Ten Lucky Movies - Because They are My Favorites

How do you pick a favorite movie?

I've long proclaimed that asking me to pick a favorite is much like unto asking someone to pick their favorite child.  Alas, a couple of my friends (1,2) have recently blogged about their favorite movies and it really got the wheels in my head turning: "Perhaps I should finally at least narrow down my list?"

So what is my determining qualification?   Any movie that will make me absolutely excited anytime anyone says, "Let's watch..."

I believe some of my decisions will knock your socks off...with shock, not impression.  I maybe sorta kinda watch movies to escape.  My list of ten is a friendly list kinda number thanks to David Letterman.  But me?  I'm like Winnie the Pooh, I, "Think, think, think," and I definitely have my favorites that are above the others and then this garbled endless list* of, "but I love this one and this one and this one too..."  The point is, I'm not certain these are the top ten, but at the time of pressing "publish," they are.

There is a certain amount of nostalgia involved in my choices.  I've spent a lot of time thinking about why.  As an adult, there is a lot required to make me feel a sense of awe and wonderment or that feeling that what I am experiencing is changing my life.  As a child/adolescent, every new experience is embraced with the hungry vigor of youthful innocence.  In a strange way, I long for the days when I was so innocent and impressionable, each experience intense and eye-widening.  These movies bring those feelings to me again - every time I watch them I feel what I felt then.  And that, my friends, is a treasure hard to come by.

Jurassic Park


A League of Their Own


Goonies


You've Got Mail


Big


A Christmas Story 


Signs


Lord of The Rings Trilogy - Return of the King


Indiana Jones Trilogy - The Last Crusade


Back to the Future Trilogy - Part 1


What are your favorites?

*In case you are curious, the garbled list includes things like Little Manhattan, Shawshank Redemption, The Hot Chick, White Christmas, The Help, Life is Beautiful, The Family Man, 500 Days of Summer, The Prestige, Anything Disney, Sharktopus (don't judge), The Burbs, Elf, Gremlins, Princess Bride, Heart and Souls, Return to Me, Dances with Wolves, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Ten Things I Hate About You, Labyrinth, While You Were Sleeping...

Jewelry Commercials Make My Blood Boil

I hate jewelry commercials.  With a passion.  Probably as passionately as those ladies in the commercials pretend to be idiotic fools who know their man loves them because he buys them a diamond.  Really?

Are women that superficial and that easily assuaged?

These commercials have gotten me so embarrassed about the fact that I like shiny accessories every once in awhile, that I won't go anywhere near a jewelry store.  In fact, if I walk by that section in a store, I cast quick glances that direction, trying to sneak a peak like you would at a secret crush.  I mean, c'mon, who doesn't love some glittery sparkly loveliness?!

But to go all goo-goo ga-ga over a man because he gave me a diamond?  Puhlease, all that means is that he's got money.  I'd go so far as to say these commercials imply that he doesn't love you if he doesn't waste his hard-earned Benjamins on you.  There is so much spoiled, pretentious fuss about it all.

If you prefer the company of diamonds over the company of your man, I suppose this would do.

Don't worry, if you don't treat her right in any way, but buy her diamonds, you'll fool everyone, including her.

This got me thinking about the business mantra, "Don't bring up the problem without proposing a solution."

And this morning I saw one.  On the side of a bus, an ad with a rock-looking gemstone saying, "Boys like to throw rocks at girls."  Clever.  I would like to see more of this.  Or the funnies in the image below, which isn't an official ad, but by golly it should be.

Lord of the Rings Pez Dispensers

Last week I journeyed to the local Holiday station for a little beverage refreshment.  Nothing like a mid-day Diet DP from the fountain, freshly adorning the "good ice."  Yeah, you know the ice I'm talking about!

Anyway.  As I was walking to the register, something caught my eye.  And boy oh boy was it a beaut.  I had to share it. 

Would you spend your $20 on collectible Lord of the Rings pez dispensers?  Too hilarious.