Saturday 1 September 2012

A Movie Meme



I am a big lover of films (or if you are American, “movies”) and I simply couldn’t resist a meme that I have just stumbled across – stolen originally by the mob at Sunday Stealing; now stolen again by me.


Here we go:

1. What is your all-time favourite movie costume?

That’s a tough question for me because there have been so many great costumes. However, being a shallow science fiction loving geek, I will choose what many of you may think is a bland and tedious choice. The Matrix trilogy. For any full blooded males, however, can I just remind you of Trinity’s outfit? That swings it for me.


2. What classic film would you nominate for a remake?

I would really love to see a remake of War of the Worlds but more closely related to the novel itself and set in the last few years of the 19th century in Britain. Don’t get me wrong; I love the two versions that have made it to the silver screen but I was disappointed that the remake that Tom Cruise starred in a year or two ago was set in modern day America. I guess it had to satisfy the demands of the American public but I think a gritty version set in old England would definitely be a winner.

3. Name your favourite femme fatale.

Does Uma Thurman’s performance in Pulp Fiction count as a femme fatale? Who cares – I nominate her anyway.

4. Name the best movie title.

There are loads of great film titles from the sublime to the ridiculous. 

Here are great some titles I like for good films:

The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
American Psycho
Inglourious Basterds
Shaun Of The Dead
Cowboys and Aliens

And here are one or two good titles for utterly dreadful films:

Sex Lives Of The Potato Men
Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes
I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle
Killer Klowns From Outer Space
The Ghost In The Invisible Bikini

5. Describe the worst performance by a child actor that you’ve ever seen.

I have a problem with films with precocious brats as the stars. I love kids generally but spoilt brats with a “sense of humour” make me reach for my soapbox. Being a sad geek I will have to choose Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace

That film was so wrong in places and one of them is the portrayal of Annakin Skywalker (aka Darth Vader) as a child. And if you mention Jar Jar Binks I might just have to reach for my soapbox again.

6. Who gets your vote for most tragic movie monster?

I would say Godzilla in the 1990’s remake. I was with Godzilla all the way and wanted him (her?) to incinerate most of the characters in the film. What happened to the poor beast was a tragedy. America wins again – GRRR!!!

7. What is the one Western that you would recommend to anybody?

I’m torn between For A Few Dollars More and The Good, The Bad And The Ugly. They are both brilliant films starring one of my favourite actors of all time – the wonderful Clint Eastwood. 

I recommend them both.

8. Who is your ideal movie-viewing partner?

I would like to say Mrs PM as we partially share the same taste in films. However, she does like some absolute garbage (like Marley and Me – she dragged me and my two lads to the pictures to see that dreadful load of sentimental bilge and all three of us had to share the vomit bucket). 

I would also say my two lads but they like some pretty weird stuff as well. 

So my ideal movie watching party is a clone of me because I am the only person who likes the same films as me.

9. Has a film ever made you want to change your life? If so, what was the film?

The Wedding Planner made me choose never ever to watch a film starring Jennifer Lopez and/or Matthew McConaughy ever again.

10. Think of one performer that you truly love. Now think of
one scene/movie/performance of theirs that is too uncomfortable for you to
watch.

Clint Eastwood again – from Paint Your Wagon – singing “I Talk To The Trees”.



AAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

11. On the flip side, think of one really good scene/performance/movie
from a performer that you truly loathe.

I like action movies but the worst “action” star is probably Steven Seagal. He simply cannot act and his films are generally awful. That said, I actually really like Under Siege – despite the fact that he is the star. 

12. What is your favourite romantic comedy?

I generally think that romantic comedies are awful. The formula is the same, the plot is the same and the acting is lame in most if not all of them. 

There is one such film that I like though, even though I am not a huge fan of the main stars. 

That film is Notting Hill

Why do I like it? Because it is quintessentially British and I genuinely like the characters.

13. What is your favourite drama?

There are so many to choose from – but I have to say that the one that keeps popping to the surface is The Shawshank Redemption. Ask me again next week and I will choose a different one, I’m sure.

14. Worst film you've seen?

There are so many to choose from but I have to go for Highlander 2: The Quickening for the simple reason that I loved the original film, Highlander and this turd of a movie completely ruined the magic of that first film. I struggle to watch the original now because this cesspit of a sequel, a film that belongs at the bottom of Satan’s toilet, reminds me that all is not what it is meant to be.

15. How do you feel about the majority of romantic films being labelled "chick flicks"?

Let’s be honest; they are really for women because most men I know can’t stand them and, like me, only agree to be dragged to the cinema to see them as a consequence of dragging their ladies to the cinema on a previous occasion to see a “highly explosive action thriller”. 

The term “chick flick” may be a sexist way for them to be described but my feeling is that they should be consigned to a box labelled “For Ladies” or something similar.

I know that I have to suffer penance in future for dragging Mrs PM to see Avengers Assemble (or The Avengers if you are in America) earlier this year – oh and The Dark Knight Rises last week (despite the fact that she liked both of them).

16. Favourite on-screen couple?

I presume you are talking about male and female here. I’m going to choose John Cleese and Jamie Lee Curtis in A Fish Called Wanda. I love this film – a brilliantly quirky and hilarious film (the main reason I chose it).

17. Favourite off-screen couple?

I don’t have a favourite off screen couple because I don't care about celebrities. . Me and Mrs PM perhaps?

18. Best kiss in a movie?

The two dogs in Lady And The Tramp.

19. Favourite scene?

Again there are so many to choose from. However, here is one that leaps to mind immediately. The lobby scene from The Matrix – full of guns, bullets and great music.




Oh – and the freeway scene from The Matrix Reloaded: cars, guns, thrills and utter mayhem.

Oh - and the various action scenes from Inception, like Paris folding up on itself and … and …

I think I need a separate post for this subject.

20. Who are 2 film characters you wished had gotten together, but never did?

I think James Bond and Jason Bourne really should be put together, either united against a really nasty villain or, probably better still, against each other.

21. Two actors you think would have great chemistry, but have never done a film together?

It would have to be a few years ago, when both actors were younger, but I think Clint Eastwood and Harrison Ford should have made an action movie together. Sadly, poor old Clint is just too old now (actually so is Harrison Ford).

22. Favourite song in a film (doesn't have to be from a musical)?

Well, being a massive rock fan – it has to be this from the Vin Diesel  film XXX.Not the greatest film but the song introduced me to the band – and I haven’t looked back since.

Just watch those pyrotechnics!



23. Best score from a film?

I think a lot of film themes are modern day classical music, powerful and beautiful. A recent favourite is the theme from Inception. Just listen to this wonderful piece or orchestral magic – it is truly spine-tingling.




24. Best film quote?

Again there are millions to choose from. Here are a couple of my favourites:












25. A film you'd recommend that is a "Must See" for us to watch?

Apart from the ones I’ve mentioned above? Well - not one film – but three – the Lord Of The Rings trilogy.

That was an interesting meme. Please feel free to steal it because I love listening to people’s views on films, particularly if they have recommendations.

Over to you, dear reader - what is your favourite film?




16 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Moonstruck" - my husband loves this almost as much as I do - we've worn out 2 tapes and one cd of this movie:

Rose: Do you love him, Loretta?
Loretta Castorini: Aw, ma, I love him awful.
Rose: Oh, God, that's too bad.

The perhaps "Dogma" - Alanis Morrisette as God...

And then perhaps "Strictly Ballroom".

All light weight, well maybe not Dogma so much, but movies I never get tired of watching.

There is of course "Kill Bill" but Part 1 is better than Part 2 but both have killer sound tracks...

Pandora Behr said...

Can I knick this one please - though we're going to have a completely different list of films.

Had to laugh out loud at the Wedding Planner comment - though didn't mind that one - there are other Jennifer Lopez films that are just attrocious - that is one of her better ones.

Cheers,

River said...

The Shawshank Redemption is one of my favourites too, I watched it just last week.
I also love a little know film titled With Honors, starring Brendan Fraser and Joe Pesci.
and many, many other movies.

drb said...

Hi Mr PM,
I agree with your answers but I don't think you will agree with mine. ;-)

I will pick Sex and The City: The Movie as my favourite.

Am I correct?

Besides the dresses, shoes and weddings, all which I love, this movie captured the friendship among women - we support each other through ups and downs, men come and go but bbf are here to stay. :-)

A 100% chick flick.

We broke into an applause at the end of the movie.

Sex and The City part 2 is a total disaster.

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi Grace,

I've honestly never seen "Moonstruck" but I know about it. Maybe I will give it a go next time I see it on TV.

I like most films by Tarantino, including the two Kill Bill movies. My favourite is Pulp Fiction though.

:-)

Cheers

PM

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi Pand,

Of course you can steal it - and I look forward to reading your answers despite our differences of opinion.

:0)

Cheers

PM

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi River,

I've not heard of "With Honors" but I will look out for that.

:0)

Cheers

PM

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi drb,

Mrs PM likes Sex and the City - I caught one of the shows once and yes, I thought it was dreadful. So the film versions would not appeal to me one bit.

We're you applauding the fact that it was finally over?

;0)

Cheers

PM

drb said...

Why do you think Sex and The City is dreadful?

MedicatedMoo said...

I'm nicking this one as well!

Fave movies (today, at least - it'll change tomorrow)
To Kill a mockingbird
When Harry met Sally
This is Spinal Tap

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi drb,

Mainly because there is nothing in it that appeals to me at all.

I find SJP particularly irritating at the best of times and I think the characters are way OTT.

But I can see why it appeals to women. I don't know any men who like it.

:0)

Cheers

PM

Plastic Mancunian said...

Bonjour Kath,

Feel free to steal it too and again I look forward to your answers.

This Is Spinal Tap is a wonderful film.

"This one goes to 11"

:0)

Cheers

PM

Chrissy Brand said...

Far too hard to name a single favourite film but always up there for me are:
The Trial (Kafka/Welles);
Goodbye to Lenin;
Amelie;
Shawshank Redemption;
Killing Fields;
Msr Hulot's Holiday;
A Matter of Life and Death.

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi Chrissy,

I've seen all but the top three - and yes - great films.

:0)

Cheers

PM

JahTeh said...

I can't believe you posted this in September and I'm only on question 3 in October.
"Under Siege" was a beauty but only because of crazy Gary Busey, Tommy Lee Jones and the blonde bimbo with the machine gun who failed to make film history by shooting a bad guy instead of Steven Seagal.

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi Jah Teh,

Crazy Gary Busey indeed. I've always liked him. Mad as a bucket of frogs!

:0)

Cheers

PM