Monday, June 21, 2010

The Movie Deadly Dozen Blogfest

Mr. Alex J Cavanaugh, author, is hosting a blogfest today, the Movie Deadly Dozen blogfest, where you round up twelve of your favorite films and gush.

Since that sounded fun, I signed up.

Let me tell you, it was super hard to narrow down my list to 12. I tried to stick to movies that were maybe a bit more obscure, just to zazz things up, though that's certainly not the case for all of the movies.

Here we go! (in no particular order)

Sunshine






Synopsis - a team of astronauts are sent on a mission to restart our dying sun. Along the way, they realize an unknown person is hiding on the ship with them

I love this movie. I guess it would be classified as space horror, since it does have quite a few intense moments towards the end. It's hands down one of my most favorite sci-fi movies. The astronauts are all completely believable. These aren't miners sent into space, but people with multiple PhDs.
It has a great cast, including Michelle Yeoh, Chris Evans and Cillian Murphy.
This movie will make you appreciate the sun like you never have before.


Tombstone






Synopsis - A successful lawman's plans to retire anonymously in Tombstone, Arizona, are disrupted by the kind of outlaws he was famous for eliminating

I think most everyone can agree that this movie is straight up awesome. Even if you don't like westerns (and why wouldn't you?!) this movie is excellent.
Kurt Russel, Bill Paxton and Sam Elliott round out the fantastic cast. And this is arguably Val Kilmer's best role (though Madmartigan is awesomesauce). I don't know anyone who doesn't love this movie


Whale Rider






Synopsis - a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize

Have you seen this movie?
If you haven't, you need to rectify that immediately. For reals. Go watch it right now.
This movie is one of my all time favorites and totally deserves all the acclaim it received. It will probably make you cry, but by the end you'll be happy and it will most likely be one of your favorites too. When I look back on my list of movies, this is the one that makes me gasp because I love it so much.


The Royal Tenebaums





Synopsis - An estranged family of former child prodigies reunites when one of their member announces he has a terminal illness.

This is one of those movies that you have to watch 2-3 times to really get a full appreciation for it. I find this movie hilarious and will watch it any time I see it on TV. Also it's a touch bittersweet and that's always a plus for me.
It has a killer cast, including, but not limited to, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Gene Hackman, Luke Wilson, Gwenyth Paltrow and Bill Murray and is narrated by Alec Baldwin.


Love Actually





Synopsis - Follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely and interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England.

This is, in my opinion, the best Christmas Movie Ever. Period. I don't know anyone who isn't ridiculously happy after watching this movie. Combined with a great soundtrack and an amazing cast including Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Colin Firth and Liam Neeson, there's something for everyone in this movie.
It's pretty much a Christmas staple in our house.



Lagaan





Synopsis - The people of a small village in Victorian India stake their future on a game of cricket against their ruthless British rulers...

I don't think I can properly convey how much I love this movie. It is excellent. It's another movie on my top 5 list. I think everyone should watch this movie.
It's a mix between a sports movie, a musical and an underdog struggle. Also it will make you want to play cricket.
The villain is easy to hate, the hero is adorable and the action so fun that by the end you'll be on the edge of your seat.
Even if you've never seen a single bollywood film (and this was my first) and find the music a little strange, by the end you may want the soundtrack.
I cannot recommend this movie enough.



Spirited Away





Synopsis - In the middle of her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches, and monsters where she is forced to work at bathhouse for these creatures

All of Miyazaki's films are excellent, but for me the top two are always Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away. My favorite of these two fluctuate, but typically Spirited Away edges out in front for it's fun plot line and the touch of unheimlich. Also I could watch Sen work in the bathhouse all day.
I pretty much always recommend any of Miyazaki's films for anyone who is looking to get into anime.


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles





Synopsis - A quartet of humanoid turtles trained by their mentor in ninjutsu must learn to pull together in order to face the menace of Shredder and the Foot Clan.

This movie epitomizes what was awesome about the early 90s. Still trying to hang onto the 80s, yet trying to break away. I remember seeing this movie on opening night when I was in the 3rd grade. We watch this movie every couple of months in our house. It's that awesome.
Also this movie will solidify my love for Elias Koteas and Casey Jones in general and contains brilliant dialogue such as:

"Cricket? You gotta know what a crumpet is, to understand Cricket."
"I'll show you. See that? 12 runs."

ahh, good times


28 Days Later



WARNING - TRAILER CONTAINS FULL FRONTAL MALE NUDITY



Synopsis - Four weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the UK, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary.

This is my all time favorite Zombie movie. I know many purists say it doesn't count because the infected aren't actually reanimated dead, but I don't care. It's also one of my top 5 fav movies of all time. I really enjoy the "Who is the monster and who is the man" theme and this movie has that in spades. This is also the movie that more or less began Cillian Murphy's career (yay!).
Obviously this a a Danny Boyle horror film so it is chock full of blood, gore and extreme violence (just the way I like it) but this movie is not for the faint of heart. But if that's not an issue for you and you haven't seen this movie, check it out.


Poltergeist





Synopsis - a little girl is kidnapped by the ghosts that haunt her family's home

When people ask what movie I think is the scariest, I always answer Poltergeist. Mostly because this is the scariest movie we used to watch growing up (though my parents did take the time to fast forward through the part where the guy rips his face off. At least until we were older). Clowns strangling children under the bed? Scary. Ghosts walked down the staircase? Hella scary. Little girl getting sucked into closet to then vanish? Effing scary.
The nerd part of me wants to point out that this movie is less about a poltergeist and more about a haunting, but that's beside the point. When I watch the Family Guy Poltergeist homage episode, I get freaked out because they use the original Poltergeist soundtrack.
I need to get this movie on Blu-ray or DVD.

The Last Unicorn






Synopsis - A brave unicorn and a magician fight an evil king who is obsessed with attempting to capture the world's unicorns.

We loved this movie growing up and I still love it now. It's one of those movies that changes as you get older so your appreciation deepens. Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow and Christopher Lee all voice act in this movie and though I LOVE IT, I would say it's not really appropriate for very young children due to some scary scenes including:
The Red Bull, creepy drunken skeleton and tree nudity.
Also, the soundtrack by America? Awesome.



Bugsy Malone





Synopsis - New York, 1929, a war rages between two rival gangsters, Fat Sam and Dandy Dan. Dan is in possession of a new and deadly weapon, the dreaded ‘splurge gun’.

This is your average 20's gangster movie. Except the gangsters are children. And instead of bullets, they throw pies. Also, it's a musical.
We grew up on this film in my house. To this day we still sing the songs when the mood strikes us. This is a movie you can watch with your children, they'll love it. But it's also a movie you can appreciate as an adult.
Both Scott Baio and Jodie Foster star, though they're probably around 10-12 years old.

I mean, what's not to love about a movie who's theme is:

You give a little love and it all comes back to you?

Nothing, that's what.

37 comments:

JE said...

OMG! The Last Unicorn is one of the best movies ever made. I remember is actually scared me when I was little! LoL. The red bull was pretty creepy, you gotta admit.

I've only seen three of the ones you listed. I;m so lame ;-)

~JD

Hart Johnson said...

What an interesting list! I love that you have some cartoons/kid movies in here. Strangely, I've only seen two of these though--I liked those, but I think it is the list with least overlap in my viewing that I've seen. I think you must fall solidly between my age and my kids, in that viewing era where I was in college and not seeing many movies.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Good variety, Falen! And damn, totally forgot about Tombstone. You're right, there's just too many.

Jayne said...

Oh oh OH! You have Lagaan! This was the first Bollywood movie I ever saw as well and I love it to pieces. Your dirty dozen is terrific - the way you have laid them out, the lovely one-liner for each (seriously impressed with those), the beautifully tight synposis, the trailers. Out of your list, I have seen (and also love) the aforementioned Lagaan, Bugsy Malone, Tombstone, and Love Actually, and seriously need to watch the rest. I also agree that Poltergeist is the scariest horror movie!

Aubrie said...

The Last Unicorn is my all time favorite! I also liked Sunshine and 28 days later.

Sarah Ahiers said...

Justine - It is such a GREAT movie! It has so many great lines i love it to death. The book is also very good as well. For me, the bull was scary, but that creepy drunken skeleton was the worst

Watery - i think many movies we see as children stay with us since we watche them during out formative years. Also the 80s was awesome

Alex - thanks! i almost didn't want to put Tombstone on because everyone loves it, but i just couldn't leave it off. I'll be checking out everyone else's lists later today

Jayne - YOU ARE AWESOME! Not only have you seen Lagaan (so so good) but also Bugsey Malone?! Crazy! and so awesome

Aubrie - What's not to love about the last unicorn? nothing, that's what

M. Bail said...

That's a great list! I know what you mean, I had a very hard time keeping the list down to 12. And I stayed mainstream. When I saw TMNT on your list for some reason it reminded me of Mario Brothers, which I love too!

Thanks for sharing!

DEZMOND said...

I must admit all these movies totally go with your personality, Falsy :) I had expected to see 28 DAYS LATER here, SPIRITED AWAY, LOVE ACTUALLY (which I love seeing in your list ^_^), TENEBAUMS, TOMBSTONE, SUNSHINE, and even LAGAAN fits wonderfully with you :))

Austin Gorton said...

There's a bunch on your list I haven't seen before, which is always fun.

I'm pretty sure if I expanded my list to fourteen, Royal Tenenbaums would be #13 and Tombstone #14. In fact, Tenenbaums really should probably be in my top 12.

Love Actually is definitely one of my favorite Christmas movies.

I think I like Princess Mononoke more, but just barely.

You've heard this a hundred times before, but Ninja Turtles still holds my personal record for the most viewings of a single movie in the theater, at fourteen. It would have made my list, but I have too many nostalgia-driven films on there already (in terms of nostalgic films, TMNT would probably come in fourth behind Transformers, Newsies and Goonies (which should probably be #15 on my overall list...)).

I've never found Poltergeist terribly scary because I didn't see it for the first time until I was in college and we spent most of the movie making "Coach" cracks, asking where Luther and Dauber were, and whatnot. Honestly, I think the scariest part was that creepy exorcist lady they called in to find the daughter.

I've always wanted to see Bugsy Malone because I just can't resist a concept that high.

Anne Ahiers said...

Sunshine- i like watching that in Blu Ray with the lights off- it's like you're IN space!

Tombstone- what, no mention of the Boston you'll own one day with the name Doc Holliday?


Whale Rider- i think you said it all

The Royal Tenenbaums- yeah it's good, but it wouldn't make my top 12. for reals

Love Actually- remember that one xmas i got 2 copies of it as gifts?

Lagaan- Panildrome! You need to watch our copy STAT so we can get it back- because now i have an itch for some cricket and awesome bolliwood music

Spirited Away- i heart this, but i think i like Mononoke better- mostly because (barring ghost in the shell) it was the first anime we saw in theaters, and that opening scene with the boar god was creepy as hell. And then the forest spirit?! yeah, Princess Mononoke ftw

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles- great! now i need to watch this post haste. I always love how this movie was able to touch on the awesomeness that is Leo's and Raph's relationship. Also, remember when we were in line to see this opening night and that guy in front of us was eating popcorn out of his tub without using his hands? I'll always remember that when thinking of this movie

28 Days Later- the first time we realized that zombies might actually be fast as hell

Poltergeist- you know what else is scary as hell about this movie? the fact that apparently it's based on a TRUE STORY!!! *headsplosion*

The Last Unicorn- the other day i was trying to explain the awesomeness of this movie to coworkers, and they just thought it (and therefore i) sounded stupid.
And i gotta say, this trailer didn't really help my case

Bugsy Malone- GREAT! i'm gonna have that song in my head for the rest of the day
I love the fact that the tagline for the movie is that it has Jodie Foster in it...

Southpaw said...

I haven't seen Sunshine. Looks like I found another movie to add to my summer movie list.

Erica Mitchell said...

OOH! I love the last Unicorn. Now I wanna watch it. Very cool mix of movies, a little fantasy, with some dry humor, some cartoons, and TMNT! There were a few I haven't seen (and here I thought I had seen em' all) so thank you for leaving the trailers...off to netflix :)

Carolina M. Valdez Schneider said...

Holy catfish, you've got some seriously awesome movies here! Love Actually is one of my fave movies of all time. So in line with my brand of humor. And Hugh Grant is adorable!!

Hannah said...

I am with you for all of the ones I have seen except Poltergeist. It wasn't scary to me but I saw it as an adult. So I was already scarred for life by other things.

I have your Lagaan so I will be watching that soon...I swear!

I have not seen: Bugsy Malone or The Last Unicorn.

All in all, a fantastic list!! I gotta check out Teebore's now!

Anonymous said...

Great choices! I especially love Sunshine, Love Actually, and The Royal Tenenbaums.

Patti said...

Loved the movie "Love Actually". I'm a big chicken so I haven't seen a lot of the scarey ones.

Patti said...

Loved the movie "Love Actually". I'm a big chicken so I haven't seen a lot of the scarey ones.

Lola Sharp said...

Well, I'm with you for Love Actually and the Royal T's...two of my favorites.

I hope you had a great weekend!

Love,
Lola

Sarah Ahiers said...

M. Bail - Mario Bothers!!!! what a terrible and awesome movie! Just like twin dragons!

Dezmond - Ha! You know my movie tastes well...

Teebore - yeah she was creepy as a kid too, but since she helped things get better i could stand her. You would LOVE Bugsey Malone

Anne - my love for spirited away and mononoke varies. it all depends on my mood. Also i had forgotten about that guy with the popcorn!
Yeah there's no real way to explain the awesomeness that is the last unicorn without it sounding dumb. Unless you can explain it without the word "unicorn"

Southpaw - oooh Sunshine is great!

Erica - after making this list i pretty much wanted to watch all of them RIGHT NOW

Carolina - he's so adorable! And then i watch the trailer and i immediately want to watch Notting Hill which is also excellent

Palindrome - once you finish up Lagaan, we can lend you the Last Unicorn. But we don't own Bugsey Malone on dvd (sadface)

Kelly - i'm always excited when i find other people who have seen Sunshine

Patti - Love actually is just so great and adorable

Lola - Yay! Both excellent movies!

Talli Roland said...

Oh, I love love love 'Love Actually'! And 'Sunshine' as well.

Great list!

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Excellent; most informative and

such a pleasurable blog to visit,

Yvonne.

Sarah Ahiers said...

Talli - yay! Both excellent movies!

Poetry - thanks and thanks for stopping by!

Matthew MacNish said...

OMG Hayao Miyazaki rules!!! Have you seen Castle in the Sky? Or Ponyo? Or Princess Mononoke? Or Kiki's Delivery Service?

I could go on but needless to say we love his films in my family. Anyway you also have several other great picks and I have now just added Whale Rider to my Netflix queue. Thank you Sarah.

Sarah Ahiers said...

Mathew - you will NOT regret Whale Rider. I promise.
And yes on all the Miyazaki films, though we just caught Ponyo last week. SO EFFING ADORABLE

Gregg Metcalf said...

Rats! I forgot about Tombstone. That would have made my list had I just thought of it. Yes, I like the 10th Kingdom - it is awesome. I haven't heard of most on your list.

However, I was surprised to see the Jodie Foster, Scott Baio Bugsy. I have the Waren Beatty version - so when I first saw yours I thought, wow, is that a cartoon? I didn't even know they did that move.

Summer Frey said...

OMG! Great list!!! So many that I forgot to put on mine!

Spirited Away is the best Miyazaki film, I think.

And oh god, The Royal Tenenbaums!! Yes!!! "This is my adopted daughter Margo." LOVE IT!

Sarah Ahiers said...

Gregg - I've noticed a few movies here and there that i would have put on my list had i thought about it too

Summer - LOLOLOL! i love me some Tenenbaums. I watch it every time i catch it on TV.

Jemi Fraser said...

I hate to say it, but I haven't seen a single one of the films on your list! I'll have to check some of them out over the summer. :)

Christine Danek said...

Loved Love,Actually. Poltergeist --scared the hell out of me but it's awesome.
The Royal Tenenbaums --is awesome.
Nice list.

The Man-Cave said...

Nice selections with 28 Days Later, Sunshine (one I surprisingly liked when I saw t) and Poltergeist.

Jessica Bell said...

Oh my gosh! The mutants! hahaha! I grew up with those little buggers raiding my cupboards. LOL

Sarah Ahiers said...

Jemi - Not even Love Actually?!! OMG i'm so excited for you because all these movies are so great!

Christine - thanks! i don't know anyone who doesn't love Love Actually

Geof - thanks! I'm a pretty big Danny Boyle fan

Allomorph - growing up in the 80s was awesome

Elana Johnson said...

How awesome is Whale Rider?? I LOVE that movie! The only other one I've seen is TMNT, so I need to get some of the others.

Arlee Bird said...

Bugsy Malone, Spirited Away, Tombstone, Poltergeist, and 28 Days Later-- I really liked all of these very well. A few others I also liked and there were a couple I haven't seen yet.
Overall, a very good list.

Lee
Tossing It Out

Ron Easton for Dads UnLimited said...

I tried to put Royal Tennebaums on my list, but I was going for inspirational and I couldn't think of what to say as to why its inspirational. Sadly funny is all I can think of, it is definitely on my list for today, the list I have not yet posted...

Sarah Ahiers said...

Elana - so so so awesome. I'm always shocked when someone hasn't seen it.

Arlee - oooh i can't believe you've seen Bugsey Malone - so few people have

Inside - maybe it's inspirational because everything turns out ok and happy in the end?

Powdered Toast Man said...

different list than I chose but I have TMNT on my list. Love Actually is a really good movie and I think it's underrated.

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