Sovereign's Top 50 Favorite Movies

Creedy: Die! Die! Why won't you die?... Why won't you die?
V: Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea, Mr. Creedy, and ideas are bulletproof.

Dark City, like all the Sci-fi greats, can be examined and interpreted in many ways. It examines questions such as, Do our circumstances and memories create who we are? Or is there something within us that we can't pinpoint that determines how we think? This movie came out around the same time as the Matrix and unfortunately was buried by it and other movies. But I think that this movie does what the Matrix did but better and on a smaller budget.

John Murdoch: You want to know what it is about us that made us human. Well, you're not going to find it in here. You went looking in the wrong place.

Tombstone. My pick for favorite Western. I think the strength in this movie is its characters. Particularly Doc Holiday played by Val Kilmer who plays the part flawlessly. The plot doesn't feel forced. The opposing groups tension is developed quite a bit before the action of the story happens.

The problem with a quote is that Doc Holiday is just so dang quotable. Oh well you get two. Deal with it. :)

Billy Clanton: Why, it's the drunk piano player. You're so drunk, you can't hit nothin'. In fact, you're probably seeing double.
(Billy Clanton draws a knife)
Doc Holliday: (takes out a second gun) I have two guns, one for each of ya.

[Doc has been gambling for 36 hours straight]
Wyatt: Hey Doc. You've been hitting it awful hard haven't you?
Doc Holliday: Nonsense, I have not yet begun to defile myself.

Without a doubt this film is my favorite psychological thriller. The main essence of film making that this movie gets right is tone. From the first scene to the end it latches on to an eerie almost horror movie tone and just doesn't let go.

I'm going to cheat and use two quotes for this one. :)

John Doe: "A woman--so ugly on the inside she couldn't bear to go on living if she couldn't be beautiful on the outside. A drug dealer, a drug dealing pederast, actually! And let's not forget the disease-spreading whore! Only in a world this shitty could you even try to say these were innocent people and keep a straight face. But that's the point. We see a deadly sin on every street corner, in every home, and we tolerate it. We tolerate it because it's common, it's trivial. We tolerate it morning, noon, and night. Well, not anymore. I'm setting the example. What I've done is going to be puzzled over and studied and followed...forever."

Detective Somerset: "Ernest Hemingway once wrote, 'The world is a fine place and worth fighting for.' I agree with the second part."

Similar to Dark City, Blade Runner can be examined and interpreted in many ways. I'm not going to do that as I believe everyone should come to their own conclusion about such things. It has some of the best cinematography around with peerless use of lighting. The sets are amazing and fit the tone of the film well. Even more than the first Star Wars films the effects in this movie still look great. Defiantly my favorite movie by director Ridley Scott. I'm sure those of you who have seen the movie saw this quote coming.

Roy: I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I've watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.

Nostalgia. It is a very powerful feeling. It can override even the greatest of critic's judgement and in the process create guilty pleasures. I'm happy to say that this movie is no such thing. Everything is done so well. The animation is epic and jaw dropping. The acting is never out of place. The way the makers of the movie dive into the source material without making any massive changes that ruin the spirit of the original is honestly something that should be studied. The way that this movie examines the relationship between Moses and his brother Rameses is done flawlessly. The songs are some of my favorite in all of animation. The score by Hans Zimmer delivers like he always does. My favorite part about it is its examining of Moses' feelings about bringing so much pain to his former home.

Jethro: [singing] A single thread in a tapestry, though its color brightly shine, can never see its purpose in the pattern of the grand design. And the stone that sits on the very top of the mountain's mighty face, does it think it's more important than the stones that form the base? So how can you see what your life is worth, or where your value lies? You can never see through the eyes of man... You must look at your life, look at your life through Heaven's eyes!

The closest a super hero movie has come to perfection. A deep and complex story, great characters including my choice for best live action villain, and jaw dropping cinematography. Seriously, this movie was amazing in theaters. In the end this is a movie with a cup half full. Sure there are monsters in this terrible world but there is also good and it is worth fighting for.

The Joker: I just did what I do best. I took your little plan and I turned it on itself. Look what I did to this city with a few drums of gas and a couple of bullets. Hmmm? You know... You know what I've noticed? Nobody panics when things go "according to plan." Even if the plan is horrifying! If, tomorrow, I tell the press that, like, a gang banger will get shot, or a truckload of soldiers will be blown up, nobody panics, because it's all "part of the plan". But when I say that one little old mayor will die, well then everyone loses their minds!

These seems like a strange pick for my number one choice but on closer inspection it's an extremely well made film that examines why some relationships fail. Both Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel give an amazing and genuine performance as the two leads. This film takes you through all the stages of emotion during a relationship and it nails every single one. The scene after the main character has sex, showing the high that he is on through him imagining every guy he comes across shaking his hand and cheering him on and then breaking into dance. Also how he lists everything he likes about her then after they break up he lists the same exact things but in a bitter negative light. I think the main reason that I like this film is because of how close to home it hits. Especially the expectations and reality scene which felt like a gut punch the first time I saw it.

Two quotes again. :D

Tom: Lies, were liars think about it, why do people buy these things? It's not because they wanna say how they feel, people buy cards cause they can't say how they feel or they're afraid too. We provide the service that lets them off the hook. You know what? I say to hell with it. Lets level with America at least let them speak for themselves right I mean look, look. What is this, what does this say? "Congratulations on your new baby." How bout "congratulations on your new baby, guess that's it for hanging out, nice knowing ya." How bout this one? With all the pretty hearts on the front, I think I know where this ones going. Yup "Happy Valentines Day sweetheart, I love you." Isn't that sweet? Ain't love grand? This is exactly what I'm talking about. What does that even mean, love? Do you know? Do you? Anybody? If somebody gave me this card Mr. Vance, I'd eat it. It's these cards, and the movies and the pop songs, they're to blame for all the lies and the heartache, everything. We're responsible. I'M responsible. I think we do a bad thing here. People should be able to say how they feel, how they really feel, not ya know, some words that some stranger put in their mouth. Words like love, that don't mean anything. Sorry, I'm sorry, I um, I quit. There's enough bullshit in the world without my help.

My favorite quote is from the main character's friend.

Paul: “I think technically ‘The Girl Of My Dreams’ would probably have like a really bodacious rack, you know, maybe different hair, she’d probably be a little more into sports, But truthfully, Robyn is better than the girl of my dreams. She’s real.”