Movies that don't completely suck.

I love film. Nothing makes me happier (or sadder) than a brilliant movie. That said, my favorites list is an eclectic one, and not without some conflicts. (I've left out all SW and LOTRs because of the obvious factor).

1. Magnolia - one of the most moving 2 1/2 hours I ever spent. Went alone to the theater and cried like a baby. BTW, going alone to the theater is really fun!

2. The Princess Bride - Rob Reiner's classic tale of true love, giants, and swordfights. It's one of those movies I know all the words to, and am always highly disappointed when people don't get my references.

3. Austin Powers-Goldmember - Surprisingly enough, I wasn't in love with the first two in this series. I loved the third. There's nothing funnier than this movie. I generally think that people who don't agree with me are axe murderers.

4. The Breakfast Club - I saw this movie in 1986, a year after it was released. It was R rated, and I knew my parents would be mad at Kari Wallerstein's parents for letting me watch it, so I didn't tell them. Always takes me back to being an 80s kid and lusting after Molly Ringwald's dance moves. Don't even talk to me about John Hughes' other stuff. BC rules all.

5. High Fidelity - A wonderful love story/John Cusack masterpiece. Who doesn't love a good John Cusack? Damn, if you know what it's like to have loved and have lost --that's all of us, weep weep-- you'll relate. Also a must-see for music snobs across the world (we're better than you, nyah!)

6. Being John Malkovich - Because of this movie, I love Cameron Diaz (even after Charlie's Angels). Spike Jonez never ceases to amaze. I really want a porthole. Please let me know where I can find a good one.

7. Monty Python and the Holy Grail - This is silly English humor at its best. Walk, don't run, to your nearest video store and get your laugh on, trick.

8. Amelie - Possibly the most beautiful and positive film I've ever seen. Audrey Tatou is luminous and her performance made me want to change my life for better. And who doesn't want happiness in Paris? Awesome, awesome. And the DVD has some killer cinematography extras. Go rent it or I will cry.

9. Snatch - It's very hard for me to give props to my least favorite entertainer's husband, but hello! This movie is sooo awesome, and features my favorite actor in a, shall we say, less glamorous light...which is exactly how I love my men. And diamond heists are da bomb. And I've always wanted to be a gypsy. I'm pretty sure I am.

10. The Sound of Music - I've loved this movie since before I was born. It's undoubtedly a musical to end all musicals. I've converted many men to the Julie Andrews way. You can't tell me you don't like "Do Re Mi." The very best part is when he messes up and calls her "Captain" instead of "Fraulein" after they come back in their drapes/playclothes. I'm convinced it was a line flub and they left it in.

Yes, my list slightly changes from time to time, but these are pretty much my trieds and trues.

I'm listening.. tap tap tap....

Comments

[Carnicero]

I'm with James. Greatest action/adventure movie of all time: Raiders of the Lost Ark. Pure genius. Partly written by George Lucas and thankfully not butchered by his directing style. It's amazing there's no corny dialogue either.

I love that movie. I pray the plan to make a "Star Wars" style remake with new computer generated crap never sees the light of day. Speilberg should take a hint from the ET reaction. "Oh no, Peter Coyote's character carries a gun! Let's Photoshop it out so it doesn't traumatize children."

[Matt C]

I had heard that Liam Lynch was directing the D movie (the same guy that did the Tribute video.) Either way, it'll rock my socks off, bro-ham.

I gotta agree with all of Lee's picks too, which is why I had to stop when I did, or I'd keep on naming flicks...Hudsucker was awesome..."you know, for kids" is still a catchphrase around my house.

Also reeking of quality is The Player, Altman's riff on the Hollywood scene, and I left out Groundhog Day as well.

There really are few movies that can make me cry, and the ones that can, do it for intensely personal reasons, so they may not have the same effect on everyone else, but I have been known to get a little wet around the eyes during "What Dreams May Come," "Saving Private Ryan," (the part at the end where Ryan salutes Tom Hanks' grave) and "My Life."

But on a happier note -- Willow!

[Matt C]

and the first Batman movie with Keaton, Nicholson, and Basinger.

[bucket]

How can you pick only 10 movies to be on your list? I suppose I like movies but most have been listed already... I'd rather talk about music...

fear the power of the bucket

[Scott]

Ack!! Thbthbpthtbth!!! The Sound of Music??!! I have yet to be able to stay awake through the darned thing! bleck.

Your other choices are worthy, however. Especially the Holy Grail. Ni!

[siddman]

The Frightners was great!

This is not totally my top ten 'cause I can't make up my mind and better movies keep coming along. These are some of the movies I own on DVD 'cause I like 'em SOOOOO much, in no particular order!

BatmanBatman ReturnsBatman ForeverBatman & RobinBatman Beyond: Return of The JokerBatman Mask of the PhantasmThe MatrixFinal DestinationTitan A.E.Final Fantasy: The Spirits WithinThe Good, The Bad and The UglyThe Fifth ElementDaylightThe CellBad TasteX-Men 1.5Lara Croft Tomb RaiderThe Odyssey (TV Movie)Mission Impossible 2The MummyThe Mummy ReturnsMary Shelly's FrankensteinHellraiser: Hell on EarthBlade IISpider-Man Limited EditionResident EvilMinority ReportReign of FireLord of IllusionsQueen of the DamnedHollow ManStranger Than Fiction

[Spike Jonze]

It's Spike JonZE not Jonez, you twit.

[Mean Gene]

Did nobody mention The Outsiders? I'm ashamed. Am I the only one who wanted to beat the hell out of the Socials? Sheesh.

[Lee]

Matt,

You can't leave out "The Player." And I thought I was the only one who still liked "Willow."

Also, have you heard that Bruce Campbell's writing another book? Go to his website and read all about it (don't want to spoil the fun of discovery).

[John-Paul]

see, I thought ya'll were talking about willow from buffy the vampire slayer..

but now that my brain fart is over, yea willow was a great movie :o)

Hmm, as for the D movie I was just going off what I had heard, that was a while ago. Honestly anyone could direct it, as long as they get Jack and Kyle, it's a pretty sure thing.

worship the D.

[Mac]

I know it has been said....but I am gonna say it any way:

If you like Snatch you should REALLY see Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

[Matt C]

another BC book? epic...the first one was really good. I read it just because it was Campbell's, but the whole "behind the scenes" thing was awesome. Methinks TechTV should have Bruce as a guest sometime, what with all the voice work he did for the 2 videogames.

Ahhh...Willow...I'm showing my age now, aren't I? Yes, the Outsiders was good too, I remember how we had to read those SE Hinton books to death back in the old days.

For all the D fans...I own a saxaboom...days to learn, weeks to master!

Obey the D!

[gypsy]

My 101) Milagro Bean Field War2) Victor/Victoria3) My New Partner4) The Lion in Winter5) High Noon6) She Wore A Yellow Ribbon7) The Seven Samurai8) What's Up Doc9) Bull Durham10) Anything with Borgart

[Matt C]

and from out of left field, "Miracle Mile" with a young Anthony Edwards who plays a loner who meets the love of his life just shortly before he finds out that the world is going to end in a nuclear war later that day. Don't hope for a happy ending...

And how could I forget Death To Smoochy, one of the greatest black comedies ever. I love it, even if a rhino had to die.

and I'm not giving enough respect to the older films...Casablance, Key Largo, Maltese Falcon, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and Chinatown are all greats.

[Corey]

YOU LIKE Magnolia EVERY TIME I HEAR THAT NAME I ALL WAYS REMEMBER THE 2 1/2 HOURS THAT FILM ROBBED ME OF.

[Matt C]

so the more you hear about it, eventually you will have spent more time griping about it than you did seeing that?

sometimes you just gotta let stuff go...

[digitaldd]

John Cusack movies, I love them. But my favorite is The Grifters with Identity a close second.. Better Off Dead is hilarious. but my favorite comedy is His Girl Friday with Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell. A lot of people here had some good flicks in their comments..

[Matt C]

I was just thinking about Identity on the ride home today...I went and saw that on opening night and it took about a week for my mouth to close again after the ending. Big wow factor. Great movie.

[emoboy]

i go see a movies alone every week.... good times

[Kaehden]

Hey Sarah,

If you love Snatch, check out "Lock stock and two smoking barrels", Guy did this movie too. Very awesome, and its sort of a Prequel to Snatch. Has some of the same actors in it.

I have to agree with you on your list of movies. But, dont forget Some kind of wonderful, Pretty in Pink, St. Elmo's Fire and Fast times at Ridgemont High just to name a few more hehehe. Plenty of good 80s movies. I will post more as I remember them.. :o)

Take care! :o)

[TAJLH]

Can't disagree with u on the majority of ur favs, but consider also:

1. Saving Private Ryan - not for the whole movie but for the opening sequence depicting the assault on Omaha Beach just so that the generations following see a brief glimpse of what it was like.

2. Schindler's List - only movie I can remember actually swearing at the screen (calling Ralph Fiennes character every name I could think of) during the movie.

3. It' A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World - perfect screwball comedy with Spencer Tracy.

4. To Kill A Mockingbird - Gregory Peck made that movie and brought to life Atticus Finch ('Stand up. A man is walking by.')

[Liz]

Favorite movies:Spider-Man - love that Tobey MaquireMuch Ado About Nothing - the Kenneth Branagh versionThe Miracle Worker - I'm a sign language interpreter - it's probably my first exposure to the language and a big influence on my lifeGone With The Wind - "as God is my witness!!" I just love itRecently -- X-Men II and Seabiscuit (still love that Tobey Maquire)

[steve uhlman]

Someone who actually knows the movie Princess Bride? Inconceivable! :}

[Phil]

Dude, "Magnolia" IS a great film. Though I still think PTA's best is still "Boogie Nights".

And am I the only one who thinks that "Star Trek: Generations" is the worst Trek film? Honestly, I enjoyed "Star Trek V" more than that one.

[Steve]

In no particular order:

- Braveheart- Shawshank Redemption- Empire Strikes Back- Good Will Hunting- Exorcist- Dumb and Dumber- Happy Gilmore- Billy Madison- Gladiator- Pulp Fiction

Magnolia was one of the worst movies ever. It reached its climax 2 hours into the movie, then for some god awful reason it dragged on for another 40 minutes and ended with frogs falling from the sky. I must add that I thought Cruise deserved an academy award for best supporting actor, his performance was powerful.

[Daneo]

Somesort of genre order, but not ordered by preference, just favourite movies of mine. Give me feadback on if you liked them or not.

Run Lola Run - No one mentioned it. It's a German movie. Pretty Original, similar to Sliding Doors but not so Holywood.

Amelie

Romeo & Juliet - Good song (Dire Straits) Good Director - Baz Luhrmann. Better than Moulin Rouge although for a Musical it was quite good. Strictly Ballroom was okay.

Fight Club - So much twist. If you watch it and hate it because you don't understand it, watch it again and stop being so ignorant.

Snatch - Better than Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrols.

Pulp Fiction - Better than Reservoir Dogs. I thought Reservoir Dogs was by Guy Richie, it it's not aye, it's Quentin Tarantino flick. It has Gangsters, and the maddest revolting ear cutting sceen in the directors cut.

The Matrix - So orginal. Better than the Matrix: Reloaded. Why couldn't he just use his powers to stop all the Agent Smiths instead of fighting them?

Go - Not mentioned at all so perhaps too much of a teen movie for you oldies. I like different styles of story telling.

Ferris Buellers Day Off - Different from my other choices. Matt before he grows up. I've also never seen the ending of it.. =S

Mall Rats - Best to worst Kevin Smith movies: Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay & Silent Bob Stike Back. I haven't seen Clerks.Jay & Silent Bob are the funniest characters in the series, but their movie was lame.

Higher Learning

Forrest Gump

The Hurricane

The Negotiator

The Green Mile - Heaven, I'm in Heaven. I'm a 17 year old listening to Fred Astire as I'm typing this, thanks to that movie.

Shawshank Redemtion - Good old Stephen King. ^

Any suggestions on other movies that I'd like similar to my tastes? I'm not sure about the clasification of Art-House movies. Which of the ones I mentioned are Art House?

[Beverly]

Sarah,I did a search for "Saxaboom" and found your website. My boyfriend is a huge JB fan and wants a saxaboom for Christmas. The only problem is that I get a neverending list of Jack Black web sites when I search for Saxaboom. If you could tell me who makes this infamous Saxaboom or if the place where you got it is a chain like Kay-B Toys or Toys-R-Us? anything that could help me end my search would be helpful!

Beverly WoodwardNorth Carolina