I’ve had a lot of favorite movies over the years, many times it’s what’s popular and current in the theater (The Dark Knight, Avatar) but ultimately there are some films that even after the hype wears down, they still have the same effect as they did the day I first saw them. With that said, here’s El Director’s top five movies of all time (in no particular order)
1. Casino Royale – I’ve always been a James Bond fan growing up and the 2006 Martin Campbell reboot is perfect Bond. A grittier look at the character than what we’d seen before, the film still retains the polish of the James Bond series and old Hollywood. The film also introduced me to parkour when I read about it months before the film opened.
2. The Bourne Trilogy – On the opposite side of polish lays the Bourne franchise. Known for their brutal fights, conspiracy, and a character you actually care about, these three films have been a huge influence on me and my filmmaking.
3. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – Part three in the series, this film, for me, is a shining example of what an adventure movie should be. A treasure hunt in search of the holy grail, not only does Indy find the grail, but he finds a relationship with his estranged father, a treasure far greater than “the cup of a carpenter”.
4. When A Stranger Calls – Few films can keep me on the edge of my seat after I’ve seen them 10 times. This remake is one of them. I know what’s coming, but I still find myself almost yelling at Jill, “Watch out!”. The PG-13 rating of it also means that it’s more thriller than horror and it’s refreshing to know that films can still be even more captivating without blood and guts.
5. Leap: Rise of the Beast – I don’t list this one to be vain, I truly enjoy the film. I had a great time with the cast making it and now even over a year after it’s release I still haven’t gotten bored of it. From a technological standpoint, it is the first completed feature film using our camera, so it holds a small place in history too.
