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#10
DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978)
Dawn of the Dead poster

CAST
DAVID EMGE, KEN FOREE, SCOTT H. REINIGER, GAYLEN ROSS

DIRECTED BY
GEORGE A. ROMERO

George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead was a ground breaking horror classic, which ushered in the zombie film sub-genre. Yet it would be its follow up Dawn of the Dead that stood the test of time as the zombie movie, pushing the limits of gore while providing a satirical look at modern society. 


#9
ALIENS (1986)
Aliens poster

CAST
SIGOURNEY WEAVER, MICHAEL BIEHN, CARRIE HENN, BILL PAXTON, LANCE HENRIKSEN, PAUL REISER

DIRECTED BY
JAMES CAMERON

While Ridley Scott’s Alien relied on a slow pace and gripping tension, James Cameron’s sequel came out with guns blazing. A potent mix of action, science fiction and horror, Aliens also became a calling card for women in action films, with Sigourney Weaver’s bad ass reprise as Ripley paving the way for the likes of Angelina Jolie and Uma Thurman. 

 

#8
X-MEN 2 (2003)
X-Men 2 poster

CAST
HUGH JACKMAN, HALL BERRY, PATRICK STEWART, IAN McKELLAN, BRIAN COX

DIRECTED BY
BRYAN SINGER

X-Men 2 built on the innovative heights of its break through predecessor, pushing the limits of darkness in the superhero sub-genre while also making a superstar out of Hugh Jackman, whose Wolverine was given more screen time to the benefit of all involved.

 

#7
MAD MAX 2: THE ROAD WARRIOR (1981)
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior poster

CAST
MEL GIBSON, BRUCE SPENCE, MICHAEL PRESTON, MAX PHILLIPS, VERNON WELLS

DIRECTED BY
GEORGE MILLER

The second film in the Mad Max trilogy was an altogether different machine compared to the low budget yet high grossing first movie. Thrust into the isolated and dangerous world of post apocalyptic Australia, viewers were given little chance to catch their breath as “Mad” Max Wachowsky took on a variety of speed demons and biker punks, Mel Gibson playing the leather bound road warrior with steely heroism.

 

 

#6
THE DARK KNIGHT (2008)
The Dark Knight poster

CAST
CHRISTIAN BALE, HEATH LEDGER, AARON ECKHART, MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL, GARY OLDMAN

DIRECTED BY
CHRISTOPHER NOLAN

Christopher Nolan’s reboot of the Batman mythology was a resounding success, yet it was the 2008 sequel The Dark Knight which redefined the comic book movie and provided one of the greatest screen villains of all time in Heath Ledger’s the Joker.

 

 

#5
TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY (1991)
Terminator 2 poster

CAST
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, LINDA HAMILTON, EDWARD FURLONG, ROBERT PATRICK, JOE MORTON

DIRECTED BY
JAMES CAMERON

With groundbreaking special effects at his disposal, James Cameron did the impossible and bettered his 1984 classic The Terminator, bringing back Arnold Schwarzenegger as a cyborg sent from the future to protect future resistance leader John Connor (Edward Furlong).

Linda Hamilton also reprised her role as Connor’s protective mother, yet it would be Robert Patrick’s turn as a villainous cyborg assassin that really wowed audiences. 

 

 

#4
TOY STORY 2 (1999)
Toy Story 2 poster

CAST
TOM HANKS, TIM ALLEN, JOAN CUSACK, KELSEY GRAMMER, DON RICKLES

DIRECTED BY
JOHN LASSETER, ASH BRANNON, LEE UNKRICH

The second film in what could be the greatest trilogy of all time, Toy Story 2 built upon the wit, heart, and visuals of its innovative predecessor, taking Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), and the rest of the gang out of the comfy habitat of suburban America and into the big city, where a most adventurous and heartfelt journey about identity, friendship, and loss in this most human of animated movies.

 


#3
THE LORD OF THE RINGS; THE TWO TOWERS (2002)
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers poster

CAST
ELIJAH WOOD, IAN McKELLAN, VIGGO MORTENSEN, SEAN ASTIN, ORLANDO BLOOM

DIRECTED BY
PETER JACKSON

While The Fellowship of the Ring set up the big screen adaptation of Tolkein’s grand adventure with awe inspiring results, it would be The Two Towers which really saw this grandest of adventures come to life, director Peter Jackson filling the 3 hour epic with action, romance, dazzling heroism, and innovative visual effects work.

 

 

#2
STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980)
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back poster

CAST
MARK HAMMIL, HARRISON FORD, CARRIE FISCHER, BILLY DEE WILLIAMS, JAMES EARL JONES

DIRECTED BY
IRVIN KERSHNER

This excellent follow up to Star Wars: A New Hope, was an altogether darker film yet filled with just as much adventure, as young prodigy Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) is taught the ways of The Force by master Jedi Yoda (his debut!), while Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and crew are hounded by the merciless Darth Vader.

That the film ends on such a shocking downer does not take away its standing as one of the most celebrated and loved adventure stories of all time, nor does the irony that perhaps the best Star Wars movie was not directed by George Lucas.

 

 

#1

THE GODFATHER PART II (1974)

The Godfather Part II poster

CAST
AL PACINO, ROBERT DE NIRO, ROBERT DUVALL, DIANE KEATON, JOHN CAZALE

DIRECTED BY
FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA

Anyone interested on how to follow a masterpiece should look no further than The Godfather Part II, a sequel/prequel that continues the tragic saga of the Corleone family.

Simultaneously focusing on the rise of Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) and the descent into darkness of his son Michael (Al Pacino), this sprawling crime epic saw filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola at his most ambitious, focusing on two characters, several different locations ranging from Havana to Sicily, an unknown playing a younger version of one of the most memorable characters of all time, and the bleakest of conclusions.

Yet Coppola made it all work, creating not only the greatest sequels but one of the greatest films of all time, which featured a career best turn by Al Pacino and the introduction of Robert De Niro to mainstream audiences.     

 

 

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