My favourite films

As I sit up too late watching ‘Pitch Perfect’ – because my husband won’t watch it, the opportunity to join up with the #Blogtober16 prompt on favourite films is too good to overlook.

I have too many movies which if they’re on tv I can’t switch the channel. I’m thinking Pretty Woman, Dirty Dancing, Legally Blonde as proper ‘chick flicks’. And I also like to think I would never not want to watch a Quentin Tarrantino film, and it’s odd to then mention Disney – but you can’t go far wrong with either.

Then there are movies which didn’t make my final cut where I feel I’m betraying myself – American Beauty, Almost Famous, Harry Potter films (I think it’s ok when the book is far better than the film). 

But I’ve had to do it. So here are my favourite films:

I couldn’t decide between Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. My children adore Chitty Chitty Bang Bang but I’m putting this down to their age. I love everything about Mary Poppins. Now, as a parent, because it’s about appreciating there’s more than work, and everything about appreciating life and our own creativity.I haven’t been able to convince my children of their love for E.T. – The Extra Terrestrial, but I know it will come. For now they still can’t decide whether E.T. is scary or not. And that might just be the best part. That appearances are so deceptive. And that we all need to be accepted. 

I can’t tell you how much I love E.T. That’s just the way it is.In complete contrast to E.T., and completely stepping into bad mummy territory. Let me mention X-Men. Complete geek overload. I may have already introduced my boys to it. Complete bad mum.

Oddly, and with no regrets, it allowed me to explore more what the boys think television is, and I’m so glad we explored this. I am more confused ever by their distinction between cartoon and film. And I love my life all the more for it. They love X-Men. And I’ve no doubt this is partly due to their need to please their mum. And there’s selfishness right there for you.Into my romantic front, and I can’t tell you why, ‘While You Were Sleeping’ is completely in my favourite category. Maybe it’s something about the globe which a parent gives a child, maybe it’s about the introduction to eggnog, but probably it’s just about two people finding each other. It fits the category of film I’ll never switch off. And as true romance films go, and films which just convince you of the need to have beliefs which hold true. I think my favourite of Tom Hanks films (and I know I’m dismissing Forest Gump, Philadelphia and When Harry Met Sally) is ‘You’ve Got Mail’.

A film which should be watched, just for the sound of dial-up alone. Probably into the future to remember what books look like. That book shops make life. This is why it’s a film on my list. Continuing in the lurve category, but more so into life, ‘Serendipity’ is a film which I will always love. Like ‘You’ve Got Mail’, it pursues my love of New York.

Whilst I know and love the origins of my daughter’s name are nothing to do with this film, to me it serves a further purpose to associate my daughter with the term. To have hope that my daughter’s life will be a fortunate happenstance.Then to link happenstance with the ultimate ambition, there’s Armageddon. Astronaut would be my ultimate ambition, so throw in Bruce Willis, Steve Buscemi, Liv Tyler and Ben Affleck and I’m happy.My final two are probably my ultimate. I can wonder why films like Good Will Hunting and Gone With The Wind aren’t on my list (amongst others). These two films just make everything ok. 

I can’t begin to explain.

I introduce Dead Poet’s Society and Breakfast At Tiffany’s.

And as importantly, Robin Williams and Audrey Hepburn.

That’s where my words pale. And both films speak in lifetimes.