The Must Haves: 100-91

Angry Nerd’s 100 Must Haves

Hello world! So I was roaming around some the other film blogs that I follow and I couldn’t help notice that I was the only one without some sort of all-time favorites list. Feeling left out, I started compiling a list of my ultimate favorite films and I would just like to apologize to you other film bloggers with these kinds of lists. I laugh a little in my head whenever I read something like, “This was really hard to bring together” because I sit and think, “How do you not know what your favorite movies are?” I’M SORRY. Much harder than I thought, because when it comes down to at least those top 20, you start thinking, “If I was on a desert island with a TV and surround sound…what could I not do without?”

Over the next 10 days I will reveal my 100 Must Have films, so without further ado… 100-91

#100—National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

Favorite Quote: “And when Santa squeezes his fat white ass down that chimney tonight, he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse.” –Clark

The Griswolds are gathering for Christmas and while they may have holiday relaxation on their minds, the universe has other plans.

Why not start of this list with a little laughter. Christmas Vacation will always be a special film to me. One of many comedies on this list that my father and I can still laugh and joke about even years after viewing it for the first time. I’d like to think that we all have a least a little Griswold in us, especially during the holidays.

#99—House of Flying Daggers (2004)

Favorite Quote: “You and I are just pawns on a chessboard.” –Jin

‘The House of Flying Daggers’ is a secret organization that is opposing the government during the Tang Dynasty in Medieval China. In an attempt to infiltrate this secret group,a police captain breaks a suspected member out of jail and help her back to her people. Though plans don’t always unfurl so easily.

This film became one of my favorites in the early 2000’s when I was going through my “I love all foreign films” phase. This and two another films on this list were the only ones that really stuck with me. I thought this film was very well acted and so beautifully shot. Of course, the action sequences where pretty amazing as well.

#98—Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001)

Favorite Quote: “Do you know how Florentine women ensure their husbands come home? Every morning they slip him a slow poison, and every evening the antidote. That way, when the husband spends the night away, he has a very bad night.”—Sylvia

Set in 1765, Brotherhood of the Wolf is a French film that follows two men sent by the King to a little country town in France to investigate a string of killings supposedly caused by a supernatural wolf.

Number two foreign film on my list and was pretty much a tie with #99 on this list, but this ultimately jumped ahead for the pure supernatural/mystery aspect of this film. Though not as much action as House of Flying Daggers, the film does feature some great martial art fighting scenes.

#97—My Cousin Vinny (1992)

Favorite Quote: “It is possible that the two yutes...”—Vinny;

                           “...Ah, the two what? Uh... uh, what was that word?”—Judge Chamberlin Haller

When two young men from New York City are arrested in the backwoods of Alabama for a crime they didn’t commit, they call the one lawyer they know…their cousin Vinny.

A great ‘fish outta water’ story mixed with some great humor makes My Cousin Vinny a great film to just sit and laugh with friends or a loved one. The final courtroom scene will always one of the funniest on screen.

#96—The Princess Bride (1987)

Favorite Quote: “Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder today. Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam...”-- The Impressive Clergyman

An unusual fantasy tale filled with romance, action, and of course ‘no kissing’. The story is told by a Grandfather to his ill grandson from a book passed on from generation to generation.

I’m certain that The Princess Bride on a lot of people’s favorite 80’s films and seems to be one of the most quoted by my generation. Every aspect of this film is great; the jokes, the romance, and even the sword fighting is wonderful.

#95—The Others (2001)

Favorite Quote: “Sometimes the world of the living gets mixed up with the world of the dead.”—Mrs. Mills

During the end of World War II, a mother and her children seem to be cut off from the rest of England and the world for the matter. However when a trio of strangers arrive to help the family, unexplainable things start to occur.

Let me try and be clear with this sentence, this film was creepy not scary. Creepy in a The Sixth Sense, mess-with-your-mind kind of way and not scary in The Shining-I’m gonna murder my whole family kind of way. The lighting and ominous colors of the film add to the eerie feeling you’ll get throughout this movie.

#94—Finding Nemo (2003)

Favorite Quote: “Sea-Monkey has my money…” –Dory

When his son is taken by divers off the Australian Coral Reef, a clown fish (not a very funny on at that) takes off on a journey to get his son back. Along the way he meets a cast of colorful characters and learns a thing or two about life.

Pixar has become the gold standard when it comes to family animation films and with Finding Nemo, Pixar cemented its place. This is one amazing emotional roller coaster with, in my opinion, the greatest sidekicks in all of cinema history. Warning for those who haven’t had the pleasure of viewing this gem…the first ten minutes is rough!

#93—Ex Machina (2015)

Favorite Quote: “Isn't it strange, to create something that hates you?”—Ava

Picked at random to help a Steve Jobs-like idealist with a secret project, a young programmer soon finds out that the project is to help determine if what the idealist built is going to pass as Artificial Intelligence.

This film blew my mind in terms of acting and ideology. The film asks questions on A.I on a more philosophical level that other films like it. I still feel that Alicia Vikander, who plays Ava, was robbed of at least an Oscar nomination for Supporting Actress.

#92—Confidence (2003)

Favorite Quote: “So I'm dead. And I think it's because of this redhead.”—Jake

A con man and his team accidentally steal money from a ruthless crime boss in Los Angeles. So how does a thief become square with an angry mobster? Pull another job and give him a cut.

I love these type of con/misdirection type films that throw you for a loop at the end of the film. This one is the list mainly for the witty dialogue and above average acting from an awesome cast.

#91—Fargo (1996)

Favorite Quote: “I'm not sure I agree with you a hundred percent on your police work, there, Lou.”—Marge

When a car salesman decides that he needs some extra money, an awkward journey of kidnapping and murder ensue. Here to put the pieces of this mess together is the Inspector Clouseau-like policewoman that just happens to be pregnant.

I always thought that this was a weird black comedy, but in a good way. I loved the offbeat humor and the acting of this Coen Brothers film. To this day, I still wonder if my wiring is screwed to find a film so violent being so funny. Oh well…

Well that is the first 10 films. Please let me know what you think, if you agree or disagree, things like that. Stay tuned tomorrow when I unveil numbers 90 through 81.