Movie Meme / Movie Log
Hi there! I got tagged by fansee for the Movie Meme, and that's a good a reason to get off my lazy butt and make my brain work as any.
Rules: In a text post, list ten movies that have stayed with you, ten movies you're rewatched more than once or pushed your friends into watching or can't get out of your mind. Don’t take but a few minutes, and don’t think too hard - and, yes, limit it to ten. Then tag ten friends and spread the madness.
In no particular order:
01. Die Hard - starring Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman
Yeah, you knew this one had to be here, didn't ya? It's still smart and funny and exhilarating after all these years, and Bruce will always have a place in my heart. (This winter our local indie theatre is going to air it on the big screen as part of their Christmas Movies series -- I am SO stoked to see it in a proper movie theatre again!)
02. The Warriors - starring Michael Beck, James Remar
This is one of the movies that I like to call "stylized reality" -- where it's clear that these things could never happen in our real world, but the characters believe as if they could (best way I can describe it.) The Warriors are a street gang who are accused of killing the leader of another gang, trying desperately to make it back to their "home turf" of Coney Island with every gang in New York on their tails. First saw this on TV when I was about 13 years olf and I was completely captivated.
03. Moulin Rouge -- starring Ewan McGregor, Nicole Kidman
My friend and I saw this movie about 7 times in the theatre, even driving several hours to other cities to see it when it stopped playing locally. I always tell people that if they can get through the first chaotic twenty minutes they will not regret it. It's heartwarming, heartbreaking, funny, charming, and completely and thoroughly unique and I'm still bummed that this never got the award recognition it deserved.
04. Sound of Music -- starring Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer
My go-to happy-feelings Christmas movie, even though it has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas. I am still transfixed by it no matter how many times I see it.
05. Dawn of the Dead -- starring Ken Foree, Gaylen Ross
and
06. Dawn of the Dead -- starring Sarah Polley, Jake Weber
The original 1978 still stands as the creepiest movie I have ever seen. The zombies terrified me as a kid and still give me shivers now, and the premise -- survivors living in a mall -- is classic. The 2004 update gave the zombies speed -- so not fair! -- and gave the story a little twist with their mad escape. Both amazing entries for the genre.
07. Phantom of the Paradise -- starring Paul Williams, Jessica Harper
This time the phantom is a railroaded songwriter who haunts The Paradise, a "rock opera" nightclub. So beautifully over-the-top and campy and delicious. And the songs are incredible.
08. RENT -- starring Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp
I feel like the movie doesn't get a lot of love, but the film was the first time I saw RENT (I only saw it in on broadway and touring companies afterward) and so it's "my" 'real' version of the story. I can't watch it without sobbing.
09. Velvet Goldmine -- starring Jonathan Rhys-Myers, Ewan McGregor, Christian Bale
The story of the rise and fall (and rise again) of a Bowie-esque singer and the effect he has on one man. The story flips back and forth between past and present, the performances are incredible, and the music is great as well.
10. Angels With Dirty Faces -- starring James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, the Dead End Kids
Classic '30's gangster melodrama with Cagney as a hardened criminal and O'Brien as his childhood friend, now the local priest. The kids in the neighbourhood look up to Cagney; O'Brien wants him to be a good influence. Now I am going to spoil the ending: When Cagney gets sentenced to death, O'Brien pleads with him to pretend to be a coward so that he'll fall off the pedestal the boys have put him on. Cagney refuses with a sneer... but when the time comes for him to be brought to the electrical chair, he screams and cries and begs for mercy. This ending is the topic of ENDLESS debate in my family: did he really turn 'yella', or was he faking it for the kids? Where you stand on this issue is of GREAT IMPORT in my family, yo. (P.S. He was totally faking it.)
That was fun. Who knew I loved so many musicals?
I am still pathetically behind on my Watching Movies goal, but here's four more that I've seen recently:
12. Flood (2007) - starring Robert Carlyle, Joanne Whalley, Jessalyn Gilsig
This feels like a British TV movie. Maybe it was. *shrugs* It's your basic Disaster Movie, except instead of New York getting destroyed with millions of dollars of CGI, this time it's London and they only spent about a hundred bucks. Carlyle is a... erm... some kind of dam expert who's called in to help his ex-wife when the giant flood hits and then of course his dad is the one who was saying all along that this was going to happen and there's a heroic sacrifice and... well, I imagine Mr. Carlyle wishes he'd said no to this one.
13. Eragon (2006) - starring Robert Carlyle, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich
Look at that cast! This should be an amazing movie, and instead it's... complete and utter drivel. (I liked Flood better. Heh.) This is Star Wars with dragons, basically. Eragon/Luke Skywalker is a farmboy raised by his uncle (Garrow/Owen) who is taken under the wing of an old dragon-rider/jedi (Brom/Kenobi) to free the land from the despot (the Emperor/Galbatorix) who then sends his evil minion/sorcerer after the boy (Durza/Vader). George Lucas should sue. The performances are all horrible, though Jeremy Irons tries his best. The pacing is horrible, dialogue is horrible, everything.is.horrible. And the worst part is they end it clearly setting it up for a sequel. HAH.
14. Plunkett and MacLeane (1999) - starring Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller, Liv Tyler
Now THIS is a fun movie! Trainspotting's Carlyle and Miller reunite, this time as "gentlemen highwaymen" in 18th Century England. Miller is a well-heeled gentleman who has the manners to hobnob with the elite but not the money, and Carlyle is a former apothecary who resorted to thievery. When they're thrown together, they team up to use Miller's connections and Carlyle's brains to rob the rich and escape to America. Super fun, great performances. I loved it. Now this one deserved a sequel!
15. Ravenous (1999) -- starring Robert Carlyle, Guy Pearce, David Arquette
Oooh, this one is fantastic. In a military fort in the middle of nowhere in the 1800's, a man shows up with a tale of cannibalism in the hills. The soldiers head off to investigate, and that's when it gets weird. It's a dark comedy and there are a few problems with the tone but the performances are all kinds of mesmerizing and I found myself loving it a lot. Really a lot. In probably an unhealthy way. Robert Carlyle in particular is GREAT in this, showing off his range superbly. And there's so many great lines! I think it might fall into a "love it or hate it" category for a lot of people, but it was odd and pretty unique and I am definitely in the LOVE IT category.
Not tagging anyone for the meme, but I would love to see your posts for it!
.
Rules: In a text post, list ten movies that have stayed with you, ten movies you're rewatched more than once or pushed your friends into watching or can't get out of your mind. Don’t take but a few minutes, and don’t think too hard - and, yes, limit it to ten. Then tag ten friends and spread the madness.
In no particular order:
01. Die Hard - starring Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman
Yeah, you knew this one had to be here, didn't ya? It's still smart and funny and exhilarating after all these years, and Bruce will always have a place in my heart. (This winter our local indie theatre is going to air it on the big screen as part of their Christmas Movies series -- I am SO stoked to see it in a proper movie theatre again!)
02. The Warriors - starring Michael Beck, James Remar
This is one of the movies that I like to call "stylized reality" -- where it's clear that these things could never happen in our real world, but the characters believe as if they could (best way I can describe it.) The Warriors are a street gang who are accused of killing the leader of another gang, trying desperately to make it back to their "home turf" of Coney Island with every gang in New York on their tails. First saw this on TV when I was about 13 years olf and I was completely captivated.
03. Moulin Rouge -- starring Ewan McGregor, Nicole Kidman
My friend and I saw this movie about 7 times in the theatre, even driving several hours to other cities to see it when it stopped playing locally. I always tell people that if they can get through the first chaotic twenty minutes they will not regret it. It's heartwarming, heartbreaking, funny, charming, and completely and thoroughly unique and I'm still bummed that this never got the award recognition it deserved.
04. Sound of Music -- starring Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer
My go-to happy-feelings Christmas movie, even though it has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas. I am still transfixed by it no matter how many times I see it.
05. Dawn of the Dead -- starring Ken Foree, Gaylen Ross
and
06. Dawn of the Dead -- starring Sarah Polley, Jake Weber
The original 1978 still stands as the creepiest movie I have ever seen. The zombies terrified me as a kid and still give me shivers now, and the premise -- survivors living in a mall -- is classic. The 2004 update gave the zombies speed -- so not fair! -- and gave the story a little twist with their mad escape. Both amazing entries for the genre.
07. Phantom of the Paradise -- starring Paul Williams, Jessica Harper
This time the phantom is a railroaded songwriter who haunts The Paradise, a "rock opera" nightclub. So beautifully over-the-top and campy and delicious. And the songs are incredible.
08. RENT -- starring Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp
I feel like the movie doesn't get a lot of love, but the film was the first time I saw RENT (I only saw it in on broadway and touring companies afterward) and so it's "my" 'real' version of the story. I can't watch it without sobbing.
09. Velvet Goldmine -- starring Jonathan Rhys-Myers, Ewan McGregor, Christian Bale
The story of the rise and fall (and rise again) of a Bowie-esque singer and the effect he has on one man. The story flips back and forth between past and present, the performances are incredible, and the music is great as well.
10. Angels With Dirty Faces -- starring James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, the Dead End Kids
Classic '30's gangster melodrama with Cagney as a hardened criminal and O'Brien as his childhood friend, now the local priest. The kids in the neighbourhood look up to Cagney; O'Brien wants him to be a good influence. Now I am going to spoil the ending: When Cagney gets sentenced to death, O'Brien pleads with him to pretend to be a coward so that he'll fall off the pedestal the boys have put him on. Cagney refuses with a sneer... but when the time comes for him to be brought to the electrical chair, he screams and cries and begs for mercy. This ending is the topic of ENDLESS debate in my family: did he really turn 'yella', or was he faking it for the kids? Where you stand on this issue is of GREAT IMPORT in my family, yo. (P.S. He was totally faking it.)
That was fun. Who knew I loved so many musicals?
I am still pathetically behind on my Watching Movies goal, but here's four more that I've seen recently:
12. Flood (2007) - starring Robert Carlyle, Joanne Whalley, Jessalyn Gilsig
This feels like a British TV movie. Maybe it was. *shrugs* It's your basic Disaster Movie, except instead of New York getting destroyed with millions of dollars of CGI, this time it's London and they only spent about a hundred bucks. Carlyle is a... erm... some kind of dam expert who's called in to help his ex-wife when the giant flood hits and then of course his dad is the one who was saying all along that this was going to happen and there's a heroic sacrifice and... well, I imagine Mr. Carlyle wishes he'd said no to this one.
13. Eragon (2006) - starring Robert Carlyle, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich
Look at that cast! This should be an amazing movie, and instead it's... complete and utter drivel. (I liked Flood better. Heh.) This is Star Wars with dragons, basically. Eragon/Luke Skywalker is a farmboy raised by his uncle (Garrow/Owen) who is taken under the wing of an old dragon-rider/jedi (Brom/Kenobi) to free the land from the despot (the Emperor/Galbatorix) who then sends his evil minion/sorcerer after the boy (Durza/Vader). George Lucas should sue. The performances are all horrible, though Jeremy Irons tries his best. The pacing is horrible, dialogue is horrible, everything.is.horrible. And the worst part is they end it clearly setting it up for a sequel. HAH.
14. Plunkett and MacLeane (1999) - starring Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller, Liv Tyler
Now THIS is a fun movie! Trainspotting's Carlyle and Miller reunite, this time as "gentlemen highwaymen" in 18th Century England. Miller is a well-heeled gentleman who has the manners to hobnob with the elite but not the money, and Carlyle is a former apothecary who resorted to thievery. When they're thrown together, they team up to use Miller's connections and Carlyle's brains to rob the rich and escape to America. Super fun, great performances. I loved it. Now this one deserved a sequel!
15. Ravenous (1999) -- starring Robert Carlyle, Guy Pearce, David Arquette
Oooh, this one is fantastic. In a military fort in the middle of nowhere in the 1800's, a man shows up with a tale of cannibalism in the hills. The soldiers head off to investigate, and that's when it gets weird. It's a dark comedy and there are a few problems with the tone but the performances are all kinds of mesmerizing and I found myself loving it a lot. Really a lot. In probably an unhealthy way. Robert Carlyle in particular is GREAT in this, showing off his range superbly. And there's so many great lines! I think it might fall into a "love it or hate it" category for a lot of people, but it was odd and pretty unique and I am definitely in the LOVE IT category.
Not tagging anyone for the meme, but I would love to see your posts for it!
.