February 15, 2011

My Favourite Movies

I am joining up again with Kate at Kate Takes 5 for Listography this week.  Kate has had an exciting week taking the Irish television scene by storm...

Now I only have 4 favourite movies.  I couldn't make it to 5 because my Top 4 have been entrenched for so long that adding one more for the sake of it seemed...wrong in some way.

1.  Top Gun

Just love it.  It's cheesy and dated now but I still adore it.  It has everything. The young Tom Cruise (years before the Oprah couch incident) and the young Val Kilmer.  Characters called Charlie, Maverick and Iceman.  Lots of action. Lots of Rayban Aviators. Great sound track. It even has a plot (sort of).  What's not to love?

2.  The Castle

This is a very Australian movie.  The movie is based around a stereotypical Australian suburban family whose house or "Castle" is under threat by big business.  Absolutely hilarious throughout but has a lovely message about the importance of home and family.  Not to mention a stellar Australian cast.

It is also responsible for some of the best lines in history.  The dialogue is what makes this movie.

"Straight to the pool room"
"Tell em they're dreamin"
"How's the serenity"
"What's this darl?" "Rissoles, darl"
"You are an ideas man"
And the whole "microwave Jenny" vs "Jenny Jenny" conversation

I think Australians love it for two reasons.  One is that we have always been good at taking the piss out of ourselves.  The other is that most people I know recognise just a little bit of themselves or their family in The Castle - I know I do.

If you are not Australian you may never have heard of this movie - sorry!

3.  Love Actually

I know - sickeningly sweet and soppy.  I still love it.  The DVD is dusted off every December and I watch it in the lead up to Christmas.  And it still makes me laugh and laugh.

4.  Mamma Mia

Something about this movie gets me every time.  The setting is beyond stunning.  It has a heavyweight Hollywood cast who really let their hair down whilst singing and dancing (even if some of them can't, they give it a red hot go - that would be you Pierce...).  The main reason it is one of my all time favourite movies is the simple fact that if I start watching it in a bad mood, I am always in a much better mood by the end.  Plus The Farmchildren do some pretty funky dance moves to Abba.

22 comments:

Not A Ballerina said...

Great list! Am especially right behind you with The Castle and Love Actually. We used to show Love Actually to our ESL students at Christmas time and then I'd sneak the school's DVD home and watch it again. And again. And The Castle, well, there's nothing more Aussie.

Emma said...

I love Mamma Mia too and thought about putting it on my list but compared to the other I've only seen it a couple of times!

I am also very ashamed to tell you that I saw Top Gun for the very first time a couple of months ago!

Emma said...

Mamma Mia is truly fabulous! I adore it as well. Great list! x

Amanda said...

I love The Castle, makes me laugh every time :)

Semi Expat said...

I think I need to see The Castle as I am living in Australia now!! And Mamma Mia - what's not to love, especially all that wonderful dancing music? Agree that everyone smiles after watching Mamma Mia!! XX

Unknown said...

What wonderful choices. I love ALL those movies and still quote "The Castle" to this very day. Priceless. Pure Gold. (And is it too cheesy to confess I have the Top Gun soundtrack on LP and CD?) Love, love, love! xx

Kate said...

I like your list but I think you really need to work on getting a 5th in there - you've a lot of movie watching still to go and to know none of them are going to make your laminated list is, well, downright mean!

SLM said...

Mamma Mia is one of my top films but as Moulin Rouge made my top 5 I didnt want to have too many along the same themes. I am taking my mum to see the stage show of Mamma Mia this summer and can't wait. Top Gun, also another favourite, Great list

A Farmer's Wife said...

Thanks everyone.

Kymmie - I am impressed that you have the sound track on LP and CD... True devotion to the cause.

Kate - I just haven't found number 5 yet. I am thinking of it as a blank spot... I had a list of only 3 until Mamma Mia came out a few years ago (how bad is that).

QWERTY Mum said...

I really enjoyed Mamma Mia - proper feel good film

This Mid 30s Life said...

Top Gun and The Castle = perfection.

I saw The Castle in the cinema in Aus, and you couldn't hear half of it as the audience was laughing so much. I then saw it at the cinema in the UK and it was dead quiet, except for us. We were even shushed. I don't think they got it.

Tales of a Tai Tai said...

Awesome movies!! All of them! I'm the same with Love Actually - watch it every Christmas. And cry every time! And who wouldn't love topless men playing beach volleyball.....superb.

Anonymous said...

I've *still* not seen Mamma Mia... :(

adore love actually though XD

Kerry said...

Love the list but love your commitment to it even more! I'm going to have to check out the castle now!

Unknown said...

Top Gun is on my list :) I love Love Actually too.

I know lots of people will hate me for this but Mamma Mia just doesn't do it for me...I think my friends built it up too much so when I watched it I was just disappointed.

Donna said...

OMG - Can't believe it but we've like two peas is a pod!!! Love Top Gun especially the volleyball scene! The Castle is an absolute classic! Love Actually is at the top of my list and I could watch Mamma Mia over and over again! Great minds DO think alike!!!

Jennie said...

Great choices. I watched Love Actually twice this Christmas, a real festive favourite x

Michelle Reeves - Bod for tea said...

Never seen The Castle but Love Actually is a guilty pleasure :D Mama Mia didn't do it for me though, strange as I love musicals usually...

Leadership Learning said...

I love Top Gun and Love Actually, I haven't seen Mamma Mia but it's on my list of to watch!

A Farmer's Wife said...

Thanks everyone.

I am very impressed with the level of Top Gun devotion out there! I think, unless you are Australian, that The Castle just won't do it for you.

G said...

Great list... haven't seen Mamma Mia... it's sitting on our DVD shelf unwatched... it's next. I'm looking forward to it after that review! gxo

Ooh Baby - All things Cuteable said...

Love your Cheese! Especially Top Gun and the very english Love Actually. I thought about Top Gun myself - I could play a part in that film I've seen it so many times - aaah, great balls of fire! Thanks for stopping by my blog and nice to meet you ;o)