My Top 10 Favourite Movies of All Time

These are my Top 10 Favourite Movies of All Time. When it really came down to it, they weren't hard choices. I followed my heart, and found that these 10 films were undoubtedly my favourites. I'll be updating the list every time a new favourite comes along... but let's face it, that's not likely to happen for a loooong time. So without further ado:

Number 10 - Casablanca (1942) | Directed by Michael Curtiz

"Here's looking at you, kid."

The first time I saw Casablanca, I was left speechless and on the verge of tears. I said to myself, "That's a perfect film." It was the first perfect film I had ever seen, and to this day I think it's the greatest movie of all time. 

Number 9 - Lawrence of Arabia (1962) | Directed by David Lean

One of the best friendships in the history of cinema.

Lawrence of Arabia... what can I possibly say that will do justice to this absolute masterpiece. I guess all I can really say is that I found it perfect. It's one of the longest movies ever made, yet it had me utterly entranced from beginning to end. This is the first and only film I've ever broken down and analysed scene by scene. 

Number 8 - Brokeback Mountain (2005) | Directed by Ang Lee

"Jack, I swear."

Yet another film I find completely and utterly perfect. Even with all its subtlety, the relationship between Jack and Ennis is one of the most beautiful and truly heart-breaking stories ever told. I've never seen a kiss more passionate than theirs, or an ending as touching as when Ennis uttered that immortal line. More importantly, it went a long way in helping me accept my sexuality in high school. 

Number 7 - Gone With the Wind (1939) | Victor Fleming

"You should be kissed, and often, and by someone who knows how." 

Gone With the Wind is my favourite epic of all time. I loved every minute I spent with the detestable yet exciting Scarlett O'Hara. Ahh, there's so many quotes I want to squeeze in, but so little time. This film means the world to me because it's my mother's favourite film, and one of the first films that ever made me interested in the art form. It's a special favourite I share with my mum, and one I'd call perfect. 

Number 6 - Millennium Actress (2001) | Directed by Satoshi Kon

"The part I really loved, was chasing him." 

Millennium Actress is quite simply the most beautiful animated film I've ever seen. It left me speechless, and soaked in tears. Some of the sequences in that film had my heart bursting with joy. To this day, I've never seen the art form used in such a stunning, masterful way. With all the beautiful animation, dialogue and characters, it was the story that I loved more than anything. 

5 - Farewell My Concubine (1993) | Directed by Kaige Chen

"Xailou! Please don't go."

Farewell My Concubine is my favourite foreign film of all time. It spans five decades of Chinese history, and deals with conflicts and issues that are dear to my heart. Deep down, the thing that gets to me is the beautiful way in which it portrays one man's love and devotion to the other. It's one of the most visually stunning films I've ever seen, yet it's the legendary Leslie Cheung that steals the show for me. It's one of the greatest performances I've ever seen... probably the greatest.

4 - Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012) | Directed by Benh Zeitlin

"Once there was a Hushpuppy, and she lived with her daddy in the bathtub." 

Beasts of the Southern Wild reignited my passion for movies. When I saw this film, it was like a flame rekindled in my heart. I started reviewing movies again, simply because my faith in the industry had been restored. I love this film. It's as moving and beautiful as any other film I've ever seen. Whenever I hear that beautiful trumpet score play as she's running with fireworks, I get mad chills. A perfect film for me. The unforgettable line for me: "I see that I'm a little piece of a big, big universe... and that makes it right." 

3 | Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) | Directed by Michel Gondry

"I wish I'd stayed." 

I had to pause for a moment before I even started writing about this film. Just thinking about it makes me feel overcome by emotion. It's the beautiful score, the heart-wrenching scenes, the perfectly natural chemistry between Winslet and Carrey that make this such a legendary film. I guess, deep down, it made me realise what I had. My beautiful memories with my family and friends suddenly became really important to me. All thanks to the most infectious, touching, tragic, yet hopeful relationship of Joel and Clementine. 

2 - Lost in Translation (2003) | Sophia Coppola

"Let's never come here again because it would never be as much fun."

My favourite comedy of all time, Lost in Translation never gets old for me. I've seen it at least a dozen times, yet it always leaves me feeling elated. Perhaps it was the perfect chemistry, or the masterfully natural dialogue, or the modern and beautiful music, or the stunning scenes of Tokyo. The whole experience just makes me happier than any other film possibly can. It effortlessly found its way into my soul. Most memorable line: "For relaxing times, make it Suntory time."

1 - Titanic (1997) | Directed by James Cameron

"I'll never let go, Jack. I'll never let go." 

Undoubtedly, irrefutably, my absolute champion of a film. Titanic has been my all time favourite movie since the late 1990s (I was either four or five when I first saw it). When I was a young lad, I was addicted to watching the sinking scene. I'd fast-forward the video-tape, and just watch the action unfold and find it all so exciting. Then you know what happened when I got older? I started to REALLY watch the film. Sure, the perfect art-direction, costume and set-production was a huge bonus. What I truly loved was the infectious, heart-warming chemistry between Jack and Rose. To this day, no film can make me cry as much as Titanic. I literally cry at the beginning, a few times in the middle, and then twice at the very end of the film. It's like a routine. I'm just utterly captivated by this film. It has consistently been the most entertaining, beautiful, exciting, and saddest film I've seen since the late 1990s. While many others do not share my passionate feelings toward Titanic, I'm just so glad that it makes me as happy as it does. I'm 99.99% sure that this will forever be my favourite film.

Thanks for reading!

So what are your favourite movies?