[Feature] Top 20 Movies of Our Generation

Movies. We watch, we laugh, we cry, we are captivated. We boldly make a top 20 list of the best movies of our generation. This means movies from 1993 and on. Sorry all Top Gun lovers but we were too young to appreciate it when it first came out. From action to comedy, from Europe to Asia, this list has a little bit of everything. It was highly debated and scrutinized but after the smoke cleared these are the movies that survived.

20) Oldboy (2003)
A Korean revenge thriller with the tone of a Shakespearian tragedy, Oldboy is definitely not a movie for everyone. Director Chan-Wook Park takes us into the world of his protagonist through ultra-violent imagery, fast-paced action, dark humor, escalating tension, and more violence. Though the images can be hard-to-swallow and the storyline heavy-handed, there is no denying the stylish and artistic qualities that warrants the international critical acclaim it has received.

Dae-Su Oh: Laugh and the world laughs with you. Weep and you weep alone.

19) Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
This indie darling is a hilarious study of family dysfunction with heart. The cast is made up of a pantheon of quirky and memorable characters, and if all the awards it won last year is any indication, Little Miss Sunshine is definitely a crowd pleaser for everyone from the general public to the art-house crowd. It has heart without shoving its message down people's throats, a pitch-perfect comedic timing that elicits several laugh-out-loud moments, and a talented cast where all the actors bring something to the table.

Richard: Oh my god, I'm getting pulled over. Everyone, just... pretend to be normal.

18) Lost In Translation (2003)
The ultimate film about the universal themes of loneliness and feeling lost. Even though it is set in the loud and bustling city of Tokyo, writer-director Sophia Coppola uses her abilities as an observer to draw out the quiet desperation of her characters through understated performances from Bill Murray (his best work ever) and Scarlett Johansson. Lost in Translation is more atmospheric than plot-driven, but its compelling characters, glimpse into the Japanese culture, and beautiful cinematography will draw you in.

Charlotte: I just don't know what I'm supposed to be.
Bob: You'll figure that out. The more you know who you are, and what you want, the less you let things upset you.

17) Pride and Prejudice (2005)
It is a universally known fact that if you mention the name “Mr. Darcy” to a woman, chances are that her heart will flutter. Sure, the novel in itself is a classic and pretty much the inspiration for a good majority of chick flicks today (yes boys, you can thank Jane Austen for all those chick flicks your girlfriend has forced you to sit through), but the 2005 film adaptation was the crème de la crème. From the breath-taking cinematography to the essence of each individual member of the Bennet family (and as a whole), this adaptation captured the wit and passion of Jane Austen’s classic novel.

Mr. Bennet: You mistake me, my dear. I have the utmost respect for your nerves. They've been my constant companion these twenty years.

16) Monster's, Inc. (2001)
Completely imaginative, original, and funny, Monster's Inc. is one of many hits by animation powerhouse Pixar, but probably the most heart tugging. The city of Monstropolis comes to life with a colorful cast of creatures, and every frame sparkles with wit and careful attention to detail. The last-act chase through the Monster's Inc factory alone is enough to put this film ahead of all other animated films. The sweet and emotional ending also gets us every time.

Mike: [chanting] I don't know, but it's been said, I love scaring kids in bed!

15) Fight Club (1999)
This movie starts off being about soap and guys fighting for fun and turns into something much, much more. Brad Pitt and Edward Norton are both amazing in this crazy story. Not to mention, theme of anti-institutionalism really make you want to throw out all your stuff, live in a scary old house, and start a fight with someone on the street. After all, how much can you really know about yourself if you've never been in a fight?

Tyler Durden: Listen up, maggots. You are not special. You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake. You're the same decaying organic matter as everything else.

14) Knocked Up (2007)
There’s usually a toss-up for Knocked Up. You either loved it or hated it. And if you hated it, it’s probably safe to assume that you liked Superbad better. To each their own, but Knocked Up seemed to be more of a comedy that spoke to the college/post-college group of movie-goers (points to editors of Life in Boxes). I mean, the girls could feel Alison’s distress and many stages of emotions after finding out that a drunken one night fling ended in a pregnancy, just when things are starting to look up for you. And I’m pretty sure that the post-college graduates who have yet to find their niche in life were able to relate to the slacker-montage of Ben and his friends. It’s a great comedy of life, the transitions in life, and the surprises along the way.

Jonah: What the fuck, man? If I go in there and see fuckin' pubes sprinkled on the toilet seat, I'm gonna fuckin' lose my mind! Last time I went to the bathroom, Jay, I took a shit and my shit looked like a fuckin' stuffed animal!

13) Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Every generation has a great war movie and this one is ours. Tom Hanks shows off his acting skills through his portrayal of Captain John Miller. The characters in his platoon each add to the dynamics of the movie. Saving Private Ryan shows how war is not pretty or even fair.

Private Jackson: What I mean, sir, is if you was to put me with this here sniper rifle anywhere up to and including one mile from Adolf Hitler... with a clean line of sight... well, pack your bags, boys. War's over.

12) The Lion King (1994)
Arguably considered by many to be the best Disney movie to date, the tale of Simba and the kingdom of Pride Rock captured the hearts of all walks of life, as well as winning two Academy Awards and two Golden Globes. Originally intended to be secondary to Pocahontas (which was in production during the same time), The Lion King was a surprise success for Disney as movie-goers held a positive reaction to the storyline and loveable characters. The soundtrack to the film is just as memorable, and whoever doesn’t sing-along to “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” just has no soul.

Young Simba: Hey Uncle Scar, when I'm King, what'll that make you?
Scar: A monkey's uncle.

11) Juno (2007)
I think it’s been established how much the editors at Life in Boxes liked this film. Sure, the dialogue was a bit over-the-top (seriously, “Swear to blog” really made me want to kill myself), but Ellen Page’s portrayal of Juno didn’t come off as an annoying 16 year old who probably would complain of such a sticky predicament. Rather, the viewers see a transformation in a cynical teen as she realizes what she wants from this crazy thing called life. It is a film that reflects the time in which we live in where yes, 16 year olds can get pregnant, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that they are doomed by the choices they make.

Mac MacGuff: Next time I see that Bleeker kid I'm going to punch him in the wiener.

10) The Matrix (1999)
A story about hackers, evil robots, and dodging bullets, The Matrix revolutionized the way action movies (and video games) are made today.
Every time you see speed visualized as slow motion or that crazy mid-air camera movement kick thing, you should thank the Wachowski brothers. That combined with religious / philosophical themes makes this movie the action movie of our generation.

Neo: I know kung-fu.

9) The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The Shawshank Redemption is the story of two prisoners and how they are able to find freedom, both figuratively and literally. And as cheesy as that may sound, the movie really is heartwarming. Of course, the piece de resistance is Morgan Freedman's always soothing narration.

Andy Dufresne: Get busy living, or get busy dying.

8) Snatch (2000)
Where do I start? So many characters, so many story lines ingeniously intertwined. Guy Ritchie is able to make comedy move at a blistering pace. If you are able to bear the thick accents, this movie is as entertaining as they come.

Turkish: You take sugar?
Brick Top: No thank you, Turkish. I'm sweet enough.

7) Schindler's List (1993)
In one of the greatest directed movies you'll see, Steven Spielberg brings his best in this black and white masterpiece. Oskar Schindler's effort to save Jews from the horrors of Nazi concentration camps is based on a true story.

Schindler:I know you have received orders from our commandant, which he has received from his superiors, to dispose of the population of this camp. Now would be the time to do it. Here they are; they're all here. This is your opportunity. Or, you could leave, and return to your families as men instead of murderers.

6) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
After breaking up with someone, who hasn’t tried getting rid of all the memories, both good and bad, in order to move on in life? But instead of throwing away love letters and other mementos, the film explores the consequences if there were a way to literally erase the memories of love’s most hurtful side. The characters of Joel and Clementine are feasible characters, who could be any couple who hit the wrong turn in the course of their relationship. After going through their memories of a sometimes normal and sometimes turbulent relationship, the film makes us think that maybe everyone does deserve a second chance, and that perhaps we can never really move on. It’s a love story with an element of science fiction.

Mary: Blessed are the forgetful, for they get the better even of their blunders.

5) Amelie (2001)
A charming French movie about a painfully shy woman who try to help other lonely people fix their lives, Amelie is magical, funny, and unabashedly nostalgic. The rich colors, camerawork, and special effects bring the character of Amelie and her imaginative, child-like naiveness to life. Audrey Tatou embodies Amelie with her whimsical performance, and it's hard not to fall in love with her character or the film no matter how cynical you may be about life.

Narrator: Amelie has a strange feeling of absolute harmony. It's a perfect moment. A soft light, a scent in the air, the quiet murmur of the city. A surge of love, an urge to help mankind overcomes her.

4) Forrest Gump (1994)
Forrest Gump retells American history from the 1950's to the 1980's through the eyes of one man. Luckily this one man has seen it all -- everything from meeting a young Elvis, seeing the desegregation of the University of Alabama, and to going to Vietnam. The movie tells an amazing story and doles out life lessons by the bucketful.
Forrest Gump: My momma always said, "Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."


3) Life Is Beautiful (1997)
Mama mia! What a film. Roberto Begnini makes life in a Nazi concentration camp range from comic to tragic all in good taste. Like Schindler's List, the perspectives through which the war is seen make this a great movie. Life is Beautiful is at times surreal but always engaging. It is a quintessential heart-warming film.

Guido: You are such a good boy. You sleep now. Dream sweet dreams. Maybe we are both dreaming. Maybe this is all a dream, and in the morning, Mommy will wake us up with milk and cookies. Then, after we eat, I will make love to her four or five times. If I can.

2) The Usual Suspects (1995)
The Usual Suspects is a thriller about five criminals and the cops trying to find out the identity of criminal mastermind, Keyser Soze. Gosh, just saying his name gives me the chills. If you like surprise endings, then you have to thank this movie for creating the framework for that theme.

Verbal: The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist.

1) Braveheart (1995)
The ultimate guy film has been voted as the best film. Mel Gibson's epic is action and drama at its finest. William Wallace's passion to free Scotland from English rule is awe inspiring and if doesn't motivate you to fight for something worth fighting for, nothing will.

William Wallace: Aye, fight and you may die, run, and you'll live... at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin' to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FREEDOM!