Favorites of 2012: Top 41 Movies of All Time (2012 Update)

It's 2013, I saw stuff in 2012, here were my favorites.

(Brevity is the soul of wit... and also laziness)

A few notes before we get into it:

- There will be no honorable mentions. If it doesn't make the cut, to mention it would hold no honor.

- I have expanded my TV list to 20 and my movie list remains 41. This is out of about 50 TV shows I watched and 160 movies this year, meaning roughly about the top 40 percent of the TV I watched and the top 25 percent of the movies I saw are included. Math, yay!

- This is for newly viewed items in the calendar year 2012.  This means the final half of last season, and first half of this season for many TV shows, and also means there will be movies that came out last year that I am just getting around to seeing.  But for me these things were new this year.

- This is a "favorites" list, not a "best of" list.  I embrace the subjectivity of art.  This is my list and it is influenced by many factors that might be unique to my perspective.  Having said that, I'm pretty sure its also completely infallible.

Here's the plan for the month:

Favorite 20 TV shows of 2012 (Jan. 4th)

Favorite 41 TV shows of All Time (Jan. 11th)

Favorite 41 Movies of 2012 (Jan. 18th)

Favorite 41 Movies of All Time (Jan. 25th)

Here's my updated list of my 41 favorite movies ever:

(note: 2012 marks the 11th year I've updated this list, if you want to see a spreadsheet detailing my entirety of my sickness you may click here, you've been warned.)

The Top 41:

41. Iron Giant
40. Gattaca (-1)
39. Groundhog's Day (-3)
38. Wall E (-3)
37. Searching for Bobby Fischer (-3)
36. Ratatouille (-3)
35. Shawshank Redemption (+3)
34. Moulin Rouge (+3)
33. Gran Torino (-3)
32. Monsters Inc. (-3)
31. Liar, Liar (+1)
30. Swing Kids (-2)
29. Apocolypto (-2)
28. Sound of Music (+3)
27. The Avengers (*)
26. Inception
25. The Passion of the Christ (-1)
24. Dial M for Murder (-1)
23. Toy Story 3 (+2)
22. Star Wars
21. How to Train Your Dragon
20. Up (-3)
19. Unbreakable
18. Titanic
17. Apollo 13 (-1)
16. Vertigo (+4)
15. Avatar
14. Signs
13. Toy Story (-3)
12. United 93
11. The Matrix (-2)
10. The Incredibles (+3)
9. The Hudsucker Proxy (-1)
8. Toy Story 2 (+2)
7. The Truman Show
6. Quiz Show (-1)
5. The Princess Bride (+1)
4. North by Northwest
3. Finding Nemo
2. Singin' In the Rain
1. Lord of the Rings

Favorites of 2012: Top 41 TV Shows of All Time (2012 Update)

It's 2013, I saw stuff in 2012, here were my favorites. 

(Brevity is the soul of wit... and also laziness)

A few notes before we get into it:

- There will be no honorable mentions. If it doesn't make the cut, to mention it would hold no honor.

- I have expanded my TV list to 20 and my movie list remains 41. This is out of about 50 TV shows I watched and 160 movies this year, meaning roughly about the top 40 percent of the TV I watched and the top 25 percent of the movies I saw are included. Math, yay!

- This is for newly viewed items in the calendar year 2012.  This means the final half of last season, and first half of this season for many TV shows, and also means there will be movies that came out last year that I am just getting around to seeing.  But for me these things were new this year.

- This is a "favorites" list, not a "best of" list.  I embrace the subjectivity of art.  This is my list and it is influenced by many factors that might be unique to my perspective.  Having said that, I'm pretty sure its also completely infallible.

Here's the plan for the month:

Favorite 20 TV shows of 2012 (Jan. 4th)

Favorite 41 TV shows of All Time (Jan. 11th)

Favorite 41 Movies of 2012 (Jan. 18th)

Favorite 41 Movies of All Time (Jan. 25th)

Here's my favorite TV of all time:

1. Dick Van Dyke Show

2. LOST
3. The X-Files
4. Breaking Bad (+4)
5. Firefly

6. Survivor (-2)

7. Doctor Who (-1)

8. The Simpsons (-1)

9. The Last Airbender (*)
10. The Cosby Show (+1)

11. Quantum Leap (-2)

12. Alfred Hitchcock Presents (-1)

13. Pushing Daisies (-1)

14. The Wire (-1)

15. MacGyver (-1)

16. Futurama (-1)

17. Freaks and Geeks (-1)

18. Arrested Development (-1)

19. Star Trek (-1)

20. Family Ties (-1)
21. Friends (+1)
22. Alias (-1)
23. Malcolm in the Middle
24. House (+1)
25. Modern Family (+2)
26. The Twilight Zone
27. Seinfeld (+1)
28. The Office (US) (-4)

29. So You Think You Can Dance

30. The Mole

31. I Love Lucy
32. Downton Abbey (*)

33. Fringe (-1)

34. 24 (-14)

35. King of the Hill (-2)

36. Home Improvement (-2)

37. The Amazing Race (-2)

38. The Monkees (-2)

39. Mythbusters (-2)

40. Get Smart (-2)

41. Phineas and Ferb (*)

Favorites of 2011: Top 41 Movies of All Time (2011 Update)

If you're anything like me, you only skim "Best of" lists.  In fact, it's very likely you didn't even read that sentence, let alone this one.  When I click to see a list, I want to see a list.  I don't need commentary.  What I need is simple, I need to validate my own favorites by finding them on your list and at the same time scoff at you for the ones that shouldn't be there. Yet here I sit, typing away, compelled to offer some rationalization to the choices below and a perfunctory introduction to our journey through my favorites of the last year.  Creatures of habit we are (apparently when I don't think anyone is reading type in Yoda speak I do).

A few other things to skim past:

- No honorable mentions this year.  They are a cop out. If it doesn't make the cut, it deserves no mention.

- I have expanded my TV list to 15 and my movie list to 41. I'm seeing more stuff (150 movies this year) so naturally more will get ranked.

- This is for newly viewed items in the calendar year 2011.  This means the final half of last season, and first half of this season for many TV shows, and also means there will be movies that came out last year that I am just getting around to seeing.  But for me these things were new this year.

- This is a "favorites" list, not a "best of" list.  Embrace the subjectivity of art.  This is my list and it is influenced by many factors that might be unique to my perspective.  Having said that, I'm pretty sure its also completely infallible.

Here's what to expect over the course of January:

Favorite 15 TV Shows of 2011 (Jan. 6th)

TV "Have you not seen..." Video (Jan 6th)

Favorite 41 TV Shows of All Time (Jan 13th)

Favorite 41 Movies of 2011 (Jan. 20th)

Movie "Have you not seen..." Video (Jan 20th)

Favorite 41 Movies of All Time (Jan 27th)

(note: 2011 marks the 10th year I've updated this list, if you want to see a spreadsheet detailing my entire decade of sickness you may click here, you've been warned.)

(note: 2011 is the first year in the history of this list that no new movie has cracked the top 41.)

The Top 41:

41. Iron Giant (*)
40. Shadow of a Doubt (-3)
39. Gattaca
38. Shawshank Redemption (*)
37. Moulin Rouge (-4)
36. Groundhog's Day (+4)
35. Wall E (-1)
34. Searching for Bobby Fischer (-5)
33. Ratatouille
32. Liar, Liar
31. Sound of Music (+4)
30. Gran Torino (-3)
29. Monsters Inc. (+1)
28. Swing Kids (+3)
27. Apocolypto (+1)
26. Inception (-2)
25. Toy Story 3 (+1)
24. The Passion of the Christ (-4)
23. Dial M for Murder
22. Star Wars
21. How to Train Your Dragon (+4)
20. Vertigo (+1)
19. Unbreakable (-1)
18. Titanic (+1)
17. Up (-3)
16. Apollo 13
15. Avatar (+2)
14. Signs (+1)
13. The Incredibles
12. United 93
11. Toy Story
10. Toy Story 2 (-2)
9. The Matrix (+1)
8. The Hudsucker Proxy (+1)
7. The Truman Show
6. The Princess Bride
5. Quiz Show
4. North by Northwest
3. Finding Nemo
2. Singin' In the Rain
1. Lord of the Rings

Favorites of 2011: Top TV Shows of All Time (2011 Update)

If you're anything like me, you only skim "Best of" lists.  In fact, it's very likely you didn't even read that sentence, let alone this one.  When I click to see a list, I want to see a list.  I don't need commentary.  What I need is simple, I need to validate my own favorites by finding them on your list and at the same time scoff at you for the ones that shouldn't be there. Yet here I sit, typing away, compelled to offer some rationalization to the choices below and a perfunctory introduction to our journey through my favorites of the last year.  Creatures of habit we are (apparently when I don't think anyone is reading type in Yoda speak I do).

A few other things to skim past:

- No honorable mentions this year.  They are a cop out. If it doesn't make the cut, it deserves no mention.

- I have expanded my TV list to 15 and my movie list to 41. I'm seeing more stuff (150 movies this year) so naturally more will get ranked.

- This is for newly viewed items in the calendar year 2011.  This means the final half of last season, and first half of this season for many TV shows, and also means there will be movies that came out last year that I am just getting around to seeing.  But for me these things were new this year.

- This is a "favorites" list, not a "best of" list.  Embrace the subjectivity of art.  This is my list and it is influenced by many factors that might be unique to my perspective.  Having said that, I'm pretty sure its also completely infallible.

Here's what to expect over the course of January:

Favorite 15 TV Shows of 2011 (Jan. 6th)

TV "Have you not seen..." Video (Jan 6th)

Favorite 41 TV Shows of All Time (Jan 13th)

Favorite 41 Movies of 2011 (Jan. 20th)

Movie "Have you not seen..." Video (Jan 20th)

Favorite 41 Movies of All Time (Jan 27th)

My Favorite 41 TV Shows of All Time:

1. Dick Van Dyke Show

2. LOST
3. The X-Files

4. Survivor

5. Firefly (+1)

6. Doctor Who (-1)

7. The Simpsons (+2)

8. Breaking Bad (*)

9. Quantum Leap (+1)

10. Alfred Hitchcock Presents (-2)

11. The Cosby Show (-2)

12. Pushing Daisies (-1)
13. The Wire (-6)

14. MacGyver (-1)

15. Futurama (-1)

16. Freaks and Geeks (-1)

17. Arrested Development (+2)

18. Star Trek (+2)

19. Family Ties (-3)
20. 24 (-2)

21. Alias (-4)

22. Friends

23. Malcolm in the Middle

24. The Office (US) (+1)

25. House (-4)

26. The Twilight Zone (+2)

27. Modern Family (+4)

28. Seinfeld (+1)

29. So You Think You Can Dance (+8)

30. The Mole

31. I Love Lucy (-7)

32. Fringe (+8)

33. King of the Hill (+6)

34. Home Improvement (+1)

35. The Amazing Race (-9)

36. The Monkees (-9)

37. Mythbusters (+1)

38. Get Smart (-4)

39. CSI (-6)

40. American Idol (-4)

41. Monk

My 41 Favorite Movies of All Time (2010 Update)

I've decided that exaggeration and hyperbole are the worst things to ever exist in the entire known and unknown universe.

All kidding aside, I do tend to sigh when someone will offhandedly classify a movie they just saw as the "best movie I've ever seen" or "the worst movie ever made".  Have you done the homework?  Have you really sat down and ranked "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" against all the movies you've ever seen?  When you say "Inception" is in your "Top 10" do you really have one?

If you don't, I'd challenge you to make one, if not your 10 favorites, try 5.  Sit down for 10 minutes, jot down a couple dozen of your favorite movies and see where they land.   It's not as easy as it sounds, but when you are done you can at least rest assured that the next time you call "Flight of the Navigator" the best movie ever made, you've got the proof to back it up.  The feeling of holding that hard copy of "your" movies will have you feeling accomplished and secure in your assertions.

Either that or have you questioning why you stayed up til 3:16 in the morning listing movies instead of watching them.

Here's my list, feel free to tear it apart as necessary.

(These are, in order, the 41 movies I enjoy, respect, desire, and love the most that I have ever seen, with some honorable mentions thrown in at the beginning.)

Honorable Mentions:

Big Fish, Contact, Doubt, Fugitive, Hoosiers, Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade, Iron Giant, Oh Brother Where art Thou, Rope, Shawshank Redemption, Tangled, The Fifth Element, The Village

The Top 41:

41. Moulin Rouge (*)
40. Groundhog's Day (-2)
39. Gattaca (+2)
38. The Dark Knight (-2)
37. Shadow of a Doubt (-4)
36. Cast Away (-5)
35. Sound of Music (-7)

34. Wall E (-10)
33. Ratatouille (-6)
32. Liar, Liar (+2)
31. Swing Kids (+1)
30. Monsters Inc. (-4)
29. Searching for Bobby Fischer (-7)
28. Apocolypto (+2)
27. Gran Torino (-6)
26. Toy Story 3 (*)
25. How to Train Your Dragon (*)
24. Inception (*)
23. Dial M for Murder (+6)
22. Star Wars 4 (+3)
21. Vertigo (+2)
20. The Passion of the Christ
19. Titanic
18. Unbreakable
17. Avatar
16. Apollo 13
15. Signs
14. Up (-5)
13. The Incredibles (+1)
12. United 93 (+1)
11. Toy Story (+1)
10. The Matrix (+1)
9. The Hudsucker Proxy (+1)
8. Toy Story 2
7. The Truman Show
6. The Princess Bride
5. Quiz Show (-2)
4. North by Northwest (+1)
3. Finding Nemo (+1)
2. Singin' In the Rain
1. Lord of the Rings

My 41 Favorite TV Shows of All Time (2010)

TV shows are like your kids.  Sometimes they have good days, sometimes they have bad days, and if they're really good you just hope they don't get cancelled.

Ok, that last part is probably more for just TV shows.

Unlike my children, though, I have no problem playing favorites with my television.  And since it's the time of year to update my favorite 41 TV shows of all time list, the time has come for them to fall in line.

It's important to remember that I'm not saying these are the best shows of all time, just my personal favorites (with a little weight given to cultural importance).  First of all, I haven't seen some of the shows that many of my friends rave about.  That's why you won't see "The Sopranos", "Breaking Bad", or "Dexter" on here.  And second, tastes vary so much in TV land that with the expansive pool of shows to choose from there is plenty of room for disagreement.  It's also likely I simply forgot about a show that could have made the list, so please comment with your favorites that didn't make the cut. If you clue me into one I blanked on, I'll re-edit the list to rectify my amnesia.

Here is the list with each show followed by it's movement from last year.

1. Dick Van Dyke Show (+1)

2. LOST (-1)

3. The X-Files

4. Survivor

5. Doctor Who (+4)

6. Firefly (+1)

7. The Wire (*)

8. Alfred Hitchcock Presents (-3)

9. The Cosby Show (-3)

10. The Simpsons (-2)

11. Pushing Daisies (-1)

12. Quantum Leap (+1)

13. MacGyver (+3)

14. Futurama (+3)

15. Freaks and Geeks (-3)

16. Family Ties (+2)

17. Alias (-6)

18. 24 (-4)

19. Arrested Development (+1)

20. Star Trek (+1)

21. House (+1)

22. Friends (+7)

23. Malcolm in the Middle

24. I Love Lucy

25. The Office (US) (-6)

26. The Amazing Race (-11)

27. The Monkees (-2)

28. The Twilight Zone (-2)

29. Seinfeld (-2)

30. The Mole (-2)

31. Modern Family (*)

32. The Brady Bunch (-2)

33. CSI (-2)

34. Get Smart (-2)

35. Home Improvement (-1)

36. American Idol (-1)

37. So You Think You Can Dance (+3)

38. Mythbusters (-5)

39. King of the Hill (+2)

40. Fringe (*)

41. Monk (-2)

Dropped:

Fresh Prince of Bel Air - Watched an episode recently, not as good as I remember.  I think I was must have been entranced by the super fly theme song.

Extreme Home Makeover - As time has passed what I originally thought was a show about helping people has evolved into a weekly ode to materialism.

Jericho - I loved that universe (and the belated finale) but its short run is not deserving of this honor.

Did I miss anything?  Anything too high?  Anything too low?  Let's discuss, shall we?

Top 41 TV Shows of All Time (2009 Update)

The Best of 2009

Week 1 - Top 41 Songs of 2009

Week 2 - Top 6 Video Games of 2009

Week 3 - Top 10 TV Shows of 2009

In addition to the year by year lists, each year I also update my all-time lists for TV and Movies.  I present these lists minus commentary just as a way to keep track, and keep myself honest as to the respective quality and value of The Brady Bunch vs CSI.  This is important stuff, my friend.  Children of the future need to know.

I consider these my favorite 41 TV shows of all time:

1. LOST

2. The Dick Van Dyke Show

3. The X-Files

4. Survivor

5. Alfred Hitchcock Presents

6. The Cosby Show

7. Firefly

8. The Simpsons

9. Doctor Who

10. Pushing Daisies

11. Alias

12. Freaks and Geeks

13. Quantum Leap

14. 24

15. The Amazing Race

16. MacGyver

17. Futurama

18. Family Ties

19. The Office

20. Arrested Development

21. Star Trek

22. House

23. Malcolm in the Middle

24. I Love Lucy

25. The Monkees

26. The Twilight Zone

27. Seinfeld

28. The Mole

29. Friends

30. The Brady Bunch

31. CSI

32. Get Smart

33. Mythbusters

34. Home Improvement

35. American Idol

36. Jericho

37. Extreme Home Makeover

38. Fresh Prince of Bel Air

39. Monk

40. So You Think You Can Dance

41. King of the Hill

Any questions?

Favorite Movies of All Time (2007 Update)...

Dice's Favorite 41 Movies of All Time
(These are, in order, the 41 movies I enjoy, respect, desire, and love the most that I have ever seen.)

This is my favorite list to update every year and get feedback on. I would love to hear what you think of my choices and what you think I missed (and what it should replace). There is an obvious love for Hitchcock, Pixar, and M. Night here, but that's what makes it my list. The marking to the right of each selection indicates it's movement from last year.

1. Lord of the Rings (-)
2. Singin' In the Rain (-)
3. Quiz Show (-)
4. Finding Nemo (-)
5. North by Northwest (-)
6. The Princess Bride (-)
7. Hudsucker Proxy (+1)
8. The Truman Show (-1)
9. Toy Story 2 (-)
10. Signs (-)
11. The Incredibles (+1)
12. Unbreakable (+2)
13. Toy Story (+3)
14. The Matrix (+4)
15. Apollo 13 (-)
16. United 93 (+4)
17. Searching for Bobby Fischer (-4)
18. Titanic (+1)
19. The Passion of the Christ (+4)
20. Vertigo (+4)
21. Contact (-)
22. Monsters Inc. (-11)
23. Star Wars: Episode 4 (+8)
24. King Kong (2005) (-2)
25. Ratatouille (*)
26. Cast Away (-)
27. Sound of Music (-)
28. Dial M for Murder (+1)
29. Appocalypto (*)
30. Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? (-)
31. The Lion, Witch, & The Wardrobe (-14)
32. Spiderman 2 (+4)
33. Swing Kids (+2)
34. Shadow of a Doubt (-)
35. Liar, Liar (-2)
36. Star Wars: Episode 3 (-4)
37. Groundhog's Day (-)
38. The Village (-)
39. Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade (-)
40. Gattaca (-)
41. Fifth Element (*)

Honorable Mentions:

Aladdin, Big Fish, Bourne Ultimatum,
Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang, Independence Day,
Iron Giant, Jurassic Park, Mary Poppins, Mice + Men,
Moulin Rouge, Rope, Sixth Sense, What About Bob?

Top TV Shows of all time...

Time recently released their list of the 100 best TV shows of all time. You can check out their list here, and it is quite varied and extensive. The problem is that they don't rank them. If you are going to make a Top 100 list, what's the point in just lumping them all together. I can see it for maybe a Top 10, but the quality difference between the hundredth best show and best show of all time would seem to be enough to warrant some rankage.

Anyhow, as response to their listing... er... clumping these shows, I will now rank my favorite 41 TV Shows of all time, with an asterisk next to the ones that Time also liked and a little bit of commentary on my Top 10.

* on Time's list as well

1. Dick Van Dyke Show* - If you don't have DVD on DVD you need it now. This show was amazing and way ahead of it's time. The Walnut episode goes in the pantheon of best TV episodes ever. I never thought black and white could be so modern and funny until I witnessed the genius of Mr. Van Dyke's show firsthand.
   

2. LOST* - Strikes the perfect balance of mystery and sci-fi with relationships and human drama. These are some of the most well drawn characters in the history of TV. All you have to do is say the names Hurley, Charlie, Locke, Kate, Echo, or Sawyer and a fan of the show will immediately have emotional reactions to each. It's a testament to great writing and one of the most intriguing plots of all time.

3. The X-Files* - Could possibly be number 1 if not for the train wreck of seasons 6+. A lesson learned for LOST, when you are done, go home. If The X-Files had wrapped up in Season 5 (like Chris Carter wanted to) we would still be going to X-Files movies ever other year, and this show would have gone down in history as an all time great.

4. Survivor* - Only 6 shows in the history of TV have been ranked in the Top Ten viewers for their entire run. This is one of them. Started the reality craze as one of the most exquisitely crafted hours on TV. Mark Burnett should give lessons on establishing story and mood. One of my favorite parts of each week still involves Probst and a giant candle snuffer.

5. Alfred Hitchcock Presents* - Ok, so I'm a Hitchcock nut. But this show was off the charts brilliant. If you get a chance pick up the set of shows directed by the master himself you will see some of the best TV ever.

6. The Cosby Show* - Best family sitcom of all time. It's hard to explain to someone who wasn't around then just how much of an event Thursday's were when The Huxtables were on. It's what TV should be.

7. Firefly - Yes, this show was that good. Possibly the most mishandled show of all time, with a little more trust in the creator and better marketing this show could be in it's 7th glorious season by now. Sigh.

8. The Amazing Race - The classiest of all Reality TV, this show takes the inherent drama of a race and combines it with amazing locations and interesting people and relationships. People often forget that this is the only Reality show where it's not every man for himself and this team aspect gives it an extra level of beauty.

9. The Simpsons* - Probably should be higher for a show that has managed to stay on the air for 18 stinkin' seasons. But the last few have seemed a bit run of the mill, still when this show was in its prime (seasons 3-8) it managed to be both poignant and absurdest. Quite a feat and quite a show.

10. Quantum Leap - One of the best TV concepts ever, allowing the hero to be anybody in any situation can keep a show fresh forever. The execution wasn't always spot on, but this show is ton o fun to watch.

The rest:

11. 24*
12. MacGyver
13. Futurama
14. Family Ties
15. Alias
16. Freaks and Geeks*
17. Arrested Development*
18. Star Trek*
19. Malcolm in the Middle
20. I Love Lucy*
21. The Monkees*
22. Smallville
23. The Twilight Zone*
24. Seinfeld*
25. The Mole
26. Friends*
27. The Brady Bunch
28. CSI
29. Get Smart
30. Everybody Loves Raymond
31. Home Improvement
32. American Idol*
33. Gilligan's Island
34. Star Trek:TNG
35. Leave it to Beaver*
36. Extreme Home Makeover
37. Fresh Prince of Bel Air
38. House
39. King of the Hill*
40. CHIPs
41. The Practice

All in all 19 of my 41 made his Top 100, meaning 22 (or more than half) of my favorite shows of all time don't even rank in his Top 100. It appears as if my tastes run a bit more mainstream than his. How can you deny classics like Gilligan, The Bradys and The Fresh Prince? The most glaring omission on his part has to be CSI, which (like Survivor) spawned an entirely new genre (the crime procedural) and still finds both mainstream and critical praise today.

Any shows we both missed?