Day 28- Favourite film from your favourite director

Before 1970: Robert Aldrich. Considering three of his films are in my top ten films of all time, this is a no-brainer. I can't say that for any other director. Several of his other films I'd also rate very highly. Since I've talked about The Dirty Dozen before, I'll go with my second favorite film directed by Aldrich - The Flight of the Phoenix (1965).

"Is that meters or yards, Mr. Dorfmann?"

I should devote a whole post to this movie, but for now, I'll just say that the outstanding ensemble cast and the well-written dialogue just awe me every time. I particularly love Hardy Kruger's Dorfmann and Richard Attenborough's Lew Moran. The scene where Moran goes from laughing hysterically to sobbing is just bloody brilliant. Ian Bannen is another favorite. I love watching Dorfmann butting heads with Frank Towns (Jimmy Stewart). And yet they still get the job done, all tempers and egos, cold practicality and emotions, clashing magnificently, right through to the very end. I always did prefer Jimmy Stewart when he played cranky loner characters to cheerful ones, and in this movie he's saddled with a load of guilt on top of it. I love the moment when he admits to himself in his log that the cause of the accident was "Pilot error."

The movie also has my favorite deVol score, and I'll take his sweeping desert theme over Jarre's Lawrence of Arabia main theme any day.


Post 1970: James Cameron. Also a no-brainer. He's the only modern director that has given me quite a few of my favorite modern films, Aliens, Terminator, Titanic, and, of course, the new one, and my favorite film by Cameron to date: Avatar. Appropriate to be writing this now, as the movie is currently back in theaters for a short two-week re-release. My sister and I went and saw it twice this past weekend, and hopefully we'll get to see it again this coming weekend before it leaves the theater. This is one of those films that must be seen on the big screen, and I love the 3D. We drove the extra distance to see it on an IMAX screen, since I refuse to sit through the Real3D version again. I've talked about how much I love this movie previously, so I won't repeat, but, if anything, I loved the movie even more seeing it again this weekend. Avatar is a particularly immersive, emotional experience (something watching it at home on DVD simply cannot deliver). I always get teary at two parts. Happy parts, actually, not sad ones. Reminds me of the Lord of the Rings movies... I bawl at all sorts of non-sad parts in that one, like the lighting of the beacons in ROtK. Usually those moments are tied up in the music as well, which is the same with Avatar. I'm weird, I know, but that's how I react to overwhelmingly, beautiful things.

Day 27- A film you wish you had seen in theatres

The movies I'd wished I'd seen in the theater are numerous and I could probably list fifty here right off the top of my head that I'm dying to see on the big screen. I've been fortunate to catch quite a few in the revival theaters over time, though there's plenty I still want to see. Of those, I'm going to go with these two, as I think they're both particularly crying out for a big screen viewing.

Before 1970: Where Eagles Dare (1968). One of my favorite war movies, one the family watched all the time growing up, the story that introduced me to Alistair MacLean, and that introduction, changed my life. This movie has sweeping on-location scenery, and that wonderful nasty cable car journey and fight that I would just love to see in a darkened theater. I'd love to see Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood wreaking havoc big screen. This is a movie meant for the big screen, and if it ever gets shown somewhere, I'll do my darnedest to try and get there for the viewing. (Really, I'd like a triple feature... this one, The Great Escape, and Von Ryan's Express -- three of my favorite war films that all require the big screen for proper viewing.)


Post 1970: Galaxy Quest (1999). Don't ask me how I managed to miss this one, but I didn't discover this one until later, on DVD. The rest of my family saw it in the theater, but for some reason, they just didn't make an impression on me that hey, you don't want to miss this one. It promptly became a family favorite when it was released on DVD and I kicked myself for missing it. I'd love to see it re-released.

Day 26- A film that you love but everyone else hates

Waterworld (1995). LOL! And I do, I love this movie, I really love this movie, and I freely admit it. But I appear to be quite alone in this, even though I don't get the hatred. Even my sister loathes this film! The ocean setting is way cool, the plot is fun and since it's a fantasy, who cares if the oceans really wouldn't rise that high? The action is exciting, the end satisfying, Dennis Hopper as the Deacon (and his Smoker minions) is just the right shade of crazy. This is an popcorn action/adventure, post-natural-apocalyptic film, with characters I cared about. I saw it in the theater when it first came out and, honestly, there wasn't anything I didn't like about this movie (except the score... this is another of those movies, like Tombstone, where the score is better outside and separate from the film than it is in it... though I've come to like it with the movie too). It's like Mad Max on the high seas, though I would rather watch this film than any of the Mad Max movies (and I'm quite fond of the second one too).

Kevin Costner is great in the cynical, tough loner role, the Mariner. His character is more action than words, and he plays it well. His trimaran is one of the coolest boats ever, with a bunch of nifty gadgets to allow one man to run her where three would probably better. That boat makes my top ten favorite vehicles list. I love how he gets saddled with Enola (great name!) and Helen, and how he slowly comes to love and protect the little girl. The scene where he teaches her to swim is one of my favorite moments. The entire rescue scene is my other favorite part. "Why aren't you rowing?"

There's the theatrical version and the longer version, and I love both. I've actually only seen the long version once, but it explained a lot and filled things in, and I need to check it out again. The theatrical version is the one I know best.

So, yeah. Waterworld is the film I love but everyone else hates!

Day 25- Favourite film villain

These questions are slightly tricky. Not best. Not scariest. Not most evil. But favorite villain. Which is quite different.

Before 1970: Messala, Ben-Hur, 1959. The character who introduced me to one of my favorite themes - betrayal. And boy howdy, he's really got the corner on the betrayal market, and all just to get ahead in the world. Doesn't realize success will only take you so far, and friendship is one of the precious fragile things in life you can't take for granted. He also assumes Judah will think as he does, big mistake, and when he discovers that Judah chooses to protect his people over siding with the Romans, Messala feels a bit betrayed himself. Of course, he set himself up for that fall. I always liked that he investigated the rooftop accident himself, found Judah was telling the truth -- and then did nothing about it. Still miffed and and finding another way to success through Judah's fall. He really is out to win, which is perfectly demonstrated by the ruthless way he drives his chariot in the famous race. And then, he gets the best death scene ever. Judah Ben-Hur's journey through hatred and back would be nothing without a worthy antagonist, and Messala is that and then some. I've loved him since the first time I saw the movie.


Post 1970: Rene Belloq, Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1981. Ahhh, how I love Belloq. I'm particularly fond of bad guys who are one step ahead of the good guy, and Belloq was always a smart one. Well, until that minor misconception over what the ark would allow him to do. But the rest of the time, he's often ahead of Indy, and when Indy does slip ahead, Belloq figures things out and gains the upper hand again. I love that. He doesn't like the Nazis he works for, but they're useful, bringing him funding and manpower he wouldn't have otherwise, and so he tolerates them. He's also handsome and charming, something my favorite villains have in common.

Day 24- Favourite film based on a book/comic/etc.

Well, a lot of my favorite movies are based on books, including my favorite movies of all time, so I'm going to go with movies with a comic book source here instead. And that gives me:


The Rocketeer (1991).

This movie didn't do well when it came out, and I've never figured out why because it's a great movie. The only thing I can think is with the period setting and the story line, this is a very old-fashioned movie. Maybe it just didn't jive with modern audiences, where people like me, who love older movies, period settings, and action -- well, this film was right up my alley. I mean it's set in the late 1930s, has Nazis and Hollywood actors and gangsters, a zeppelin, airplanes, Griffith Observatory, a wonderful Rondo Hatton look-alike, Howard Hughes, great costumes, a hero who flies, and a fabulous James Horner score. This is such a fun movie! The cast is perfect, the movie well-paced, funny dialog, the action thrilling. I love this movie.

Cliff: "How do I look?"
Peevy: "Like a hood ornament!"

Day 23- Favourite animated film

Before 1970: Fantasia (1940). This is actually the only animation film I own on DVD, though I like most of the early Disney films. There's quite a few of the one in the '60s and the more modern ones that I've never even seen (101 Dalmatians, Jungle Book. etc.) Fantasia, though, is perfect. The animation is gorgeous, lush, exquisite. The music is wonderful. I grew up on classical music, and I'm sure this movie shaped the way I hear music, and even the types of classical music I like. I prefer my music to evoke images. This is also part of the reason I love orchestral soundtracks so much. My favorite segment of Fantasia is Beethoven's 6th Symphony. I love the flying horses, unicorns, centaurs, and mythological setting. The only section that I don't love is the sort of intermission bit on notes/sounds. Though, man, every time I see the Night on Bald Mountain segment as an adult, I'm surprised that it didn't scare my pants off as a kid. It's frightening!

(my favorite moment - brave mommy unicorn)

(exquisite animation)

(Love those water-toting broomsticks!)

Post 1970: Cars (2006). This is my hands-down favorite of the Pixar films. I do not tire of watching this one. You know it's bad when your nephew wants to watch something, and you're telling him "Cars! Let's watch Cars!" just because you want to see it yourself. I find this ironic too, because I don't like car racing generally, and I also cannot stand Owen Wilson in anything I've seen him in -- but I don't mind him at all as the voice of Lightning McQueen. He suits the role. I love the story of this one, the little life lessons. I love love love Doc Hudson, love the whole tractor-tipping, love how the beautiful scenery awes McQueen. Love the town of Radiator Springs and how they spiff it up. Love Mater and Luigi and Guido and, really, all the characters in Radiator Springs. It's just a very satisfying movie, and it doesn't get old. (The Cars dvd also has my favorite Pixar short film: One Man Band. I haven't tired of that one yet either!)

Day 22- Favourite documentary

Well, this is embarrassing, but I haven't seen any. I've watched a ton of documentaries and science shows on PBS etc., but not actual documentary films. The only one I can even remember is one on the Alamo that I saw on an IMAX screen in San Antonio. I really loved that. The Alamo is one of those moments in history I just can't get enough of. But I'm quite remiss in viewing anything in the documentary film world.

Day 21- Favourite film from your favourite actor/actress

Favorite film with William Holden? That's easy. The first film I knew him from, The Horse Soldiers (1959).

This is one of those movies I don't really have any memory of seeing for the first time, because it was part of the John Wayne round-up of films we watched whenever they came on TV. When I was little, I loved Constance Tower, in her gorgeous dress, cleverly scheming to find out the Yankee plan. I loved her spitfire attitude, her attempts to escape or warn the Confederate soldiers, how she changes as she witnesses war and its cost. But I never did understand why she fell for John Wayne and not that other guy, the doctor, the one who was so good-looking and willing to go toe-to-toe with John Wayne. That William Holden guy.

I loved his character of Major Kendall. He starts out friendly, here to do his job, but Colonel Marlowe (John Wayne) just lays into him from the get-go. Kendall's not one to let it wash over him, so the animosity between the two men grows. This is one of those movies that even though I own it on DVD, I can't just scene jump to the "good parts" at the end. There's quite a few movies like that, where jumping ahead just ruins the ending, because what makes the ending work so well is sitting through the rest of the movie to get to that point. You gotta have the build up. Like Flight of the Phoenix... I can't jump to the starting of the plane, even though I've seen the movie fifty times. When that engine finally catches, what makes it so satisfying is what you've gone through to get there. Gladiator's like that, and a bunch of others. Payoffs have to be earned.

The Horse Soldiers is that way for me too. My favorite part is when William Holden finally gets pushed too far and dashes his drink in John Wayne's face. And off they go to duke it out. And it gets better when Holden asks him what the rules of the fight will be, and Wayne says "Just make up your own." So Holden slugs him on the spot. Very satisfying. Alas, their fight is way too short, interrupted by battle, but that just leads us to an even better scene, when Wayne gets shot and Holden gets to treat him. Hah. I love it.

The rest of the film has nicely spaced action scenes, cool scenery, a catchy main theme that I will find myself singing for the next two weeks after a viewing of it. I love that the love story is understated, that it just happens quietly, almost in the background, the characters conveying emotions with looks and actions more than words. I love that William Holden stays behind with the wounded soldiers at the end. And I really love the Wayne/Holden actor combo. They sell this story to me.

Day 20- A film you wish someone would make

There's a lot of films I wish someone would make. How about some original films instead of a hundred and one remakes????

But for today, I'd rather like to see an action film starring Daniel Craig, Ewan McGregor, Sam Neill, and Neil Patrick Harris -- with Colin Firth as the bad guy. With no jerky camera movement. With beautiful scenery. And a score by James Newton Howard. I'd be more than happy to write the script.

Yep, that would make me happy.

Day 19- The most hilarious film you've seen

One of those hard questions for me. I'm not very user-friendly with most comedy. The movies I find funny aren't actual comedies. Hilarious implies one I'm laughing at constantly and I'm not sure I can name one.

Er, this is probably as close as I'm going to get.

Before 1970: I do love It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. And I love What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? I love the Road movies, particularly The Road to Bali and The Road to Rio. The Princess and the Pirate is also highly amusing.

Post 1970: Well, A Life Less Ordinary is right up there at the top of the list, along with Free Enterprise and, I have to admit, Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa. I thought I would rather hate the latter, but after watching it a few times with my little nephew, the sheer absurdity of it won me over and now I love it. The awesome crazy penguins and Alec Baldwin's presence help.

Day 17- Favourite film quote

"We go on that mission we all get killed. That's what they want, that's what they want! Those idiots in there, they're going to get chopped, every last one of them, they're not even due for hanging. You, you slob, you slob, what do you think you got coming?" --Victor Franko - The Dirty Dozen

Favorite line and most quoted line of dialogue from any movie around the family demesnes, usually just the last sentence, but often more than that.

"And it exploded!" --Teb, Galaxy Quest

I'm not sure what my absolute favorite line is for a more current movie, but this one's right up there. It's also the most quoted line from a modern film around here.

Day 16- Film character you relate to the most

Okay, my answer is probably going to sound really really weird. But I've been thinking and thinking about this question, and I keep coming back to the same answers.

It sort of ties in with William Holden, and why he is my favorite actor. A big part of it is because I relate very strongly to the types of characters he plays, and that is a naturally attractor. I ran through all of Dana Andrews' movie characters, and despite the fact that he's one of my favorite actors... I actually don't relate to any of his characters. Not one. But William Holden... now I can name half a dozen characters off the top of my head, without looking at his filmography, that I can relate to.

There's two, though, that I relate to more closely than any of the others. They're nearly a tie, but as one movie features a love story and the other doesn't, that lets Pike Bishop from The Wild Bunch edge out Capt. Roper from Escape from Fort Bravo.

I said it was going to sound like a really really weird answer, particularly for a girl to choose. But when I finally sat down and watched The Wild Bunch for the first time a couple years ago (I'd only seen pieces of it prior to that), the thing that I liked most about the movie was how much I related to the character of Pike.

From the little things: how he wears two holsters -- a shoulder one in addition to the one around his waist (and tucks away a third and fourth pistol before the end fight) and not that I even own a gun, mind you, but in childhood games involving squirt guns, etc., that's how I did things. The little private thank-you/farewell exit salute he gives the train engine for serving them well, so to speak; I'm always doing that with inanimate objects -- to the way he sits there thinking all the time, to the hat doff salute to Robert Ryan's character, to the things that make him smirk.

To the big things: to the things he believes in, to the grudge about the husband who shot him that he's carried every day after, to deciding to trust the wrong person and getting shot in the back for it, and most particularly: to the plans he makes. Logistically, the character plans and anticipates and safeguards his actions and men exactly the way I would. The first time I watched the film, I spent a lot of time thinking, for example, "you know, the Mexican troops are going to try to take those guns without paying for them, so if that was my gang, I'd rig it so... yep, he just did that." And then nodding to myself, pleased. I'm very much in synch with the character of Pike Bishop. Right down to the ending. He doesn't blame his former partner for coming after them ("he gave his word!"), and he also knows that Deke is probably the one man good enough to catch them eventually. And that, plus witnessing Angel's mistreatment... I'd do the same thing myself at that point. And there's that moment where he's taken out Mapache, and the gang could probably still walk out alive. The Mexican troops are so shocked, they're just sitting there, leaderless and lost. Pike has a choice. Walk out and go back to running from Deke in a world that had no place for him or his gang anymore, or go out, guns blazing, and take some of those troops that have been hunting Angel's people with them. Sort of a community service, if you ask me, as the only "good" people in this film seem to be the mountain villagers fighting to stay alive. I never did want to live forever. I'd make the exact same choice.

So, of all the film characters I've been rattling around in my brain, for better or worse, I keep coming back to Pike Bishop as the one I relate to most.




(Random aside... you think Joss Whedon likes this movie perhaps? There appears to be some Wild Bunch name homage in Buffy -- Angel, of course, and Lyle and Tector Gorch show up in a Buffy ep as well. Isn't the main guy in the Buffy movie named Pike? I think I'll start paying attention, see if there's any more Buffy/Wild Bunch name connections. Or I'll just google it and see if anyone else has noticed that too. Weird.)