Top Five Movies You Can Watch Over and Over… and Over. And Perhaps Again.
- July 27th, 2007
Despite my achey bruise-fest, I had to step out of the house this morning to run some errands. My crappy radio is stuck on one of those Clearchannel pop stations with the chatty morning jocks who have names like Wild Al and the Morning Zoo or whatever. (It’s actually Jeff n’ Jer — I went to high school with Jer’s daughter… or was is Jeff’s? I can’t recall.)
Anyway, so the topic of one of their segments was about the top five movies you can watch over and over and never get sick of them. They don’t even have to be cinematic masterpieces or even your favorite movies of all time. They’re just those movies that whenever they’re on, you’ll watch them. Even if you just watched it yesterday. Or one of those movies you put in for a pick-me-up, even if you’ve seen it 30 times. This is hard for me because I watch a lot of Girl Movies. I call them Girl Movies because the term “Chick Flick” conjures images of period movies starring Gwyneth in a hoop skirt or like, The Bridges of Madison County
So, given that I watch all my Girl Movies a billion times in addition to the myriad other films I’ve seen and re-seen, it’s hard for me to narrow it down to five, but I’ll give it a go. Here are my Top Five Movies I Will Watch Over and Over (in no particular order):
- The American President
I’ve seen this movie so many times, I can practically recite it along with the cast. I think Annette Benning is just charming and believable and I could only dream of a government where a president actually had integrity. Ah, Hollywood. - Office Space
I have seen this movie 80 billion times. It was filmed in Dallas (so I love to pick out places I recognize.) It’s an icon of pop culture, it’s pieces of flair, it’s the breast exam on Channel 9, it’s those “fudge-packers” that like Michael Bolton’s music, it’s Lumberg and the TPS reports, it’s the red stapler, it’s the jump to conclusions mat, it’s the O-Face. It’s Office Space. It never gets old. Never. - The Cutting Edge
OK, this one I’m kind of embarrassed to cop to. Hey, it’s a throw-back to my youth, OK!? This hokey ice skating romantic comedy (kind of) starring D.B. Sweeney (who I think looks like Tim) and Moira Kelly’s eyebrows is just one of those movies that can run in the background. I don’t even watch that much figure skating during the Olympics, but I like this movie. And I love that I can say “Tooooepiiiiiiiick!” to Kathy and it sends her into giggles. - Sideways
I never get tired of this movie. It’s not even all that uplifting, really, but it’s just so good. It’s beautifully shot, Paul Giamatti is fantastic, Virginia Madsen is not only superhot, but her monologue about what she thinks about when she drinks wine is even hotter. Plus, it was filmed a bit in San Diego and they drive past my house in the beginning (kind of). hee! I might have to put that in today… - Mean Girls
Granted, this movie is kind of like ”our movie”. Kathy and I quote it constantly and the writing is just hilarious. Lindsey Lohan was even sober! Wonders never cease. I love Tina Fey and this movie really showcases what kind of chops she has as a comedy writer. Two thumbs up. (I have a whole long list of Girl Movies that could probably fill this spot.)
- Alternate: High Fidelity
Mmmm… John Cusak being angsty and geeking out about music. What more could I ask for? A half-naked Catherine Zeta-Jones, that’s what. And Lily Taylor! And a great soundtrack… and… - Alternate-Alternate: Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
Totally tasteless humor. It’s Cheech n’ Chong meets American Pie, but… better writing. Very Odyssey-esque, stangely.
Hey, I warned you these weren’t going to be art or anything. They’re not all high quality films, they’re just movies that if on and there’s nothing else I care to see, I’ll watch — the kind of movie that gives you comfort in some way or is just familiar enough to pass the time.
So tell me, Internet… what are your Top Five? (If you choose to answer on your blog, make sure to trackback, so I can see!)
- Filed under: uncategorized
got one of your own? share it.
Hmm.
–Office Space, definitely. Even the edited for tele versions.
–Sliding Doors [shut up]
–Bring it On [see above]
And the other two will have to just be a sliding rotation. So there.
Tooooooooooooepick!!
Oh! Empire Records! And Hackers! And Saved!!!
And…..oh I’m going to catch so much hell for this….
(chasing liberty)
office space
fifth element
gladiator
star wars (any of them)
ferris bueller’s day off
1. Tommy Boy
2. Saving Silverman
3. Emma
4. Bringing Up Baby
5. Princess Bride
I’m not embarrassed about any of those, really. I can recite along with all of them pretty much, except for Tommy Boy. I don’t know why that is…
Ms. Pants, I just saw your note about Chasing Liberty being one that you watch. I…I just don’t understand. I like you SO MUCH, too! Dammit woman…
Dirty Dancing
Breaking Away
The Color Purple
Chantilly Lace – Amazing cast
A Christmas Story
I can only think of 2: 13 Going on 30 and Love Actually. Can I count seasons of Friends on DVD??
The Breakfast Club
Dirty Dancing
Pretty in Pink
Pretty Woman
The Color Purple
Not necessarily ranked in order of favorite, but these are my all time top 5 fav’s!
1. Have to agree with The American President, although it makes me sad because why can’t we have a president like that?! “My name is Andrew Shepherd, and I AM the president!”
2. Spirited Away. It’s just so, so beautiful. “Your name is… the Kohaku River!”
3. The Mummy. I have seen this movie a total of 19 bazillion times now. “hey, buddy, look what I got! *holds up hissing cat* Boo!”
4. A Christmas Story. Repeated yearly 24-hour marathons have failed to dim my love for this movie. “Sons of bitches! Bumpuses!!”
5. Both One Crazy Summer and Better Off Dead, which are essentially the same movie. “You would be wise to do as Mother says, Lane Meyer.”
1) When Harry Met Sally
2) Sleepless in Seatlle
3) The Truth About Cats and Dogs
4) Pride and Prejudice (A&E;version)
5) While You Were Sleeping
Honestly, anything with Meg Ryan (pre Russell Crowe) and Sandra Bullock is a must watch or for those nights when I can’t get my head to calm down and i need a distraction.
I just a few weeks ago bought The Cutting Edge on DVD (5.99!) because I figured it was better to own that than the bulky VHS tape I’ve had forever. “…we’re always fighting.”—“Foreplay.” Love that movie.
Hrm… It’s going to be tough to narrow it down to 5.
1. Hackers – have watched it about a billion times. I have VHS and DVD versions. What can I say? It’s funny!
2. Office Space – never gets old, at least not for me!
3. Serendipty – probably my favorite “girl movie”. I blame John Cusack.
4. Empire Records – I end up watching it every time I see it on TV.
5. Elf / The Emperor’s New Groove / Good Will Hunting / Waynes World 1&2;- gah! I told you it would be hard to pick just 5!
@geeky: I think John Cusak is responsible for a lot of repeat viewing.
I’m not sure I’ve ever liked a single girl-movie in my life. Maybe the Wedding Singer. But my list looks like this:
Robocop
The Fifth Element
Dirty Work (Norm McDonald)
Enter the Dragon
Tombstone
@Maine: Well, lucky for you “liking girl movies” is not a prerequisite to this particular survey.
I’ve seen all but one of those, by the way.
American History X (I dunno why, but I can’t NOT watch this if it’s on)
Dawn of the Dead (I like both versions, but the original is better)
Diner ( “are you gonna finish that sandwich….”)
Drugstore Cowboy (oddly enough, I find this movie life affirming)
Raising Arizona (my wife’s favourite movie of all time, so I see it a lot)
These are my favourite movies that I will always watch all the way through if I happen upon them while channel surfing.
If this is true-to-finding-it-on-tv-and-watching-it style these are my pics:
1. Pretty Woman
2. Office Space
3. Princess Diaries 2
4. Ferris Bueller
5. Back to the Future
If it’s me at home popping in a video:
1. Ever After
2. Notting Hill
3. Bourne Identity
4. Bourne Supremacy
5. Pee Wee’s Playhouse
I’ll explain nothing.
I loved Sideways but I have only seen it once.
not necessarily in this order:
along came polly
dirty dancing
legends of the fall
pretty woman
all ten seasons of friends
and now i’m gonna go check out all the movies that were mentioned and see if i shouldn’t add some to my amango-list (like netflix in germany)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (”we’re gonna have the hap-hap-happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap danced with Danny fucking Kaye”)
Raising Arizona (”If’n I freeze, I can’t rightly drop, and if’n I drop, well I’m gonna be in motion”)
Office Space (”How you doing… riiiight… say, it’d be greeeaaat if you could just, you know, come on in a work this weekend…”)
Bourne Identity/Supremacy (not sure why I like these so much, but the action is awesome and more believable, to a point, than a lot of other action films)
Princess Bride (”Good bye, have fun storming the castle!”)
Oh… I’m gonna blog this. I don’t know how to back use the trackback thing. I will try it though… I’m brave!!
1. Wuthering Heights (the first one—Laurence Olivier & Merle Oberon)
2. It’s A Wonderful Life (or anything w/ Jimmy Stewart in it!! i.e. The Philadelphia Story)
3. Princess Bride ( “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father, prepare to die”)
4. The Graduate
5. A Fish Named Wanda
Okay, I’m a little late here, but…
-About A Boy
-As Good As It Gets
-High Fidelity
-Swingers
-Dirty Dancing
I also will always leave on The American President when its on…that’s a great one. These are not necessarily my favorites (#2 and #3 are on that list, too), but I can watch them over and over and over and never tire of them.
@Tina: I put in About a Boy yesterday.
And you could watch it again today because it is JUST.THAT.GOOD!
Hahahaa!!! I thought I was the only one in the world that sing-songs “Tooooopiiiiick” for no apparent reason
Without thinking too much, I can only come up with one movie I could watch forever and ever and never get tired of it…”While You Were Sleeping” – love Sandra Bullock!!
“Tooooooooeeeepick!” I went to see that movie with my mom when it came out, and that woman picked the holiday party scene to start naming off the tuxedo styles….no lie. (She was a Bridal Consultant/Professional Caterer)….but I still love that movie.
Thanks for the laugh, Joelle. Sniffly and under the weather here in Texas, I am going to go pop in my fave five and weather the snot storm….
1. Moulin Rouge – - especially fun if you’re hosting a group of intoxicated females, who have no inhibitions about warbling the songs with you.
2. Just Like Heaven – - Mark Ruffalo. He’s the only thing thing that might make me set aside John Cusack for even a heartbeat.
3. Very Bad Things – - I’m twisted, ‘nuff said.
4. Amadeus – - Over the top, great, grand…and Tom Hulce’s laugh…this movie gets me every time.
5. Raising Arizona – - you people have my votes, too. That movie is genius.