Monday, March 18, 2013

Ninja Captain Alex's Top Ten Movie Countdown / Music Monday



I thought this was one of the most devious ideas yet, for a blog hop!

Yes, I said devious....I mean, think about it...having to narrow down years of movie experiences down to just ten films?? I'm sure Alex is just sitting there...cackling in maniacal glee at the quandary he's put me in!

O.k, I'm sure he's not...but still...this is a toughie. All the particulars, as well as a list of others doing this hop, can be found HERE.

I think it's going to take some thought so, while I do that, I'll leave you with a little tie in Music Monday selection from The Statler Brothers. An old country classic...The Movies. (And you thought I just liked surf music....)




O.k, I think I've had some time to think and here's my top ten movies, in descending order:


10. Trancers-- I loves me some cheesy, "B" movies and no studio does them better than Full Moon Pictures. Trooper Jack Deth, trancer hunter extraordinaire, is sent back in time to stop a madman from murdering the ancestors of The Council and sending Angel City (Old Los Angeles) into turmoil. The only catch...he has to inhabit the body of an ancestor to complete the trip. And the other catch....the ancestor of the madman is a respected police chief. Cult movie icon, Tim Thomerson stars with a very young Helen Hunt (before Mad About You) and Telma Hopkins (Tony Orlando and Dawn, Family Matters). While not really Oscar worthy, it still remains one of my most favorite 'fun flicks'.












9. Armageddon-- I really can't tell you why this movie is on my list....it just is. Every time, without fail, that I see this on t.v., I stop what I'm doing and watch it. Maybe it's just the idea of a bunch of misfits getting together to save the world, or maybe it's just the Bruce Willis/Ben Affleck dynamic, I'm not sure. This movie even made me stomach Billy Bob Thornton who plays a great role as a NASA coordinator, tasked with saving the world. This movie also has one of my most favorite quotes from a movie.

 Dr. Banks: [going through the roughnecks' medical reports] Fail. Fail. Depressively fail! One toxicology analysis revealed ketamin, that is a very powerful sedative!
Harry: Sedatives are used all the time, doctor.
Dr. Banks: Well this one's used on horses.
Harry: Some of these guys are pretty big.


8.  Charlie Chan-- This really encompasses any of the films made back in the 1940s and featuring the famous oriental sleuth created by author Earl Derr Biggers. I always enjoyed Charlie's little bits of wisdom "Mind like parachute...only works when open." and the bumblings of his well meaning, but inept, Number One Son. Again fun films from a simpler time.









7. The Thin Man-- Another film series that I've always enjoyed. William Powell and Myrna Loy had incredible chemistry which, in my opinion, was most of the reason for the series' success. Powell plays famous detective Nick Charles who marries the wealthy Nora, played by Loy, and try as they might, they just can't seem to stay out of trouble. Mysteries and snappy patter abound in these clever movies.












6. Casablanca-- A timeless classic that has it all. Romance, action, adventure, Nazis...the works. Humphrey Bogart plays the American expatriate, Rick and Ingrid Bergman is his long lost love, Ilsa. For me, though, some of the best parts are played by Claude Raines, Sidney Greenstreet, and Peter Lorre at his creepiest.








5. The Avengers-- The movie that I didn't have a lot of faith in before it came out, but hit it out of the park when I saw it. I found it simply amazing how Whedon took such an ensemble cast, gave them each screen time, and still told an all encompassing story. Marvel really did it right with this one, I have to say. From the teasers in the separate films to the finished product, this movie really made it feel like I was watching a comic book come to life...and that's saying something.















4. Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins-- Based on the old Destroyer novels and starring Fred Ward and Joel Gray, this action/adventure tale didn't fare well at the box office, but I've always found it to be just one of those 'fun' films I can watch over and over. I've tried giving the novels a read, but never got very far so I have to wonder just how well the film sticks to the original source material. Either way, though, I guess you could classify this as a 'cheesey' sort of movie, but I'm good with that. It does one of the things I feel movies should do, if nothing else, and that's entertain.












3. Back to the Future-- I've always loved time travel movies...especially one with as many twists and turns as this movie had. While I was never a huge fan of Michael J. Fox, I thought he was outstanding as the awkward teen who had to travel into the past to find the confidence to face the future. For me, though, the true star was Christopher Lloyd who played the 'slightly' eccentric, but father like figure of Doc Brown. This movie hit a lot of the right spots for me as far as blending action, sci-fi, romance (a tiny bit), and even teen angst into one great film.





2. Star Wars-- O.k, come on now...what self respecting, self professed, geek wouldn't have this one in their top ten? This came out at a time when sci-fi films weren't taken all that seriously. It started an almost cult like following among sci-fi fans as well as launched one of the biggest franchises in movie history. The hero's journey of Luke Skywalker is one I can watch again and again. Granted, I haven't been so enamored with the newer offerings as I was with the original but, to paraphrase Obi Wan Kenobi, 'a more elegant movie for a simpler time'.


And my number one movie is.......


1. Raiders of the Lost Ark-- Ever since I was a kid, I've loved the old movie serials. Having seen quite a few of them overseas, I fell in love with the weekly cliffhangers and the larger than life heroes (and villains) who escaped dire peril week after week. This film was all that and more....on steroids. Harrison Ford is just awesome as adventurer/archaeologist Henry "Indiana" Jones. Initially, I wanted to see this movie because 'Han Solo was in it'....but it wasn't long before Raiders surpassed Star Wars as my favorite film. It has all the elements I love in a film....except for time travel...and I can forgive that because it's just that good a movie.

I always wonder how this movie would have done if the original choice to play Indy, Tom Selleck, had taken the role?





So, there you have it....my top ten films....and, let me tell you..this wasn't easy. Thanks, Alex, for hosting this and I'll look forward to seeing everyone else's entries.

As they used to say in the old movies...."See ya in the funny papers"

66 comments:

T. Powell Coltrin said...

I love your picks. I also love most old movies.

David P. King said...

Excellent choices. A good blend of old classics and modern marvels, too. :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Avengers and Raiders - excellent choices. And Full Moon Pictures used to rule the 80's B movies.
And I just might be chuckling a little...
Thanks for participating in my blogfest!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Wow, those were some interesting picks, and took me a trip down memory lane - very cool!

And Tom Selleck as Indy . . .no, it just wouldn't have worked as well. I enjoyed those Magnum PI shows, but Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones.

Melissa said...

He's bad, alright. Besides the fact I'm wayyyy behind on movies, having to narrow them down to 10 was the reason I sat this one out. LOL

Armageddon, Star Wars, and Raiders would have likely made my list. ;)

Jeff Hargett said...

Armageddon and Back to the Future are great choices that I didn't include on my list. I love how they integrated each previous movie with the next in BTtF. I also commented how Bruce Willis' Six Sense performance was his best since Moonlighting, but he did a great job in Armageddon too. The over-protective, irate father opening scene? Priceless.

Petronela said...

Star Trek hehe brings back such ...memories :). Lovely choice of movies.

Julie Flanders said...

I didn't know Tom Selleck was the original choice to play Indy! I can't see that.
Loved Back to the Future too, I'd almost forgotten about that movie. Lots of fun.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Oh yes, Armageddon. Love that one.

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Very kewl favourites, but, oops, I think you missed Blade Runner!

Anonymous said...

You're right! It wasn't easy! I almost picked a few of yours too.

S.P. Bowers said...

I've seen The Avengers on several lists. We're going to have to find time to sit down and watch it.

nutschell said...

Great picks! Back to the Future is one of my all time favorite movies.
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com

Dani said...

I haven't seen some of these but the ones I have are awesome!

Al Diaz said...

I have seen and love 7 out of your 10. They are all great movies! And Armageddon is in my list too. :)

Unknown said...

Wow do I love these choices. The Thin Man is one of my faves of all time and should have included it on my list.

J.L. Campbell said...

Hi, Mark,
Give me an Indiana Jones movie every time.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I love Raiders. First one is still the best.

Unknown said...

The Avengers has made it on a bunch of peeps Top Ten list. It sure was a great movie, that's for sure. Back to the Future rocks. Now I want to watch the trilogy.

Great list and clever name for your blog. Love it!

Unknown said...

Ha, lol, Mark, no you didn't just tempt us with the Statler Bros!!! Total flashback. My head is spinning. Okay, onward to the movie countdown...AVENGERS!!!! YESSSS!!! You already know how I feel about that one. I also love Raiders, Armageddon, and it's really fuzzy, but I have some memory of watching Trancers. Great list! Next time, you'll have to leave us with some Kenny Rogers,or maybe some Oakridge Boys lol! :P

Unknown said...

Remo Williams was a great one. I keep finding movies I have forgotten.

Elise Fallson said...

Ok, I'll admit, I've never seen half of what you put up there. So glad you added Avengers, Jones, BTTF, Armageddon, and Star Wars! (:

Mina Burrows said...

I just watched The Thin Man about a couple of months ago. LOVE the series and classic Hollywood. And Charlie Chan to. Excellent list.

Unknown said...

Great choice on Back to the Future - I completely forgot about that!

Jamie

mshatch said...

You're reminding me I need to own the Back to the Future trilogy. It's one of those series you can watch over and over and still be entertained.

Nancy Thompson said...

You have a very interesting list!

Elsie Amata said...

It's a good thing I didn't do this hop. The more I see everyone's list, the more I think, yep, I would have picked that - just like Armageddon - great movie!!

Shannon Lawrence said...

Love the classics you chose! Fred Ward is always a cool guy. An Indiana being number one, woo-hoo! Love me some Indiana Jones. If only they'd put out Indiana Jones movies as fast as the Harry Potter franchise. There'd be so many more to love.

Shannon at The Warrior Muse

Sheena-kay Graham said...

You really love the classics man.

klahanie said...

Okay, skilfully avoiding mention of, oh no, not another blog hop, I shall now formulate my comment! :)

Mark, dude, I'm liking your list. However, I get confused cause I'm so old when I see mention of "The Avengers" I expect to see that fine English chap, John Steed and that lady in the skin tight leotards, Emma Peel.

Right then, my eagerly anticipated comment will abruptly end!

Mark Means said...

@Teresa: Thanks and I think they're some of the best :)

@David: I try to be well rounded when it comes to movies...if it's entertaining...I like it :)

@Alex: I've always loved those cheesy Full Moon films. Thanks again for hosting...great idea!

@Tyrean: I totally agree...I couldn't see Selleck as Indy nor could I see Ford as Magnum P.I.!

@Melissa: All great picks...you have great taste :)

@Jeff: I think that's part of the appeal of Armageddon for me...Willis did a great job in it :)

@unikorna: Thank you! :)

@Julie: Yep, he (luckily for us) couldn't get out of his Magnum commitment to do the movie :)

@Susan: Me too!

@Joylene: Oh yeah, another good one! :)

@M.J.: Yep, tough calls all around :)

@S.P.: Oh yeah, you definitely need to see it a.s.a.p!

@Nutschell: A definite favorite of mine, too. Great film.

@Dani: You should rush out to see them...they're all great! (well, in my view)

(Still catching up...more later :) )

Stina said...

Yay to Raiders of the Lost Ark. I had such a crush on Harrison Ford when it came out.

Mark Means said...

@Al: Yep, I definitely think we have the same movie tastes...of course, being a dragon, yours is probably well done :)

@Melissa: Thanks! The Thin Man (as well as many others from that period) have always been favorites of mine.

@J.L.: I couldn't agree more!

@L.Diane: Totally agree there. The first was the best, though I also liked the third.

@Julia: Oh yeah, Back to the Future is great and thank you for the kind words :)

@Celeste: Wow, you're a gal after my own heart...knowing the Statler Brothers as well as requesting some Oak Ridge Boys (which I will definitely do!). If you've seen Trancers, then you definitely will have me swooning! :D

@Karen: Well, if you like Raiders, you're fine by me! :)

@Jon: Remo Williams is one I always seem to forget...I didn't this time, though :)

@Elise: You know the classics and that's what's important! :)

@Mina: Oh definitely....classic Hollywood is the best, imo.

@Jamie: Thank you...I couldn't forget one of the classics :)

@mshatch: I very much agree....I've seen them a million times, it seems, and they never get old.

@Nancy: I'll take that as a compliment...thank you :P

@Elsie: It was -very- hard to narrow it down to just ten...

@Shannon: If I would have had room, some of the HP movies would have been up there, as well. Those were all very well done.

@Sheena: Yep, I think I might have been born in the wrong time period :)

@Gary: Thank you for your much anticipated comment ;) Isn't that why they called it "Avengers Assemble" 'across the pond'? To avoid confusion to that great show from the 60s? (which I'm a huge fan of, as well. Ahhh....Mrs. Peel... :D

@Stina: Definitely a great film :)

Robin said...

Several of your movies were in my list, too. My non-B list that is. Excellent list. I loved The Avengers. Of course, anything Joss Whedon makes is Pure Genius. Serenity was also on my list. As was Star Wars. I totally forgot about Raiders of the Lost Ark but it was Amazing. Excellent picks. And Casablanca is a Classic. Great Job.

Allison said...

Love the top three especially! Can't believe I forgot Indiana Jones on mine.

Allison (Geek Banter)

Mark Means said...

@Robin: Thanks and how could you forget about Raiders??? -faints- :P

@Allison: Yes, they're definitely 'geek worthy' :) You forgot about Indy too?? What's this world coming to?? :)

LD Masterson said...

The Thin Man series. Sigh. Now those were movies.

Shell Flower said...

Nice rounded list here. Casablanca is amazing. Back to the Future definitely deserves props. Glad to see it on someone's list!

Ella said...

Mark, I love your list! Gosh, this blogfest is making me crave popcorn-yikes. I just gave it up, for awhile. I love your top 5-they rock!
I was thinking about Charlie just yesterday-funny huh!

I haven's seen The Thin Man, but now I will :D

Thanks Mark-you rock!

Courtney Barr - The Southern Princess said...

You gave me some to add to my "TO WATCH" list...that makes me happy.

Such a wonderful list!

Mark Means said...

@L.D.: Yep, they sure were :) Love 'em!

@Shell: Thanks and totally agree...both films are awesome in their own ways.

@Ella: Hey, thank you :) Please, watch The Thin Man and let me know how you like it. If you enjoy Charlie Chan, I think you'll like those, as well.

@Courtney: Thanks and thank you for stopping by...glad I could help you with your list! :)

D.G. Hudson said...

Trancers was a surprise movie, we liked it a lot.

Samantha May said...

How I've never seen Armegeddon is beyond me. Must get on that.

Avengers is just an all around fun and awesome action movie. It's been getting a lot of love today!

Nicki Elson said...

Oh I think you nailed it with devious. Eclectic list and I just love the movies at the top (as you saw ;)) I'm so happy to see Back to the Future made some lists - I can't believe it's not on mine. Well, maybe next movie blofest, hehe.

Mark Means said...

@D.G: I think that's why I -did- like it so much..I was surprised it was as good as it was, especially for a cheapy "B" movie.

@Samantha: Oh yeah, you definitely need to watch, if only just once :)

@Nicki: hehe, yeah my tastes in movies is all over the place, for sure :) I'm with you, I saw a lot of films on other people's lists and kept thinking 'darn! forgot that one, too'..

Sherry Ellis said...

I've seen Back to the Future and Avengers on a lot of lists. Good choices!

Manzanita said...

OK, so you surprise me. Most on your list would be on my list too. I thought you were a young squirt. Well, compared to me, everyone is a young squirt. I had every movie of the Thin Man but they were on VHS and I tossed them this summer along with a lot of my old favorites. sniff sniff
I'm trying to lighten my load so my kids won't have to do it but now I keep buying more in DVD. See how that works?

Tara Tyler said...

you have some crazy picks mixed with the mainstream, i like it! i remember remo, that was good!

fun list!

Unknown said...

interesting combination! all great choices and very diverse!

Hart Johnson said...

Oh, ecclectic collection. There are some great ones... and several I not only haven't seen, but haven't heard of!

Julie Dao said...

GREAT movie picks! Raiders was always my favorite Indiana movie!

Anonymous said...

Love the list, Mark. Actually, the first one sounds like it has a pretty good premise.

Raiders is one of my all-time faves. And I also like so many old movies...was going to include some in mine, but 1970 was as far back as I went. Every Hitchcock movie would have been on the list!

PK HREZO said...

Got some great flicks on there... all except for Armageddon. lol That one is on my worst movie ever list.

And I'm happy to report I got my very own flux capacitor pin from MegaCon. Did you get yours???

Great to meet you!

Mark Means said...

@Sherry: Thank you and I hope Bubba would approve, too :)

@Manzanita: LOL...I was a young squirt many years ago, but thanks for the sentiment :) Hey nothing wrong with getting DVDs...they're a lot thinner than VHS, so don't take up as much room.

@Tara: One day I'll have to do a top ten of my fave "B" movies...-then- you'll see crazy :)

@Adriana: Thank you...yep, it's sort of all over the place =)

@Hart: You should give a few of them a look...all great films (imo)!

@Julie: Thanks and same here. If I could only see on Raiders movie again, it'd be the first.

@Mike: Thanks and, yeah, I didn't add North By Northwest or Masquerade or Rear Window, but those are all great, as well.

@Pk: LOL...I'll admit some of them aren't for everyone :) You got a flux capacitor pin? We didn't even see those :( Of course we were all over the place and weren't there for very long. Fun show, though. Great meeting you, too :)

Mel Kinnel (@TizMellyMel) said...

Raiders and Back to the Future take me back to my teenage years. Oops! I just told me age. LOL! Star Wars is another one of my faves too.

Trisha said...

That cheesy B movie sounds like heaps of fun :)

This is a great list, though I admit I haven't seen all of them!

Christine Rains said...

Awesome picks! I love seeing Indiana Jones as your number one. I always wanted to be Indy growing up. The closest I've gotten is that I live in Indiana.

Empty Nest Insider said...

I agree that Casablanca, and The Thin Man series are classics! Back To The Future is also a wonderful movie that is timeless. Great list Mark!

Julie

Mark Means said...

@Mel: Haha, well I'm guessing we might be around the same age, then...but I won't tell if you wont :)

@Trish: I'm thinking of doing a future post on the "B" movies I didn't mention, so we'll see.

@Christine: LOL...I didn't even get that close. Well, I did live close to Indiana, but it was a state away. =)

@Julie: Thanks! The Thin Man series is one of my favorites, for sure.

Yolanda Renée said...

Love, love, love the thin man movies. Excellent list!

Tammy Theriault said...

hey, just know that my husband likes some of your cheesy movies, too! does that make you feel cool or what??? :D

RaveAir said...

Great list with very great movies!

Maurice Mitchell said...

Great movies, but I was surprised to see Remo Williams on there! I loved the books and the movie, while cheesy, did a good job. You're right. Not Casablanca, but a watchable movie.

Unknown said...

I love these covers! Great choices!

Mark Means said...

@Yolanda: Thank you and same here! They don't make movies like that, anymore :)

@Tammy: Haha, yes...immensely cool and thank you :)

@Zoltan: Thank you much, I appreciate it :)

@Maurice: I really need to give the books another try. I've heard nothing but good things about them. I was a bit surprised I put it on there, too...but the more I thought about -why- I liked movies, the more it made sense. (at least to me)

@Ashley: Thank you and thanks for the follow :)

Anonymous said...

I'm not a huge fan of the older movies, but I like the variety. :3

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