Part 6 is filled with movies that defy age, from old classics, to relevant futuristic societies, to family-friendly fare that appeals to all ages.
51. Minority Report (2002)
The year is 2054, and the Washington D.C. police force is utilizing technology that allows them to stop murders before they happen and arrest would-be killers for pre-crime. When Chief John Anderton, head of the pre-crime division, is accused of pre-murder, he must go on the run in hopes of clearing his name. In many ways the movie’s vision of the future feels almost prophetic, with a depiction of privacy violations and commercialization of personal information that feels even more relevant now than it did back in 2002. Tom Cruise enthusiastically leads this sci fi mystery, full of action, twists, and questions about our existence.
52. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Despite how it may feel sometimes, institutional complacency and government corruption are not new concepts, as evidenced by 1939’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. When an active US Senator unexpectedly dies, do-gooder Jefferson Smith (Jimmy Stewart) is appointed to fill the seat. With no prior political experience, Smith heads to DC full of optimism, but he soon learns that government often doesn’t function as it should. Stewart carries the film wonderfully, exhibiting the optimism and steadfastness of a young man who is committed to doing what is right, even in the face of the most bleak circumstances. If you’re in need of a rousing feature that will restore your faith in humanity, this is the movie for you.
53. Mulan (1998)
This list has already covered 3 movies from Disney animation’s renaissance period, so why include a 4th? What does Mulan accomplish that the others don’t? True, Mulan’s visuals, songs, and entertainment value reach the (high) bar set by its predecessors without exceeding it, but this is one of the few Disney movies where the main character is also the best character. Mulan still boasts the great side characters that we associate with Disney, but Mulan’s strength, resolve, and humility stand front and center, enwrapping us in her journey from beginning to end. When our protagonist takes her father’s place in the military draft and heads to war, she is neither overly extraordinary nor dependent on a man. Her choice to leave home is exceedingly brave because of women’s exclusion from ancient Chinese military, but she doesn’t accomplish great things just because she’s a woman; she changed history because of who she is inside and who she chose to be, regardless of gender. And that, to me, is a character worth celebrating.
54. The Muppets (2011)
The once-huge muppet brand lay relatively dormant for more than a decade until 2011’s The Muppets burst on to the scene in what I believe is one of the best iterations yet. We follow young muppet Walter, super-fan of Kermit and the gang and adopted brother of human Gary. These 2, along with Gary’s girlfriend Mary, set out to bring the muppets back together and save Muppet Studios. The Muppets perfects the meta humor style of past muppet movies, full of gags, celebrity cameos, and one of the funniest songs I’ve ever heard: Man or Muppet. Walter’s outsider perspective is also very sweet and self-referential, as he introduces a new generation of moviegoers to our favorite furry friends, but also reminds the older generation of what made the muppets so special in the first place.
55. National Treasure (2004)
Following in a long line of adventure movies that play with history, National Treasure is one of the most fun entries in the genre. Historian Ben Gates (Nic Cage) follows in the footsteps of his grandfather and searches for a bounty of treasure that’s just as rich in historical significance as it is in gold and jewels. He and his friend/tech genius Riley discover a real clue to the treasure for the first time in generations, but so do a greedy group of mercenaries, so the race is on to find the treasure and preserve its long-lost history. Cage gives one of his most memorable performances as the headstrong Ben Gates, bringing just the right amount of fun, believability, and charisma. This movie is more interested in fun and adventure than crafting a believable wrinkle in history, so don’t take the premise too seriously, and I bet you’ll have a great time with this overlooked gem. Did I mention it’s fun? It’s fun.
56. North by Northwest (1959)
Hitchcock typically spends his time in the genres of horror and psychological dramas, so why not mix things up and make one of the best spy thrillers of all time in North by Northwest? Marketing guru Roger Thornhill’s (Carey Grant) ordinary day takes a major turn when he’s kidnapped by foreign spies who refer to him as George Kaplan. Thornhill escapes the spies and embarks on a journey to find out who this George Kaplan is. This movie has a little something for everyone: espionage, mystery, tension, and romance, all bundled in a tale that turns the spy genre on its head. Sharp writing, great direction, and terrific performances from Grant and Eva Marie Saint are all inconspicuous presences in Hitchcock’s stone-cold classic.
57. On the Waterfront (1954)
For years I heard the line “I could’ve had class. I could’ve been a contender.” but I didn’t actually watch On the Waterfront until about a year ago, and I’m here to say that a single quote could never do this movie justice. Marlon Brando delivers my favorite performance of his as wayward Terry Malloy, kid brother to an ascending member of the Boston mob, looking to make a quick buck at the docks. When Terry finds himself partially responsible for a mob-led murder, he must decide between doing what’s expedient and what’s right. Boasting smart dialogue that feels authentic and one of the best endings I’ve ever seen, On the Waterfront is indeed a contender; contender for one of my favorite movies of all time.
58. Paddington (2014)
Based on the acclaimed book series, Paddington is a rare combination of charm, style and wit that plays to audiences of all ages. The titular Paddington is a talking bear who travels from “darkest Peru” to London and is taken in by the Brown family. This feel-good comedy includes characters that are as colorful as the mesmerizing set design, all of which capture the kind and pure heart of Paddington himself. With strong themes of facing your fears and realizing who your family truly is, Paddington will leave you with a smile on your face and a pep in your step.
59. Pinocchio (1940)
The quintessential Disney classic, Pinocchio tells the didactic tale of a puppet come to life and his quest to shed his wooden shell and become a real boy. Jimmy Cricket marks the beginning of a long line of lovable Disney side characters that serve as mentors for our heroes, with this talkative little critter literally standing in for Pinocchio’s conscience. Don’t let its sweet main characters fool you; Pinocchio is a movie that’s not afraid to get weird, with a twisted amusement park and massive whale that both gave me nightmares as a kid. Tonally balanced, smartly constructed, and elevated by the song that became the company’s familiar theme (When You Wish Upon a Star), Pinocchio is a movie that’s completely unencumbered by the strings of time.
60. Franchise Spotlight: Planet of the Apes prequel trilogy
“Apes together strong!” Caesar, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Many a profitable film franchise has tried to reinvent itself by telling stories that take place before the main storyline, to the point where we coined the phrase “prequel.” Though frequently attempted, very few prequels have been well-received by critics and audiences, and, in my opinion, none of them got it right until the 2010s Planet of the Apes trilogy.
Before Charlton Heston discovered a planet inhabited by talking apes, this trilogy shows us how apes began to speak and act like humans and how humanity became nearly extinct, all through the eyes of ape-leader Caesar. Though impressive at the time, the 1960s face masks would not suffice to portray these talking monkeys, and instead we get incredibly lifelike motion capture performances, headlined by Andy Serkis, who did previous mo cap work as Gollum in the Lord of the Rings movies. Motion capture technology changed the film industry and blurred the lines between animation and human performance. Questions regarding mo cap performances are still happening today.
This trilogy could have easily fallen into the standard prequel traps, relying too heavily on what came before it and not creating its own unique story. But instead these modern Planet of the Apes movies create new characters that take us on an epic and somber quest to discover what it means to be a leader of men (or apes). It has interesting sci fi themes and exciting action scenes, sure, but what really makes this trilogy shine is the way in which we connect with a CGI monkey, and it feels so weird to type that, but give this trilogy a try, and I think you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.
Watch Order: Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and War for the Planet of the Apes
What did you think of Part 6? Let me know in the comments below, and be on the lookout for part 7 tomorrow!
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