Worst2First: My Top Ten Films When I Graduated High School

Worst2First: 

My Top Ten Films When I Graduated High School

I graduated high school back in 1999, the year Prince sang about, a time that seems so long ago considering the year we live in now.  Still, despite graduating all those centuries ago, there were some rather epic films that were released in that year.

So here are my personal top ten films that were released the year I graduated high school, worst2first...

**THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS**

#10

10 Things I Hate About You

Loosely based on the classic William Shakespeare play "The Taming of the Shrew," "10 Things I Hate About You" focuses on two sisters - one who's popular, and the other who isn't.  In order to get her own date, the popular sister must find a date for her loner, more independent sister.  The results are hilarious and heartfelt, led by a strong young cast including Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Andrew Keegan.

#9

 The Mummy

Back when Brendan Fraser was relevant, and before Tom Cruise single-handedly destroyed an entire wannabe cinematic universe, "The Mummy" was an action blockbuster that starred aforementioned Fraser and Rachel Weisz as they inadvertently awaken a centuries old mummy who's out for revenge.  While many of the effects haven't held up today, it's still a campy, entertaining film to watch when you don't really want to think about anything important.

#8

 The Blair Witch Project

Now known as the grandfather of the found footage subgenre, "The Blair Witch Project" revolutionized horror in a way that before was unheard of.  I remember hearing about this movie and actually thinking the three stars really disappeared while making it, only to find that it was all a hoax.  Still, knowing this, the film still holds an eerie sense of dread throughout, one that uses subtlety and the allure of the unknown to make it truly terrifying.  It's an icon for horror fans, and a revolutionary film.

#7

 Office Space

Now known more for the memes it's produced, "Office Space" is still a rip-roaring, laugh-out-loud comedy especially for anyone who's truly hated their job.  When a group of office workers decide to rebel against their boss, the results are hilarious and memorable.  Featuring standout performances (especially by scene stealers like Stephen Root and Gary Cole), "Office Space" remains one of the best comedies of all time.

#6

Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels

The film that introduced the world to Vinnie Jones and Jason Statham, the Guy Ritchie written and directed crime comedy centers on a group of friends who decide to rob a small time gang in order to pay debts owed to a powerful crime lord.  The results are humorous and violent in equal measure, something you'd come to expect from a Guy Ritchie film.  It's darkly satirical, filled with dry British humor, and involves a lot of shootouts and fun action sequences.

#5

 The Sixth Sense

The film that introduced the genius of director M. Night Shyamalan, "The Sixth Sense" is a rare horror film that garnered not just audience applause, but critical acclaim as well, earning six Academy Award nominations including Best Picture and Best Director.  The film centers on young Cole (played by Hayley Joel Osment), who communicates with dead people.  Featuring the now-iconic line of "I see dead people," the film is a terrifying thrill ride with a huge surprise twist at the end.

#4

 The Matrix

A film far ahead of  its time, "The Matrix" was a visionary marvel that's been studied since then and often duplicated, but never to the critical achievement the original achieved.  With dizzying action sequences, epic chase scenes, and exciting performances by the likes of Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, and Hugo Weaving, "The Matrix" still holds today as one of cinema's most powerful action science fiction films.

#3

 The Green Mile

Based on the novel by Stephen King, "The Green Mile" stars Tom Hanks as a death row corrections officer and Michael Clarke Duncan as a supposed child killer who shows no signs of actual malice, and who harbors a secret supernatural ability.  This causes the officer to doubt the man's guilt, leading both men on a verge of discovery and learning the importance of life itself.  The film is a powerful piece of drama, earning four Academy Award nominations including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor for Duncan.

#2

Toy Story 2

Pixar hit the map with its groundbreaking film "Toy Story," and the sequel holds the same amount of heart, passion, humor, and excitement as the original.  When Woody goes missing, Buzz and his friends embark on an epic journey to rescue him.  Along they way they make new friends, and treats the audience to another round of hilarity told with revolutionary effects and lavish animations - everything we'd come to expect from Pixar.

#1

 Fight Club

David Fincher directs one of the most iconic films of his career with "Fight Club," starring Edward Norton and Brad Pitt.  Norton stars as the Narrator, a man tired of his white-collar job who wants some excitement in life, and finds it in soap seller Tyler Durden, as the two men come up with the idea of Fight Club - allowing a group of men to let out their aggression through fighting.  Featuring amazing visuals, stunning effects, a top-notch story, a shocking twist, and fantastic acting, the number one rule of Fight Club is you do not talk about Fight Club, but it's almost impossible to not talk about the film.