Favourite Movies

These are my favourite movies, each of them I watch regularly.

I make no bones about my movie tastes being fairly mainsteam.

Life of Brian - not only is this hilarious, it is also very clever and a very good story. It is non stop comedy from beginning to end. The other Python films were a bit disappointing in comparison, although the Holy Grail does have some excellent individual sketches. "He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy".

Aliens - the first movie set the scene, but was long and a drawn out, this one is a good (all be it simple) story, has great characters, has great action and really scary aliens. "Game over man, game over".

Stranger than Fiction - I love weird and quirky and this has it in bucket loads. It is also a nice romance with some real emotion (the guitar/song scene is wonderful). This is one of the only films I like with Dustin Hoffman in it. And it is about a book. "I brought you some flours".

Batman Begins - how a superhero movie should be, a great story, real/gritty atmosphere and a hero who is vulnerable. The city of Gotham also feels like a comic book city rather than just New York. "And why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up".

Parenthood - brilliant look at the roller coaster ride of parenting with many types of family and experiences. Excellent story, good humour, great characters/cast and the great Steve Martin (one of my favourite actors). "Women have choices, and men have responsibilities".

The Matrix - brilliant science fiction, mind blowing story and some movie changing affects. "You take the blue pill, the story ends. You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.".

Speed Racer - a visual spectacular. Fun filled action all the way. Another feel good movie. And it has a hilarious chimp. "Cool beans".

Guardians of the Galaxy - real super/anti heroes with a huge dose of humour. Heroes, humour, evil baddies, sci-fi, aliens, a sentient tree and a 70s soundtrack. This is just great fun all the way. "I am Groot".

Back to the Future - a fantastic story. The time travel works, the characters are good and it's funny. This is a great family fun film. With the greatest car ever. "Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads".

The Shawshank Redemption - wonderfully real story, full of atmosphere and emotion. Underpinned with some great acting. "Same old shit, different day".

Shaun of the Dead - British humour at its best. Wonderfully funny, great comic acting, what is there not to like. "Okay. But dogs CAN look up!".

Love Actually - I love feel good movies and this is one of the best. Excellent intertwining of stories. Some good characters, some good humour and it has some very emotional moments. "There was more than one lobster present at the birth of Jesus?".

Die Hard - the ultimate action movie, brilliant characters, fantastic story, great action and a dose of humour. "Yippee-ki-yay, motherf.....".

Toy Story - the best animated film ever. A wonderful story, great characters, full of emotion another feel good movie. It set a new standards for all subsequent animated films to follow. "To infinity and beyond".

Dodgeball - brilliant humour, very very funny. It manages to find exactly the right level without going over the top, which most comedies fail to do. "dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge!".

Honourable mentions: LA Story, Watchmen, Big, Avengers Assemble, About Time, Airplane, Star Wars, Blade Runner, The Warriors, Big, The Secret Of my Success, Top Gun, An Officer and a Gentleman and Groundhog Day.