91. The Dark Knight
Year: 2008
IMDB rating: 9
Awards: 2 Oscar Awards
The Story: Batman’s intentions are to eradicate crime from the streets of Gotham once and for all, with the help of lieutenant Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, but a new threat is on the loose, as criminal mastermind The Joker terrorizes people of Gotham, following his own hidden agenda.
Why is it on the list: Because Heath Ledger made a hell of an awesome Joker, paying the price with his life. Because it may not be as dark as the last movie in the series, but it exploits brilliantly the characters’ deep emotions and motivations. Because out of the entire Batman series, this one may be the most well – acted, well directed and well constructed in terms of atmosphere, special effects and suspense.
Quintessential quote: “Oh, you. You just couldn’t let me go, could you? This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. You truly are incorruptible, aren’t you? You won’t kill me out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness. And I won’t kill you because you’re just too much fun. I think you and I are destined to do this forever.” (The Joker)
92. 2001: A Space Odyssey
Year: 1968
IMDB rating: 8.3
Awards: 1 Oscar Award
The Story: Set on a quest to evolution, humanity travels to the moon’s surface to identify a strange object that might have been involved in mankind’s evolution itself, but a computer seems to stand in their way.
Why is it on the list: Because it was spectacular back in the day, a book adaptation with a lot of risks of not rising to the expectation and a new step in cinema history and the sci – fi genre. It was the greatest movie of all times then and it still now deserves a place among the movies with great impact on the public, the critics and the world of science – fiction. It was a visual odyssey, even baring a message and a lesson, an ode to humanity and a masterpiece that will stand the test of time.
Quintessential quote: “Let me put it this way, Mr. Amor. The 9000 series is the most reliable computer ever made. No 9000 computer has ever made a mistake or distorted information. We are all, by any practical definition of the words, foolproof and incapable of error.” (HAL 9000)
93. Indiana Jones
Year: 1981 – 2008
IMDB rating: 7 – Average for the entire series
Awards: 6 Oscar Awards
The Story: Indiana Jones is an archaeologist and an adventurer who travels the world digging up mysteries and saving the day.
Why is it on the list: The saga of Indiana Jones deserves a place in any top movies list, and probably people would end up in dispute regarding which movie was better. However, it really doesn’t matter which movie in the series was better, as the saga per whole is a cult classic in cinematography, placing Harrison Ford among the stars of contemporaneity, as he is an icon in what comprises world – spread adventures, action scenes, humor and wits. Because it became a reference, a pillar of international cinematography, with a forever young Indy and new and new mysteries to be unraveled. Because we can’t wait to see the next film and let ourselves be taken away for a new suspenseful journey.
Quintessential quote: “It’s not the years, honey, it’s the mileage.” (Indiana – Raiders of the Lost Ark)
94. The Jungle Book
Year: 1967
IMDB rating: 7.6
Awards: 1 Oscar Nomination
The Story: Mowgli is a little boy lost in the jungle and nurtured by the animals, with Baloo the Bear and Bagheera the Panther as authority figures in his life. But the little boy has to go live with his own people into civilization, while a fearless beast, Shere Khan the Tiger is hunting for his blood.
Why is it on the list: For the obvious reason that this is a cult classic for animation movies, with a story that became immortal and a bunch of characters we still love to watch. Because you know the lyrics of “Bare necessities” by heart and if you have children, this is one of the first animation movies they will watch. Because it is a story about friendship, loyalty and sacrifice that can be told and re-told a thousand times without wearing off.
Quintessential quote: “Man village? They’ll ruin him. They’ll make a man out of him.” (Baloo)
95. Dogville
Year: 2003
IMDB rating: 7.9
Awards: –
The Story: Grace is a young woman who arrives one night in the small town of Dogville, where she seeks refuge from the town’s people, as she needs to hide from an accusation she didn’t commit. She receives shelter in exchange to help the people in the town with some of their chores, but as time passes by and the local Sheriff keeps delivering worrying news about the fugitive, Grace starts to pay bigger and bigger prices for the silence she benefits of, turning into the slave of the community. But not everything is what it seems to be.
Why is it on the list: Because Lars von Trier is a strange director with strange ideas and this minimalist, dark and creepy movie takes the cake. Because it doesn’t have anything as scenery, just acting. Because it exploits the monster within each individual, the corruption that lies within us all, the hypocrisy and the evil that can turn a good intention into a road to Hell. Because Nicole Kidman acted very skilfully and because the movie is both slow, disturbing and mind blowing, for the ones with enough patience and guts to see it until the end.
Quintessential quote: “All I see is a beautiful little town in the midst of magnificent mountains. A place where people have hopes and dreams even under the hardest conditions.” (Grace)