My Favorite Stand-Alone Films

 While franchise films are very popular, and I certainly enjoy them, I also love standalone one-off films, self-contained, that’s it. Some based off a source material, others original. So I’d like to share ten (not in any order) of my favorite standalone films.

10. Edge of Tomorrow

Based off a Japanese manga novel, this film follows Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt trapped in a time loop amidst an alien invasion. Their mission is to kill the “Omega” alien, defeating the horde, saving the human race, and ending their time loop.

Time loop is a familiar premise, but adding it to the war genre pay off immensely. Loved seeing the ways Cruise and Blunt keep dying, needing to figure out what to do next time in the short time they have. They improve each time, but the psychological and emotional damage of constantly dying (very different, and at time humorous way) takes its toll on them.

The aliens are designed very interestingly, designed primarily made out of tentacles. The sci-fi version of D-Day landing is handled extremely well, and the chemistry between Cruise and Blunt is great.  

It’s a great sci-fi film with tons of action, well done humour, a simple plot executed very well, and an engaging time-loop that always feels fresh and exciting.

9. Baby Driver

A fun action crime film centered around the getaway driver for a local criminal group in Atlanta.

Its use of music is so much fun. It’s like a musical, but without the characters singing or even really dancing. The fights and shootouts are choreographed to the music. The main character (Baby) has a great reason for using music (having tinnitus, so it keeps me calm and focused). The romance between him and Deborah was great, the humours moments shine bright (Mike Myers masks in particular). And Kevin Spacey is a great villain.

The driving sequences are an absolute blast, especially the opener, and the cinematography captures them very well to each type of getaway scenario.

But when Baby decides to escape from the gang, is when the movie is kicked up 10 notches and doesn’t stop until the end. I love the tension between the members of the gang, especially with Jamie Foxx and Jon Hamm, how the latter takes over as the villain and is originally a nice sympathetic guy, but turns into a cold hearted killer.

Baby’s chase through the city, avoiding cops and his gang, helping his adopted father, and girlfriend, is executed perfectly. And I really enjoy how they do have a happy ending, but not before he is sent to jail (albeit a minor sentence) it has the balance of happiness but also realism for the consequences of his action.

It’s a fun summer popcorn flick, a simple high concept film that pays off immensely.

8. I Am Legend

While this is the fourth adaptation of the novel, it still stands as its own film.

Yes, the ending is a bit divisive and strays from the main point and theme of the novel, but there is an alternate version to watch that’s more aligned with the novel.

I love movies that basically has one actor carry it almost entirely themselves, and Will Smith shines here as the last man in New York City.

It’s paced very well, showing how the city has deteriorated, how Robert Neville lives daily with his dog, and the threat of the dark seekers. The opening explains how the virus caused the near complete extermination of the human race, and flashbacks sprinkled throughout the film eventually reveal the full picture of what happened in New York, and to Robert’s family.

The atmosphere is something I particularly enjoy, because the flashbacks make you think of how the world collapsed, it has a sense of realism, and authenticity. The present day story is great, because of the feeling of loneliness (setting up mannequins to talk to). And danger.

The scene where Neville goes into a dark bank to rescue his dog, silently avoiding the dark seekers, was so intense the first time watching it.

And how the dark seekers used a trap on him the same way he did to them was great. Seeing the sunlight slowly fade and the infected come out, another intense scene. Him having to put his dog down was heartbreaking.

After he’s rescued from a couple of survivors, the movie isn’t as interesting, but ends in an explosive action sequence where the dark seekers invade his home. Again, the ending is up to you.

But I just love a simple movie that’s deep in its exploration of themes and worldbuilding, but still feeling small. A great vampire apocalypse thriller.

7. The Great Race

I’ll never forget watching this classic 1965 slapstick comedy for the first time, introduced by my dad. The physical comedy of this is timeless. Nearly every scene has something to laugh about, and the movie is over 2 and a half hours long!

The actors and actresses play their characters perfectly (especially Jack Lemmon as Professor Fate).

An automobile race at the turn of the 20^th century from New York to Paris changes the scenes, cultures, and situations constantly. The western bar brawl, stranded on an ice berg, are just some examples. But the single best one is the pie fight.

I lost my ability to breath during this whole scene and I still have trouble breathing every time I watch it. I showed this scene to friends and family specifically, and they all laughed. Heck, my sister even got her whole elementary class to watch it!

It’s the type of comedy film I wish was made more often, a simple story that’s relying on the gags and situations to make you laugh. I always have a smile on my face the entire time I watch this movie. You want an old fashioned laugh? Go check this one out!

6. Road to Perdition

I want more crime drama/action films set in the Roaring Twenties/Great Depression era. This is one of the best.

Adapted from the DC graphic novel series, this movie has Tom Hanks cast against type (as an anti-hero) mob enforcer, with Jude Law as a sadistic hitman, Daniel Craig (pre-bond) as the main villain, and Paul Newman in his final live action role.

All these elements make for a very compelling story. Great characters and arcs, a wonderful father-son relationship, excellent production design – you really feel like you’re in the 1930’s great depression – nice shootouts, music, cinematography, and pacing, all brought together by great direction.

It’s both entertaining and smart, with great character, story, and action moments throughout that stick in your memory long after the credits roll.

It’s just an overall well rounded and well-made film, with a very sad ending with Tom Hanks gaining justice but ultimately dying anyways. Fortunately, his oldest son didn’t go down the same road he did.

I’m always in a mood to watch this movie, and that’s the biggest reason why I love it.

5. Rio Bravo

I love westerns. Mainly because of my dad. And this is my favourite John Wayne western. So simple effortless, but endlessly enjoyable. A great hangout movie you can relax to.

Just a small Texas town held hostage by a ruthless land baron who seeks to free his brother from jail. And John Wayne as the sheriff and a few others must hold out.

Having the film entirely in a town gives life and character to that town, a lived in breathed in world. Dean Martin is great as a recovering alcoholic deputy, the character of Stumpy provides comic relief, and a mice love story with Wayne and Angie Dickinson.

The small shootouts throughout the movie keep the pace going, the ominous music that was played from the Alamo is eerie with its message, but enjoyable to listen to.

I particularly enjoy the scene of Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson getting their own songs to sing, just puts a smile on my face and makes me feel good every time.

The final big shootout is great with the buildup of the group heading to the main villain’s encampment. And the climax of explosions and repeaters and revolvers going off is a thrill every time.

It’s a classic western film I always recommend to anyone who wants to watch a Western film.

4. Deep Impact

Before Barbenheimer, there was Armagedonpact, or Deepagedon. Both Deep Impact and Armageddon were released in the same summer, and were similar films: destroy an extension level comet before crashing to Earth. I prefer Deep Impact.

It’s more scientifically plausible and was more emotional and memorable, especially the various characters. Morgan Freeman would make a great real world president.

I enjoyed the set-up to the initial attempt at destroying the comet. And seeing how the word responds to such a crisis.

Shots of seeing the comet getting larger as it makes its ways to Earth, the countdown slowly, getting closer.

The scene with the 6 astronauts chosen to deploy nukes to destroy the comet was intense.

And the failed aftermath; creating two still dangerous comets still heading for Earth.

As the first comet makes it way to Earth, creating a large tsunami wave that destroys everything in its path, you feel that it’s truly the end of the world, because of that slow build up eventually exploding, and the characters who die along the way, people we cared about.

The astronauts’ sacrifice to destroy the main bigger comet gets me teared up. Them saying goodbye to their families, heroes and saviours of the world.

I love the tagline “Hope survives” and you feel it in the final scene, and as the credits roll. A thoughtful engaging disaster movie that’s one of the best of the genre from that resurgence boom in the 90s.

3. Galaxy Quest

What a hilarious parody and heartfelt homage of Star Trek and its fandom, and sci-fi films and series in general.

When I got it from my cousin at Christmas when I was 15, I kind of dismissed it. My family and I watched it 3 times in a week. Couldn’t stop laughing.

The cast is perfect, especially Alan Rickman, and their dynamic and performances are top notch for this genre and movie. The premise is consistently executed perfectly (aliens believing the show and the actors are real) and need their help to defeat an alien warlord.

The humour is consistent, endlessly quotable, I never wanted it to end. The situations they keep finding themselves in are always fresh and hilarious.

It never ceases to make me laugh and smile, and I’m glad additional friends and family members have come to love this film. A simple and endlessly fun sci-fi comedy.

2. Saving Private Ryan

A masterpiece of the war genre. Of course from Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks.

It changed Hollywood war films for the better, offering a more realistic and authentic portrayal of WW2 not seen before, and helped launch a renaissance of war films series, and video games.

The opening 25 minutes of Omaha beach for D-Day is one of the most iconic pieces ever, and yet it’s not even part of the main story. You start the movie after it, yet it serves its purpose to show how brutal and honest of its depiction of war. Especially with its handheld camera style offering more immersion, like you’re right there in the thick of war.

I watched it when I was about 6 or 7, when I shared a room with my brother. He watched it on the television, and the sound of gunfire, screaming, kept me up, and seeing those images pinned me to the screen. So awful yet I couldn’t look away.

Fortunately, the rest of the movie is very well done. The squad of 8 looking for Private Ryan are either very fleshed out, or at least memorable. The pacing is very well done, with some small battle scenes sprinkled throughout, and the idea of 8 men risking their lives for one perfectly encapsulates war, sacrifice, and brotherhood. Each has their own journey, encapsulated with the passing of a loved letter.

The end battle is just as visceral to the opening battle, and as each squad member dies in different ways, you remember them more because of that. Some die slowly, others brutally, others quickly. Great performances, sound, music, everything.

It’s just a perfect war film that still stands above the rest.

1. Titanic

What. A. Movie.

It’s a masterpiece of the period drama and romance, and disaster.

The opening title is the best ever. It perfectly encapsulates the film.

It lets us know that while the fictional love story is there, the film is honouring and paying tribute to the actual ship and those who died.

It has that brown and black look of film just like in 1912, giving it a sense of seriousness and authenticity. Almost like it’s real footage. Your eyes see happiness, people waving and cheering, but your mind knows this is the goodbye for 1500 of them. And your heart feels sadness, knowing what will happen, perfectly used with the score.

Even though it’s over 3 hours, it’s paced beautifully. The immersion and attention to detail is outstanding. James Cameron used every trick in the film book; real built sets, miniatures, practical effects, CGI, and other special visual effects to perfectly capture the scope and scale of the ship and the disaster.

The romance between Jack and Rose is simple, but immensely effective with their chemistry and performance. So many iconic scenes.

And when the disaster part happens, the sinking happens fairly close to real time, adding a sense of dread and panic as the situation becomes bleak. The cinematography perfectly encapsulates it.

At this point, there’s a strong balance of the real life disaster and stories, and the fictional one, but the disaster soon takes a front seat. The final plunge is made even more effective with its music, editing, and camera work.

The frozen floating bodies is always chilling to watch, and the main theme song playing as Jack dies and Rose pushes on, gets me teary eyed every time.

It’s a film that can be both entertaining and historically accurate/authentic. Too many times a historical piece is pushed to the side, or heavily altered. But not here.

This film got me interested in the ship and history of it, and while long epics can lose their luster, Titanic never does. While we know the ship will sink, how it’s shown and the fictional, love story help drive the real disaster and loss home.

One of the greatest films ever made, and one of the highest grossing for good reasons.

Well, there you have it, some of my favorite standalone films. What are some of your favorite? Comment below!