My Favourite Films

No1 – Ghostbusters

A good place to start. Not my number one film but up there!

I remember going to the cinema a bit unsure as to what I would see when this came out.  As a kid we watched pretty much anything and with cheap admission due to the cinemas centenary (50p) we would watch literally anything and not feel short changed.

I remember being in the cinema with about 10 mates and then it happened.  The one thing that signified a good film – we were concentrating on it!  Actually we were into it by about 10 mins in and loved every minute…so much so we came out queued up and went in again!

Actually I have to admit to watching this about 10 times at the cinema and know all the script as well as the incidental music!!! No-one ever watches this with me as they find it so annoying. 

What it was that grabbed me is difficult to say.  We all aligned oursleves with one of the charcters (ala star wars – Han Solo, Luke etc…) I did with Pete Venkman (Bill Murray).  He was sarcastic, didnt care and was in it for himself.  He wasnt a ‘pretty boy’ like Tom Cruise and didnt say and do the right things but he still won and got the girl! Any normal person can win!  You dont need super white teeth and a set pattern for all your films where you have to go through certain events before you eventually learn from your mistakes and get the girl – who’s early films does that sound like?

The humour was sharp – over the head of some of my mates – and quick.  The film moved fast and you felt like you were on some rollercoaster.

All in all it became very quickly and has always stayed one of my favourite films….it was the first DVD I recieved when getting a DVD player!

(I would like to thank Ryan Deffley for putting his great tribute video onto You tube and Columbia Tristar who own the rights to the film)

No 2 The Breakfast Club

This film was on of those movies that defined a generation.  Ask anyone of my age for a list of 10 favourite films and this will come up in it somewhere!

The thing is we could all relate to one of them – the geek, the weirdo, the prom queen, the jock, the rebel… all of us were one of them…or more than one of them in some cases.

It also spawned numerous quotes which burst forth from many people when the opportunity arises.

Bender: Sporto, do you get along with your parents?
Andrew: Well, if I say yes I’m an idiot, right?
Bender: You’re an idiot anyway. But if you say you get along with your parents, well then you’re a liar too.

The teenage angst of these – it has to be said – older teenagers (in some cases much older) was also something we could relate.  The way groups didnt mix, the falling in and out of love, the school issue, detentions, relationships with peers and adults, how people see us and how we see ourselves etc… were all issues we were struggling with and now it was being portrayed on the screen!

For me this film represents my childhood and the move into adulthood.  It is a classic that has stuck with me from the day I first saw it and probably always will.

Every so often when I go to the dvd cupboard in my house it seems to cry out ‘Dont you forget about me!’ and once again I pick it up and go back to an easier time.

 No .3

Kung Pow: Enter the fist

A much maligned martial arts spoof with elements of….ah who am I kidding this rocks!

I found this movie when I was ill once and it made me laugh soooo much.  I havent much to say except it’ll make you laugh and even if it doesnt it is worth holding with until the cow fighting!