Personal Favorite Movies

[lucidity]

I was wondering what films everyone had for favorites. My list is pretty long, so I narrowed it down to movies I enjoyed so much that I bought them. Here’s my top ten…or so.

1) The Lord of the Rings trilogy…that one goes without saying I suppose.

2) Witness—yeah it’s 20 years old now, but Harrison Ford’s drama of investigating a murder was compelling, and the boy playing the young Amish boy was wonderful (Lukas Haas).

3) The Indiana Jones movies—I can’t imagine why they would be making another at this point. Poor Harrison Ford cracks his body up something terrible with each subsequent movie and the guy’s gotta be getting pretty old by now.

4) The Crow—This one is a guilty pleasure and I’m not really sure why. Brandon Lee died while filming this and it seems to add to the pathos of the movie for me. (Shh…I have secret love for revenge flicks.)

5) Jack’s Back—This is an offbeat James Spader movie where he plays a dual role. I think I just loved his sexy performance in it, plus there were a few twists that made my heart stop. (I have a thing for blonds.)

6) Tim Burton’s Batman movies. That would be 1 &2, the ones he actually directed himself. Once the torch was passed the quality began to plummet.

7) Blade Runner—I didn’t realize I had this many Harrison Ford movies. Huh. Rutger Hauer (complete doll) is the standout in this one for me.—ooh! I also loved Rutger Hauer in this creepy horror flick called The Hitcher—OMG he was so hot for a serial killer…okay, forget I said that last part.

8) Monty Python and the Holy Grail—Yup, I was one of those loons in college who went to see the Monty Python film festival and cracked up at the geeks who knew so much of the dialog—okay I was one of those geeks. (Sheesh, you guys aren’t going to emotionally blackmail me are you?) ;D

9) Blazing Saddles—Mel Brooks’ wonderful western comedy, even if it was kind of vulgar and rude at times, when a movie is this funny I can forgive quite a bit.

10) Young Frankenstein—Gene Wilder’s best (next to The Producers) This one my brother knows most of the lines to—I’m not the only geek around the household when the fam gets together.

11) Van Helsing—this one is another guilty pleasure. The movie was only so-so but David Wenham was so brilliant in his role as the nerdy Carl that I had to have it—the movie I mean. I wish this had been made as a buddy flick with just the two men together. It would have made a much better movie.

Well, you’ve read what I had to say. What say you?

[lindahoyland]

My personal favourites over the years in no special order are

1.Excalibur

2. LOTR Trilogy

3.West Side Story

4. Camelot

5. Witness

6,Ladyhawk

7.Crouching Tiger,Hidden Dragon

8.The Full Monty

9 Pride and Predudice

10.Pretty Woman

11. Master and Commander
I enjoy lots of others too but these came to mind,my favourites seem to be those that make me cry !

[eggowaffles]

My favorite films include (aside from LotR, of course):

Monty Python and the Holy Grail _{If I had to pick one film that daily affects the way I live my life... ;D}

The Princess Bride _{I swear, Aragorn IS Humperdink...}

Young Frankenstein _{Ooovaltine...}

Donny Darko _{which still keeps me up nights}

Lost in Translation _{makes me nostalgic for Tokyo...}

My Fair Lady _{Audrey Hepburn is just too cool}

The Scarlet Pimpernel _{is the only movie I've liked better than its parent book, incidentally...}

Pride and Prejudice _{the A&E version, of course!}

Sense and Sensibility _{directed by the fabulous Ang Lee}

Emma _{OMG Jeremy Northam!}

Middlemarch _{OMG Rufus Sewell!}

Our Mutual Friend _{OMG... John Harmond drowned!}

... as well as all the rest of my massive period piece collection, the full rendition of which I will spare you all...

[Rosie]

The only way I can do this is by naming them as I remember them, and then assuming that after a week or two I've remembered them all, I can put them in some kind of order!

Lord of the Rings (obviously)

Tootsie (one of the funniest films I've ever seen)

The Great Escape (classic)

The Full Monty (just hilarious)

The next bunch are films I've really enjoyed - I don't know if I'd include them in my absolute favourites though.

Maverick (Mel Gibson) - very enjoyable

Lethal Weapon (the first was the best, although I liked all of them)

Sliding Doors

The Harry Potter movies

The Bounty (Mel Gibson/Anthony Hopkins) - beautiful cinematography and great performances.

Early Carry On films.

[StefaniaB]

Gosh, I couldn't even begin to tell ya. Of course I love the LOTR movies. I wouldn't be here if I didn't. But aside from them, how about the following, not in any particular order, and no criteria except that they stand up to repeated viewings:

o Gone with the Wind - Though I've probably seen it too many times.

o Dances with Wolves - I still watch this one now and then

o West Side Story - i was a purist at the age of 16, when the film came out. Having seen the Broadway show first, I hated the changes they made and the casting (sound familiar?). But now I enjoy the dancing, the music, and the way this film captures the late 1950s and early 1960s.

o Pirates of the Caribbean - Because I do like newer films and this one really stands up to repeated viewing.

o Original Star Wars Trilogy - Though I sometimes don't admit this.

o Blazing Saddles - The best comedy ever, IMHO

o Lawrence of Arabia - haven't seen it in a long time, so I'm about due for a journey to the Arabian desert.

Well, that's all I can think of right now. I should go look at my Netflix review list for inspiration, see what I rated 5 stars.

- Steff

[Raksha]

Okay, off the top of my head, here are my 10 favorite all-time films, trilogies counting as one, in no particular order:


1. The Ten Commandments - Charlton Heston all over the place, a great story, spectacle, neat costumes, and drama, drama, drama. They don't make movies like this anymore. Or men. (Yul Brynner is gorgeous too)

2. LOTR - warts and all, still a splendid trilogy.

3. The first Star Wars trilogy. Yee-ha; the Force was Strong with it, and it was such fun. (and no Jar-Jar)

4. Lawrence of Arabia - oh yes. If only for young Peter O'Toole and young Omar Sharif - a treat for the eyes, and a great story with wonderful music.

5. The Black Stallion - possibly my favorite animal movie, really a lovely story, with marvelous chemistry between the young boy and the horse.

6. Gone With The Wind

7. Witness - yes, I loved/love it too. Did y'all spot a younger Viggo Mortensen in the barn-raising scene? He's there, though only briefly. I think he sits near Harrison Ford at the table when they eat, though there's a glimpse of him doing carpentry.

8. Chariots of Fire

9. The Lion In Winter - Katherine Hepburn and Peter O'Toole chewing scenery as the aging Eleanor of Aquitaine and hubby Henry II. A great supporting cast and the dialogue is outstanding.

10. The Magic Flute - Ingmar Bergman filmed my favorite opera - I so love this.

Runners-Up: The Indiana Jones movies, Ben-Hur, The Warlord, Aliens, The Wicker Man, Blazing Saddles, Driving Miss Daisy, The Agony And The Ecstasy, 99 Days In Peking, Jaws.


RAKSHA

[laerien]

Have any of you seen the "Million Dollar baby"?

That was a pleasant surprise for me. I watched it with a friend without knowing anything about it. Just it was the film which was shown at the proper time, and we heard it won the Best film Oscar, so it can't be that bad.
It is a wonderful movie! Definitely among my favourites!

[lucidity]

Linda, I keep meaning to rent Master and Commander, yet something else always catches my eye instead. I'll have to rent it now!

Which version of Pride and Prejudice did you mean? A new version just came out on DVD here this week.

Eggos, I also adore The Princess Bride and have yet to see Donnie Darko, though it sounds like it would be right up my alley. Did you see the director's cut?

I'll admit I've never heard of Middlemarch or Our Mutual Friend. I'll assume they weren't made in Hollywood.

Rosie, I think David Wenham is not the only Aussie who strikes your fancy. I see Mel Gibson represented quite often in your list. He is a doll as well, even if he's made a few duds in his career. ( And yes, technically we can claim him as an American, lol!)

Stephania, What can I say about Gone with the Wind? My mother adored that movie (as well as It's a Wonderful Life) and since I had so many forced watching of them both I simply have not been able to watch them again. Perhaps in another 10 years or so. GWTW is quite a good movie.

The original trilogy of Star Wars was great, but they subsequent movies were totally...well, not.

I've yet to see Lawrence of Arabia, another movie I need to add to my list.

Raksha, The Ten Commandments was film making in the old Hollywood style. We have that too and my son adores it.

I had forgotten that Viggo was in Witness! I rented his new DVD A History of Violence and will be watching it this weekend.

Larien, I've not seen Million Dollar Baby, but the female lead won an Oscar for her portrayal.

[eggowaffles]

lucidity said:

Eggos, I also adore The Princess Bride and have yet to see Donnie Darko, though it sounds like it would be right up my alley. Did you see the director's cut?

I recommend it highly! It's fantastically bizarre and convoluted.
I've seen both the theatrical and the director's cuts once each (and don't own either—Donny Darko is one of those films you really can't watch too often). I actually preferred the theatrical cut, as the director's cut contained a couple of scenes that I felt changed the nature of the plot unnecessarily.

I'll admit I've never heard of Middlemarch or Our Mutual Friend. I'll assume they weren't made in Hollywood.

Yeah, they're both BBC productions, made sometime in the early 90s, I think... I've had them for almost as long as I can remember.

[lindahoyland]

Master and Commander is well worth watching,I'm sure you'll enjoy it.Billy Boyd is in it too !

I meant the new Pride and Predudice though I love the TV version too.

Do please share what you think of AHOV,Lucidity,I'm wondering whether to get it as it never came to the cinema and I just love Viggo ! ;D

[lucidity]

Eggos, I have heard that the director's cut of Donnie Darko gives away a lot of what the director meant and some purists didn't care for that. I don't know which I would prefer, I suppose whichever is available for rental.

Where do you get your BBC productions? Do you have BBC America on your cable? For us it's not available unless you pay for the premium digital cable and hubby isn't interested in that. *sigh*

Linda, Billy Boyd is in it too? I really do need to take the time to get that one.

I will be watching A History of Violence tonight and let you know what I think. I do believe Lily has already seen it. Maybe she can share as well?

[Rosie]

lucidity said:

Rosie, I think David Wenham is not the only Aussie who strikes your fancy. I see Mel Gibson represented quite often in your list. He is a doll as well, even if he's made a few duds in his career. ( And yes, technically we can claim him as an American, lol!)

Yes, I confess I was once a Melaholic.

Gorgeous looking man in his youth - now I'm ashamed to say he looks a tad too weather beaten and I'm not a great fan of the direction (no pun intended) that his career has taken.......although he's obviously quite talented as a director, I won't watch Braveheart which is a bit too violent for my tastes, and both Braveheart and The Patriot are a tad too anti-British! It's OK for the Scots to be anti-British, but Mel isn't a Scot.

I'm actually quite anti-British myself in a lot of cases tbh, so I'm not biased!

[eggowaffles]

lucidity said:

Eggos, I have heard that the director's cut of Donnie Darko gives away a lot of what the director meant and some purists didn't care for that. I don't know which I would prefer, I suppose whichever is available for rental.

Yeah, there's a lot in Donny Darko that's left to the interpretation of the viewer in the theatrical cut, but the director's cut gives extra information that takes away from the mystery. Still, I don't think it would be a huge deal to watch the director's cut if you hadn't seen the original already...

Where do you get your BBC productions? Do you have BBC America on your cable? For us it's not available unless you pay for the premium digital cable and hubby isn't interested in that. *sigh*

Most of my BBC movies are VHS tapes that I've burned onto DVD... I can't buy the actual DVD versions because they're only available in England and I don't have a multi-region DVD player. Occasionally they come on BBC America as well, which is a great channel with lots of Flying Circus reruns and soap operas so bad that I nearly lose my water when I try to watch them. ;D

[celebne]

My personal favorite movies are:


1. The LOTR trilogy

2. X-Men trilogy

3. Star Wars IV-VI

4. Indiana Jones trilogy

5. Kate and Leopold

6. Timeline

7. King Arthur

8. First knight

9. Hidalgo

10. Van Helsing

11. Better than sex

[lucidity]

celebne said:

My personal favorite movies are:


1. The LOTR trilogy

2. X-Men trilogy

3. Star Wars IV-VI

4. Indiana Jones trilogy

5. Kate and Leopold

6. Timeline

7. King Arthur

8. First knight

9. Hidalgo

10. Van Helsing

11. Better than sex

Ah, Kate and Leopold! I love it more with each viewing! Hugh Jackman is totally dreamy in it!

You liked the last of the X-Men movies? I haven't seen it, but some comic purists hated it.

Hidalgo was on TV last night, but I ended up watching a David Wenham DVD instead. I watched Stiff--fabulous! ;D

[celebne]

The last X-Men movie was okay, but not so good as the other movies. I own The Stiff too, but I didn't watch it so far. But I have seen The Brush off. A good movie.

[Raksha]

I loved the first X-Men movie, thought the second one not as good, and, from what I heard of the third one, decided not to see it in the movie theaters.


RAKSHA THE DEMON , wondering where have all the posters gone...

[lindahoyland]

My friend and I wanted to see the latest X Men Film,but when it came to the cinema, that week was convenient for neither of us.We were certain it would be on for at least another week and were very taken aback when it was't as almost every film is. As my friend said "Fancy not keeping a film on with two of Britain's greatest living actoris in it !"
We will have to wait to see it on TV now.

[Raksha]

I have my doubts about actress Famke Jannsen playing The Phoenix, and I heard that they killed off a 'regular' X-Man (and not the Prof), so I was in no tearing hurry to see the movie.

Of course, Hugh Jackman is always easy on the eyes. I'm waiting for him to sing in an X-Men movie - not just because a singing, dancing Wolverine would be a treat, but because Hugh Jackman does sing and dance very well (I saw him in the musical Oklahoma on TV).

I trust I'm not the only one who remembers where else Famke Janssen (Jean Grey) has acted with Patrick Stewart? ;D


RAKSHA

[celebne]

I own the DVD of Oklahoma because of Hugh. He is a great singer. I love him.
But I prefer him as Wolverine. Next year he will film the Wolverine Spin off. I am looking forward to it!

Raksha, I would like to know where Famke Janssen and Patrick Steward had acted.

raksha said:

RAKSHA THE DEMON , wondering where have all the posters gone...

I think, they are playing the 'ADW Scavenger hunt'. ;D