The 10/10 Hall of Fame

I have over 900 movies logged into my Lettedboxd account with very few that I have given a perfect score to. So I thought it would be fun to share the 12 (technically 14) movies that I have given a 10/10 to. These movies are very much indicative of my personality. I don't pride myself in having a "prestige" taste in movies, I prefer moves that are a lot of fun more than literary. There are a few different criteria that make a movie a 10/10 for more. It needs to be a perfect or near-perfect film. I have to have constantly thought about it after seeing it or the first time or it can just be a movie that I could watch over and over again without getting tired of it. I understand that these are not the best films ever made but they are my favorites and are perfect for me. With that being said, here are the 12 movies I have given a perfect score to.

1. Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park is definitely one of the most groundbreaking films of all time. This movie has a fantastic cast, a great story, practical effects, and an amazing score. Stephen Spielberg was able to create a movie that can shine through its great characters while also delivering Dinosaur action. The pacing in this movie is just great. Even though the dinosaurs don't get loose until almost an hour into the film, their presence is felt throughout the whole film and you can feel the tension wondering when they are going to show up and attack. There are so many iconic scenes and lines in this film as well as an unforgettable score by John Williams. The dinosaurs also look so good in this film. The effects they used still hold up today. The score in this movie is also phenomenal and contains one of the most iconic themes of all time. Finally, the characters in this movie are fantastic. Each is perfectly cast and has great chemistry with the other. Overall, this is one of the most iconic movies of all time and changed the game with how movies could handle CGI.

2. Die Hard

This is such a fantastic movie. John McClane's tank top is in the Smithsonian, this movie is basically perfect. The action in this movie is amazing. It is not over the top as many modern action movies are. It is very grounded in its action and fight sequences. As the movie is just about a regular guy trying to take down some bad guys, the action matches that and makes for some very realistic sequences. The characters are all very good too. John McClane is of course the staple of this movie, but Hans Gruber is also a major standout and arguably one of the greatest movie villains of all time. The story itself is very simple and moves at a very brisk pace. It finds the perfect balance between rushing through the story and adding too many slow scenes that it drags. Finally, the dialogue in the film is very well done. There are no throwaway lines in the film. Every line is connected to something relevant later in the film. Overall, this is a near-perfect action Christmas movie.

3. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is the biggest surprise of the year for me thus far. It is not overstating things to call this movie a masterpiece. The animation looks so good in this film and is like nothing ever seen before. The handling of each universe is so well done. Not only do they have different colors but each Spider-being and world looks like it was animated completely different from any of the others. It is just so interesting to see all of these slightly different variations of animation in a scene together. The movie also does a great job of covering the multiverse. We get to cover multiple different universes and have prolonged scenes in each. The story itself is extremely compelling as it is all about what makes some Spider-Man and whether their destiny is set and has to fit in this Spider-Man mold. The movie also does a great job of giving us a natural next step for all of these characters. They all feel like a natural continuation of themselves from the previous films. We also get a lot of great growth from Miles as he learns how to balance his life and become his own Spider-Man. We also get a lot of growth from the other character. The movie spends a lot more time with Gwen as we get a bit more of her back story and relationships. The conflict in this movie is also handled very well. We get different viewpoints on how to handle the main issue and it is just so interesting to see the different opinions. In the end, this is a fantastic film and one of the few recent I have given a 10/10 to.

4. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is my all time favorite adventure movie. I really enjoy this movie. It is also in my top 5 favorite movies of all time. Harrison Ford is the perfect person to play Indiana Jones. This movie is just really funny and does a great job of including humor in the overall adventure story. The action sequences in this movie are also really well done. They are all done with practical effects and stunt work and with no CGI which a lot of movies just don't do anymore. There are some very exciting scenes such as Indy vs the Tank that are some of my favorite movie scenes ever. The best part about this movie is the dynamic between Indiana Jones and his dad. Their chemistry leads to some really funny moments. It is also really fun to see their differing approaches on how to handle certain situations. Finally, the score in this movie is just so good. John Williams really killed it with the music. This is a perfect movie. .

5. Raiders of the Lost Ark

Raiders of the Lost Ark is essentially tied with The Last Crusade on this list. This movie is the quintessential adventure movie with the quintessential adventure hero. Harrison Ford carries this movie and is so much fun in this role. There are so many iconic action sequences between the opening temple scene, the chase of the ark, and the plane battle that are just so cool to watch. The best part is that these are all done practically with real stunt work and effects. The score is also great in this film. John Williams created yet another iconic score that enhances what is going on in the movie. Marion is also a solid character in the film. She isn't a typical damsel in distress as she can hold her own in different fights and does a great job of going toe to toe with Indy. This is just a classic adventure story that set the stage for how adventure films would look for many years. This is a prime example of a perfect movie.

6. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

These top two films are tied for the top spot and their order could change on any given day but I had to put something in the number two spot. Empire Strikes Back is an example of a sequel done right. It takes everything the people loved about the original film and actually builds on it. We get to explore several new worlds in Hoth, Dagobah, and Bespin as well as be introduced to several new characters with Lando and Yoda. This movie also challenges the idea of what a sequel can really be. The first movie gives us a happy ending but this film turns that on its head and gives the rebels huge losses, separates the heroes, and ends on one of the biggest cliffhangers in movie history. The battles in this movie are also so much fun. The huge Hoth battle is just so cool to see and the space chase with the Millennium Falcon is just so exciting. This movie also gives a good hero's journey for Luke as this film is essentially his origin story to becoming a Jedi. additionally, the score in this movie is just so good. All of the John Williams scores are great but this one is just next level. Finally, this movie has one of the greatest plot twists of all time and really sets the precedent on how to do a mind-blowing twist. In the end, this is a perfect movie and an amazing sequel. It is not only a great Star Wars movie but it is also one of the greatest sequels of all time.

7. Star Wars

As of today, the original Star Wars movie is my favorite but honestly, it is tied with Empire Strikes Back. This is a classic and iconic film that everyone has heard of. It has so many iconic characters, quotable lines, and memorable scenes. The movie was great breaking in its time in terms of special effects and really shows the true meaning of movie magic. It is just so refreshing to see a movie use such practical effects instead of creating everything with CGI like it is done today. This movie is such an inspiration for so many other films out there. This movie also does a fantastic job of world-building. It establishes so many new planets, introduces us to the empire and rebels, and gives us an idea of what the Jedi used to be. At its core, this movie is a simple story with a classic heroic rescue. The simplicity of the story really helps in being able to invest in the world and explore everything out there. All of the characters are just so much fun. Our six main characters are so iconic and likable and Darth Vader is arguably the greatest and most famous villain in all movies. This movie also has a really great space battle at the end that is just so exciting and leaves me on the edge of my seat no matter how many times I see it. Finally, just like the last film, the score is absolutely fantastic. John Williams is a real master when it comes to writing music. Overall, this is a perfect movie, a fantastic Star Wars film, and a true staple of film and nerd culture. Without this film, movies would not be where they are today.

8. Avengers: Infinity War

This film is probably the largest in scale of all the MCU and is basically the build-up of all the MCU up to this point. It manages to bring into basically every single character in the MCU without making the film feel overstuffed and makes it so all the characters have adequate screen time. The film also does a good job with Thanos and makes him the main character of the story. He is the best villain in the MCU and can actually understand why he does what he does. The action sequences in this film are all top-notch with every single herp getting some moment to shine. The pacing in the movie is also very well done. There are no slow moments as we just from one group of characters to the next. Finally, the ending is just shocking and amazing at the same time. Some people say that the movie ends on a cliffhanger but I feel that the ending properly closes out the story it was trying to tell. This is a groundbreaking movie and one of the greatest superhero films of all time.

9. Avengers: Endgame

This film is the greatest superhero movie of all time. It is the payoff of stories from over 10 years and 23 different movies. It manages to close out all of the arcs of our avengers in a satisfying way. At 3 hours, this is the longest MCU film but the pacing makes it go by so fast. The first and second acts are great at storytelling and resolving arcs and storylines from past films and the third act is probably one of the greatest final hours put into a film. It gives the fans exactly what they want and is nonstop payoff. The final battle of this film is probably the best experience I've ever had in a theater. This is just peak MCU and groundbreaking in the way it was able to tie in and pay off things from 23 different movies. Finally, the movie delivers a lot of emotional moments in its finally minutes specifically in how it closes out some of the hero's stories. Overall this is just a fantastic and perfect movie. Not only is it my favorite MCU film of all time but it is one of the best superhero movies of all time.

10. The Lord of the Rings

While The Lord of the Rings is technically three movies, I have always viewed them as one movie as they are all one complete story. This has been my favorite movie ever since my mom introduced it to me as a kid. It is nothing short of epic. The story itself is expansive and well-told. It takes time to introduce you to all of the characters. With a runtime of 9+ hours, the story really allows for things to build and grow and for all characters to get their time in the spotlight. All of the characters are super fun and memorable and you really get to spend a lot of time with them throughout the three films and really see them grow and change. The action scenes and battle sequences are also so cool to watch. They all are done on such a large scale and are such amazing scenes. There are so many scenes in this movie that give me chills every time I watch them. The score in these films is always quite good. The music really nails the tone of the scenes with so much of the music adding to the overall epic-ness of the movie. Overall, I just love this movie. I can both watch it over and over again and never get tired of it.

11. The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight is one of the greatest superhero films of all time. This film is masterfully written and directed and does a great job with its pacing. The film is just so exciting and suspenseful throughout and it never really lets up until the end. Each sequence is somehow more suspenseful than the last to the point where the movie feels like it has 3 different climaxes. I like that this movie focuses on the theme of chaos and how some people just don't have a reason for what they are doing. This really ties into Batman and causes him to question his efforts. Heath Ledger as the Joker gives a legendary performance and is probably one of my favorite movie characters of all time. Harvey Dent is another great addition to the story with his arc being so fascinating and tragic. It is just so compelling to see him start as this great figure only to fall into tragedy and madness at the end. His whole story is just very well done. Finally, I like how this film is all about the idea of limits. Batman has to figure out how far he is willing to go to stop the Joker without losing his humanity. This is just a very different type of superhero movie but yet is one of the best ones out there. Overall, this is a fantastic film and one of the few that I consider an absolute masterpiece.

12. Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump is my favorite drama of all time. I really like the way the story was told with Forrest telling his life story in his unique way. Tom Hanks does a great job as Forrest and really comes across as a likable and compelling lead character. The side characters are all a lot of fun as well with Lieutenant Dan probably having the biggest arc in the movie. The movie also does a really good job with its pacing. As it is mostly in an episodic format, it really keeps things moving from one event to the next without it ever feeling like it drags. I also felt that the transition between Forrest telling his story and when the story catches up the present was flawlessly done. It amazes me every time I watch it. There are also a lot of funny moments in this mostly just with Forrest and his overall unawareness. Finally, this film really delivers some emotional moments and manages to combine everything together into a perfect ending. Overall, this is a very well-done movie and one of the few that I consider a masterpiece.