Last summer, I decided I was going to try to watch 100 movies over the course of the school year. They had to be 100 movies I had never seen before, and I had to watch them all the way through.

They could be movies from any time period, from movies in theaters now, to movies from the beginning of cinema. They just had to be new to me.

I didn’t make it. Not even close. I barely hit 40. I had sort of forgotten that college involves work, which means watching 100 movies gets put on the back burner.

But I’m not complaining. I saw a lot of really good films this year, and here are a few of my favorites.

“The Pianist” (2002): I’d liked Adrien Brody quite a bit before seeing this—he seems like a fun person, someone with whom you’d go grab a coffee.

After seeing him in this movie, though, I understood exactly how talented an actor he is. This movie is striking. It’ll hit you right in the heart.

“Ponyo” (2008): How adorable can you get? A movie about a fish who wishes she was a little girl and falls in love with a little boy. With a star-studded voice cast and the magical animation one would expect from Miyazaki, “Ponyo” is one of my favorite animated movies ever!

“As Good as it Gets” (1997): How had I not seen this one until this year?

Jack Nicholson might be best known for shouting, “Here’s Johnny!” but his acid sense of humor shines just as bright in this comedy.

“Alien” (1979): Another classic I’d been missing. I already knew the best parts—the chestburster popping out of Hurt’s chest, the creature leaping out of the egg and sucking face—but I’d never sat down and watched the whole thing until I took a film class last semester.

It’s a real marvel when a monster movie from the ‘70s doesn’t look dated, and “Alien” is one I’d watch again and again.

“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (2011): I can’t say enough positive things about the American adaptation.

As I said to a friend recently, Americans tend to be less subtle about their versions of movies. And with a story as explosive as “Dragon Tattoo,” subtlety is not the name of the game. It’s about mystery, sex, revenge and criminal activity. And damn, does this movie deliver.

I think I’ll try again next year, with 50 movies instead. That seems a lot more doable, and if I go over, great.

So tell me, Towerlight readers—what should I be adding to the list? The world is full of great movies I’m missing out on, and I want to hear what they are.