I decided to do top ten lists because a) I am bored, and b) seems like blog-y thing to do.
So here’s my first: Top Ten Movies (no particular order)
1) The Princess Bride- You guys know me. I won’t bother to bore you with telling you how amazing it is AGAIN. I will say I remember my dad taking me to the video store when I was little and suggesting I see it. I remember watching it in middle school with my friends and remembering how much I loved it. I remember my brother buying it for me for christmas and how impressed I was with him getting me such a great present. I remember how upset I was when I lost it. I remember how happy I was when I got it for christmas a second time from Patrick. I mean, this movie was the best christmas present I’ve gotten TWICE. Doesn’t get better than that.
2) The Fall- I talk about this movie a lot. My friend Noah made me go see it. I had no idea what it was or what it was about so I went into the theater with no expectations at all and it blew me away. It’s visually stunning with bright colors and amazing scenery. The story is sad and surprising. The little girl at the center is adorable. You laugh and sob and get all caught up in it.
3) Rear Window- They just don’t make them like this anymore. Alfred Hitchcock was a genius. I took a class that focused on this movie and once you realize the care and thought put into each and every shot you can’t help but be impressed. Hitchcock builds suspense without using cheap tricks or thrills but subtlety. Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly are amazing. Actors aren’t like that these days. This is a classic for a reason.
4) Love Actually- I remember dying to see this when it was in theaters and not being the teeniest bit disappointed with it. First of all, it has a lot of my favorite U.K actors in it (Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Bill Nighy) and American (I have a soft spot for Laura Linney) and it’s truly very funny. The tagline is “the ultimate romantic comedy” I think it truly is. Even my brother and his friends like it.
5) Indiana Jones Trilogy- First of all, I honestly believe the 1st and 3rd Indiana Jones are Harrison Ford at his best. The main character is amazing. He’s smart, kind of a jerk, but still a good guy with good intentions. I love history and how it’s tied into this franchise and that score is amazing and iconic. The story lines are classic adventures. Don’t get me wrong, Star Wars is great, but the Indiana Jones movies appeals much more to my personality. Also, it takes FOREVER for Han Solo to show up in “A New Hope” therefore the first half of that movie is kind of boring.
6) Pride and Prejudice-I have NO idea what it is about this movie but I am completely fascinated by it. As most of you know, I’m not really the romantic type. Maybe that’s part of it. No one sits around being all elaborately romantic in this, people just fall in love kind of suddenly and next thing you know they’re married. I think the direction is pretty brilliant and the lead actors are all very charismatic. And the dresses are pretty.
7) Mulan- My sister and I literally watched this five times in a row one day. It’s my favorite Disney movie. I have a soft spot for classic animation and the old songs and these were my favorites. It’s a good story and has a lot of fun characters and it probably the last good thing Eddie Murphy did.
8) The Exorcist- I have no idea when I first watched it, but I loved it immediately. I think my dad was the one who convinced me to see it. He told me how back in his army days (I think he got drafted for vietnam but the war ended before he shipped out or something along those lines, I do know his time in the military was very uneventful) he read the book and it was the only time he was glad he was sleeping in a room with a bunch of other guys. I didn’t like scary movies before but this one was kind of a rush. It was scary, somewhat mythological, and shocking. It’s probably the reason I like scary movies and hate the cheap slasher flicks that keep coming out today. My dad gave me the book after watching it and I thought it was very good, as well.
9) Almost Famous- What kind of scene kid would I be if I didn’t put this here? First of all, I like a lot of Cameron Crowe’s stuff. Second, when I first got really into music and shows my mom took me to visit my grandma. This is the only time I ever come in contact with wal-mart. My mom spent the whole trip listening to me talk about music and shit and finally just pulled into a wal-mart, walked me to the dvd section, picked this up, handed it to me and said “trust me, you’ll like this.” Part of my love for this movie is just because it’s the only time my mother has ever done anything like that.
P.S. I am in NO way “just like Penny Lane!”
10) Auntie Mame- I really hope that in my old age I become lovably eccentric. That is Mame. This is another random movie my dad ended up showing me. We buy my grandma a musical every year for christmas. Of course, she’s now 90 so we ran out of decent musicals a few years ago. My dad started getting her movies based on musicals or with plots that were very reminiscent of them. Auntie Mame is one of those. I love the main character and all her craziness and how beneath all the narcissism she still is a strong person who just cares about her family.
Honorable Mentions
-Arsenic and Old Lace- Dear Cary Grant, I love you.
-The Ugly Dachshund- PUPPIES!!!!
- Zoolander-The male model gasoline fight gets me every time. “Orange-mocha-frappuccinos!” I could quote it for days.
-Dogma- Kind of offensive and true
-Mean Girls- This is basically the Heathers of our generation. I love Tina Fey, Lindsay Lohan was hot, and again, I could quote this for days.
