Top 5 Thursday: Tom Cruise Movies

I recently ranked the “Mission: Impossible” movies, but off course Tom Cruise has made many other films. He is one of my favorites, so here are my five favorite Tom Cruise movies.

5. Top Gun

Probably not one of his best, but one of my favorites so you better deal with it. I just love this movie, it’s sort of a Tom Cruise guilty pleasure. I know I was madly in love with Cruise when I first saw him in “Top Gun” (off course not when it came out, I was only 2) I find the need, the need for Tom!

 

 

4. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol

Without a doubt the best movie in the franchise. Right when I thought the franchise was done, they gave us this gem. It blew my mind!

 

 

3. Edge of Tomorrow

This was a surprise hit. Finally the Tom Cruise movie we needed after so many years. I didn’t expect much, so I didn’t see it in theatres. I regret that now, because it’s amazing. And Cruise is not even the standard hero he normally plays. His character is actually a coward, running away from the action and responsibilities.

 

 

2. Rain Man

Not necessarily because of Tom Cruise, Dustin Hoffman is the actual star in this, but it’s such an amazing film! A movie not just about autism, but also about two very different brothers learning to love each other.

 

 

1. Born on the 4th of July

His best performance and also his best movie. He grows up a fierce patriot, but when he comes back paralyzed from Vietnam he slowly turns against the war. This was Tom Cruise's final film of the 1980s. He was a complete unknown when the decade began, but by the end he was one of the biggest movie stars in the world.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Collateral, Jerry Maguire, Eyes Wide Shut, A Few Good Men, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Magnolia, War of the Worlds

Top 5 Thursday: Movies from 1989

The 80s were about to end, but not without leaving us some amazing movies. The year 1989 had some great ones. Here are my favorites.

5. Born on the 4th of July

In my opinion one of the best, if not THE best movie with Tom Cruise. An amazing true story of a man paralyzed by the war and trying to pick up his life again.

 

4. Field of Dreams

Kevin Costner portraying a baseball player again, after his role as Crash Davis in “Bull Durham”. “Field of Dreams” is better and it’s beautiful. I have to watch it again sometime.

 

 

3. Back to the Future Part II

Off course the first movie in this series was amazing, but “Back to the Future Part II” was great too. Things like the hoover board and that book with all the sports results, cool things to have.

 

 

2. When Harry met Sally…

One of my favourite romantic comedies, where you didn’t mind any clichés. Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal have fantastic chemistry. And who doesn’t remember that scene in the diner.

 

 

1. The ‘Burbs

Many people would think it’s weird to find this movie at number one. It’s probably not the best movie of 1989, but without a doubt the funniest and with that it’s one of the funniest movies ever! My brother and I love this comedy.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Batman, Dead Poet’s Society, Do the Right Thing, Glory, Say Anything…

Top 5 Thursday: Vietnam War Movies

War movies, something my dad loves to watch. Making a list is hard, so I decided to narrow it down a bit and just pick movies that are set during the Vietnam war. Still a tough task, but here are my favourite Vietnam war movies.

5. Apocalypse Now

For many this is the best in the genre. For me it isn’t but it does need to be in this top 5. Martin Sheen does a fantastic job and although it’s a very long movie, that never bothers you. More memorable was Marlon Brando’s role, which is only a small supporting role but one you’ll never forget.

 

4. Full Metal Jacket

Stanley Kubrick made a realistic portrayal of the Vietnam war. This needs to be on anyone’s list and it probably will.

 

3. Rescue Dawn

It’s the true story of Dieter Dengler who was shot down and captured by villager sympathetic to the Pathet Lao during an American military campaign in the Veitnam war. Christian Bale is fantastic in this movie, a very overlooked film.

 

2. Born on the 4th 0f July

It’s the true story of Ron Kovic, who is paralized after serving during the Vietnam war. He is now wondering why he was there, what it was all for. Tom Cruise in his best performance so far.

 

1. Platoon

In this classic Oliver Stone film, we follow new recruit Chris Taylor. The most interesting thing in this movie is the tension between moral good Sergeant Elias and the violent Sergeant Barnes, respectively played by Willem Dafoe and Tom Berenger. In my eyes, definitely the best Vietnam war movie.

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: The Deer Hunter, Casualties of War