Sasha Summers

There are a few movies I’ll watch over and over. These movies might not be the best movies ever, but there’s something resonant about a character, story line … or maybe I just happened to be in a certain mood that made the movie stick with me. Here are five of those movies – not ranked in order of preference:

•  The Mummy (1999) — NOT Mummy II - Mummy III never happened (ever ever ever ever…. etc.)- I love this movie. It has such a wonderful ensemble cast. Could Wiesz and Fraser have a more perfect chemistry? I don’t think so.  Their charming blend of humor and burgeoning heat adds just the right sweetness to this ‘old style’ gem. While John Hannah and Oded Fehr provide terrific comedic and action sidekick shenanigans. This is the kind of movie Hollywood should be making. It’s a Classic – good versus evil, dashing hero and pretty yet capable heroine, creepy but cool bad guy, epic score and cinematography.  Without the overwhelming CGI* prevalent today – which makes a movie into something less personal.

•  Underworld – -Underworld II not too bad, Underworld III could have been Much Much better (though Michael Sheen was awesome – love Mr. Sheen!)  Kate Beckinsale is one of the most gorgeous women Ever (Anjelina who?) - and she’s got an awesome accent too. Make her a century old vampire. Now, put her in a black leather body suit, arm her with nerves of steel and some kick-ass weaponry and pit her against some savagely nasty ‘lycans’ – as Underworld calls Werewolves. I’m lost for the next two hours. Enter the yummy Scott Speedman. He’s the only descendant of the ‘Father’ of the lycans - and the key to Beckinsale’s lycan hunting bad-ass Beckinsale (Selene) needs to root out the traitor in her vampire coven and protect the coven from total destruction.  Bill Nye is eerily perfect as elder Viktor.

•  Lake Placid (1999) – there is NO sequel to this film – Not Really – so don’t bother with the others! I’ve written entire blog entries on this film. I don’t know if it’s the phenomenal click of it’s cast: Bridget Fonda, Bill Pullman, Oliver Platt, and (One of My FAVORITE Actors) Brenden Gleeson, the whipcord snappy dialogue (oh to be able to write such dialogue – sigh and covet!), or the satisfying blend of suspense, cheese, or humor – but this movie rocks! Giant crocodiles, flying cows, and Betty White (before the resurgence of Betty White) just keep the ‘good’ stuff coming and provide for some lively entertainment.

• Pride and Prejudice(2005) – I know there are other versions that are great. I love this one. Keira Knightley is good, but it’s the other actors that make this one so enjoyable. Matthew Macfadyen, Brenda Blethyn, Donald Sutherland, Rosamund Pike, Simon Woods, Tom Hollander and the lovely Rupert Friend (I adore this man – see my post on ‘Young Victoria’) are all smashing. You wince over Mrs. Bennett, you feel sick over Jane’s disappointment and you swoon. Once when Mr. Darcy clenches his hand after helping Elizabeth into the carriage and then again when he proclaims himself in the folly on the lake – Sigh and swoon.

• Serenity(2005) – After cancelling one of the best TV shows EVER (you can rent the series and SHOULD if you haven’t seen it) Joss Whedon wrote this to help appease those Firefly groupies still picketing to have the show return. Alas, the show was forever finished, but this film was a valiant attempt to help provide closure. It’s intense, fast-paced, witty (as always), sexy, sometimes scary and always entertaining. Nathan Fillion (flush, swoon and sigh all at Once) is Capt. Mal. And though I love getting to watch him wax deductive reasoning on ‘Castle’ he will always be gun-toting space cowboy Captain Mal of the ship, Serenity, that he loves. Stellar cast includes the under-rated but always delightful Alan Tudyk (he and Paul Bettany STOLE Knights Tale), Jewel Staite (adored her – just adored!), Gina Torres, Summer Glau, and David Krumholtz as Mr. Universe are all Great. Some questions are answered (Reevers anyone), some friends are lost (sniff, sniff) and some hope for love (familial and romantic) is restored.

Though most of these films would probably fall into a ‘B’ category they’re all 5 star films to me!

I’d like it noted that I do NOT hate CGI. I think almost every one of the 5 movies I’ve listed has some significant CGI. However, there’s more to the film than its special effects. And that makes a movie a good movie.

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 3rd, 2010 at 9:07 PM and is filed under Movies, Random Observations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.