One of the most frequent questions I am always asked being the host of the greatest movie podcast ever (opinions may vary) is “What’s your favorite movie?” That answer has been the same since I was 11 years old. But it also isn’t as easy to explain why I love some movies more than others.

As an art form, movies are by their nature interpretative. Some people will point to a film’s box office total as a barometer for a film’s quality, this might not be true again because although it might be popular to the masses it might not appeal to you. I am looking at you Avatar, which is not one of my favorite films, not by a longshot.  

Also, if the film wins an Academy Award for Best Picture, that hardly means it’s one of my favorite films, looking at you The English Patient, in fact I hardly agree with the Academy. Having said that, I am sure that some people love Avatar and The English Patient. And that’s what makes movies so great.

I, also am not a professional critic. I love film. I try and find merit in all film. As a host of a podcast that attempts to give every movie a chance, I believe that is the best way to approach movies, let the lights go out and try and enjoy yourself. You might find a “diamond in the rough.”

When thinking of my favorite movies to share with you, my loyal listeners, I thought 100 wasn’t going to be enough. So, I am proud to present my 150 Favorite Films, right now. These will change, I know they will.

See you at the movies!

***Spoilers Ahead!!!***

105. Logan (2017) Directed by James Mangold

The Movie: The year is 2029. Mutants have not been born in over 25 years. Logan (Hugh Jackman) is working as a limo driver and his healing factor is failing him. He also takes care of Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) with fellow mutant, Caliban (Stephen Merchant). Xavier has dementia and spends his days in a smelting plant in Mexico. His disease causes him to have seizures, so powerful that they have killed several X-Men.

Logan meets a nurse, Gabriela (Elizabeth Rodriguez) who pleads with Logan to escort her and Laura (Dafne Keen) to a place called Eden. A refuge near the American-Canadian border. Gabriela never makes the trip. She is killed by Pierce (Boyd Holbrook), a cyborg Chief of Security from the company, Transigen. Laura who is hiding in Logan’s limo is revealed as being a mutant, with powers similar to Logan. Logan, Xavier and Laura are able to escape, Caliban however, is captured by Pierce. Caliban has the ability to track mutants and is tortured by Pierce to find Logan.

On Gabriella’s phone, Logan discovers that she worked for Transigen. The company was using mutant DNA on children to see the effects and turn them into weapons. Most of the children were executed due to their unstable nature. Gabriella and other nurses helped some of the children escape, including Laura. Laura is like Logan because she was given his DNA. In essence, she is Logan’s daughter.

The trio make their way to Oklahoma City and Logan learns that the promise of Eden is nothing more than a place in a comic book. Logan and Laura are soon under attack from Pierce and his Reavers. Xavier however has a seizure, incapacitating everyone but Logan and Laura. They skewer them and escape Pierce.

Logan stumbles on a farmer named Will (Eriq La Salle) and help him and his family. After, Will invites Logan, Laura and Xavier to his home for dinner. After dinner the family and Logan are attacked by X-24, Logan’s clone, Pierce and the Reavers. The family and Xavier are all killed by X-24. Laura is kidnapped, Caliban blows himself and some Reavers up with a grenade. With the help of Will, Logan saves Laura and they escape.

Logan buries Xavier and passes out from his injuries. Laura is able to persuade Logan to go to North Dakota to see if Eden is real or not. When they arrive they meet fellow children that have escaped from Transigen. Logan sends Laura with the other mutants and decides not to follow them to Canada.

The Reavers arrive however and start to attack the children. Logan takes a serum given to him by the mutant Rictor (Jason Genao) that enhances all of Logan’s powers. Logan and Laura kill most of the Reavers. Leaving Pierce and Zander Rice (Richard E. Grant). Rice tells Logan that he killed his father at the Weapon X facility and there have been no more mutants because Rice genetically engineered crops and distributed the food into the worlds supply. Logan shoots Rice and kills hi and then critically injuries Pierce. Pierce is killed by the combined powers of the children and Logan is left to fight X-24 again. Rictor flips a truck onto X-24 but it doesn’t slow him down. He impales Logan on a tree branch. Laura loads the gun that Logan had and loads it with an adamantium bullet that Logan had intended for himself and shoots X-24, killing him.

Logan is dying and Laura takes his hand as he finally succumbs to his injuries. The children bury Logan and place a cross to mark his grave. Laura turns the cross on it’s side, making an “X” for the last X-Man.

Why I Love Logan (2017): Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine was always a highlight of the X-Men films. HIs first solo film was just ok, the second was pretty dope. But what the comic book world wanted was a mean, and dirty Wolverine film.

We got it and them some with Logan. Buoyed by an incredible and intense performance by Jackman, Logan gives us the blood letting we want from Wolverine and the poignant story his character deserved.

With the misstep of X-Men: The Last Stand, Fox wisely rebooted the X-Men franchise. They pulled off a great multiverse, multi-generational story in X-Men: Days of Future Past. Bringing Jackman back for that film made it clear the world missed Wolverine.

James Mangold steps into the directors chair, and his deft touch is equal parts heartache and action. The scene in the hotel is incredible and the events on the farm break your heart. After Logan finds Xavier and learns that X-24, his clone killed him he is overcome with grief, it is shot so beautifully and powerfully acted. My favorite scene in any X-Men film, hands down.

Don’t believe me that this film is incredibly written? It was nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Even though Jackman’s Logan returns for 2024’s Deadpool 3, Jackman only agreed to that film if they left Logan alone, because like Weapon X himself, this is where Wolverine’s story deserves to end.