I’m still too wound up about Republican and Democratic ass clowns to write coherently about politics or the economy today, so I have decided to steal a meme from Margaret (Peggy or Peg, too), who admits that she “totally stole it” in her turn from Tammie at Irregular Tammie, who admits she stole it from Theresa. So go ahead and sue me.
Let’s go to the movies…
Name a movie you have seen more than ten times: Airplane! One of the funniest movies of all time … every time I watch it, I laugh myself silly and see something I missed before.
Name a movie you have seen multiple times in the cinema: The Two Towers and The Return of the King. I saw these in the cinema the first time, then a second time accompanied by a live orchestra and chorus at Wolf Trap … a tremendous experience.
Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a film: Sean Connery.
Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a film: Vin Diesel, if you call him an actor.
Name a film that you can and do quote from: Airplane! All the time. And don’t call me Shirley.
Name a musical that you know all of the songs and lyrics to: None, but The Phantom of the Opera comes close … All I Ask of You and The Music of the Night are some of the most beautiful songs I know.
Name a film that you would recommend everyone see: Duck Soup, or almost anything by the Marx Brothers. For sheer madcap fun, nobody’s ever done better than the Marx Brothers (am I right, Gilahi?) … and God knows we all could use a little fun these days.
Ever walked out on a film? Not yet.
Name a film that made you cry: Oddly enough, Saving Private Ryan. The scene where the old man breaks down and cries in the Normandy cemetery always gets to me.
Popcorn? Absolutely.
How often do you go to the cinema? Almost never. The cost is outrageous and the behavior of the ass clowns in the audience with their cell phones and loud talking takes a lot of the fun out of the experience. I’d rather buy or rent the movie and watch it at home.
What's your favorite film genre? Thrillers, followed by Science Fiction and Horror, and Comedy.
What's the first film you remember seeing at the cinema? Old Yeller.
What film do you wish you had never seen? Alien3. One of the most stupid sequels ever (which is saying a lot), and a tremendous comedown from the gripping terror of Alien and the desperate heroics of Aliens (you just have to love the scene where Sigourney Weaver stomps out in the powerloader suit to fight the alien queen and save little Newt, shouting “Get away from her, you BITCH!”).
If you could be any character portrayed in a movie, who would it be? Rufus T. Firefly as played by Groucho Marx in Duck Soup. Crooked, funny, and completely over the top.
Total number of films you own on DVD: 271, of which we’ve actually watched less than a quarter … we’re saving them for days we’re snowed in or I’m put out of work thanks to Republican insistence on budget cuts rather than fixing the tax code.
Last film you bought: The King’s Speech.
Last film you watched: Toy Story 3. My son-in-law and I took granddaughter Leya to the theater to see it, and we had a wonderful time.
Five films that mean a lot to you:
1. The Return of the King, because I love the story, and because the acting and cinematography were superb. I could watch King Theoden’s heroic rallying of the troops before Minas Tirith a million times and be on my feet screaming “DEATH!!” every time.
2. Se7en, because it’s one of the most atmospheric, bizarre, gripping and intricately-plotted thrillers I’ve ever seen, with an ending I never saw coming … and because it’s worth the price of admission to hear Brad Pitt complain about having to find a book by the “mar-kwiss duh shar-day.”
3. Raiders of the Lost Ark, because it’s pure escapist fun, with the most exciting first ten minutes in movie history (not counting the first ten minutes of Saving Private Ryan, of course).
4. Singin' in the Rain, because it’s just so entertaining on so many levels, and is full of great music and dancing.
5. Shall We Dance? (the original Japanese version, not the 2004 Richard Gere/J-Lo version), because it was fun, well-acted, and told a good story.
I don’t tag people for memes, because you can figure out enough ways to waste time on your own…but if you want to take this one on, go ahead. I’d be interested in your answers.
Have a good day. Watch a movie. More thoughts tomorrow.
Bilbo
14 comments:
You are absolutely right.
As I read this, I'm reminded that I generally hate musicals, but two that I know all the words from are "Hair" and "The Rocky Horror Picture Show".
I'm not sure what that says about me....
Do you know I have never seen Duck Soup? The Marx brothers always seemed to me to be like the 3 Stooges and that never appealed to me. Did I miss something?
musicals I know all the lyrics too...besides Phantom...Evita...Jesus Christ Superstar...with Cats of course somewhere in there :)
Can't stand Three Stooges, otherwise I generally agree with you.
As for sequels, you know I think Toy Story 3 was even better than the first Toy Story, and that's saying a lot.
I've lived a scene like that of Saving Private Ryan (also in the Normandy cemetary) and I really can't watch it. Very real.
Gilahi - no comment.
Katherine & Margaret - I don't care for the Three Stooges, either...the Marx Brothers, on the other hand, are pure gold.
This got me looking up the Marx Brothers and the Three Stooges. There were 5 Marx Brothers and 8 Stooges.
Mike - I knew about the five Marx Brothers...Zeppo and Gummo were the two "minor" ones that appeared in some, but not all, of the movies. DIdn't know about the 8 Stooges...I can only name Curly, Moe, Larry, and Shemp.
Shall We Dance? That's an old Astaire-Rogers film and one of the better ones! Shall We Dance (1937, RKO)
As for the Marx Brothers, I prefer Room Service (1938, RKO).
I really enjoyed this post, so I stole your stolen idea from you and posted about movies myself!
Best Movie Ever: The Princess Bride. It has sooo many great quotes!A must see for all, in my humble opinion.
Marx Brothers were brilliant. THey used to be on the Late Show or Sunday Afternoon Movie quite frequently, but those times are gone.
Any extra credit available for knowing all the words to "Lydia The Tattooed Lady?"
You know, I have always felt so sorry for poor Margaret Dumont. "But... what?" "Oh, Captain Spaulding... what?" "But I don't understand!" She meant it! She really didn't understand because the Marx boys had gone so far into ad lib and were so totally off the script she was totally at sea! Priceless!
"No trains will be sold after the magazines leave the depot!"
Singin' In The Rain and An American in Paris are my favorite musicals.
The best movies?... "Latter Days," "A Sailor Of The King," and "Doing Time on Maple Drive."
Oh, and the 1937 Ronald Coleman version of The Prisoner of Zenda, which also starred Madeleine Carroll, C. Aubrey Smith, Douglas Fairbanks jr. David Niven, Raymond Massey and Mary Astor!!!
God, I'm such a romantic.
Two small comments about the comments:
1) Gummo was never in any of the Marx Bros. movies. He was on Vaudeville with them when they sang as The Nightingales, but never made it to the movies.
2) Another musical that someone else mentioned that I know all the words to: "Jesus Christ Superstar". Can't believe I forgot that one. I DO know what that says about me. I just had another birthday, I'm a year older, and sometimes I forget stuff.
I like your answers. 'Blazing Saddles' is the comedy film I can quote from, though I know a lot from 'Airplane'..."This wasn't a good day to give up...." As for the Marx Brothers, imagine how good they would have been if they hadn't moved to MGM, where romantic stories and songs were added in. They were never as good then. My favourite movies...'The Hours', 'Pleasantville', 'The Lives Of Others' (German), LOTR and 'The Mist'
OMG!! Yet another shared trait!!!
I NEVER go to the movies because of other people's annoying behaviors.
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