Movies That Changed Everything: The Complete 12 Part Series

March 30, 2012 at 9:22 am

Movies That Changed Everything: The Complete Series

I’m an aspiring filmmaker and like every filmmaker out there, I have a lengthy list of films that have inspired me along the way.

Movies  That Changed Everything is a twelve part series examining the films that changed the way I looked at movies forever.

The Shawshank Redemption

The Lord Of The Rings

The Matrix

Pulp Fiction

Pan’s Labyrinth

There Will Be Blood

Once

A Few Good Men

The Sixth Sense

The Dark Knight

Good Will Hunting

Signs

What films inspired you?

10 Flicks: Best Picture Losers

February 24, 2012 at 8:51 am

10 Flicks: The top 10 best picture nominees that didn't win.

We all know the movies that should have won.  But there are years when the right movie wins while others are just as deserving.  That’s the fun of the Oscars.  Everyone has their favorites.  Everyone makes their picks.

But there can only be one Best Picture each year.

Here are 10 of the best losers:

A Clockwork Orange

LOST TO: The French Connection

The Shawshank Redemption

LOST TO: Forrest Gump

XTRA | Movies That Changed Everything: The Shawshank Redemption

Gangs Of New York

LOST TO: Chicago

Star Wars

LOST TO: Annie Hall

XTRA | If I Could Only Recommend ONE Science Fiction Movie

XTRA | Top 10 Movies With Star Wars References

There Will Be Blood

LOST TO: No Country For Old Men

XTRA | Movies That Changed Everything: There Will Be Blood

E.T The Extra Terrestrial

LOST TO: Ghandi

XTRA | Why E.T Scared Me

Jerry Maguire

LOST TO: The English Patient

Goodfellas

LOST TO: Dances With Wolves

Saving Private Ryan

LOST TO: Shakespeare In Love

Pulp Fiction

LOST TO: Forrest Gump

The Athletic Nerd’s Movie Power Rankings 1-15

September 19, 2011 at 6:44 am

The Athletic Nerd Movie Power Rankings

Go to any major sports website and you will find Power Rankings.  A popular ranking system that lists every team in a league from best to worst.

Since I work for a sports network, it makes perfect sense to take that system and rank my favorite movies of all time.

Except I’m doing things a little differently.  These won’t be updated weekly. (That would be ridiculous) However, you will find links to stories I’ve written on the films in addition to trailers and bonus posts.

The Athletic Nerd Movie Power Rankings

Signs

M. Night Shyamalan’s film inspired me to become a better screenwriter.  There are definitely a ton of people out there who disagree with my number 1 pick but I stand by it.  I feel like writing every single time I see it.

The Dark Knight

Christopher Nolan created the greatest superhero movie of all time.

The Matrix

All three films are included in this pick.  Many people loved the first film but hated the trilogy as a whole but I disagree.  I didn’t love Revolutions but Reloaded was incredible.  Plus, you really can’t deny how amazing the first film was.  Outstanding.

A Few Good Men

My favorite screenplay.  I could watch those intense courtroom exchanges every single day.

Good Will Hunting

When it comes to compelling characters, Will Hunting ranks very high for me.

The Shawshank Redemption

I don’t think I’ve ever met a human being who didn’t like this movie.  Just saying.

Dumb & Dumber

My #1 favorite comedy.  The most quotable movie of all time amongst my circle of friends.

Toy Story

The first full length computer animated film is still the best.  Then they went and followed it up with 2 stellar sequels.

The Lord of the Rings

An unbelievable filmmaking achievement.  I watch every second of the trilogy AND the billion hours of special features at least once a year.

The Sandlot

A classic baseball movie.  For a movie nerd obsessed with sports, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Goodfellas

Of course Martin Scorsese has a place on this list.

A Beautiful Mind

I love fascinating characters and John Nash’s story is brilliantly brought to life by Russell Crowe and director Ron Howard.

Inception

Christopher Nolan.  His dream invading caper changed the way I’ll look at original screenplays forever.  The best movie of 2010.

Gladiator

It’s always a proud moment when your favorite movie wins the Oscar.  Russell Crowe appears twice in the top 15!  Not bad.

Garden State

I almost ignored this movie due to lack of interest.  That would have been a huge mistake on my part.

http://theathleticnerd.com/movies/rainy-sundays-the-sandlot

10 Flicks: Awesome Double Features

November 30, 2010 at 12:16 am

10 Flicks: Awesome Double Features

Double features.

We’ve all enjoyed movie marathons from time to time.  Matching two worthy movies together can be pretty challenging.  Sometimes it’s tough to decide which two go together.  Others are a little more obvious.

Some get inspired during the first movie and choose the next film accordingly.  Others plan ahead.  Some simply watch the same combos over and over again until they become cherished traditions.

Honestly, as I stared at my DVD collection, I could have easily named about 50 billion different combinations but  I had to stop somewhere.

What are some of your favorite double features?

Feel free to contribute by commenting below!

Here are some of my favorites:

[Note] I’m aware this list doesn’t really have 10 films…  I’m okay bending the rules every once in a while.

Patch Adams / As Good As It Gets

Gladiator / The Last Samurai

Happy Gilmore / Tommy Boy

Forrest Gump / Mr. Holland’s Opus

War Of The Worlds / Independence Day

Saving Private Ryan / We Were Soldiers

Speed / True Lies

Labyrinth / The Dark Crystal

Snatch / Pulp Fiction

The Bourne Identity / Casino Royale

Goodfellas / Casino

The Shawshank Redemption / The Green Mile

The Final Rainy Sunday: The Beauty Of Lazy Day Movies

November 27, 2010 at 9:13 pm

The Final Rainy Sunday: The Beauty Of Lazy Day Movies

Rainy Sundays was one of the first features I created for this blog.

It was about appreciated those lazy days when you put on your favorite movies and escape.

Who doesn’t love a good Sunday afternoon indoors watching movies?

Personally, my ideal Rainy Sunday includes a good drama, a comforter, a massive sandwich or pizza and some form of candy.  It’s even better when there’s enough time to sneak in a double feature.

What movies do you love to watch on rainy days?

After more than 30 picks, I’ve decided to move on so this will be the FINAL Rainy Sunday post.

Below you’ll find the complete Rainy Sunday Series.

Perhaps, I’ll resurrect the feature someday but I think I’ve made my point.  There’s nothing like a good movie on a lazy day.

Beauty & The Beast

My Life

Man On Fire

Sideways

The Last Samurai

The Last Samurai Tom Cruise The Beauty Of Lazy Day Movies

Toy Story 1 & 2

There Will Be Blood

Gangs Of New York

Mortal Kombat

True Lies

An Evening With Kevin Smith

A Beautiful Mind

Field Of Dreams

FIELD OF DREAMS, Ray Liotta, Kevin Costner Lazy Day Movies

Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

I Am Sam

The Shawshank Redemption

The Muppet Movie

Sneakers

Alice In Wonderland

Crimson Tide

Jerry Maguire

The Lion King

Movies to watch on a lazy day The Lion King

Return To Paradise

All Dogs Go To Heaven

Hook

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

Dazed and Confused

Ninja Turtles

Movies to watch on a lazy day Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Gladiator

Christmas Vacation

A Bronx Tale

Cool Runnings

Uncle Buck

The Mighty Ducks

The Sandlot

Movies To Watch on a lazy day The Sandlot

My personal favorite on this list still has to be The Sandlot.

To me, there is no better lazy day movie.