Movies I love to watch over and over
Disclaimer: this is an old blog post from an older blog that I've decided to re-post here and added two new movies since the original post that I love. Please enjoy.
I read an article on Buzzfeed recently wherein they asked readers to submit movies they consider to be rewatchable. Movies that you can watch anytime or repeatedly and they're entertaining and fun no matter what you're doing or feeling. They hold onto their quality and you don't get sick of them. I have my favorite movies, but I never really considered what movies I find rewatchable. So that's why I made this list. There are several here that were on the Buzzfeed list, but I love them and find them heavily rewatchable anyway personally...so I threw them on this list. In no particular order, these are movies I feel are heavily rewatchable.
1. Deadpool
I listed this one on my list of June obessions and went into about what I love about it. But no matter how many times I watch this movie, I find it hilarious and always find something that's a little bit of an Easter Egg. Ryan Reynolds and the rest of the cast just seem like they're having such a great time making the movie that it carries into their performances. I'll admit that Ajax isn't the greatest villain, but you love to hate him. Particularly with three little words: "What's my name?". Not only does this movie give us something fresh and different in the genre, but it furthers the possibility of doing more creative and risky things in the genre. The action scenes are incredibly well-choreographed and the special effects are awesome for the low budget they had to work with.
2. The Emperor's New Groove
This movie first came out when I was a little kid and it's been something I always watch when it's on. Lately I discovered it is on Netflix and it's remained at the top of my queue as something I watch over and over again. The chemistry between David Spade and John Goodman as well as the late Eartha Kitt and Patrick Warburton really sell the movie. Each actor really inhabits their characters and their delivery keeps the jokes funny everytime I watch it. Every time I hear Kuzco call Yzma "Living Proof that Dinosaurs once walked the Earth" I crack up. But who is the real show stealer? Patrick Warburton as Kronk, he's adorable and hilarious the whole way through and has some of the best lines.
3. A Knight's Tale
Ever since this came out when I was 11, it has remained one of my all-time favorite movies. The classic story of the underdog, the awesome soundtrack, the jousting matches and the great cast have always made this one movie I never get tired of. I think when it first came out, my aunt and I saw it several times in theaters. It was also the first time I recall seeing Alan Tudyk and Mark Addy before they went on to do Firefly and Game of Thrones, and this was the first movie I saw Paul Bettany in as well. It's just a really fun movie to watch over and over or even have in the background, carried by Heath Ledger's charm and charisma.
4. The Mummy
Another addition to Netflix that I keep watching of late, I first saw this movie back when I was 12 and saw it after the sequel. Kind of an unorthodox way to do it, but I love the almost Indiana Jones take on the original Universal monster. It has fantastic effects, even though they look dated by today's standards they were pretty new and sensational back in the day. It's one of those movies that is perfect for when you've got an evening of nothing to do or a lazy Sunday. As with many action films, the lead hero and villain are what make the movie. Brendan Frasier as Rick O'Connell and Arnold Vosloo as the title character Imhotep really create compelling characters that you want to follow. Imhotep in particular is someone who is more or less driven by a human desire: to reunite with his lost love. Not to conquer the world (though I think it's said he would rule it with her) or to kill an enemy, but to be reunited with the woman he loved. It's something I always liked about him, that human desire and ambition at the heart of his monstrous being.
5. Pulp Fiction
So. Many. Quotes. This is my favorite among Tarantino's films and it never gets old. The three interwoven stories and the way the characters struggle for meaning and redemption with the backdrop of LA crime is really something special. The dialogue is sharp and the characters are so well acted. It's exciting and you can really quote the movie with the actors as you watch. As with Tarantino's other movies, I love the soundtrack. For me personally, each time I watch and try to memorize the dance steps that Vincent and Mia perform at Jack Rabbit's. For someone who says he's alright at dancing, Vincent is pretty damn good.
6. Scott Pilgrim vs The World
Easily one of the most creative and fun movies I have ever seen, the movie really digs deep into nostalgia as far as the rich mine of retro video games is concerned. The pace is electric and the direction of Edgar Wright is fantastic. Each frame looks like the comic book brought to life and the battles with the Evil Exes are all some of the best fight scenes I've seen in movies from the past twenty years. My personal favorite though is the fight between Scott and the vegan psychic Todd Ingram. I love the graphic novels and although the film was being made before the series finished, which is why there are a LOT of discrepancies, it's a really great adaptation. Mary Elizabeth Winstead became my new crush after this film came out and I never would have thought Michael Cera would make a great action hero, but he was really great.
7. The Road to El Dorado
Another classic from my childhood, what really elevates this story is the chemistry between Kevin Kline and Kenneth Branagh. You can tell they really enjoyed their characters and working together, they play off each other so well as Miguel and Tulio. Originally I think they wanted Antonio Banderas as Tulio and I don't see it working as well. Elton John's music is another reason why I love this movie, particularly "The Trail We Blaze" and the humor is spot-on. From Miguel's optimism ("Hey! Cuba!") to Rosie Perez as Chel and especially, El Tivo, the horse I just love everything this movie has to offer. The animation is also beautiful.
8. Back to the Future
A classic in every sense of the word, it just is a joyous movie to watch and it packs tons of heart, humor and a little suspense into two hours. It's one movie that I can almost quote from beginning to end and Huey Lewis' theme song is one of the most catchy 80's songs to a soundtrack I've heard.
9. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Nothing beats the original! Each time you watch it, at least for me, it still gives you that feeling of childlike awe from the moment you see the Star Destroyer and the Tantive IV battling across the screen to the entrance of Darth Vader and the first flight of the Millennium Falcon. It captures those mythical elements and classic story elements of fathers and sons, good versus evil, courageous heroes, wicked villains. It's just pure movie magic from every detail down to the model ships, the costumes, the music. It isn't my favorite Star Wars film, that honor goes to Empire Strikes Back, but I still love it all the same.
10. Brick
Somewhat tying into the #9 entry, Rian Johnson, writer and director of Star Wars Episode VIII, also wrote and directed this as his first movie. It's a low budget film noir story set in a modern high school starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The dialogue is sharp and intelligent, the mystery and suspense draw you in and each time you look for clues that related to the ending after that initial viewing. Dark and visceral, I love replaying this movie if for no other reason than Levitt's performance as Brendan Frye. How angry, intelligent and driven he is in his quest to solve the mystery of who killed his ex-girlfriend and the lies and secrets of the popular clique. If you've seen Looper and want more insight into Johnson's storytelling style, check this film out.
11. Moonlight
This is a really recent movie, but man do I love it! It is without a doubt one of the best movies I've seen in the past five years. There's so much to this movie and each time I watch it, I find something new to appreciate about it. Moonlight was originally conceived as a play that I believe was called "In Moonlight, Black Boys Look Blue". The movie is told as a coming-of-age story about a man named Chiron and each of the three acts sees him at a different point in his life, from seven to seventeen and then an adult. I know some people critique the lead actors playing Chiron and Kevin for not looking similar to one another or acting similar, but that's the point. We're all different people at different times in our lives and that is something the movie does beautifully. It's been on repeat for me quite a lot recently.
12. Split
M.Night Shyamalan has one of the most...varied (I guess that's the best word)...careers in directing. I have yet to see The Sixth Sense, After Earth, The Happening or The Visit, but I loved Unbreakable and Signs. The Village and Lady in the Water I wasn't crazy about originally, but have grown to love them both as time has gone by. The less said about The Last Airbender...the better. Just thinking about that movie gives me a headache. But Split was amazing! I saw it earlier this year and thought it was one of the most suspenseful, entertaining movies I've seen in years. James McAvoy is absolutely brilliant as a man with Dissociate Identity Disorder and he had the task of portraying 24 different people and nailed it! Anya Taylor-Joy, who has recently been cast as Magik in The New Mutants movie, is incredible as Casey, one of the girls McAvoy's character abducts. I just really enjoy watching this movie and it's one of my favorite films that has come out this year. I can't wait to see the sequel, Glass, in two years that will see McAvoy taking on Bruce Willis.
I read an article on Buzzfeed recently wherein they asked readers to submit movies they consider to be rewatchable. Movies that you can watch anytime or repeatedly and they're entertaining and fun no matter what you're doing or feeling. They hold onto their quality and you don't get sick of them. I have my favorite movies, but I never really considered what movies I find rewatchable. So that's why I made this list. There are several here that were on the Buzzfeed list, but I love them and find them heavily rewatchable anyway personally...so I threw them on this list. In no particular order, these are movies I feel are heavily rewatchable.
1. Deadpool
I listed this one on my list of June obessions and went into about what I love about it. But no matter how many times I watch this movie, I find it hilarious and always find something that's a little bit of an Easter Egg. Ryan Reynolds and the rest of the cast just seem like they're having such a great time making the movie that it carries into their performances. I'll admit that Ajax isn't the greatest villain, but you love to hate him. Particularly with three little words: "What's my name?". Not only does this movie give us something fresh and different in the genre, but it furthers the possibility of doing more creative and risky things in the genre. The action scenes are incredibly well-choreographed and the special effects are awesome for the low budget they had to work with.
 |
| Walt Disney Pictures |
2. The Emperor's New Groove
This movie first came out when I was a little kid and it's been something I always watch when it's on. Lately I discovered it is on Netflix and it's remained at the top of my queue as something I watch over and over again. The chemistry between David Spade and John Goodman as well as the late Eartha Kitt and Patrick Warburton really sell the movie. Each actor really inhabits their characters and their delivery keeps the jokes funny everytime I watch it. Every time I hear Kuzco call Yzma "Living Proof that Dinosaurs once walked the Earth" I crack up. But who is the real show stealer? Patrick Warburton as Kronk, he's adorable and hilarious the whole way through and has some of the best lines.
3. A Knight's Tale
Ever since this came out when I was 11, it has remained one of my all-time favorite movies. The classic story of the underdog, the awesome soundtrack, the jousting matches and the great cast have always made this one movie I never get tired of. I think when it first came out, my aunt and I saw it several times in theaters. It was also the first time I recall seeing Alan Tudyk and Mark Addy before they went on to do Firefly and Game of Thrones, and this was the first movie I saw Paul Bettany in as well. It's just a really fun movie to watch over and over or even have in the background, carried by Heath Ledger's charm and charisma.
4. The Mummy
Another addition to Netflix that I keep watching of late, I first saw this movie back when I was 12 and saw it after the sequel. Kind of an unorthodox way to do it, but I love the almost Indiana Jones take on the original Universal monster. It has fantastic effects, even though they look dated by today's standards they were pretty new and sensational back in the day. It's one of those movies that is perfect for when you've got an evening of nothing to do or a lazy Sunday. As with many action films, the lead hero and villain are what make the movie. Brendan Frasier as Rick O'Connell and Arnold Vosloo as the title character Imhotep really create compelling characters that you want to follow. Imhotep in particular is someone who is more or less driven by a human desire: to reunite with his lost love. Not to conquer the world (though I think it's said he would rule it with her) or to kill an enemy, but to be reunited with the woman he loved. It's something I always liked about him, that human desire and ambition at the heart of his monstrous being.
5. Pulp Fiction
So. Many. Quotes. This is my favorite among Tarantino's films and it never gets old. The three interwoven stories and the way the characters struggle for meaning and redemption with the backdrop of LA crime is really something special. The dialogue is sharp and the characters are so well acted. It's exciting and you can really quote the movie with the actors as you watch. As with Tarantino's other movies, I love the soundtrack. For me personally, each time I watch and try to memorize the dance steps that Vincent and Mia perform at Jack Rabbit's. For someone who says he's alright at dancing, Vincent is pretty damn good.
6. Scott Pilgrim vs The World
Easily one of the most creative and fun movies I have ever seen, the movie really digs deep into nostalgia as far as the rich mine of retro video games is concerned. The pace is electric and the direction of Edgar Wright is fantastic. Each frame looks like the comic book brought to life and the battles with the Evil Exes are all some of the best fight scenes I've seen in movies from the past twenty years. My personal favorite though is the fight between Scott and the vegan psychic Todd Ingram. I love the graphic novels and although the film was being made before the series finished, which is why there are a LOT of discrepancies, it's a really great adaptation. Mary Elizabeth Winstead became my new crush after this film came out and I never would have thought Michael Cera would make a great action hero, but he was really great.
 |
| DreamWorks Pictures |
7. The Road to El Dorado
Another classic from my childhood, what really elevates this story is the chemistry between Kevin Kline and Kenneth Branagh. You can tell they really enjoyed their characters and working together, they play off each other so well as Miguel and Tulio. Originally I think they wanted Antonio Banderas as Tulio and I don't see it working as well. Elton John's music is another reason why I love this movie, particularly "The Trail We Blaze" and the humor is spot-on. From Miguel's optimism ("Hey! Cuba!") to Rosie Perez as Chel and especially, El Tivo, the horse I just love everything this movie has to offer. The animation is also beautiful.
8. Back to the Future
A classic in every sense of the word, it just is a joyous movie to watch and it packs tons of heart, humor and a little suspense into two hours. It's one movie that I can almost quote from beginning to end and Huey Lewis' theme song is one of the most catchy 80's songs to a soundtrack I've heard.
9. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Nothing beats the original! Each time you watch it, at least for me, it still gives you that feeling of childlike awe from the moment you see the Star Destroyer and the Tantive IV battling across the screen to the entrance of Darth Vader and the first flight of the Millennium Falcon. It captures those mythical elements and classic story elements of fathers and sons, good versus evil, courageous heroes, wicked villains. It's just pure movie magic from every detail down to the model ships, the costumes, the music. It isn't my favorite Star Wars film, that honor goes to Empire Strikes Back, but I still love it all the same.
10. Brick
Somewhat tying into the #9 entry, Rian Johnson, writer and director of Star Wars Episode VIII, also wrote and directed this as his first movie. It's a low budget film noir story set in a modern high school starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The dialogue is sharp and intelligent, the mystery and suspense draw you in and each time you look for clues that related to the ending after that initial viewing. Dark and visceral, I love replaying this movie if for no other reason than Levitt's performance as Brendan Frye. How angry, intelligent and driven he is in his quest to solve the mystery of who killed his ex-girlfriend and the lies and secrets of the popular clique. If you've seen Looper and want more insight into Johnson's storytelling style, check this film out.
11. Moonlight
This is a really recent movie, but man do I love it! It is without a doubt one of the best movies I've seen in the past five years. There's so much to this movie and each time I watch it, I find something new to appreciate about it. Moonlight was originally conceived as a play that I believe was called "In Moonlight, Black Boys Look Blue". The movie is told as a coming-of-age story about a man named Chiron and each of the three acts sees him at a different point in his life, from seven to seventeen and then an adult. I know some people critique the lead actors playing Chiron and Kevin for not looking similar to one another or acting similar, but that's the point. We're all different people at different times in our lives and that is something the movie does beautifully. It's been on repeat for me quite a lot recently.
12. Split
M.Night Shyamalan has one of the most...varied (I guess that's the best word)...careers in directing. I have yet to see The Sixth Sense, After Earth, The Happening or The Visit, but I loved Unbreakable and Signs. The Village and Lady in the Water I wasn't crazy about originally, but have grown to love them both as time has gone by. The less said about The Last Airbender...the better. Just thinking about that movie gives me a headache. But Split was amazing! I saw it earlier this year and thought it was one of the most suspenseful, entertaining movies I've seen in years. James McAvoy is absolutely brilliant as a man with Dissociate Identity Disorder and he had the task of portraying 24 different people and nailed it! Anya Taylor-Joy, who has recently been cast as Magik in The New Mutants movie, is incredible as Casey, one of the girls McAvoy's character abducts. I just really enjoy watching this movie and it's one of my favorite films that has come out this year. I can't wait to see the sequel, Glass, in two years that will see McAvoy taking on Bruce Willis.
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