Movies you should see
A good movie can take us somewhere else. It can inspire us, make us think and hopefully leave us in a better place. A good movie can also be the perfect way to relax and unwind. To help you find something special, I’d like to introduce a selection of my favourite movies. I grew up with them, they mean a lot to me and I'm sure they could mean a lot to you too.
Airplane
It’s hard to think of a funnier movie. If you wanted an example of a near-perfect comedy script, it would be hard to beat this one. It just keeps hitting you with hilarious soundbites and situations.
I honestly don't think you can watch this movie enough.
Airplane set the standard for surreal spoof movies. It’s perfectly paced, with an endless procession of some of the funniest lines, scenes and parodies you’ll ever see on film.
This is a movie that’s always been with me. I’ve lost track of the times I’ve sat through it, but I never get tired of it.
For me, it’s a great movie to put on if I just want to feel better. It takes me back to all those times I sat through it growing up. The best thing for me is that it always feels fresh when you see it and you’ll probably notice something new.
Just don’t be put off by the tired imitations that followed it. They really don’t make them like this anymore.
Nothing even comes close to this movie, and I’m pretty sure nothing ever will…
The Empire Strikes Back
How do you improve on one of the greatest movies ever made? The Empire Strikes Back did this, and expanded the Star Wars Universe in so many great ways.
This is the perfect example of a superior sequel.
You didn't have to grow up with this one to see how special it is. Everything gets darker, as we go deeper into a world where the heroes are being hunted. Don't expect a happy ending either, just an incredible twist that will hopefully take new viewers by surprise.
It's hard to find any fault with this film. For me, it’s the perfect demonstration of what George Lucas can do when he steps back and lets other people in to work with him.
There's also a lot of variety as we move between all the epic new worlds and locations. I’d be surprised if anyone could argue that this is not the best Star Wars movie by some way.
I first experienced this movie in the cinema, in a double header with A New Hope, or simply Star Wars as it was then. It made an impact.
Even in a less connected world, everyone was talking about it, everyone had the toys and everyone knew the characters. I remember wearing out the tape waiting for Return of the Jedi to be released on video.
This is still a movie everyone should experience. Although it’s been improved with the special editions and enhancements, it’s the same magic.
It took everyone to a galaxy far, far away…
Ghostbusters
They really don't make them like this anymore. I think this is evident in the case of Ghostbusters, as the 2016 'reimagining' was just awful and the latest, forgettable sequel leaves a lot to be desired. If you've sat through either of these and have never seen the original, go do it right now.
This is a great movie that just feels right.
I find it hard to sum it up. Calling it a comedy, sci-fi or even a movie about some guys starting up a business doesn't do it justice. I like to call it unique.
There’s something very special about Ghostbusters. A great cast, an amazing story and one of the greatest jump-scares ever all come together to make it a classic.
It just works. Bill Murray is on form here, but this is far more than a vehicle for him. Everyone shines through and even the imagined characters come to life.
I remember seeing this in the cinema. That jump-scare I mentioned got everyone around me, and I was just hooked on the whole thing. Although the effects have been updated in special editions, it looked amazing back then.
This movie also sparked a fascination in all things mysterious that is still with me. It’s also one of those special movies I never get tired of.
You’re going to remember this one…
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Not content with delivering the greatest adventure of all time, George Lucas teamed up with Steven Spielberg to deliver another classic. We were clearly spoiled in the 80s.
You just have to sit back and enjoy the action, as Indy takes on snakes, traps, Nazis and the supernatural.
This is pretty much the perfect template for an action and adventure movie. You’ll be drawn into everything happening on the screen in front of you.
Like Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark is created by George Lucas, stars Harrison Ford and has an unforgettable soundtrack created by John Williams. Also, like Star Wars it suffers from disappointing sequels, prequels and spin-offs.
You don’t have to watch the whole series though, as it works just fine as a standalone movie.
Raiders was just so memorable. I particularly like the way they never tried to dumb it down for the younger audience or hide anything away. Everyone I knew loved the ending. Like others on this list, there’s just something magical about this movie. Everyone is likely to enjoy it.
You’ll soon see why Indiana Jones became one of the biggest names in cinema…
Terminator 2
A perfect example of a superior sequel and an epic blockbuster. This movie will still blow you away, and it should also make you think. For me, this is James Cameron’s finest work.
Even today, the effects take it to another level.
Arnie returns as the time travelling cyborg that put him on the map. It's a great story and it was something else when it arrived in the early 90s. It was bigger, better and more importantly, different from anything that came before it.
You knew this was something else when you first saw the trailer. The liquid mental T-1000 was simply revolutionary and it was clear this movie was going to deliver.
As you'd expect, it's a visual treat but it takes time to slow down and explore the story throughout. Like so many movies on this list though, I think Terminator 2 has suffered due to the quality of its sequels. They never get close to this, and a couple of them aren't even part of the timeline anymore.
This is another movie I first experienced in the cinema. It blew me away. It was something else, and it felt like the future. I still think of this as a relatively new movie, and I think this is down to how cutting edge it was at the time. It also introduced me to Guns N' Roses, which I’m thankful for.
This really is a movie you should see. It will still feel new. Everything is also tidied up nicely at the end, so you don’t have to sit through boring sequels unless you’re really hooked.
If you can, try to watch the original film before you get to this one and don’t read up anything about it. You'll be treated to a great surprise in Terminator 2, that was unfortunately spoiled for everyone when it was released.
Trust me, it’s worth it…
Back to the Future
This is one of those movies that made a mark on popular culture. Even if you haven't seen it, you're sure to have been quoted lines from this movie. You probably know what a DeLorean is as well.
It's easy to forget how great Back to the Future really is.
Firstly, it delivers a clever time travel story. It then introduces unforgettable characters and so many great lines. It's a classic. Everyone remembers it and most people know it inside out.
Unlike some of the other movies on this list, it also produced a great sequel. It’s definitely worth watching the entire trilogy. In fact, they even go back into the events of this movie in Back to the Future 2. It was a great idea.
The effects still hold their own and it’s all pretty much perfect, even though the ‘future’ was in 2015. Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd are unforgettable, and are just part of a great cast.
Like any good time travel tale, it got me thinking and it was great to work it all out. It was just so easy to watch as well, and was one of those family movies you could put on for anyone.
This is also a movie about people. The choices they make and the importance of getting things right. There’s a lot to reflect on here.
Another great thing about these movies is that they have never been tarnished by reboots, cash-ins or spin offs, They did create an interesting short clip in 2015 though, that explains why we don’t have flying cars and hoverboards.
Go back and take a look…
The Matrix
In the summer of 1999, the world waited for an epic, blockbuster movie that would blow everyone away and change everything. When The Phantom Menace failed to do this, The Matrix arrived.
It can still surprise.
If you could keep up with the fantastic story, you then had to process what you saw on screen. This one genuinely delivered things people hadn't seen before. Two words come to mind, bullet time.
The Matrix provided everything people expected in a summer dominated with other blockbusters. It then made a made an even bigger impact when it arrived in our homes, as it pretty much launched the DVD format.
If I’m honest, The Matrix passed me by when it was released in cinemas, presumably because a lot of other movies got my attention. Later that year though, I brought a DVD drive for my computer and it came bundled with The Matrix.
I quickly realised why I needed DVDs. This was the way to watch movies.
I still consider The Matrix to be the ultimate home cinema movie. The incredible effects and thumping soundtrack should push any setup, even today.
If there is a flaw, like so many others on this list, it's the disappointing sequels. In many ways, this one would have worked a lot better on its own, as it ties everything up nicely. It doesn't waste time setting up a franchise either, which has to be another reason why it's so special.
You’ll still be amazed…
Hopefully this wasn’t just a trip down memory lane. I wanted to share what mattered to me, to inspire you to go back to what mattered to you.
If you want to take it further, just do these three easy things:
Make time to watch a movie that’s special to you
Focus on those positive memories and the feelings around them
Come back to this when you need to pick yourself up
Maybe it’s time you shared those movies with someone special. It’s also a reminder to keep looking for something new. To do something different.