Dynamic Yet Consistent

Beth and I are embarking on a 10 day blog series beginning today.  Each day we will post a top 10 list covering a variety of subjects from 10 favorite meals to 10 ideas that define us as people.

This first post we are listing top 10 movies.

Now, for my disclaimer:  I am not claiming these are the top 10 movies of all time, but rather I am listing 10 movies that, a.) I could watch at any time and be happy; b.) if I only had these movies, I would be satisfied; and c.) have impacted me as a person.

Here is the list (in no particular order):

1. Shawshank Redemption – A story of perseverance, improvisation and deep friendship.  It shows the humanity of those on the edges.
2. Fight Club – This movie, perhaps more than any other, demands that the view reexamine life and evaluate what is important and what is superfluous.
3. Top Gun – Considering I have 95% of this movie memorized, it had to make the list.
4. Gandhi – One of the most inspirational movies of all time for me.  I constantly return to the wisdom of Gandhi conveyed in this movie.
5. American History X – One of the first movies that actually “changed my life.”  The story of hate and redemption is tangible.
6. Schindler’s List / Hotel Rwanda– Okay, so I am cheating with two movies here.  Schindler’s list reminds me of the depth of human depravity and Hotel Rwanda reminds me of our tendency we have to constantly hide from this depravity and deny its existence, even in the face of modern genocide.
7. Slumdog Millionaire – The only movie from the last couple years to make the list, and it is well deserving of the honor with its story of global struggles and individual perseverance.
8. Braveheart – The best battle epic of all time.  Makes you cheer for the little guy.
9. Forest Gump – a social commentary framed through the eyes of an ordinary man.
10. Dumb and Dumber – While not nearly of the significance of the movies listed above, in my opinion, this is the best comedy of all time.