40 Movies Everyone Needs to See

Some people have a favorite movie. Others, like myself, can’t pick just one. There are some movies that everyone needs to see at least once whether you’re a connoisseur of the big-screen or not.

One of my goals in life is to watch every Best Picture winner since the first Academy Awards in 1927. I’m a little over a quarter of the way through over 80 years of the best of film.

I compiled a list of 40 movies (in no particular order) from all genres and decades that I think are the best of the best. It was difficult to whittle the list down to a whopping 40, but not every good movie is a “must-see.” Which movies would you add to this list?

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•  "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" (1998)

• "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994)

• "The Godfather" (1972)

• "Pulp Fiction" (1994)

• "Fight Club" (1999)

• "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (1975)

• "Goodfellas" (1990)

• "The Departed" (2006)

• "Casablanca" (1942)

• "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991)

• "Forrest Gump" (1994)

• "The Shining" (1980)

• "Back to the Future" (1985)

• "Full Metal Jacket" (1987)

• "Some Like It Hot" (1959)

• "The Sting" (1973)

• "The Big Lebowski" (1998)

• "Jaws" (1975)

• "The Wizard of Oz" (1939)

• "Scarface" (1983)

• "Good Will Hunting" (1997)

• "The Graduate" (1967)

• "Star Wars" (1977)

• "Rear Window" (1954)

• "American Graffiti" (1973)

• "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969)

• "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" (1982)

• "Dr. Strangelove" (1964)

• "Wall Street" (1987)

• "Thelma and Louise" (1991)

• "Caddyshack" (1980)

• "Office Space" (1999)

• "The Sandlot" (1993)

• "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" (1986)

• "American History X" (1998)

• "The Rock" (1996)

• "Blazing Saddles" (1974)

• "Animal House" (1978)

• "Beverly Hills Cop" (1984)

• "Good Morning, Vietnam" (1987) 

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Check out AFI's movie lists

'The Perks of Being a Wallflower'

The book “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” came out in February of 1999. This was the first book I could say I actually liked and read more than once. Now, it has been adapted to a movie and is set to come out Sept. 21, 2012.

The story is about a teenager going by the alias of Charlie, who is writing a series of letters to an anonymous "friend." Charlie is a shy, unconventional wallflower starting high school until he befriends a couple seniors who introduce him to life.

Stephen Chbosky who wrote “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” also wrote the screenplay and directed the film adaptation. This gives me some hope that the movie will do the book justice, but I still won’t be seeing it.

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I feel seeing Chbosky’s interpretation of the characters will ruin the connection I have with the first book I liked when I was 11 years old. Emma Watson, Ezra Miller and Paul Rudd aren’t even close to how I picture Sam, Patrick or Bill.

My other favorite book, “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” was also made into a movie. But it follows the book line for line and is a perfect representation bringing the book to life. Johnny Depp plays Raoul Duke perfectly and you can’t imagine it any other way.

English teacher April Milow said, “As an educator of young students, I am torn about books being made into movies. Very few movies based on books have lived up to the same quality experience that individuals get from reading and by using your imagination, visualizing, and predicting.”

Milow was extremely disappointed when one of her favorite books, “The Lovely Bones” was transformed for the big-screen. The different levels of heaven were omitted, which is a key part illustrated by the book.

Charlie’s mix tapes are a central element of “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.” It's impossible for all of these songs to be included due to cost. Modern tracks to fill in the gaps won't fit.

Charlie's Mix Tape Infographic by Kelly Sterner

“The author chose those songs for a reason,” said college senior Kelly Campbell. “This issue is particularly important to me because I have a soundtrack to my own life, and I choose those particular songs because they fit a mood or time well.”

Books to movies are a hit or miss. Most of the time people don’t even realize a movie was based off of a book unless it’s a high profile publication like the “Bourne” series or “Harry Potter,” just like a lot of people aren’t aware they are seeing a remake.

I’m sure this movie will create a slew of bandwagon fans. There’s nothing I despise more than bandwagon fans. Being a Colorado Rockies fan since birth, I know a lot about the old bandwagon.

It will be an interesting mix of 20-somethings who read the book when it came out, and teenyboppers who don’t know there is a book, when “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” hits theaters. Sadly, people probably won’t read the book now that there’s a movie.

Infographic by Kelly Sterner

A lot of things can go haywire when a book is adapted to film. This book has some of the best quotes I have ever read and I hope they are preserved. I wish “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” the best of luck and I hope it stays true to the original.

Why, Soitanly… Not

The Three Stooges are being brought back for a new generation. Film lovers aren’t thrilled about the classic slapstick trio being brought back because it’s only in name. Only the film makers and people who don’t know The Stooges will be filling movie seats for this disaster.

The premise of the new “The Three Stooges” is that Larry, Moe and Curly are trying to save their childhood orphanage, but accidentally stumble into a murder plot and wind up starring in a reality TV show.

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Why is the cast of “Jersey Shore” being mixed with The Stooges? The orange crew may be a joke, but being a joke and being comedic are two different things. F-list celebrities shouldn't comingle with the spirit of A-list comedy.

According to Kofi Outlaw from Screen Rant, at one time Sean Penn was going to play Larry, Benicio Del Toro would play Moe, and Jim Carrey would play Curly. This might have been a good combination. But, for one reason or another, each of them bowed out.

The Stooges are who the original Larry, Moe and Curly were. They didn’t dabble in theater, sitcoms, or play a variety of roles from drama to chick-flicks. They did slapstick sketch comedy and no one did it better. The Three Stooges even have their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They are comedy legends.

What they built should be preserved, not re-packaged. Comedy doesn’t exist in the same way which makes this movie feel out of place and forced. Dumb and Dumber were the closest thing to The Stooges of our time, and that's pretty far-fetched.

Any attempt at recreating what Larry, Moe and Curly did will end in an insult to The Stooges. You can’t do it better, so why do it at all? I wish Hollywood wise guys would learn that you just don’t mess with a good thing.

‘Titanic’ 3-D

The 1997 Best Picture winner is making its triumphant return to theaters in 3-D on April 4, just in time for the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s tragic evening. Whether you love it, hate it, or secretly love it but keep it to yourself, no one can deny how good “Titanic” really is.

For some, it seems to be the song that turns them off. You’re not alone. According to Yahoo!, hearing “My Heart Will Go On” even triggers Kate Winslet’s gag reflex. A song featured in the credits is no reason to dismiss the entire movie. I decided to share a few interesting facts about the movie from TitanicUniverse and IMDB to remind people why “Titanic” deserves all of its praise.

• James Cameron actually went to the Titanic wreck and filmed using underwater cameras. He ended up spending more time with the ship than its living passengers did.

• Most of the decor was constructed by the companies who did the construction for the actual Titanic.

• "Titanic" was the first movie to have a budget of $200,000,000 and is the most expensive movie to be filmed in the 20th century.

• "Titanic" was the highest grossing film ($1,843,201,268 worldwide) until James Cameron released "Avatar."

• When Rose meets Jack on the Grand Staircase at the end, the time on the clock is the same time the ship sank.

• Harland and Wolff, the Belfast shipyard who built the Titanic in 1909, opened up their private archives to the production, sharing blueprints that were long thought lost.

• Kate Winslet says Jack 80 times. Not even rivaling how many times Al Pacino says his favorite four-letter-word in “Scarface,” which is a whopping 226 times.

• 300 computer artists spent 750,000 man hours to give "Titanic" a third dimension, according to ABC News.

With the new trend of bringing back old favorites to theaters in 3-D, it got me thinking of other movies I’d like to see make a high-tech comeback. After we see “Titanic,” how amazing would it be to see “Jaws” or “The shining” with a pair of 3-D glasses?

‘80s Sequel News

If it’s not an ‘80s remake it’s a sequel. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the 1988 movie “Twins,” which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito as two polar-opposite brothers, is possibly expanding the experimentally conceived family a bit further. 

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In the proposed sequel, “Triplets,” Julius and Vincent would discover they have another brother – Eddie Murphy.

It used to be that any movie Murphy was in was classic. However, these days we don’t get “Beverly Hills Cop” or “Trading Places,” we get “Norbit.”

I like “Twins,” but I don’t know if a sequel would be successful. The original fits with the character of ‘80s comedies and the stars were different people then. A modern take on Julius and Vincent after Schwarzenegger’s indiscretions and DeVito’s “It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia” antics would be weird.

But, in a time when Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter are continuing their excellent adventure with a "Bill and Ted 3" script currently in the works, anything can happen.

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In more troubling movie news, another ‘80s classic is being eyeballed for a continuation. According to David Hinckley from NY Daily News, the writer/directors of “American Reunion” have signed a “first look” deal with Universal Pictures. This allows them to pick movies from the Universal library and propose remakes, variations or sequels, and they have their eye on "Back to the Future"

What would happen to the DeLorean?

Hopefully Bob Gale, Steven Spielberg and director Rob Zemeckis, hold onto the rights to this movie like it’s the last golden ticket to the chocolate factory.

I’m not sure why film makers see it as their duty to either remake, or continue on in an obscure fashion, the movie franchises we love. For now, we wait and see which ideas will sink, which ones will swim, and which ones will belly flop if they make it to post-production. 

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‘Beetlejuice’ Sequel

"Say it once... Say it twice... But we dare you to say it THREE TIMES"

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Tim Burton’s 1988 classic movie, “Beetlejuice,” has had a sequel rumor for years, but now it looks like it will finally happen. According to Collider.com, Seth Grahame-Smith, will be writing the screenplay. Also, Grahame-Smith confirmed that Michael Keaton would return to star as Beetlejuice and Burton would produce.

When I think of “Beetlejuice” I think of quirky characters, the Danny Elfman score, and the classic dinner party scene.

“The thing that Tim and Michael and I all agree on, and is most important for me is, I don’t wanna be the guy that destroys the legacy and the memory of the first film; I would rather die,” said Grahame-Smith.

It’s nice to know that some filmmakers still have respect for the originals. Grahame-Smith stresses that it’s not a remake or a reboot, but a true sequel.

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According to Collider.com, the film will account for the time-lapse from the original movie. “What’s great is that for Beetlejuice, time means nothing in the afterlife, but the world outside is a different story,” said Grahame-Smith.

According to IMDB Trivia, “Beetlejuice” is Keaton's favorite film of his own. It’s not surprising he would want to be a part of the sequel. “Beetlejuice” had an all-star cast including Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis as the recently deceased ghosts Adam and Barbara, Catherine O'Hara and Jeffrey Jones as Delia and Charles Deetz, and Winona Ryder as the peculiar Lydia.

I can’t wait to see who else from the original cast will jump on board as time passes and the script becomes more concrete.

I have no doubt this will be a movie worth seeing. There’s something exciting about a sequel taking place 26 or 27 years after the original.

TMNT… not ANT

When I was a kid, rainy Saturday afternoons consisted of whipping out the ‘80s cartoon “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle” VHS tapes for a marathon. My brothers and I would sing along to the catchy theme song exuding our own turtle power.

I’m with all of the outraged TMNT fans after learning of Michael Bay’s plans to change the Ninja Turtles from mutant, pizza-eating, sewer-dwelling teenagers to aliens. This is not thinking outside the box. Bay squished the box and set it on fire.

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Saying Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael are aliens waters down their cool back-story of radioactive ooze. Bay can make a story about alien turtles all he wants. Just don’t drag the ninja turtles into it.

I wonder what his plan is for Splinter, the mutant-rat martial arts master who teaches them to be ninjas.

According to The Guardian, Bay said, “Kids are going to believe one day that these turtles actually do exist when we are done with this movie. These turtles are from an alien race and they are going to be tough, edgy, funny and completely lovable.”

Stuart Heritage from The Guardian said it best saying, “They're called the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, not the Teenage Alien Race of Turtle-like Creatures Who Happen to Know Ninja.”

Bay needs to stick to movies like “Bad Boys” and “Pearl Harbor” and stop ruining our childhoods one misinterpretation at a time.

I think I speak for all TMNT fans, young and old, when I say I hope that this idea stays in its shell, never to make its way out of the sewer.