Favourite Films.   

                                                         

                                                  

This one is one of the hardest lists, ‘Favourite Films.’ It’s another one of where do you start as there are so many? I have been really into films over the years but do not watch as many as I used to.

    I will give a short write up on each film, also I am going to pick one scene, maybe two, out of each film that I really like.  I am trying to stay away from the climax/ending of films as that is too easy. But in some cases, it is the only choice.

      1. The Great Escape – 1963.

                                                     

I first saw this on a Sunday afternoon at the cinema in about 1969 with my mates in Hounslow, we used to go every week, no matter what was on. I liked it so much I went the next Saturday afternoon to see it again. Only this time I was looking after young, now late nephew Karl who was about 5 years old. He just kept saying he wanted to go home. I said when the curtains came down, forgetting there was an interval. When that happened he was saying, “take me home Dommy” (he couldn’t say Tommy, as I was called in those days) I then had no choice.

     A great film about prisoners of war (WWII) escaping from a German prisoner of war camp, Stalag III. This does come from a true story which had a documentary about it was on TV in 2021. Some really good scenes in it, I am going for the one below.

    Best scene: The one scene for me has got to be Steve McQueen on the motorbike, it was just great. Hilts the Cooler King is chased by Germans and jumps over barbed wire fences until he crashed.

                          

 2. The Green Mile – 1999.

   

     

                                 

First saw this on a video at home, on a Sunday afternoon. This is one of the best films I have seen and have watched it many times. It is a film about prisoners on ‘death row’ in the 1930’s. I found this very sad in a lot of ways. To choose one scene like a lot of good films is not easy.

    Best scene: I am going to for the when Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) first realises that John Coffey (Michael Clarke) has special powers after Wild Bill Wharton (Sam Rockwell) first arrives in the block and goes on the rampage. Paul had been suffering testicle pain, John grabs him between the legs and takes the pain away. Paul makes his wife happy, many times that night!!!  

 3. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid – 1969.

                                                            

        

I saw this for the first time on my own when I was working in Spalding in Lincolnshire. There are so many good parts of this film right from the start. Again, I have seen it many times, but always enjoy it. This was on the telly one night when I was on the ship going to the Falklands, I wasn’t going to watch it but I saw the first bit and that was it. For those who have not seen it, there can’t be many, it is about two outlaws on the run in the old Wild-West of the USA and ends in Bolivia.

    Best scene: It is that first scene in the bar that I am going for when Butch (Paul Newman) gets the ‘The Kid’ (Robert Redford) out of the bar where he is in a card game. The Kid shoots the gun off the other gambler + when the gang challenge Butch for his leadership and he kicks the lad in the balls.

  4. The Dirty Dozen – 1967.

                                                                                                      The D - 12. 

Again, I first saw this with my mates. We went on the Sunday and a few of us went again the following Friday as we loved it. I loved everything about this film, the “bad men” given a chance and of course the ending.

   With 'D Day' approaching in WWII, roguish Major Reisman (Lee Marvin) is given an important assignment: He has to train a team of soldiers to parachute across enemy lines and assassinate German personal in a French chateau. The soldiers are murders and criminals on death row.

    Best scene: I think the scene from this one I am going for is when they are doing the training and take over the command tent.

        5. Bonnie and Clyde – 1967.

                                                                                                

Another one I saw in Hounslow with my mates. We were all mad to see to it. But when I look back it was a very, “bloody, violent film.” Just in case the reader does not know the film it is a true story about two American gangsters/robbers who stole/robbed and killed a lot of people. I now think it was treble what they did, but at the time I saw it with a different set of eyes. There was also a song of the same name.

     Best scene: I am really not sure what scene to choose as like I said it was nasty, so I will go for when the two of them first met, and the first job they did. Faye Dunaway -  Bonnie Parker, Warren Beatty - Clyde Barrow and Michael J Pollard - CW Moss.

6. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest – 1975.

                                                                               

The first thing I have say about this film was the stars that were in it, I will name a few: Jack Nicholson (Randle) Louise Fletcher (Nurse Ratched) Danny DeVito (Martini) Christopher Lloyd (Taber) Vincent Schiavelli (Fredrickson) he also played the ghost on the subway station in Ghost, and many more.

       A classic in its day. Randle is taken in to a mental hospital, the Cuckoo’s Nest, with some very funny results but also some very sad ones.

Best scene: When Jack steals the bus with all the interns on it and take them all on a fishing boat. 

7. The Queen – 2006.                                                                             

I only saw this in 2020 for the first time but had heard friends talk about it. The reason I put this in is not so much about it being a good film but the debate it caused. I couldn’t believe how the country and the world for matter behaved when Dianna Princess of Wales died but there is a lot to it. I think Tony Blair must have wrote the film, as he come out in very good light, not so much his wife.

   Best scene: When the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh go and look at the flowers outside Buckingham Palace and talk to the people. I remember watching that on TV. 

8. Bohemian Rhapsody – 2018.                                                                               

   

I really enjoyed this, mainly because I am a Queen fan. The music was really good but it was really interesting and all the struggles of Freddie Mercury. Staring Rami Malek who was really very good.

   Some of the band lived in the Feltham area where I lived. I told people for years I was at the same school (Longford) as Freddie. But I have found out since he never went there. 

   Best scene: This has to be when they do Live Aid, which while I remember watching it as it happened with the family and friends, we had it on TV all day and I have viewed it many times on U-Tube. Another good scene was when Freddie tells the rest of the band he has AIDs. 

9. Rocket Man – 2019.                                                                                

     

  

     Another good autobiography, like the last one. I thought it was well put together, how it showed Elton from a child and when he has therapy. He met a music manager John Reed (Richard Madden) who helps him rise to fame, but also chaos in his life. He was doing a lot of drugs at one point and if it’s true the therapy helps sort his life out. Taron Egerton plays Elton, he also has the starring role in Kingsman: Secret Service, which I will come to shortly. Taron got a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor.

       Best scene: Saturday night is alright for fighting. This is early on, it was one of his early songs and it is played while they do a lot of fighting. 

 10. 50 First Dates – 2004.   

                                                                        

   

   

When I first watched this film, I wasn’t sure about it for the first twenty minutes or so, but what a film once I got into it. This film is about a woman Lucy Whitmore (Drew Barrymore) who has a car accident and every day she wakes up in her mind it is the day before her accident. She meets a chap, Henry Roth (Adam Sandler) who wants to have a relationship with her. 

     It is a romantic comedy set in Hawaii, it is very funny at times, but at times almost heart-breaking. Roth’s best friend in it is Ula (Rob Schneider) who is just so funny.

     Best scene: Again, there are many – I am going for when Roth goes to the hospital near the end to see if she remembers him. She doesn’t, but dreams of him every night and has painted many paintings of him. I love the version of ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole.

 

 11 Bridge on the River Kwai – 1957.

     

The film was based on a 1952 novel written by Pierre Boulle. Colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness) reluctantly agrees to camp commander Satio’s suggestion of getting WWII POW’s to build a railway bridge. However, the project soon becomes an obsession for him. 

     I saw this film on the pictures, I went with my sister Linda and brother-in-law Bob, sometime in the early 1960’s.

     Best scene: Well it has got to be when they bring the bridge down at the end and it is in fact Colonel Nicholson who blew it up. The film won many awards. One of my 'second cousins, once removed' worked on the bridge, and died on a Japanese the ship bombed by the USA.

12. Twins – 1988.

     

        

 

This is a really good film that I like very much. It is very funny but also at times very sad also. The “Twins” Arnold Schwarzenegger (Julius) and Danny DeVito (Vincent) are an experiment wherein one twin is very small and the other is very large and have been separated at birth, they only meet as adults when Julius goes looking for he’s small twin. Vincent is very street wise but in a lot of trouble. Julius is very intelligent but naïve having spent all his life on a remote island.

      Best scene: Again, lots to go for but the one for me is when one of the gangsters who Vincent owes money to comes to beat him up, but Julius turns up and ends up throwing him in the lift. Vincent then says to him, “you tell your brother, he messes with me, he messes with my whole family!”

 

13. Ghost – 1990.

          

I have to say this is one of my all-time favourite films. This film has a bit of every thing from comedy to romance to mystery-thriller and of course a supernatural tale. It is a story of a person who is killed, Sam Wheat (Patrick Swayze) and comes back and finds out his girlfriend, Molly Jensen (Demi Moore) is in danger. He comes across a psychic Oda Mae Brown (Whoopi Goldberg).  

    Best scene: This has to be the first time he (the ghost) meets Whoopi. She is holding a séance and telling a load of lies when Sam comes in the room. No one can see him, but Oda Mae can hear things he keeps saying, it is very funny. There are lots of funny scenes in this film and most of them have Whoopie in them.

     I first saw this on video shortly after it came out, my then wife and I watched it in bed with daughter Jean laid across the bottom of the bed, at the end there was hardly a dry eye in the house! 

14. Tombstone – 1993.

         

Based on a true story about lawman Wyatt Earp who moves to Tombstone Arizona to relax, but runs into a gang called the, Cowboys and must bring peace back to the town. 

   Wyatt Earp was a gambler and an old western lawman in the west of America including, Dodge City, Deadwood and Tombstone. He took part in the famous “gunfight at the OK Corral,” during which the lawmen killed three outlaws. He did in fact live until he was 81. Staring Kurt Russell, (Wyatt Earp) Val Kilmer, (Doc Holiday) Sam Elliot, (Virgil Earp).

     Best scene: Of course, the gunfight is up there, but I am going for when Wyatt takes over the dealing of the cards in the bar and the ‘Cowboys’ come in. Johnny Ringo, (Michael Biehn) the gun slinger asks Doc Holliday  how fast he is? And then does a load of tricks with his gun. When he is finished, Doc does the same with a drink tanked.  

 

15. Beetlejuice – 1988.

           

I am not a “ghost film” fan, but this is just a very funny film. A husband and wife get killed, Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin) and Barbara Maitland (Geena Davis) and come back as ghosts and are not happy with the family who have taken over their house. They try to scare them off, but that does not work, so they call on the services of another ghost, Beetlejuice, (Michael Keaton) 

      Best scene: This can only be when the new home holders and their dinner guests are possessed at the table and do the Banana Boat Song, Day O, around the dinner table. If you have not seen it for a long time, or ever, it is worth a watch just for that scene, it is so funny. 

16. Bruce Almighty – 2003.

              

This was very funny comedy, starring Jim Carrey as Bruce Nolan, a down-on-his-luck TV reporter who complains to God (Morgan Freeman) that he is not doing his job correctly and is offered the chance of being God himself for one week. There are a lot of very funny parts in it. Morgen, who I think is a really good actor takes a really good part. Also starring Jennifer Aniston as Bruce’s girlfriend and Philip Baker Hall.

     Again, lot of good parts but this one makes me laugh a lot. Best scene: This is shortly after Bruce takes over from God and he is realising his powers. He passes a street gang who had beaten him up not long before. He asked them to apologise. They all laugh and the leader says, “I will apologies the day a monkey comes out of my butt.” While the gang are all laughing Bruce says, “what coincidence as that is today." A monkey than comes out of the leader’s backside, who then passes out, the others run away and Bruce sends a load of locust from his mouth after them. The gang leader then wakes up and Bruce tells the monkey to go home, which of course is up the chap’s backside. 

17. Highlander – 1986.

             

They are immortals, destined to live forever. They must duel down the ages until one remains. Only decapitation by sword can release them from their age-long battle for the prize – power, beyond imagination. From the Scottish Highlands of the sixteenth century to 1980’s New York, where they war for the prize, while the fate of the mortals, hangs in the balance.

    Connor MacLeod (Christophe Lambert) first found out he was immortal when he got what looked like being killed in battel, but didn’t die. He was kicked out of the clan and shortly after another Highlander, Juan Sanchez-Villalobos Ramirez (Sean Connery) comes into his life. The film follows Connor through the centuries.

     I have to also say that there are loads of great songs in it, a few are: It’s a kind of Magic, Who Wants to Live forever, One Year of Love, and many more.  Best scene: I am going for when The Kurgan (Clancy Brown) has the fight with Ramirez and kills him.

18. We’re the Millers – 2013.

           

This is a very funny crime comedy, with a great story line, if a little bit unbelievable. David Clark, (Jason Sudeikis) a drug dealer, is forced by his boss to smuggle drugs from Mexico. He hires a stripper, Rose  O’Reilly (Jennifer Aniston) a petty thief, Casey Mathis (Emma Roberts) and a teenage neighbour Kenny Rossmore (Will Poulter) and forms a fake family to help him smuggle the drugs.

   They drive to Mexico in camper van, which is then totally filled up with drugs by the gangsters, but the drugs were meant to be picked up by another gang. The Millers are then chased all the way back home.

    Best scene:  Another film where there are many funny scenes, but I am going for the one where Rose does a strip for the gangsters which then helps the family to escape. 

19. True Lies – 1994.

        

A very enjoyable and at times a very funny action comedy film. Harry Tasker (Arnold Schwarzenegger) life takes a turn for the worst when he thinks that his wife Helen Tasker (Jamie Lee Curtis) is having an affair. The chap she is possibly going to have the affair with is a car salesman who is making out he is a spy, while Harry is making out not to be.   

       Best scene: Again, there are many good ones to go for. There are two when Simon (Bill Paxton) the used car salesman is taken by Harry and co and he is trying to convince them he is not a spy. Also, at the end when Helen is working with Harry and they come across Simon, who was trying it on again. I did really like the Simon character, there is a photo of him above with Harry, who he is bragging to about how to, "pull a woman." Little does he know who Harry is?  

 20. Scrooged – 1988.

            

      

 

Bill Murray (Frank)is taught the error of his ways by three Yuletide ghosts in a comedy adaptation of A Christmas Carole.

   Bill plays a cynically selfish TV executive who is haunted by three sprits from the past, present and future. With the help of the ghosts he realises that he must reform himself.

   Best scene: It is more than a scene it is when the ghost of Christmas present comes. It is a ferry played by Carol Kane, who basically batters the hell out of Frank.  

 

21. The Brothers Grimsby – 2016.

                   

I saw this film a little while ago, in 2021. It is a bit silly for me in a way, but the main reason I have put it in for is the, best scene, which I will come to later.

    A dim-witted English football hooligan, from Grimsby who has 11 children reunites with his long-lost brother, a deadly MI6 agent, to prevent a massive global terror attack. Starring Sacha Baron Cohen as Norman Butcher, Mark Strong as his Sebastian Graves. 

Best scene: One brother, Sebastian says to the other, “that women is the head of the biggest crime syndic in the world.” The other says, “oh, my God, she is the head of FIFA!!!” I did think that was very funny.

22.  Back to the Future – 1985. 

                       

I have to say this is one on my all-time best films. Son Paul saw it first on the cinema and told us all about it. We got it out as soon as it was out on video. I have seen it and the others many times now, and always enjoy them. Anne and I saw the musical in the West End last September 2021, which was very enjoyable.

I am sure nearly everyone knows the story, but I will do a short write up anyway. Marty McFly (Michael J Fox) travels back in time using an eccentric scientist’s Dr Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd) time machine. However, he must make his high-school-aged parents fall in love in order to return to the present.

Best scene: Again, there are many, but I do like the one when Marty wakes his dad up in bed with the earphones on and makes him think he is a spaceman. Also, when he first goes back in time and get knocked down by the car, then wakes up in bed and his mother comes on to him.

23. Yesterday – 2019.

      A really good film, with a with a lot of good, Beatles music. Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) is a struggling musician, who meets with an accident during a blackout and wakes up to find out that only he remembers the Beatles. Later on, he starts s singing the bands songs, as if he had written them. He then goes on to become famous after reintroducing their songs to the world.

   Lilly James played his wife-to-be Ellie, Joel Fry played Rocky who became his manager and was so funny. Ed Sheeran play himself.

   Best scene: Again, loads to choose from, but I will go for when Himesh first realises one knows who the Beatles are, and the same at the end when he realises that no one knows who Harry Potter is. I also really like the end in the school where his and other school children are, singing Ob- La-Di, Ob-La-Da. 

24. Kingsman: The Secret Service – 2015.

        

A very enjoyable film, which is action spy comedy, it is based on the comic book of the same name. Gary (Eggsy) Unwin (Taron Egerton) is recruited as a secret agent in a secret spy organisation in order to look for Richmond Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) an eco-terrorist. Eggsy lives with his mother and her boyfriend, who does not like Eggsy, in London.

    The film follows Eggsy from recruitment and training in the spy organisation to tackle a global threat from Valentine who is wanting to deal with climate change by wiping out most of humanity

   Best scene: The agent, Harry Hart (Colin Firth) who recruits Eggsy, fights all the yobs in the pub after they had come to beat Eggsy up. As he locks them in the pub before the fight he says, “Manners do maketh the man.” 

25. Made in Dagenham – 2010.

         

This film is a bit of British employment history and is based on a true story. We have seen this film a few times, I think it is really good, and remember it happening. Anne and I have also seen the musical on the West End theatre.  

    Rita O’Grady (Sally Hawkins) works for the Ford Motor Company car plant in Dagenham England. Despite performing the specialized task of sewing upholstery for car seats, women are classified as unskilled labour and paid much less than men. Encouraged by a sympathetic union representative (Bob Hoskins), Rita agrees to bring the women’s grievances to Ford. The meeting goes badly and outraged by the companies lack of respect for them, Rita leads her colleagues to strike. 

Best scene: When her husband and other man moan at them for going on strike as they can’t work. Yet the men have been on strike themselves many times in the past, but did not like it when the women stopped them from working!!!

 26. Philomena – 2013.

             

This a true story and a very sad film about an unmarried mother in Ireland in the early 1950’s whose child was sold to some Americans by the Nuns that she lived with and her quest to find him. She did find him but he had died of AIDS some years before.

  The film was based the 2009 book, The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by journalist Martin Sixsmith. The film starred Judi Dench as Philomena and Steve Coogan as Martin.    

  Best scene: This was when Philomena and Martin had argument in the hotel room in US about carrying on with the search.

 27. Erin Brockovich - 2000.

           

 

This film is a dramatization of the true story of Erin Brockovich, portrayed by Julia Roberts, who fought the energy corporation Pacific Gas and Electric Company regarding its culpability for the Hinkley groundwater contamination incident.

   I have seen this film a few times and have enjoyed it very much. I think Julia Roberts who is a very good actress plays a very good part, as does Albert Finney who plays her boss Ed Masry. Erin won a massive claim for the people of Hinkley.

   Best scene: I am going for when she faced the lawyers of PGE across the table over the case. They drink the water which Erin then says, “we had the water shipped in from Hinkley for you!”

  While I was doing the research for this film I found out that near the start of the film the real Erin played a waitress named Julia who served the real Julia and her family.

 

28. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – 2001.

                 

This was the first of 8 films from the Harry Potter series. I have read all the books and seen all the films, and enjoyed them all very much. This film was released in the US, India and the Philippines as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

   This is the first instalment of the Harry Potter film series. The film stars Daniel Ratcliffe as Harry Potter, with Emma Watson as Hermione Granger and Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley. Its story follows Harry’s first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as he discovers that he is a famous wizard and begins his formal wizarding education.

Best scene: For me it is all the letters coming to the house at the start and then Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) turning up. 

29. JFK – 1992.

               

This is a film which I enjoyed very much, did I totally understand and keep up with it all, no, and have watched it a few times now. It has a good view of the conspiracy theory how many people think why JFK was killed. I was 11 at the time and remember it so well.

  This is a political thriller film that examines the events leading to the assassination of JFK in November 1963 and the alleged cover-up through the eyes of former district attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner). Garrison filed charges against New Orleans businessman Clay Shaw for his alleged participation in a conspiracy to assassinate JFK, for which Lee Harvey Oswald was found to be responsible by the Warren Commission.

    Also starring:  Gary Oldman as Lee Harvey Oswald, Joe Pesci as David Ferrie, John Candy as Dean Andrews, Kevin Bacon as Willie O’Keefe, Donald Sutherland as Mr X and many more.

    Best scene: When Jim Garrison meets Mr X and he explains the conspiracy to Garrison.    

30. Billy Elliot – 2000.

                 

This is a very good film which I saw in “The Big House” (that’s what my wife Anne calls the pictures) twice and many times on TV.

   Billy has an aspiration at odds with his father’s. Billy wants to become a professional ballet dancer, while Jackie, his coal-miner father, sends him to the gym to learn boxing.

   It classed as a coming-of-age comedy-drama film, set in County Durham, in North East England during the miners strike of 1984-1985. It has some very good music in it from those times, including, T-Rex, The Jam, The Clash and many more.

   The film stars Jamie Bell as the 11-year-old Billy, Gary Lewis as his father, Jamie Draven as Billy’s older brother, and Julie Waters as his ballet Teacher.

   Best scene: When his dad finds him dancing in the gym with his best friend Michael Caffrey played by Stuart Wells and Billy dances for him.      

31. Escape to Victory – 1981.

   

A person does not have to be into football to enjoy this film, but it does help if you are. Escape to Victory is an American-British-Italian sports war film, directed by John Huston, starring Sylvester Stallone (Captain Robert Hatch), Michael Caine (Captain John Colby), Max von Sydow (Major Karl von Steiner) and Pele (Corporal Luis Fernandez).

   The film is about Ailed prisoners of war who are interned in a German prison camp during WWII who play an exhibition match of football against a German team.

   Along with Pele there was many footballers in the film, here are just a few: Bobby Moore, Osvaldo Ardiles, Mike Summerbee, Paul Van Himst, John Wark, Russell Osman, Kevin Beattie and many more, there was a lot from Ipswich Town.

    Best scene: This has got to be the clips of the footballers playing in the game with the German’s, in particular Pele and Ossie. 

 32. Raiders of the Lost Ark – 1981.

   

This an American action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on a story by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman. It stars Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, Ronald Lacey, John Rhys-Davies, and Denholm Elliott.

     Indi, is a globe-trotting archaeologist vying with Nazi German forces in 1936 to recover the long-last Ark of the Covenant, a relic said to make an army invincible. Joined by his tough former lover Marion Ravenwood (Allen), Jones races to stop rival Dr Rene Belloq (Freeman) from guiding the Nazis to the Ark and it is power.

   Best scene: Indiana and Marion being thrown in with the snakes. I have two here, and the other is when the chap gets the sword out to fight Indi and Indi shots him. I found this very funny. It is a very good series of films.

33. The Magnificent Seven – 1960.

   

Another film I loved as a kid, and of course still do. This was remade in 2016, but I am yet to see it. It was directed by John Sturges. It is a remake in an Old West-style of Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 Japanese film Seven Samurai.

    The seven are: Yul, Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn, Brad Dexter, James Coburn, and Horst Buchhoiz. As a group of seven gunfighters they are hired to protect a small village in Mexico from a group of marauding bandits, led by Eli Wallach. 

    Best scene: Again there are many, but I am going for when James Coburn is forced into showing how fast he is with a knife!

34. The Shawshank Redemption – 1994.

     

A very enjoyable film with a very good story. It was classed as a flop when on the cinema. Some reasons cited at the time was competition from films such as Pulp Fiction, Forrest Gump, the general unpopularity of prison films, its lack of female characters and even the title. But it has been watched by many since on video, DVD etc.

   Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a successful banker, is arrested for the murder of his wife and her lover, and is sentenced to life imprisonment at the Shawshank prison. He became the most unconventional prisoner. He forms a bond over years with another inmate Ellis Boyd, 'Red' (Morgan Freeman.) finding solace and eventual redemption through acts of common decency. There are many stories within the main story.

Best scene: For me is when the inmates are redoing the roof and Dufresne nearly gets thrown off by the guard, then goes on to sort out the guards and warden’s tax’s and finances for them. 

35. Last Action Hero – 1993.

      

A film I enjoyed a lot, watching it with the family. It is an American fantasy action comedy, directed and produced by John McTiernan.

    It is a satire of the action genre and associated clichés, containing several parodies of action films in the form of films within the film. The film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as Jack Slater, a Los Angeles police detective within the Jack Slater action film franchise. Austin O’Brien co-stars as Danny Madigan, a boy magically transported to the Slater universe, and Charles Dance as Benedict, a ruthless assassin from the Slater universe who escapes to the real world.

   Best scene: Again, there are many but a funny one is when Jack and Danny go to the bad guys house and Jack says, “can I talk to the drug dealer of the house please?” 

36. There’s Something About Mary – 1998.

         

While this could be said to be very rude in many ways, I did find it very funny. This is an American romantic comedy, directed by Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly. Its stars Cameron Diaz as the title character Mary Jenson. Ben Stiller as Ted Stroehmann, Matt Dillon as, Pat Healy, Lee Even, as Tucker and Chris Elliott as Dom “Woogie.” All playing men who are in love with Mary vying for her affection.

  Ted, a geek, attempts to track down his high-school sweetheart Mary and hires a private detective to know her whereabouts. He soon realises that he has to compete with others in order to impress her, “everyone is in love with Mary!!!”

  Best scene: I am going for when Ted at the begin as a young man, gets his “dick” stuck in his zip in the toilet. (Left hand photo above. The other is when Mary puts what she thinks is hair gel on her hair???)

37. Million Ways to Die in the West – 2014.

                

Well, if I thought the one above was rude, this one does surpass that, but again very funny. Another American Western comedy, directed by Seth MacFarlane, who also wrote the screenplay, with Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild.

   The film follows a cowboy frontiersman, Albert (Seth MacFarlane) who gains courage with the help of a female gunfighter Anna (Charlize Theron) and must use his newfound skills in a confrontation with her villainous outlaw husband Clinch (Liam Neeson)

   Best scene: There are two and it is the two gun fights that Albert is involved in. Both very funny.

38. Big – 1988.

                        

This is a fantasy comedy film with Tom Hanks as adult Josh Baskin, as a young boy who makes a wish to be “big” and is then aged to adulthood overnight. It is a film that I really enjoyed and watched it with the family when they were young.

  While it is classed as fantasy comedy it is also a love story as the adult Josh and Susan (Elizabeth Perkins) fall in love. It is also sad when Susan finds out that Josh is a child. I have heard of late that it is a film that could not be made today?

   Best scene: Again, many to choose from but I am going for when Josh takes Susan back his apartment and they play on the trampoline.

39. Maverick – 1994.

   

                                  

I used to watch Maverick on TV with James Graner (who I really like as an actor) when I was young and really liked it.

  This is American Western comedy film directed by Richard Donner, starring Mel Gibson as Maverick, Jodie Foster (Annabelle Bransford) and James Garner (Marshal Zane Cooper). It is based on the TV series which ran from 1957 to 1962 of the same name.

   Maverick is a card player and con artist who collects money in order to enter a high-stakes poker game. He is joined by Foster another con artist, and Garner a lawman. The supporting cast features Graham Green, James Coburn, Alfred Molina and many cameo appearances.

   Best scene: When Maverick takes on a gun-slinger and makes fun of it. It is worth looking up if a person has not seen it.

40. Romancing the Stone – 1984.

         

This is a very funny and enjoyable film, and it had a sequel, Jewel of the Nile. I first saw this on the ship going back to the Falkland Islands in 1985.

  This is an action adventure romantic comedy film directed by Robert Zemeckis, written by Diane Thomas and produced by Michael Douglas, who also starred in it. The film co-stars were Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito.

   The film follows a romance novelist (Kathleen Turner) who must venture beyond her home of New York City to Colombia in order to save her sister from criminals who are holding her for ransom as they search for a priceless treasure. 

   Best scene: When Ralph (Danny DeVito) is being chased by a car down a hill and is running away shooting over his shoulder. 

41. About Time – 2013.

       

I like a time travelling film and I was not disappointed with this one. Starring Domhnall Gleeson as Tim, Bill Nighy as Dad and Rachel McAdams as Mary.

   About time is a British science fantasy comedy-drama film written and directed by Richard Curtis. The film is about a young man (Tim) with the ability to time travel and who tries to change his past in hope of improving his future.  Tim lives in Cornwall in a house by the sea with his family. On his 21st birthday, Tim learns from his father that the men of his family have the secret ability to travel back in time.

   Best scene: when he finds out that his Dad is dying and they travel back to when Tim was young for the two of them to play together and run by the sea, very sad. 

42. Every Which Way but Loose – 1978.

           

I enjoyed this and the 1980 sequel Any Which Way You Can very much. I like Clint Eastward as an actor, but the star of this had to be Clyde the orangutan.

  Eastward is in this uncharacteristic and offbeat comedy role as Philo Beddoe, a trucker and bare-knuckle brawler roaming the American West in search of a lost love, while accompanied by his brother/manager, Orville, (Geoffrey Lewis) and of course Clyde. In the process Philo manages to cross a motley assortment of characters, including a pair of police officers and an entire motorcycle gang, the Black Widows of Pacoima, who end up pursuing him for revenge. Also starring Sandra Locke as Lynn Halsey-Taylor as an aspiring country music singer and Philo’s love interest.

    Best scene: I am going for when the Black Widows insult Philo at some traffic lights, Philo says "turn left Clyde," he punches the first in the face who falls off his bike and in turn knock the others off theirs who are lined up beside him. 

43. The Adjustment Bureau – 2011.

           

This is an American science fiction romantic thriller film written and directed by George Nolfi, based on the 1954 Phillip K. Dick short story, “Adjustment Team.” Starring Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Antony Mackie, John Slattery and Terence Stamp. The film tells the story of a US congressman who discovers that what appears to be chance events in his life are controlled by a mysterious, powerful group. After an event not planned by these controllers occurs, a romantic encounter with a dancer, he struggles against manipulation, despite their promise of a great future for him.

   Best scene: David (Matt Damon) was only meant to meet Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt) once but they meet again on a bus and fall in love, which changes everything.

 44. Rain Man – 1989.

         

Not only was this a very good film but how interesting, and so well written, by Barry Morrow and Ronald Bass. Starring Dustin Hoffman as Raymond Babbitt, Tom Cruise as Charlie Babbitt and Valeria Golino.

   Rain Man is an American comedy-road drama film directed by Barry Levinson. It tells the story of abrasive, selfish young wheeler-dealer Charlie, who discovers that his estranged father has died and bequeathed virtually all of his multimillion-dollar estate to his other son, Raymond, an autistic savant, of whose existence Charlie was unaware. Charlie then attempts to gain custody of his brother in order to get control of the money. Charlie takes Raymond on a road trip to Los Angeles. During the course of the journey, Charlie learns more about his brother, including his ability to instantly perform complex calculations and count hundreds of objects at once.

Best scene: Raymond counting cards at Caesars Palace while playing Black Jack.

45. Good Morning Vietnam – 1988.

Adrian Cronauer (Robbie Williams) a disc jockey, goes to Vietnam to work for the Armed Forces Services. While he becomes popular, and he is popular with the troops, his superiors disapprove of his humour.

   It an American war comedy film written by Mitch Markowitz and directed by Barry Levinson Set in Saigon in 1965. The story is loosely based on experiences of AFRS DJ Adrian Cronauer. Williams won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, was nominated for an Academy Award for best Actor and a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. The film is 100 in the list of “American Film Institutes 100 Funniest American Films.”

   Best scene: When Adrian first shouts out, “good morning Vietnam,” on the radio.

46. Buster – 1988.

 

Buster is a British romantic crime, comedy, drama, based on the events of the Great Train Robbery. Starring Phil Collins as Buster Edwards, Julie Waters as his wife June Edwards, Larry lamb as Bruce Reynolds, Sheila Hancock as Mrs Rothery, June’s mother.

    Buster is a petty criminal from the East End of London in 1963. His long-suffering wife June thinks of him as a loveable rogue. After the train robbery which they got over £3 million, Buster flees to Acapulco, where he is met by fellow Great Trian Robber, Reynolds and his girlfriend Franny (Stephanie Lawrence). June and daughter Nicky (Ellie Beaven) join them, but June returns home as she does not like their new way of life. Buster stays but returns and gives himself up, as he does not want to be without his family.

     Best scene: I am going for when the gang go back to the farmhouse to share the money out and start to realise how much they have got.  

47. First Blood – 1982.

   

First Blood (also known as Rambo: First Blood) is a American action film directed by Ted Kotcheff, and co-written by Sylvester Stallone, who also stars as Vietnam War veteran John Rambo. It co-stars Richard Crenna as Rambo’s mentor Sam Trautman and Brian Dennehy as Sheriff Will Teasle.

     Rambo is a troubled and misunderstood Vietnam War veteran who relies on his combat and survival skills when a series of brutal events results in him having to survive a massive manhunt by police and government troops near the small town of Hope, Washington. This was the first of the Rambo franchise.

      Best scene: When Teasle says to Trautman, “your telling me he will beat 200 men?” And Trautman says, “if you are sending that many, don’t forget a good supply of body bags!”  

 48. Die Hard – 1988.

              

Well this is classed as a Christmas film, that is because it is set at that time of year, there is very little happy about. I have watched the first one a few times, but there has been six in all, I have seen three of the films the other two are Die Hard 2 and Die Hard with a Vengeance.

     This is an American action film directed by John McTiernan. It is based on the 1979 novel Nothing Lasts Forever by Rodrick Thorp. It stars Bruce Willis as John McClane, Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber and Bonnie Bedelia, as Holly Gennaro, McClane’s estranged wife.

     The film follows McClane a New York City police officer who is caught up in a terrorist takeover of a Los Angeles skyscraper while visiting his wife.

    Best scene: While there is lots of action, I am going for when his chuffer De’voreaux White as Argyle comes busting out of the carpark near the end.

 49. Argo – 2012.

Another really interesting and very good film based on a true story. I followed this story when it happened, the US embassy was taken over in Tehran. I first watched this on a aeroplane going to the USA and really enjoyed it.

    On the 4^th November 1979, Islamists storm the US embassy in Tehran in retaliation for the President Jimmy Carter giving the Shah asylum in the US, during the Iranian Revolution, for cancer treatment. Sixty-six of the embassy staff are taken hostage, but six avoid capture and are sheltered in the home of the Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor.

    A CIA agent Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) is brought in to help get them out. He comes up with a cover story that they are Canadian filmmakers who are in Iran scouting exotic locations for a science-fiction film, Argo. 

    Also starring:  John Goodman as John Chambers, Alan Arkin as Lester Siegel and Bryan Cranston as Jack O’ Donnell.   

Best scene: This for me has got to be when John Chambers is asked at a press conference, “what does Argo mean?” And he replied, “r-go-fuck-yourself!”  

50. Easy Rider – 1969.

I saw this on the pictures in Hounslow with my mates when it came out here, it would have been 1969/70.

   Wyatt (peter Fonda) and Billy (Dennis Hopper), two Harley-riding hippies, complete a drug deal in Southern California and decide to travel cross-country in search of spiritual truth. On the journey, they experience bigotry and hatred from the inhabitants of a small-town and also meet with other travellers seeking alternative lifestyles.

   After a terrifying drug experience in New Orleans, the two travellers wonder if they will ever find a way to live peacefully in America. Also starring Jack Nicholson.

   Best scene: When Jack Nicholson first joins the pair and they do tricks on the bikes to the song, do you want to be a bird?” By Antonio Duren. There are some really great tracks from the film, some are: Born to be Wild and The Pusher, by Steppenwolf, If 6 Was 9, by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, “It’s alright, Ma (I’m only Bleeding)” by Bob Dylan.

51. Groundhog Day – 1993.

         

An unusual, but a enjoyable film. Groundhog Day, is an American fantasy comedy film directed by Harold Ramis, with screenplay by him and Danny Rubin. It stars Bill Murray as Phil Connors, Andie MacDowell as Rita Hanson and Chris Elliott as Larry the cameraman.

    Murray portrays Phil as a cynical television weatherman coving the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, who becomes trapped in a time loop, forcing him to relive the 2^nd of February repeatedly. He wakes up every morning 6/00am to, Sonny & Char’s “I Got You Babe.” On the radio, I can think of worst songs to wake up to every morning. 

    Best scene: There are many funny scenes in this and I going for when Phil tries to kill himself, which is many times as he had become depressed, but this is the time drives a truck with the Groundhog off a cliff.   

52. El Dorado – 1966.

While I really like John Wayne as an actor I have not done a film with him in yet, so here we go. Along with Wayne as Cole Thornton there are some other really good actors in it: James Caan as Mississippi, Robert Mitchum as Sheriff JP Harrah, Charlene Holt as Maudie, Michele Carey as Josephine “Joey” Macdonald and Edward Asner as Bart Jason.

   The film is about a gunfighter (Wayne) who comes to the aid of an old friend (Mitchum) who is a drunken sheriff struggling to defend a rancher and his family against another rancher trying to steal their water.

    Best scene: There are some good ones in this as always, I will say it is a very funny film as well as action packed. I am going for when Wayne first meets Caan in a bar, Caan takes on and beats a gun-slinger with a knife and Wayne helps him out. 

53. Catch Me if You Can – 2003.

 

This is a 2002 American biographical crime comedy-drama film directed and produced by Steven Spielberg, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen and Nathalie Baye.

   The film is based on the autobiography of Frank Abagnale, who allegedly, before his 19^th birthday, successfully performed cons worth millions of dollars by posing as a Pan American World Airways pilot, a Georgia doctor, and a Louisiana parish prosecutor. A very good and funny film.

    Best scene:  When the con-man meets the FBI man in the hotel room and makes him believe he is a cop. After he leaves the FBI man (Tom Hanks) works it all out!

 54.  Bridge of Spies – 2015.

    

This is a historical drama film directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg, written by Matt Charman and the Coen brothers. Starring Tom Hanks (James B. Donovan,) Mark Rylance, (Rudolf Abel) Amy Ryan (Mary Donovan) and Alan Alda (Thomas Watt) Austin Stowell (France Gary Powers).

   Set during the Cold War, the film tells the story of lawyer Donovan, who is entrusted with negotiating the release of Francis Gary Powers, a U.S. Air Force convicted pilot whose U-2 spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union in 1960-in exchange for Rudolf Abel, a convicted Soviet KGB spy held by the US, whom Donovan represented at trial. The name of the film refers to the Glienicke Bridge, which connects Potsdam with Berlin, where the prisoner exchange took place. An enjoyable film that was based on a true story.

   Best scene: When Donovan goes to East Berlin to do the negotiations and run into a gang who take his coat off him etc. 

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