08 November 2010

List #3: Films I Could Watch Over and Over

What, you're tired of lists already? No? Good. Me neither.

1. The Princess Bride: I know it's a cliche, and I don't care. When I first met Shaun, he had never seen this, and while we were watching it, he poked fun at something or other, and I blew up at him. Apparently I'm terribly protective of my favorite movies.

2. Strictly Ballroom: a gorgeous movie. Truly. Australian. Ballroom dancing. If you haven't seen it, you really should. Fran is so a grand heroine.

3. Harold and Maude: Okay, so not everyone loves this movie, but everyone should. Like The Sound of Music, It's a Wonderful Life, and The Wizard of Oz, we should all watch this movie at least once a year. It's kind of like Dead Poet's Society, but better. Much better.

4. West Side Story: I mean, obviously. Music, dancing, New York City, Jets and Sharks....

5. Frida: I love Salma Hayek, and I love Frida Kahlo even more. I know this movie is not perfect, but I think it's lovely in many, many ways. I love the gold powder on the trolley.

6. Like Water for Chocolate: A critique of tradition, and in some ways of romantic love. This movie makes me happy when I have time to sit down and enjoy it: the musicality, the humor, the food...

7. Raise the Red Lantern: I saw this in college; it was my first subtitled movie. It is gorgeous and haunting and sad and Chinese.

8. To Kill a Mockingbird: There's not much sexier than Atticus Finch shooting a rabid dog. Or maybe that's just me.

9. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy: All the others were so serious, I had to add a comedy. This one is so over the top ridiculous, it's hard not to laugh all through this movie. My favorite is how Ron Burgundy curses. For example, "Great Odin's Raven!"  It's brilliant.

I don't get to go to movies very often, so when I do, I'm mostly just happy to be out at a bona fide theater. I enjoyed Beverly Hills Chihuahua, for heaven's sake. But these nine are all very, very dear to my heart. What're your favorite movies?

6 comments:

Charlotte said...

Movies I could (and actually do) watch over and over are: Chocolat & Julie & Julia - they both make me want to cook and eat. Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers - still anxiously awaiting a third, like Meet the Little Focker perhaps?? I'm also a little obsessed with Christmas movies like National Lampoons Christmas Vacation and Home Alone. I like these list posts of yours!

Trudy said...

didn't know if you knew this but Harold and Maude is one of my all time favorites as well. Grant and I dressed up as Harold and Maude one Halloween!

Christine said...

Love Harold and Maude (also my daughters favorite). I tend to be a trilogy fan - Back to the Future and Star Wars being up front for me. I also loved Angus especially today with bullying in the news. Can't get it on DVD, though.

Emily, Scott, and August said...

1 and 8 are on my list too- all Atticus is missing is a good woman to take care of him!
Gotta add Shawshank Redemption, Raising Arizona, The Mexican... I too loved Chocolat (just thought of something sexier than Atticus shooting a rabid dog) and for the holidays, nothing beats A Christmas Story! There's so many more, how do you pick just 9?

Sam Kaiser said...

1. All About My Mother (or just about any Almodóvar film. As they often contain a tranny and/or sex inappropriate people I think you'd enjoy all of his films as well. They often seem like a Dictator-led circus show.

2. Pulp Fiction

3. Drop Dead Gorgeous - stupid Minnesota film that makes me feel good every time.

4. Annie Hall

5. Cries and Whispers

6. Star Wars (the original trilogy)

7. Out of Africa

8. American Beauty - who doesn't like Annette Bening screwing the real estate king?

9. Toy Story

Anonymous said...

Just to make you feel a little older than you probably already do (not that you're old or anything).... I've seen TWO of the movies you just listed. One for class, but I watched it before that with the fam so I can count it. To Kill a Mockingbird (the one for class) and Anchorman. I had to listen to the quotes from Ron Burgundy my entire junior/senior years of high school because of that movie. Oye!

Now on to movies I could watch over and over and over again....
Mean Girls - love this movie!!! Love Actually, Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, The Holiday, and The Blind Side. Apparently I have a thing for Christmas?

Happy Movie Watching!
-Chelsey