You know, there are times when I go to the movies when I want to be challenged and provoked. I want to see compelling drama, great acting, and a story that challenges my intelligence. I may not always be entertained by such movies, but I am often moved by them and love and cherish them. For me, three movies that epitomize this are Memento, Unforgiven and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence.

Other times, I want to go to a movie that allows me to turn my brain off and enjoy the ride, either because I want to laugh or I just want to see stuff blown up good. This is where movies like RoboCop, Iron Man, or Hamlet 2 fit in.

But a lot of times, especially when I’m watching movies at home, I want something that gives me the best of both worlds. I want a movie that’s intelligent, and entertaining, but not too challenging. I just want it to affirm my values. I want a movie that has me smiling at the end without any shame. Movies that affirm this earth, this life, and this wonderful, terrible human race. Movies that, in other words, preach to the choir. (A choir consisting of me, anyway.)

Here’s ten of those movies:

Heath Ledger and Oliver Platt in Casanova

Casanova - Really, if it weren’t for Serenity (see below), this would be the ultimate preaching to the choir movie for me. Sex = good. Love = good. Music, passion, and poetry = good. Science = good. People are generally good. Evil is really nothing more than an ignorant moron wearing a dress–who is only as intimidating as we allow him to be. Great movie. If you haven’t seen it, get it now.

Ghostbusters - “Back off man, I’m a scientist.” “Tell him about the Twinkie.” “Gozer the Gozarian? Good evening. As a duly-designated representative of the City, County and State of New York, I order you to cease any and all supernatural activity and return forthwith to your place of origin or to the next convenient parallel dimension.” “Why worry? Each of us is wearing an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on his back.” And if the quotes aren’t enough for you, this is the story about a bunch of entrepeneurs who use the power of science to control the supernatural and make money in the process. That’s most of my values wrapped up into one movie!

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade - You know, Raiders of the Lost Ark is definitely the superior movie qua movie compared to The Last Crusade. Indy’s more morally ambiguous, it’s darker, better written, etc. But Last Crusade is more fun. Plus there are tanks, biplanes, and loads of Nazis getting killed. What more can you ask for from a movie? Did I mention loads of Nazis being killed?

Strictly Ballroom - I admit, there’s probably no movie that I’ve recommended that people have hated more than Strictly Ballroom. I honestly do not understand why people don’t like it, as it’s one of my great favorites. I think it’s because people get put off by the sight of very, very strange people being so completely passionate about dancing. But really, how is that different than strange people being passionate about sports or anything else? “Vivir con miedo, es como vivir a medias!”

Serenity - The ultimate preaching to the choir movie for me. Everything I want in a movie is in this movie. Not only is it well written, well acted, and well produced, it is also entertaining, fun, and emotionally and mentally challenging. It went into my top ten of all time right away.

The whole Back to the Future trilogy - “If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.” Truer words were never spoken.

Casablanca - Since Casablanca is the best movie ever, it has to be on this list. Especially since it meets all the requirements above, plus the extra special bonus of Nazis being killed (always a plus for me).

Hot Fuzz - Let’s start from the beginning. The first thing that makes Hot Fuzz so great is that the writers had the guts to make a police comedy where the lead character is not a bumbling fool. Far from it. Simon Pegg’s Nicholas Angel is, in fact, an exemplary police officer. Frankly, we’d be better off if more cops were like Nicholas Angel. Now add to that character loads of laugh out loud lines in a plot that ends in the condemnation of small-minded conformity and you’ve got yourself a great movie.

Blazing Saddles - Name me another movie that not only exposes the stupidity of racism, but also celebrates cleverness, tolerance, wit, and an inhuman ability to handle schnitzengruben? Yeah, I can’t think of a better one, either. Also, this film features one of the best theme songs ever.

Galaxy Quest - First of all, this is a movie that had absolutely no right to be as good as it is. But it is good. And funny. And stuff blows up good. And characters grow and change in good ways. And the bad guys lose while the good guys win. And it features some of the best acting in the past decade (Alan Rickman is just plain AWESOME in this movie–what he did is, I assure you, much harder than it looks).

Now these movies are what I call some good preaching.