Yet another questionnaire, but this one has a single instruction: name the ten movies that matter the most to you.
Of course, I can’t simply do that. I need to begin by reflecting on the question itself…
I am not a huge fan of movies. I like watching them but they don’t take on deep significance for me. Some of them are reminders or mnemonics for phases of my life, which I suppose is significance of some sort, but I don’t see my life reflected in movies. Well, not most movies. Maybe just one or two.
1) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
I’ve heard that there are people who don’t like this movie. They probably live in the same parallel universe as Sarah Palin fans: I don’t know any, I don’t know anyone who knows any, I can’t imagine where they came from, or how they came to be. This movie has everything: love, romance, and, of course, Green Destiny.
2) Manhattan.
She doesn’t really have a voice like the mouse in the Tom and Jerry cartoons. Good god, this movie is inspired. I hope I never win the Zelda Fitzgerald Emotional Maturity Award.
3) Monsters, Inc.
I like my movies dialog-driven. This movie has more banter for the buck than almost any other movie. They could probably squeeze in a few more words here and there, but that’s not the point. This is a perfect buddy movie.
4) Predator
“If it bleeds, we can kill it.” It’s become sort of a mantra for me at work. And yes, I have time to duck.
5) One Crazy Summer
I don’t understand why this movie wasn’t more popular than Titantic. OK, that’s a small lie. I understand it. But it’s wrong; a symptom of some flaw in this world–perhaps even original sin. The genius (if I may abuse that word, and I believe I may) of this movie is that most of it is an elaborate setup for five or six exquisite gags. Characters are introduced, situations set up, coincidences occur, all leading to a perfect, otherwise impossible collision. I won’t spoil it for you, but I will mention that at first you’re going to think it’s stupid and unfunny that Bobcat Goldthwait gets stuck in a Godzilla costume and can’t get out of it without help–but then, as events unfold, you’ll realize the complete and utter necessity of a character appearing in a Godzilla costume a few scenes later.
6) Hero
I understand that there are several movies with this title. I am referring only to the one that I like. When the Emperor smiles and gives Nameless his sword, I get chills. Or Moon versus Flying Snow in the orchard, which, if I remember correctly, was described by the New Yorker review as a scene that created a new genre. Sublime.
7) The Matrix
“Whoa…” No, not the famous quote from the movie. That’s the quote from the theater full of film students I saw the movie with, the moment when Trinity jumps in the air at the beginning of the movie. I could almost see the thought balloons rising through the projector’s light (“I have to use this effect!”). And so it has become. So many movies, commercials, etc use these special effects that they’ve lost most of their power, but imagine, if you can, watching that first moment of “bullet time” back in 1999 (I hope I got the year right…). Whoa.
8) The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Perhaps if I had been more socially adept during my college years (it hasn’t really gotten any better, sad to say) then this movie wouldn’t be on my list, but it gave me something to do any Saturday night that I needed something to do… That, and the looong walk home from the Exeter Street Theater.
9) Animal House
I’ve been to parties like that. Or so I’ve heard. I don’t clearly remember much of them. Anyway, it’s pretty damn funny, even now. I wonder whether Senator Blutarsky is republican or democrat?
10) Annie Hall
Yeah, I liked it.
