15 Movies

Okay, I was inspired by a friend's 15 movies list on Facebook so I'm re-doing it here on my blog. Hope you enjoy as much as I enjoyed reminiscing! ;-)

Here it is:

Rules: Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen movies you've seen that will always stick with you. First fifteen you can recall in no more than fifteen minutes.

1) Shawshank Redemption - It came out in 1993, and a co-worker happened to be talking about a great movie he had seen. That same evening, I actually discovered the movie in my own home, apparently my bro had it. Tim Robbins and Morgran Freeman gave some of the finest performances. And, the narration in the film included such poetic language that I could still recite some of the lines today - 'Get busy livin or get busy dyin, that's god-damn right.'

2) The Breakfast Club - This was THE movie that validated teenage angst for me and made it okay and that we have insecurities in our young selves and the resistance toward the institution of school.

3) Superman - 1978 was the year. This was my first movie at the cinema, friends, popcorn and the works. And, when I saw Clark Kent ripping open his shirt....spinning through a revolving door, then flying up, up and away....i was like a deer caught in the headlights. ;-) I think I fell in love with the cinema that night.

4) The Outsiders - A 1983 film based on the S.E. Hinton novel. She was 15 when she began writing the novel and 16 when it was published. The book follows two rival groups, the Greasers and the Socs who are divided by their socioeconomic status. It was the first time I had heard poetry come to life when Ponyboy was reciting "Nothing Gold Can Stay' by Robert Frost, amid a glorious sunset as he and Johnny were hiding out from the Socs. The film had memorable elements: an ensemble of talented young actors (and every young gal like me had their posters on our bedroom walls), the cinematography was great set in the backdrop of small-town Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the score was Stevie Wonder's 'Stay Gold' and I could still hear the harmonica singing.

5) Grave of the Fireflies - A 1982 classic anime produced by Ghibi Studio in Japan, about a brother and sister (Seita & Setsuko) left orphaned from the Kobe air bombings during World War II. It is a tender, heart-wrenching, and sad film. Film critic Roger Ebert noted that it was 'the most powerful anti-war movies ever made.' I agree with that 100%.

6) An Autumn's Tale - 秋天的童話 A 1987 romantic drama directed by Mabel Cheung is one of my all-time favorite movies. Jenny, played by Cherie Chung, is a young woman who travels from Hong Kong to New York City in hopes of reuniting with her boyfriend. She stays with a long-distance relative (Samuel, played by Chow Yun Fat) in Chinatown, and they develop a heart-warming bond with each other. One vivid scene in which Samuel chases Jenny's fleeting car down the street up to the freeway ramp, was so raw and emotionally charged that every ounce of Samuel's soul was felt. There were no spoken words, or over the top drama, just his body language and a few chords of piano music made that scene enough to hold you still.

7) Home Alone - Simply loved it. Another of John Hughes's creation.

8) Hotel Rwanda - I saw this film in Hong Kong in 2004. A historical drama about the hotelier Paul Rusesabagina (played by Don Cheadle) during the Rwandan Genocide of 1994, who like Oskar Schlinder saved over 1,000,000 people, mainly Tutsi, from being killed by extremist Hutu militia. This film left a huge impact on me. I was moved by one man's heroism but also disgusted by social and political injustice. I recommended this film to a local H.K. history teacher to help in rounding out the curriculum on Africa and what learning history is for?

9) Saving Private Ryan - Gotta put this here. I'm not a fan of war films but this is truly one of the best ever made. Everything about this film was raw - acting, action, point of view, etc...

10) The Color Purple - Superb! And, one of the most heart-wrenching ending I have ever ever seen. My eyes were puffy for a few days. ;-/

11) To Sir, With Love - A 1967 classic British drama starring Sidney Poitier that deals with social and racial issues in an inner city school. This was the first 'teacher drama theme' movie that started it all. I certainly admire and appreciate this classic film for its originality and importance in portrayingl 'sensitive' issues like sexuality in school during the 1960's when it was taboo.

12) Dead Poet's Society - I could literally recite 50% of the lines from the film. The process of 'awakening' for the boys being schooled in an aristocratic prep school tradition, made me open my eyes to how 'problems and issues' have no color or socioeconomic boundaries. And, standing up for what's right takes a ton of courage.

13) Age of Innocence - Edith Wharton's 1920 novel set in the Gilded Age is portrayed magnificently by director Martin Scorcese. Cast was perfect and so was the juicy storyline!

14) Star Wars - all six of 'em! My favorite is Return of the Jedi.

15) On Golden Pond - 1981. It was simple, funny, touching and beautiful film set on a lake called Golden Pond. The film explores the often turbulent relationship between a young woman with her father while growing up, the difficulties faced by a couple in the twilight years of a long marriage, and the special bond forged by the elder Norman and a step-grandson Billy. My love of the outdoors was born from this film when I was 8 years old. Loved it!