My Five Favorite Films From...1979

Honorable Mention – Rocky II: Sure, it is basically the first film all over again, only with Rocky winning this time. But it is still a good movie, with some of the best boxing scenes ever filmed.

5. The Jerk: Another film I grew to love through repeated viewings on HBO as a kid. Everyone has their favorite scene; mine is where Navin hurts his foot kicking Iron Balls McGinty in the crotch. That and the cat juggling.

4. Apocalypse Now: Epic in scope, the story of the film’s creation is almost better than the actual film itself. But this look at the insanity of war and the darkness of the human soul is a remarkable work of art.

3. Escape From Alcatraz: Best prison escape film ever. And it’s a true tale to boot. Frank Morris led the only successful escape ever from Alcatraz. And that escape scene down the wall and into the water. No stunt doubles; that’s Eastwood, Fred Ward and Jack Thibeau.

2. Mad Max: Awesome apocalyptic film. If you ever wondered what the world will look like when the oil runs out…

1. Alien: The most successful melding ever of science-fiction and horror. This movie still gets me to twitch and startle, even though I know every beat by heart. I can’t say enough good things about it, and it kills me that this franchise has been shit upon by the asinine AvPmovies.

Films I Like But Didn't Make The List: The China Syndrome, Zulu Dawn, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, …And Justice For All, The Black Stallion, Kramer vs. Kramer, Moonraker, Manhattan, The Muppet Movie, The Warriors, The Tin Drum, Being There, Monty Python's Life of Brian, Meatballs, The Great Santini

Guilty Pleasure – 1941: Not a great film by any stretch of the word, it still makes me crack up. The massive brawl at the USO, the AA gun destroying the house, the ferris wheel…I like it and I am not apologizing, damn it!<

Insane, Twisted Film That Must Be Mentioned – Caligula: Is it even possible to sum this film up a couple of sentences? The principal writer and the director took out ads decrying the final product. The film had people getting their heads cut off in the Coliseum by a bizarre thresher. Hardcore sex footage was inserted into the film, causing one of the female leads to sue. It was (and is) an absolute mess of a film, full of just about every sexual depravity you can think of.