allusions

Alright, just for fun, I decided to list my top 25 favorite movies. Let me preface this with a note to define what exactly I mean by favorite. This does not mean that i necessarily think these are the best movies ever made, though some could possibly have a claim in that. Nor, do I think that they are ones that everyone should see and enjoy. These are simply the movies that I love enough to own, and that I could watch multiples times now and for years to come. These are listed in no particular order, (oh, and multiples count as one, lol)

• Back to the Future (yes, all three)- these movies are funny and entertaining, full of holes concerning the space-time continuum, but creates an interesting comparision of how the ’80’s compare with the past and the future.
• Star Trek Generations- I never would have heard the end of it, if I neglected to include at least one Star Trek movie on my list. This movie is my favorite, because there’s a bit of everything. And you get to experience both crews. Plus, it’s fun to see Data experience life with his emotion chip.
• Hocus Pocus- A Disney movie about some witches who are brought back to life on Halloween in the ’90’s. I really can’t explain what exactly is it that I like so much about this movie, but I’ve loved it since the first time I watched it. I think mom rented it 50 times before she finally just bought it for me.
• Philadelphia Story- Classic movie featuring Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, and James Stewart. Very funny, though I must admit it took me a little while to get into it at first.
• Ghostbusters 1&2- Probably the movies that I could watch most. I could watch them repeatedly. There’s just something about the humor of Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis mixed with the paranormal that’s just great.
• Arsenic and Old Lace- If I had to put in order I’m sure this would be a competitor for the number one spot. Classic case of man getting married, finding dead man in window seat, trying to put away his crazy aunts…
• Labyrinth- Okay, so essentially this movie is really a David Bowie music video, but I like it. The characters all have their own personalities, including the ominous stones warning them to turn back.
• Sleeping Beauty- This is the only animated movie on my list, which if you know me may seem rather odd. I enjoy many animated Disney movies, but Sleeping Beauty to me can stand alone as just a plain good movie. Watching the fairies sew a dress, cook, and clean without the use of their magic is hilarious.
• Casablanca- Alright, so I’m sure we all knew this had to be on here somewhere, right? I’m reminded of this movie constantly as people quote it or make reference to it, and usually they do so unknowingly. The lines and ideas have just become so submerged in our culture. Even with that familiarity of thought, this movie is still great, and I keep expecting it to end differently, but it never does.
• Lord of the Rings (again, all three)- These movies really need to be counted as one anyway, considering they are one continuous story. The fantasical worlds and beautiful scenery are pleasing to the eye. And the story itself is a rather epic tale of a seemingly ordinary young lad and his diehard friends.
• My Fair Lady- Audrey Hepburn is a Cockney flower girl who is dignified by a linguist. Watching her transform into a lady creates some moments of humor and what’s better is that there’s music!
• Little Shop of Horrors - This was originally made to be a B movie. Reportedly shot in two days. However, I found this movie to be completely hilarious. Special effects are a bit lacking, but to me, they kinda add to the comedy.
• Charade - Another Cary Grant movie, with Audrey Hepburn. A dead husband, a group of men trying to find a great sum of money, and a woman falling in love with a man whose name changes every scene.
• White Christmas- A Christmas tradition with me. A quaint little story about love and friendship. Plus music, don’t forget the music.
• Indiana Jones (all three? of course.)- Indiana Jones has nearly become a genre all on its own. Full of action and plenty of laughs along the way, these movies follow Indiana Jones as he searches for different artifacts/treasures. I really love the last one; I think that Harrison Ford and Sean Connery work really well together in it.
• The Count of Monte Cristo - I tend to forget how much I really like this movie until I watch it, and then I remember, “that’s a great movie.” Honestly, I’ve never read the book, but if it’s like the movie, I’m sure it’s good. All about a man who is betrayed by his best friend, sent to prison, escapes, finds some treasure, and seeks his revenge.
• Goonies- In keeping with the “treasure-hunter” theme of the previous two movies, Goonies is about a group of random kids that get themselves into trouble, and in so doing save their own homes.
• Sound of Music -As much as I love musicals, I didn’t see this until about two years ago. There was alot more story to it than I expected. I expected the softening of the children, and the romance with the father…but I didn’t expect the ideas of patriotism, war, and betrayal to be so involved with the plot.
• Independence Day- Perhaps this is just a typical government-conspiracy, alien-invasion, world-destroyed, yet somehow  the main character and those he loves survivives kinda stories, but Will Smith’s sarcastic humor keeps me entertained. Not to mention Judd Hirsch and Jeff Goldblum with the great father/son combo. Oh also, Brent Spiner (aka Data for Star Trek fans) as the semi-insane scientist in Area 51.
• X-men (yes, both, and I can’t wait for the third to come out.)- okay, so admittedly, I do enjoy many comicbook-based movies: Superman, Batman, Spiderman…But, x-men was one that I’ve always been a bit more familiar with. I watched the cartoons as a child. I even played X-men with my friends when I was little (I was typically Rogue or Jean Gray). The special effects in this movie are good, only complaint is that I’d like to see some of the more obscure characters (okay, by that I mean the Scarlet Witch.)
• Sleepy Hollow - This movie has a great soundtrack, and visually is beautiful. There are many contrasts with lights and darks accented by deep reds. The fairly timid character of Ichabod just seems to add a sense of humor to the fairly dark plot. Even though I typically don’t like movies that are drastically different from the book or story, I like this one…and it’s nothing like the story.
• Wait Until Dark- I watched the movie the first time because I heard someone say that it was one of the scariest movies they’d ever seen. While I don’t find it particularly scary, it is a thriller, and I do find the twists and turns in the plot to be rather intriguing. The majority of the movie takes place in an apartment building as a blind woman is being tricked into giving up a doll, that she honestly does not know where to find it.
• Little Women- I know this is considered by many to be a “chick flick” but reguardless it is a great story with quite a few good actors and actresses. The closeness of this family through the many trials that they have is truly heart-warming (okay, so it is sounding like a chick flick…but still, it’s good.)
• Gone with the Wind- I watched this with my grandma years ago, and actually found it very boring. However, I watched it again in high school when I was actually able to understand it, and just fell in love with it. The main character of Scarlet is far from perfect, but you find yourself still sympathizing with her and perhaps rolling your eyes as she marries yet another husband. Definitely worth setting aside some time once in a while to watch this.
• Phantom of the Opera- I think this is the most recent movie on my list. I typically give a movie a few years before I rank it as an all-time fave. But I’ve loved the Phantom of the Opera as a screenplay by Webber for years, and the movie keeps fairly closely to that. Mom and I drove through about a foot of snow in order to go see this. And, honestly, I found it well worth it. If you hate Webber’s music or screenplay, then you won’t like this. Otherwise this is a great movie, beautiful scenery, gorgeous voices, and a grotesque face. (This movie also includes some backstory about the Phantom that is not included in Webber’s musical, but might be in the book, I haven’t read it yet.)

So, let me know what you think of any of these.