Top 100 Movies of the Last 25 Years (1984-2009): Part 11

7. Saving Private Ryan - To this day, many World War II veterans still refer to this Steven Spielberg classic as the most realistic and accurate representation of the invasion of D-Day ever presented on the silver screen. But, as all of know, that is simply the beginning. To me at least, what is probably the best beginning to a movie ever, doesn't dissapoint, as it becomes one of the greatest war epics ever as its story unfolds. A team of soliders is sent to save a Private Ryan, whose brothers have all been killed. Along the way, they lose some of their own, bond, and run into the war-torn world that they are fighting for. Unlike most war epics, the story really isn't about the fighting, the military strategy, or even the victory. Saving Private Ryan is about the soldiers, their families, and the bond that happens when you fight everyday to not only save your own life, but the lives of others. There is merit in this kind of emotional, engaging filmmaking, something that so many directors today never quite capture. A masterpiece to say the least.

6. Terminator 2: Judgment Day - To date, it remains probably the second greatest sci-fi movie ever made (Sorry to all you Terminator fans, but The Empire Strikes Back still remains top for me). For all of the detractors against James Cameron, no one can deny that the man knows how to not only create a fascinating and thrilling world, but also give us a wild action adventure, combined with a little bit of heart as well. This time, the Terminator must protect the son of the woman he had tried to kill from an even more dangerous cyborg. This movie won four Oscars, and like all good James Cameron movies, continued to improve the technical aspects of movie making. But this wasn’t just a visual treat. Even with the boring, dull expression that is a constant on the the Governator's face, you cannot deny that the reason this movie soars isn't because of its technical aspect, but because of its story. It has a little bit of heart, and a whole lot of mind-blowing adrenaline that blows your senses away, captures your attention, and never lets up.

5. The Lord of Rings Trilogy - I know most of the Lord of the Rings geeks are starting an internet war because their beloved trilogy wasn't higher on the list, but they should be grateful and appreciative that this fantasy epic is so well-loved as it is. Going into production there were a lot of questions of whether a relatively unknown director, and a source material that while thrilling would be hard to replicate on the screen could acutally suceed. Yet for three straight years, movie theaters were packed by eager fans amd critics were drooling with anticipation, and the world was not only pleased, but mesmerized and astonished. And all that lined up for a show quickly realized that Peter Jackson succeeded in not only putting it on the silver screen, but doing so in a way that has changed cinema forever. The world that he created not only reflected the legacy of Tolkien, but created for us a new and exciting place filled with incredible characters, daring adventures, and utter movie magic in a way that had never been done before, and has yet to be topped.