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!!!***
111. Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011) Directed by David Yates
The Movie: After the sacrifice by Dobby, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) asks the goblin Griphook (Warwick Davis) for help. Harry, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) need to break into Bellatrix Lesrtange’s (Helena Bonham Carter) vault at Gringott’s Bank, where Harry believes a Horcrux is at. Griphook agrees, but he asks for the Sword of Gryffindor in exchange for his help.
They arrive at the bank and inside Bellatrix’s vault they find Helga Hufflepuff’s cup, which is a Horcrux. Griphook betrays Harry and leaves them to deal with their security, a dragon. They manage to escape on the dragons back and a step closer to defeating Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes).
Harry soon realizes that there is another Horcrux connected to Rowena Ravenclaw and it is at Hogwarts. The heroes apparate to Hogsmeade, where they helped by Alberfoth Dumbledore (Ciaran Hinds) who shows them a secret passage into Hogwarts, helped by Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis).
Professor Snape (Alan Rickman) learns of Potter returning and threatens anyone who helps him. Harry reveals himself to Snape, Snape engages in a duel with Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith) and is overpowered and flees.
McGonagall knows that the endgame is near and rouses all of Hogwarts for the showdown between the Death Eaters and Lord Voldemort. After Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch) convinces Harry to speak with the ghost of Helena Ravensclaw, Harry learns that Voldemort performed dark magic on her mother’s diadem and he can find it in the Room of Requirements.
While Ron and Hermione destroy the Horcrux cup with the Basilisk fang, Harry is attacked by Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), Blaise Zabini (Louis Cordice) and Gregory Goyle (Josh Herdman). Ron and Hermione arrive to help Harry. Goyle casts an uncontrollable spell of Fiendfyre that kills him, and the Heroes save Malfoy and Zabini. Harry destroys the diadem and realizes that the final Horcrux is Voldmort’s snake Nagini.
The Battle of Hogwarts is in full swing and it reveals many secrets. Nagini attacks Snape leaving him for dead. Snape gives Harry a memory. The battle takes many lives, including Fred Weasley (James Phelps).
Harry watches Snape’s memory and is shocked by its revelations. Snape always loved Harry’s mother, Lily. He hated James Potter who bullied him. Snape was sent by Dumbledore to be an insider for the Death Eaters, to learn all their secrets. Snape’s primary mission was to protect Harry, who learns that he is the final Horcrux, due to him surviving Voldemort’s attack on him when he was an infant. Snape was also ordered by Dumbledore to kill him as he was already dying. Harry with this knowledge, uses the Resurrection Stone to summon his parents and Sirius Black (Gary Oldman). They speak words of comfort and encouragement as Harry prepares to battle Voldemort.
Voldemort kills Harry, who awakens in Limbo. There he meets Dumbledore, who explains to Harry that he is now free from Voldemort’s curse. Dumbledore tells Harry he has two choices, he can return to his body and continue the fight against Voldemort, or he can just continue on his journey in the afterlife. Harry chooses to end Voldemort once and for all and returns to the living world.
Voldemort drops Harry’s lifeless body in the courtyard of Hogwarts for all to see. He demands that they surrender as he has killed Harry Potter. Harry stands and shows Voldemort that he is very much alive and engages in a wand duel with the evil wizard. Bellatrix is confronted by Molly Weasley (Julie Waters) and promptly killed. Neville finds Nagini and decapitates the snake, thus destroying the final Horcrux. Harry defeats Voldemort with his Expelliarmus Charm and tells his friends that despite all his bravado, Voldemort never controlled the Elder Wand after it was taken from Dumbledore. Harry does not take the Elder Wand, he destroys it.
Nineteen years later we see Harry, Ginny (Bonnie Wright), Ron and Hermione send their kids off to Hogwarts.
Why I Love Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011): When Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone came out my friend Branden and I kept saying how stupid it looked. We were too cool to see that movie. But, we went to see it when a couple of ladies we were dating wanted to see it. And I was wrong. I fell in love with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
I started reading the books and going to midnight releases of not only the movies but the books as well. When I started dating my wife, we would dress up and go see the movies. She as a Slytherin and me of course as a Gryffindor.
The final film in the series is the best in my opinion. After the devastating ending of The Deathly Hallows Part 1, it was nice to see Harry finally best Voldemort. The direction, visual effects and the performances were all amazing. As Harry grew up, so too did his movies.
The emotional punches kept coming throughout the films runtime. No one was safe. Although I knew the beats and the deaths from reading the book, the film still delivered on their impact and I shed a tear for Fred and cheered when his mom enacted her revenge.
From the moment I saw Harry Potter on the big screen, the world of Hogwarts put me under its spell. And I love them even more because the other Reel Nerds hate them so much.