I checked my spam filter the other day, and it turned out that it has been filtering out a lot of actual comments. Oopsy daisy! I saved the ones that I found in there, but I hadn’t checked it in months — maybe even a year — so a lot of stuff probably got filtered out. Sorry folks!
I’ll try to keep a closer eye on it, but I will say that if you post a lot of links in your comment, my filter will think you’re trying to sell foreign drugs; if you write about how you’d like to ___ my ___, my filter will think you’re trying to sell foreign porn; and if you write a reeeeally long comment, my filter will probably think you should go put it on your own blog.
Anyways, to celebrate the return of comments — and the fact that I finally returned my long-ignored Netflix dvds and need to add to my pathetic queue of ex-boyfriend reccommendations — tell me what your favorite movies are! Mine are:
- Aliens — Yes, not Alien. I prefer the action movie one, with the Latina lesbian and the flame throwers.
- Dirty Dancing — Best dance movie ever. It has a botched abortion AND Jerry Orbach! This might be the perfect movie.
- Jaws –Honestly, I’d put every Roy Scheider movie on this list — I mean, holy shit, did he MAKE a bad movie? Besides Jaws 2?
- The Deer Hunter — yeesh. I love war movies, and very long weddings.
- Singing in the Rain — This has been my favorite movie since I was a kid. Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Gremlins got booted, but it’s still here. It holds up.
- His Girl Friday — This explains everything that is wrong with my dating life.
- Philadelphia Story — Wait, no– THIS explains everything that is wrong with my dating life. Except I’m poor. Nevermind, go back to His Girl Friday.
- Rasing Arizona — Remember when Nicholas Cage was a reason to see a movie, not avoid it? Moonstruck, too!
- The Departed — I am retluctant to put a newer movie on my list — what if it doesn’t stand the test of time?? But it’s Scorsese, and I liked it more than Goodfellas, so it made the list.
- Back to the Future/Ghostbusters — What? None of your business, how old are YOU?
I reserve the right to change this list on a whim.
La Grande Illusion — A great war movie.
What, so we can’t put foreign porn in our top 10 movies? *Sigh* All right… I’m daring enough to put a bunch of old movies in my list. Why? Well, because people knew how to make movies back then. But then my generation X geeky persona kicked me in the ass and provide some balance to my list.
1) Star Wars, Episode IV — Name one science fiction movie in the history of mankind that has eclipsed this one.
2) Aliens — It’s like Saving Private Ryan in space, where no one can hear you scream.. I haven’t watched this in about a year, but I can recite Hudson’s lines like I watched it yesterday
3) It’s a Wonderful Life — My first crush as a 13-year old boy was on Donna Reed. And Jimmy Stewart would have been just as good of a president as Ronald Reagan.
4) Spartacus — I think Laurence Olivier is a great actor, but no, I do not like snails AND oysters. But I do like a good epic gladiator movie. Sorry, Ridley Scott.
5) Patton — George C. Scott is one of the better film actors. Ever. I stood up and clapped when he slapped the kid in the field hospital. That’s the Army guy in me…
6) Jaws — I’m still scared to go out into the ocean very far because of THIS DAMN MOVIE. And after-lunch cramps. Thanks, mom.
7) Trading Places — Few things define an adolescent male’s life more than a) Jamie Lee Curtis’ breasts and b) learning how to eat an entire smoked salmon out of a dingy Santa beard
9) Sunset Boulevard — Anyone who questions this selection hasn’t seen it. This screenplay would do fine even if it was made today… Well.. add some T&A and some four-letter words and it might. But the production value is still remarkable.
10) Total Recall or The Running Man — I can’t make up my mind. Whenever I think of the future, I think of everyone running around in 80s big hair, spandex, or talking with an Austrian accent.
what a ka wink y dink. I am watching “Philadelphia story” as I am reading this… and that is right after watching “high society”… TCM 31 days of oscar is my social life.
true love –my, she was yare.
Aliens. By far the best one. Well. Mostly.
1) After Hours — A lesser referenced Scorses film. Dark, hectic comedy about being lost in New York in the middle of the night. Great cast. Extremely quotable.
2) The Big Lebowski — The most re-watchable movie of all time. It gets better each time. “Say what you will about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it’s an ethos.”
3) Mr. Hulot’s Holiday — This 50s classic is a summer staple. The main character of Mr. Hulot went on to appear in multiple films afterwards by writer/director Jacques Tati, and even later reincarnated by Rowan Atkinson under the guise of Mr. Bean. Such a beautiful and hilarious movie. Hard to find nowadays though.
4) Dr. Strangelove — Peter Sellers and George C. Scott are incredible in this chilling comedy about the “failsafe” system protecting ourselves from nuclear war. The funniest cold war movie of all… after Rocky IV of course.
5) Magnolia — PT Anderson’s finest work, although his entire career has been amazing so far. Tom Cruise is perfectly cast as the crazy leader of a cult of single men. John C. Reilly is the most adorable cop you’ll ever see. William H. Macy goes three straight, painful hours in need of a hug. So smart. Awesome movie.
6) Deathrace 2000 — Sylvester Stallone’s second funniest movie (after Rocky IV). Someone successfully pitched the following: Overpopulation has forced society to create a gameshow/race designed to have drivers go coast to coast on the continental United States gaining points along the way for hitting pedestrians. Bonus points for seniors and babies.
7) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind — Just gone through a rough breakup? This movie is the cure. It successfully and whimsically floats through the realities of a relationship. From finish to start. It gives perspective, and reminds you what you get from crossing someone else’s path… and then trying to erase it from your memory.
Eight) True Stories — Talking Heads front man David Byrne’s masterpiece about a small town in Texas where almost everyone works for Texas Instruments. Mixing Talking Heads songs, John Goodman (pre-Roseanne) and a Spalding Gray sequence make for the best bargain bin DVD purchase you’ll make.
9) The General — Buster Keaton’s silent film takes place on a train. Some of the best stunts, and hilarious physical gags ever. The only movie I can think that tops the slapstick humour would be the fourth installment of Rocky.
10) When We Were Kings — Ali vs Foreman in Zaire. The documentary that took decades to release. This will make a boxing fan out of anyone with a soul. Who knew two men bashing each other could be such an epic moment in history. Ali boombayae.
Quick list in no particular order:
Coming to America (1988): One of the most underrated comedy films ever made.
1) Shadows (1959): It’s a slice of the beatnik 1950s NYC that makes me wish I had a time machine.
2) The Bad News Bears (1976): The first movie I ever saw. And there was cursing.
3) Dog Day Afternoon (1975): Liked it when I’ve seen it on TV and rentals, but when I saw it on the big screen recently it blew my mind. Everyone was great.
4) The Bicycle Thief (1948): I don’t think a film like this could be made in America or anyone anymore.
5) Do the Right Thing (1989): I liked “She’s Gotta Have It” but this resonates better.
6) The Jerk (1979): I was terrified that it would seem hack if I saw it again as an adult. Very wrong.
7) Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982): Ditto with this. Except for one thing. I noticed more as an adult — and appreciated more as an adult — than I did as a teen.
9) Little Fugitive (1953): A great film about a kid who runs away to Coney Island after he is tricked into believing he has killed his older brother.
10) Two-Lane Blacktop (1971): An excellent road film with Dennis Wilson, James Taylor & Warren Oates Monte Hellman.
Interestingly enough, my favorite movies are not the movies I can’t stop watching on cable (like Under the Tuscan Sun). Weird.
But my favorite films remain:
1) The Conformist
Killer Klowns From Outer Space
2) Blade Runner
3) The Empire Strikes Back
4) Three Amigos
5) South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut
6) Beauty and the Beast
7) Gone With the Wind
9) Gigi
10) Victor/Victoria
(Coming to America is right up there as well, along with Ghostbusters…two of the best NY-centric comedies ever made…perfect films, really.)
wet hot american summer.
and glitter.
Top 10 in no particular order:
1. Breakfast At Tiffanys
2. Young Guns
3. Goonies
4. Monty Python & The Holy Grail
5. 40 Year Old Virgin
6. Full Metal Jacket
7. Merchant of Venice — Pacino version
8. Hamlet — Gibson version
9. Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead
10. Anchorman
Saving Private Ryan is up there as a great movie to watch — right before you go out to get completely shit faced — gets me all pumped up.
Best Patrick Swayze movie? Not Ghost, not Dirty Dancing, not even Roadhouse… Yes, it’s Red Dawn — fucking awesome!
And I’d have to say Team America: World Police is pretty damn funny too. If you don’t mind the irreverence.
two movies worth netflixin’:
1. “american movie.” a perfect balance of funny and sad. It’s a documentary about these two guys in Wisconsin trying to make a horror movie, and they try so hard, and you’re not sure whether to laugh at them, to be really inspired to do what you love, or to be really sad about life. I feel like “Shameless” tried (and achieved) the same kind of balance, so you might dig it for similar reasons.
2. “M*A*S*H” (the movie) Before you roll your eyes, trust me, the movie has absolutely nothing in common with the TV show. Completely different sense of humor, really dark and kind of f’d up at times. It’s one of very few comedies that knows how to have a comedy that doesn’t ignore the grim realities all around them. Really interesting how Altman pulls it off. The funny comes out of real desperation (again, kinda like “Shameless”).
All the Pixar movies, excepting “Cars,” which is just good.
I would never roll my eyes at MASH — tv show or movie.
First, let me apologize for leaving a comment that has nothing to do with this post.
Now that that is out of the way… OMG! I just found you via College Humor. You are amazing! Instantly likable and instantly blog-rolled. Big fan after five minutes on your blog.
1) Big Lebowski — never gets old, I second that emotion
2) Liquid Sky — Little tiny aliens land on a weird Blade-Runner-ass future shock models’ apartment roof in the Village in 1982. They eat peoples’ brains and give off the best psychedelic light show a Commodore 64 could simulate at the time whenever they experience heroin or an orgasm, both of which happen a lot in this particular apartment. It’s really a timeless satire of cool — as applicable to 21st century Williamsburg now as whatever fucked-up proto-electro scene was going on then. First synthesied soundtrack ever, and features the line “I’m a killer. I kill with my c*nt.” What’s not to love? : http://tinyurl.com/2o7brw
3) Microcosmos — bugs are beautiful and snails are kinda hot. Dung beetles are hilarious metaphor for the struggle of the common man. Who knew?
4) Hellboy — Fuck a damn art house film, Guillermo Del Toro does the red guy RIGHT
5) Witness — my dad and I used to watch that part where Harrison Ford jumps out the buggy in full Amish gear and hands out a *serious* asswhipping over and over again.
6) Blue Velvet — prove me wrong, people
7) Robocop
9) Spider Baby
10) American Splendor
Damn, who can resist a favorite movie list?!? Props to the folks who made the Killer Klowns and Liquid Sky references above!
In no particular order:
Evil Dead 2: Perfect blend of comedy and horror, incredibly inventive. I wonder if that guy ever made any other movies…(kidding y’all)
Blade Runner: Deckard is NOT a replicant no matter what Ridley Scott says/thinks. Much like Lucas, he made a great film and has been pretty much trying to fuck it up ever since.
Amelie: What can I say I’m a sucker for Paris, anything that Jeunet is involved in (OK except maybe Alien: Resurrection), and magical realism.
Children of Men: I’m also a sucker for political commentary masquerading as well made sci-fi.
Koyaanisqatsi: I love the music of Philip Glass and I’m not afraid to admit it. An amazing take on documentary film, that is still very powerful.
Alice (Jan Svankmajer): The best interpretation of Alice in Wonderland I’ve ever seen. It’s got a creepy victorian vibe and hey, animated animal skulls!
Brazil: Simply brilliant
Susperia: Argento’s masterpiece of fairy tale horror. Amazing visuals and of course the unbeatable soundtrack.
The Fifth Element: My guilty pleasure. Milla as a kick-ass alien with red dreads? Be still my heart.
The Thing (John Carpenter): Paranoia, disturbing effects, and Wilford Brimley!
You have no idea how hard this was to narrow down, and I still ended up with 16 movies. I will give you the first ten I wrote down. In no particular order.
1. Aliens– First Sci-Fi movie that really kicked my ass. Since seeing star wars at age 7 anyway.
2. Goodfellas– Still the best mob movie of all time. And I pretty much love them all.
3. A Bronx Tale– Speaking of which, this is the only mob movie I have seen more often than Goodfellas. And the only mob movie I know of containing Robert DeNiro where he doesn’t play a mobster.
4. For the Love of the Game– I don’t know, The Natural just didn’t speak to me the way this movie did. Yes it’s part chick flick but there is plenty of baseball to make this man friendly.
5. Fight Club– Just watched this movie again last week and during the first half I just kept saying to my self “Oh My God I forgot what a great movie this is”. I was drunk at the time, but it is a great movie.
6. Breakfast Club– I was fifteen when I saw this movie and I could not have identified with the characters more.
7. Crash– The first time I watched it I went right back the main menu on the DVD and played it again.
8. The Commitments– I’ll admit it didn’t move as much the second time I watched it but still a great movie.
9. Full Metal Jacket– Maybe Platoon is better but definitely not more quotable.
10. Hook– Because I am a guy, and all guys want to be Peter Pan
Now if my friend’s saw this list they would all yell “Where the fuck is Ocean’s Eleven!” and not because it is their favorite movie but because it technically is mine. I don’t think I have quoted any movie more in the last seven years. But like I said I just picked the first ten I wrote down.
The other five are Run Lola Run, Remember The Titans, Shawsank Redemption, Stand by Me, The Patriot.
Crap, I knew I’d remember some of my all time favorite films after I wrote my list!
OK replace Fifth Element, The Thing, and Koyaanisquatsi, with:
Better Off Dead: Best 80’s teen comedy hands down. “Where’s my two dollars?!?”
Harold & Maude: Suicide attempts + intergenerational love = comedy genius.
Being There: Peter Sellers is simply brilliant.
You guys have some great picks — I totally should have put Goonies, 40 Yr. Old Virgin and Full Metal Jacket on my list.
Noah — Thank GOD you took Koyaanisquatsi off your list. I mean, I love Philip Glass too, but COME ON. That film should only be watched while incredibly high or while completing a Masters Thesis on Incredibly Boring Stuff. I feel you have saved yourself by replacing it with Better Off Dead — which also should have been on my list.
Oh, Princess Bride, too.
1. the apartment — jack lemmon’s performance in this is my favorite performance in any movie ever made. he’s kind of twitchy and manic, but he’s so dorky and graceful at the same time that it breaks my heart. shirley maclaine is luminous, and fred macmurray is the most loathsome boss of all time. when i moved to NYC, this is what i wanted new york to be like, full of sophisticated fuckups in hats and thin ties and nice dresses with broaches. oh well.
2. almost famous — sometimes, movies feel like they are engineered specifically to your heart, as if someone could scan your tastebuds and make the cookie perfectly suited to your taste. that’s an awful metaphor. anyways, there’s a similar dynamic between this one and the apartment, although this is a movie with absolutely no bad guys. the movie is so dewey and romantic, but it hits every emotional button it can. i watch the whole thing through teary eyes pretty much every time. too bad cameron crowe hasn’t done anything nearly as good since. did you see elizabethtown? yikes.
3. singin in the rain — gene kelly is so fucking amazing in this movie. he’s hilarious and his dancing is just the best. i love how silly and smart it is all at the same time. sure, the end kind of goes on and on, but those production values! man, i wish people would make movies like this again…
4. close encounters of the third kind — of all the movies i saw when i was a kid, this one comes to closest to inspiring the same kind of awe as when i first saw it.
5. jaws — still scares the living shit out of me.
6. 2001: a space oddessy — i love how abstract it is, and how just plain weird it gets. i love that all the dialog is completely banal, and that there is so much ambiguity.
7. rushmore — no movie has better demonstrated that teen angst and middle-aged angst is pretty much the same thing. favorite scene: dirk calloway’s letter to max.
8. the big lebowski — i hated this the first time i saw it. now i laugh out loud at almost every line of dialog.
9. the philadelphia story — wait a sec…jimmy stewart, katherine hepburn and cary grant ALL IN THE SAME MOVIE? most insanely great cast ever. the script almost doesn’t even matter, but it’s so witty and wise, with all of the 3 main players giving definitive performances. sure, the little sister is maybe the most annoying character in history, and the movie is nothing special to look at, it’s still full of so many moments in life that you wish you could emulate. who wouldn’t want to be a playboy and sail around the world, like cary grant? or be the noble romantic that jimmy stewart is? or be a petulant twit, but still look like katherine hepburn?
10. his girl friday — rosalind russell is the sexiest lady in the history of the movies. how long is that script, anyways? 1000 pages? i can’t even THINK that fast, much less TALK that fast.
honorable mentions: hudsucker proxy, the empire strikes back, shaun of the dead, that thing you do, the incredible. also, i really really loved both no country for old men and there will be blood, but they are too new to include…
The Enchanted Cottage (look it up)
The Big Chill (o.k., so, I’m old)
Five Easy Pieces
Bonnie and Clyde
Singin’ in the Rain (of COURSE!)
Oh, Lucky Man
There Will Be Blood
and so many more…
The Way I Spent the End of the World (2005)
Amelie
Zazie dans le Métro (1960)
After Hours
Bananas/Play it Again Sam/What’s Up Tiger Lily? — Three HIGHLY underrated Woody Allen films.
Aliens trumps over Alien, hands down.
The badass Vasquez and “Game over man” in one film? Instant sucsess.