Summer List #1 - My Favorite 50 Movies

Movies have always played an important role in my life.  They are my favorite form of entertainment.  Except for perhaps vocal melody, I believe motion pictures provide us with the greatest potential for artistic achievement.  When I was young, I staged imaginary movies with my younger brother.  Together, we wrote, directed, and performed.  I wish we would've had cameras to capture the magic.  I think the list says a lot about me.  I enjoy epic dramas, some horror movies, plenty of screwball comedies, and blockbusters.  I don't care for art house crap.  Some of the most popular franchises are missing.  You'll see which ones.  For the record, I differentiate between what I call my favorites and what could be considered the best.  In other words, not all the ones I enjoy won awards.

Really, there's only one rule here.  The movie had to be released during my lifetime.  Oh, and I listed only one film from any series.  So, I guess that's two rules.  These are in chronological order by first release.

The Godfather, 1972
Jaws, 1975
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, 1975
Rocky, 1976
The Pink Panther Strikes Again, 1976
Smokey and the Bandit, 1977
Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1981
Poltergeist, 1982
First Blood, 1982
Friday the 13th Part IV, 1984
The Breakfast Club, 1985
Fletch, 1985
Back to the Future, 1985
Aliens, 1986
Raising Arizona, 1987
Die Hard, 1988
The 'Burbs, 1989
Christmas Vacation, 1989
Goodfellas, 1990
The Silence of the Lambs, 1991
Terminator 2, 1991
Cape Fear, 1991
Schindler's List, 1993
Pulp Fiction, 1994
Braveheart, 1995
Donnie Brasco, 1997
The Big Lebowski, 1998
Saving Private Ryan, 1998
Office Space, 1999
Analyze This, 1999
The Green Mile, 1999 
Cast Away, 2000
Signs, 2002
Gangs of New York. 2002
Old School, 2003
Pirates of the Caribbean, 2003
Shaun of the Dead, 2004
Meet the Fockers, 2004
Talladega Nights, 2006
The Departed, 2006
Superbad, 2007
No Country for Old Men, 2007
Step Brothers, 2008
Inglourious Basterds, 2009
Super 8, 2011
Ted, 2012
The Campaign, 2012
Flight, 2012
Silver Linings Playbook, 2012
This Is the End, 2013