Great Movies from A to Z
Hugh Grant Played an Immature Adult Who Needed a Kid to Help Him Come to His Senses in the Film, About a Boy
D through F
Dallas Buyers Club - In this Matthew McConaughey film that took in three Oscars and several Academy Awards the audience is taken back to 1985 when AIDs just started to spread rapidly across the United States. Matthew McConaughey plays is an electrician and hustler who helps medicate those with HIV after he, himself gets diagnosed.
E.T. - Raking in an astonishing gross profit of over $300 million, E.T. is a sci-fi classic that hits home to all of our inner child. Released in 1982, this story of a friendly alien and a child is an absolute must watch.
Forrest Gump - A Tom Hanks classic, Forrest Gump is a touching tale of a man who may not be the smartest, but can accomplish almost anything he wants. The movie was released in 1994, bringing in over $10 million opening weekend alone.
A through C
About a Boy - Starring Hugh Grant, About a Boy was a heartwarming tale about how even the most immature adult can find a better path when his intentions are in the right place. When a single mother and her son move into the neighborhood, they move their way into Hugh Grant's heart in this 2002 box office smash that wound up grossing over $40 million.
Beautiful Mind - Russell Crowe put on the performance of a lifetime in A Beautiful Mind, playing the role of a genius schizophrenic. The movie follows him through a sad spiral downhill as he very accurately portrays the struggle a mental illness can have on a person. Surprisingly, this movie didn't do so well right out the gate, but as of today, A Beautiful Mind has grossed close to $200 million.
Clueless - Debuting in 1995, this quintessential 90s flick grossed over $10 million its first week in theaters. Still popular today, Clueless is the story of Alicia Silverstone as a rich girl from California as she finishes up high school and embraces cliché social situations that are so lame you can't help but laugh.
Leonardo DiCaprio Stole the Show as Jay Gatsby in This Movie Adaptation of an F. Scott Fitzgerald Classic
G through I
Great Gatsby - One of the decades best movies yet, The Great Gatsby would have made F. Scott Fitzgerald proud. A movie based on a well known novel, the bar was already high before the movie went into production, after release, that bar was blown away. Not only was this one of the best scored movies, it was also one of the best casted movies, and the most eloquently produced movies of all time. Leonardo DiCaprio and Toby McGuire stole the show, fitting the roles of Gatsby and Nick Carraway, the movie takes you back to the time of the Great Depression, serenaded by beautiful songs produced by hiphop star Jay-Z.
Hannibal - Directed by Ridley Scott, this horror film starring Anthony Hopkins and Julianne Moore from 2001 is one of the best movies I have ever seen. As a lover of true horror, not gore, this movie is well scripted, beautifully cast, and will keep you at the edge of your seat from beginning to end!
Ice Age - Released in 2002, this adorable film about a crazy mix of animals banding together to help save each other is so well done it can melt the iciest of hearts!
The Lion King Started as a Book, then Became a Movie, and is Now a Broadway Play
Are any of your favorite movies on my list?
J through L
Jumanji - Jumanji is yet another Robin Williams classic. In this 90s hit, a group of children realize that they signed up for more then they realized when a board game they are playing comes to life. In order to save themselves, and the rest of the world, they must beat the game.
Kill Bill - Not for the weak of heart, Kill Bill is a thriller starring Uma Thurman who seeks revenge against a group of assassins.
Lion King - The Disney movie that almost everyone has seen, Lion King was a book, a movie and now a Broadway play. A lighthearted tale about the search for identity, Lion King is a great movie for people of all ages.
M through O
Mulan - An incredible Disney tale about a female warrior on a mission to prove that she can keep up with the guys, Mulan is a beautiful tale of how anyone can accomplish something if they set their mind to it.
The Neverending Story - If you have never seen this movie, boy are you missing out! The Neverending Story is literally a movie you don't want to end. The movie follows a troubled boy as he dives into a wonderous fantasy world through the pages of a mysterious book. This movie was the first of a trilogy.
Ocean's Eleven - With an all-star cast consisting of George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts, Ocean's Eleven is also the first in a trilogy that shook the box office. High-rolling thieves and masterminds, the cast of Ocean's Eleven join together to take down a casino in this funny thriller movie.
P through R
Patch Adams - Patch Adams was a Robin Hood blockbuster smash that earned $25 million during opening week and $150 million in total profits. This 1998 classic is about a doctor who loves what he does and finds a unique way of connecting with his patients.
Quantum of Solace - Bringing in over $150 million since it was released at the end of 2008, this James Bond movie revolves around love, death and revenge. Well made and produced, Quantum of Solace was casted beautifully and is well worth the watch.
Rain Man - This award winning hit starred Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise premiered in 1988, raking in almost $10 million during opening week, with a gross profit to date of well over $100 million. The story follows two lost brothers after their father passes away and is truly a film that everyone must watch.
On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest, how big of a movie fan are you?
S through V
Shutter Island - Okay, I realize that Leonardo DiCaprio is getting a lot of love on this list, but that is because he is the King Midas of movies. Everything he touches turns to gold, including the smash hit Shutter Island, a movie about a schizophrenic as he questions what is real and what is not.
The Terminal - Just like Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks is an actor in a league of his own. The Terminal, released in 2004, told the tale of a foreigner who found himself stuck in an airport terminal due to war in his home country. Humorous, sad, yet harmwarming all at the same time, The Terminal is just one more reason Tom Hanks is a legend.
Up - Catering to the child in all of us, Up is the story of a boy and an old man soaring through the skies via balloons tied to a string. Whimsical, funny and heartwarming, Up is a movie everyone must see at least once.
V for Vendetta - A fantastic film conveying the power of the people over the government, V for Vendetta is a movie that will likely inspire people for decades to come. Released during a time of political unrest across the globe, V for Vendetta was a film that captured the anger of the public towards their tyrannical government.
W, X, Y and Z
We Are Marshall - Matthew McConaughey stole the hearts of the audience in this 2006 film about a football coach that tries to keep a team together after the death of their teammates. Heartbreaking, heartwarming and beautiful all at the same, We Are Marshall can't be missed.
X-Men: The Last Stand - A Marvel comic book brought to the big screen with big name actors, X-Men The Last Stand was a fantastic adaptation that grossed over $100 million.
You've Got Mail - Released in 1998 and starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, You've Got Mail is a romantic comedy that warmed the hearts of millions when it was released.
Zodiac - Starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jake Gyllenhaal, Zodiac told the story of a man obsessed with tracking down the Zodiac killer, a real serial killer famous for haunting the San Francisco Bay area.
© 2014 Kathleen Odenthal
