Friday Top Ten

I've never had a weekly thing and I think it's time. Since I love lists, I present the LoB Friday Top Ten. My inaugaral post will be something near and dear to my heart: movies. I love movies: old ones, new ones, black and white, color, romance, comedy, sci-fi, suspense, action, drama, I love them all. I have an almost eidetic memory for movie scenes and lines, which that and a dollar will get me a cup of coffee. So without further ado:

Top Ten All Time Favorite Movies:

1. The Princess Bride - Maybe the most quotable and quoted movie of all time. What girl hasn't longed for their Wesley to say "As you wish." My husband and I do Fezzig style rhymes pretty much every day, because we're just that kind of dorks. At least we're well matched.

2. Young Frankenstein - Mel Brooks is a genius. Gene Wilder was an incomparable comedian, absolutely perfect as Froderick Frankensteen. Putting on the Ritz will never sound the same again. As fabulous as YF is, I would be remiss if I neglected to mention other Mel Brooks masterpieces: Blazing Saddles, History of the World Part I and Spaceballs. Clevon Little, Harvey Korman, Madeline Kahn, Cloris Leachman, Gregory Hines, Rick Moranis, John Candy. Just to name a few of the absolutely hilarious and wonderful actors he featured in his movies.

3. Sixteen Candles - Has anyone gotten teenagers since John Hughes? So funny, so poignant. Who didn't have a crush on Jake Ryan?

4. Star Wars - I was totally head over heels for Luke Skywalker at the tender age of 5. I had Star Wars sheets. Star Wars action figures. Star Wars space ships. You name it, I had it. I don't have a clear recollection of going to see the movie itself (I was only 3 when it came out), although I know I did, but I do remember waiting in blocks long lines with my family to see the Empire Strikes Back in 1980 and then the Return of the Jedi in 1983. I'm not sure I have ever been so excited to see a movie, before or since.

5. The Wizard of Oz - Hello. I'm from Kansas. Had a dog named Toto. Both my grandmothers were named Dorothy. Need I go on.

6. The Way We Were - Oh, Robert Redford. Oh, Barbara Streisand. I cry when I watch this movie. Every. Single. Time. "Your girl is lovely, Hubbell." *bawling*

7. Groundhog Day - Strangely when I first saw this movie, I didn't really like it. And yet, I have watched it over and over and over (Apropos, yes?). Where at first it made me sad, now it makes me optimistic. I heart Bill Murray. He has such a droll, sarcastic way about him.

8. The Big Chill - Perhaps one of the all time best soundtracks. A great ensemble film, there isn't a weak link in the bunch. It isn't often that you get a cast of such talented actors that play off of each other so well.

9. The Shawshank Redemption - How could you not love this movie? It's about anger, sadness, resignation, revenge, hope and, of course, redemption. Every time I watch it, I ask myself if I could crawl through 100 yards of a nasty, disgusting sewer pipe to attain my freedom. I don't know if I could. Could you?

10. Se7en - The only suspense/horror movie on my list. This movie had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. It haunts me as few movies have. Each of the deadly sins, played out in horrific gruesomeness. Kevin Spacey, Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman were, quite simply, amazing.

So that's it. My top ten movies. What's your favorite?