My Top 15 Movies

I've had major writer's block last week and this week. So I thought I'd go with an easy blog post today. These are my top fifteen favorite movies, in no particular order. These are the movies I watch over and over and over about five million times. The ones I quote constantly. Enjoy!

15. 10th Kingdom

Technically, this is a miniseries that's about ten hours long. Ten hours you say?! Trust me, it is completely worth it. I have a deep love of fairy tales and this movie just encompasses that love. And it doesn't portray fairy tales in a way that is overly sugary--the fairy tales they reference are the real deal, gritty and raw. Not to mention I freaking love Wolf. He's so darling!

Best Quotes: "They just split up! Doesn't that ever happen here?!" "No, we either live happily ever after or die from horrible curses." "Well, you may not get hurt. But huff puff, you won't get loved either."

14. Breakfast at Tiffany's

Ah, Audrey Hepburn. She is my favorite. She just...gah, amazing. She's classy, graceful, charming...the woman is classiness incarnate. This Halloween, I'll actually be dressing up as Audrey Hepburn's portrayal of Holly Golightly. Sigh. This movie brought into the fashion world the little black dress.

Not to mention, this is an incredible movie too. It's romantic and beautiful and I love watching it on Sunday mornings.

Best Quote: "You know what's wrong with you miss whoever you are? You're chicken. You've got no guts. You're afraid to stick out your chin and say, 'Okay, life's a fact, people do fall in love, people do belong to each other, because that's the only chance anybody's got for real happiness.' You call yourself a free spirit, a wild thing, and you're terrified somebody's gonna stick you in a cage. Well baby, you're already in that cage. You built it yourself. And it's not bounded in the west by Tulip, Texas, or in the east by Somali-land. It's wherever you go. Because no matter where you run, you just end up running into yourself."

13. Charade

Hee hee. Another Audrey Hepburn movie. Can you blame me? She's awesome. And in this, she's paired with Cary Grant. Cary freaking Grant. Lovely. Plus, this movie is the perfect combination of comedy, drama, and suspense.

Best Quote: "What are you doing in there?" "I'm having a nervous breakdown."

12. Enchanted

Amy Adams is a new favorite actress of mine. She just makes giggle and she's just wonderful. And Enchanted is amazing. It's almost a satire of Disney movies and the little tributes to Disney princesses are just absolutely lovely. It really makes you think about putting the whole fairy tale of love into a modern perspective. Not to mention it's freaking adorable.

Best Quote: "Is this a habit of yours? Falling off of stuff?" "Only when you're around to catch me."

11. Howl's Moving Castle

It goes without saying that Hayao Miyazaki films are epic. There is no logic in Miyazaki films--YOU DO NOT QUESTION THE MIYAZAKI. But my favorite of his films is Howl's Moving Castle. Christian Bale is an awesome Howl. It's a generally sweet movie with really incredible animation.

Best Quote: "I've had enough of running away, Sophie. Now I've got something I want to protect. It's you."

10. Lady and the Tramp

Disney movies are in general one of my favorite things, but there are a few that have a special place in my heart. Lady and the Tramp is one of these. During some of the worst times in my life when I was little, I would pop in two movies to comfort me. This was one of them. It's romantic and beautiful and makes me wish I had a cocker spaniel. And if Tramp wasn't a dog, I'm pretty sure he would be freaking hot. Not to mention, Peggy Lee is in this movie. PEGGY LEE. And she sings in it.

Best Quote: "He's a tramp, but I love him, yes, even I have got it pretty bad."

9. Leap Year

This has come out pretty recently but I've watched it approximately 177 times. I don't know what it is about it. It just makes me warm inside. Plus it's Amy Adams again. And she is awesome. Maybe it's Matthew Goode's Irish accent (he's British, but he still does an awesome Irish accent). Maybe it's the fact that it was actually filmed in Ireland and the scenery is gorgeous. I don't know. But I love it. Makes me sigh in a nice warm way.

Best Quote: "Just put 'em in the wash, they'll be grand."

8. Mulan

This is the second movie that I used to pop in when I was little. I think I related to an awkward out of place girl trying to find her place in the world. Not to mention, it was about a girl who was really close to her father, and at that time, I was trying desperately to get close to mine.

Best Quote: "The greatest gift in honor is having you for a daughter. I've missed you so."

7. The Princess Bride

If you haven't seen this, you suck. If you have and you somehow don't like it, you still suck. This movie is the epitome of amazing. If you want romance, action, comedy, and drama, look no further. Siiiiiiiigh.

Best Quote: "Death cannot stop true love. It can only delay it for a while."
6. Sayonara

Mmm, Marlon Brando. If you've only seen him in the Godfather movies, you are missing out. I mean, DAMN. I promise, he wasn't always a scary old guy. He was quite sexy in his prime. And this movie is beautiful, and ground-breaking in its own way. It portrays the race problems of the time and challenges them upfront. I would also like to say, I have not read the book and don't plan on it. Because the book does not have a happy ending. And I prefer to glory myself in the ignorant bliss of this movie, that Ace Gruber and Hanaogi lived happily ever after. Tra la la la la la.

Best Quote: "A lot of people are going to be unhappy about this marriage. Do you have anything to say to them?" "Yeah. Tell 'em we said sayonara."

5. Last of the Mohicans

Yeah, yeah, I know, historical inaccuracy, blah blah blah, slight racism, blah blah blah, inaccurate portrayal of native Americans, blah blah blah SHUT UP. I don't care. This movie a fave due to the pure romance, the breath-taking, heart-grabbing, romance. All girls want a Nathanial who will fight for them. Not to mention the music is incredible.

Best Quote: "You be strong, you survive! You stay alive no matter what occurs! I will find you. No matter how long it takes, no matter how far, I will find you."

4. While You Were Sleeping

I love Sandra Bullock. I feel that she is the Audrey Hepburn of our generation. I have seen all of her movies and one of these days will post a list of her best films. While You Were Sleeping was one of my first, and one of her earlier ones. It's hilarious. It's a great holiday movie too, and also stars Bill Pullman.

Best Quote: "I'll cut the deck--high card gets Lucy. Okay, best two out of three."

3. The Last Unicorn

Do not be fooled by the frou frou title. This animation film is badass. It's also dark and filled with adult themes that I never caught onto when I was younger. It's all about the loss of innocence. Pretty heavy stuff for a children's movie. Not to mention the unicorn, Amalthea, is played by Mia Farrow. Lovely.

Best Quote: "Where have you been? Where have you been?! Damn you! Where have you been?!" "I am here now..." "And where were you twenty years ago? Ten years ago? Where were you when I was one of those innocent young maidens you always come to? How dare you...how DARE you come to me now! When I am THIS!"

2. Practical Magic

Another Sandra Bullock movie--can you blame me? This is actually my favorite Sandra movie. I just think it's beautiful. It reminds me of the bond I have with all of my friends--pure sisterhood. Not to mention the main theme is "Crystal" by Stevie Nicks. Sooo haunting and lovely. And I love the idea of the romance between Gary and Sally. Sigh. Very few romance movies can make me cry, and this is one of them.

Best Quote: "Curses only have power if you believe in them...and I don't. You know...I wished for you too."

1. The Mummy (plus the Mummy Returns!)

Do NOT speak of that monstrosity that is the third movie. They replaced Evelyn with Maria freaking Bello. Unacceptable. We will ignore it. I mentioned before that this is my favorite movie. This is true. I know it by heart. I someday hope to find a man who loves it as much as I do, and will be willing to stay home Saturday nights and watch it with me fifty times, reciting every line. If we're feeling especially frisky, he recites Rick's lines and I'll recite Evy's. Sigh. Point is, I know this movie by heart. And it's amazing. My brother, who likes to pretend he's an Egyptologist, enjoys pointing out all the mistakes. I enjoy punching him when he does this. If I want to know about Egypt, I'll turn on the history channel. This is a Stephen Sommers flick for God's sakes. Nothing will be accurate in it. I watch it for the breathless adventure, adorable romance, and hilarious dialogue.

Best Quote: Too many to choose from! I guess, my favorite would be, "I may not be an explorer, or an adventurer, or a treasure-hunter, or a gunfighter. But I am PROUD of what I am!" "And what is that?" "I...am a librarian!"

Mother Mine

I hope if you're reading this blog, you also read my darling mother's blog too. Mombat's Corner. I've linked it before, go find it. After you read this. Seriously.

In my mother's latest post, she admits that she isn't always the best mother. Well, she doesn't tell you the HALF of it. All the years of neglect, cruelty, starvation--mine was a hard life, indeed. For instance: My mother had a horrible habit of snatching me up, sitting me down, and forcing a brush through my tangled, matted hair. It was painful. It was torture. Never mind that I didn't brush my hair ever and it was beginning to resemble the kind of brush my brothers clip from the backyard. Horrible, horrible woman.

And once, when I was four, while we were driving, I humbly pointed out the spotted horses we were passing--"Look at the dalmatian horses, mommy!" My mother said, "No Kathleen, those are Appaloosas." Silly, silly woman. "No mommy. They're dalmatian horses."

She stood corrected.

And worst of all--the fourth of July starvation incident.

After a full course dinner, my parents took all us kids out to watch the fireworks. It was such a spectacle. The crowds, the explosions, the many many concession stands selling every kind of junk food a six-year-old could dream of. I was dying--I needed those cheesy nachos and ketchup-smothered hot dogs. Those crunch bags of doritos. But my unrelenting, harsh mother refused to buy me these overpriced delights. I was HUNGRY.

The next day at church, I trotted up to the altar for the children's sermon. Our pastor was giving a very serious sermon on children who didn't get to eat like we did. He asked us little ones how many enjoyed the fireworks. We all raised our hands. He then asked jokingly, "How many of you didn't get to eat last night?" In reference to the poverty-stricken children of the sermon and how we were blessed.

However, I was NOT a blessed child. Whilst watching the fireworks, my mother didn't buy me a single inordinately expensive snack. I dutifully raised my hand.

On the sidelines, my mother watched in horror.

The pastor said, "You didn't eat last night Kathleen?"

I said tartly, "No, I didn't! And I was really hungry!" My mind was mourning the loss of those nachos.

The congregation burst into laughter, all glancing at my mother who was by now permanently tomato-faced. I was confused. Hungry children are no laughing matter.

Amidst the ruckus, the pastor shouted, "Shame on you, Linda! Well, Kathleen, today at the church picnic we'll make sure you're first in line!"

After the service, my mother explained to me that the pastor had not meant the yummy snacks the were selling at the fireworks, he meant had I eaten at all? Oh, he meant that dinner mom had served with the gross veggies and meat and stuff?

But the pastor was good to his word, and I did get to go first in line at the picnic. At least church loved me.

My mother does have her moments however. One of my favorite memories is of my eighth birthday. This was during the period where we had just moved to our new state and hadn't gotten our house. Our living situation was not good. Not to mention, I was a lonely, crabby, smelly little girl who didn't understand quite what was happening to her family. Not to mention finances were awful--I didn't expect anything for my birthday. I was miserable. Mulan had just come out, and what I wanted the very most in the world was the Mulan and Shang barbie doll. Mulan and Shang didn't officially get together in the movie--a travesty in my seven-year-old mind. I needed these dolls to create my own story and make sure they got together. It wasn't for my personal gain--it was for Mulan and Shang.

But my mother trotted in the morning of my eighth birthday and gently woke me up. I was sharing a room with my brothers, but I didn't mind. It was better than the other option.

Now one of the fads in 97-98 were those bean bags that you threw against the wall and they screamed something. My mom had gotten me one and had flung it at my feet, where it bellowed, "OH NO!" My mom got a kick out of it. I did too.

Then my mom handed me my first present. I unwrapped it, and it was the Shang Barbie! Hallelujah! I looked at her hopefully.

My mother's face fell. She handed me another package. "I'm sorry honey, I just couldn't find the Mulan barbie. They were all out. All I could find was the horse."

I stared. Riding proudly on the toy horse, Khan, was my Mulan doll.

As you probably have gathered from my slightly wry posts, my mom is pretty much awesome. A couple of things about her:

1. My mom is possibly the classiest woman in the world. She could give Audrey Hepburn lessons. I have seen her look into the face of a demon and not flinch, but speak with grace and beauty whereas anyone else would have bitch-slapped.
2. My mom is unbelievably talented at both writing and music.
3. My mother has the most compassion of anyone I've ever met. She has taken all of my closest friends under her and treated them like her own daughters.
4. One of my mom's very few flaws is her inability to accept that she's the most wonderful mother in the world and how beautiful and special she is.
5. Another is when her kids do stupid things, she blames herself for 'bad parenting.' No, mom, we're stupid on our own.
6. No matter what any of her kids have gotten into, she has made herself get into too, so she can be a part of it. Beanie babies, pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Chaotic, Calvin and Hobbes, Bone, C.S Lewis--all or our various hobbies, she's been a part of.
7. My mom has an amazing faith in God which I wish I could emulate.

All in all, my mom is epic. :D