37- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
If Orlando Bloom wasn't in this film it could have been something really special. Still, it is still such a fun and exciting swashbuckler that even his tree performance can't ruin it. Jonny Depp is astounding as Capt. Jack Sparrow (before it became too much) and Geoffrey Rush is superb as the ultimate pirate...garrrr! The action is really top rate as well, providing some of the most fun scenes to come out of recent years. Sadly the sequels spent too long in the water and became bloated, but even they have their moments.
Best bit: Captain Jack's escape that leads to a sword fight with Orlando Bloom
36 - Independence Day
If there is one guy who knows how to kill America, it's Roland Emmerich. He froze it to death in The Day After Tomorrow, he stomped on it in Godzilla, then he just plain f'ed it up in 2012. Before all that he made aliens come and blow up the Whitehouse (a scene most memorable for its use in Austin Powers) but thank god Will Smith was here to save the day. The best invasion film since War of the Worlds, Independence Day truly took it up a notch. It manages to keep the human angle by following Smith's family across what's left of America and it manages to keep the thrills up as Smith makes his way to area 51 and kicks some alien but on route.
Best bit: Smith takes down an alien craft, opens it up and knocks out the pilot with a punch to the face. "Welcome to Earth."
35 - Platoon
Many say that Apocalypse Now is the best Vietnam film. For me, it is Platoon. Oliver Stone's epic is much more grounded in the horrors of that conflict rather than the horrific fever dream that Coppola presented. This certainly comes down to the fact that Stone fought in 'Nam. The real power comes from scenes such as the village raid, where you start to see how the American's could be so evil, they were terrified and paranoid. It in now way tries to excuse it, but you get how it came to be. It's an unflinching and unsympathetic portrayal of a war America should have had no part in.
Best bit: Charlie Sheen's ultra tense first confrontation with the VC.