What makes your favorite movies... your favorite movies? What makes a movie so great that you will watch it over and over and over? That you will giggle every time its on, or you will pump your fist in the air saying "YES!!", or you will just grab a box of hankies because you know you'll cry, or will make you put down the remote when you flip past it, because you know you're done surfing?
So I decided to create my favorite movie list... one hundred of them. The Dave100.
I thought about this most of the summer. Went through dozens of emails sent to me after I asked many of you what you thought about certain movies. Went back and forth on some films, spent most of my time on the final 20 or so, knowing movies I'd have to leave out.
Some of the films that were left off the Dave100, that could have easily worked their way in if I thought about it include: Big... Crimson Tide.. Finding Nemo... Return of the Jedi... Karate Kid... Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves... Armageddon... The Philadelphia Story... License to Drive... Toy Story... Close Encounters of the Third Kind... Fight Club... Face/Off... Dumb & Dumber and Inside Man
See, "Inside Man" I had a hard time with... if I did a Dave110, or even a Dave105, it might've made it... but its so new. "Inside Man" is an incredible film, and I've seen it four or five times this summer since it came on Starz! movie channel, but one of my considerations was how movies has grown on me.
Like everyone, there are movies that I watched early in life that I was obsessed with--"Howard the Duck", "Willow" and "Legend" to name three. Now? I can't watch them at all. The films are terrible. And some, like "Oceans Twelve" or "Independence Day" or "Close Encounters", have grown in stature and enjoyment as the years go by. But, how will I feel about "Inside Man" in five years? In a year? Who knows. I had the same problem with "Cars"... one of Disney's best, but its still too early to judge. Besides the "does it get better with age" factor, here are some other factors I considered...
Do I want it to end? Or am I enjoying it so much, I want to see the next chapter of the characters lives?
Do I like the cast? Is this a silly movie anyone can do, or am I impressed by the acting chops displayed before me?
Do I like every bit of this movie, or are there parts I could take or leave? Too many subplots? Too few satisfactory explanations of things?
Is it enviromentally friendly, does it promote racial equality, the rights of minorities and alternative lifestyles or... sorry, I couldn't keep a straight face. Seriously, does it keep me entertained?
And a big one... when I'm flipping channels, and come to this movie, do I immediately stop? Do I stop just because a cool part is coming up, or do I stop because I'm watching it til the end, no matter where it is in the movie... we've all got films like that.
You will have different qualifications for your favorites... but this is some of mine.So, we begin a 100 film trek to reveal my favorite film ever. I will say that I've had the same favorite film for about fourteen years... until very recently, as it now has been replaced by another I deemed more worthy.
Along the way, we'll come across 8 Harrison Ford flicks, 8 Tom Hanks flicks, a trio of Jodie Foster, Audrey Hepburn and Michael Keaton movies, and somehow, Darryl freakin' Hannah made the list three times. Toss in some Mel Gibson, a few Meg Ryans, and a J-Lo appearance, and you have some of the Dave100.
Also, along the way, I'll have some running commentary from the likes of The Lovely Steph Leann, Mama P, NYC Jenni, Matta Latta, Mikey, The Enchanting Nikki Brown and Clouds In My Coffee's own Mo Rocca, Scotty Latta... and several more.
Maybe you'll agree with some... maybe you'll be outraged that "anyone could like that crap!"... maybe you'll think "hmm... I've been meaning to check that one out. I think I will now"... maybe you'll wonder where certain films are, wondering how anyone in their right mind could leave off "-----" and include "------". But thats the beauty of a favorite list... its my favorite list.Beginning with my next post, and continuing until I finish it all... Dave's 100 Favorite Movies of All Time (August 13th, 2007)
UPDATED INTRO, written the morning of July 17th, '08... Now, I wrote that last year, and I think that intro makes pretty good sense. Well, time got away, many things happened, and the list stopped at #92. I've still got it, and upon looking at the list, I still agree on #92 thru #100. I made a few changes from #1 to #91, and even though at this point "Inside Man" could make it on the list, I still left it off, as it wouldn't rank any higher than #95... so why disrupt what I've already listed.
"Cars" does, however, make the list. I think the most important thing for me on my list, more than any other factor is, "Does it stand the test of time?" I mentioned "Ocean's Twelve" before, and I think that's my main example... I hated it when I saw it. Thought it was terrible. I mean, compared to the first one, I was sorely disappointed. A year later, it came on HBO, so I watched it again. And again. And again. And after subsequent viewings, I actually like it. Its not my favorite, and its 3rd on the list of Ocean films--Eleven, Thirteen and Twelve--but I do like it.
Conversely, a movie that I just can't watch anymore? "Mr. Holland's Opus". How great was that movie years ago? I mean, I was ready to declare it Top Ten Best Ever Made. Now? It bugs me. So much about that movie bothers me that I cannot watch it.
So, with my readership expanding, now including Dixon, Blair, The Angel, KT and many more, I invite your opinions as well, as we re-start our Dave100 listing...
Here's what we've done so far:
#100. Primary Colors... John Travolta stars as a Democratic Presidential nominee that mirrors Bill Clinton, even though his visions are that of what the Republicans are supposed to have.
#99. Airplane... You might as well call this one the Grand Daddy of all parody movies, because no one had really done it before. Or better since.
#98. Dogma... A satirical look at religion, from the mind of Kevin Smith. NOT for the faint of heart, but wow, its funny. And smartly done.
#97. Rocky III... Sly at his most unintelligible. Mr T at his popularity peak. Hulk Hogan before he became a laughing stock. Adrian at her whiniest. And men wearing short shorts, hugging uncomfortably on the beach... whats not to love???
#96. Black Dog... we all have those really, really crappy movies that you just love. This is one of mine.
#95. Spaceballs... Perhaps Airplane! does the parody better, but Mel Brooks has the satire down pat. This one is classic, even though Matt Latta has never seen it. That saddens me.
#94. Galaxy Quest... its funny how this and Spaceballs ended up back to back. Both takeoffs of classic genres (Spaceballs is Star Wars mostly, but Sci Fi in general, while this is mostly Star Trek) and both hilarious. Tim Allen is at his Not-Santa-Clause-Part-8 finest.
#93. Lethal Weapon... Mel Gibson's mullet alone makes this one worth it. At #93, it really encompasses all of them, because I really love all 4, but the first is still the best.
#92... The Rock... Such a quotable movie, and perfectly casted with Nic Cage, Sean Connery and Ed Harris. Actually, this comes on daily on Starz, I'm wondering if DirecTV is now offering a "Rock Channel".
Coming up soon... Steve Carrel makes his first appearance, Tom Cruise shines with showing the money and later, what makes a handful of teenagers bond in Saturday detention?
The Dave100 has returned, and will continue!!