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Welcome
Movies:
Classics
Current
Books:
Classics
Current
Webrings:
Movies
Books
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"To receive at
once the benefit of sleep, and do the effects of watching!"
My classics
A Room with a View—1986, Comedy,
Romance
Charade—1963, Comedy, Romance,
Suspense
Field of Dreams—1989, Fantasy,
Drama
Star Wars—1977, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Babe—1995, Fantasy
The Awful Truth—1937, Comedy, B/W
Wallace and Gromit—3 Animated
Shorts, Comedy
My Fair Lady—1964, Musical,
Romance, Comedy
Philadelphia Story—1940, Comedy,
Romance
Pride and Prejudice—1995,
Comedy, Romance
To Kill a Mockingbird—1962, Drama
Die Hard—1988, Action
When Harry Met Sally—1989,
Comedy, Romance
Better Off Dead—1985, Comedy
Monty Python and the Holy Grail—1975,
Comedy
Highlighted links below lead to  .
A Room
with a View
I love romance—even muted, stifled, prim Edwardian romance. The kind
that would make cynics cry into their Cheerios from sheer boredom. ARWAV is muted.
It is stifled. But in the final accounting, it isn't prim. I've never
watched this movie with my husband. Part of me knows that the credits would roll and
he would boggle, albeit silently, at two hours spent on such a small story. But I
find ample glee giggling at Forster's sly, wry humor. Besides, nothing like a bit of
gratuitous male frontal nudity to enliven a quiet evening at home.
Charade
No one has ever been more luminous on screen than Audrey
Hepburn. She was astonishing in a way no modern movie idol can hope to
emulate. Combined with the charm, even late middle-aged charm, of the cleft-chinned
Cary Grant, plus a truly marvelous murder mystery, and you have one of my all-time
favorites. It is more graphic than I usually choose, but I've made a rare
exception. Flavorings of Hitchcock on the streets of Paris.
Field of Dreams
Beyond almost anything is my love for baseball, and no movie ever made has captured what
is most magical about baseball better than this Costner film. It gets rerun so often
on cable that, without even owning a copy, I've seen it at least twenty times.
Fortunately, my husband shares my love of this film; he rarely flips past it either.
I do not know why baseball seems such a melancholy sport, why its history is so important,
I just know that I would mow down every cornfield in Iowa for the chance to watch a game.
Star Wars
What a movie for capturing and transcending clich�. SW derives its
charm not from defying expectation, but from embracing it, swallowing it, making it truth
in a way that only truly seminal works can achieve. Watching it is movie bliss, myth
made real, but not bothering with realism. Besides, I never get tired of seeing that
stormtrooper bash his head on the door frame.
Babe
My father always told me that piglets were cuter than any other baby.
Sorry, Dad, for ever doubting you. This sweet, funny, and somehow sad story has
eclipsed even Charlotte's Web for talking pig glory.
The Awful Truth
Raise your hand if you dream in black and white. Never let anyone
convince you that B/W movies are out-of-date. There is such crispness to these old
films. It doesn't hurt that the writing is superb and the actors excel at comic
timing. This movie is worth watching if only for the recital scene. Sparkling
screwball comedy at its best.
Wallace and Gromit
I love animation, and this animation is brilliant. I never really
realized what could be done with lumps of clay. Evil penguins, woolly lambs in
sweaters, and moons genuinely made of cheese... you have to see it to believe it. My
nieces and nephew were enthralled, but I think I loved it more.
My Fair Lady
Audrey Hepburn again, as the quintessential Pygmalion creation.
No one transforms better from an ugly duckling into a swan. MFL is a musical, but
not an obtrusive one. The lyrics are wonderful, the singing so-so (Rex Harrison can
barely carry a tune, but I don't mind—neither can I). "The Street Where
You Live" is a beautiful song, beautifully sung. Is this a romance? I'm
not sure, but I'll call it one until I decide.
Philadelphia Story
This film has the best casting of any film of any era. That's my
story, and I'm sticking to it. Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and Jimmy
Stewart—all in one movie. Grand. And the story is a bittersweet mixture
of comedy and angst. See it on the big screen if you get the chance. These
actors are too big for TV.
Pride and Prejudice
(miniseries)
I have declared this the best adaptation of a novel to film it's ever
been my privilege to see. Even the silences are well done. I particularly
enjoyed a scene late in the movie when Mr. Bingley comes to call. The discomfort of
the entire family is so quiet, and so obvious. Block out some time for this one;
it's a whopping 300 minutes.
To Kill a Mockingbird
The second best novel adaptation I've ever seen. Gregory Peck *is*
Atticus Finch. Since this is one of my favorite novels, as well, I'm doubly
pleased. But be sure to read the book. It's even better.
Die Hard
I'll admit that DH isn't my type of movie. Too much blood, too much
violence. But it's the best movie of its kind I've ever seen (granted, that's not
saying much). I'm too squeamish to watch the gruesome bits, but the parts between
gruesome bits are really quite good.
When Harry
Met Sally
One of the funniest movies I've ever seen, WHMS is a very modern take on romance.
No love at first sight nonsense here (although I liked "Sleepless in
Seattle," a very "love at first sight" sort of movie almost as well).
The conversations feel like real conversations, only funnier.
Better Off
Dead
My ultimate cult film, BOD has become a part of my everyday conversation.
"You LIKE raisins!"
Monty
Python and the Holy Grail
In my opinion, the funniest movie ever made. I'm certain it is the most oft
quoted film on the internet, so I won't bore you with the details. I have to stop
writing, now. I just remembered the "Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch" and
typing while giggling is too hard.
Email me:
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