This idea for a blog entry came to me while I was sitting in a Starbuck's in Katipunan early this morning, while waiting to pick up my school uniform. I realized that I haven't written anything about movies in my blog, despite being the avid movie watcher, frustrated movie critic, and die-hard DVD collector that I am. I can't believe that I haven't professed my love of movies in this blog, ever!

So here I am, making a list of my favorite movies of all time. I believe you can tell a person by the kind of movies he/she watches. Let me know what you think of me after reading this list. I must admit that my taste in movies tend to fall under mainstream films. I don't pretend to watch art films just for the sake of bragging that I'm a cultured individual, although I have seen a few high-art films (and most of them have left me scratching my head most of the time). And I don't think that people would choose to watch art-films if they were the only form of media left in the world. That's just pretentious. I still think that the primary purpose of watching movies is to be entertained. So without any further explanation, here are my top 10 favorite movies that I wouldn't mind watching over and over and over.

1. The Lord of The Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring
2. The Lord of The Rings - The Two Towers
3. The Lord of The Rings - The Return of the King
These 3 films, I have to watch back to back to back. There's no other way to watch this masterpiece. When these 3 were released separately, I always watched the first showing of the first screening day. I cried at the end of The Return of the King partly because I realized that it was all over. The Lord of the Rings will mak you believe that anything can be done in the world of movies.

4. Seven Samurai - The best Kurosawa film in my opinion. Although this was a black and white film, the characterization and story-telling make up for all the color that the movie didn't have. This is a very enjoyable piece of film-making. If you're new to Kurosawa, I suggest you see this movie first.

5. The Shawshank Redemption - Watching this makes you feel like the luckiest man alive, especially after seeing what Andy Dufresne had to go through while incarcerated in Shawshank prison. Although based on fiction, this movie gives you hope even in the darkest of situations.

6. Cinema Paradiso - I'm not a big fan of romance movies, but this film made me want to fall in love. I cried at the scene when the boy - now an old man, watches scenes of different kissing and romance sequences that his old friend compiled for him. Truly heavy stuff

7. Kill Bill Volume 1 - This was the movie that introduced me to Quentin Tarantino. I had never heard of the guy before seeing this movie, but after this movie, I became a fan. I remember being enthralled and amazed at the black and white fight scene at the restaurant, as well as the anime sequence examining the origins of the Oren Ishii character. Really cutting edge stuff (no pun intended)!

8. The Sixth Sense - Who could ever forget the twist ending in this movie? I remember watching Sixth Sense in the theater with a bunch of friends, and we were seated in the front row. I remember a friend of mine crushed his drink cup (with the contents inside) when the kid ghost with the blown off head turned around.

9. Forrest Gump - Another inspiring piece that leaves you with a feeling of happiness after every viewing. This is a feel-good movie in the truest sense of the word.

10. The Godfather - Who doesn't love the Godfather?! The film that started the gangster movie trend. I also love The Godfather Part 2, but c'mon, without the success of this one, the second movie would'nt have been even made. I thoroughly enjoyed the final scenes when Al Pacino's character executes a revenge hit on their enemies.