September 16, 2003

My Favorite Movie

My favorite movie is, um, can I get back to you on that?

It's not that I don't know what my favorite movie is. That would be silly. No, I'm sure I can come up with one. Let's see. It's probably a comedy, because I generally like comedies more. I made a life decision long ago that I was generally pro-comedy.

It might be Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I'm pretty sure I've seen that movie more than any other. Except possibly for the Rocky Horror Picture Show, but we don't need to get into that. I've seen Holy Grail hundreds of times, and I've worn out more than one videotape. But really, I've seen it so often that I don't have any need to see it again. So I don't see how it can be my favorite, really. I mean, yes, I've basically memorized it. But on the other hand, that means that I can just watch it in my head, and if it's a movie I never watch, is it my favorite?

As a side note, I don't go around quoting Monty Python everywhere I go. I used to, but I got over that, because I didn't want to be, you know, that guy. Actually, I still do a lot of Python quotes, but they're obscure ones and I try to make them unnoticeable. They're like a delightful surprise for people who have wasted as much of their lives as me.

So now I'm looking at my dvds, trying to decide which is my favorite. It might be Aliens. That's a great movie. Between it and Highlander, I've quoted my way through an awful lot of role-playing games. (That's right, ladies: Monty Python and role-playing games. I promise I'll get more highbrow tomorrow.)

Boy, this is hard. I don't understand how people do it. Some people can just rattle off their favorite food, color, and member of the Brady Bunch, but I don't seem to have ranked my tastes that way. I'm going to try to convince myself that means I'm complex and mysterious.

Oh! It could be His Girl Friday. Every time I watch it, I want to go find people and drag them over and start explaining how great this movie is. Sometimes I even go through with it, which doesn't always work. Apparently, not everybody appreciates great cinema. Or possibly they don't appreciate me nudging them in the ribs saying "Hah? Brilliant!" every few minutes. Either way, while it's worked a few times, introducing people to His Girl Friday has been more a tentative goal than an actual achievement.

I'm running through the rest of the alphabet, and there are a few good nominations. I have an irrational attachment to Kill and Kill Again, but I wouldn't say it was my "favorite." Maybe my "favorite martial arts movie set in South Africa." The Muppet Movie? Mmmmaybe. Popeye? Possibly, but it's right there on the shelf next to The Princess Bride, which is also a good choice.

Yaah, so I don't know. My favorite movie is probably His Girl Friday. Or maybe Help! which I've just noticed I don't even own. What's up with that?

I think most of us, when asked about our favorite whatever just rattle off the first thing that comes to mind. At least that's what I do. Because I'd rather have a conversation about the merits of Sister Act 2 than a monologue about the impossibility of ranking ephemeral preferences. Because I can't manage that as charmingly as you.

Posted by: Anna Rain at September 16, 2003 06:20 AM

I'm one of those people that can rattle off their top five. The aren't numerically ranked, but are more like "top five", "five through ten", etc. What can I say? I went through a post-college "know thyself" phase where I tried to figure these things out about myself.

Anyway, they are: "The Blues Brothers", "The Jerk", "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure", "Moonstruck", and "Gone with the Wind".

Posted by: tortuga at September 16, 2003 08:51 AM

I was thinking "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" too, but the thing with me and movies is that I can only watch a certain movie three times, tops, in a years' span. I remember it too well and get bored. So, I can tell you what movie I'm currently liking ("Pirates of the Caribbean") but I wouldn't go so far as to call it my favorite. In my experience, most people don't know their favorite movie either - it's been a pretty sucky conversation starter, at least for me.

Posted by: AZ at September 16, 2003 03:44 PM

I generally think my favorite movie is either Bringing Up Baby or His Girl Friday.

Unless it's Philadelphia Story. Or Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

And once I get going like that, I start thinking of a zillion other possibilities. I hate trying to pick favorites or list the top ten of anything. My answer varies from day to day, even minute to minute.

Posted by: Laurel at September 17, 2003 09:31 PM

Help! is not, for some hideous reason, available on DVD. I'm not even sure I've seen a VHS copy recently. It would be a lovely addition to my collection, beside my Collector's Edition Hard Day's Night and my taped-from-VH1 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (a film that is both horrible and fantastic for all the same reasons).

Posted by: Schuyler at September 17, 2003 10:34 PM



	« My Favorite Musical \| Main \| Body Modification » September 16, 2003 My Favorite Movie My favorite movie is, um, can I get back to you on that? It's not that I don't know what my favorite movie is. That would be silly. No, I'm sure I can come up with one. Let's see. It's probably a comedy, because I generally like comedies more. I made a life decision long ago that I was generally pro-comedy. It might be Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I'm pretty sure I've seen that movie more than any other. Except possibly for the Rocky Horror Picture Show, but we don't need to get into that. I've seen Holy Grail hundreds of times, and I've worn out more than one videotape. But really, I've seen it so often that I don't have any need to see it again. So I don't see how it can be my favorite, really. I mean, yes, I've basically memorized it. But on the other hand, that means that I can just watch it in my head, and if it's a movie I never watch, is it my favorite? As a side note, I don't go around quoting Monty Python everywhere I go. I used to, but I got over that, because I didn't want to be, you know, that guy. Actually, I still do a lot of Python quotes, but they're obscure ones and I try to make them unnoticeable. They're like a delightful surprise for people who have wasted as much of their lives as me. So now I'm looking at my dvds, trying to decide which is my favorite. It might be Aliens. That's a great movie. Between it and Highlander, I've quoted my way through an awful lot of role-playing games. (That's right, ladies: Monty Python and role-playing games. I promise I'll get more highbrow tomorrow.) Boy, this is hard. I don't understand how people do it. Some people can just rattle off their favorite food, color, and member of the Brady Bunch, but I don't seem to have ranked my tastes that way. I'm going to try to convince myself that means I'm complex and mysterious. Oh! It could be His Girl Friday. Every time I watch it, I want to go find people and drag them over and start explaining how great this movie is. Sometimes I even go through with it, which doesn't always work. Apparently, not everybody appreciates great cinema. Or possibly they don't appreciate me nudging them in the ribs saying "Hah? Brilliant!" every few minutes. Either way, while it's worked a few times, introducing people to His Girl Friday has been more a tentative goal than an actual achievement. I'm running through the rest of the alphabet, and there are a few good nominations. I have an irrational attachment to Kill and Kill Again, but I wouldn't say it was my "favorite." Maybe my "favorite martial arts movie set in South Africa." The Muppet Movie? Mmmmaybe. Popeye? Possibly, but it's right there on the shelf next to The Princess Bride, which is also a good choice. Yaah, so I don't know. My favorite movie is probably His Girl Friday. Or maybe Help! which I've just noticed I don't even own. What's up with that?
	« My Favorite Musical \| Main \| Body Modification »
	Comments I think most of us, when asked about our favorite whatever just rattle off the first thing that comes to mind. At least that's what I do. Because I'd rather have a conversation about the merits of Sister Act 2 than a monologue about the impossibility of ranking ephemeral preferences. Because I can't manage that as charmingly as you. Posted by: Anna Rain at September 16, 2003 06:20 AM I'm one of those people that can rattle off their top five. The aren't numerically ranked, but are more like "top five", "five through ten", etc. What can I say? I went through a post-college "know thyself" phase where I tried to figure these things out about myself. Anyway, they are: "The Blues Brothers", "The Jerk", "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure", "Moonstruck", and "Gone with the Wind". Posted by: tortuga at September 16, 2003 08:51 AM I was thinking "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" too, but the thing with me and movies is that I can only watch a certain movie three times, tops, in a years' span. I remember it too well and get bored. So, I can tell you what movie I'm currently liking ("Pirates of the Caribbean") but I wouldn't go so far as to call it my favorite. In my experience, most people don't know their favorite movie either - it's been a pretty sucky conversation starter, at least for me. Posted by: AZ at September 16, 2003 03:44 PM is "his girl friday" about the girl whose like a tomboy and her "best friend" and the best friends boyfriend and a baby? Posted by: beth at September 17, 2003 12:38 AM No, it's a remake of "The Front Page" starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell. Posted by: Monty at September 17, 2003 12:39 AM I generally think my favorite movie is either Bringing Up Baby or His Girl Friday. Unless it's Philadelphia Story. Or Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. And once I get going like that, I start thinking of a zillion other possibilities. I hate trying to pick favorites or list the top ten of anything. My answer varies from day to day, even minute to minute. Posted by: Laurel at September 17, 2003 09:31 PM Help! is not, for some hideous reason, available on DVD. I'm not even sure I've seen a VHS copy recently. It would be a lovely addition to my collection, beside my Collector's Edition Hard Day's Night and my taped-from-VH1 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (a film that is both horrible and fantastic for all the same reasons). Posted by: Schuyler at September 17, 2003 10:34 PM Syndicate this site (XML)

My Favorite Movie

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