Laff’s Lists:

Just like John Cusack in “High Fidelity” (2000), I like to put my opinions in some sort of order… in lists of favorites, here now, is a work-in-progress blog of My Favorite Movie-Related things…

31 Best Scary Movies (updated 10/26/09):

(this list based on quality standards and movies I’ve seen)
 

1. “The Ring” (2002)
2. “The Shining” (1980)
3. “The Exorcist” (1973)
4. “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974)
5. “Halloween” (1978)
6. “Psycho” (1960)
7. “Paranormal Activity” (2009)
8. “Saw” (2004)
9. “The Grudge” (2004)
10. “The Sixth Sense” (1999)
11. “The Others” (2001)
12. “Jaws” (1975)
13. “Rosemary’s Baby” (1968)
14. “Amityville Horror” (1978)
15. “Identity” (2003)
16. “The Mothman Prophecies” (2002)
17. “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991)
18. “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984)
19. “The Omen” (1976)
20. “Alien” (1979)
21. “Carrie” (1976)
22. “Poltergeist” (1982)
23. “The Blair Witch Project” (1999)
24. “The Birds” (1963)
25. “Arachnophobia” (1990)
26. “Dark Water” (2005)
27. “House on Haunted Hill” (1999)
28. “House of Wax” (2005)
29. “Misery” (1990)
30. “Vacancy” (2007)
31. “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1978)

 My Top Patrick Swayze movies

 1. “Dirty Dancing” (1987) as the dancer “Johnny Castle”

2. “Point Break” (1991) as surfer criminal “Bodhi”

3. “Road House” (1989) as “Dalton”, the bouncer at a rough bar

4. “The Outsiders” (1983) as “Darrel ‘Darry’ Curtis”, the oldest brother

5. “Red Dawn” (1984) as “Jed”, the unofficial leader of the “Wolverines”

6. “Ghost” (1990) as the stuck-in-limbo “Sam Wheat” 

My favorite military dramas:
1. Apocalypse Now (1979)
2. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
3. Crimson Tide (1995)
4. Top Gun (1986)
5. Platoon (1986)
6. A Few Good Men (1992)
7. Patton (1970)
8. The Hurt Locker (2009)
9. The Dirty Dozen (1967)
10. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
11. The Great Escape (1963)
12. Black Hawk Down (2001)
13. Three Kings (1999)

Best Parody Movies of My Lifetime (5/20/09):

1. “Airplane!” (1980)
2. “Spaceballs” (1987)
3. “Young Frankenstein” (1974)
4. “This is Spinal Tap” (1984)
5. “Hot Shots” (1991)
6. “Princess Bride” (1987)
7. “High Anxiety” (1977)
8. “Robin Hood: Men in Tights” (1993)
9. “Austin Powers” (1997)
10. “Galaxy Quest” (1999)

Favorite Superhero movies (updated 5/19/09):   

1. “The Dark Knight” (2008)
2. “X-Men 2″ (2003)
3. “Iron Man” (2008)
4. “Batman Begins” (2005)
5. “X-Men” (2000)
6. “Batman” (1989)
7. “Spider-Man 2″ (2004)
8. “Hellboy” (2004)
9. “The Punisher” (2004)
10. “Blade” (1998)
11. “Hancock” (2008)
12. “Superman: The Movie” (1978)
13. “Unbreakable” (2000)
14. “The Incredibles” (2004)
15. “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” (2009)
16. “Spider-Man” (2002)
17. “Watchmen” (2009)
18. “Superman 2″ (1980)
19. “Blade 2″ (2002) 

My favorite Christmas movies (posted 12/08/08):

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1. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

2. A Christmas Story (1983)

3. Its A Wonderful Life (1946)

4. Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer (1964)

5. Santa Claus is Coming to Town (1970)

6. Elf (2003)

7. The Santa Clause (1994)

8. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

9. Dr. Suess’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)

10. The Polar Express (2004)

11. Frosty the Snowman (1969)

12. Home Alone (1990)

13. A Christmas Carol (1984) with George C. Scott

14. White Christmas (1954)

15. Holiday Inn (1942)

. Four Christmases (2008)

. Jingle all the Way (1996)

. Fred Claus (2007)

LAFF’S FAVORITE PAUL NEWMAN MOVIES (updated 9/27/08):

“Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (1969)

“The Color of Money” (1986)

“The Sting” (1973)

“Torn Curtain” (1966) 

My Favorite Modern Westerns (updated 9/5/08):

1. “Tombstone” (1993)
2. “Unforgiven” (1992)
3. “Dances with Wolves” (1990)
4. “3:10 To Yuma” (2007)
5. “Young Guns” (1988)
6. “Maverick” (1994)
7. “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (1969)
8. “Open Range” (2003)
9. “Desperado” (1995)
10. “The Quick and the Dead” (1995)
 

My Favorite Will Ferrell Movies (updated 8/2/08):

1. “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” (2004)
2. “Stranger than Fiction” (2006)
3. “Old School” (2003)
4. “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” (2006)
5. “Step Brothers” (2008)
6. ”Elf” (2003)
7. “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” (2001)
8. “Bewitched” (2005)
9. “Blades of Glory” (2007)
10. “Kicking and Screaming” (2005)
11. “Semi-Pro” (2008)
12. “Wedding Crashers” (2005) – ranking only based on Ferrell’s minor screen time, not overall movie 

Best Movie Villains ever (updated 7/19/08):

1. Heath Ledger as The Joker in “The Dark Knight” (2008)
2. Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter in “Silence of the Lambs” (2001)
3. Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch in “The Wizard of Oz” (1939)
4. Ian McDiarmid as Senator/Supreme Chancellor/Emperor Palpatine (“Star Wars” movies) 
5. Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates in “Psycho” (1960)
6. David Prowse and James Earl Jones as Darth Vader (3 “Star Wars” movies)

My Favorite M. Night Shyamalan Movies (updated 6/22/08):

1. “The Sixth Sense” (1999)
2. “Signs” (2002)
3. “Unbreakable” (2000)
4. “The Happening” (2008)
5. “The Village” (2004)
6. “Lady in the Water” (2006)

Favorite Card Playing/Gambling movies (updated 3/29/08):

1. “Rounders” (1998)
2. “Casino Royale” (2006)
3. “21″ (2008)
4. “Ocean’s 11″ (2001)
5. “Maverick” (1994)
6. “Casino” (1995)
7. “Lucky You” (2007)