Hello All! As a new reviewer for DVDPinson.com I thought I would introduce myself the only way I know how! I am going to tell you a little bit about myself by telling you about the kinds of movies that I love! Eh, hem…Pay attention!
#1. SCREAM
Horror movies own my life. Not these new gore-tastic gimmick flicks (at least, not for me!), those are not true Horror Films. A true horror film is able to scare you without ever drawing blood. That is why I love Horror films that were made before my time (aka: the slow ones). I also love horror films because of what they represent. The best horror films ever made were made by independent newbies and newcomer hopefuls. “Halloween” for example: “Halloween” still makes most lists when critics discuss the best horror films of all time. John Carpenter wasn’t some millionaire with a half interesting idea; he was a visionary with a couple of bucks and a tiny crew of friends who happened to have a leaf-blower on hand! Horror films represent the Indies! They represent the newbie actors! And, last but not least, they represent the little guy!
That being said, my favorite Horror movie is in no way made by a little guy, but I love it all the same. The film that always gets me laughing and squirming is none other than “Scream,” the original. The one where Deputy Dewie Boy eats his ice cream and Rose McGowan plays his little sis! The one with the liver in the mail box and the “Gut you like a pig,” dialogue. Also known as “The One Where Sid Goes PG-13.” (That last one was a “Friends” joke… get it? …. Never mind.)
#2. Vicki Christina Barcelona
Woody Allen. Woody Allen deserves his own category. His style doesn’t change (even if his genre slips); he is first and foremost a philosophical Jewish boy with great story sense and a love for run-on dialogue. You either love him or you don’t. You either have a brain, or you don’t want one. That being said… I like my brain and I do love Woody Allen Films. I could pick one movie of his to gush over. I could go for the easy pick and highlight “Annie Hall” as a master work of comedic cinema. OR I could be truthful and tell you all how much I obsessed over “Vicki Christina Barcelona” when it came out a couple of summers ago. But no, no… I’m not going to do that. I’d rather just highlight his entire collection. There are some losers and some winners but overall, each Woody Allen film has Woody’s internal dialogue as the main motivation and drive. Every actor in a Woody Allen film must speak Woody Allen and become Woody Allen. And I like that about the guy, sure, he can write and the proof is in the pudding.
#3. GRINDHOUSE
Quentin Tarantino. I do not believe that elaboration is necessary. However, I digress. I am one of the few who could not get enough of “Death Proof” and its “Planet Terror” companion (Robert Rodriguez is not so bad himself). Some called it weak but I called it a successful throwback with exquisite GIRL POWER! There was nothing sissy about that piece… except the cheerleader but.. HEY! Shut up! I liked her! Let’s just say that Tarantino has a special place in my heart. The fact that his last project was a WWII venture, is enough to make me weep with gratitude (Not really, there is weeping! I kid! I kid!).
That double-feature had the perfect balance of glam and gore. Filmmakers should poke fun of history’s Cinematic creations a whole lot more often!
#4. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (A&E Miniseries)
Alright, this one may not be a movie, but it explains a lot. I take a liking to the miniseries. Not just this miniseries, but this one does seem to stand out. Lately, networks and production companies have been shelling out some GREAT television productions. This Miniseries is my personal favorite. Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy is both hilarious and tortured. Since seeing this production I have taken delight in DEVOURING anything else that Andrew Davies decides to adapt! I have yet to be let down.
#5. WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER
I love this film. If you are wondering where I stand on fart jokes and toilet humor, go ahead and watch this movie and you will have your answer. If I had one guess who this film was made for, my answer would be: THE CAST. These not so famous people were just hanging out at a rainy abandoned camp site with close to no script. What they made can only be described as ridiculous evidence of their comedic talent. This is another one of those, love-it or hate-it films. Some people don’t get it. I get it. Quirky films are my drug of choice. I take them even over Horror films. Another film with odd humor and a self-obsessed cast of characters is “Strangers with Candy”. This film is also great.
Also, camp-related films, in general, are always a pleaser: “Heavyweights,” “Camp Nowhere,” “The Parent Trap,” “Friday the 13th,” and even “It Takes Two”. They all do it for me. Even boarding school films work because they remind me of being at camp (“Lost and Delirious” is my favorite boarding school film). Any film where it seems like the kids don’t have parents is a film that I can get onboard with. Meaning: Kids, when left unsupervised, can be overly strange.
#6. MULHOLLAND DRIVE
I LOVE ART-HOUSE. Some people see this film and go, “why did I just waste my time on that crap?!” I’m not like those people. Art-house films humor me in general. “Mulholland Drive” still confuses the hell out of me, but that is pretty much the point. See also: “The Anniversary Party,” “Pan’s Labyrinth,” “Daytrippers,” “Margot at the Wedding,” “Rachel Getting Married,” “High Art,” and “Punch Drunk Love”.
An Art-house film is basically any film that uses the cinema as art. With this in mind, I can also add my weirdo favs like “Masculine Feminine” and Maya Daren’s Short Film Collection.
#7. THE GOONIES
This really should be my #1. No clue why it took me so long to get to “The Goonies”. I can probably quote this whole film from beginning to end. When they re-released the “Special Edition” DVD a few years back, I was one of the only ones in my group of friends who noticed that they CUT a couple of scenes and slyly snuck them in as “Special Features” on the DVD. I was appalled. I even brought out my old DVD taped off of the Disney Channel -with commercials- just to make sure I wasn’t a total loon. The special features on that DVD freaked me out, but I was right; it was a hoax. However, that DVD did make the most recent re-release of “The Goonies” a whole lot better. Never again will I politely sit by and watch the Goonies swim right from their cave slides to the pirate ship when I know for a fact that they should be playing footsie under the water and be picking a fight with a fake Octopus who will, in-turn, eat their nifty Walkman!
#8. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
I have decided that all Classic Disney films are amazing, even the sad one about that fox and that hound who just couldn’t be friends anymore… Even “Pete’s Dragon” with those scary Gogans and Helen Reddy up in that lighthouse. Currently my favorite is “The Princess and the Frog”. Yes, it IS another throwback film. People who do not like this film should not be allowed to claim that they love classic Disney. “The Princess and the Frog” has classic Disney written all over it, it’s basically formulaic.
No matter what my current Disney favorite it, I always revert back to “Beauty and the Beast”. Gaston is such a human villain; in the end The Beast is fighting his former self in Gaston. And poor Belle, all she wanted was a single intellectual to converse with. “Beauty and the Beast” is a classic fairytale that will always be relatable to any human on earth who can understand the dialogue sprouting forth from those animated pots and gadgets!
On the topic of animation, Miyazaki wins second place.
#9. THE MUPPETS CHRISTMAST CAROL
I am fond of musicals. Old and new, I usually love them. Granted, “The Pajama Game” was pretty ridiculous, but I enjoy a fine musical number every once in a while. As for Christmas films, they are good for me all year round. “Miracle on 34th Street,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “While You Were Sleeping,” “Home For The Holidays,” if there’s a Christmas tie-in I probably love it. I even consider “Sleepless In Seattle” to be a Christmas film… and ” Gremlins” but that one is not as good. But, my favorite Christmas film of all time is “The Muppets Christmas Carol”. I’ll watch it all year round and it is my favorite Muppet movie ever made! As amazing as Frank Capra is, The Henson Co. still won me over with those singing puppets and that alien-like narrator who has a chicken fetish and a Charles Dickens alter-ego. Michael Caine makes the film what it is. The Muppets are grand but Caine goes on pretending that he’s acting with REAL actors instead of fuzzy stuffed animals with wires holding up their hands.
#10. THE DARJEELING LIMITED
Wes Anderson. Genius. Gimme, gimme, more!
#11. EMPIRE RECORDS
I was trying to stop at ten but I couldn’t leave out “Empire Records”. Any film with The Cranberries on the soundtrack is worth the love. Rex Manning is the perfect anti-hero and nothing wraps up that 90’s feeling of music loving slackerdom like a crew of hopeless kids working out there last adolescent days at their local record store.
Music themed movies also hold a place in my heart. Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of “Romeo & Juliet” still impresses me. “Dazed and Confused” is a masterpiece worthy of spot #11 but I went with the fluffy happy film instead of the dark and twisted story of the rampant hazing that may occur during the last week of school in the 70’s. And, last but not least, “Almost Famous”. Ah, Penny Lane… More Bandaids.. More Records… And more of Zooey Deschanel in a stewardess uniform.
#12. KNOCKED UP
I may as well make it even. “Knocked Up” and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” are two of my favorite films from the past decade. Judd Apatow may be getting crap for being a chauvinist but any film that can make me laugh after having seen it four or five times, is an instant hit with me! Say what you will ladies, I still love him! And thank you Jason Segal for writing “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”. I need more singing puppets in my life!
So there you have it. Some of my all-time favorite films! And I didn’t even go into the real classics! Oy… Don’t even get me started…
Stay tuned for reviews, overviews, and announcements! I will be attending Comic-Con and I am always taking suggestions!
For now: “Here’s lookin’ at you, kid!”
P.S. #13. Moonstruck: “Snap out of it!” “You’re a wolf!” Need I say more?!