggest plot twists of all-time (another potential future list).  If you don’t know the big Star Wars plot twist by now, here is link to it (spoilers I guess but we all know this by now) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lbjru5CQIW4  The rebels make a comeback in Return of the Jedi.

The culture impact by the original Star Wars trilogy is still evident in today’s society.  Almost everybody recognizes Darth Vader, the force, and the phrase “I am your father.”  There are virtually no plot holes or gaps in the storyline.  In the late 1970s when science fiction was not taken seriously, Lucas completely overhauled the genre and made Star War one of the most recognizable franchises of all-time.

What’s your favorite movie trilogy?  Let me know if you think I nailed it or completely blew it.

Top 5 Movie Trailers of All-Time

Movie trailers are the main reason people hear about upcoming movies.  I don’t know about you guys, but I love watching the previews before movies almost as much as I love watching the movie.  Here are the five most interesting captivating trailers of all-time:

#5:  Man of Steel Nokia Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejXjZ-k6Myc

Before the release of the Nokia trailer, Man of Steel‘s trailers had been pretty subpar.  This one, however, gave us our first real look at the action in the movie.  Russell Crowe’s voice over draws us in before the action hits.  It is also the first time we get to see an extended look at Henry Cavill as the new Superman.  While the movie may have not been the greatest superhero movie ever, this is definitely one of the greatest superhero movie trailers ever.

#4:  World War Z Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcwTxRuq-uk

I have not read the book, so when I first saw the trailer for World War Z, I was completely sucked in.  Most zombie movies fall under the horror genre, but this one is definitely an action movie.  Plus, how cool was the scene where the zombies threw themselves against the wall and began scaling it?  After seeing that, I was immediately hooked.

#3: The Dark Knight Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ5U8suTUw0

When Batman Begins ended and we saw the Joker card, fans of the caped crusader could not wait for Christopher Nolan’s next movie.  Fans were rewarded when this trailer for The Dark Knight dropped in theaters.  It was the first time we got to see Heath Ledger as the Joker and hear his maniacal laugh.  We also got to see a reference to the central plot point of Bruce Wayne’s struggle to maintain his identity as Batman and a rich celebrity.  The Dark Knight is one of the best superhero movies ever created, and its trailer is the best superhero trailer out there.

#2:  Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h-pnKtjDqg

While the art of making a movie trailer has completely changed over the last 10 years, The Two Towers‘ trailer came out in 2002 and was extremely successful.  Peter Jackson created one of the greatest trilogies of all-time (potential future post) when he turned The Lord of the Rings into a movie franchise.  While each of the Lord of the Rings  were amazing, The Two Towers trailer got all Tolkien fans pumped for the second installment of the franchise.

#1:  Inception Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66TuSJo4dZM

This trailer completely changed the way they are created.  Nolan’s second entry on this list added the “bwah”‘s that are heard in every single action trailer now.  The spinning hotel room, intense action scenes, slow-mo van scenes, and beautiful snowy mountain landscape took a movie that nobody was really interested and turned it into one of the most talked about movies of 2010.  The movie definitely lived up to the hype and was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar.

Top 5 Movie Soundtrack Composers of All-Time

Movie soundtracks can be one of the most underrated parts of a movie.  Few people realize the difference a good soundtrack can make a movie versus a bad one (imagine watching the fellowship march through the mountains in Lord of the Rings without that epic music).  I decided to show my appreciation of these unsung heroes with a list of the top 5 composers in movie history.

#5: Howard Shore

Best Known For:  Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Speaking of that epic Lord of the Rings Music, Shore was slingshot into the mainstream after his work with Peter Jackson to create one of the most memorable soundtracks of all-time.  Along with the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit franchises, Shore has composed the music for The Aviator and Ed Wood, two other movies known for their great soundtracks.  Although he has been working on movies since the 1970s, he is finally getting the recognition he deserves here in the 2000s.

#4: Bernard Herrmann

Best Known For:  Psycho

The man behind the Twilight Zone theme and Taxi Driver, Herrmann has helped create some of the most haunting recognizable scores.  Not to mention, who doesn’t imagine the shower scene in Psycho every time they hear that high pitch horror track.  Alfred Hitchcock originally wanted the famous shower scene without music before he heard Herrmann’s track.  He launched himself to popularity with his first soundtrack–Citizen Kane.  Considered one of the greatest movies every created, Citizen Kane‘s soundtrack is one of the many great aspects of the movie.

#3: Alan Silvestri

Best Known For:  Back to the Future

Silvestri’s accomplishments stretch far beyond the Back to the Future trilogy.  Forrest Gump, The A-Team, The Polar Express, and multiple movies from the Avengers Marvel Cinematic Universe are only some of the musical masterpieces penned by Silvestri.  He has shown his broad diversity covering all genres of movies.  Silvestri is definitely one of the best musical composers of all-time.  Starting his career in the 1970s, Silvestri continues to compose great soundtracks to this day.

#2:  Hans Zimmer

Best Known For:  The Dark Knight

Considered the best modern musical composer, Zimmer has created a plethora of great scores.  Pairing up with Christopher Nolan, Zimmer has created the scores for The Dark Knight trilogy, Insterstellar, Inception, and The Prestige.  He has experienced great success outside of Nolan as well.  He won an Oscar for his work on The Lion King and has been behind the scenes for many great movies:  Gladiator, Castaway, Man of Steel, Black Hawk Down, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Bee Movie, and Sherlock Holmes.  He started his musical career assisting the The Buggles with the first MTV music video “Video Killed the Radio Star” and his career has shot off from there.  He is by far currently the best in the business.

#1: John Williams

Best Known For: Star Wars

Williams has been at the helm of some of the greatest movie franchises to ever be produced.  Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park , Harry Potter, Jaws, Superman, and Schindler’s List are just the tip of the iceberg.  Williams has been creating music for movies since the mid-1950s.  While he has slowed down his pace, Williams is far and away the greatest composer ever.  His work is unrivaled.  Almost anybody could hear some of his work and immediately recognize the movie.  It will be a long time before somebody tops Williams as the greatest of all-time.