I Only Get Twenty Favorite Movies?!?!? I say balderdash, my good man. And, I harumph in your general direction.
As with music, I have a Dewey Decimal-esque filing system when it comes to movies.
Cinema has always been a love of mine. Science fiction and fantasy have always been a touchpoint/niche. Not just the imagination behind the stories and characters, which I believe are at the forefront of any narrative, but also the art and technology of actually making a movie or television show, or a modern studio recording of an amazing piece of music.
Science fiction is an existential metaphor that allows us to tell stories about the human condition. Isaac Asimov once said, "Individual science fiction stories may seem as trivial as ever to the blinded critics and philosophers of today, but the core of science fiction, its essence, has become crucial to our salvation, if we are to be saved at all."
- Stargate SG-1, “200”
I’ve talked about this before, and have (in an ongoing pop cultural discussion [and in a text]) been asked to list my top 20 movies.
This is akin to asking me my top favorite books. There is context. There are nuances. There are genres. There are variables. There are quippy one-liners.
Jeebus, I feel like Ian Malcolm trying to explain Chaos Theory to Ellie Sattler.
#Spoilers
Ok. So, I tried to boil this down a bit.
I get to have the entire original Star Wars Trilogy as one entry. Because I said so.
Same with the Indiana Jones Trilogy. Point of fact: The Empire Strikes Back was released on May 21, 1980. Raiders of the Lost Ark was released June 12, 1980.
Coincidence?!? I think NOT!! Also, I hate snakes. I’d also like to point out that this instilled a love of archaeology in me. See next entry.Stargate
Partially because of the story, partially because of where I saw it (Mann’s Chinese Theater on Hollywood Blvd), and also it was one of the first David Arnold scores I ever heard. (Independence Day, bunch of the Pierce Brosnan “James Bond” stuff), but also the whole “the pyramids of Egypt were built by aliens”… thing… I have a good book recommendation on the subject, BTW“The Count of Monte Christo”
Surprised you with this one, didn’t I?“The Italian Job”
I prefer the remake, but the original is a classic. Also…“Ocean’s 11”
Also prefer the remake, but the music on these are both amazing. Love a good heist/revenge film.Here’s where it gets complicated.
I really enjoy the Harry Potter movies. “Half-Blood Prince” came out in 2009, during some stuff, which leads to…
Most of the Marvel Cinematic Universe
There’s been some hit and miss, to be sure, but that was some epic cinematic storytelling. The First Avenger, Iron Man, Thor, The Incredible Hulk…
Basically, Phase One was phenomenal, and then the payoff in Endgame. Oof.Superman movies.
Don’t care. It’s Superman. And John Williams. And Hans Zimmer.Batman movies.
Don’t care. It’s Batman. And Danny Elfman. And Hans Zimmer.
Oh! Christopher Nolan!Inception, Memento, a couple others. Big fan.
The Matrix
Seriously, the original trilogy, The Animatrix, the music, I even like Matrix Resurrections.Back to the Future Trilogy
I still want a flux capacitor. And a Mr. Fusion. And a hover conversion.Lion King
”Hamlet” on the African Savannah. With Darth Vader.Planet of the Apes
I’ve actually read the original book by Pierre Boulle, but I love all of the movies. Roddy McDowell was an awesome actor.Aliens.
All of them. Including the Predator crossovers.Jaws. ET. Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Goonies.
Basically, anything Steven Spielberg was involved with.Some obscure (ish?) ones… Bicentennial Man (I don’t care what you say, it’s Isaac Asimov, Robin Williams, and James Horner
Speaking of, “Aladdin”. Disney version. That first part, “Dead Sea Tupperware” guy? All Robin Williams ad-lib. There’s a special feature on the blu-ray with Genie outtakes. Worth the price of admission alone.
Ok, I’m done. For now. I’ll probably make multiple lists like this. But, I’m hungry. And, the kid’s home.
Good evening from Western Wishes.
Kilgore