Top 5 Mel Brooks Movies (My Opinion)

Mel Brooks is one of best comedy directors that you will ever see.  His films are immortalized and the favorites are passed down from parent to child.  These films will never outgrow their comedy, the comedy can span generations.  Because of the fact that they are spoofs, everyone is familiar with the source material, which makes them easier to share with others.  I, personally, was shown a few of my parents' favorite Mel Brooks films, and that is when I was introduced to his comedic movies.  Here are my top 5 movies from this legendary director.

5. Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)

Starring Cary Elwes, Richard Lewis and Dave Chappelle, this is a brilliant parody on the tale of Robin Hood, specifically the 1991 film.  Elwes plays the titular character, although not the same Robin Hood that many remember.  He is backed by Mark Blankfield as "Blinkin" and Chappelle as "Ahchoo".  These three face off against the tyranny of Prince John and the newly re-named Sherriff of Rottingham.  Richard Lewis plays Prince John, with an ever-moving mole that is the source of many laughs.  He is joined by Roger Rees as the Sherriff, as they attempt to appose Robin and his men dressed in tights.  This film brings many laughs, and is a good hearted movie that is one of Brooks' best.

4. History of the World: Part I (1981)
 
History of the world part 1, is a hilarious movie that showcases the parts of history that isn't written down in textbooks.  Mel Brooks stars in this movie, often playing the main character.  He plays Moses, who drops 5 of the 15 commandments, turning it into only 10.  He is seen as a stand-up philosopher in the time of the Roman Empire, the head of the Spanish Inquisition and King Louis XVI.  He is fantastic in all of these areas.  He is joined by the ever wonderful Harvey Korman and Madeline Kahn, along with Orson Welles as the narrator.  This film is a great and hilarious spoof about world history, and it might make boring old history fun for some of those people who never got into the subject.  This is a definitely recommended movie, and I cannot wait for Part II to release (which will never happen).

3. Spaceballs (1987)



Making a spoof of one of the greatest franchises of all time is not an easy task, but in Spaceballs, Mel Brooks pulls it off to perfection. With fantastic actors such as Rick Moranis, Bill Pullman, John Candy, Daphne Zuniga and even Mel Brooks himself, this is a great cast.  From Dark Helmet and Yogurt, to Lone Starr and Barf, this spoof is one of the funniest of all time.  Every Character can be linked to a major movie.  It is mostly Star Wars, but they also include Planet of the Apes and Star Trek as well.  There is not a single thing in this movie that is not a joke, everything is funny, including the Spaceballs Colonel, Colonel Sandurz.  There is even a scene that includes a major fourth-wall break, that includes instant cassettes of all the movies Brooks has made.  Instead of the force, is the scwartz, Yogurt instead of Yoda, even Pizza the Hut in the place of Jabba the Hut.  This movie is the spoof that Star Wars fans need, and if you have not seen it, Spaceballs needs to be on your list.  This film is simply hilarious and fantastic in almost every way.

2. Young Frankenstein (1974)

When a young surgeon inherits the castle of his grandfather, the famous Dr.Frankenstein, hilarity ensues.  With the legendary Gene Wilder playing Frederic Frankenstein, joined by Marty Feldman as Igor, Peter Boyle as the monster and Madeline Kahn, it would be tough to make this movie better.  With ongoing jokes aplenty and a dancing monster, this movie is comedic genius.  When he inherits the castle, Frederic initially wants nothing to do with his grandfather.  Eventually succumbs to the desire and creates his own monster.  However, this monster is a nice one, and just misunderstood by the scared villagers.  Frederic goes on to correct this notion and tries to set things straight for his creation.  The combination of the main characters, well placed and timed dialogue, and a great storyline, this film is gold.  Many have overlooked this film because of it's black and white film, however, you should never overlook this movie.

1. Blazing Saddles (1974)
 
Blazing saddles is the perfect spoof movie, in my opinion.  For one, it spoofs a whole genre of film, not just a specific movie.  In this, all western movies are thrown for a loop.  When a black man is appointed sheriff in a small town in the west, he has to persevere and save the town from the government, who want to run a train rail through the town.  Cleavon Little and Gene Wider have some of the best chemistry that I have seen in any film.  Just because that this is not a serious film, does not mean the acting takes a nosedive.  Little and Wilder are simply fantastic together, one of the best in history.  Mel Brooks and Harvey Korman are the bad guys in this one, the government officials.  Brooks plays the dim-witted Governor, while Korman plays Headey, sorry, Headley Lamarr.  Korman turns in one of his best performances, in where I believe he should have gotten a nomination for best supporting actor.  This movie truly shows the genius of Mel Brooks as a filmmaker, and is without a doubt his greatest movie to date.