Fortune and Glory, and a Whole lot of Snakes

#4 Indiana Jones

List of Movies: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom, The Last Crusade, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Why I love these movies: 

Indiana Jones is one of those movies that I don’t have any memory of the first time I watched it. It’s almost like I’ve been watching these movies since the day I was born. The legendary theme song and the icon whip have been in my memory ever since I can remember. Indiana Jones simply never get old to me. Over the years it’s provided me great entertainment as well as some occasional fights with my brothers and cousins. Whenever we got together as kids we always loved to play Indy to together, but the problem was we all wanted to be Indy! We would usually fight about it and then we would all agree that no one could be him, and we would all have to be his cousins instead (pretty good compromises wouldn’t you say for 8-12 year old boys). 

As a kid I loved these movies because they were pure adventure, and every little boy is always looking for an adventure. These movies gave me a chance to escape reality and go on crusades, and search for lost artifacts. The reason I still love these movies today is because they still make me feel that same way! They make me feel like I really am on a grand adventure, and they bring back those childlike feelings of adventure and wonder. George Lucas and Steven Spielberg are truly at their best with these films, and they give us the perfect feel of what it would be like to be searching for the Holy Grail as you race against Nazi, or as you desperately search for the Ark of the Covenant. Another thing that’s makes these films so great today, is that they still hold up really well in regards to special effects, and all the other technical things that are involved with movies. These movies take a very simple idea, and turn it into something amazing! Indiana Jones is truly one of the most iconic movie characters, and one of my all-time favorite movie series!

Favorite Film: Raiders of the Lost Ark

This is one of the absolutely greatest films ever! The one that started it all! Originally Steven Spielberg wanted to make a James Bond movie, but George Lucas talk him into this instead, and I’m so glad that he did. I think what makes this one my favorite is that it the most well balanced and most well done Indy film. It has everything you need in a great adventure film. Whenever I watch it I feel like I’m on a roller coaster, but it’s not one of those roller coaster that makes you sick or tries too hard to be thrilling. It’s smooth, fast, fun, just enough thrills, and makes you want to watch it again and again! 

The next best is The Last Crusade. This is a very close second for me, but it is not quite as smooth as Raiders. That doesn’t mean that it is a bad in anyway, because it is still miles better than most adventure films out there. One aspect I really like about this one is how they introduced Indiana’s dad, and as well as bringing back Salla and Brody. This one probably beat Raiders in the best supporting characters category. 

Temple of Doom is very different from the other two, but that isn’t a bad thing. I once heard Steven Spielberg say both he and Lucas were going through divorces so they were both a little bitter while they were filming it. This is clearly the darkest of the trilogy, and I think that is why many people didn’t like it. (This movie is one of the big reasons why we have PG-13 rating now) While it is a dark and terrifying film at times, it still a very enjoyable, and intense film (probably the most intense of all the movies).

Now let’s talk about Kingdom of the Krystal Skull. This movie came out while I was on my mission in Australia and I wasn't able to see it theaters, so at the time I could only rely on the opinions of other people, and I wasn’t really hearing very many good things about it. So when I finally had the chance to watch it, I wasn’t expecting much. But what I found was that I was pleasantly surprised. Of course it wasn’t good as the others, but that doesn’t mean that it was a bad movie, like all the haters claim it to be. Harrison Ford jumped right back into the role, and felt like the exact same character from the other movies. They were able to create the same Indiana Jones feel, which for me was the most important aspect. A lot of people complained about the Aliens, but I thought that was one of the best touches to the movie. The movie is set in the 1950’s and that is when there was a big alien scare, and everyone was claiming to seeing UFOs. So I thought that it fit perfectly. Overall, this is my least favorite Indy movie, but I don’t think that it deserves all the hate it receives, and I will gladly defend it. 

Final Ranking:

Favorite Scene:

 I’ve always loved the opening scene in Raiders!

Favorite Quote: 

“Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?” Indy

I couldn't find just one video of this quote, but its on this 25 best Indiana Jones quotes video! 

I had to throw this one in too! haha

Favorite Character: Indiana Jones

Favorite Villain: The Nazis

Favorite Supporting Character: Henry Jones

Roads, Where were going we don't need roads

#5 Back to the Future

List of Movies: Back to the Future, Back to the Future 2, Back to the Future 3

Why I love these movies: 

As a kid these were movies that I would watch over and over again, and to this day I can still watch them and never get sick of them! There have been a lot of movies that I liked when I was a kid that I've gone back and watched, and a lot don’t really hold up anymore, or they feel really out dated, but not these ones. Yeah the sequels can get a little silly at times, but that’s what makes them such fun and exciting flicks. 

These films also have one of the most memorable villains, Biff Tannen. He’s not like your typical villain in most movies where he has an evil cackle or henchmen to always do his bidding. He’s pretty much just your typical bully that most of us have run into at some point in our lives, and that why he is such a great bad guy. Not only is he a real bully, but he does do some pretty evil stuff, even going as far as killing George McFly in an alternate reality! 

These movies also have one of the best theme songs by Alan Silvestri, and don't forget the incredible Huey Lewis and the News song, "The Power of Love". Talk about a great love ballad! I was reading about this series on Wikipedia and a movie critic, named Christopher Null, described these movies by saying this "a quintessential 1980s flick that combines science fiction, action, comedy, and romance all into a perfect little package that kids and adults will both devour." I think that quote pretty much summons it up for me on one of the greatest movies series of all time!

One of the best music videos you will ever watch!

Favorite Film: Back to the Future 1

Yes. Yes. I'm George. George McFly. I'm your density. I mean, your destiny.

While the second and third ones added the awesome futuristic and old western settings, the 1950’s setting is still my favorite. Not because I like the 50’s, but because I love how Marty gets to go back and see his parents in high school. I think everyone has wondered at one time or another in their lives what it would be like to see what their parents were like when they were younger. It’s so fun to see Marty go back and meet his nerdy dad, and help give him some confidence. Then it’s creepy/hilarious as he tries to get his mom to stop having the hots for him, and set up a meeting between her and his dad. This movie also has some of the best dialogue from Doc Brown "Roads ... where we're going, we don't need roads" and “Great Scott!” as well as "heavy? Why are things so heavy in the future? Is there a problem with the earth's gravitational pull?” Another fun thing about this movie is that you really see some changes in Marty. In the beginning he's a punk teenager, but by the end he's learned a few valuable things about life. For me this movie is pure classic!

I think the next best film is the second one. One of my favorite parts is when Marty goes into the future. He goes to the year 2015, which is funny because that is 3 years from now, and we still don’t have hover boards! When I was a kid and I would think of the future, I would always imagine it looking like the future in this movie (so you can imagine that I am pretty disappointed that we still don’t have all the awesome stuff that’s in this movie). Its also pretty creepy when Marty and Doc go back to 1985, and find Biff running everything, and then on top of that Biff is now Marty's step dad! This one is probably also the most intense out of all the films. Not only does Marty have to get the almanac from Biff, but he also has to avoid not running into himself, and as well as his parents! Pretty “heavy stuff”.

The third one is my least favorite, but it is still pretty dang awesome! It’s probably one the best western movies I’ve seen. As a kid I didn’t watch too many western movies, so whenever I think of western movies this film always comes to mind. It definitely has all the right elements for one. The western part is just an added bonus though because this movie still has the feel of a Back to the Future movie, with all the same great cast! While the first two seemed to focus more on Marty's character development and family, the third puts Doc Brown more in the spotlight. In the previous films Marty is continually making mistakes and learning, and in this one it Doc Brown has some of those moments. In this film Doc Brown finally realizes how detrimental his time machine is when he says " I wish I'd never invented that infernal time machine. It’s caused nothing but disaster". This was a great character moment that was a great turning point for Doc Brown. He also finally gets the girl of his dreams! Overall, this film is such a fun movie that added a new spin to the already classic series.

"Who the heck is Clara!" 

Final Ranking:

Favorite Scene: 

When George McFly punches Biff in the face for the first time to save his future wife. Biff’s laugh in this scene is a laugh that everyone who has ever been bullied or teased has experienced, and it’s so awesome to see this nerdy guy take out the bully in one punch! This moment really is a defining moment for George as he overcomes one his biggest obstacles. “No Biff, you leave her alone…”

Favorite Quote: 

Doc: Then tell me, "Future Boy", who's President of the United States in 1985?

Marty: Ronald Reagan.

Doc: Ronald Reagan? The actor? haha

Favorite Heroes: Doc Brown and Marty McFly

Wait a minute, Doc. Ah... Are you telling me that you built a time machine... out of a DeLorean?

Favorite Villain: Biff Tannen

Favorite Supporting Character: George McFly

"I guess I'm just not very good at confrontations"

The Boy Who Lived

#6 Harry Potter

List of Movies: The Sorcerer's Stone, The Chamber of Secrets, The Prisoner of Azkban, The Goblet of Fire, The Order of the Phoenix, The Half Blood Prince, The Deathly Hallows Part 1, Deathly Hallows Part 2

Why I love these movies: 

Who would have thought a book about a nerdy looking kid on the cover would become a worldwide phenomenon? I sure didn’t. I read the first Harry Potter book when I was 11 years old but with great reluctance. The cover made it look very dorky, but I eventually read it and loved it! At the time I thought it was just going to be popular among kids. That was until a few months later when my older brother Myke, who was 18 at the time, asked me if he could borrow my copy so he could read it himself. That was about the time I realized that this was going to be much more than just a kids book series. A few years later, on November 16 2001, I went to packed theater to experience the magic of Harry Potter on the big screen, and for or the next 10 years I had the privilege of seeing some of my favorite books turned into outstanding movies!

The thing I really like about these films is that even though there were four different directors, they were still pretty consistent. They changed in style and other things as they went along but they always stayed focused on the Harry, Ron, and Hermonie and there many adventures. They didn't include everything from the books, and that may have annoyed some fans, but they focused on making great films from the marvelous source material. Along with that, each film was casted perfectly, especially Gary Oldman as Sirus Black and Alan Rickman as Snape. Each film was a solid entry to the overall story, without any of the movies feeling out of place. These movies were able to create the magic and fun that the Harry Potter series should be, and that’s why I love them!

Favorite Film: The Order of the Phoenix 

To me this movie had a lot heart. I really felt like I could connect to Harry and the whole cast in this one. I think they did a great job at showing Harry’s struggle against the evil he is facing, and also how he was able to overcome it. I liked that because we all have those moments in our lives were we need to choose between what's right and the temptations we are facing. Along with that it had some pretty awesome fight scenes, especially with the final battle in the minster of magic. It also has some of the best character interactions.  My favorite scenes are the ones with Harry and Sirius, as well as all the Harry and Snape scenes. Another big reason I liked this one the most is because it has the most scenes with Gary Oldman as Sirus, which is one my favorite characters and actors! This was also the first movie I saw in 3D. 

The next best film in the series is the epic climax Deathly Hallows Part 2. While I loved all the battle scenes I think the best scenes go to Snape. Alan Rickman truly stole the show, and even brought a few tears to my eyes. This movie ended the series with a lot of action, but was also very inspiring. For me it showed how the lust for power and greed is truly destructive, and that its final outcome will only be misery. We must be willing to fight against the darkness in order to truly find peace, which you see Harry and his friends are finally able to achieve at the end of this film. The series third best film goes to The Prisnor of Azkban. This one went a different direction than the first two and was much darker. I love the twist at the end, and of course it introduces us to Sirus Black. 

My next favorite is the Goblet of Fire. This film was what I consider to be a very fun film, that is until the end when we get to see Voldemort for the first time. Following Goblet is Part 1 of The Deathly Hallows. I liked how this was different than most Harry Potter films, because the three main characters weren’t at Hogwarts once. It gave it a different approach that was fresh and not repetitive. The Half Blood Prince, is next on my list. This one almost felt like it was just a filler between the 5th and 7th, but with that said it still very was good, and it has one of the most pivotal scenes with the death of Dumbledore. The first two movies are my two least favorite. I still enjoy them because they showed us that Harry Potter could work as a movie, but they didn’t have as much excitement to them.

Final Rankings:

 The Order of the Phoenix

Deathly Hallows Part 2

The Prisoner of Azkaban

The Goblet of Fire

Deathly Hallows Part 1

The Half Blood Prince

The Chamber of Secrets

The Sorcerer’s Stone

Favorite Scene: 

The flash back Scene in Deathly Hallows Part 2, were we learn that Snape has been Harry’s protector all this time. These scenes were beautifully shot, and had so much emotion in them. Alan Rickman’s acting in these scenes are brilliant. This was also probably the most anticipated revelation of the whole series.

Favorite Quote: 

“The world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters. We've all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That's who we really are.”-Sirius Black

Favorite Hero: Ron Weasley

Favorite Villain: Lord Voldemort

Favorite Supporting Character: Sirius Black

Favorite Supporting Villain: Lucius Malfoy