With Jurassic World being released this weekend and it being the 4th film in the franchise, I thought it would be fitting to bring you my top 10 favorite films in a franchise. Now this list will include films with either the number 4 in the title or it is chronologically the 4th film in the franchise So without further ado...
10. Saw IV
While this is isn't my favorite film in the franchise I still enjoy every single time I watch it. As FBI agents Strahm (played by Scott Patterson) and Perez (played by Athena Karkanis) begin to dig through the remains of Jigsaw's crime-scene hideout, a new puzzle presents itself, with Commander Rigg (played by Lyriq Bent)as the pawn in another deadly game filled with moral quandaries and torture-filled traps. At stake is the life of his superior officer Hoffman (played by Costas Mandylor) as well as his friend and fellow cop Eric Matthews (played by Donnie Wahlberg), whose abduction by a now-dead Jigsaw triggers an obsession in Rigg that will haunt him til the grisly end. Saw IV has a rating of 17% on rottentomatoes.com.
9. Rambo
The film is full of action and violent gory scenes and I love it. It's been 20 years since Rambo (played by Sylvester Stallone) helped mujahedeen rebels fend off Soviet invaders in Afghanistan, and these days the former soldier lives a simple life in northern Thailand. Meanwhile, the world's longest-running civil war rages into its 60th year on the nearby Thai-Burma border. One day, human rights missionaries Sarah Miller (played byJulie Benz) and Michael Burnett (played by Paul Schulze) show up asking Rambo to guide them up the Salween so they can get some much-needed food and medical supplies to the desperate Karen tribe. According to Sarah and Michael, the Burmese military has planted land mines all along the roads leading into the tribe's village, making it virtually impossible to reach the tribe via land. Two weeks after Rambo drops the group off in dangerous territory, pastor Arthur Marsh (played by Ken Howard) arrives with a chilling message: the aid workers never returned from their mission into the jungle, and the embassies refuse to help Marsh and his fellow missionaries find their missing friends. Now, despite the fact that Rambo has long since sworn off all forms of violence, the knowledge that innocent missionaries are being used as pawns in a brutal war leaves him with no other choice than to venture behind enemy lines on his most dangerous mission to date. Rambo has a rating of 37% on rottentomatoes.com
8. Shrek Forever After
This is a really great film and it does a nice job of putting a bow on the franchise. There used to be a time when the villagers would run in terror at the mere mention of the name Shrek (voiced by Mike Meyers), but these days the big green ogre is married to Princess Fiona (voiced by Cameron Diaz)and raising triplets. Maintaining your fierce public persona is no simple task when you're juggling infants and changing diapers, so when Shrek realizes that nobody is afraid of him anymore he recruits mischief-maker Rumpelstiltskin (voiced by Walt Dohrn) to restore his once-mighty roar. Unfortunately for Shrek, that plan hits an unexpected hitch. As a result, the morose monster takes a trip into an alternate-universe Far Far Away land where there is no Shrek, and Rumpelstiltskin reigns. There, Donkey (voiced by Eddie Murphy) spends his days hauling carts, and a portly Puss in Boots (voiced by Antonio Banderas) prefers lounging to swashbuckling. Perhaps with a little extra effort, Shrek will be able to regain his status as top ogre in town and still have his happily ever after, too.
7. The Muppet Christmas Carol
This a great and brand new take on the classic story and who better to do it than the Muppets who I absolutely enjoy and love. Ebenezer Scrooge (played by Michael Caine), an old miser who could care less about Christmas and the joy the season brings. Working for the skinflint is his faithful employee Bob Cratchit (Kermit the Frog)(voiced by Steve Whitmire), who begs Scrooge for a day off for Christmas. Scrooge reluctantly agrees and goes home on Christmas Eve filled with bile at the holiday merrymakers. But then he is visited by the sprits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, and Scrooge, after revisiting his sorrowful past, hate-filled present, and doomed future, turns over a new leaf and becomes the most generous and celebratory person in town. The Muppet Christmas Carol has a rating of 69% on rottentomatoes.com.
6. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
I'm a huge fan of the Star Trek franchise and this is one of my favorite entries to the franchise. It's the 23rd century, and a mysterious alien power is threatening Earth by evaporating the oceans and destroying the atmosphere. In a frantic attempt to save mankind, Kirk (played by William Shatner) and his crew must travel back in time to save the Earth and its people from total destruction. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home was nominated for 4 Academy Awards including Best Cinematography, Best Sound, Best Sound Editing and Best Original Score and it has a rating of 85% on rottentomatoes.com.
5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
This is by far my second favorite film in the franchise and it was everything I hoped it would be. Harry (played by Daniel Radcliffe) wondering why his legendary scar -- the famous result of a death curse gone wrong -- is aching in pain, and perhaps even causing mysterious visions. Before he can think too much about it, however, Harry boards the train to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he will attend his fourth year of magical education. Shortly after his reunion with his best friends, Ron (played by Rupert Grint) and Hermione (played by Emma Watson), Harry is introduced to yet another Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher: the grizzled Mad-Eye Moody (played by Brendan Gleeson), a former dark wizard catcher who agreed to take on the infamous "DADA" professorship as a personal favor to Headmaster Dumbledore (played by Michael Gambon). Of course, Harry's wishes for an uneventful school year are almost immediately shattered when he is unexpectedly chosen, along with fellow student Cedric Diggory (played by Robert Pattinson), as Hogwarts' representative in the Tri-Wizard Tournament, which awards whoever completes three magical tasks the most skillfully with a thousand-galleon purse and the admiration of the international wizard community. As difficult as it is to deal with his schoolwork, friendships, and the tournament at the same time (not to mention his feelings toward the ever unfathomable Professor Snape (played by Alan Rickman), Harry doesn't realize that the most feared wizard in the world, Lord Voldemort, is anticipating the tournament, as well. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Art Direction and it has a rating of 88% on rottentomatoes.com.
4. Rocky 4
This film is heart-breaking and inspirational at the same time and it really represents America. When a Soviet superman (played by Dolph Lundgren) kills his friend Apollo Creed (played by Carl Weathers) in the boxing ring, the all-American fighter Rocky Balboa (played by Sylvester Stallone) challenges the Russian to a final bout. Rocky IV has a rating of 43% on rottentomatoes.com.
3. The Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring
This is my second favorite film in the franchise and it is the one that started it all. Assisted by a Fellowship of heroes, Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) plunges into a perilous trek to take the mystical One Ring to Mount Doom so that it and its magical powers can be destroyed and never possessed by evil Lord Sauron. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was nominated for 13 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Visual Effects, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, Best Costume Design, Best Original Song, Best Film Editing, Best Art Direction, Best Makeup and Best Original Score while winning 4 (Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, Best Makeup and Best Original Score and it has a rating of 91% on rottentomatoes.com.
2. Mad Max: Fury Road
This is one of the most intense action films I have ever seen and maybe one of the best films I've ever seen. Years after the collapse of civilization, the tyrannical Immortan Joe (played by Hugh Keays-Byrne) enslaves apocalypse survivors inside the desert fortress the Citadel. When the warrior Imperator Furiosa (played by Charlize Theron) leads the despot's five wives in a daring escape, she forges an alliance with Max Rockatansky (played by Tom Hardy), a loner and former captive. Fortified in the massive, armored truck the War Rig, they try to outrun the ruthless warlord and his henchmen in a deadly high-speed chase through the Wasteland.
1. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
As a kid this is one of the first films I ever seen and for the longest time it was my favorite film of all-time. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away the film tells the story of a group of freedom fighter known as the Rebel alliance as they plot to destroy the powerful Death Star space station, a devastating weapon created by the evil Galactic Empire. This conflict disrupts the isolated life of farmboy Luke Skywalker (played by Mark Hamill) when inadvertently acquires droids carrying the stolen plans to the Death Star. After the empire begins a cruel and destructive search for the droids, Skywalker decides to accompany Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi (played by Alec Guinness) on a daring mission to rescue the owner of the droids, rebel leader Princess Leia (played by Carrie Fisher), and save the galaxy. This film is absolutely amazing and quite possibly the greatest Sci-Fi film of all-time. Star Wars was nominated for 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Director, Supporting Actor, Art Direction, Costume Design, Film Editing, Visual Effects, Original Score, Sound and Original Screenplay, while winning 6 (Best Art Direction, Costume Design, Film Editing, Visual Effects, Original Score and Sound) and it has a rating of 93% on rottentomatoes.com.
10. Saw IV
While this is isn't my favorite film in the franchise I still enjoy every single time I watch it. As FBI agents Strahm (played by Scott Patterson) and Perez (played by Athena Karkanis) begin to dig through the remains of Jigsaw's crime-scene hideout, a new puzzle presents itself, with Commander Rigg (played by Lyriq Bent)as the pawn in another deadly game filled with moral quandaries and torture-filled traps. At stake is the life of his superior officer Hoffman (played by Costas Mandylor) as well as his friend and fellow cop Eric Matthews (played by Donnie Wahlberg), whose abduction by a now-dead Jigsaw triggers an obsession in Rigg that will haunt him til the grisly end. Saw IV has a rating of 17% on rottentomatoes.com.
9. Rambo
The film is full of action and violent gory scenes and I love it. It's been 20 years since Rambo (played by Sylvester Stallone) helped mujahedeen rebels fend off Soviet invaders in Afghanistan, and these days the former soldier lives a simple life in northern Thailand. Meanwhile, the world's longest-running civil war rages into its 60th year on the nearby Thai-Burma border. One day, human rights missionaries Sarah Miller (played byJulie Benz) and Michael Burnett (played by Paul Schulze) show up asking Rambo to guide them up the Salween so they can get some much-needed food and medical supplies to the desperate Karen tribe. According to Sarah and Michael, the Burmese military has planted land mines all along the roads leading into the tribe's village, making it virtually impossible to reach the tribe via land. Two weeks after Rambo drops the group off in dangerous territory, pastor Arthur Marsh (played by Ken Howard) arrives with a chilling message: the aid workers never returned from their mission into the jungle, and the embassies refuse to help Marsh and his fellow missionaries find their missing friends. Now, despite the fact that Rambo has long since sworn off all forms of violence, the knowledge that innocent missionaries are being used as pawns in a brutal war leaves him with no other choice than to venture behind enemy lines on his most dangerous mission to date. Rambo has a rating of 37% on rottentomatoes.com
8. Shrek Forever After
This is a really great film and it does a nice job of putting a bow on the franchise. There used to be a time when the villagers would run in terror at the mere mention of the name Shrek (voiced by Mike Meyers), but these days the big green ogre is married to Princess Fiona (voiced by Cameron Diaz)and raising triplets. Maintaining your fierce public persona is no simple task when you're juggling infants and changing diapers, so when Shrek realizes that nobody is afraid of him anymore he recruits mischief-maker Rumpelstiltskin (voiced by Walt Dohrn) to restore his once-mighty roar. Unfortunately for Shrek, that plan hits an unexpected hitch. As a result, the morose monster takes a trip into an alternate-universe Far Far Away land where there is no Shrek, and Rumpelstiltskin reigns. There, Donkey (voiced by Eddie Murphy) spends his days hauling carts, and a portly Puss in Boots (voiced by Antonio Banderas) prefers lounging to swashbuckling. Perhaps with a little extra effort, Shrek will be able to regain his status as top ogre in town and still have his happily ever after, too.
7. The Muppet Christmas Carol
This a great and brand new take on the classic story and who better to do it than the Muppets who I absolutely enjoy and love. Ebenezer Scrooge (played by Michael Caine), an old miser who could care less about Christmas and the joy the season brings. Working for the skinflint is his faithful employee Bob Cratchit (Kermit the Frog)(voiced by Steve Whitmire), who begs Scrooge for a day off for Christmas. Scrooge reluctantly agrees and goes home on Christmas Eve filled with bile at the holiday merrymakers. But then he is visited by the sprits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, and Scrooge, after revisiting his sorrowful past, hate-filled present, and doomed future, turns over a new leaf and becomes the most generous and celebratory person in town. The Muppet Christmas Carol has a rating of 69% on rottentomatoes.com.
6. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
I'm a huge fan of the Star Trek franchise and this is one of my favorite entries to the franchise. It's the 23rd century, and a mysterious alien power is threatening Earth by evaporating the oceans and destroying the atmosphere. In a frantic attempt to save mankind, Kirk (played by William Shatner) and his crew must travel back in time to save the Earth and its people from total destruction. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home was nominated for 4 Academy Awards including Best Cinematography, Best Sound, Best Sound Editing and Best Original Score and it has a rating of 85% on rottentomatoes.com.
5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
This is by far my second favorite film in the franchise and it was everything I hoped it would be. Harry (played by Daniel Radcliffe) wondering why his legendary scar -- the famous result of a death curse gone wrong -- is aching in pain, and perhaps even causing mysterious visions. Before he can think too much about it, however, Harry boards the train to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he will attend his fourth year of magical education. Shortly after his reunion with his best friends, Ron (played by Rupert Grint) and Hermione (played by Emma Watson), Harry is introduced to yet another Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher: the grizzled Mad-Eye Moody (played by Brendan Gleeson), a former dark wizard catcher who agreed to take on the infamous "DADA" professorship as a personal favor to Headmaster Dumbledore (played by Michael Gambon). Of course, Harry's wishes for an uneventful school year are almost immediately shattered when he is unexpectedly chosen, along with fellow student Cedric Diggory (played by Robert Pattinson), as Hogwarts' representative in the Tri-Wizard Tournament, which awards whoever completes three magical tasks the most skillfully with a thousand-galleon purse and the admiration of the international wizard community. As difficult as it is to deal with his schoolwork, friendships, and the tournament at the same time (not to mention his feelings toward the ever unfathomable Professor Snape (played by Alan Rickman), Harry doesn't realize that the most feared wizard in the world, Lord Voldemort, is anticipating the tournament, as well. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Art Direction and it has a rating of 88% on rottentomatoes.com.
4. Rocky 4
This film is heart-breaking and inspirational at the same time and it really represents America. When a Soviet superman (played by Dolph Lundgren) kills his friend Apollo Creed (played by Carl Weathers) in the boxing ring, the all-American fighter Rocky Balboa (played by Sylvester Stallone) challenges the Russian to a final bout. Rocky IV has a rating of 43% on rottentomatoes.com.
3. The Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring
This is my second favorite film in the franchise and it is the one that started it all. Assisted by a Fellowship of heroes, Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) plunges into a perilous trek to take the mystical One Ring to Mount Doom so that it and its magical powers can be destroyed and never possessed by evil Lord Sauron. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was nominated for 13 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Visual Effects, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, Best Costume Design, Best Original Song, Best Film Editing, Best Art Direction, Best Makeup and Best Original Score while winning 4 (Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, Best Makeup and Best Original Score and it has a rating of 91% on rottentomatoes.com.
2. Mad Max: Fury Road
This is one of the most intense action films I have ever seen and maybe one of the best films I've ever seen. Years after the collapse of civilization, the tyrannical Immortan Joe (played by Hugh Keays-Byrne) enslaves apocalypse survivors inside the desert fortress the Citadel. When the warrior Imperator Furiosa (played by Charlize Theron) leads the despot's five wives in a daring escape, she forges an alliance with Max Rockatansky (played by Tom Hardy), a loner and former captive. Fortified in the massive, armored truck the War Rig, they try to outrun the ruthless warlord and his henchmen in a deadly high-speed chase through the Wasteland.
1. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
As a kid this is one of the first films I ever seen and for the longest time it was my favorite film of all-time. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away the film tells the story of a group of freedom fighter known as the Rebel alliance as they plot to destroy the powerful Death Star space station, a devastating weapon created by the evil Galactic Empire. This conflict disrupts the isolated life of farmboy Luke Skywalker (played by Mark Hamill) when inadvertently acquires droids carrying the stolen plans to the Death Star. After the empire begins a cruel and destructive search for the droids, Skywalker decides to accompany Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi (played by Alec Guinness) on a daring mission to rescue the owner of the droids, rebel leader Princess Leia (played by Carrie Fisher), and save the galaxy. This film is absolutely amazing and quite possibly the greatest Sci-Fi film of all-time. Star Wars was nominated for 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Director, Supporting Actor, Art Direction, Costume Design, Film Editing, Visual Effects, Original Score, Sound and Original Screenplay, while winning 6 (Best Art Direction, Costume Design, Film Editing, Visual Effects, Original Score and Sound) and it has a rating of 93% on rottentomatoes.com.
So ladies and gentlemen what are some of your favorite 4th films in a franchise and what do you think of my list? Let me know in the comments section below and let your voice be heard.
Jonah Sparks
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