I’ll admit, one glance at my personal DVD collection would have most people furrowing their brows in confusion. There appears to be little rhyme or reason, a mishmash of action, romance, foreign language and screwball comedies. Underneath the visible chaos, there is a method to my madness. A delight in all different genres of film, no matter how serious, sappy, inane, or explosive that I am not ashamed to admit I love.
Having A Good Cry
There are days when I want nothing more than to burrow under a blanket and watch a terribly sugary movie that inevitably makes me weep like a baby. Love Actually fits that need to a tee. Not only is it just a wonderfully made and acted movie, it manages to have a both gleefully happy and tearfully sad ending. I’m pretty sure Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson’s scenes will have me tears every time I watch them. And who doesn’t love to watch the extremely British Hugh Grant dancing around 10 Downing Street shamelessly?
Don’t get me started on the perfection of angst that is Pride and Prejudice. Although not the masterpiece that the 1995 Colin Firth miniseries was, this movie shines on its own. Mainly due to the stoic broodiness of Matthew MacFayden.
The Dreaded Rom-Com
I am a girl, so I willfully admit to loving a cheesy romantic comedy. My Big Fat Greek Wedding is one of the better offerings in this genre. Despite being Italian, all the familial woes played out in this movie ring eerily true to me. As they will to almost anyone. Plus on a shallow note, John Corbett makes a fine leading man.
Speaking of shallow, there is Maid in Manhattan. Is it a good movie? Nope. Jennifer Lopez is mediocre at best and Ralph Fiennes (an extremely talented actor) looks like he’s phoning it in, but he looks good doing it so I can’t bring myself to care. So yes, even girls can have their shallow moments too.
Looking to The Future
I’m a fantasy/sci-fi nerd. The rare kind, I believe, in that I actually don’t really like Star Wars or Star Trek (although I actually like the reboot, cue the yelling). I am a massive Joss Whedon fan, so Serenity is an obvious choice to have in my collection. In all of the television shows and movies he’s made, I truly believe Joss Whedon never had a better cast than the members of Firefly/Serenity. Nathan Fillion in particular showcases what it means to be a true space captain.
Not to be left out, the original Buffy movie and inspiration for the stellar television series is a must. It’s not good, not at all, but seeing Pee Wee Herman as a vampire more than makes up for its shortcomings.
On the fantasy front, my personal favorite has to be Stardust. Based on the book of the same name written by the amazing Neil Gaiman, Stardust is a wonderful blend of comedy, romance, and adventure that always puts me in a good mood. This movie is also a must for any fan of Robert De Niro who longs to see him playing someone other than a grumpy New York Italian.
And Then Everything Blew Up
I’m a sucker for a good action movie. Bonus points if the lead actor is really handsome too. Bourne Identity, BoondockSaints, Kill Bill, you name it, I probably love it. From the quirkiness of Tarantino to the slickness of Doug Liman, I can’t get enough of a fun, fast action flick.
The sub-genre that I am most fond of though has to be the superhero movie. Even when they’re bad (and Superman IV was bad) there is still something about a superhero that makes a movie inherently watchable. The best of the best is definitely Christopher Nolan’s Batman series. The Dark Knight, in particular, is a staple in my movie queue.
Fessing Up
Okay, so most of my favorite movies aren’t exactly Oscar worthy. Let’s be honest, very few people pop in a DVD hoping to be inexorably moved. People watch movies to have fun, to laugh, to think, and even to live a bit vicariously through the over the top characters. There’s nothing wrong with that. And on that note, I’m off to watch Shaun of the Dead and imagine what it would be like to kill zombies with Simon Pegg.
