Five Favorites: Movies

21 August 2014

Linking up with Heather to bring you some five favorites this afternoon because it looks like I've got two sleepers and my fingers are itching. Blythe has been writing up her love story over at her house and if you haven't read it you should really stop reading now and click over. Her love story has a lot of Wes Anderson in it, so it got me thinking about movies. But not just any movies. MY movies. The movies that just got me. You know. Like in high school when you just wanted to be understood. These were the movies that, if we'd met ten years ago, I would've shown you and watched every reaction you had.

You don't have to like them. You probably won't.

But if you watch them, and you do, or if you've already watched them and you do, we should have ourselves a fat chat about them down there in the combox. I don't really do "combox debates" but this post might be an exception.



This is a movie about a motley collection of British ladies who escape to Italy for a holiday. It's a bit of a "find yourself abroad" type thing - that must be a genre...right? Elizabeth Gilbert isn't that original. Anyhow. It's brilliant. The women all leave London seeking isolation but they find themselves in new and renewed relationships.











I rented this VHS randomly one Friday with a friend in high school, and we were totally weirded out by it initially because it's very weird. It's Australian. I bet it's even weird for Australia. Saturated colors. Saturated characters.

It's the classic plot line of homely girl gets makeover and hot guy falls in love with her. And there's dancing. Watch it. (Maybe with alcohol.)










I read this book ages ago when I still read classic literature, but I don't remember it. The movie however is enchanting. More enchanting than Enchanted April even. It's a "find yourself abroad" while Maggie Smith is babysitting you movie and therefore great.

But also weird. Helena Bonham Carter is in it, and she's the most normal part. Perhaps this was her gateway or something. There's also a scene of men being very innocent and very naked together. I think the Brits call it bathing. Don't say I didn't warn ya.








Zombie. Apocalypse. Simon Pegg. Nick Frost. I could just stop there.

Some of my guy friends in college subjected me to a bunch of very bad zombie apocalypse movies. They twisted my arm to watch Shaun of the Dead, insisting that I would love it because it was British and I was snobby. So I watched it with them and they were right. It was my intro into the comedic genius of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (I see you, Jessie.) and I will defend its relative merits over Hot Fuzz all day any day.








Small town pageantry gets...lethal. It's over the top and unbelievable and sacrilegious, but I just find it...hilarious. When the trailor park cosmetologist's hand gets melted onto her can of lite beer...Do I need to say anything else?

29 comments :

  1. There's someone else who watches people they've made to watch a movie to gauge their reaction? Soul sisters. 3/5 here, which means I just need to watch Shaun of the Dead and Enchanted April now. "Pam Short's broke both her legs and I want to dance with you"

    Love the new design!

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  2. Only 1 out of 5, but I love room with a view. After that, I always get confused by the rest of HBC's entire body of work. And her hair is amazing. It must weigh as much as the rest of her combined including the corsets.

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    1. Well it sounds like you've got some movie viewing cut out for you!

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  3. 1 out of 5 too. But Shaun of the Dead (and Hot Fuzz) just brings me back to freshman year of college. I was friends with the guy who made you watch movies to see what you thought of them. And that movie stole my heart. In a weird, zombie-ish way...

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  4. Oh yes to Shaun of the Dead (and Hot Fuzz!). Both are hilarious. I will give you Shaun over Hot Fuzz, simply because of his friend in the shed.

    And yup, definitely introduced to it by guy friends.

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    1. Shaun is better. My husband disagrees. But he is wrong. And you and I are right.

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  5. See, I knew I liked you. The only one of these that I'm not completely in love with is Drop Dead Gorgeous. Enchanted April is....just wonderful.

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    1. Haley!! Drop Dead Gorgeous!?! Have you not seen it in a while?? I've got it on DVD lets watch it because it's brilliant!

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    2. Good thing you already own it...Amazon has it listed for 58 whopping dollars.

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  6. 4/5. We must be friends or something??

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    Replies
    1. I think you've got the wrong blog. I don't like french people.

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  7. Um. Yes to all of these! I used to watch Enchanted April over and over again when I was like 13. Because I was super cool. Also; Drop Dead Gorgeous is so great!. "Every year I say, take down that --- ---- sign!"

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    Replies
    1. That's it! We should do a Drop Dead Gorgeous twitter party just like Cari/Dwija used to do!

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    2. Yes, yes, we totally should!

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  8. So, my now-husband and I started dating the night we watched Shaun of the Dead together. I'm telling you, that movie is EPIC ;) (Though I probably like Hot Fuzz better...)

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  9. What a fantastic list. We can now be friends. You know, not that your weren't cool before. =)
    t think the first time I watched Room with a View I was 7, and Strictly Ballroom has been a favorite since high school (definitely the best of his trio). Enchanted April I need to watch again. I remember liking it, but that's about it. Pretty sure it was one of those sleepless nights in college when I was writing a paper at the same time that I watched it.
    Drop Dead Gorgeous. Hilarious. I've only ever seen it on YouTube though, so I would definitely support a Twitter viewing.
    Shaun of the Dead… eh, I'm a bigger fan of Hot Fuzz BUT that's totally because Zombies kinda freak me out/make me want to vomit. But one of those Nick Frost/Simon Pegg's movies should make everyone's movie list. =)

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  10. You totally anticipated me and now I'm embarrassed. I was already writing my comment in my head about how I love Shaun but it's my least fave in the trilogy and then..shout out. I know! I'm shameful. But then I hear that snarky teenager being asked his birthdate in a bar by Simon Pegg in Hot Fuzz and SP asks "what year?" "EVERY year." And SP telling Nick Frost in At Worlds End he can't give up drinking bc that's like a lion living on hummus (pronounced hoomis.)

    And so *with respect* Hot Fuzz and World End > Shaun.

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    1. Ps I feel like I know you even better after this list because Drop Dead Gorgeous? So wrong and so right. I'll put the other [unseen!] choices on My List.

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  11. Haven't seen drop dead or Shaun of the dead but the others -- insert thumbs up emoti here.

    However I have a bone to pick with you. I mean THAT'S the kind of review/summary you give Strictly Ballroom??! Kate! What an injustice!

    I'm probably too in love with that movie and can most likely quote it in it's entirety. Sigh. Now I really REALLY want to watch it again.

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  12. 0/5. 0/5! I didn't even know these movies existed. WHAT?

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  13. Brand new follower to your blog :) This is pathetic, but I've never even heard of these movies before. I'm not a movie person at all! I just don't have the patience to sit through any and I'm the biggest critic. Love your blog though and enjoy reading.

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  14. oh and drop dead gorgeous. i have it on vhs, so...

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