Top Five Favorite Movies
#5 The Godfather
Released in 1972 this is the film that cemented Francis Ford Coppola as one of the greatest directors of all time. Although being 3 hours long, it tells a rich story of the Corleone crime family in the 1950s. The film may be considered slow for today’s standards but in my eyes it is a perfectly crafted movie that is a quintessential watch for any film enthusiast.
#4 The Empire Strikes Back
Released in 1980, the sequel to Star Wars (retroactively renamed Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope) and considered by many the crown jewel in the star wars series. A tale of good vs evil, this film shows how action mixed with a wonderfully crafted story culminate as a masterpiece which deserves it’s spot in film history.
#3 Porco Rosso
Released in 1992 by Studio Ghibli, Porco Rosso is one of the best film by this acclaimed Japanese animation house. Often overlooked because of Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro, this film follows a pilot cursed to be a pig and his time as a bounty hunter in the Adriatic. Translating to chrimson pig, this film soars above the rest with showing off how much Hayao Miyazaki loved flight.
#2 Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Released in 2001, 2002, and 2003 respectively, the Lord of the Rings Trilogy can be argued as the best trilogy of all time, finishing strong in the third act where many have failed before it. All three films were directed back to back by Peter Jackson, they bring to life the world of Middle Earth from acclaimed author J.R.R. Tolkien. Anyone who enjoys the fantastical should sit and watch the 11 and a half hours of the directors cuts to enjoy one of the greatest journeys of all time.
#1 Jurassic Park
Released in 1993 by Stephen Spielberg, this is considered the number one dinosaur movie that there has ever been. Adapted from Michael Crichton book of the same name, this is one of Stephen Spielberg’s finest work, pushing the edge of technology at the time to bring forth a product that still stands up after 25 years. Revolutionizing movies in ways unheard of at the time, this has to be on any moviegoers list of must see’s.
Top Five Favorite Video Games
#5 Yoshi’s Island
The first video game I can remember playing, Yoshi’s Island is the story of Mario’s companion reuniting him and Luigi with their parents. It is a fun title for the Super Nintendo that shows off the creativity that made Nintendo a family friendly affair and a household name.
#4 Ratchet and Clank
Another early game from my childhood, Ratchet and Clank was an exclusive to the Playstation 2. It follows a lombax named Ratchet and the adventure he is flung into when he finds his robot companion Clank as they travel through the galaxy thwarting the evil plans of chairmen Drek. it was a third person run and gun with it’s claim to fame being the ridiculous weapons that the series continuous with today. An example of these ludicrous weapons is the Ryno, which stands for Rip Ya a New One, a rocket launcher that shoots out 9 missiles at a time.
#3 Horizon Zero Dawn
The newest game on this list, Horizon Zero Dawn was an exclusive for the PS4. It tells the tale of a girl named Aloy as she discovers where she comes from and what happened in the past that has lead to this post apocalyptic world inhabited by robotic behemoths that transform the lands. It has wonderful mechanics and an awesome single player experience. This shows that you don’t need a flashy multiplayer or micro-transactions to have a wonderful game and also why Sony is dominating the battle in the exclusives department for the console.
#2 Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag
Wonderful exploration of the golden age of piracy, Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag is actually the sixth game in the Assassin’s creed series but by far the best there’s been. It boasts beautiful views of the Caribbean and is what showed their is a market for pirate games for the next generation of consoles. The story follows a drunken pirate, Edward Kennway, as he stumbles into a world of conspiracy and conflict that he must navigate or else sink to Davy Jones locker.
#1 The Witcher III Wild Hunt
One of the best games of all time, The Witcher III Wild Hunt follows a monster slayer named Geralt as he aims to save the world from threats both mythical and human. A game that even after sinking in 70 hours their is plenty to explore and do, having one of the most immersive open worlds that ever graced a console. The combat is fast paced yet strategic, the story is intriguing, and the world is downright beautiful. This game stands as one of the best of all time.
Top Five Favorite Songs
#5 Like a Stone – Audioslave
This song by the late Chris Cornell chronicles the pains of mortality and how we all must face it at some point. The most bleak song on this list, it is something that people would like to ignore but one has to come to grips with the reality of it.
#4 Sultans of Swing – Dire Straits
A song about being in a small jazz band and how that can make life worthwhile. It carries a slow rock/jazz beat, something you don’t typically hear from many rock bands of the time. It shows that sometimes the best part of life is the music we bring into this world.
#3 Cliffs of Dover – Eric Johnson
A purely instrumental pieces that shows sometimes you don’t need vocals for a good song. The lead guitar brings the listener on a trip through the English countryside. It has a light feel that can be refreshing to listen to when out and about.
#2 Whiskey in the Jar – Metallica
Originally sang by Tin Lizzey, this cover by Metallica ramps up the pace of the original and is one of the songs that helped put Metallica on the map. It exemplified everything that Metallica would eventually be and although not their song they made it their own.
#1 Walk – Foo Fighters
Dave Grohl started the Foo Fighters as a tribute to Kurt Cobain. Grohl was the drummer in Nirvana but went on to helm a band that although more mainstream has gone on to become a icon of rock. It’s hard to pick a single song from the Foo Fighters to occupy this spot but something about the downtrodden luck of the character in the song at the beginning strikes a chord that elevates it for me to the number one choice for both the Foo fighters and this list.
Digital media and culture by Hunter T. 