1.07.2009

Krissy's Desert Island Movies

Childhood

1. Alice in Wonderland
For as long as I can remember, I have loved this movie. It seems funny because we didn't even own it when I was a kid. Luckily, it was released from Disney's vault when Dave and I were dating, so he bought it for me. It is wonderfully bizarre. My favorite characters are the Mad Hatter and the March Hare. And I love singing "The Golden Afternoon" to Dave, because you really can learn a lot of things from the flowers.
Alice: If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary-wise; what it is it wouldn't be, and what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?
2. Back to the Future Part II
I think as a kid I really believed we'd all have hover-converted cars by 2015. Maybe that's what the auto bailout will lead to. Let's keep our fingers crossed. I still love this movie. Although the original Back to the Future is great, I like Part II because it gives you a taste of both the future and the past... and an alternative present. I'm always on pins and needles wondering if Marty and Doc really will fix the space-time continuum or if they will end up destroying the universe.
Doc: The time-traveling is just too dangerous. Better that I devote myself to study the other great mystery of the universe: women!
Teenage Years

3. While You Were Sleeping
Sure the premise for this film is a bit silly (though not nearly as bad as some other chick flicks I've seen, like say, The Lake House), but I still love it. I think that Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman have surprisingly great chemistry, and you can't help but chuckle at Joe Jr.'s antics ("I know karate"). I would definitely need this one if I was stranded on a desert island. Besides, I'm already used to watching it alone.
Jerry: You're born into a family. You do not join them like you do the Marines.
College Years

4. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
I will admit that the first time I saw Fellowship of the Ring, I was bored out of my gourd. I think I fell asleep. But then I read the book and fell in love with the movie. For some reason, I have this strange compulsion to always watch the second movie of a trilogy, so whenever I have a small hankering for LOTR, I always choose Two Towers, even if it has no beginning or end.

Treebeard: You must understand, young Hobbit, it takes a long time to say anything in Old Entish. And we never say anything unless it is worth taking a long time to say.
5. Sleepy Hollow
This movie was released when I was still in junior high (I think), but I didn't see it until after I met Dave. I am not big on scary movies, so this is about as scary as I can handle by choice. I'll admit, I also have a crush on Johnny Depp (who doesn't?), so that helps. It does get a little dodgy toward the end with lame dialogue from Lady Van Tassel (like, "watch your head!"), but the rest of the movie makes up for it.
Ichabod Crane: I should like to say that I make no assumptions about your occupation nor your ways, Witch... which... which... which are nothing to me, whatever you are.
Married Life

6. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
I am a big fan of the Harry Potter books, but the movies took a bit of getting used to. The third book has always been my favorite (after the characters have grown up a bit, but before Harry becomes a mopey-pants), so naturally, the third movie has become my favorite so far. I enjoyed the director's choices to deviate from the happy magic of the first two and take a darker turn.

Cornelius Fudge: As the Minister of Magic, it is my duty to inform you, Mr. Potter, that earlier this evening your uncle's sister was located a little south of Sheffield, circling a chimney stack. The Accidental Magic Reversal department was dispatched immediately, she has been properly punctured and her memory modified. She will have no recollection of the event whatsoever so that's that and no harm done.
7. Pride & Prejudice
My friends were big Jane Austen fans when I was a teenager, but I somehow managed not to read any Austen until I was in my twenties. I read Pride and Prejudice after seeing this movie (and no, I have not seen the 6 hour version). I think they did a good job of cutting the story down to fit into two hours and cast some great people. This is another movie that I am used to watching alone. Apparently Dave is too sensible to appreciate the romantic exploits and misunderstandings of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Too bad for him.
Mr. Collins: What a superbly featured room and what excellent boiled potatoes. It's been many years since I had such an exemplary vegetable.
8. Casino Royale
Before Casino Royale, I had no appreciation for 007. I had seen parts of some of the older movies and had little interest in them. But when Dave told me that this was the James Bond movie for people who didn't like James Bond, I was intrigued. This was the first time that Bond actually develops as a character and... Ah, who am I kidding. You all know why I picked this one.

Vesper Lynd: How was your lamb?
James Bond: Skewered. One sympathizes.
9. The Bourne Ultimatum
Shockingly, here is a trilogy where I did not choose the second installment. However, it was a rough choice. I really like the Bourne movies because, as much as they are about a physical struggle, they're also about Jason's emotional and mental struggle. Ultimatum made the list simply because it isn't until then that you finally get some solid answers about Bourne's past.

Jason Bourne: Do you even know why you're supposed to kill me? Look at us. Look at what they make you give.
10. Groundhog Day
I realize that this movie came out when I was 8 years old, but I never got into it until Dave bought it one day and I started watching it all the time. I think living on a desert island would be a lot like living the same day over and over again. Let's just hope needle nose Ned Ryerson isn't stranded on the same desert island. Am I right or am I right? Right right right.

Phil: Well, what if there is no tomorrow? There wasn't one today.
Honorable Mention:
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
Hudsucker Proxy
Cars
Batman Begins
Ratatouille

6 comments:

Christie said...

You need to see the 6 hour version of Pride and Prejudice (this is coming from someone who complains if a movie is longer than 90 minutes). Its fantastic and can be broken down into nightly installments :-)

Ben said...

You know what, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree that the 6-hour version is better. It is also much, much longer, obviously.

Steve&Melissa said...

ahh...Mr. Darcy...sigh!

Anonymous said...

Well I decided to leave a comment about the long P&P but some people have already beat me to it. It is excellent. I too hate how long movies are now, it's like the movie makers are so impressed with themselves they can't edit anything out. The Dark Knight for instance, do you really need two separate endings?

Dave said...

Is this some grand conspiracy against me? I guess I can't complain too much about Mr. Darcy though since Kristen's list also features Doc & Marty, Frodo & Sam, Ichabod Crane, James Bond, and Jason Bourne. But that doesn't mean you're off the hook, Joe Jr.

Unknown said...

Hey- You're lists are pretty darn good. I just wanted to invite you over to my blog to check out my Desert Island top 10 DVD's
This was really fun to do. Scott is such a doll for passing this on to me. :)