Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)

Growing up this was my favorite Star Wars movie. I cannot really say why. Whether it was the cool battle scenes with everything cumulating in the final battle between the Empire and the Rebel Alliance. Whether it was because Darth Vader was finally redeemed by his son in the end. Whether that we find out that Leia and Luke are twins and that Leia gets together with Han in the end. Whether it was the Ewoks. Whatever the reason, I have always loved this movie and it is a fitting end to a wonderful saga. None of the subsequent movies can ever compare to this first wonderful trilogy.

Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

The Empire Strikes Back is actually my least favorite Star Wars movie in the original trilogy. Everyone whines so much in this movie. Luke whines because being a Jedi is hard work. Leia and Han whine because they don’t want to admit to being in love. Whine, whine. That being said I would watch this movie ten times over some of the newer movies that have come out in the franchise. For instance I would rather watch this one compared to any of the prequel movies!!

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)

Can anything ever compare to the original Star Wars? Now called A New Hope it started an international phenomenon. And it was a new hope, a new hope for Science Fiction fans the world over. I grew up on this movie. My parents had taped it off the antenna before or shortly after I was born. One of my best childhood memories is when the first round of special editions came out shortly before the advent of the Phantom Menace. My parents took my brother and me to see Star Wars on the big screen. It was so beautiful and even growing up with improved special effects I was amazed at the practical effects on the big screen. Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia, Obi-Wan Kenobi, they are a part of my childhood and adulthood. It’s funny, as a kid Return of the Jedi was my favorite Star Wars movie, and as I’ve grown older it has become the original epic. I still love Return but there’s something about a New Hope that is eternally enduring. And nothing will ever compare to it, no matter how many sequels and prequels they make.

Clash of the Titans (1981)

The last of Ray HarryHausen’s visual effects masterpieces, Clash of the Titans is a fun, fun movie. Some of the acting in the movie is subpar. Harry Hamlin was basically cast because he’s pretty. The man couldn’t act at all. And Laurence Oliver, who’s supposed to be one of the greatest actors of all time, gives a poor accounting for himself in this movie. But Burgess Meredith and Maggie Smith more than make up for these other performances. And I love the movie, every bad moment of it. Also I have the genius of HarryHausen at the reigns, even though special effects had evolved since Jason and the Argonauts. One thing that I only noticed later is how the Kracken is simply a recasting of an earlier creation of HarryHausen, the alien from Venus in 20 Million Miles to Earth. Take this movie for what it’s worth and enjoy. It is, in my humble opinion, far superior to the remake in 2010. Hamlin might have given a wooden performance, but at least he wasn’t whining!

Jason and the Argonauts (1963)

In a documentary about monster movies, there was a clip of Tom Hanks from a tribute that he did for Ray Harryhausen, the genius behind the special effects of Jason and the Argonauts. In this clip, Hanks told the audience that his favorite movie was Jason and the Argonauts. It has become a cinematic legend even being mentioned in Rick Riordan's Sea of Monsters. It remains one of my favorite movies, due mainly to the effects of Harryhausen especially considering that he did it all with claymation. For the time, his special effects were brilliant.

Jason and the Argonauts tells the age old story of Jason and his quest for the Golden Fleece. It features Medea as his love interest and the beautiful Honor Blackman as the immortal Hera who looks after Jason on his quest. In interesting plot device is the idea that Hera and Zeus are playing a game of chess (of sorts) with the characters in the movie. Their fate lies in who plays the game. Of course in this version it ends happily with Jason and Medea sailing into the sunset with the Golden Fleece and those that remain of the Argonauts.  

The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973)

As I’ve grown older, the Golden Voyage of Sinbad has become my favorite Sinbad movie. It has the most coherent plot and good acting for the most part. My favorite character is actually not Sinbad but the son of a local merchant. His father pays Sinbad handsomely to take his son on the voyage to hopefully cure him of his slothfulness and wastefulness. I think this boy goes through one of the most dramatic character growths in the movie, all with comedy and humor. Truly a wonderful story.

Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977)

Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger is perhaps the weakest of the trilogy. Made in 1977, it stars Patrick Wayne who is really cute, but not the best actor in the world. The only reason I feel he got any roles was because of his daddy, John Wayne. But still, we don’t need great acting chops when playing in an epic sea adventure with special effects by the legendary Ray HarryHausen. Growing up this version of Sinbad was my favorite; I think because it was constantly on TV. I now consider the Golden Voyage of Sinbad to be my favorite, but still love Eye of the Tiger. As my mom says, it’s a great popcorn movie!