Movie Madness Meme

OK, fantabulous Lydia has this on her blog. Naturally, I had to follow suit and share. There are ten questions about movies you've viewed. Be as elaborate or brief as you choose. Here we go!

1. The First movie that made you cry: I'm a cryer. There's never been a doubt about that, but the one film that is embedded in my memory for causing me to nearly go into convulsions was Terms of Endearment. I had lost my mother to cancer a couple years prior to this movie coming out. My father took me not realizing what the movie was about. By the time Debra Winger's character passes away, I was in a fit of tears. Dad had to escort me out of the theater because my tears and sobs were so intense that I could hardly walk or see. I haven't managed to watch the movie again.

2. The movie that everyone else seems to love, but you do not: Titanic. Maybe I'm just too cynical, but up until the ship sank, I was wondering when it was going to hit the iceberg and put me out of my misery. By the time I watched it with my friend Kristy, I had heard all the hype. Maybe I was expecting too much. Perhaps I just didn't find Leonardo DiCaprio's portrayal of Jack to be that convincing. It was all just too much and too long.

3. The movie that you'll watch over and over: There are really so many on this list. I have several 80-comedies that I never tire of, ie. Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Better off Dead, Caddyshack, Sixteen Candles, anything John Hughes wrote, produced or directed with the exception of the Home Alone flicks. The first one was enough. I'm racking my brain here. I can watch High-Fidelity and About a Boy repeatedly and feel like I'm watching either film for the first time.

4. The movie you're happy you saw in the theater: It's A Wonderful Life. Our beautiful downtown Paramount Theater hosts Christmas classics in December. Watching this movie is always tradition, but to get a chance to see it on the big screen just blew me away. I was able to share it with my son. That added to the pleasure of it. Seeing Jimmy Stewart on the screen as my parents had was awe inspiring. When George Bailey is in Martin's Bar pouring out his heart and soul; weeping intensely, I wept. I was pulled in and felt his pain. Truly a once in a lifetime opportunity that I couldn't pass up.

5. Movie that scares you the most: This is a tough question because I am not one for scary movies. However, I remember one particular movie I watched with the former Mr. Marissa. We'd borrowed several movies from friends when we were living in the country and without cable or antenna reception. Lou Diamond Phillips starred in this eery tale of the occult. The First Power. That flick was so frightening that neither of us would go out of the room without the other attached to our side. I made him go with me to the bathroom in our own house. We slept with the hall light on. It was chilling and horrific. The occult films frighten me the most.

6. The movie you love all the characters: Again, another tall order. Typically, like many people, there are characters you're not supposed to hate, but you end up wanting your money back just for their performance. Consider that I'm assuming not all the characters are intended to be likable, but they are portrayed well and pertinent to the plot ... hmmm Chocolat I love that movie. Each time I watch it, I love it even more. Johnny Depp, Juliette Binoche, Judy Dench, Alfred Molina, Lena Olin ... wonderful.

7. Your favorite kids movie: I've seen so many having a 13 year old son. However, just because he loves them and watches them countless times doesn't mean I do or will. I can guarantee it's NOT High School Musical. This is difficult. I enjoy the silliness and overall message in Lilo and Stitch. Ohana means family; and nobody is left behind. Or something like that. This movie came out at a time when my son and I were living in Georgia and scraping to get by. I remember him turning to me in the theater and saying, "we're a family. small, but family." It meant a great deal to hear those words from my wee little man. He knew we had family here and there, but the fact that he recognized me as his family ... well, the movie, despite it's flaws, has great sentimental value.

8. Your favorite black and white film: Dang! Narrowing this down will be next to impossible. I will try. I love b & w movies. They just don't make 'em like that anymore (even when the desperately try). I already mentioned It's a Wonderful Life. So, I don't want to take that route again. Ah! The master of suspense: Alfred Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt. If you haven't seen this movie, you need to add it to your Netflix queue, or just run out and rent it at Blockbuster. It's a masterpiece. Teresa Wright, Joseph Cotton. Just when you think it's safe to get up and go to the bathroom, you'll fear missing something and pausing will just throw off the continuity and nail biting plot. It's fab-u-lous!

9. The movie you love that might be embarrassed to admit: Son In Law that was easy. When Crawl writes his name in the corn field with the farm implement while he sings Thank God I'm a Country Boy with John Denver is just insanely wacky. The grandpa played by Mason Adams is a hoot. "Munchin' on some grindage... yeah, buddy." Pauly Shore flicks are a guilty pleasure. Encino Man? Count me in. You can't go wrong with Brendan Fraser and Sean Astin. Classic pleasure item. Jury Duty? Count me out.

10. Your favorite movie of all time: Love Actually. I can and will watch this movie everytime it's on. I own the DVD, but I'll still watch it when it's on the tube. I just adore it. Everything about it makes me smile. The soundtrack is kick ass. The individual performances are great. I walk away from this movie wanting more. The particular vignette that is most endearing is the relationship between Jamie (Colin Firth) and Aurelia (Lucia Moniz). She speaks no English. He speaks no Portuguese -- her native tongue. If you haven't seen it yet, and I find that hard to believe, it's another one to get in the Netflix line up. Just buy it because you'll want to watch it over and over.