Shelf space
There aren’t many films I watch time and time again, mainly because I’ve reached the age at which I can wait until the next time it’s on television, but there are a few I couldn’t part with.
Truly Madly Deeply
Hobson’s Choice
Le Fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain
Romuald et Juliette (I can’t actually find my copy of this but if I could I would watch it again)
Les Ripoux (ditto, except that I know that I taped over my father’s copy of this about 15 years ago)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
E.T.
Erin Brockovich
The Accidental Tourist
Jean de Florette / Manon des Sources
The Long Kiss Goodnight
Martyn’s choice would include:
Lord of the Rings x 3
The Shawshank Redemption
Zulu (he’s read so much about the battle that he can put up with the inaccuracies and unfairness to the memory of Private Henry Hook)
The Shootist
True Grit
“and most westerns really…” (Zzzzzzz)
Now, there’s space for just three more dvd cases in the cupboard - what would you choose?
September 22nd, 2004 19:32
Barbarians vs. All Blacks (1973); Robin Hood (Errol Flynn); A Matter of Life & Death (Powell & Pressberger) - nothing later than 1973 but each a classic
September 22nd, 2004 19:48
Boys on the Side; The Usual Suspects; Prince of Darkness
September 22nd, 2004 20:17
True Romance, great film. You simply must see it. So there.
September 22nd, 2004 22:36
Ah Huwge the rugby, of course! I can’t say that Robin Hood would be on my list and I think I’d pass on A Matter of Life and Death because it is shown quite frequently on tv here in the UK.
Anne, I’ve not yet seen Boys on the Side and Prince of Darkness and I must confess to falling asleep 10 minutes in to The Usual Suspects but it would definitely be on Martyn’s list, he loved it.
True Romance, haven’t seen that yet either Ian, might try and get it from the video shop this weekend.
*One google later* - it’s a Tarantino film! Which reminds me that Pulp Fiction should be on the list. I’ll definitely try and see True Romance then, cheers.
September 23rd, 2004 02:28
Try to fit in 12 Angry Men, Dark Star and The Complete Ivor The Engine which has more Emryses per minute than any other DVD).
September 23rd, 2004 10:29
You could always trade “A matter of life & death” for “The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp” or any other Powell & Pressberger - “Peeping Tom,” “Black Narcissus” and “Red Shoes” are all great.
re Robin Hood - My Dad gave me his copy of the book to the film, dates from 1940s (can you believe that) is hardcover and had technicolor prints. The film, therefore, generates feelings on so many levels - none of which are related to the actual screenplay / visual experience. I might just be tempted to trade RH for The Sea Hawk - I do love to buckle my swash and Errol is a king of the genre :)
September 23rd, 2004 10:37
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
Raising arizona
Oh. And did you forget Accidental tourist?
September 23rd, 2004 11:14
I’d still recommend “Jesus of Montreal” a slightly strange (even for Canada) film which I adore.
Also, don’t forget that “Angels In America” has just come out on DVD.
September 23rd, 2004 11:17
Grease.
And the Donny Osmond version of Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat - great for doing the ironing to!
I’m struggling on a 3rd.
September 23rd, 2004 11:44
It’s a Wonderful Life
Room with a View
Scrooge (1951 version with Alastair Sim)
September 23rd, 2004 14:44
Amélie & LOTR agreed. Plus:
Godfathers 1 & 2 (boxed set?)
Life of Brian (or perhaps a Python boxed set?)
Deer Hunter (or some as-yet unheard of Vietnam compilation boxed set including Apocalypse Now, Platoon, Full Metal Jacket , 84 Charlie Mopic, Hamburger Hill etc…can you see a pattern here?)
September 23rd, 2004 14:48
Or a slightly more whimsical selection including On the Town, Jean de Florette & Manon des Source (boxed set again) and Angels with Dirty Faces.
Wouldn’t want to be pigeon-holed now, would I?
September 23rd, 2004 23:06
Ringu! Every DVD collection should have some Japanese horror in it. (As opposed to exclusively Japanese horror, like mine…)
September 24th, 2004 02:02
“I do love to buckle my swash” - heh, thanks Huwge. I’d forgotten Black Narcissus, that might sneak in to a top 20.
Briggy, you star - Accidental Tourist should definitely be there. Will update right now. It’s also reminded me that I really enjoyed The Long Kiss Goodnight and would definitely watch it a few more times.
Jann, I’ve never been a Monty Python fan *gasp* and loathe violent war films (all that fire) so I think I’ll avoid your first colllection like the plague. But dammit, I’m sure I wrote Jean de Florette/Manon des Sources in the original list, can’t think why I deleted them. Will update now. And One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. One of the best films ever made. But. I don’t know that I could watch it that often. Like Schindler’s List (a masterpiece), I would rather watch them once every 5 years or so.
Anna - is that the ultra scary one? I don’t think I’ll be watching that. I had nightmares for years after watching Picnic at Hanging Rock. Hang on, I just read the IMDB description for Ringu: “There’s no blood or gore – just a real sense of being uncomfortable.” See, that’s what gets me every time. I almost watched the US version recently but chickened out at the last minute. Yeah I know, I’m a wuss.
September 24th, 2004 21:27
Ooh, there’s a decision:
Amelie (of course)
Brief Encounter
Beauty and the Beast
Breakfast at Tiffanys
The Snowman
Girly, but who cares?