Troy's Top 100 Films, Animated films, #67 The Lion King.

#67 The Lion King
Disney certainly was on fire in the mid 90's, following the gigantic success of movies like Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin, The Disney animated team once again proved their juggernaut status with release 1994 release of The Lion King. The story follows a young lion cub named Simba, the son of Mufasa who rules over the savanna. When Simba thinks he is responsible for the death of his father, who was actually killed by his brother Scar, Simba runs away and throws himself into exile. While living with his new friends Timon and Pumba, a wise cracking meerkat and dimwitted warthog, Simba's destiny follows him when he runs into his childhood friend Nala and learns what really happened to his father.

Troy's Top 100 Movies. Top Animated Films. #68 Beauty and the Beast.

Continuing on with my top animated films, I bring you probably the sappiest entry of the entire list animated or not. Beauty and the Best is the classic Disney Masterpiece that takes place in 17th century France and focuses on Belle, a beautiful girl who is more interested in books then a social life, a fact that Gaston, the town meat head, finds very irritating. When Belle's father gets lost on his way to an inventor fair he winds up at an enchanted castle guarded by the monstrous Beast. When Belle races to her father's side and offers herself in his place The Beast accepts. Belle must now make the best of her new surroundings and her new friends, walking, talking furniture. She also starts to see that there is more to The Beast then meets the eye. This is a gloriously animated film, with memorable characters and one of the best soundtracks Disney ever put out.

Geek of the Week, Patton Oswalt.

Geek of the Week is our weekly post where we spotlight those influential or famous people who also happen to be huge geeks. This week we spotlight Patton Oswalt. Patton made a name for himself as a stand up comedian in the 80's and 90's, then as a writer for MADtv. He broke into TV with his own HBO comedy special and a reoccurring role as Spence on The King of Queens starring Kevin James. Patton then made it big as the voice of Remy in Rataouille and as a sports fanatic in the critically acclaimed film "Big Fan". Patton is a life long geek, he has made references in his stand up for his love for superheroes,comic books as well as his disdain for the Star Wars prequels. He has written several comic book stories moderates panels for comic con and even went as far as to hire Adam Savage from Mythbusters to create life size Doctor Octopus arms for him to wear while his daughter went trick or treating as Spiderman.

Troy's Top 100 Movies. Top Animated Films.. #69 The Nightmare Before Christmas

#69 The Nightmare Before Christmas
Kicking off my list of my favorite animated films I bring you the stop motion classic The Nightmare Before Christmas. In 1993 this film was unlike anything that had been seen in a long long time. The Nightmare Before Christmas tells the story of Jack the Pumpkin King as he has grown tired and bored with his life, after a successful Halloween he takes a journey through the woods and stumbles upon a grove of trees, each has a different picture on it of a different holiday. After the large bright door with the Christmas tree catches his eye he opens it and is transported to Christmas town. Seeing what he thinks is the missing piece in his life, Jack returns to Halloween Town with plans to make their own Christmas with Jack replacing Santa.

Troy's Top 100 Movies In 100 Days. #70 The Addams Family.

#70 The Addams Family
Making up for my missed day I bring you my second film today, 1991's The Addams Family. Based on the classic TV show of the 60's The Addams Family sees two con artists try to convince the Addams that their long lost Uncle Fester has returned, But when holes in the story start to surface the creepy, spooky family begin to wonder if Uncle Fester is who he says he is. With the fantastic story and great visual gags The Addams Family is a great blend of creepy and hilarious. Starring the late Raul Julia, Angelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd and Christina Ricci The Addams Family is a fun star studded film that still perfectly holds up today (unlike it's sequels).

Troy's Top 100 Movies. #71 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Yes number 71 are those radical, pizza loving, sewer dwelling mutants from 1990, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. When the mysterious Foot clan start making waves through the city, Splinter a giant walking, talking rat, sends his four pupils to the surface to try and stop the Foot clan led by The Shredder. This film sees Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michaelangelo as they begin their war against the Shredder who has kidnapped Splinter to lure the Turtles to him. They team up with news reporter April O'Neil and masked sports themed vigilante Casey Jones to get back their master and save the city. This is a great movie that straddles both the darker themes of teenage runaways and kidnapping with the lighter themes of family and pizza eating.

Troy's 100 Movies. #72 Liar Liar.

#72 Liar Liar
Here is another classic Jim Carrey film that showcases his famous manic personality. When lawyer Fletcher Reed (Carrey) breaks a promise to his son, his son makes a birthday wish that for one whole day his Dad can't lie. What follows is a incredibly funny laugh out loud plot that sees Fletcher trying desperately and failing to lie in order to win a case for a client. Carrey is one of a few actors that could take a ridiculous premise like this one and fill it with not only brilliant comedy but also a lot of heart.

World War G Episode 7: Dash is the New Hashtag

Join Troy and AJ this week as they talk about comic book cliches that need to die, a real life Iron Man suit and they talk their Oscar picks. Who are Hulk's parents? Orphans and true love needs to die, BOOBS! Spoiler alert clauses? T.A.L.O.S. Troy's second Christmas.

Troy's Top 100 Movies In 100 Days #73 The Mask.

#73 The Mask
This is the movie that put Jim Carrey on the map. This early comic book to movie adaptation sees the rubber faced comedian in a role that was built for him. Carrey plays Stanley Ipkiss an every man who works at a bank, has car troubles, hates his land lord but at his heart is an honest caring person...which has gotten him no where. So after being thrown out of a club, he dives into a river thinking he is saving a drowning man when he realizes it was a pile of trash and a strange wooden mask, which he takes home. When he puts the mask to his face the mask turns him into a "sex crazed wild man" with a green face and a lemon yellow zoot suit. When I say that this role was built for Carrey it is absolutely the truth, Carrey puts his comedic genius into overdrive as he dances and bounces all over every scene he is in. This movie also marks the big screen debut of Cameron Diaz who plays Carrey's love interest and mob girlfriend.

Troy's Top 100 Movies. #74 Jurassic Park

#74 Jurassic Park
No movie I have seen before or since has captured my imagination like Jurassic Park. Steven Spielberg's 1993 classic. Jurassic Park centers around two Paleontologists Dr. Alan Grant and Dr. Ellie Sattler as they are asked to come inspect a wildlife reserve that a John Hammond has built. When they arrive they realize to their astonishment that the wildlife are full living and breathing Dinosaurs. With mathematician Dr. Ian Malcolm and Hammond's two grandchildren, they set out into the park only to be disappointed by the lack of exhibits. When the park is sabotaged by employee Dennis Nedry and the entire thing goes black and Dinosaurs begin to wander the park, it is up to Dr. Grant and the others to get off the island alive. This is the summer block busters all other summer blockbusters want to be. This is a nearly perfect movie with state of the art effects that look just as amazing today as they did then.

Troy's Top 100 Movies. #75 That Thing You Do.

#75 That Thing You Do
If you want to talk about a feel good movie for the whole family this is the one. Tom Hanks stars in this movie about four young guys in the 60's who start a band called The Wonders (or The Oneders) if you prefer. The story follows the band as they play in talent shows and pizza joints to then making it big with their hit That Thing You Do. However cracks start to form in the band and when the bass player turns up MIA for a big show and Lenny (Steve Zahn) runs off to Vegas after, the band dissolves becoming the one hit Wonders. This is such a great film, the soundtrack alone is worth praise, but with stellar performances by Tom Hanks, Liv Tyler (oddly enough) Steve Zahn, Johnathon Schaech and a break through performance by Tom Everett Scott as Guy "Shades" Patterson. That Thing You Do hits all the right places, it's a laugh out loud great family film that will leave you humming the songs for THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!

Guardians of the Galaxy Full Trailer Official

Troy's Top 100 Movies. #76 Star Trek Generations.

#76 Star Trek: Generations
I remember seeing this movie in theaters and I remember being so excited that Kirk and Picard were going to be in the same movie together! I was also nine, even as a child my geek status was cemented. This is a passing of the torch between the original Star Trek crew and The Next Generation crew. When Captain Kirk is supposedly killed on a routine mission to save two ships from a spacial anomaly, one of those people that were saved, Dr. Tolian Soran (Malcolm McDowell) is hellbent on finding the anomaly and returning to it. Decades later Captain Picard and his crew find themselves at odds with Soran who has teamed with Klingon rebels to return him to the anomaly. When both Soran and Picard are sucked into the anomaly Picard finds an ally in James T. Kirk who is still alive and has been in a time loop for years. Together the two captains must find a way to stop Soran by any means necessary.

Troy's Top 100 Movies. #77 Star Trek First Contact.

#77 Star Trek First Contact.
This is Wrath of Kahn for the Next Generation. This 1996 sci-fi picture was directed by Johnathan Frakes and stars the Next Generation crew as they battle their greatest foe, The Borg. Led by Captain Picard the crew of the Enterprise must go back in time to save the Earth from being over run and taken over by the Borg and to make sure that Zefram Cochran makes his first interstellar flight that results in humans first contact with aliens ushering in the star age. Fighting his own feelings of revenge from being assimilated himself Captain Picard must lead his crew to save his ship, the Earth and time itself. This is my favorite Star Trek movie, it has a fantastic story that moves along perfectly and leaves you wanting more when it's over.

World War G Episode 6: AJ Likes Redheads

Troy's Top 100 Movies. #78 The Incredible Hulk.

#78 The Incredible Hulk
This was the second attempt to bring the Hulk to the big screen, After Ang Lee's Hulk in 2000 went down in flames it took eight years to bring the green behemoth back to the screen. This one sees Edward Norton as Bruce Banner as he is trying to live a quiet life. When his location is discovered by the military led by General Ross (William Hurt) and Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth) Banner must head back home to enlist the help of his ex girlfriend Betty Ross (Liv Tyler). With great acting from the main cast and a spectacular end fight scene between Hulk and The Abomination, The Incredible Hulk captures perfectly the destruction and excitement from the comic books. Though The Incredible Hulk didn't do that well commercially, having gone up against both Iron Man and The Dark Knight both released the same year, it is still in my opinion the unsung hero of the Marvel Universe movies and worth another look.

Troy's Top 100 Movies. #79 Raiders of the Lost Ark

#79 Raiders of the Lost Ark
Harrison Ford stars as Indiana Jones, an archaeologist that splits his time between teaching and traveling the world searching for artifacts. When two men approach him to help find the lost ark of the covenant he can't refuse, however he isn't the only interested party, hot on his trail are Nazi agents who are also interested in obtaining the ark. This spectacular adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg is why people love to see movies. As one of the best cinematic characters of all time Indiana Jones continues to thrill generations. Thanks in part to the brilliant Harrison Ford who brings the character to life as well as Spielberg's direction Raiders of the Lost Ark has cemented itself as one of the best adventure films ever.

Troy's Top 100 Movies. #80 Batman.

#80 Batman
Concluding my 80's in the eighties countdown I bring you my favorite movie to come out of the 80's. Tim Burton's 1989 Batman. Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson star in this classic superhero film. The predecessor to all future superhero films, Batman sees Bruce Wayne fairly early on in his crime fighting career as rumors have been circulating in the criminal underground of a 6 foot bat terrorizing criminals. The film also focuses on Jack Napier, a mobster who is set up for a robbery and a fire fight with the cops breaks out. When the Batman appears Napier is dropped off a catwalk and into a vat a chemicals transforming him into the psychotic murderous Joker. This movie is brilliant as Burton takes Batman out of the camp of the 60's and brings him back into his dark roots. Keaton and Nicholson have great chemistry together and really showcases Nicholson's mastery as an actor. With a great supporting cast and classic scene after classic scene Batman will stand as one of the best superhero movies ever. Make sure you come back tomorrow as I kick off my all time favorite movie trilogies.

Troy's Top 100 Movies In 100 Days. #81 Ghostbusters.

#81 Ghostbusters
My second favorite 80's movie off all time also happens to be one of the most popular movies of all time, 1984's Ghostbusters. This classic comedy starring Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Sigourney Weaver and Harold Ramis sees three unemployed parapsychologists as they start a business as a ghost removers. Ghostbusters directed by Ivan Reitman is what I think of when I think classic summer blockbuster. With big names, a laugh out loud script, and beautiful effects (for the time) Ghostbutsers is what happens when everything comes together perfectly. The perfect cast, the perfect story, the perfect director and audiences ate it up becoming the second highest grossing film of 1984 behind Beverly Hills Cop. With the re-release of Ghostbusters in theaters a few years back and the rumors of a Ghostbusters 3 in the works, Ghostbusters will always stand critically and commercially as one of the greatest movies ever made.

Neal Adams; legendary artist, legendary ego.

If you know anything about me you know I love to draw. Specifically I love to draw superheroes. I have been drawing superheroes since I was a wee lad. So when I heard that Kevin Smith was going to interview Neal Adams on his podcast Fatman on Batman I couldn't wait! I had been studying Adams' work for years, he is a truly magnificent artist. So I stuck in the ear phones clicked on the podcast and listened. What I heard was not a humble thankful artist that loves the comic business and is grateful to work in it, like I heard people before say, people like Jim Lee, Scott Snyder or Greg Capulo. No what I heard was a self righteous arrogant jerk who is so high on himself he actually believes that the comic book industry would have crumbled with out him. The way he tells it you would think that everyone who worked in comics during the silver age were morons and he was the only one smart enough to save the business. Whether he is insulting other Batman artists work like Bob Kane or Carmine Infantino or saying how he single-handedly was responsible for making sure that original art work goes back to the artists or saving the Detective Comics title from cancellation or saying that he left the comic business until "It caught up with him"Adams never missed an opportunity to inflate his own ego. It is also very difficult for me to believe that he alone was responsible for DC patching things up with Seagel and Shuster as he would have you believe. In the end after three episodes of the Podcast I was left with very little respect for the man and a shattered illusion of a fellow artist.

Troy's Top 100 Movies 80's countdown. #82 Beetlejuice

#82 Beetlejuice
Tim Burton was at the top of his game with this one. Beetlejuice stars Michael Keaton as the ghost with the most who is called on to help the Maitlands (Baldwin, Davis) get the new residents out of their house after they died. The movie constantly attacks you visually with Burton's signature creep. With Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis as the Maitlands, a newly deceased couple, they take you on a journey while they try to make sense out of their new reality and try to deal with being dead and the new family that has moved into their home and Beetlejuice who is causing more trouble then he is worth. Beetlejuice takes you on a thrill ride through the mind of a true directing mad man with stunning visuals and over the top characters that blend the strange and unusual with the norm perfectly, much like Tim Burton himself.

Geek of the week, Kevin Smith.

Welcome to my new series of posts where we spotlight famous or influential people who also have a taste for all things geek. This week we spotlight actor/director/podcaster Kevin Smith. Breaking into the main stream with his 90's cult classic "Clerks" Smith made allusions to his geekiness with a brief Star Wars discussion between his two leads. With the release of his second film "Mallrats" Smith let his geek flag fly with many comic references and a guest appearance by Stan Lee himself. In his next film "Chasing Amy" his two character leads are both comic book artists. Since then Smith has never shied away from talking about his love of comic books, Star Wars and his favorite superhero Batman, consistently touting the caped crusader as his spiritual inspiration, even going as far as having an entire podcast dedicated to the Dark Knight.

Troy's Top 100 Movies. #83 The Princess Bride.

#83 The Princess Bride
Is The Princess Bride a perfect movie? I think it's pretty close. Rob Reiner's 1987 classic film centers around Buttercup, a young woman who after her true love Westley is reportedly killed she is promised to the snobbish Prince Humperdink. When Princess Buttercup is kidnapped by a trio of mercenaries it's up to the mysterious "man in black" to rescue her. With Prince Humperdink tracking them, it's up to Buttercup to choose between the Prince and the dashing, swashbuckling man in black. Starring a perfect cast including Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin and Chris Sarandon. Princess Bride might be one of the most quoted movies ever! It is a classic in every sense of the word. Rob Reiner is a masterful director and brings to life a great fairy tale, adventure story, with memorable characters and even more memorable lines the Princess Bride will live on happily ever after.

Troy's Top 100 Movies. #84 The Breakfast Club

#84 The Breakfast Club
Continuing with the 80's goodness is a movie so 80's you'll want to grab your leggings and pop in your Billy Idol cassette after reading this. Starring Emilio Esteves, Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Anthony Michael Hall and Ally Sheedy the Breakfast Club is a 1985 John Hughes movie about five high school students serving a detention on a Saturday morning. With nothing in common and very different backgrounds they at first can't stand one another, but after learning that it doesn't matter if you are a brain, athlete, basket case, a princess or a criminal, everyone has trials in their life. After a while and a few sob stories about they and why they are in detention in the first place they slowly start to respect and even like each other. With a young cast and totally awesome soundtrack The Breakfast Club paves the way for the 90's teensplosion trend with movies like "10 Things I hate About You" "She's All That" and "American Pie". The Breakfast Club is a cinematic icon and should be on everyone's must watch list.

Troy's Top 100 Movies. #85 Big.

#85 Big
Continuing on with my 80's eighties countdown is this Penny Marshall directed comedy starring Tom Hanks (Look for more Hanks movies as the list goes on) Josh Baskin is a normal kid who wants more then anything to be a grown up. When he makes a wish on a carnival fortune telling machine his wish comes true. He wakes up the next morning a grown man. This is signature Tom Hanks, he shines as he is a grown up who is playing a kid pretending to be a grown up. There are so many classic scenes in this movie, from playing chopsticks on a giant piano to discussing a building that turns into a robot to getting into a fight while playing handball with the Dad from Home Alone. Not only is this one of Tom Hanks first film roles, but it is one of Penny Marshall's first directing jobs and both prove that they are true masters of their craft.

World War G Episode 5: Giving You The Finger

Join Troy and AJ as they shed some light on The Dark Knight and discuss Batman's real creator Bill Finger.

Troy's Top 100 Movies. #86 Uncle Buck.

Continuing my 80's in the eighties countdown. Uncle Buck is John Hughes 1989 comedy that stars John Candy as Buck, the wise cracking, crude titular character that is asked by his brother to come babysit their kids while they leave town for a few days. This is a great John Hughes film and John Candy is at his best. With plenty of classic lines and classic scenes Uncle Buck is a great family film that still holds up today.  

Troy's Top 100 Movies. #87 The Burbs.

#87 The Burbs.
Continuing my eighties 80's countdown I bring you one of my favorite Tom Hanks performances that I bet you never heard of, The Burbs. The Burbs is a 1989 film that centers around Ray Petersen (Hanks) and his two friends Mark Rumsfield (Bruce Dern) and Art Weingartner as they start to suspect that there is more then meets the eye about the new family that has moved in on their block. Also starring Carrie Fisher and Corey Feldman The Burbs is a comedic look at life in the suburbs. It is a fantiastic, entertaining movie that showcases Hanks potential as a leading man. Part comedy, part horror film The Burbs is a great story with quick dialogue. If you haven't seen this go seek it out, you'll thank me. "I've never seen that. I've never seen someone drive their garbage to the curb then beat the hell out of it with a stick. I've never seen that."

Troy's Top 100 Movies. #88 Star Trek II The Wrath of Kahn.

#88 Star Trek II The Wrath of Kahn
Continuing my 80's countdown I bring you what is, in my opinion, one of the greatest movies ever made! 1982's Star Trek II The Wrath of Kahn. There are Star Trek films then there is this one, there are sci-fi films then there is this one, there are good movies then there is this one. Considered by most Star Trek fans to be the best Star Trek Movie ever, Wrath of Kahn sees the crew of the starship Enterprise taking on their greatest foe, the superman known as Kahn. This movie really is a masterpiece. The story which centers around a character briefly introduced in the original series, Ricardo Mantalban really brings the sinister Kahn to life. With great dialogue between Kahn and Kirk this movie reminds you that William Shatner actually can act! It's a story of revenge, over coming great odds, friendship and has one of the most touching endings in all of cinema.

Troy's Top 100 Movies. #89 The Great Outdoors,

We've reached the 80's! And in honor of that I am going to be posting my favorite movies from the 80's. The Great Outdoors is a fantastic comedy from 1988, and there were no greater comedians at the time then Dan Akroyd and John Candy. Both star in this family comedy that finds John Candy's character taking his family on a vacation to the cabin he use to go to as a boy with his father, when his brother in law played by Dan Akroyd shows up unannounced his family vacation turns into a nightmare. With mischievous raccoons, a bat that is at least a two pounder (wow) and the bald headed bear of Claire county! The Great Outdoors always makes me laugh. With a great cast lead by two fantastic leads, a fantastic simple story and some remarkable sight gags, The Great Outdoors hits on all cylinders.

Troy's Top 100 Movies. #90 The Muppet Christmas Carol.

#90 The Muppet Christmas Carol
If you are looking for the ultimate family feel good film, this is the one. I love the Muppet movies, I think they are smart, funny and usually very clever. However this one struck a chord with me. Whether it's the extremely catchy songs or the fact that Michael Caine is playing Scrooge this is a great film. With Kermit as Bob Cratchet and Gonzo as Charles Dickens the narrator the Muppets fit perfectly into their respective roles. This is one I watch every Christmas and I enjoy it just as much every year.

Troy's Top 100 Movies. #91 Twister.

#91 Twister
This one is a little bitter sweet. With the untimely passing of actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman I thought it only appropriate that I throw in one of my movies with a great PSH performance. Twister stars Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt as two storm chasers who have developed a new way of tracking patterns in tornadoes. A great story with amazing visuals, Twister also stars a stellar supporting cast including Hoffman playing one of the storm chasers with Paxton and Hunt. The movie is starting to show it's age but it still has a great plot and great performances.

World War G Episode 4: Ron Will Always Be #2.

Troy's Top 100 Movies. #92 Groundhog Day.

Well what else was I going to do for today? Bill Murray stars as Phil Connors, a weatherman who is tasked every year to head to Punxsutawney for their annual Groundhog Day festival. A job which he despises. Along with his new producer played by Andie McDowell and his downbeat camera man played by Chris Elliot, Phil discovers that he is living the same day over and over again. Bill Murray shines in this romantic comedy about learning that there is more to life then success, it's about helping those around you and living life to the absolute fullest.

Troy's Top 100 Movies. #93 Young Frankenstein.

Comedies don't get much better than this. In Mel Brooks classic film Gene Wilder plays the grandson of Victor Frankenstein, though he has tried to distance himself from his family name he winds up heading to his grandfather's castle to settle a few loose ends. While he's there he discovers his grandfather's old journal detailing how he first created the monster. Thinking he can improve upon it, Fredrick tries to duplicate the experiments resulting in creating one of the most enduring movie "monsters" ever. Every scene in this film is classic and if you don't chuckle at the Puttin' on the Ritz tap dance there is something wrong with you.