Welcome! Today is part 3 of the countdown of my twenty all-time favorite movies!

10. Die Hard (1988)

Die Hard is the best action flick ever. There's just no getting around that fact. Sure, the movie may not be high art, but it achieves what it sets out to do perfectly. The storyline is fun and detailed, with plenty of twists to keep things moving, and John McTiernan's excellent directions makes the action scenes more thrilling than I could possibly describe. But at the heart of the movie is Bruce Willis as everyman John McClane. McClane is the perfect movie protagonist; he's not a perfect guy, but he's likeable and easy to root for. Willis obviously had a blast playing the part, and he's really entertaining to watch, nailing both the comedic and dramatic elements of his role. Alan Rickman makes Hans Gruber a truly iconic movie villain; he's someone you absolutely love to hate. Die Hard revolutionized the action genre; few action movies since haven't owed something to this movie in one way or another. In my mind, it really is the perfect action flick-it doesn't insult your intelligence, the characters are well written and acted, and the film is endlessly thrilling.

9. Star Wars (1977)

I love Star Wars with a passion. It takes a relatively simple premise and the old "Hero's Journey" formula and makes it all feel new and original. The action and groundbreaking effects are truly incredible, but (and I know this is starting to sound repetitive) it's the acting and characters that really make the movie. Luke Skywalker is one of the all-time great screen protagonists. He's impulsive and a bit too eager to leave home, but he changes from his experience (hence the term "Hero's Journey"). Princess Leia is a strong female lead-not your typical damsel in distress. R2-D2 and C3-PO are fun sidekicks, Chewbacca kicks more butt than I could possibly describe, and Darth Vader is one of the best villains ever. But like most movies he stars in, Harrison Ford pretty much steals the show. Han Solo is one of the coolest characters ever; he might just be the father of the modern movie bada**.

As much as I love Star Wars, you might have expected to find this movie higher on the list. Sadly, I must say that my enthusiasm for the film and the other two installments in the trilogy has waned over the years due to the fact that George Lucas won't stop jerking his fans around. I, like many others, despise the alterations Lucas made for the "special editions" of these movies, and prefer the original theatrical cuts. Sadly, those aren't available in decent quality on home video, and probably never will be. That, combined with the too-horrible-for-word prequel trilogy, has definitely lessened my love for the universe. But on the occasions when I do get around to revisiting this movie, I have a blast. It's an amazing film, and I love the rest of the trilogy as well.

8. The Wizard of Oz (1939)

It's The Wizard of Oz. Do I really need to explain this one? This is a movie that epitomizes great filmmaking. Everyone has seen and loved this film-you don't ever hear someone badmouthing Wizard of Oz.The best word to describe the film is timeless; it hasn't really aged in 70 years, and in another 70 I bet it will have held up just as well. The story is a classic example of a Hero's Journey, and the world of Oz is so fantastic and magical that it will almost certainly never go out of style. Dorothy and her friends (the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion) are as iconic as any other piece of culture in our country's history, and for good reason. They're a band of misfits you can't help but root for; the lovability factor is through the roof! All the performances are amazing, and you can tell that the actors had a blast filming the movie....except for Buddy Ebsen, who almost died from the Tin-Man makeup and had to quit the movie...and Margaret Hamilton, who nearly died from burn wounds when the explosives used to create the "disappearing smoke trick" effect lit her Witch make-up on fire...and there are reports of the producers forcing Judy Garland to go on diet pills during production which led to serious problems lasting the rest of her life...hmm, maybe this movie isn't quite as magical as I thought.

Nah. Wizard of Oz rocks. It's a perfect film, a timeless classic that has been loved for decades and will continue to be loved until the end of cinema itself. The movie has something for everyone to find enjoyment in, and there's always something new to discover on repeat viewings.

7. Raiders of the Lost Ark(1981)

Hey, it's Harrison Ford again! This is the third movie on my list featuring Ford, meaning he's the most represented actor here. That's fitting-each of his most iconic characters is sort of a hero to me, and none more so than Indiana Jones. Hell, I recently bought a fedora just because I love this character so much-when I found out that I actually owned a beat-up leather jacket to go along with it...I was in heaven. I love all four of the Indiana Jones adventures (people who hate Crystal Skull are snobs), but nothing beats the original, Raiders of the Lost Ark. This was back when George Lucas was creative, and his idea to do a throwback to the old adventure serials of the thirties and forties was inspired. There was, of course, no better man to helm the project that Steven Spielberg; working in the prime of his career, Raiders epitomizes everything that Spielberg does so well.

The tone and look of the movie is perfect, effortlessly sending us back to the early 20 th century. The story, full of supernatural and historical elements, never becomes too complex or contrived to overshadow the fun. Ford is so natural in his role that for many fans of the movie, there's just no separating the two-Ford is Indy and Indy is Ford. Indiana is an endearing and iconic protagonist for good reason. The supporting cast complements him perfectly-how can you forget characters like Marion, Sallah, Brody, or that strange Gestappo guy? The action is just unrelenting from start to finish, and the last half is practically non-stop. My favorite set-piece has to be the truck chase, just because of how brilliantly conceived and executed the whole thing is. Indiana Jones has had some really fun and exciting adventures, but nothing beats the quest for the Lost Ark.

6. Kingdom of Heaven: Director's Cut (2005)

When it was released to theaters in 2005, Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heavenwas not warmly received, and for good reason. It had almost no plot to speak of and featured paper thin characters; needless to say, audiences and critics were disappointed. We had come to expect better from Ridley Scott. But then, a few months later, a Director's Cut was released to DVD and audiences learned that beneath the hollow shell of a movie released to theaters was a sprawling epic that tackled too many important themes to count. In fact, Kingdom of Heavenis Ridley Scott's masterpiece-but we didn't know that until the Director's Cut came out. The studio had forced him to cut out a full hour of footage, and director's cut restored those lost scenes. This footage contained the complex story and character arcs left out of the theatrical version; new main characters never seen in the original version are present here, and relationships between characters are deepened and highlighted. The Director's Cut is a totally different movie than the one released to theaters.

Now that we've got that out of the way, let's talk about why this such an amazing film. First off, epics don't get much more...well, epic than this. The story starts out in a small village and eventually takes our main character, Balian, to Jerusalem, where he participates in spellbinding battles and learns many things about life, death, religion, and what makes a man great. The thematic material mostly deals with the relationship between Christians and Muslims, and that every religion or race does contain both good and bad men. The statement the movie makes about Holy Wars and inter-religion relations is complex and profound, and leads to the ultimate moral of what a true "Kingdom of Heaven" really is. The acting is amazing (even Orlando Bloom does a great job) and the cast of characters is as sprawling as the storyline, with each role being as interesting as the last. If you dismissed this movie due to the initially negative reception, or disliked the theatrical cut, give the Director's Cut a try. It's a different experience, and one of my all time favorite films.

Come back tomorrow to learn which five movies are my all time favorites!