In 100 Things: Part 1, I told you 21 things about my family. Then, in 100 Things: Part 2, I told you 19 eccentric things about myself. Then, 100 Things: Part 3 was about my wife. 100 Things: Part 4 was all about the weird and cool things I've seen or done. 100 Things: Part 5 was about some of the strange things I hate. And 100 Things: Part 6 was about some of the strange things I love. And we're finally almost done, with the penultimate Part 7!
100 Things: My Favorite Movies
As a huge movie fan, I have lots and lots of favorites, so I had to set some limitations. If there were movies with the same actor, I chose my favorite out of the group (for example, my favorites of Punch Drunk Love, Happy Gilmore, Billy Madison, and The Wedding Singer are all Adam Sandler vehicles). I followed this same rule with directors, which meant I had to choose between Luc Besson films. Finally, I didn't choose anything that came out this year because it's still too hard to tell if it's actually a favorite or just a flavor of the month. Oh, and sequels and trilogies count as one movie.
So here, in no discernible order, are my top 9 favorite movies:
10. Happy Gilmore - some of the most quotable lines in all of moviedom. Carl Weathers as a one-handed golfer, Ben Stiller as a mustachioed evil nurse, and Bob Barker as an ass-kicker extraordinaire. What could be better?
9. Superman - even with the cheese, this movie is worth it for that one scene when Superman stares up into the sky with a dead Lois Lane in his arms and screams. Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.
8. Leon (aka The Professional) - the European version is more sordid and twisted, but both versions tell an amazing story of love and revenge.
7. Caddyshack - While Bill Murray's character is funny, it's Chevy Chase's Ty Webb that makes this movie a favorite for me. That, and Lacie's boobs.
6. The Back to the Future trilogy - I have a heterosexual man crush on Michael J. Fox. And while "For Love or Money" almost beats the BTTF trilogy, it just doesn't quite make it.
5. Grosse Pointe Blank - John Cusack at his best. '80s music, a hitman, and a class reunion. The dark humor and sardonic tone means this is a movie that I can watch over and over again.
4. Airplane! - There are many parodies that I love - Spaceballs, Top Secret!, Naked Gun, etc., but I think Airplane! manages to have the most consistent sense of humor and best sense of absurdity. Spaceballs is a close, close second, though.
3. The Addams Family and Addams Family Values - Gomez and Morticia Addams are played to perfection by Raul Julia and Angelica Huston, and Christina Ricci's Wednesday is truly outstanding. These movies are darkly humorous and showcase Barry Sonnenfeld at his best.
2. Clerks I and II - Kevin Smith's bookend movies show his roots, his sensitivity and his growth as a creator. And Clerks II is one of the only movies that makes me get a tiny, wee, little bit misty-eyed at the end.
And that's it. On 100 Things: Part 8, I'll have to come up with something pretty fucking stupendous for number one. Shit.
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What on earth can you do for number 8? You're completely overexposed already. And that's not even taking into account that I suspect you're naked at this very moment. Freak.
Comments by Tracy Lynn
Excellent movies all.
But no porn made the list? Shocking!
Comments by Dave2
There's more? Ditto Tracy Lynn's comment. You could leave a little something to our imagination ya know.
Comments by AnnieB
#1 better be about me, dammit.
(Although I'm guessing it will be about
AmyBritt.)Comments by Poppy
Everyone in my house recites several lines, from most of those movies. My favorite line from Airplane, while there are many to choose from, I use when my husband is talking shit, I tell him "don't start your white curb shit" and he always comes back with "assume the crash position"
Good list!
Comments by usedtobeme
I love Happy Gilmore. Its a classic. I watched it the other night and you just have to laugh at the truly bad acting.
Comments by Phishez
I haven't seen a lot of those, but Airplane is an awesome movie. I love when they're getting sentimental and she says "And remember when I used to sit on your face and wriggle?" or something to that effect.
Great movie. I may have to watch it this week.
Comments by heather
Excellent choices all. In particular Airlplane, Caddyshack, and Grosse Pointe Blank.
Comments by Mr. Fabulous
"You can trouble me for a warm glass of shut the hell up."- One of Ben Stiller's best roles, even though it's a cameo.
Great list.
Comments by Paticus
HOW could you choose only one Luc Besson movie??
I agree about Leon. It's nice to know someone else familiar with the European version.
Grosse Point Blank soundtrack kicks ass- I play it A LOT!!!
Comments by metalmom
Fab made Turnbaby's hubby say "Do you like gladiator movies?" and he sounds just like Peter Graves!!!
Comments by metalmom
I'm with you on Superman. I like the scene you're talking about, but my favorite is the helicopter scene. There's nothing like watching the man fly with John Williams in the background.
Comments by Joefish
Wow! What a bunch of GREAT movies!!!
Comments by RW
I do like all those movies. Well, except for the 2 I have yet to see. (Leon and Clerks II. )
Comments by themuttprincess
I cannot believe that you chose Airplane over Spaceballs in the spoof category. I would also, possibly, debate Happy Gilmore as the BEST Adam Sandler film - but it would be so close... man...
Comments by Miss Britt
@ Poppy:
WTF dude? I don't know if someone pissed in your Cheerios this morning or WHAT. But I assure you, it wasn't ME.
Comments by Miss Britt
Ew!
I have no idea what you read from my comment. I was just jokingly saying that his #1 100 things about him should be about me, but they will actually be about one of his wives, and I'm guessing you! It was actually a 1:42am version of a compliment. My compliments come out funny at that hour?
Did Adam pee in your Cheerios?
Comments by Poppy
Tracy, well, I've done 99 things, so there's only one thing left. I have no idea what it's going to be yet, though. And of course I'm naked!
Dave, surprisingly, I don't like porn movies.
AnnieB, only one more. That's it.
Poppy, well, since it's a list of 100 things about ME, you're wrong on all counts!
Usedtobeme, the announcer stuff in the beginning is one of my favorite jokes from that movie.
Phishez, bad acting? How dare you!
Heather, you haven't? You need to get watching.
Mr. Fabulous, I knew I liked you even though you're a pussy now.
Paticus, have you seen the deleted scenes with him that didn't make the theatrical cut? They're even funnier.
Metalmom, it was hard, because I love several of his films. Leon is the best cinematically, though.
Joe, yeah, that's a great scene too. "I've got you, miss." "You've got me? Who's got you?"
RW, you sarcastic old fogey.
TMP, get on it. They're good movies.
Britt, it was very, very close. Spaceballs has some awesome moments, but it also goes for the cheap laugh a few times, so Airplane just barely takes the lead.
Poppy, I only pee in her Cheerios when she asks me to.
Comments by Avitable
Are you kidding me?!?! Airplane is ALLL about cheap laughs!!
Comments by Miss Britt
Yeah, the comment came off more as snarky bitch than compliment.
But then, people often mistake my kidding for me being serious, so I can understand.
And, seriously?! You've never heard "who pissed in your cheerios?"
Damn it, this is probably one of those bizarre things my mom always said that I assumed was a common adage.
Comments by Miss Britt
I have not seen:
Happy Gilmore
Leon Caddyshack
Clerks II
I agree on:
Airplane!
Gross Point Blank
Comments by Robin
I came off as a snarky bitch without even trying????? My dream come true! :)
(Not really, my dream involves Cheerios and pee.)
Comments by Poppy
SARcasm!? Oh my GOD no!!
Comments by RW
Britt, there are some cheap laughs, but Spaceballs goes for nut shots and fart jokes too easily. Like I said, though, it was basically in first and a half place.
Robin, how the fuck have you not seen Happy Gilmore or Caddyshack?
RW, gasp!
Comments by Avitable
This list is very you. Very, very you.
Comments by Amy
WHY oh WHY would i be SARCASTIC about SOMEthing like THIS!!??
Comments by RW
Amy, well, it is my list! And since most movies made before 1980 are utter shit anyway . .
RW, you're sarcastic about everything. Who are you kidding?
Comments by Avitable
I can't even start to think what my list would be. I think to choose I would lay out my top movies on the floor, take a couple of hits of lsd and let the characters pop off the box and compete for *my love* places on my list. But then it would probably look more like this than my real favorites.
1. Fear and Loathing in LV
2. Blow
3. Requiem for a Dream
And so on.
Comments by Brandi
*sigh*
Leaving aside "Steel Magnolias" and Beaches" for obvious reasons...
What about "The Goonies" - "Hey you guuuyyyyyyyssssss!"
...or "He-Man: Masters of the Universe" - "I'll NEVER bow to you." "YES you will. Yes you will!"
...and of course, words to live by from "Gone with the Wind. "I know - I'll think about that tomorrow."
Comments by Britt's mom
It's not sarcasm... I'm wry.
Comments by RW
Brandi, it was definitely hard to narrow it down to 9. My actual favorites list probably has 50 or so.
Mom, Goonies just doesn't hold up on repeat viewings as well. It's good, but it's just not good enough. And I've never seen He-Man. Finally, any movie made before 1980, with the exception of Bond, Star Wars, and the Godfather, sucks. In addition, Gone with the Wind is a bloated film that bases its entire message on the good old days when there were masters and slaves.
RW, I think you mean "rye". With spots, having a hard crust, and good with ham.
Comments by Avitable
Um no, "wry" will do... as in; I'm kinda glad you think any movie made before 1980 sucks because if you liked any of them then I'd have to review my own list out of pure suspicion I may have been mistaken.
That kind of wry.
Comments by RW
I have to say, your list of favorite movies would be interesting to read. I'd hope that your favorites wouldn't all end at 1970 or something.
Comments by Avitable
What the hell do you have against owning slaves!?!?!
Comments by Miss Britt
(and also, my mom's comment is ten times funnier if you can hear her saying "Yes you will, YES you will" in her best Skeletor voice)
Comments by Miss Britt
No, for one thing A Beautiful Mind is on that list and I'm pretty sure that was done after 1970. Though I may have some dead space there between 1968-1972, ok?
Comments by RW
sadly, i've not seen many of those films. like Happy Gilmore, Clerks II, The Addams Family et al.
i suck at life!
Comments by Crys
I do plan on seeing Clerks II.
I love Kevin Smith! He is a rockstar!
Comments by themuttprincess
Britt, I'd rather just pay them by the hour. And your impression of your mother's impression of Skeletor is pretty damn funny by itself.
RW, those were your wild years, weren't they?
Comments by Avitable
TMP, he is a funny, funny geek god.
Comments by Avitable
THANK YOU for using the word "penultimate" correctly!
But you fail at your list because there's not one breakdancing moving on it. Not one!
Comments by Wayne
What is it with guys and Back to the Future movies? My husband loves them too. I never understood that one....LOL
Comments by Webmiztris
All I am sayin' is I would do him.
Comments by themuttprincess
Never say "bloated" to a woman, dummy
Comments by Britt's mom
Bossy is so thankful her husband, John Cusack, made your hip list. (Note to Bossy: Mention this fact if you ever actually meet Cusack.)
Comments by BOSSY
LOVE Happy & Caddyshack...
Am I the only one that hasn't seen any Clerks? damn.
Comments by Tug
The only reason you think that most movies made before 1980 are shit is because you haven't seen anything decent.
McLintock!
The Quiet Man
The Philadelphia Story
Bringing Up Baby
Arsenic and Old Lace
12 Angry Men
Mister Roberts
It's A Wonderful Life
Going My Way
The Bishop's Wife
North by Northwest
Rear Window
My God, man. You should be ashamed of yourself. Go get yourself an education for the love of all things that do not suck.
Comments by Amy
Wayne, people use it incorrectly? I'd assume that if they know what the word means, they'd use it correctly.
Dawn, they're awesome movies!
TMP, so would I.
Mom, ooh, good thinking.
Bossy, so it's Bossy Cusack, eh?
Tug, yeah. It might be an age thing, though.
Amy, the only one I've seen is "It's a Wonderful Life" and that is a schlocky, boring, piece of shit. Sorry, but you were born in the wrong century.
Comments by Avitable
Yes, I can completely imagine why something filled with sentiment and goodwill could be described as a schlocky, boring, piece of shit by you.
Nope, no surprise there at all.
Comments by Amy
Don't you mean filled with treacle and triteness?
Comments by Avitable
Coming from a guy who thinks bathroom humor is an art form... well, let's just say I took that last comment with a grain of salt.
Ass.
Comments by Amy
BACK OFF SONNY - I'm about to whack you with my cane!
Comments by Tug
Amy, whore!
Tug, I'll just move around so you can't see me with your one blind eye.
Comments by Avitable
AWESOME choices.
#1: Blazing Saddles?
The Professional is great. Airplane is great, - hell - they are all great. Caddyshack. "I'm All Right" used to be my ringtone.
Man, you are good.
Comments by Sybil Law
I of course am shocked and appalled that you left off one of the true cinematic gems of our times. May I suggest the greatest movie ever made.... Tremmors! It has that classic line by venerable thespian Kevin Bacon, "I think I found the ass end!" a true classic.
Comments by Y2K Survivor
Who does a top nine but numbers the items 10 to 2? I'm confused.
(But great list anyways)
I gotta do my own movie list now!
Comments by Mike
Oh please. I feel my way around.
Comments by Tug
Sybil, of course, since I'm retarded, I used to think that "I'm All Right" was actually "Admiral".
Y2K, Tremors is a good one!
Mike,
Tug, ooh, I Like that idea!
Comments by Avitable
ditto on:
The Professional
Grosse Point Blank (note to self:NEED to buy replacement copy of this)
Clerks
Happy Gilmore
Gotta add:
American History X
Primal Fear (and no I don't have an Ed Norton thing, just coincidence)
Usual Suspects
Schindler's List
I know, somewhat more serious a selection but...
Comments by Julianne
Mike, somehow I forgot to type a response to you! I was saying that this is the countdown from my "100 Things" list, and items 11-2 are my favorite movies.
Julianne, American History X is good, but not really something I can watch over and over again - the same goes for Primal Fear. Usual Suspects is good, though. And I've never seen Schindler's.
Comments by Avitable
Wait a second! Where's Princess Bride?!?!??! Definitely quotable, stands up to multiple viewings, never slow, and always funny.
Comments by Wayne
Ooh, that's a good one. I absolutely adore that movie.
Comments by Avitable
No. Leon is the most overrated movie of all time. Everyone and their mother loves that piece of shit, so I gave it another try. It still sucks.
Where's the Charlie Kaufman movies? If you wanted quotable, where's the Judd Apatow movies?
Fight Club, Rushmore, Requiem for a Dream, most Scorese movies are all better than Airplane, Addams Family, etc.
Also I would even take High Fidelity over Grosse Pointe Blank.
But I agree with Back to the Future and the Clerks movie.
Comments by Jared
Ooh, that's fighting words!
Rushmore and Requiem for a Dream are not better than Airplane nor Addams Family! Rushmore is good, but too quirky for its own good. Requiem is too weird.
Fight Club is good, but I tried to avoid movies with ending-changing twists, because they lose re-watchability.
High Fidelity is all talk and little plot. It doesn't have any of the dark humor that Grosse Pointe Blank has.
And Leon is amazing. AMAZING.
Comments by Avitable
Well i am impressed you had an answer for all your choices being better than mine. i saw 310 to Yuma and Shoot Em Up the other day, both are pretty good, but Shoot Em Up was a better movie experience. It was so funny, in a Snakes on a Plane way.
Comments by Jared
I'm looking forward to Shoot Em Up, but I'll wait for DVD with 310 to Yuma.
Comments by Avitable