A Thinker in Space

Today, we pick up where we left off last week with #140 on my list of top 160 movies! Just a few reminders: this list is in no way trying to say that these are the best movies of all time. They are not, not necessarily. These are simply my favorites, ranked by my own enjoyment of them. If I were to make a “best movies of all time” list, the order would significantly change!

If you’d like to go back to #160-141.

Without further ado, let’s dive into #140!

#140 – Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

There are quite a few MCU movies on this list (and quite a few that aren’t on it). Shang-Chi was an excellent movie – one of the few MCU films that has a nuanced antagonist instead of just some guy who is “evil”. Shang-Chi strikes an interesting balance of superhero battles and character development, and has some stunning visuals. It certainly earned its place on this list easily!

#139 – Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Beauty and the Beast is an animated classic, and one of the few original Disney movies to spend time developing the main couple’s relationship. The themes of love and redemption that are present in this film are powerful and timeless, and the story is dramatic and satisfying.  

#138 – Citizen Kane

I need to rewatch this movie. There was so much going on here that I feel I didn’t appreciate on my first viewing, and I am sure it would rise on a rewatch. But even on a first viewing, it was clear why this film was considered a classic. Character deconstruction, when done well, is incredibly interesting, and this is one of the best examples I’ve seen of it in film – tearing down a well-developed character piece by piece to get to the core of who they are. An excellent film worth watching if you haven’t and worth revisiting if you have.

#137 – National Treasure

National Treasure is such a fun movie. Growing up, this film alongside Night at the Museum (another great one that unfortunately didn’t make the list) were super popular as classroom viewings. Say what you want about Nicholas Cage as an actor – he gives an excellent performance in this movie. It has a true reverence for history and the men that founded our country that is rarely found in today’s media. As Cage says in the film – “People don’t talk that way anymore”. It also has a great sequel, and rumors of a third film perhaps? I am a fan of good-old-fashioned patriotism, and that is probably what moves me the most about this film. Of course, the heist is a lot of fun, and the action is well done. It is just, overall, an excellent movie that now that I’m writing about it probably should be higher on this list!

#136 – Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

Last list, I talked about Episode I. My feedback for Episode II is pretty much the same. Yes, it has loads of problems. Where Episode I has Jar-Jar, this movie has some truly winceworthy dialogue between Anakin and Padme. Their relationship is very interesting in theory, but there are some… difficult scenes to watch in this film. That was something Lucas improved on in spades in Episode III. However, despite those sequences, I love this movie, and return to it time and time again. I rewatched the ending of this movie over and over again, ad-nauseum. I loved the monster fight, I loved the beginning of the Clone Wars, and I loved the climactic fight between Yoda and Count Dooku. Even looking back at it as an adult, there was a lot that this movie did right, despite all of the places it missed the mark. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that this movie is what truly made me fall in love with Star Wars.

#135 – Meet the Robinsons

I do not hear people talk about Meet the Robinsons enough. Lots of people don’t even know what it is, and it’s such a shame. It was one of the few Disney (not Pixar) movies that were 3D animated before it became the new standard with Tangled in 2010. It was also the best one, with an excellent villain, and a meaningful story about gifted children and the danger of settling for mediocrity simply because you failed. It is a movie everyone should watch at least once!

#134 – The Princess and the Frog

The Princess and the Frog is a fantastic reinvention of the age-old princess-kissing-the-frog trope that is a letter to fans of Disney material who struggled with some of the picture-perfect fairytale plots Disney was so famous for. It successfully swapped tropes and created something interesting and unique that holds ground to this day. It also was the last major motion picture by Disney that was 2D animated, which is a huge shame, because it proved that the style still held up in today’s world. I would love to see another good 2D Disney movie (done well)!

#133 – Wreck-it-Ralph

Wreck-it-Ralph is another great movie that breaks tropes to create an interesting and engaging story. Ralph’s journey of chasing after accolades instead of self-worth is an excellent message relevant to the youth of yesterday, today, and tomorrow (not to mention adults). I actually really like the sequel to this movie as well, but it unfortunately did not make the list.

#132 – Finding Nemo

I forget how good Finding Nemo is pretty consistently. I don’t know why – I feel like I undervalue it as more of a kids movie than other Disney/Pixar films? But then I think about it and my response is inevitably “wait no that movie is actually really good”. Like most Pixar films, the struggles that these fish go through are real. Marlin’s internal struggle and overpowering desire to find his son, and his over-protectiveness being the very thing that drives Nemo away… it’s all very true-to-life and surprisingly raw for a children’s cartoon. It remains an excellent movie all these years after its release!

#131 – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

This complete list has a few hot takes, but this one is up there in causing controversy. Not because Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is where it is – I don’t think that would raise too many eyebrows. No, what raises eyebrows is the fact that Gene Wilder’s version is not anywhere on this list. I struggle with Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory for a couple of reasons, but the big one is at the core of the Wonka story – the fact that all off the other kids are hoisted by their own petard and fail the tests that Wonka gives them, but Charlie remains stalwart. In Willy Wonka, Charlie falls for his test and fails, making him just as bad as the rest of the kids. I did not like that on first watch, so the movie didn’t resonate with me.

Now don’t get me wrong – Willy Wonka is an incredible film. I seriously considered adding it to this list at the beginning, but decided against it, wanting to rewatch it first. Who knows? In the next edition it might be here.

But, pardon the potential blasphemy, it will never be above Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Tim Burton is not my favorite director. His movies are hit or miss for me, often leaning towards the gratuitous. But I love this movie. I thought (don’t hurt me) that Johnny Depp was incredible as Wonka, and that his madcap eccentricity nailed the role with style and a constant sense of unease. This movie has tons of rewatch value for me, and I find it just as enjoyable each time.

#130 – Aladdin

There are very few movies on this list that are mostly here because of one character. This one is. It would be much, much lower if not for one performance, and you can probably guess what it is.

Robin Williams absolutely knocks it out of the park as the Genie, stealing the show in every scene he is in. This movie actually has a couple of tropes I actively dislike (dude lies and it blows up in his face, sleazy and scummy bad guy who is unnecessarily creepy towards women) but the Genie single-handedly makes it a super enjoyable film to watch, making it my favorite Disney classic.

#129 – The Santa Clause

I didn’t watch The Santa Clause until my adulthood, but I instantly fell in love with it. This movie has a lot of charm, and tons of solid one-liners. Tim Allen is excellent in this film, and pretty much singlehandedly sells the outlandish concept to the audience. It’s a fun Christmas classic that I look forward to enjoying again and again.

#128 – Spider-Man

These movies were either far lower or completely absent from this list in its previous incarnation. But on a rewatch, I have come to appreciate them a whole lot more. My problem with these films is that A. Toby Maguire is… difficult to take seriously at times, and that B. Mary Jane Watson is the absolute worst. Which is unfortunate, because she is an excellent character in other media. But in getting distracted by those two detractors, I often forget all the things that make these movies shine, like an excellent supporting cast, captivating villains and a well-woven storyline. Spider-Man remains solid, and holds up even in the new era of superhero bloat, and Maguire’s take on the web-slinging hero is still enjoyable to dive into.

#127 – Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny got a bad rap on release, but I really enjoyed it. I thought it was a respectful return to the franchise, and effectively paid homage to one of the greatest fictional explorers of all time. I enjoyed the supporting cast, thought that the villain’s plan was fascinating and unique, and just altogether thought this was a solid continuation of the story. And after the absolutely atrocious Star Wars reboot we got within the past decade, it was nice to see Disney release a film that tells a good story while appreciating where the franchise came from.

#126 – Wonder Woman

This is probably the best DCU movie? Not that there are a ton of options to choose from, but Wonder Woman was the movie that, when released, had me wondering if the DCU was not doomed.

I was wrong, but at least this movie was good! Gal Gadot was perfect casting, and she stole the show as Wonder Woman in most of the content in which she showed up. Under better supervision with better writing, she could have been a great long-term Wonder Woman casting. As it is, she was a shining point in an otherwise drab and unfortunate series.

#125 – Doctor Strange

The most significant criticism of Doctor Strange is that it is just Iron Man with magic. And while… yes? this movie still remains pretty solid. I am a big fan of Benedict Cumberbatch, and I thought he was great throughout the MCU (with a notable exception being Multiverse of Madness which is an awful movie). Plus, the climax of this film is very original compared to most other MCU films, which is a huge plus.

#124 – Return of the Joker

Return of the Joker is the second (and possibly last) movie that is only on the list this high because of one character performance, and that is Mark Hamill’s Joker. The actual Batman Beyond portion of this film is actually much, much less engaging than the flashbacks – they are what make this movie stand out. The horrifying conclusion to the Joker’s time with Batman in the DCAU presented in this film is a scene that you will not soon forget, and the rest of the movie bookends it well, creating a satisfying package. Batman Beyond is a great show, and Terry’s role in this film is also very satisfying. It’s a shame we don’t get movies like this nearly as often from DC – there are so many great stories still to tell.

#123 – Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension

Anyone who knows me well knows that Phineas and Ferb is one of my favorite shows of all time. It’s one of the few shows that I feel hit that special type of perfection where there are no bad episodes, and the whole show is consistently enjoyable. The formula doesn’t get tired, because the creative team behind the show constantly reinvents the way the formula is introduced and had a willingness to break the rules they established almost immediately after showcasing them.

Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2^nd Dimension is just that for an hour and a half. Great humor, entertaining characters, an enjoyable story that actually feels like it has stakes… this movie was absolutely fantastic.

#122 – Jingle All The Way

Nobody can convince me to put this movie lower. You might be able to convince me to put it higher, though! Jingle All the Way is chaotic and bizarre. It is a movie that leaves you asking “what did I just watch?”, but in all the best ways and for all the best reasons. We watch this every year, and after a couple watches I fell in love with it, and look forward to sharing it with my kids!

#121 – Star Trek: First Contact

This is the only Star Trek movie on this list, unfortunately. I love the Star Trek series, and have watched most of the shows (still have a couple on the list)! In saying this, I need to address the elephant in the room – why Wrath of Khan is not on this list. Because it should be. It absolutely should be. The problem, though, is that I need to rewatch it to know where it falls. It is the same with a couple other movies that I really like but I don’t remember well enough to rank (looking at you, original Bourne trilogy). So for now, it is not here (but after a rewatch, it will be for sure!).

First Contact is a great movie. It is easily the best of the 4 TNG films, although I really love Generations (despite the justifiable criticism of the film), and Nemesis is solid. I actually enjoyed Insurrection as well (but it felt more like a three-part episode than a movie). But First Contact was the one that I felt most captured the spirit of Star Trek, and the exploration of the beginning of space travel (and the Borg!!) was excellent and had a ripple effect on DS9 and Voyager. I enjoyed this film greatly, and I wish I could rank it even higher (perhaps I would on a rewatch).

With that, #140-121 are done! Next, we look at #120-101. This has been a lot of fun for me to write, and I am very excited to keep moving! Let me know if there are any movies you think should be on this list, or what you think might be in the next twenty films!

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