Those of you who are members of the Joseph Salmon Trust facebook group (and why wouldn’t you be) will have recently received the following email:
“We’re thinking of holding a Film Night at the Peacock Lounge in Huddersfield at some point over the coming months. It would involve watching a film…obviously!…and enjoying a few tasty beverages too :)
Please could you message me or post on the group wall what film you would love to come and watch. The one with the most votes wins!
Neil and Rachael”
Now, as you know I am a man of exquisite taste and sensibilities. And as such have felt duty bound to provide Neil and Rachael with a number exquisitely reasoned suggestions. These have spanned the entire gamut of celluloid artistry – from Smokey and the Bandit all the way through to Smokey and the Bandit 3. But strangely enough Neil has been resistive to my suggestions, citing the need to be democratic and put the decision to a vote.
He even rejected my idea of going a bit more art house cinema with something like Cannonball Run 2.
It seems however that Neil’s dedication to democracy only goes so far. Here’s an extract from a text he sent me the other day:
“Not decided on a film yet, although I don’t see how we can show the one with the highest votes, as its bloody Grease”
Quite right Neil, quite right. Just because something gets the most votes doesn’t mean that it is the correct choice. After all, George W Bush, Margaret Thatcher, Adolf Hitler, and Genghis Kahn were all democratically elected (although to be fair Kahn actually came to power after a series of rigorous interviews, presentations, and arduous group role-play scenarios).
So it’s time to wrestle the reins of this decision from the great unwashed and put it firmly in the hands of those more competent. We need to ask the movers and shakers of the world, the social elite, the people with their fingers on the pulse of the cultural zeitgeist. In short, its time to consult the blogosphere.
Lets do a meme!
So, what three movies would you most like to see on the big screen and why? Here’s my list:
Jaws
“You’re going to need a bigger boat”
If there is a tighter, tenser, and better put together film than Jaws then I have yet to see it. Its the best film Spielberg ever made, and that’s really saying something. Sure the special effects are a little frayed around the edges, but this is camouflaged superbly with wonderfully woven teasing tension. The rubber shark is only revealed in the final moments of the film – by which time your adrenaline levels are so high it could be a sock puppet and you wouldn’t notice.
The movie is powerful enough on TV, so what it must have been like for cinema goers seeing it for the first time on the big screen I can barely imagine.
The Italian Job
“You’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off”
Unlike Jaws there are vast tracts within this film that are, quite frankly, a little boring – namely most of the first half. And I could also have seriously done without the stupid Benny Hill character too. But at the end of the day it’s worth it all for the car chase; which is arguably the finest such scene in the history of cinema (with perhaps the Blues Brothers coming in a close second).
Seeing those minis scramble through the streets of Turin on the big screen would be marvelous. To be honest even if it was only the five minutes of the cars going through the sewers I’d still pay my entrance fee. And what could be finer than singing along to the closing credits alongside your fellow intoxicated cinema audience. All together now! – “This is a self preservation society, This is a self preservation society …”
Zulu
At one hundred yards! Fall in by, present! Aim! Fire!
I’m not particularly a massive fan of Michael Cain, so it’s odd that two of my choices feature him (all three feature him if you count Jaws 4, which I most certainly don’t). Cain is pretty inconsequential in this film however. He doesn’t even ever say the oft quoted line “Don’t throw those bloody spears at me!”, which is a shame.
I’m not sure how prevalent Zulu is in the US, but you can usually find it on UK television at least once or twice a year. For those who don’t know, its the true story of the 1879 South Aftrican battle of Rorkes Drift in, where a small company off British solders held off a overwhelming force of Zulu warriors.
Yes, yes, there are all sorts of moral issues surrounding both the historical event and the film itself. It was made in 1964, which was not a time noted for it’s sensitivities to racial issues. But it’s a good film. In fact it’s a great film. I’m even very tempted to go and stick it in the DVD player once I’ve finished this post. The scene where the sturdy Welsh solders respond to the Zulu war chants by singing Men of Harlech never fails to give me the shivers.
So that’s my three, what are yours?
Time for a bit of tagging. We’ll start off with all the Hadrian’s Walk lot I think:
- Cathrine, from Some Vague Utopia
- Clair, from Moon In The Gutter
- Michael Clarke, from Green Tea Ice Cream
- Jo, from Jo Beaufoix
- Erin, from Fierce Beagle
- Idaho Dad, from A Family Runs Through It
- JJ Daddy-O, from JJ Daddy-O
- Arjan, from Dutchnid
- Martin, from Xbox4NappyRash
- Josie, from Life in Biscuit
- Ian, from Single Parent Dad
- ImPerceptible, from ImPerceptibility
- Whit, from Honea Express
- Tricia, fremo Turning Trix
- NYC Watchdog, from A Pile of dog Bones
- Poppy, from Poppy Cedes
- Ed, from Zoe’s Dad
- Garry from Jerry Chicken
- Sam from Rabbit Confused With Raisins
Also
- Daddy Geek Boy from Daddy Geek Boy
- Dad Who Writes from Dad Who Writes
- Insomniac Mummy from Insomniac Mummy
- Dan Leone from Cafe Leone
- MC from Culture Kills..
- Seattledad from Luke I am Your Father
- notSupermum from notSupermum
- Raging Dad from Raging Dad
- Not Rol from Sunset Over Slawit because he doesn’t do tagging
- Rosie Scribble from Rosie Scribble
And everyone else on my blogroll, who I would list but my tagging is getting bit ridiculous at this point.
Do it though, because I’m really interested in what you’d pick. Obviously I’m right, and you’ll be wrong – but its still interesting.
Related posts:
Arjan (3)
Ian (3)
Idaho Dad (3)
Ed (2)
ImPerceptible (2)
john Gray (2)
Kevin Spencer (2)
Andy (1)
Avitable (1)
David Ingalls (1)
on Sep 18th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
Night On Earth
Powaaqqatsi
No explanations. It’s late. Just trust me on this.
Steve´s last blog ..Long-distance Dad?
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Dan Reply:
September 20th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Dan´s last blog ..Big Screen Meme
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on Sep 19th, 2009 at 3:49 am
Monty Python and the Holy Grail- Pros: everybody knows this one, so if they miss a few minutes while in the karsey (as you folks so quaintly call the bog) they can pick it right up again. Also suitable for costumes and contests, although that might be a bit too Rocky Horror. Looks like it was filmed with mud on the lens anyway, so who cares what the projector at the PL is like. Cons: maybe a bit too familiar, plus everybody’s wives will be rolling their eyes when Dan starts leading their husbands in a staged reading of the script.
The Commitments- Pros: filled with soul music and Irish people, and who doesn’t love that? Cons: Again, maybe overly familiar.
The Public Enemy- Pros: Old-school cops and gangsters, Cagney is awesome in this one. It’s also only 83 minutes, ’cause some people have short attention spans. Cons: Probably not one for the ladies. If you want to keep them happy, you’re probably going to have to show “Love, Actually” anyway.
JJ Daddy-O´s last blog ..What I was doing this past April….
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Dan Reply:
September 20th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
You are right about the venue though. They already hold regular film nights, so there must be at least a half decent AV setup. He’s planning on checking it out soon.
Dan´s last blog ..Big Screen Meme
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on Sep 19th, 2009 at 10:43 am
[...] 19, 2009 Dan is insisting that he know the three best films to watch at the cinema. And so sure is he of his [...]
on Sep 19th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Ed Wood
Evil Dead 2
Casablanca
Victim
My Name is Bruce
but if I had to pick one out of all those it would have to be Sunset Boulevard – beautifully filmed, fabulously scripted and some of the best acting ever. Clever, sad, poignant, funny and gripping – what more could you want from a tale of fading fame, obsessive love, vanity and Hollywood. Quite simply one of the best films ever made.
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Dan Reply:
September 20th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
What, no dumb and Dumber on your list?
Dan´s last blog ..Big Screen Meme
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Morticia Reply:
September 20th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
I’ve only seen bits of Dumb and Dumber and was very disappointed that it wasn’t a biopic of Charles and Lady Diane as i was hoping but it featured that awful Jim Carrey who unless he’s in The Mask really gets on my nerves.
Evil Dead is good but I prefer Evil Dead 2 as Ash is in it more and it includes some very funny jokes, the tree rape scene in 1 is too horrid for me.
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on Sep 19th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Yes, I do love to make life complicated.
Dad Who Writes´s last blog ..Reading, reading and reading
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Dan Reply:
September 20th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Dan´s last blog ..Big Screen Meme
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on Sep 19th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Restless Natives – the Bill Forsyth movie (before he made Gregory’s Girl) with a fanatastic sound track by Big Country.
The Deer Hunter – still one of the best movies ever made and another fabulous sound track.
Carry on Camping – the first move I ever saw at the cinema.
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Dan Reply:
September 20th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Dan´s last blog ..Big Screen Meme
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on Sep 19th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
*short hijack*
I might also find some time to post a part 2 of Dutch movies..it’s not that there aren’t any movies..but I’m not at home enough to watch long movies in the evening.. study/work/work/social life and sports (which left me crippled for at least another 2 days btw..) keep me away from my comfy chair and screen.
Arjan´s last blog ..Blue Öyster Cult in concert!
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Dan Reply:
September 20th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Dan´s last blog ..Big Screen Meme
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on Sep 20th, 2009 at 10:14 am
However, I feel that I need to make a proviso to one of your three choices Dan, you need to add the phrase “the original Italian Job” to your second choice for there are parts of the world who will not understand that the Sly Stallone version was not even a pale imitation of the original but indeed a complete waste of celluloid or its digital equivalent.
Come the revolution any film producer who even ponders on the suggestion “hmmm, we could do a really good remake of that film…” will be stood against a wall and given 30 seconds to repent his sins before the firing squad are led in…
Gary´s last blog ..The Kings Arms, Seaton Sluice
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Dan Reply:
September 20th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
actually I didn’t think the remake was too bad a film, as long as you ignored the fact it was a remake. The only thing it had in common with the first one was the name really.
But I am a sucker for popcorn films.
Dan´s last blog ..Big Screen Meme
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on Sep 20th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Avitable´s last blog ..Yes, YOU are invited!
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Dan Reply:
September 20th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Ooo American Werewolf in London, that’s another one.
Dan´s last blog ..Big Screen Meme
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on Sep 20th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Boondock saints: just awesome.
Crank: a crazy entertaining movie
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Dan Reply:
September 21st, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Dan´s last blog ..Big Screen Meme
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JJ Daddy-O Reply:
September 21st, 2009 at 4:38 pm
I have a soft spot for Forrest Gump because it was filmed right here in Savannah.
JJ Daddy-O´s last blog ..What I was doing this past April….
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Arjan Reply:
September 21st, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Arjan´s last blog ..Blue Öyster Cult in concert!
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on Sep 20th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
[...] got three or four things I need to blog about but before I get to them, I need to deliver on this film meme Dan hit me with. Dan wants results fast and you don’t disappoint Dan. It relates to the Joseph Salmon Trust [...]
on Sep 20th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
I think on this one and perhaps post the results. Boring, I know, but am blanking right now.
SeattleDad´s last blog ..We’re Golden
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Dan Reply:
September 21st, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Dan´s last blog ..Big Screen Meme
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on Sep 21st, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Gladiator. Because nobody does action stuff better than Mr Scott
The Sound of Music….singalong version. Goes so well with beer and wine
Nota Bene´s last blog ..What shall I buy?
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Dan Reply:
September 21st, 2009 at 1:59 pm
And I think I’ll give the sound of music a miss if that’s ok. I’m not the biggest musical fan.
Dan´s last blog ..Big Screen Meme
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on Sep 21st, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Jo Beaufoix´s last blog ..It’s a worry
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Dan Reply:
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:09 pm
Any man who likes grease is not a man.
Dan´s last blog ..Big Screen Meme
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on Sep 22nd, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Linda´s last blog ..How my twins kept me awake at night, and top tips to stop it happening to you
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Dan Reply:
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:10 pm
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on Sep 22nd, 2009 at 8:09 pm
ok, my three:
A HARD DAYS NIGHT—the beatles, young, exuberant and in glorious black and white.
FINDING NEMO—or nearly any pixar movie really. you’re missing all the subtleties on a small screen.
SPIRITED AWAY— although i often confuse one Hayao Miyazaki film with another because they’re all insane…visually stunning though, that’s key.
bon bon´s last blog ..apple maple pie
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Dan Reply:
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:11 pm
I’m not a horror man at all I’m afraid. I just don’t like the sensation of being scared or jumping with surprise. So I’ve avoided the evil dead movies.
Dan´s last blog ..Big Screen Meme
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on Sep 22nd, 2009 at 11:13 pm
notSupermum´s last blog ..Over The Top? Moi?
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on Oct 1st, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Xbox4NappyRash´s last blog ..Half way home
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