Stuff I Love: Top Ten Edition Challenge 1

[merricatb]

I'm doingdreamersdare Stuff I Love challenge and you should too! 

Challenge #1: Make a Top Ten list for your favourite standalone media and tell people exactly why you love it. This can be in any format - movies, one shot dramas, novels, short stories, plays, something else not mentioned here. Whatever you like!

Growing up, I was always a movie person. I'd watch the award shows and I loved all the behind the scene tidbits about actors' inspiration and shooting schedules etc. Gag reels were my fave, and I sincerely miss the extras menus that used to come on DVDs. That being said, lately I've just been over it. Some of the movies I used to love are unwatchable now that I'm older, and it's rare for me to squee over a movie at all these days. There are movies I love and will watch over and over, but for this list I'm only including ones I'd consider myself fannish about to at least the point of looking up memes on tumblr (plus two books).

Lord of the Rings Trilogy 
The first time I saw Fellowship of the Ring (in theaters) I was bored and confused and thought it was finaaaaaally over at the fellowship part, but alas there was another hour to go and I really needed to pee. I have pretty bad face blindness so I couldn't tell Aragorn and Boromir or Merry and Pippin apart, but once I rewatched it at home where I could take potty breaks as needed I fell in love with it and was in the theaters opening day for the sequels. Two Towers is my fave of the trilogy since it's a bit darker than the others and I'm a dramatic bitch at heart, but they're all absolute masterpieces and the extended versions are even better. If you've never taken edibles while watching them, I highly (get it? lol) recommend it. 

The Old Guard
I was OBSESSED with this in 2020 when it came out. Women in front of and behind the camera bringing a tenderness you usually don't get to this type of action movie, a beautiful MM relationship (that unfortunately was all anyone wanted to talk about despite the whole women in front of and behind the camera thing), and depression portrayed with heartbreaking realism. Toxicity in fandom and the long-delayed (and then intensely disappointing sequel) kinda ruined it for me, but some day I'll be ready to fall in love again.

Knives Out (and Glass Onion)
I need to rewatch Wake Up Dead Man before I give a final verdict on that one, but I just love Benoit Blanc and his little sidekicks. These movies are silly while remaining sincere, and you can tell Daniel Craig is having a delightful time.

Monkey Man
Dev Patel could've made this movie just for me I loved it so much. It was everything I never knew I needed. This was the first movie in YEARS I actually considered seeing in theaters based on the trailer alone (but alas, it wasn't even playing near me). 

Mad Max: Fury Road
This movie doesn't let up from start to finish. It was meant to be Max's movie, but it was Furiosa's from the second she showed up. The competency of the characters handling their machines, the RAGE of Furiosa and the other women, the War Boy earning redemption after experiencing kindness for the first time, and Max just going along for a ride that had nothing to do with him gaaah I love it. Plus Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron hated each other but on screen there is nothing but admiration between the two of them. 

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
This book speaks to me in ways it probably shouldn't. It's my all time favorite, and where I got my UserID. I remember picking up a copy at the Portland library because I loved the spooky cover and fondly remembered hearing about Shirley Jackson getting death threats over writing "The Lottery", and I read it on the floor in my first ever apartment in one sitting. If I'd read this book as an impressionable child, my life might've turned out very differently iykyk

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Just reread this one recently with my sister and it was as magical as I remembered. Red and black and silver, it couldn't be more to my taste aesthetically. Every line is gorgeous and I can't wait to read it again.

And there you have it. If you like any of these and want to squee with me, or want to hear about other movies I watch over and over but don't necessarily go crazy about, leave it in the comments :)

Comments

[pattrose]

What a great list. I haven't seen Old Guard, but once. I need to find it and watch again.

[merricatb]

It holds up for multiple watches. Just don't bother with the sequel ;)

[pattrose]

I'm glad you said that because I've never seen it.

[catness]

Hello! Seeing your Snowflake posts, I've always wanted to ask if your username is inspired by the Castle book, but was too shy. I'm glad that my hunch is confirmed, because I've discovered this book recently and I LOVE it so much!! And the character of Merricat is quite relatable. I even watched the movie (though the book is better, as it usually happens).

The Night Circus was a good book too, though rather too confusing.

Btw I also have face blindness. Makes watching some movies rather hard... On the other hand, it can result in bonus plot twists :)

[merricatb]

Hello! Seeing your Snowflake posts, I've always wanted to ask if your username is inspired by the Castle book, but was too shy. I'm glad that my hunch is confirmed, because I've discovered this book recently and I LOVE it so much!! And the character of Merricat is quite relatable. I even watched the movie (though the book is better, as it usually happens).
YES! That's the one. The movie was better than expected, although that being said I went in with very low expectations since I loved the book so much. There's a movie called Stoker that also has somewhat of the same feeling of the book, or at least that character.

Btw I also have face blindness. Makes watching some movies rather hard... On the other hand, it can result in bonus plot twists :)
Yeah it's quite bizarre. Once I've seen something a few times it's better, but it certainly leads to adventures in viewing LOL

[dreamersdare]

I used to religiously watch Film -insert name of year here- with Barry Norman when I was in my teens, so I could find all the things I wanted to watch, either at the cinema or when they came out on DVD, so I hear you.

Oh, the LotR movies are gorgeous. I'm not a Tolkien purist but I did read those books obsessively as a teenager so there were elements were I was like "but why did you do that?" but it was because they were so close to being perfect. I love them a lot; I haven't watched them in a while, but I do have both the cinema versions and the extended versions on DVD because I am just that kind of completionist. Also

Two Towers is my fave of the trilogy since it's a bit darker than the others and I'm a dramatic bitch at heart

Ha! Knew there was a reason I liked you.

The Old Guard was awesome. I mean, I adored Joe and Nicky (a gay couple? who are happy? and badass? and don't die at the end? am I in heaven?), but having women taking names and kicking ass and being good all round characters was a delightful breath of fresh air. It's been a while actually, I think it probably stands a rewatch.

I love all the Knives Out films. Everyone is clearly having a blast, and it shows in all their performances. For things along the same vein, have you watched the Thursday Murder Club? Because if you haven't, it's worth a try; it was a lot more fun than I expected it to be.

Also, yes, I absolutely want to know about your obsessive rewatch films?? Why would I not??

[merricatb]

I'm not a Tolkien purist but I did read those books obsessively as a teenager so there were elements were I was like "but why did you do that?"
I didn't read them until I saw the movies, and even then it's pretty heavy fantasy for me which I tend to avoid. But yes they're certainly beautiful. I wish they'd stuck closer to the books with The Hobbit movies, not that I read those either but the movies were waaaaay too long.

Ha! Knew there was a reason I liked you.
Thankee thankee :)

The Old Guard was awesome.
Yeah, I'm still so bummed about the sequel. Don't get me wrong, I love Joe and Nicky, but it felt like that was all anyone ever talked about when Nile and Andy were the main characters. And Booker for that matter, who was my fave despite being a pathetic wet rat.

For things along the same vein, have you watched the Thursday Murder Club
Not yet but it's on my list!

I absolutely want to know about your obsessive rewatch films
Okay here are others I've watched a million times but don't get weird about (at least no more weird than watching them that many times):
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (a Nic Cage movie on my list? I wouldn't have guessed that either but Pedro Pascal is delightful and it's so odd and funny)
Gosford Park (Everyone is bitchy, especially Maggie Smith)
Mr. Right (Anna Kendrick is someone who seems like she would annoy the shit out of me but she just...doesn't? And I love Sam Rockwell. I used to work at a video store in California and his dad would come in all the time and talk about how proud he was of him. I'd save him movie posters)
The Full Monty (this movie really kicked off a craze of feel good British films and it never fails to put me in a good mood)
The Martian (this is another one of those good mood movies that restores some faith in humanity, albeit briefly)
Trance (by Danny Boyle...best to go in knowing nothing about it.)
I Love You Phillip Morris (not usually a Jim Carey fan either, especially not his comedies, but it's funny and based on a true story)
Aaand wrapping it up with some of my fave horror movies: As Above So Below, Blair Witch Project, The Descent, and if you prefer more comedy with your horror, Ready or Not.

[dreamersdare]

I will confess, I have never watched the Hobbit movies - I have very strong opinions about the Hobbit, and I'm pretty sure there is no director/writer alive that could have achieved the exacting standards I would have demanded. But I hear that a lot from people, that they're too long and shouldn't have stretched across three films.

Fandom did that thing it often does, where it fixates on the men. But I love me some badass female characters and my memory having not watched it for a while is that Andy in particular was *chef's kiss* (and yes, I also really liked Booker, the lil snake!).

Ready or Not is a spectacular film, although I've watched it once (and then immediately wrote a lil fic about it!). But the Martian is on my list for my top ten, I freaking love that film. "I am going to have to science the shit out of it" was the line that got me into the cinema to watch it immediately!

Also, the Full Monty was bloody brilliant; I've watched that a number of times (I remember stories about American audiences being provided with little translation booklets when it came out, because some of the jokes - like "there's nowt as queer as folk" - didn't translate easily outside of a British audience).

[merricatb]

I will confess, I have never watched the Hobbit movies
I'm envious of you lol I wish I hadn't watched them either. Martin Freeman was perfect for Bilbo, I'll give them that.

Fandom did that thing it often does, where it fixates on the men.
Yeah, The Old Guard was a new experience for me because I was in it from the beginning for the first time, whereas with other fandoms I joined once it was fairly established. At first it was exciting to see all the Joe and Nicky content and then I realized that was ALL there was, which as I know now, is super common. I watched it for Charlize Theron with an ax, and was not disappointed in that respect. Did you see the sequel? I recommend avoiding it entirely.

Ready or Not is a spectacular film, although I've watched it once (and then immediately wrote a lil fic about it!).
Ok I just had to go read it and OMG that was so great! There's a sequel coming out that I was a little excited about until I saw the trailer and your little fic was a million times better than what they came up with. :)

But the Martian is on my list for my top ten, I freaking love that film.
Yeah, I've watched it to the point that the emotional impact isn't hitting like it used to (which I did with Sense8 too) so I had to take a break, but it's about time again. It's such a perfect mix of humor and humanity (and disco) that I always let it play through the credits just bopping my head along.

Full Monty was bloody brilliant
Did you see the show that came out a few years ago? It had most of the cast returning but I just found it overall pretty depressing.

[dreamersdare]

Martin Freeman was perfect for Bilbo, I'll give them that.

Yessssssss. That appealed to me, the three films did not and I opted not to take the gamble. But he always felt like a good choice.

Did you see the sequel? I recommend avoiding it entirely.

No I rarely watch sequels until I've heard some feedback, because so often they're a cash in on the success of the first one, rather than having an actual story to tell, and it sours the experience.

Ok I just had to go read it and OMG that was so great!

Ahahaha, I wasn't angling for that, but thank you! I loved Grace, she is such a cool, kick ass queen, and she made my fingers itch, briefly at least. Maybe I should watch the film again, see if she inspires me a second time over!

It's such a perfect mix of humor and humanity (and disco)

ooooh, nice description. Did you ever read the book, because if not, I highly recommend it.

Did you see the show that came out a few years ago? It had most of the cast returning but I just found it overall pretty depressing.

Ha, no, I don't need these kind of reminders about how old I'm getting! Sounds like I didn't miss much?

[merricatb]

I loved Grace, she is such a cool, kick ass queen, and she made my fingers itch, briefly at least. Maybe I should watch the film again, see if she inspires me a second time over!
Yeah I love her. And that actress is Hugo Weaving's (Elrond from LotR) niece which I didn't realize at first. She's got such a great scream lol.

Did you ever read the book, because if not, I highly recommend it.
I did, yes. Not until after I'd read the movie but I really enjoyed both. I'm not sure if I'll read/watch Project Hail Mary yet but we'll see.

Ha, no, I don't need these kind of reminders about how old I'm getting! Sounds like I didn't miss much?
It was good for nostalgia I guess, but just showed how much regular people struggle post-pandemic and in general. Not uplifting like the movie.

[dreamersdare]

Not until after I'd read the movie but I really enjoyed both

I always think this is the better way round to do it, because the nature of the medium means the book is usually more complex than the movie, so you end up reading a deeper story the second time, rather than watching a shallower one.

I'm not sure if I'll read/watch Project Hail Mary yet

I don't think it's as good, and I found it a bit of a slow starter, but once I got into it, it was riveting and I really liked how it ended. No idea how well it would work on the screen, but as a book, I do think it's worth a look.

just showed how much regular people struggle post-pandemic and in general

I think I use media as escapism too much for this to appeal. If I want to see how rough people have it right now I can look at the news/out the window, so I'm not sad I skipped this one, I think.

[merricatb]

I always think this is the better way round to do it, because the nature of the medium means the book is usually more complex than the movie, so you end up reading a deeper story the second time, rather than watching a shallower one.
That's how I feel about it too. I struggle to get into super heavy fantasy, so if I hadn't fallen in love with LotR for example I never would've made it through the books.

I think I use media as escapism too much for this to appeal. If I want to see how rough people have it right now I can look at the news/out the window, so I'm not sad I skipped this one, I think.
Right. That may be part of the appeal of Sense8 for me as well. It came out at a time right before things started getting really bad, and I can pretend Trump and all that bullshit that went along with it never happened.

[dreamersdare]

It came out at a time right before things started getting really bad, and I can pretend Trump and all that bullshit that went along with it never happened.

Yeah, I think this is a huge part of it. And when they win, or pull off a success, it's fortifying (Nomi's whole thing with her family, and also Wolfgang stepping in for Lito with Daniela's asshole husband were two of my "yessssssssssssss" moments, as I remember)

[merricatb]

Yeah, I think this is a huge part of it. And when they win, or pull off a success, it's fortifying
Exactly. People who'd never meet in real life sticking up for each other against homophobia and transphobia and being a family. Wolfgang and Lito together gives me life. Like Lito's German fairy godmother always swooping in to help with violence.

[dreamersdare]

Like Lito's German fairy godmother always swooping in to help with violence.

Yes, exactly. Very satisfying violence, in those wonderful moments of, "sir, you deserve to be punched in the face, and he is not the man to do this, but he just so happens to know someone who is"

[merricatb]

"sir, you deserve to be punched in the face, and he is not the man to do this, but he just so happens to know someone who is"
I cackled LOL

[elisheva_m]

I was 14 or 15 when I read We Have Always Lived in the Castle and at the time I thought it was the best book I had read. I've never gotten around to revisiting it, though I really should.

Good to see someone else who's so fond of it.

[merricatb]

It very much reminded me of myself at that age so I'm glad I was a little older and less impressionable when I read it lol. Jackson's work is excellent in general but that one remains my favorite.

[kat_lair]

Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron hated each other but on screen there is nothing but admiration between the two of them - I did not know this (I do not have my finger on any kind of celebrity gossip pulse), share the tea? I loved this movie too.

Also, I have not heard of either of those books so taking notes...

[merricatb]

share the tea? I loved this movie too.
Basically they were both under a lot of pressure and Tom Hardy wasn't being especially professional and she went off on him for being late, and they just really butted heads the entire shoot. There was a book about the filming that this article goes into some detail about:
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stephaniesoteriou/mad-max-charlize-theron-tom-hardy-feud-explained

[shipperslist]

The Old Guard 1 was so good. So. Good!

I enjoyed Knives Out a lot. I really should rewatch it.

[merricatb]

The Old Guard 1 was so good. So. Good!
It was! I went in thinking hey Charlize Theron with an ax I'm here for that and then the found family of it all! And the tenderness and haunted looks over killing when they have to. UGH it just makes me angry about the sequel all over again.

I enjoyed Knives Out a lot. I really should rewatch it.
You should! It honestly gets better with repeat viewings. Benoit Blanc is such a fun character. And Marta is just so wholesome.

[shipperslist]

UGH it just makes me angry about the sequel all over again.
In this house, we do not endorse ToG2.

[merricatb]

In this house, we do not endorse ToG2.
Exactly. ToG2 what? Who? I don't know her.

[impala_chick]

We Have Always Lived in the Castle is SO good!! I should have known by your username :D I read the lottery too. I should read all of her stuff, her writing so spooky and compelling.

[merricatb]

I should read all of her stuff, her writing so spooky and compelling.
Castle is my fave but she's got quite a few really good ones.