So I've decied to think about my top 10 movies so I don't fall asleep at work.

Here they are and why:

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1) Empire of the Sun: When Christian Bale was 13 he made a movie with John Malcovich, and my Dad and I went to see it. Just me and my dad, no mom, no bro, just me and my father. This is my most treasured movie. Steven Spielberg tells a story of the Japanese invasion of Shanghai in 1941 and Soo Chow confinement camp. The music and visuals drew me in, and did honor to the people, times and planes of that era and war. I like how Bale’s character brought spirituality, honor, and dignity to those around him. The most striking scene is where Bale walks up to a Japanese fighter plane being built and the Japanese pilots don’t get angry, but understand he holds them in respect and honor.

2) Schindler’s List: Steven Spielberg put together an ensemble cast that shows both the horrors endured by the Jews in World War 2, and the courage that many Germans showed to try save them. I was pulled in not just by the wonderful acting, but also by the fact that it was a movie that was in black and white with the selective use of color. And when the color was used it made the images so much more stunning. Liam Neeson’s showed some mind-blowing emotional acting in this movie, which reached into the depths of the soul.

3) Dead Poet Society: I enjoyed Robin William’s portrayal of a teacher willing to move his students to find their own destinies and choose their own point of view in life. The musical score was hauntingly beautiful and worked well with the visual presence of the location of the all male prepatory academy. The addition of classic poetry and Shakespearian references made it a fun watch for the actor side of my personality.

4) Princess Mononoke: Hayao Miyazaki animated a beautiful story of environmentalism, spirituality, and an undertone love story. Miyazaki integrated computer generated animation and hand drawn animation seamlessly in this production. Every background was a piece of living art, which the characters moved about in. I felt drawn to the characters. Ashitaka is made to be a deadly warrior who must observe the whole world peaceably while San and Lady Eboshi both are passionate for their causes. It is a true animation masterpiece.

5) Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon: Ang Lee created visually stunning, and deeply mystical movie, set against the backdrop of Western China's magnificent landscapes. Chow Yun-Fat’s character Li represents warrior tired of fighting beautifully. The story of unattainable love with Yu (Michelle Yeoh), and the spiritualism and martial arts has traditions is classic Chinese folktales. Ang Lee also brought in 3 generations of female martial artists for the pivotal female characters. I enjoyed how this was all brought together.

6) Appleseed: Shirow Masamune wrote the first comic I ever picked up a kid. I couldn’t understand any of it because it was written in Japanese. However, the imagery Shirow Masamune showed an 8-year-old kid walking around Seattle’s International District with his allowance stuck with him. When Shinji Aramaki did his brilliantly animated rendition of the story in 2004, it was a dream come true. The use of motion capture not just for body movements but also for facial expressions was amazing leap in the creation of virtual actors in animation.

7) Shawshank Redemption: Set within a prison, Morgan Freeman wonderfully narrates and acts along side Tim Robbins within a story of adversity, friendship, and freedom... This was a move that quietly showed what it is to have hope. This movie held me captivated by how they did this. The progression of time within the prison, and the aging and changing interpersonal friendships of the characters was done wonderfully and took visual slices out of that time.

8) Raiders of the Lost Ark: This is my Man’s Man movie. This had a bigger than life, rough and tumble main character. An action hero, who wasn’t just tough but intelligent and witty too. Stunning special effects for its time, submarines, old steamer ships, Middle Eastern influence and raw action and stunts make this an exiting romp interlaced with great visual and plot. Using history as backdrop and spirituality and God as important plot thrusts, I can watch his movie again, and again.

9) The Seven Samurai: Akira Kurosawa’s most perfect samurai movie. This movie is what I think a perfect Japanese movie should be. Everyone was dedicated to Akira Kirosowa’s vision and willing to give their all in acting, skill and stunts. It brought together great classical Japanese actors and showed a people and era in Japan wonderfully. It helped to describe the different types of Samurai of the time frame. Also Kurosawa shows the honor of the Samurai in their interactions with the villagers and battles. He also directed a beautiful depiction of the ideal of an imperfect world in how the story climaxes and ends.

10) Gladiator: I was mesmerized by Russell Crowe’s depiction of a truly honorable warrior. “What we do in life echoes in eternity.” He’s shows a man who fights because he must. But, within his heart he holds his family and idea of self most dear. The sword fighting sequences and sword effects were done in such a way as to give you the rush as if you were there.

Looking over this list I realize I'm not into "Cult Classics" but more into what I consider to action and strong storyline driven movies.