5. The Shawshank Redemption. It might not be the most eventful of films, in a sense, but the acting is amazing and the story of Andy and Red is captivating, as they go through decades in prison, experiencing the corruption behind the walls, and even the lives of prisoners after they have been released. The scene with the ex-prisoner hanging himself is pretty damn upsetting.
4. Scott Pilgrim vs The World. Never really liked Michael Cera in Juno and Superbad (just found him annoying), but he was perfect for the role of Scott Pilgrim. Edgar Wright did something different with this film, and whilst the box office didn't sway in his favour, I did. It felt like you were watching a comic book come to life, which no other comic book adaptations (to my recollection) have managed to do.
3. Inglourious Basterds/Pulp Fiction. Couldn't think of just one, so they're both my third favourite films. Tarantino is a genius, period. He makes conversations interesting on-screen, whilst other films would make the audience walk out if they tried to put a 20 minute conversation between a German and a Frenchman on-screen. Seeing as the German is an infamous Nazi and the Frenchman is hiding a family of Jews under his floor, you can see why the conversation is just as intense as any fight scene. Pulp Fiction is unique. I mean, what other film kills off some of its main characters with no build up whatsoever and the audience not knowing what the hell is going on? Also, Samuel L. Jackson is a badass ************.
2. Shaun of the Dead. I am somewhat an Edgar Wright/Simon Pegg/Nick Frost fanboy, so their work is always gold. Fried gold, that is! This is the first in the Blood and Ice Cream Trilogy (excessive violence and Cornettos!), and it shows how slackers are the most prepared for the zombie apocalypse...despite doing a lot wrong to survive. Like leaving the front door unlocked. Or answering their phone when they're pretending to be an undead. And using the fruit machines when they're in a pub surrounded by the undead. The dialogue is hilarious, as is the scene with Simon Pegg's Shaun walking to the shop on the day of the undead rising, not noticing anything wrong, such as the bloody handprint on the fridge door in the newsagents and the undead homeless person approaching him. Genius.
1. The Dark Knight. Heath Ledger's last role, and also his best. The Joker was sadistic, unsympathetic and downright scary, and Ledger brought that to the role. He tested Christian Bale's Batman more than he had been tested by both the Scarecrow and Ra's Al Ghul, and he even broke a man who couldn't be broken in bringing justice to Gotham City, thus bringing about Harvey Two Face (who was underused but YAY! TWO FACE!). The action scenes are amazing, as is the Joker's plan to blow up two boats full of criminals and civilians by testing their strength not to push the button. It's tense, it's scary, and if The Dark Knight Rises matches it or even surpasses it, then I will be blown away.
