David Lighthall's Top Ten Movies

The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Goldeneye (1995)

Thomas Crown Affair (1999)
   with Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo

Caddyshack (1980)
   probably on everyone's list

Back to the Future - Part I (1985)

Ghostbusters (1984)
   "I like this plan."

Dave (1993)
   "Everybody works."

Get Shorty (1995)
   John Travolta/Rene Russo/Danny DeVito/Dennis Farina

Blazing Saddles (1974)
   "a laurel and hearty welcome..."

Honorable Mention: Hunt For Red October, Analyze This, Pirates of the Carribean I, The King's Speech, American President, The Whole Nine Yards, Monsters, Inc.

Patrick Lighthall's Top Ten Movie List

Caddyshack (1980)

I’ve quoted this movie more than any other, and it lasts to this day on the course.

Boondock Saints  (1999)

I loved this movie in high school, it’s a guilty pleasure; Willem DaFoe is great in this.

Toy Story (1995)

I loved this movie as a kid, and it only makes it better that it’s from the superior brains that launched Pixar (saved Disney), and influenced all of computer graphic media today.

The Pacific/Band of Brothers (2010/2001)

I LOVE the storyline of Leckey in The Pacific and the locations, but I preferred the events of the European theatre in B.O.B.

King of Kong (2007)

Probably not the greatest documentary, but I love the retro video game theme and how all the people in it make me feel better about the amount of gaming I do.

PCU (1994)

Jeremy Piven at his finest.

A Mighty Wind (2003)

Christopher Guest performs incredibly during the singing parts.  Every time he does the folksy warble I laugh.

Goldeneye (1995)

Two Words: Xenia Onatopp.

Bourne Identity (2002)

I loved the action sequences in these movies, they stepped up the expectations for other action movies, including the popular newest Bond movies.

The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004)

“Do the interns get glocks?

Ann Armstrong's Top Ten Movies

These aren’t in any particular order. Viewing preference depends on my mood at the time. I could watch any of these over and over and in my book that’s the mark of good entertainment.

• Harry Potter (2001 - 2011) Daniel Radcliffe  

             Loved the books and the movies did a pretty good job following the written story. 

• Rear Window (1954) Jimmy Stewart

              Chilling every time I see it. 

• Harvey (1950) Jimmy Stewart  

             Gentle, whimsical and a little sad

 • The Sixth Sense   (1999)   Bruce Willis            

            Best twist ever

• Heart and Soul (1993)  Robert Downey, Jr.

            Robert Downey, Jr., for all his problems, can do just about anything.

• Star Dust (2007)  Charlie Cox

          I’m a sucker for fantasy, magic and a little romance.

• Remember the Titans (2000)  Denzel Washington

          Love rooting for the underdogs.

• Cool Runnings (1993)  John Candy

           How can you not love these guys?

• Star Trek   (2009)  Chris Pine

          Great casting.

• The Princess Bride  (1987)  Cary Elwes 

          Best quotes ever.

These are keepers too….

Star Wars - (the original) At the time the special effects were simply amazing. 

Just about any Disney and Pixar movie – How can you choose just one

It’s a Wonderful Life – Sappy but I love it.

Frequency

American President

Care Bear Adventures in Wonderland – The boys used to watch this over and over and the “Hats” song is just great fun. Watch it below.

I'm Mad About Hats (from The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland)

Richard Armstrong's Top Ten Movies

10. You've Got Mail - Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan

9. Dances With Wolves - Kevin Costner

8. Top Gun  - Tom Cruise

7. Notting Hill - Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant

6. Bodyguard - Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston

5. The American President - Michael Douglas and Annette Bening

4. Speed - Keanu Reeves

3. Message in a Bottle - Kevin Costner and Paul Newman

2. The Bourne series - Matt Damon

1. Green Berets - John Wayne

Lori McCarthy's Top Ten Movies

I have put some thought into this, but I'm sure I'm missing 

some good ones - although I've never been a big movie buff!

Here they are (not in any particular order):

1. Ferris Bueller's Day Off

 
2. Star Wars

Probably Return of the Jedi (I loved the originals (4, 5, 6) but haven't 

seen the new ones) 

 
3. Big Daddy

 
4. Tommy Boy

 
5. Shrek

 
6. The Sandlot

 
7. The Blind Side 

 
8. Top Gun 

 
9. Happy Gilmore

 
10. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

 

Runners-up:   Hoosier's, A League of Their Own, Varsity Blues, 

Toy Story, Slapshot, Major League, The Natural, Rudy

Scott Blecha's Top Ten Movies

#10 - Super Troopers (2001)

First watched this movie in college (might be the reason I found it so funny)

Mac: All right, how about "Cat Game?"
Foster: All right meow. (1) Hand over your license and registration.
[the man hands him his license]
Foster: Your registration? Hurry up meow. (2) 

Maybe not the funniest movie of all time, but one of the first ones to pop into my mind right meow.

# 9 - Cool Runnings (1993)

Sanka Coffie: Feel the rhythm! Feel the rhyme! Get on up, its bobsled time! COOL RUNNINGS!

What a great rally cry!

# 8 - Happy Gilmore (1996)

How can you not like a movie with Bob Barker fighting?

Happy Gilmore: [to Bob Barker] The price is wrong, bi***.

# 7 - Training Day (2001)

Just something fun about watching a corrupt cop getting what’s been coming to him

# 6 - Rounders (1998)

Another movie from college that really got me interested in poker

Teddy KGB: He beat me... Straight up... Pay him... Pay that man his money.

# 5 - Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995)

All the action of a Die Hard movie with some nice logic puzzles to make you think.  One of those late-night cable movies that I have to watch whenever it’s on…just try to use a 3 gallon and a 5 gallon jug to get exactly 4 gallons in the 5 gallon jug.

# 4 - The Patriot (2000)

Just a good movie to make you love America; with some blood and gore, of course.

# 3 - Tommy Boy (1995)

Too many good quotes to list…but one of my favorites:

Tommy: Fat guy in a little coat. Fat guy in a little coat.

# 2 - Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995)

A 5.7/10 on IMDB….is it wrong that it is so high on my list?  A good part that leads into my #1…

Fulton Greenwall: Yes, but to the natives... Shikaka.
[the Wachati chief and his son bow upon hearing the name]
Ace: Shikaka...
[they bow again]
Ace: Shikaka!
[they bow again]
Ace: Shawshank Redemption.
[they almost bow]

# 1 - The Shawshank Redemption (1994) 

No matter what time of day or what part of the movie, if it is on, I will watch it.

Andy Dufresne: Get busy living, or get busy dying.

Tammy Armstrong's Top Ten Movies

This list is a mix of feel-good movies that I could watch over and over, and movies that I really like but that I don't own or watch frequently. I apologize to all the movies to which I'm about to do a great injustice by omission; my recall of movies is apparently terrible. So in some ways, this is the top 10 of the moment - the bottom 3 get a bit iffy, in particular. I think it has some staying power, though.

1. Love Actually (2003)

The ultimate chick flick of all time. Star-studded cast, well-timed and well-balanced between the various storylines, AND you get to watch it as a Christmas movie or year-round.

2. The Dark Knight (2008)

This represents my love for comic book movies. I could have listed Spider-Man or Iron Man as they are also favorites, but Dark Knight is gloriously done. Seeing it for the first time while spending the summer in Chicago--after I had been there long enough to recognize things/places like Wacker Drive and CTA buses--made it that much sweeter.

3. Harry Potter (2001-2011)

Can we all agree that the series counts as one movie? Mom and I used to spend quiet weekend evenings watching one or the other of these movies - not intently watching, but chatting and catching up with the movies as background. They're kind of companion movies: comfort when you feel homesick or lonely. We could also place the Twilight movies in this category, terrible as they are.

4. Chasing Liberty (2004)This is probably a terrible movie. But it was my favorite chick flick as a teenager and has stuck with me. It also has a surprisingly excellent soundtrack. Also, Mark Harmon should probably play every teenage-daughter's father until he's 90.

5. The Incredibles (2004)

There's a wonderful warm feeling that immediately accompanies watching a Pixar movie. It was a tough call between this and Up! or the Toy Story movies, but The Incredibles won. A little romance, a little crime-fighting action, and a sweet theme of the importance of family.

6. Star Trek (2009)

I'm a bit of a Trekkie. This movie made it okay to admit that publicly for the first time. I could probably watch this once a month and still feel excited about it.  

7. Best In Show (2000)

When I was pretty young, my mom showed our Keeshond, Bandit. I remember traveling to shows, getting some ribbons/cups, and Bandit getting a reputation for drinking judges' coffee if they set their mugs on the floor next to their chairs. My parents, who were much more aware of the culture at the time, say this movie pretty accurately represents the dog show culture... and I imagine it translates for any type of competition/subculture like this. I love it for its ridiculous characters and for introducing me to the mockumentary.

8. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

It's been a long time since I've watched this one, but I can't imagine a more quotable movie--or one that has been quoted so widely for so long. Everyone has a favorite scene: I'm quite partial to the Knights Who Say "Ni!" (or later, "Iki-iki-iki-pa-TANG zoop! boing! wasaaaaa...").

9. Everything is Illuminated (2005)

This is one that almost didn't make it into the list because it doesn't lend itself to a lot of re-watching. It's not the most uplifting movie overall, and is one of the more serious movies on this list. I love that they give the perspective/narration to Alex, and the cinematography is wonderful. 

10. Mr. Nice Guy (1997)

Jackie Chan had to be on here somewhere. This one has him starring as a TV chef in Australia who gets mixed up in a spot of trouble and has to be awesome. As always, totally improbable but totally lovable.

Mike Armstrong's Top Ten Movies

I am following my Dad's format for choosing movies. He did post first so I think he deserves to set some kind of precedent. So, this list is weighted strongly towards rewatchability. Movies that I would always want to watch and could watch multiple times. Not the 10 best movies ever made, but probably my 10 favorite. 

For honorable mentions, there were many that were sitting just off the list for a while. It was pretty tough to trim down. I think the last three to be cut were Caddyshack, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and Indiana Jones: The Last Crusade. That last one was real difficult to cut. Sean Connery is great in that one. On to the list!
 

10. Young Frankenstein (1974)

Inga: Werewolf! 

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: Werewolf?

Igor: There.

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: What?

Igor: There, wolf. There, castle.

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: Why are you talking that way?

Igor: I thought you wanted to.

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: No, I don't want to.

Igor: [shrugs] Suit yourself. I'm easy. 

9. Wet Hot American Summer (2001)

Prof. Neuman:  You see, this is us, and we’re travelling around the sun– that’s a one-point-three million mile trip, every year! You might say that each and every one of us is a crew member here on ‘spaceship earth’…

 
Kid:  When would we say that?
 

Prof. Neuman:  Anytime… dinner… literally anytime.

8. Kung Fu Hustle (2004)

7. Brick (2005)

Laura: [On the phone with Brendan] Who is this?

Brendan Frye: I won't waste your time: you don't know me.

Laura: I know everyone, and I have all the time in the world.

Brendan Frye: Ah, the folly of youth. 

6. Animal Crackers (1930)

Capt. Spaulding:  One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I don't know. 

5. Princess Bride (1987)

Grandpa: It was ten days to the wedding. The King still lived, but Buttercup's nightmares were growing steadily worse.

The Grandson: See didn't I tell you she'd never marry that rotten Humperdinck.

Grandpa: Yes you're very smart. Shut up.

4. Robin Hood (1973)

 

Little John: [after sitting on Hiss] Oh, excuse me, Buster.

Hiss: Buster? You, sir, have taken my seat!

Prince John: [laughs] Hiss, with you around, who needs a court jester? 
 

 

3. Mirrormask (2005)

Helena: What's green, hangs on the wall, and whistles?…Have you found the answer yet?

Gryphon: I give up, I think, no wait, wait…fine. What's the answer?

Helena: Okay. It's a herring.

Gryphon: But a herring isn't green.

Helena: You can paint it green.

Gryphon: But a herring doesn't hang on a wall.

Helena: You can nail it to a wall.

Gryphon: But a herring doesn't whistle!

Helena: Oh, come on. I just put that in to stop it from being too obvious. 

2. Kung Fu Panda (2008)

 

"Quit, don't quit. Noodles, don't noodles."

1. Hot Fuzz (2007)

-Your predecessor assumed rural policing was easy. Ended up having a nervous breakdown, and Sergeant Popwell was an exceptional officer. Truly exceptional. But he had one thing you haven't got.

 

-What's that sir?

-A GREAT BIG BUSHY BEARD!"

 


 
  

John Armstrong's Top Ten Movies

My deciding question was, "What movies would I most want to watch on a Friday after work (if I worked) and wanted to be entertained?"  So here is my list.  I think going first means I will miss a bunch of movies that should be on my list, but like all things, if I wait until it's perfect, it will never get done.  I feel bad that I couldn't include The Sting, or Groundhog Day  or Ghostbusters, or the original Twelve Angry Men.  I even had to leave out Army Of Darkness, the Thunderstick edition.  Oh well, enjoy and welcome back to Marshmallow Fight. I love movies because they are quotable, so I included a quote for each movie. Each title is linked to a trailer or cover page from IMDB or YouTube.

10.  Matinee (1993)

General (watching half-man, half-ant climb up building): What do you call that thing?
Creature's former girlfriend:  Bill. 


9.  Big Fish (2003)


Ed Bloom: Having a kid changes everything. There's burping, the midnight feeding, and changing.
Will Bloom (his son): You do any of that?
Ed: No. But I hear it's terrible. Then you spend years trying to corrupt and mislead this child, fill his head with nonsense and still it turns out perfectly fine.
Will: You think I'm up for it?
Ed: You learned from the best.


8.  O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000)


General Store Owner:I can get the part from a Ford dealer in Bristol.  It'll take two weeks.  Here's your pomade.
Ulysses Everett McGill:  Two weeks! That don't do me no good. Hold on. I don't want this pomade. I want Dapper Dan.
Owner: I can order it. Take two weeks.
McGill: Well, ain't this place a geographical oddity. Two weeks from everywhere.


7.  Star Wars (1977)

Darth Vader: I find your lack of faith disturbing.

6. Sneakers (1992)


Cosmo:  There I was in prison. And one day I help a couple of older gentlemen make  some free telephone calls.  They turn out to be, let us say, good family men.
Martin Bishop: Organized crime?
Cosmo: Don't kid yourself. It's not that organized.


5.  Roxanne (1987)


Mayor: I would rather be with the people of this town than with the finest people in the world.


4.  My Favorite Year (1982)


Alan Swann: Damn you, I'm not an actor. I'm a movie star. 


3.  Running Scared (1986)


Captain Logan:  I hear you two watched them mop up the pancake today. You two weren't, uh, interrogating a suspect up on the roof, were you?
Ray Hughes: We got an alibi, Captain. Snake, tell him where we were or we'll kill you, too.


2.  Field of Dreams (1989)


Terrence Mann:  The one constant through the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game it's a part of our past, Ray.  It reminds us of all that once was good and could be again. 


1.  Princess Bride ( 1987)


Vizzini has just cut the rope the Dread Pirate Roberts is climbing.

Vizzini:  He didn't fall? Inconceivable.
Inigo Montoya: You keep using that word.  I do not think it means what you think it means.




Looking back on my list, I notice that seven of the ten movies fall during a roughly 10 year span of my (almost) 60 year life. Weird.

Please use the comment button below to let me know what you think of my list.

Please don't make me wait too long to see your list. You can e-mail them to me. You can pick a different format (you don't have to include quotes). You may want to explain why some of them are on your list.  It's up to you.  I will put in the links when I get your list. It will help if you put a year with each one, since some movie titles are reused.  Happy hunting!