My Top 10, Erm, 20 Re-Watchable Movies

I LOVE movies. I love watching them, critiquing them, and I'm completely unashamed that I am enamored with pop culture. I know it's not cool to be a pop culture fan, to watch a lot of TV or movies, or read People magazine, but I could give a rat's ass.

That said, I thought it'd be fun to make a list of my Top 10, which eventually stretched out into 20 Favorite Movies -- not for their quality but for their pure enjoyment. You know the movie, every time it's on TV you pause and watch at least some of it (and I HATE watching movies that are broadcast on TV). It's that movie you can quote at least ten lines from. It's that movie that still makes you giggle or weep, despite the fact that it's the 37th time you've seen it. A lot of my top 10 are pretty easy. There will be no Schindler's List on my list. It's a fantastic film, but not something I want to see over and over. Sorry if I don't have anything too artsy on here, I'm a big foreign language film fan, but I'll save those for my regular top 10 list.

And I'd love you to throw in your own faves in the comments section if you'd be so inclined. I'm interested to see what you think, and what I've overlooked, 'cause this is coming off the top of my head right now and I know there's a few dozen I'll have forgotten. Let's get to it...

1. The Fugitive
Cosmo: When I die, I wanna come back just like you.
Samuel Gerard: Oh, you mean happy and handsome?
This is my first of three Harrison Ford appearances. He will always be one of my favorite actors. But this movie isn't just about him -- Tommy Lee Jones really is the one to make this movie such a delight, and I was sorry that his spin-off movie was such crap. All the supporting characters are perfect (my GOD I love those stereotypical Chicago cops!), and I love following along with Dr. Richard Quimble as he slowly unravels the mystery behind his wife's death. You feel like you're right along there with him the whole time. I often think about what I would do if I was in such a situation. Too bad I've already had my hair dyed every kind of shade and style; it won't be so easy to disguise myself now.
(Treat Scene: Dr. Richard Kimble and Samuel Gerard's first face-off in the giant water pipe).


2. The Princess Bride
Inigo: Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

My first slam dunk of the list. Anyone who is a Generation X'er like me, knows this movie, loves this movie, and quotes this movie, almost ad nauseum. So, I don't need to say much more about it, except, Inconceivable!
(Treat scene: The sword fight between Wesley and Inigo Montoya).


3. Så Som i Himmelen (As it is in Heaven)
Inger: Now I'm going to say something I've wanted to say for a long time. Something that's plagued me for 20 years. There is no sin. ... The church invented sin.
I snuck a foreign film in here! There are about a half dozen French films I love, but I don't think any of them are as delightful, touching, and re-watchable as this one. This Swedish film that I discovered about six months ago completely floored me. It was the first time, in a very long time, where I walked out of the movie theater in awe, thrilled, touched, and completely satisfied. For those not familiar, it's the story of a famous conductor/composer, who after becoming very ill, decides to completely quit "show business," and retire to the tiny Swedish town he grew up in, despite the fact that as a child, he was repeatedly victimized by a trio of hometown bullies. As the residents realize they've got this celebrity in town, not realizing he was a childhood resident (he has since changed his name), they push him to help conduct the church's choir, despite his objections. As we see with any movie, you cannot have such a "big" force as him enter a small town and not cause quite a disruption, whether positive or negative, affecting the lives of all individuals he touches, and vice versa. And with many of my faves in this blog, this movie has a host of quirky, endearing characters, each with their own unique story.
(Treat Scene: Gabriella's song)

4. The Secret of NIMH
Nicodemus: We can no longer live as rats. We know too much.
Another movie from my childhood. Like other movies in this list, I go for the movie that is slightly different from its genre-mates. This movie may not have the dazzle and pixie dust of Disney, but instead carries a great deal more depth, hope, and tenderness, and features a continual thread of dark, political intrigue uncharacteristic for a child's cartoon, which nonetheless, really spices up the film. And let's not forget its political message against governmental animal testing! Besides, where else can you find yourself cheering for a whole bunch of rats?
(Treat scene: When rescue efforts begin to fail and Mrs. Brisby's home begins to sink into the mud).

5. X-Men, X-Men II
Magneto: You homo sapiens and your guns.

Yes, I'm a Hugh Jackman junkie, but it's more than that. I just really like these films (the third one, less so). I love the characters, I love the plot, I love the action and effects. I was so into these movies that I had a friend (a comic book nut) sit down and tell me the entire X-Men storyline from beginning to end. Poor poor Phoenix.

(Treat Scene: Opening scene in X-Men with Wolverine fighting in the ring, or the opening scene in X-Men II with the assassination attempt on the President).

6. Pride & Prejudice (the BBC mini-series)
Elizabeth Bennet: Perhaps I didn't always love him as well as I do now, but in such cases as these a good memory is unpardonable.

You'd think something that was over six hours long wouldn't be watchable again and again. Well, not for me. This is one of those movies where in the beginning you're not sure if the casting was done very well, and by the end you think the casting was perfect. As with any Jane Austen, the dialogue is crisp and intelligent, the storyline dramatic and romantic, and the women a force to be reckoned with. And no man was ever more stoic and more dreamy than Colin Firth's Darcy.

(Treat Scene: Darcy's disastrous proposal to Elizabeth).


7. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Willy Wonka: So shines a good deed in a weary world.

GOD, I love this movie. And despite a couple of too-creepy moments from the genius that is Gene Wilder, the movie is flawless. I saw the Johnny Depp one and thought it was okay, but it lacks the real beauty of the original, and besides, my god, why do without those fantastic songs???

(Treat Scene: Veruca Salt singing, "Don't Care How, I Want it Now").

8. Dangerous Beauty - A Destiny of Her Own

Beatrice Venier: Do you know what my daughter's nurse told her today? "In a girl's voice lies temptation - a known fact. Eloquence in a woman means promiscuity. Promiscuity of the mind leads to promiscuity of the body." She doesn't believe it yet, but she will. She'll grow up just like her mother. Marry, raise children and honor her family. Spend her youth in needlepoint and rue the day she was born a girl. And when she dies, she'll wonder why she obeyed all the rules of God and Country for no biblical hell could ever be worse than a state of perpetual inconsequence.

This is simply one of my favorite movies, which was shamefully marketed in the U.S. as a soft porn flick featuring Mel Gibson's beautiful wife from Braveheart (Catherine McCormack). In reality, it's a period piece about a woman with a noble family name, but no noble family money, who becomes the most famous courtesan of Venice. This movie was actually based on someone's dissertation, if you can believe that! There's an incentive to get that damn PhD done! Oh, and Jacqueline Bisset's role as Mommy-who-teaches-her-daughter-how-to-screw-men is not to be missed. Not to mention, it's got to be like the first movie where Rufus Sewell is NOT the villain. The movie completely sucks in the romantic in me, and I always go for the strong, female character who uses her head (and well, sometimes her body), to rise in life. I still cry during the trial scene.

(Treat Scene: Veronica Franco's speech during her trial by the Inquisition).

9. Sense & Sensibility
Elinor: Did he tell you he loved you?
Marianne: Yes...no. Never absolutely. It was everyday implied but never declared.
Another Jane Austen movie, script written by Emma Thompson herself (think she won the Oscar) and co-starring a lovely, wide-eyed, wild-n-free Kate Winslet. Also including Hugh Grant, who somehow manages to make his stiff, stuffy, concrete-necked character truly lovable. Not to mention the smoldering sexiness of the utter cad, Willoughby (whom Emma herself shacked up with during the movie, supposedly leaving Kenneth Branaugh, and has been with ever since). And let's not forget Alan Rickman whom I adore, who is tear-jerkingly appealing as the dashing, yet tortured Colonel Brandon. I guess I just keep identifying with the poor girl, with half a brain on her head, trying to make something of her life. What I love about Jane Austen, is that her books always feature strong females with a biting wit and fighting spirit, who are somewhat trapped by tight societal controls. Yet, they always seem to come out on the other side, hot man right along there with them.

(Treat Scene: Marianne's confrontation of Elinor in regard to the latter's seemingly lack of passion or feeling).


10. Meet Me in St. Louis

[When the family finds out that they are moving to New York City permanently]

Tootie: It'll take me at least a week to dig up all my dolls in the cemetery!

Judy Garland at her most beautiful singing my favorite Christmas song, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" as well as the bouncy onomatopoeia delight, "The Trolley Song." Plus, you don't want to miss the so-cute-you-wanna-puke Margaret O'Brien as the first "Tootie." The movie features a family in turn of the century St. Louis, young ladies looking for love, the excitement of the upcoming World Fair, and the promise and hope that the New Year can bring.

(Treat Scene: Esther singing "The Trolley Song" on the...trolley).

11. Raiders of the Lost Ark

Marion: You're not the man I knew ten years ago.

Indiana: It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, we all love this movie, so it's a slam dunk. I could watch that opening scene over and over (Take note! The guide who betrays him in the cave is Alfred Molina!). And who doesn't love some Nazi ass-kicking? I spent a lot of my pre-teen years intensely in love with Harrison Ford, even riding my bike in a complete downpour for several miles to buy some Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom playing cards. That lopsided grin still gets me today. No wonder I had a professor fetish for so long.

(Treat Scene: The opening scene with that big fucking ball!)


12. Ever After
Baroness Rodmilla: Darling, nothing is final 'til your dead, and even then, I'm sure God negotiates.

Yes, I'm a foolish romantic, but this movie is just plain fun and tragically underrated! It's beautifully filmed in the French countryside and the performances are so great (despite Drew Barrymore's wavering accent). Anjelica Huston is a real treat. She's fantastic in her evilness, her lines are endlessly quotable, and she's just a damn fine actress. I wish she was in more movies. Plus, the movie tries to be smart, and isn't going for the Hilary Duff crowd. It's a beautiful reflection on love, responsibility, what's truly important to us, and our place in the world. Oh yeah, and Dougray Scott (a Scot!!), is absolutely delicious. One of my favorite parts of the movie is his musings on the whole concept of a soulmate. I wish he'd be in more stuff too. Movie trivia: He was supposed to be Wolverine in the X-Men franchise, but I believe bowed out 'cause he was still doing Mission Impossible II though. No worries, that brought Hugh Jackman into my life!

(Treat Scene: Prince Henry discussing the concept of soulmates with Leonardo di Vinci)


13. Meatballs and 10 Things I Hate About You
10 things - Bianca: You don't buy black underwear unless you want someone to see it.

Meatballs - (Sung by camp counselors):

We are the CITs so pity us

The kids are brats the food is hideous

We're gonna smoke and drink and fool around

We are the Northstar CITs!

There are lots of great teeny bopper movies -- the ones that went slightly astray -- Heathers, Some Kind of Wonderful, My Bodyguard, Say Anything. I'm not sure why I picked these two, probably just because they're in my head right now. Meatballs (another Bill Murray vehicle) was another movie I saw on TV over and over as a kid. It also featured that sympathetic, yet somewhat creepy kid who was also in My Bodyguard. Who is that?

10 Things, the teeny bopper Taming of the Shrew is not great cinema, but fun to watch nonetheless. It has a great soundtrack too! Plus, where else can you see Julia Stiles dancing hotly, immediately followed by her puking her guts out? Then there's also my scene treat for the movie, which involves a pre-famous, brunette, Australian-accented (naturally), Heath Ledger.

(Treat Scene: Patrick singing, "You're Just too Good to Be True" in 10 things. / Hot dog eating contest in Meatballs).



14. The Bourne Identity and Supremacy
Jason Bourne: Who am I?

Conklin: You're U.S. Government property. You're a malfunctioning $30 million weapon. You're a total goddamn catastrophe, and by God, if it kills me, you're going to tell me how this happened.

I'm a chick AND I love action flicks, take THAT dudes! I actually went to the second one by myself in a gigantic NYC movie theater cause I couldn't get any of my friends to go with me. This "series" is one of my favorites. It made me actually like Matt Damon, whom I found pretty fucking boring before this (despite Good Will Hunting being a fine film). It's one of those films that end, and you desparately go, "When's the next one!?!?" I know there's a third coming up, and I can't wait!

(Treat Scene: Jason Bourne confessing to Neski's daughter about her father's assassination - Bourne Supremacy).


15. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone
Dumbledore: It does not do to dwell on dreams, Harry, and forget to live.
If you know me, you know of my obsession with the books, and if you really know me, you know what I went through with my 5th graders in Bangkok in regards to this book (a complete labor of love, one of the best things I did in my life). No one is ever happy with the book that becomes the movie, but I thought this first installment was well-acted, and true to the book. And the casting is fucking incredible, movie after movie. (R.I.P. Richard Harris). I was so surprised when Alan Rickman was cast as Snape, but now I couldn't possibly imagine anyone else; he's incredible. Each subsequent movie is very watchable too, but it's this first one that I'm stuck on (despite the third book being my favorite). (Treat scene: Harry's use of the Mirror of ERISED and Dumbledore's subsequent speech against it, or, the Quidditch match).


16. Ladyhawke

Phillipe: I know I promised, Lord, never again. But I also know that YOU know what a weak-willed person I am.

It was my favorite movie from age 12 to somewhere in college, until my then boyfriend pointed out all of the movie's ridiculous flaws and tarnished the whole experience for me. Still, by then I'm sure the movie helped to fuck up my current irrational expectations of what is a great love affair. Michelle Pfeiffer glows, Rutger Hauer is brave and chivalrous, and Matthew Broderick is just what a 12-year old girl needs to swoon over, a 'cute as a speckeld pup' man who is witty, charming, and well, a thief. Not to mention, when haven't I liked a movie with a big of magic in it?

(Treat Scene: When Navarre and Isabeau have a near-meeting a sunrise).


17. Stripes
Russell Ziskey: You could join a monastery.

John Winger: Did you ever see a monk get wildly fucked by some teenage girls?

Russell Ziskey: Never.

John Winger: So much for the monastery.

Razzle Dazzle! How fun is this movie, and could a movie be anymore completely a showcase for one person (Bill Murray) than this? I think sadly he would be pigeon-holed for the rest of his career into repeating this kind of humor in every role, but it's just 'cause we can't get enough. It's the same character in Groundhog Day, but as enjoyable as that movie was, my god, could you watch that again and again? Not me.

(Treat scene: The rescue from Czechoslovakia)


18. The Sound of Music

Sister Margaretto: After all, the wool from the black sheep is just as warm.

Another movie of my childhood that I watched on TV at least once a year. I can sing every song, and have always been eager to go to one of those Sound of Music Sing-Along productions, similar to Rocky Horror, where you get dressed up and go and sing along with the movie, but alas, none around anymore! As a girl, I wanted to be beautiful Liesl with her scumbag betrayer Nazi boyfriend. Thank god we grow up. And of course, Julie Andrews is a goddess.

(Treat Scene: "These are a Few of My Favorite Things").


19. Star Wars and Grease
Obi-Wan: That's no moon.

I'm putting these two together because they're kind of the same for me - they were two of the first movies I ever saw as a child, and which remained deeply loved ever since. My aunt (just three years older than I) had the 8-track of the Star Wars movie -- just pure dialogue -- don't ask me, I don't know -- and she would recite Princess Leia's indignant prisoner of war speech constantly. And of course, the Christmas I recieved the Grease album was a VERY big deal. I used to stare at the pictures, and sing every song, with the exception of, "There Are Worse Things I Could Do" which I found boring and confusing then, but genius today. And didn't ever little girl pretend she was the slutty version of Sandy (what was the message THAT movie was sending?!) and stub out our cigarette with our red hooker shoes?

(Treat Scene: When Slutty Sandy makes her appearance. / Obi-Wan and Darth Vader's showdown).


20. La Vita é Bella (Life is Beautiful)
Guido: Buon giorno, Principessa!

Probably the only Holocaust movie I could watch over and over. Like Stripes, this movie is solely a vehicle for Roberto Beningi, the Sun that all other cast mates orbit around (though his son Giosué is pure sweetness itself). Even in the most dark and dire of situations, life is beautiful. If you are not touched by this beautiful movie, you don't have a soul.

(Treat Scene: When Guido explains the "Rules of the Game" to everyone in the concentration camp barracks).