Rocks that Move

There are some important rules in life that you have to follow. Everyone knows the classics. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Listening is better than talking. Don't drink liquids that have a skull and crossbones on them. Don't get in a land war in Asia. Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line. And never, EVER feed the mogwai after midnight. Another less known one is this: never defy the Goatdog, or he will eat your face!

And so, in an effort to bring more movie talk into my blog (and save my face), I am doing my 50 favorite movies. Fortunately, I learned my lesson from the song thing, so I have resisted the urge to do my favorite 500 movies. 50 does not seem so bad. I can do 10 posts of 5 each with more commentary (the Goatdog preference). I can do 5 posts of 10 each with less commentary (the general mass preference). I can do them one at a time and really drag it out. In any case, it will be a LOT better than the song thing for several reasons. For one thing, I've spent a LOT more time thinking about this. The song idea was cooked up too quickly in too short of time. I also have more computer time, so the list will not drag on for so long. Also, movies are more interesting to talk about. There are so many insights you can add; so many things to say. I struggled making the song list interesting. I don't regret giving it a whirl, but if I could do it again... things would be different.

Still, the list is not without its challenges. Ask me what my favorite 5 movies are, and I will say the same movies almost every time. Revenge of the Nerds 4. Crossroads, with Britney Spears. Hannibal. Breaking 2: Electric Boogaloo. Everyone, of course, knows what my "favorite" movie is. Of course, it is not REALLY my favorite movie. I don't have a favorite movie. But my "official" favorite is the movie on my top 10 list that I think is most influential, personal, important, and well-done. Until I see a movie that is officially better (I move that it is impossible, but we'll see), then it stays my official favorite movie... just so I can say I have one.

The challenge is further down the list. There is a HUGE cluster of movies beginning in the late 20s and well past the #50 movie, and any of them could be on or off the list in any given day. Does anyone REALLY like their 34th favorite movie better than their 53rd favorite movie? And doesn't recent viewing affect your feelings? Some of these movies that didn't make it probably only didn't because I have not watched them in a long time. The fact is that I am obsessive, and I could obsess the rest of my life over which movie was made #50, and which one was #51 and therefore not on the list. I have come up with a possible solution for this. Before the official top 50 list begins, I am going to briefly list some of the movies that probably should be on the list, but I had to cut. I LOVE these movies and highly recommend them, but they are not on the list. At least they will be acknowledged, and everyone here can sleep at night, knowing that as soon as I post this blog I will wish that any one of these movies was on my final list. :-P

One final thing: this is my list of FAVORITE movies; not necessarily my list of BEST movies. I, for one, will not argue strongly with someone who thinks that "Citizen Kane" is the best movie ever. Fantastic movie. I like it a lot. It could have made the list. But the fact is that I LIKE the rest of these movies better. It's totally a personal taste. There is no judgement here. We're all friends, and there is nothing wrong with thinking less of one another over our movie tastes. :-P

I jest. Here's that list, in no particular order, of some the movies that didn't quite make it:

Star Wars (The original)
La Strada
A Man for All Seasons
Dr. Strangelove
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Million Dollar Baby
His Girl Friday
Braveheart
Some Like It Hot
Yojimbo
The Station Agent
Sonatine
Sling Blade
Raging Bull
City of God
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Roman Holiday
Before Sunrise
The Blues Brothers
In the Heat of the Night
Lost in Translation
It's a Wonderful Life
The Wizard of Oz
Unforgiven
The Bride of Frankenstein

Ugh! Where do I stop! :-P

Ok. I'm done. Sometime in the next few days and weeks I'll do the list, five movies at a time. Goatdog should be well pleased, though I doubt he'll find much that he hasn't seen already. Hopefully everyone else will find it interesting, too. Who knows? Maybe one person out there will discover from my list a movie that they never would have thought to see, and they'll watch it, then get that special gleam in their eye before they say, "What the fuck was that crap?"

Oh well. I tried.