It's Your Favorite

A man posted his five favorite movies. I have not seen his favorite. It was The Wood. Some movies hit you differently when you see them. He only allows connections to comment, even though his headline speaks about curiosity.

This isn't anti social media and I am not going to be "Friend zoned" into liking his status. I was thinking about this concept earlier in the week. The topic of all time favorite movies comes up in conversation.

I have never heard a bad answer. No one went for Plan Nine From Outer Space. That movie is more watchable than some of the DC Universe movies with higher budgets. Most choices seem obvious like Dr. Strangelove or Chinatown. I never liked The Wizard of Oz.

That was a movie my father referred to me. We watched it as a family. Still didn't like it. He had us watch A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. That was really good. Body and Soul- another good one.

There are more great boxing movies at this point than there are boxing matches. I would never fault someone whose favorite film is Rocky. Creed III is scheduled to come out in November. Without Sylvester Stallone although it is amazing how that character seems like a real person instead of a fictitious character.

An Australian traveler mentioned her favorite film was Born Free. I never saw that. John Barry scored it so it is probably worthwhile. What is my favorite film? It isn't Showgirls. I see Firestarter is being remade. The Drew Barrymore version is one of the funniest movies ever made.

How many Academy Award winners appeared in that film? Not enough to make it any good. Do the Right Thing holds up. A movie about a non violent assailant of color choked to death by the police? You can't say that is an old movie.

That should look as strange and out of place in the modern era as Susan Sarandon smoking in a restaurant in The Hunger. I enjoyed Tony Scott's movies. Are movies easy to watch repeatedly higher on the list? Schindler's List is tough to sit through once. I cannot watch movies about serial killers.

Even if the actor plays the role very well I don't want to watch it. I can watch The Queen any time it is on. Too bad the Peter Morgan scripted James Bond film has not seen the light of day. Michael Sheen could play the villain. Or Tony Blair.

Back when Prime Ministers combed their hair and did not go to parties while saying everyone else has to stay home. Brexit is a horror movie that is not escapist. Movies can make you forget other issues. What is your favorite movie?

I could tell my sister was growing up when her all time favorite movie went from Mannequin to Silence of the Lambs. I took her to the John Grisham adaptations and now she is an attorney.

Chances are she has not gone back to the movies yet. Her husband's favorite movie is Jurassic Park. At least he didn't choose one of the sequels. I saw that at the Uptown Theater which may reopen.

Hasn't happened yet. A second degree connection mentioned his favorite film is The Neverending Story. Sometimes my job feels like a never ending story. The movie has to be better than that. People have good reasons to experience something that reaches a level no other film has.

Father of the Bride might be a light comedy. To the parent of a daughter getting married? Probably not the movie you want to watch. I never watched The Big Bang Theory because I worked with comparable men in a comic store and there were no women whatsoever.

Favorite television shows is a different conversation as is favorite sports teams. I am more fascinated by fandom than saying why you are right or wrong rooting for any given team. It was nice seeing the Clippers eliminated from the playoffs. It happens sooner or later every year.

Not many of the films that make the Sight and Sound list of Ten Greatest Films (there will be an updated list this year) are mentioned. I refer to Rashomon frequently, not realizing that most Americans refuse to watch subtitled films. It's their loss.

I also don't know the ones who refuse to watch black and white movies. That is another way to sell yourself short and deny great experiences. There are many films in different genres and eras. There is no wrong answer as to why one movie is your favorite. It's subjective and you have your reasons. Hopefully every movie you watch is worthwhile if not your all time favorite.