The great gatsby (2013)

​I know I said this list would not have definitive rankings, but this one was actually my favorite movie of all time. I first read The Great Gatsby in 6th grade, shortly after I found out about it from the movie version. This might be controversial, but Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway are extremely relatable characters for me. Furthermore, the entire movie is filled with outstanding symbolism and deeply flawed characters. It focuses on Nick, a young banker who has recently arrived in the booming and vibrant city of New York in the 1920s. He lives directly next to Jay Gatsby, a millionaire who has a secret: he’s been in love with Nick’s cousin, a married woman who lives across the bay, for many years. One thing I can surely say is that this book brings out the worst in people. Now, this section of my review was largely taken from my book review, but the movie just adds extra effects to it. It's simply brilliant. 

Coco (2017)

This is it. This is the greatest Disney Pixar movie to date (IN MY OPINION, DON'T HATE ME). Coco just represents something special to me. The film focuses on Miguel, a young boy in Mexico who strives to become a musician. Miguel pursues his dream despite his family absolutely prohibiting music in any way, shape, or form due to the actions of his great-great grandfather, who supposedly abandoned the family to pursue his career. During the Day of the Dead celebrations, Miguel accidentally finds himself in the World of the Dead, and must receive his family's blessing to return to the Living World before sunrise (and before his great-grandmother loses her memories). I have watched it multiple times, and every time I watch it there's something new that makes my love for this film grow substantially. Not only does it serve as a great representation of Day of the Dead celebrations, but it also contains very serious themes compared to other Disney Pixar movies. Coco also has one of the greatest soundtracks I have ever heard. I unironically listen to songs such as Un Poco Loco and Remember Me on a daily basis. The main character of this film is a perfect example of someone who strives to become better, and it ultimately conveys the importance of family in everything you do, which is why Coco is the greatest Pixar film of all time.

Prince of Egypt (1997)

Prince of Egypt is undoubtedly my favorite animated film of all time. I watched this movie in August of last year, around the time that I started reading the Paul chapters of the New Testament. Prince of Egypt is based on the book of Exodus of the Bible, in which Moses leads the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt. Prince of Egypt is largely accurate to the book, but it also has several significant differences from the book. The Prince of Egypt is probably the greatest movie produced by DreamWorks, and goes hand in hand with the Lion King and Coco as my top 3 animated films. Indeed, the soundtrack of this movie changed my life, to the point where I listen to it on a daily basis. The animation is simply amazing. This movie was one of the key pieces in reaffirming my religion over the course of the past year, and it has helped me through countless struggles. For that, I will forever cherish it.

The Theory of Everything (2013)

The Theory of Everything was one of the first movies that I watched that wasn't animated. I watched it with my mother when I was about 7 years old. Ever since I was young, I had always been fascinated with Stephen Hawking and his theories of quantum mechanics, but I didn't know much about his experiences growing up. The Theory of Everything is a fascinating story of love, detailing the lives of Stephen and Jane Hawking, their young marriage, the deterioration of Stephen's condition, and the eventual end of their relationship. This movie taught me not only about love, but also about ambition and the importance of cherishing those who are close to you. Above all else, it taught me about keeping hope and living life regardless of any obstacles or shortcomings.

Interstellar (2014)

Interstellar is my favorite movie of all time. No other movie has made me feel so conscientious about the possibilities of dreams. The story is very simple, but complex at the same time. Due to years of drought and the draining of natural resources, Earth will become uninhabitable within the next 50 years. Before that can occur, a former pilot is enlisted by an old organization (known as NASA, you may have heard of it) to lead a team of astronauts on a journey to discover a planet that could support human life. Meanwhile, he has to come to terms with leaving his young daughter back home on Earth. This is perhaps Christopher Nolan's best movie of all time. In approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes, he creates a gripping tale of family, love, and the pursuit of happiness, as well as ambition. This movie changed my life on a personal level, and I recommend that everyone watch it at least once. 

Chase Jones