The List

My friend Foolish Knight has set forth another challenge. To share my twenty five favorite films (in order of first favorite to twenty-fifth favorite). I started compiling a list and realized that I needed to define what favorite meant. There were just too many movies to choose from. Is it a favorite because it was significant and artistic? Is it a favorite because of its impact? Or is it a favorite because I in fact watch it repeatedly? I decided that a favorite needed to be a movie I enjoy watching over and over again. The kind of movie you never tire of. This means my list below does not always include what I considered some of the greatest movies (based on significance or artistic achievement). Many movies are amazing and impacted me but I can't watch them more than one time. So please remember that when you read my list. I also made a conscious decision to be totally honest, so I didn't let myself edit the list to make it look more intellectual etc... Because you know we all like to do that.

The List: 25 Favorite Movies

1. Chocolat - The book is not so good, but the movie is fantastic. I don't even know why I love it so much but I do. It's pretty, and I watch it a lot.
2. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - This is my idea of an epic love story and the bonus is that its combined with crazy martial arts. Its so beautiful at times its just breathtaking.
3. Amelie - The music, the kookiness all go into my love of this one. Lost and lonely people breaking out and finding love.
4. The Usual Suspects - Crazy, crazy, crazy. My love of Kevin Spacey began with this movie. Its violent but the story is so great. I didn't know it was coming, which is one of the best elements in a movie. Its a classic in my opinion.
5. Pride and Prejudice - The new version because its so pretty, but I do adore the 6 hour one also. In fact if I could combine the two I would.
6. Breakfast at Tiffany's - This combines many of my favorites: Audrey Hepburn, Tiffanys, and Love stories. Its a little melancholy so I watch it only in certain moods.
7. You've Got Mail - I don't watch this as much as I used to. But partly it has to be here because of the sheer number of memories I have associated to it from my college days. We watched it repeatedly. And it is so sweet, though I still think meeting people on the internet is totally freaky.
8. Under the Tuscan Sun - I love this one because it is essentially about someone overcoming tragedy in their life, and learning to really live again.
9. Shall We Dance (Japanese version only) - So amazing the way this man goes beyond social mores in hopes of getting something more out of his life.
10. Legally Blond - At first it just seems silly and vapid, but then you realize it has some depth and a good message. Very fun.
11. Almost Famous - The music and the era this is set in (late 60's classic rock) are so intriguing to me.
12. Finding Neverland - How can you not love a story that is so sweet. I cry, and cry. Always a sign of a good movie.
13. Funny Face - Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire dance and sing in Paris. Sigh of happiness...
14. White Christmas - I NEVER get tired of this. I love the music, the silliness, the cliché Christmas of it all. Sorry F.K. I'm sure you are cringing reading it. But I've got to be true to myself, now I have that song in my head...
15. Hello Dolly - If you can sing to it, its good in my opinion. No really, I love musicals and this one is great.
16. A Love Song for Bobby Long - It's beautiful, though the characters are quite ugly at times. The story of dysfunctional people finding a sense of family and function together. I think its the idea of redemption in it that I love the most.
17. LA Confidential - I'll never forget the first time I saw this movie. I love plot twists and this movie does it very well.
18. LOTR-Return of the King - The best because it all comes to an end beautifully.
19. LOTR- Two Towers - The second almost solely due to Legolas' shield surfing scene.
20. LOTR- Fellowship of the Ring - Beautiful start.
21. Drop Dead Gorgeous- Dark humor, but definitely hysterical. I quote this one often. A mocumentary is always great in my opinion, and this one profiles high school beauty pageants in the Midwest.
22. Blue Crush- I am almost embarrassed by this one but every time I want to just have fun and watch a movie, this is the one I put in. Maybe its all the shots of sun and beaches? It makes me want to surf.
23. So I Married an Axe Murderer- Mike Myers in the beginning was so very funny. I quote it all the time... "HEAD! PAPER! NOW!"
24. Moulin Rouge- Sheer genius the way its made and all the songs are so fun. Visually its like a LONG music video.
25. Best in Show - I had to have at least one from this group on the list. A mocumentary of Dog Show (aka insane) people.

Razzle Dazzle'm

Happy New Year!!!

This had to be one of the best New Year's Eves I've ever had! I lucked out and got a spare ticket to see Pink Martini tonight when Laurel's friend couldn't make it. I like Pink Martini a great deal so I figured it was an awesome way to ring in the New Year. First we stopped off at my friend Josh's for the usual New Year's Eve Party, then we met up with a friend and headed downtown.

We were sitting down waiting for the start of the show when Thomas from Pink Martini came out to explain their planned opening guest couldn't make it to the performance due to medical issues, but they had found what they thought was a suitable replacement... Carol Channing!!!! Carol Channing as an opening act no less! She's one of the most amazing Broadway legends and performers. I grew up watching her in Thoroughly Modern Millie. When she walked on stage I couldn't believe it. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to see her perform in person.

She definitely is getting older (85 I think she said) but she still has all her old "Razzle Dazzle", which she performed along with Hello Dolly, Little Girl From Little Rock, and my FAVORITE Diamond's Are A Girl's Best Friend. I was so blown away. I think I had permagrin the entire time, and definitely sang along to many of the song's. She even brought her cute husband out that she married recently, they are in their 80's and were childhood sweethearts. It was so very cute, and they did a little dance together. At their age I'll be lucky to be up at midnight let alone singing and dancing. After she performed we got to spend the rest of the old year and the start of the new year listening to Pink Martini, and dancing in our seats. It was FANTABULOUS! Sigh... I can go to bed happy. Then I will get up and watch all the old Carol Channing movies and musicals I can find.

I seriously haven't been up this late in quite a long time.