How watching movies will help me win!
Lisa, over at Travelin’ Local, has asked people to write about their favourite movies. And since I am such a collaborative type of gal, I said I would.
Okay fine, she is having a contest if you post about your favourite movies, and I’m hoping I’ll win.
I never win anything.
I define favourite movies two ways.
1. I like the director
Anything by M. Night Shyamalan. I have seen them all except his most recent one, which I have made a note to myself to watch. I love the last minute twist in the story. And he always manages to make me physically jump because of unexpected movement in the corner of the screen.
However, because his movies are all about figuring out the twist, I never watch them more than once.
Which leads me to my second definition.
2. I am willing to watch the movie more than once
I have a really short attention span. I rarely re-read books. I do have some favourite books, but I will save for another post. And there aren’t too many movies I watch over and over. But there are some, and here they are:
Pitch Black, Chronicles of Riddick, Triple X - Vin Diesel. Yes, I know it’s extremely simple stuff, but it’s Vin. I fantasize about Vin. I fantasize about Kieffer Sutherland too, but he’s gone all drinking and driving on us, so he ranks way way lower than Vin.
Independence Day - pure action entertainment with zero gratuitous sex or violence. I love Will Smith’s straight faced wit. You can’t help but love Jeff Goldlbum. And Judd Hirsch takes me back to my Taxi watching days.
The Holiday - just to prove I am not all about action and buff bald guys. Total sappy chick flick. You want to hug Jack Black, and I can totally relate to the struggles Iris (Kate Winslet) was going through to find herself.
Labyrinth - David Bowie - penis pants - ’nuff said.
Blood Diamond - this one is surprising, because I try to avoid gut wrenching, heavy duty, political dramas. I watch movies for pure escapism. However, I believe it is extremely well done, and the cinematography is stunning.
Muppet Treasure Island - Did I mention I watch movies for pure escapism? I am a Muppets fanatic, but this by far is their most entertaining adventure. And who better to play Long John Silver than Tim Curry?
And that is pretty much my complete list.
Lisa was awarding a point for posting about your favourite movie. I have listed eight directly, and indirectly all the M. Night movies. I’m thinking I’m good for at least a dozen contest points!
Jump in here. Tell us what your favourite movies are and why? But whatever you do, do NOT post about them on your own site. That would reduce my chances of winning! (Sorry, Lisa, but it is every blogger for themselves)
I’m with you on Muppet Treasure Island… fave line “How much trouble can a cook be?”
Other faves
Karate Kid, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Under Siege (see reference to Muppet Movie), Back to the Future, ET, Star Wars, Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan (Ricardo Montalblan ROCKED), Highlander, BladeRunner, Terminator (all 3), The Watcher in the Woods, Nightshift, Alien, Aliens, Ghostbusters, Dances with Wolves, Forrest Gump, The Birdcage, and I’m sure there’s more.
Canadian Army Wife’s last blog post..Posting Frustration, Part 2
Favorite movies, eh?
The Princess Bride
Red October
12 Angry Men
Shawshank Redemption
Babe
The Abyss
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Die Hard
Ben-Hur
The Terminator
Total Recall
Stalag 17
Alien
Shrek
Independence Day
Air Force One
Good luck in the contest!
Gah! So many favourite movies!!!
-Brotherhood of the wolf- ** All time favourite!
-Princess Bride
-Labryinth
-Any Milla Jovovich Movie
-Pretty much anything w/ John Malcovich
-Secret of NIHM
- The Witches
- Ever After (not a huge drew barrymore fan, but she’s believeable in it!)
-Practical Magick
-Anything Muppets (Muppet Treasure Island is the highest ranking one)
I think those are the ones that i’ll watch over and over and never tire of them!
LOL……….I love your post, and your reasons are great. I don’t follow directors too much, so I can’t comment on that part, but my list of favorite movies surprising mirrors Lori’s. Almost to the letter, except for many Stalag 17. It’s good, but I wouldn’t put in the top. One I’d add is Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.
LisaNewton’s last blog post..Springin’ into action on the Metro’s Orange Line Bicycle Path
Humorous and informative post–categorizing favorite movies are obviously totally subjective. That’s why a “Top 100″ list or any Award Show becomes burdensome to watch or read. One point that I’ll differ from you on is that I give no “free passes” for a Director–no matter how much I may like him or her–if the movie sucks!
Lori - THE PRINCESS BRIDE!!!! How on earth did I forget the Princess Bride?!!! Actually, I am currently reading the book. I have seen the movie so many times I know the entire script word for word.
Beatrice - PRACTICAL MAGIC!!!! How on earth did I forget Practical Magic?!!! Hmmmm … my list is expanding. I wonder if I’ll get more contest points? *grin*
Lisa - You know what? I have never actually seen Guess Who Is Coming to Dinner. How sad is that? Will have to watch it. BTW, you are keeping track of the additional movies I am adding to my list right? Hmmm … more points ….. hmmmmm?
David - highly subjective. I mean how many movies are rated on pants that give a nice outline of the male genitalia? I agree on the no free passes for directors, but M. Night hasn’t disappointed me yet.
Urban Panther’s last blog post..How watching movies will help me win!
Panther,
I love your definition of a favorite. Exactly my own definition, and why I own very few. If it can’t pass the “watch it again” definition, then why own it?
I am a huge classic movie fan, so get ready to say huh? about some of my faves:
Anything Charlie Chaplin
Road Trip pictures with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby
Anything Cary Grant, especially Holiday with Katherine Hepburn
Anything Katherine Hepburn, especially The Philadelphia Story, also with Cary Grant (kinda circular here)
Harvey
Meet Me in St. Louis
White Christmas
It’s a Wonderful Life
The Man Who Came to Dinner
Singin’ in the Rain
La Cage Aux Folles (from France, early 70s I think—ROFL funny no matter how many times I see it)
Any Shakespeare, but especially Laurence Olivier’s (old) or Kenneth Branagh’s (new)
Any Disney, but esp. Fantasia and Finding Nemo
More recently,
Good Night and Good Luck
Something’s Gotta Give
The Devil Wears Prada
Michael Clayton (huge WOW)
The Bucket List
Oh, yes, and I liked the original Muppet Movie a lot. “Rainbow Connection” and all.
I can go on about movies forever, so I’d better run away now!
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..WIN a Prize & Wish MCE a Happy 300th
I haven’t seen La Cage aux Folles, but I love the Birdcage. BUT the Lion being the French purist he is refuses to watch the Birdcage. So, I will have to watch La Cage aux Folles and compare.
I did not like Michael Clayton. Gave up half way through.
Ooooo … Kenneth Branagh … yummy!
Urban Panther’s last blog post..How watching movies will help me win!
Panther,
Oh, yes, Gene and Fred occupy quite a bit of shelf space here. As to Michael Clayton—it was the most foul language I’ve ever willingly sat through in a film before, I’ll say that. I usually don’t like rough films. No gore, no scary, and why must every other word be a swear word? But my jaw was in my lap the entire time I watched it. I was *fixed* to the screen. I had to know what came next. Wow.
Oh, another in that vein that I just saw recently was 21 grams. Shocking, but wow-oh-wow. I don’t think I blinked the entire time I watched it (if your screen’s decent, you can see it free on hulu: http://www.hulu.com/21-grams ).
Later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..WIN a Prize & Wish MCE a Happy 300th
@ Kelly
@ Panther
@ Lisa
@ Canadian Army Wife
@ Lori
@ Beatrice
Hmmm, I’m starting to realize that along with not discussing politics, religion, and money with friends, perhaps movie likes and dislikes should be added.
Just joking. Very interesting discussion. I do agree that some movies are “favorites” just because we can watch them again, and again, and again.
Is that a good thing?
For my two cents worth, I also like those movies that when I watch them again I see something new I missed before.
Some examples:
- GoodFellas
- The Matrix
- Reservoir Dogs
- Rocky. That’s right, Rocky.
I don’t know or think these are my “favorite” films–but they always provide me with new metaphors, themes of good v bad, hope v hopelessness, meanings to revisit, and the way I interpret a story as I get older.
Hint–it usually changes. By no means is this list comprehensive as I wouldn’t know where to start.
David - as for seeing something new each time I watch it, I have to go with Mel Brooks’ Robin Hood: Men in Tights *grin*
Urban Panther’s last blog post..How watching movies will help me win!
Urban,
I think I’m detecting a bit of a thematic climax to your movie
preferences.
Shall I preference my feedback to you with hopefully go big or don’t go at all?
I hope you win!
You won’t get any competition from me, because I am not a movie girl. I never watch them, and if I do, I don’t remember their names, let alone who directed them. What’s a director? (just kidding)
I did see a movie once - The Sound Of Music, I think it was.
Robin’s last blog post..Happy Birthday, Let’s Live Forever!
Good luck! Traditionally I haven’t been good at winning things either, but my luck seems to be changing and I’ve won a couple of prizes in past 6 months. Re. movies, I am film obsessed so have lots of favorites.
The Matrix would be possible number 1, or maybe Thelma and Louise. Also love:
Aliens, When Harry Met Sally, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe, Million Dollar Baby, Terminator 1 and 2, The Breakfast Club, How to Marry a Millionaire, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Traffic, Pulp Fiction, Breaking the Waves, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Romancing the Stone, Blood Diamond, Y Tu Mama Tambien, The Fast and the Furious, The Wonder Boys and loads more!
Kelly@SHE-POWER
Panther, I am a movie junkie! How do you pic a favourite? I love so many movies but I’m with you on the director thing.
I will pretty much base my choice on who is at the helm rather than the ’stars’.
Could never look at Vin in the same light after he did that looking after the kids movie The Pacifier.
Now Hugh Jackman on the other hand . . .
Oh and loving the new look at your pad!
Tara@Sticky Fingers’s last blog post..Motherhood: The truth
Robin - ah, now you see, the Sound of Music was the very first movie I saw in a real live theatre. One of those warm and fuzzy feelings of actually doing something special with just my mom. So, good choice!
Kelly@SHE - whoa, you are on a prize winning roll! Better buy those lottery tickets! Fast and the Furious … more Vin …. sigh.
Tara - awwwweeeee … but it was still Vin. He still managed to pull out the line he uses in every single movie. “There is only one way, and it’s MY WAY!” Hugh Jackman …. Wolverine … yep, works for me. Oh! And speaking of Wolverine. I also like most comic book hero movies. Except for Ironman. I tried three times to watch it, and got bored everytime and went to find something better to do.
Urban Panther’s last blog post..The tirade
Wow, I’m looking at these lists and I see a lot of my favorites. I can watch those movies over and over. Also, if I find myself quoting a movie its a favorite. “We’re on a mission from God” would be a good example.
Here are some of my favorites, not mentioned above.
Pulp Fiction
Jaws
Caddyshack
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
The Usual Suspects (Greatest ending ever!)
Stictly Ballroom (I don’t know why, must be the chick in me.)
Turf Dad’s last blog post..Friday Film Favorites 8
I watch for escapism too…
Stardust
Legally Blonde
Bring It On
Mamma Mia
WALL-E
The Incredibles
Crybaby
Blow Dry (RIP Natasha Richardson)
Joy Luck Club
And many more that don’t come to mind right now…
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome’s last blog post..Wallowing in someday with The Strokes
Oh! I forgot Strictly Ballroom and Moulin Rouge
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome’s last blog post..Wallowing in someday with The Strokes
Alex - Oh, I have to add Mamma Mia to my list. LOVE the movie version. I haven’t seen Strictly Ballroom. Going to have to now, since it’s on yours and TurfDad’s list.
Urban Panther’s last blog post..The tirade
@Turf Dad - I still remember the first time I watched The Usual Suspects, and realized that I had experienced something extremely unique and innovative.
@Panther
You got something against John Travolta?
Urban Panther’s last blog post..The tirade
A whole bunch of you listed movies that I forgot to add to my list!
Actually there are so many good movies I think my real list would be rather long.
@Urban Panther - I agree with you on the F-bomb thing (& the Welcome Back Kotter thing too but don’t tell anybody)
Canadian Army Wife’s last blog post..Happy Day
Unfortunately the Panther has no taste at all in movies. She either needs action that keeps you on the edge of your seat or movies with puppets. I try to introduce her to good movies but alas, I’m not having very much success so far. I like pretty much anything by Luc Besson. The Panther is allright with that as long as Jason Statham bares his chest at least 3-4 times.
My personal favorite is still Life is Beautiful. I also like movies with Monica Belluci. Life Aquatic is another movie I really liked and made me discover Seu Jorge (sings David Bowie songs in Portuguese in the movie)
Urbane Lion’s last blog post..And now for something completely different!
Urban Panther’s last blog post..Bathing in perfume
@Urban Lion- Usually when Monica Belluci bares her chest 3 or 4 times in a movie I tend to like it.
Turf Dad’s last blog post..Wednesday Weigh In Week 17
Turf Dad - Whaaaat???? List movies please…..Oooops… clean-up in aisle 3 please!
Urbane Lion’s last blog post..And now for something completely different!
Great thread. Obviously there’s no right or wrong answer. In university I took a class, “Reading as Film” which I thought would be easy since how hard could watching movies be every week. Right? Except for those extensive compare and contrast papers, I guess nothing.
People get pretty “animated” when talking about their “favorites.”
Funny how one man’s ceiling is anther’s floor.
Urban Panther’s last blog post..The link
[...] The winner of Travelin’ Local’s Independence Day, Paramount Studios contest, is Elizabeth, Urban Panther’s Lair, who scribed inspirationally and passionately, How watching movies will help me win! [...]