The Goonies: Greatest movie ever made? No. Should have won an Oscar[sub]TM[/sub]? No. Tightest script ever written? No. Do I get involved in the adventure and laugh my ass off every time I see it? Hell yeah!
My DVD has been ordered and is on its way. Assuming it arrives in time, I will be spending my Saturday watching the special features, the cast interviews, the “making of” feature, and anything else they’ve included. I first saw the movie when I was 12. I have seen it 52 times (and I’ve only seen it twice in the last five years, because Mr. Jeannie is not as appreciative as I am). One of my dreams in life is that they will re-release it on the big screen, since I’ve only ever seen it on video. That movie also introduced me to my favorite actor of all time: Sean Astin (my Samwise Gamgee action figure from the upcoming LOTR movie is also on its way to my mailbox).
In short, it’s my favorite because when I watch it I can be 12 years old again for two hours
If I have to narrow it down to my single, all-time favourite movie, it’s got to be:
A Christmas Story
Why? Well, I don’t really know. Maybe it’s the reliving the magic of Christmas through the eyes of a child, or maybe it’s nostalgia (my Christmases were much like Ralph’s). I love it so much I have it on tape and watch it year-round. When TNT plays it’s 24-hour marathon of it, I usually end up watching it 2 or 3 times through.
Depending on how I’m feeling, it’s either Spartacus or The Seven Samurai (Shichi no Samurai). Both very well written, photographed, and acted historical dramas. I never tire of watching them.
My favorite is The Princess Bride because it’s my favorite book. Plus, Cary Elwes is one of the hottest men alive…
“He didn’t fall? Inconceivable!”
~Kittie
It’s a toss-up between “Casablanca” and “Star Trek II: the Wrath of Khan”.
I was a kid during the 70’s, the heyday of “the Me Generation”. I grew up watching the Baby Boomers pursue self-improvement, self-actualization, self-awareness, self-gratification.
Watching films about self-sacrifice took my breath away.
I’ll second Caddyshack was one of the best movies of all time. The actors, the plot and the whole premise of mahem at a plush country club made a great movie.
For some reason I really liked Kelly’s Heroes too. It was a great movie.
The Crow…it came out at the right time. Dark, gothic and riding the “alternative” music wave. I’ve watched countless times and never get sick of it. I love all kinds of movies and surely there are much better movies out there. This movie, however, could make me stop in my tracks and watch it no matter what part of the movie is on. Few movies have this effect on me.
A very short list of other movies that I watch over and over:
Rising Sun
Shawshank Redemption
A Christmas Story
High Fidelity
There are lots of movies that I like for different reasons. However, the one I’ve seen way too many times and am totally obsessed with is Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I love that movie.
-Kind of a rollercoaster ride through filming. Great soundtrack. I don’t see how anyone could get bored with this movie.
Killing Zoe
-The French guy’s accent and his lines come together, and everything he says is quotable in my opinion. Other than that, it’s a double scoop cone: the crazy world of nonstop drugs, and a bank robbery that goes to shit. These movies are so fun.
Bladerunner
-A great movie to play in the background, or while you sleep. Some of it seems a bit strange now that it’s 20+ years old, but it still holds together as a great sci-fi film. Download the song “Tales from the Future” (part of the soundtrack) to get an idea of the atmosphere.
Nightmare Before Christmas
-Is there anyone who doesn’t like this movie? The songs are so catchy, and it’s fun to watch. A great movie to play on Christmas OR Halloween.
Falling Down
-This one’s about a jobless man whom feels shafted by the economic systems, and sacrifices his innocence to seek revenge on everyday nuisances. Somewhat depressing, but HEY - it makes a great story.
Meet Joe Black
-A long story about Death wanting to experience the human lifestyle, and falling in love with something you can’t have. Claire Forlani is beatiful of course. A long movie for some, but I think it’s great.
Aliens
-The best of the series. Space Marines fight Aliens. Nothing more to say.
Heat
-At 3 hours, it pulls you in well enough so that it seems like 90 minutes. The best cop drama I’ve ever seen. Picks on your values, and deals with difficult life choices.
Dead Man - A film people seemed to either love or think it was a total waste of time. For me, everything from the Neil Young soundtrack, to the photography, to the scenery were perfect.
Rock and Roll High School - One of the few rock movies (That Thing You Do was another good one), which is a perfect mixture of fun, stupidity and loud music. Nothing is more annoying than the standard film in which the ‘rebellious young man’ who looks like he walked out of The Decline of Western Civilization I, but plays the wimpiest music possible. This film turns that cliche on its head, and features ‘normal’ looking folk walking around a high school listening to the Velvet Underground and Ramones!
High Fidelity - So true to life, it’s scary. And great soundtrack too.
Pulp Fiction- Great interwining stories, wonderful acting, superb dialouge, with a great soundtrack of songs. It’s just so original, and it feels like it’s happening in real time, the whole thing. No time lapses- it’s practically the real deal. Sure it couldn’t happen in real life, I don’t think, but it feels like it could, and that’s what counts. And you’re truly “on the edge of your seat.” Well, I was.
The Lost Boys- Why do I love this one? 'S real easy. Jason Patric = Sexy. Kiefer Sutherland = SEXY! I even liked the two Corys. Though I feel so lecherous admitting it…they seemed much younger (than I am now). Plus I love vampires. It was a cool storyline. It had that edge of danger. And the soundtrack for “The Lost Boys” is my favorite soundtrack, that and Pulp Fiction.
Jurassic Park- I resaw it a few weeks ago and now I’m in love with it all over again. The kitchen scene with the raptors STILL scares me. And it does have sympathetic characters. (Sure some say that the dinosaurs were the true stars, but I’m in doubt.) Except for the deus ex machina ending, I loved it through and through.
My runner up for JP would have been Hannibal but I was talked out of that one.
As an outcast high school kid in the late '80s, my favorite movie would have to be Heathers. I sooooo wanted J.D. (Slater) to blow up that school. Shallow but true.
Gotta be Pulp Fiction. The best written and performed movie I’ve ever seen. Killer soundtrack and mixed gore, suspense and humor too. It was the first time I had heard “You never can tell” in 30 years.
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb George C. Scott, Peter Sellers, Keenan Wynn, and especially Slim Pickens turn in incredibly funny performances. And why can’t nuclear war be a subject for a comedy? L.A. Confidential A period drama with just as much drama as period. Battleship Potemkin Breathtaking. Sunset Boulevard Film noir at its height. The Cheyenne Social Club My favorite Henry Fonda performance. Jimmy Stewart is funny, too. The second-best comedy-western after Blazing Saddles. High Noon or Beau Geste Both are great Gary Cooper flicks. Young Frankenstein and Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid B&W used to great effect in an era where every film must be in color. Similarly, Silent Movie explores a similar theme.
Singin’ in the Rain
It has everything – great songs, great dialog, great cast, classic dance numbers, and a plot that’s so well constructed you’d never guess the songs weren’t written for it. Kelly’s solo on the title number is the single most romantic and charming sequence in film.
Citizen Kane
More serious, but every frame grabs your eye and forces you to watch more.
The General
The best pure comedy of the silent days. Keaton’s gags are amazing (favorite – the look on the Union general’s face after the train falls into the ravine).
Duck Soup
Pure, unadulterated Marxism.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
The Usual Suspects
Terrific film noir with great dialog.
I second Singin’ In The Rain. I want to be a young Debbie Reynolds!
Wayne’s World.
Cheesy, goofy, makes me laugh every time I watch it.
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.
See above for Wayne’s World.
Stealing Beauty
There was something about Liv Tyler’s crush on the older brother that I could relate too. Plus, the scene where she finally loses her virginity is just…I don’t know. Very touching.
Contact.
I too really enjoyed it and its comparison between religion and science.
Bedazzled.
See Wayne’s World above. Plus I love Elizabeth Hurley’s costumes.
Austin Powers.
See Wayne’s World above. Is Mike Meyers ever not funny? He’s my fave.