10) Dinotopia
Is Dinotopia a good movie? Not really. Is it even a movie? Again, not really. Still, I absolutely had to include this one on the list. After you’ve seen something this bad, yet also this good, you basically develop a sort of Stockholm syndrome. I can’t get enough of Dinotopia, and I genuinely wish more people knew about this forgotten gem of a four-hour dinosaur journey.
The acting might be stiff (or melodramatic in other cases), but there’s a certain level of earnest cheesiness that pulls the whole thing together. Some of the dinosaur effects aren’t too bad, and the soundtrack is incredible for a tv mini-series. Give it a watch sometime.
9) Jurassic World
Ironically continuing the dinosaur theme, we roll right into this blockbuster of a series revival. It might not be the best Jurassic Park movie on a technical and writing level, but it’s the only one I can jump into at any time without complaint. I never grow tired of watching this movie.
Chris Pratt is as entertaining as ever, but it isn’t the human characters who carry this movie so far for me. The velociraptors are an entertaining bunch, and the surprise return of Rexy was cool to see in theaters, but the big bad dinosaur villain, Indominus Rex, absolutely steals the show (and she’ll be getting her own article in the future). Coupled with a chillingly good soundtrack and great action scenes, Indominus Rex carries this move to the number nine spot in my heart.
8) Mission Impossible: Fallout
My earnest bid for the greatest action movie ever put to film, Mission Impossible Fallout is a movie that boggles my mind to this day. The motorcycle chase through Paris, the HALO jump, the helicopter chase battle!?! All of those stunts are real, lending serious tension and drama to every single scene. And the action-packed moments just keep coming without letting up, each scene better than the last.
Tom Cruise proves his absurdly reckless dedication to the art form with this movie, but his co-stars also do a great job bringing together a film that manages humor and heart in equal balance. It runs a little long, but it is one hundred percent worth every minute.
7) Iron Man 3
Even from the first moment I saw Iron Man 3 in theaters, I loved the film. Of course, I learned later that many people despise it, but this wouldn’t be the Contrarian Corner if I had the same opinion as everyone else, huh? Don’t let the naysayers get you down, this movie is one of the finest entries into the MCU.
Tony Stark’s character arc in the MCU is incredible, and this movie continues his growth beautifully. Robert Downey Jr aces every single scene, and there is genuine drama as he has to reconcile with his superhero identity and the normal lives caught up in it all. A superb soundtrack (one of the MCU’s best theme songs) dovetails nicely with awesome set pieces, a solid antagonist, and a great finale.
6) Rogue One
Let me make one thing clear: as long as the cause of my tears isn’t boredom, a movie that makes me cry is going to find a special place in my heart. Rogue One is one of those movies. The amount of tears I shed in the theaters after my first viewing cannot be understated. The film’s ending is spectacular, the perfect blend of soul crushing and hopeful. It’s amazing stuff.
The journey to get there is incredible too. Jyn Erso quickly became one of my favorite characters in Star Wars, even though this film is her only appearance. The action is of a significantly more brutal, boots-on-the-ground style unseen in Star Wars up to this film, and the cast all deliver incredible performances (special note to Ben Mendelsohn’s villainous Director Krennic). This is Star Wars at its best. Well, this and…
5) Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
My favorite Star Wars movie, just barely squeezing past Rogue One. I cannot emphasize enough how big a fan of the prequels I am, seeing as how it’s the era of Star Wars that I grew up in. As such, this movie really hit me hard when I first saw, and I’ve only grown to love it more and more since then. Watching this film after The Clone Wars is devastating, but in all the right ways.
Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen put on the best performances yet as the iconic Obi-wan and Anakin. It is nigh impossible to take your eyes of the screen whenever Ian McDiarmid is having the time of his life chewing the scenery, and the rest of the cast are excellent as well. The hectic space battles and frantic lightsaber duels are the best in the saga, and the soundtrack is too. John Williams outdoes himself in this saga-defining film.
4) Captain America: Civil War
For the longest time, MCU movies were fun and energetic films buoyed by great characters, action, and music. Then, Civil War came along and decided to be all of those things, plus the best acting performances in the entire franchise, one of the most relatable and compelling villains, and a story so well pace and structured that even non-superhero fans could enjoy it. It became the single best MCU film.
Robert Downey Jr and Chris Evans have never been better than this film, and the well-choreographed fight scenes have never been more visceral and fast-paced. Daniel Bruhl’s Zemo is so sympathetic you could almost root for him to win, and Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther is introduced to the franchise so spectacularly that they gave him a character arc so good his own solo movie couldn’t match it. This movie isn’t a summer popcorn comic movie. It’s truly cinema.
3) Kung Fu Panda 2
Just because a movie is made for children does not mean the movie has to only be worth something to children. The hallmark of a great kid’s movie is one wherein the adults can enjoy it just as much (sometimes more) than their kids. Pixar movies frequently highlight this concept, but in my eyes, no movie does it better than Kung Fu Panda 2, which receives my bid for the greatest animated movie ever (and the greatest sequel ever, at that).
This film takes everything that worked about the already incredible original, and multiples it. In every way it pushes the character arcs and themes from the original forward in organic ways, never once falling back on rote cliches or egregious repetition. It also pushes the boundaries of kids films, presenting a frequently tragic tale of violence and dark themes with the reverence it deserves, culminating in a sad but truthful moral of not letting the past define you. Also, the soundtrack is unbelievably amazing, as is the fight choreography. Just a perfect movie across the board!
2) Dark Knight
Batman Begins proved that movies focusing on the caped crusader didn’t have to be silly or nonsensical. Then, Dark Knight came along, honing that philosophy to perfection. This film is uncompromising in presenting a grim world and the criminal scum that live within it, alongside the heroes who fight to save it. At the same time, it’s also a startlingly hopeful film, as proven by the scene on the boat and the bittersweet ending.
This movie is great, but one obvious reason stands out to push this film to the heights of perfection: Heath Ledger’s Joker. Many people have praised this role in the past, and those words of adoration are true. His performance is undeniably amazing, as he effortlessly creates a funny yet terrifying villain you simply can’t forget. He’s worth watching this movie by himself, but thankfully the rest of the film is incredible alongside him.
1) Inception
The greatest movie I have ever seen. I’d heard the stories about how confusing and trippy this film was going in, and was prepared for a basic, mind-bending action movie. To be fair, the first two-thirds of the movie is exactly that, but the excellent cast, soundtrack, and creative special effects kept me thoroughly entertained.
But, then the ending happens, and the film was cemented as my favorite of all time. The last half hour is packed with frenetic shootouts, surprising reveals, and heightened drama. It all culminates in a surprisingly emotional twist, leading to an ending so indescribably fulfilling that I was left bawling (the heavenly soundtrack in the closing scene helped too). If you’ve never seen Inception before, please watch it. In no way will you regret it.
But hey, that’s just my opinion!
The Contrarian Corner 