4.10.2010

Desert Island DVDs.

I'm running a little late with this post. A while back, I signed up for a big blog post thing at Fandango Groovers Movie Blog called the "Desert Island DVDs." The concept is simple: If you were stranded on an island and could only take 8 DVDs with you to watch for the rest of your life, what would they be?

First, I wanna mention a few I'd love to take but won't:

- Napoleon Dynamite (because I can already quote the whole movie... who needs to watch it?)
- Little Shop of Horrors (The musical version. Assuming I'd be surrounded by trees and other foliage, I'd get paranoid that a giant fly-trap will try to eat me in the middle of the night)
- Almost any zombie movie sans one (because I'd get paranoid that zombies will try to eat me in the middle of the night)

So... here we go with the actual list (in no particular order):

1) Shaun of the Dead

This is that "sans one" I was talking about there. This is pretty much one of my favorite movies of all time, so it would have to go with me. I like to watch this movie when I'm sick or really down, because it always cheers me up.

2) The Princess Bride

So that if I'm ever found, they'll find me a crazy, deranged individual who can only say one line for the rest of his life: "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." Because, honestly, if you could only say one phrase for the rest of your life, that would be the coolest one.

3) Oldboy

Because who doesn't want bloodshed, revenge, and incest while stranded stranded alone on an island? Plus, it shows you how to eat raw octopus... you know... in case you ever catch an octopus and are too lazy to cook it (or can't make a fire).

4) Gamers: Dorkness Rising

Probably the best movie nobody has seen. You can only get it online, and it's incredibly low budget. But it's probably the best portrayal of pencil/paper gamers I've ever seen. It's hilarious for anyone, not just gamers. And along with the comedy, it has heart. If only these guys would write for Hollywood.

5) Inside Man

One of my favorite heist films, and I love me some heist films. Maybe it'll inspire me to figure out how to do the perfect crime. That way, when I'm rescued, I can go rob a bank and get away with it... though telling them to give me the money while I can only say "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."... will be a bit difficult.

6) Spaceballs

Another one of my favorite comedies, this is a Mel Brooks classic. There are quotes galore. And hey, I might actually have a reason to use the line "Comb the desert!"

7) MirrorMask

Any time I get a bad case of writer's block or I just need some good ol' inspiration, I watch this movie. It has never failed to get the cogs turning. And when I'm alone on a island, Lord knows I'll need some inspiration and a good imagination to keep both sane and alive. So this one is a must.

8) Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

I needed a musical on this list, and I'm just as surprised as you are that it wasn't "Repo! The Genetic Opera." So why Dr. Horrible? A few reasons. First, it's a short watch, for those times I wanna watch something but don't feel like watching something for 2 hours (like I'll be otherwise busy, but whatever). Second, it matches up with my plan to come back to the real world as an insane, bank-robbing supervillain. But this one will help me keep my priorities straight so I don't lose sight of what's really important. Next, the music is just awesome. And finally? Who wouldn't want to be stranded on a desert island with Neil Patrick Harris?

Honorable Mentions:
-Repo! The Genetic Opera
-In Bruges
-Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

(Seriously... there was a whole 'criminal' theme going on there, and that so wasn't intentional.)

12 comments:

  1. I haven't seen 3 of these, but good job on the other 5. I could see myself taking Shaun of the Dead and Dr. Horrible to my desert island too.

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  2. Can't believe a Foster flick didn't make the final cut. I guess you'll just have to picture him playing the various roles in the movies you got.

    The Princess Bride...starring Ben Foster as Westley.

    Ben of the Dead.

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  3. Rachel: Gamers, MirrorMask, and Oldboy, I'm assuming?

    Fletch: I'm surprised, as well. Though The Princess Bride with Foster as Westley... that's lol-tastic right there.

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  4. Repo!, Kiss Kiss, Shaun, and Dr. Horrible? It's like a nerdgasm described with awesome half-words!

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  5. Simon: LOL. It is quite the nerdgasm, indeed.

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  6. Mirrormask, such a great film and I love that Princess Bride is on the same list!

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  7. Oooo this is a really good one! I find Mirrormask gets the creative juices flowing as well, which is always nice. And I'm a little mad at myself for not thinking of Dr Horrible.

    I felt really bad for not including any Mel Brooks films on my list, so it's good to know if I want to see self-referential jokes and Bill Pullman driving a space Winnebago, I can just swim over to your island for a bit.

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  8. The first person to have The Princess Bride and another one who chose Oldboy. And Spaceballs was a pleasant suprise.

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  9. I, too, chose THE PRINCESS BRIDE, and Dr. Horrible is an inspired pick. I just watched it again this morning in fact. Great list!

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  10. You're the second person to include "Shaun of the Dead" and the umpteenth to include "Oldboy." You've piqued my curiosity about "Oldboy," so I guess now I have to watch it.

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  11. Any list with Oldboy on it is okay with me (Meredith from your comment am I right in saying you haven’t seen it?) but Dr. Horrible is an inspired choice!

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  12. You know you're participating in a special kind of list-off when you get a list that can include both Oldboy and Princess Bride without having to explain it.

    Great list. I'm liking that you had some Spike Lee in here. I don't think he gets much desert island love around here, although I think I remember seeing Do the Right Thing on someone's list.

    Props for Dr Horrible!

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