Just curious because I do like both of the movies picked this round, but do you guys really watch Christmas movies outside of November and December?
Okay, well after yet another out of left field sort of selection I thought I too should go with something all edgy and indie and obscure:
![]()
The Lord of the Rings -- The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) PG-13
Oh, and unless there are any reasonable objections I'll take the Extended Version and get something like 4 hours worth of movie for my island. Two movies worth. This was dictated a little bit by my last draft when I took The Two Towers (which I always liked for the Rohan/Helm's Deep sequences). With The Return of the King already taken, and The Two Towers burning up one of my 5 repeat pick slots (I've already used 3) this was the choice, especially with certain jerks who's names shall not be uttered without profanity stealing away Indiana Jones swashbucklers) Some good nostalgia with it anyway, as in a fairly rare event for me I saw this in the theater first week and it was quite the event and very exciting from the opening flashback sequence when you realized Jackson was going to get it mostly right. The whole standing ovation at the end of the movie thing is a cliche, and a claim that is flat out made up 90% of the time by people to try to support the movies they like, but it actually happened with this one.
My definition of Christmas movie means that you have to at least embrace "the reason for the season" at the end of the film in some way (at least the American "family values" reason, if not the Jesus reason which is a lot more rare), so you'll see a wretched character turn good or an anti-hero drop the anti. I don't really recall that in Love Actually but since I am not a fan of the film it has been years since I've rewatched it, perhaps I missed it. I do at least remember it being released during the holiday season which would be criteria #2 for me.Love Actually is a versatile Christmas movie that is also good for a viewing whenever, similar to Die Hard in that it's a Christmas film, but so much more...Excessively Christmas films are usually only reserved for the holidays however.
Well, after briefly surveying my upcoming list and finding it getting weighted a little too much toward movies that everybody likes rather than movies I like myself, I thought I would just go ahead and take one based on pure personal preference:
![]()
Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) PG-13
I will make no particular claim to special merit for this film other than its being just flat out fun and imminently rewatchable, which is a big key to everything I am taking. Its big, its loud, its full of gleeful mayhem and pretty people doing physically impossible things, I rarely have much use for the "summer blockbuster" type mindset, but this one just worked for me. Underneath the mayhem its actually a clever parody of marriage, and everybody is just having so much fun with it its hard not to get swept along. Features Angie at her most beautiful and dangerous as well, which will be both some consolation and some torture as I live out my remaining years on my empty little island.
The Kingdom of the Sun had the potential to be one of Disney's best features ever and instead we got this, which I would say is middle of the road for modern Disney. I know I've said it before but if anyone ever gets the opportunity to see The Sweatbox, Trudy Styler's documentary of Sting's involvement in this project, it is an absolute must see.The Emperor's New Groove - 2000
Time for a little animation on my island.. one of my 2 favorite animated films.. Hopefully the other makes it back to me at some point.
![]()
Finding Nemo
Saw this movie a few days ago. Nice old school action flick. Good vs. Evil. I thought the special effects weren't overdone, and I really like the way the storyline came out on film (see Green Lantern for how to mess up the opportunity for a good movie.) Some clever one-liners, good action sequences, and special effects kept in check, but well done when they were there.
My next pick on this island
is none other than:Thor's fellow Avenger - seriously, is this a spoiler?
Captain America (2011)
![]()
Also, Hayley Atwell was quite pleasing on the eyes. Quite.