Those nearest and dearest to me have, on occassion, grown frustrated with my apparent dislike and scorn of the entertainment (so-called) coming out of Hollywood. Their aggrevation has, on several occassions, reached such a high degree that they have gone so far as to throw their arms in the air and demand, "Is there any movie you do like?"
Although they scarcely believe it when I answer in the affirmative, I really, truly, and genuinely do like some movies. And, yet, their doubt is such that I feel it is now time to actually start naming names. This is, of course, not a normal journal entry. There will be no pointed barbs, no sarcastic witticisms, no scathing critique. However, I feel compelled to prove once and for all that I don't completely hate Hollywood fare and on occassion even enjoy it.
Keep in mind this is by no means a comprehensive list. There are many other movies that I have enjoyed which I was simply unable to think of off the top of my head.
Also, pay particular attention to Parents and Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken and their lack of inclusion on this list.
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
The Adventures of Robin Hood (My one regret is that, no matter how many times I watch, Basil Rathbone still gets killed.)
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
All About Eve
All That Jazz
Androcles and the Lion
Anna and the King
Babette’s Feast
Bedazzled (1956) (And I refer to the film that really did bedazzle me--not the one with Elizabeth Hurley)
Ben Hur
Braveheart
Breakfast At Tiffany’s
Cabaret
The Castle of Cagliostro
Character
Chicken Run (It's hard to get better than chickens trying to escape from a concentration camp.)
Dial “M” For Murder
A Double Life
Dr. No (Back when 007 didn't need fancy gadgets to be cool.)
Dr. Strangelove
The Empire Strikes Back
Ever After
Frequency
George of the Jungle
Hamlet (Freak out Kenneth Branagh fans; I like the Mel Gibson version better)
Hopscotch
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
In the Bedroom
I, Robot
Junior
Laura
The List of Adrian Messenger
The Magnificent Seven
The Maltese Falcon (The stuff dreams are made of)
The Manchurian Candidate (The one that doesn't feature Halliburton as the bad guy)
Manhattan Murder Mystery
The Mark of Zorro (Why does Basil Rathbone seem to die in all his movies?)
Monsters Inc.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Mr. Robinson Crusoe
Murder By Death
Murder, He Says (Yes, there is an inordinate ammount of murder mysteries on this list)
The Others
Planet of the Apes (the only version there ought to be)
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
Quiz Show
Raiders of the Lost Ark (You'll note that Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is not on this list)
Rear Window (Jimmy Stewart ::sigh::)
Rebecca
Return of the Jedi
The Rockinghorse Winner (Which, frankly, is a lot better than the short story.)
Ruggles of Red Gap
The Ruling Class (I try to ignore the fact that it was allegedly Anton LeVay's favorite film)
Sabrina (I probably shouldn't mention I prefer the Harrison Ford remake because now all the Audry Hepburn fans are going to want to kill me)
The Scarlet Pimpernel (It's hard to get a better cast than that of this film. Also, pay special attention to the collar of Robespierre's jacket.)
Shrek
Silence of the Lambs (Be sure to prepare yourself a nice dish of flava beans while watching this flick. The census taker is optional.)
Singin’ In the Rain
Spirited Away
Star Wars (Back when movies by George Lucas had the mandatory shaky writing and shakier acting and yet inexplicably didn't suck.)
Suspicion
The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) (The one thing I regret is that the remake didn't have a scene as cool as the chess-playing/make-out scene of the original.)
Three Amigos
Unbreakable (Back when M. Night Shyamalan movies weren't boring, pointless, stupid fiascoes.)
Unforgiven
The Untouchables
Victor/Victoria
Village of the Damned (It's hard to get cooler than George Sanders)
Wait Until Dark (Hopefully all the Audry Hepburn fans will forgive me for our lack of agreement re: Sabrina)
Without a Clue (Yes, I do have a Sherlock Holmes obsession)
Witness for the Prosecution
Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?
Zorro: The Gay Blade
Copyright 2005 Jessica Menn