10 Movies Every Guy Should See

Hey guys (and girls), I decided to do another (sort of) Top 10 movie list since I haven't been to the movies in a while.  Here is my list of 10 movies every guy needs to see, in no particular order.  My Ten have been chosen from the list of the 100 movies on The Art of Manliness blog.  The full list can be found at: www.artofmanliness.com/2009/07/13/100-must-see-movies/ , but here is my Top 10 choices.

1. Gladiator

This Ridley Scott classic (Can a movie be considered a classic only 13 years after its initial release?) is a staple for any man's movie library.  A fantastic film that won Oscars for Best Picture and Best Actor (Russell Crowe), this movie stands out above the crowd for its moving performances and flawless direction.  This was the best career performance of both Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix.

2. Casablanca

This is the quintessential romance movie of all time.  Boasting 4 lines on the AFI's 100 greatest movie lines list, this is a tragic romance movie for the ages.  Humphrey Bogart is magnificent in this film and richly deserved the Oscar nomination he got for it.  This movie, like Gladiator, also won Best Picture.  If you want to learn how to be a real gentleman, watch this film.  It doesn't get any better than toasting the woman you love with the line, "Here's looking at you, kid."

3. Top Gun

Seriously.  I don't think I can say enough about this movie.  This is one of my personal favorites ever since I was a kid.  Every boy and man dreams of being Maverick.  He is just the epitome of man.  And who wouldn't want a best friend like Goose?  This is a great film about friendship and love and overcoming adversity, but if you want to just watch a bunch of stuff blow up, this is great either way.

4. Rocky

This is, in my opinion, the best sports movie of all time, and the most inspirational movie of all time.  Sylvester Stallone is fantastic and was nominated for Oscars for writing and acting in this film, and richly so.  His fight with Apollo Creed is one of the greatest fights in the history of boxing films, and his love with Adrian is one that all men can relate to.

5. The Godfather

"The Godfather is the I Ching.  The Godfather is the sum of all wisdom."  Tom Hanks described the Godfather as such in his film, "You've Got Mail" and he is entirely correct.  The Godfather's show of family first is fantastic for any father to watch.  It is the quintessential gangster film and is one of the all time greats in all of film history.

6. The Great Escape

This true story of a large group of Allied POW's grand escape from a Nazi prison camp is fantastic.  There are great bits of humor and great performances from Steve McQueen, James Coburn, and Charles Bronson.  It is also a very daring movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat, especially from the escape till the end of the film.  And if nothing else, the movie includes one of the greatest motorcycle chases in the history of film.

7. Braveheart

Another great film along the same lines of Gladiator.  Mel Gibson directed and starred in this instant classic about the Scottish rebel William Wallace.  He gives a very moving performance and the entire film makes you feel like you were a part of the rebellion that it shows.  All of us men aspire to be this kind of man, willing to lead and help others be the best they can be.

8. Field of Dreams

This is a fantastic family movie.  There are few greater movie dads than Kevin Costner's Ray Kinsella who risks losing his farm to create a baseball stadium in his corn field.  This is another childhood favorite of mine.  It works as a family drama, at times a comedy, and a sports movie.

9. Star Wars

I don't think this requires much description.  Star Wars, like 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Matrix, reinvented what science fiction could do.  George Lucas' direction creates some visuals that even today are top notch.  Plus, like many of the movies on this list, you get great lessons on family and standing up for right against the powers of evil.

10. The Shawshank Redemption

This is currently the top ranked movie on The Internet Movie Database (or iMDb for short) and rightfully so.  Both Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins are amazing as convicted murderers who are serving together in Shawshank Prison in Maine.  Together, over 20 years or more, they grow into the type of friends all men should aspire to be.  It is a great lesson to us as well that through common decency we can find personal redemption in the darkest of places.

So that was my list of 10.  What of the other 90 do you think might have been better choices, or is there a movie on even the Art of Manliness list of 100 that you think they missed.  Let me know what you think.