Top 20 All-Time Favorite Movies (5-1)
See #10-6 here
5. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-03)
Lord of the Rings succeeded in taking extremely complex source material and converting it to a wholly acceptable screenplay for devoted fans of the book and the public at large. It was created with loving care by fans of the source material devoted to “getting it right.” They employed not only competent and respected actors and those in the film industry, but recruited artisans and tradesmen, some related to the novel’s long print history, to create the movie. Using not only the most modern computer visual effects, but also “back to basics” miniatures and scale models, hand-crafted set pieces, and superb locations in order to give the film its stunning look.
Lord of the Rings has become the “new epic” of the 21st century, building on the tradition of classic epics from the golden age of Hollywood with the technology of the modern. This alone, notwithstanding my affinity for the genre of source material, makes this trilogy of films a masterpiece.
--Matt Bieda, Web Programmer
4. The Big Lebowski (1998)
Like “Raising Arizona”, this film is a great litmus test—almost without exception, people who find both films hysterically funny and well done are people to whom I’ve gravitated over the years: people who “get it”. I have a hard time deciding whether it’s social commentary thinly disguised as slapstick comedy, or vice versa.
“Endlessly quotable. There are so many great one liners from ‘This is not Nam, this is bowling. There are rules.’ or ‘Hey man, there's a beverage here!’ and those are the clean quotes. The amount of profanity reaches staggeringly hilarious levels. The F word is practically a comma. The Dude represents the lazy drifter that all men strive to be.”
--Phil Dickerson, Graphic Designer
3. Pulp Fiction (1994)
"Pulp Fiction thrusts you into another world in a way only the best films do. It may be one of the least predictable movies I know, yet uses very familiar movie situations. Quentin Tarantino again tells us a crime story in non-linear fashion peppered with varied references to pop culture and movies (this was back before it became a tired convention due to overuse, in part by Tarantino himself). The film places big budget stars, little known arthouse players and forgotten popular film favorites next to each other, to pleasing affect. The dialogue is so memorable because it is informal, like how we talk to our friends, and at the same time involves situations completely outside most of our daily routines (murder, drug overdoses, thrown fights, crazy hillbilly pawnshops and dead body removal). We are made to feel like insiders on this insane ride. There is humor, suspense, romance and horror. You get it all and somehow, it works."
--Matt Miller, Art Director
“Pulp Fiction is one of the few movies that in the footrace of imagination, it threatens to outrun you.”
--George Harris, Creative Director
2. Star Wars Trilogy, IV-VI (1977-83)
Containing all the critical archetypes, including the orphaned child, destroyer, and guide, Star Wars Episodes IV-VI are able to weave their individual character developments through the various subplots, drawing upon many classic themes such as good versus evil and coming to terms with the past. Luke Skywalker’s journey from a teenage farmhand to savior of the universe is the ultimate coming-of-age story, and the daydream of many an adolescent boy.
For a kid, they are the quintessential movies; who didn’t want a lightsaber, an X-Wing, and an Ewok? These movies also had a special quality of not only attracting young children, but also a loyal following of adults. They have held up very well over the years, indicated by the fact that my much younger siblings still enjoy watching them.
An engaging story, good scripting, ground-breaking effects, a wonderful soundtrack, and perhaps the most shocking 5 words ever spoken in pop culture, moves this timeless celluloid treasure to the runner-up spot of our favorite movies.
--Michael Shirrell, Project Coordinator
Would-have-taken-the-series-in-a-completely-different-direction Fact: Han Solo was originally intended to be a green monster with gills.
1. The Godfather, I and II (1972-74)
The pinnacle of effective film making, The Godfather is captivating from beginning to end. From the opening scene of a joyous family celebration full of hope and promise, to the descent into vengeance, betrayal, and isolation, it is this dichotomy and arc of events propelling us from one extreme to the other that gives the story its strength and appeal.
Told from inside a realm few people have seen, it is as though we are being let in on a shadowy secret. It horrifies us by exposing the brutal side of the American Dream with greed, corruption and forceful manipulation at its core, yet it has the ability to capture our sympathy, and perhaps even a touch of envy.
When the motivation to pursue the dream becomes what is eventually destroyed, the tragic irony is revealed. Vito Corleone's rise to prominence out of a desire to give his family a better life, gives way to his son's obsessive need for more power, and the destruction of his own family to achieve it. The image of the Godfather’s wife being shut out, balancing that of the Godfather himself, alone, at the conclusion of each part resonates as the iconic symbols of betrayal and eventual regret.
The best in story telling, acting, directing, writing, sets, costumes, musical score, cinematography, and casting converge to result in this film topping the list of favorites for Klipsch employees.
--Amy Unger, Web Marketing Specialist
Quirky-actor Fact: Marlon Brando read most of his lines off cue cards and still managed to win the Oscar for Best Actor, which he refused to accept.