These are the greatest films of all time.
#5.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Description: The Griswold family is at it again, this time around the holidays. Clark's plans for a good old fashioned family Christmas come to a halt once his relatives show up. To top that off, the Christmas bonus he needs to install the family swimming pool is nowhere to be found. This is Chevy Chase at his best in one of the classic holiday films of all time.
Why it's TOP 5: It's the only Christmas movie that you want to watch in July. And you don't even want to watch it cause you want to watch it just because it reminds you of Christmas. It's just a great movie. The jokes never get old. You could watch this movie 100 times and still get a kick out of the squirrel leaping out of the Christmas tree, or the cat electrocuting itself. It's one of those movies that everybody can laugh at no matter what age you are.
#4.
Description: After Tommy's dad dies, it's up to the screw-up son to save the family business. Tommy embarks on a road trip with his nerdy pal Richard in an attempt to sell enough brake pads to keep the Callahan factory open.
Why it's TOP 5: It's just plain funny. I'm not sure if I've ever watched the whole movie from start to finish, but I still love it. Whenever it's on TV you know you can just sit down and have a great time. Tommy Boy fulfills two of the main criteria for a TOP 5 movie. #1. You need to be able to watch it once a month and still be entertained by it. #2. You can watch any part of the movie and be entertained. This is critical. If a movie leaves you bored for 20 minutes at a time, it's just not TOP 5 quality. Tommy Boy nails both of these on the head.
#3.
Description: Greg was ready to propose to his girlfriend, until it came time to meet the parents. Her dad is an absolute psycho, and Greg isn't sure if he's ready to be related to this head case. This one brings the comedy of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation to the next level.
Why it's TOP 5: It's all about the little things with this one. The main gags are great, they would merit TOP 5 consideration by just by themselves. However, it's the little nuances of this film that give it the prestigious honor of the #3 slot. The characters are amazing. Just watch them, and try to pick up on all the small things, and you'll appreciate this movie a whole lot more. Watching this movie is better than "Puffing the Magic Dragon" anyday.
#2.
Description: Great plot here… Llyod Christmas finds the woman of his dreams when he drops her off at the airport for the limo service. When she "accidentally" leaves her briefcase in the airport, it's up to Llyod and his fellow idiot Harry to travel cross-country to return it. When you have two idiots traveling over 2,000 miles in a van that looks like a dog, you know you're in for a good time.
Why it's TOP 5: The funniest movie ever! You can't go thirty seconds in this movie without something funny happening. Jim Carrey is a his best in this film, and Jeff Daniels ain't too shabby either. This movie is funny on a lot of different levels, and like Meet The Parents, requires a very close look to truly appreciate all the little things. If there was one movie that I wish I could watch again for the first time, it would be this one. It's simply amazing.
#1.
Description: Andy Dufrense is wrongfully convicted of murdering his unfaithful wife. As a result, he is given a life sentence at Shawshank Prison. This movie details Andy's life behind bars. Andy's spirit changes the entire prison, and surprises everyone.
Why it's TOP 5: This movie takes the qualities of the other four, and puts it's own spin on it. While not a laugh out loud film by any means, The Shawshank Redemption is still amazingly entertaining. You can pick up from any point in the movie and within moments be completely wrapped up in the story. The characters are great. You either feel incredibly close to them, or you hate them. No other movie has such a fulfilling ending. To top it off, The Shawshank Redemption is an inspiring story. It's about the will to survive, even under impossible circumstances. The lessons learned by watching Andy are ones that everyone can benefit from.
