5) Pulp Fiction (1994)Arguably Tarantino's finest film, 'Pulp Fiction' forgoes chronology, interweaving its numerous tales of gangster life into a collage of colourful characters and masterly dialogue.
So many scenes are memorable, Samuel L Jackson's 'Ezekiel 25:17' soliloquy, Christopher Walken's Gold Watch, even a non-consequential conversation about hamburgers is transformed by the director's artistry.
A wondrous farce and an eclectic mish-mash of pop culture references, this film manages to achieve the unlikely paradox of feeling thematically substantial whilst ultimately being utterly meaningless (see the opening definition of 'Pulp Fiction').
If there is a moral to be found, it could be argued to centre around a sense of honour or code. Butch and his father's legacy, Vincent and his boss's wife and finally, Jules and his reaction to what he sees as a divine intervention.
A postmodern masterpiece which Tarantino may never better.
'Back To The Future' combined a fire-trailing DeLorean with a vertically challenged guitar wielding hero. No wonder it ranks so highly on my all time film list.
Placing Michael J Fox's 'Marty' in the unenviable position of having to set his Mother and Father on an unlikely road to love, it elaborated on the growing pains of adolescence, the delicacy of making life decisions and the expectancy of modern youth.
Although extended to a trilogy based on this film's success, neither the 2nd nor 3rd installments match the original for comic effect, nor recreate the glamorous drama of a speeding sports car channeling the power of a lightning bolt strike.
Spielberg at his finest, this was a perfectly pitched piece of comedy sci-fi adventure which captured my imagination to the point of obsession. A timeless classic.
3) Easy Rider (1969)"A man went looking for America and couldn't find it anywhere..." - A superb tag line which captures the spirit of this 'road movie' perfectly.
Seeking freedom and with drug money stashed inside the tear drop gas tank of a 'Stars and Stripes' adorned Harley Davison, our hero 'Wyatt' rides off across the country with his companion on their way to Mardi Gras celebrations and ultimately 'a retirement in Florida'.
As they cross the states they gain an insight into various people's own version of 'freedom', from a farmer working the land to support his family, to a commune of city kids who've fled home, desperately trying to set up new lives based on the virtues of 'peace' and 'free love'.
None have more impact on Wyatt however, than small town lawyer and drunkard George Hanson - another wonderful turn from Mr Jack Nicholson - who's sage words in the face of hostility from local 'long-hair' haters, force Wyatt to reevaluate his beliefs.
Beautifully made on the most meagre of budgets by its stars Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda, 'Easy Rider' has perhaps become the archetypal cult classic.
2) The Godfather Part II (1974)The second part of the Godfather story is where all starts to unravel for the Corleone family. After Vito and Sonny's death, Al Pacino as Michael is installed at the head of the family business, a position he had previously promised he would never adopt.
The tragic downfall of this once innocent character into the bitter, twisted and paranoid man portrayed here is sad yet intoxicating. Many a shocking twist unfolds and the finale is chilling to the core.
However, it's the flashbacks that really set this film apart from the original 'Godfather'. Robert De Niro is excellent as the young Vito, arriving in New York from Sicily and establishing himself in the Italian community.
From generation to generation, a vicious circle of duty, expectation and responsibility. Drama of the highest quality and a truly exceptional film.
1) The Empire Strikes Back (1979)Revealing the single premise around which all subsequent Star Wars films ultimately revolve, the discovery of Darth Vader as Luke Skywalker's father is the most inspired moment in the career of George Lucas.
In today's world of piracy, spoilers and the Internet it would be impossible to keep under wraps, yet back 1979 it appears this unexpected plot twist left people leaving the cinema in a genuine state of shock.
Darker than its predecessor, there's a tangible sense of desperation as the rebels toil in the face of an ever tightening Imperial grip on the galaxy.
Wonderful new characters are introduced too, most notably 'Master Yoda', who's teaching of Luke is equally fraught with setback and failure, Luke's unexpected encounter at the cave truly setting hearts racing, its surprise conclusion a weighty portent of what is to come.
The perfect interplay of fantasy, tragedy and mystique, 'The Empire Strikes Back' sets itself apart from all other episodes in the saga and it's this magical blend that makes the film such an enjoyable and memorable cinematic experience.
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