Tammy Armstrong's Top Ten Movies

This list is a mix of feel-good movies that I could watch over and over, and movies that I really like but that I don't own or watch frequently. I apologize to all the movies to which I'm about to do a great injustice by omission; my recall of movies is apparently terrible. So in some ways, this is the top 10 of the moment - the bottom 3 get a bit iffy, in particular. I think it has some staying power, though.

1. Love Actually (2003)

The ultimate chick flick of all time. Star-studded cast, well-timed and well-balanced between the various storylines, AND you get to watch it as a Christmas movie or year-round.

2. The Dark Knight (2008)

This represents my love for comic book movies. I could have listed Spider-Man or Iron Man as they are also favorites, but Dark Knight is gloriously done. Seeing it for the first time while spending the summer in Chicago--after I had been there long enough to recognize things/places like Wacker Drive and CTA buses--made it that much sweeter.

3. Harry Potter (2001-2011)

Can we all agree that the series counts as one movie? Mom and I used to spend quiet weekend evenings watching one or the other of these movies - not intently watching, but chatting and catching up with the movies as background. They're kind of companion movies: comfort when you feel homesick or lonely. We could also place the Twilight movies in this category, terrible as they are.

4. Chasing Liberty (2004)This is probably a terrible movie. But it was my favorite chick flick as a teenager and has stuck with me. It also has a surprisingly excellent soundtrack. Also, Mark Harmon should probably play every teenage-daughter's father until he's 90.

5. The Incredibles (2004)

There's a wonderful warm feeling that immediately accompanies watching a Pixar movie. It was a tough call between this and Up! or the Toy Story movies, but The Incredibles won. A little romance, a little crime-fighting action, and a sweet theme of the importance of family.

6. Star Trek (2009)

I'm a bit of a Trekkie. This movie made it okay to admit that publicly for the first time. I could probably watch this once a month and still feel excited about it.  

7. Best In Show (2000)

When I was pretty young, my mom showed our Keeshond, Bandit. I remember traveling to shows, getting some ribbons/cups, and Bandit getting a reputation for drinking judges' coffee if they set their mugs on the floor next to their chairs. My parents, who were much more aware of the culture at the time, say this movie pretty accurately represents the dog show culture... and I imagine it translates for any type of competition/subculture like this. I love it for its ridiculous characters and for introducing me to the mockumentary.

8. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

It's been a long time since I've watched this one, but I can't imagine a more quotable movie--or one that has been quoted so widely for so long. Everyone has a favorite scene: I'm quite partial to the Knights Who Say "Ni!" (or later, "Iki-iki-iki-pa-TANG zoop! boing! wasaaaaa...").

9. Everything is Illuminated (2005)

This is one that almost didn't make it into the list because it doesn't lend itself to a lot of re-watching. It's not the most uplifting movie overall, and is one of the more serious movies on this list. I love that they give the perspective/narration to Alex, and the cinematography is wonderful. 

10. Mr. Nice Guy (1997)

Jackie Chan had to be on here somewhere. This one has him starring as a TV chef in Australia who gets mixed up in a spot of trouble and has to be awesome. As always, totally improbable but totally lovable.

Mike Armstrong's Top Ten Movies

I am following my Dad's format for choosing movies. He did post first so I think he deserves to set some kind of precedent. So, this list is weighted strongly towards rewatchability. Movies that I would always want to watch and could watch multiple times. Not the 10 best movies ever made, but probably my 10 favorite. 

For honorable mentions, there were many that were sitting just off the list for a while. It was pretty tough to trim down. I think the last three to be cut were Caddyshack, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and Indiana Jones: The Last Crusade. That last one was real difficult to cut. Sean Connery is great in that one. On to the list!
 

10. Young Frankenstein (1974)

Inga: Werewolf! 

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: Werewolf?

Igor: There.

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: What?

Igor: There, wolf. There, castle.

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: Why are you talking that way?

Igor: I thought you wanted to.

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: No, I don't want to.

Igor: [shrugs] Suit yourself. I'm easy. 

9. Wet Hot American Summer (2001)

Prof. Neuman:  You see, this is us, and we’re travelling around the sun– that’s a one-point-three million mile trip, every year! You might say that each and every one of us is a crew member here on ‘spaceship earth’…

 
Kid:  When would we say that?
 

Prof. Neuman:  Anytime… dinner… literally anytime.

8. Kung Fu Hustle (2004)

7. Brick (2005)

Laura: [On the phone with Brendan] Who is this?

Brendan Frye: I won't waste your time: you don't know me.

Laura: I know everyone, and I have all the time in the world.

Brendan Frye: Ah, the folly of youth. 

6. Animal Crackers (1930)

Capt. Spaulding:  One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I don't know. 

5. Princess Bride (1987)

Grandpa: It was ten days to the wedding. The King still lived, but Buttercup's nightmares were growing steadily worse.

The Grandson: See didn't I tell you she'd never marry that rotten Humperdinck.

Grandpa: Yes you're very smart. Shut up.

4. Robin Hood (1973)

 

Little John: [after sitting on Hiss] Oh, excuse me, Buster.

Hiss: Buster? You, sir, have taken my seat!

Prince John: [laughs] Hiss, with you around, who needs a court jester? 
 

 

3. Mirrormask (2005)

Helena: What's green, hangs on the wall, and whistles?…Have you found the answer yet?

Gryphon: I give up, I think, no wait, wait…fine. What's the answer?

Helena: Okay. It's a herring.

Gryphon: But a herring isn't green.

Helena: You can paint it green.

Gryphon: But a herring doesn't hang on a wall.

Helena: You can nail it to a wall.

Gryphon: But a herring doesn't whistle!

Helena: Oh, come on. I just put that in to stop it from being too obvious. 

2. Kung Fu Panda (2008)

 

"Quit, don't quit. Noodles, don't noodles."

1. Hot Fuzz (2007)

-Your predecessor assumed rural policing was easy. Ended up having a nervous breakdown, and Sergeant Popwell was an exceptional officer. Truly exceptional. But he had one thing you haven't got.

 

-What's that sir?

-A GREAT BIG BUSHY BEARD!"

 


 
  

John Armstrong's Top Ten Movies

My deciding question was, "What movies would I most want to watch on a Friday after work (if I worked) and wanted to be entertained?"  So here is my list.  I think going first means I will miss a bunch of movies that should be on my list, but like all things, if I wait until it's perfect, it will never get done.  I feel bad that I couldn't include The Sting, or Groundhog Day  or Ghostbusters, or the original Twelve Angry Men.  I even had to leave out Army Of Darkness, the Thunderstick edition.  Oh well, enjoy and welcome back to Marshmallow Fight. I love movies because they are quotable, so I included a quote for each movie. Each title is linked to a trailer or cover page from IMDB or YouTube.

10.  Matinee (1993)

General (watching half-man, half-ant climb up building): What do you call that thing?
Creature's former girlfriend:  Bill. 


9.  Big Fish (2003)


Ed Bloom: Having a kid changes everything. There's burping, the midnight feeding, and changing.
Will Bloom (his son): You do any of that?
Ed: No. But I hear it's terrible. Then you spend years trying to corrupt and mislead this child, fill his head with nonsense and still it turns out perfectly fine.
Will: You think I'm up for it?
Ed: You learned from the best.


8.  O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000)


General Store Owner:I can get the part from a Ford dealer in Bristol.  It'll take two weeks.  Here's your pomade.
Ulysses Everett McGill:  Two weeks! That don't do me no good. Hold on. I don't want this pomade. I want Dapper Dan.
Owner: I can order it. Take two weeks.
McGill: Well, ain't this place a geographical oddity. Two weeks from everywhere.


7.  Star Wars (1977)

Darth Vader: I find your lack of faith disturbing.

6. Sneakers (1992)


Cosmo:  There I was in prison. And one day I help a couple of older gentlemen make  some free telephone calls.  They turn out to be, let us say, good family men.
Martin Bishop: Organized crime?
Cosmo: Don't kid yourself. It's not that organized.


5.  Roxanne (1987)


Mayor: I would rather be with the people of this town than with the finest people in the world.


4.  My Favorite Year (1982)


Alan Swann: Damn you, I'm not an actor. I'm a movie star. 


3.  Running Scared (1986)


Captain Logan:  I hear you two watched them mop up the pancake today. You two weren't, uh, interrogating a suspect up on the roof, were you?
Ray Hughes: We got an alibi, Captain. Snake, tell him where we were or we'll kill you, too.


2.  Field of Dreams (1989)


Terrence Mann:  The one constant through the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game it's a part of our past, Ray.  It reminds us of all that once was good and could be again. 


1.  Princess Bride ( 1987)


Vizzini has just cut the rope the Dread Pirate Roberts is climbing.

Vizzini:  He didn't fall? Inconceivable.
Inigo Montoya: You keep using that word.  I do not think it means what you think it means.




Looking back on my list, I notice that seven of the ten movies fall during a roughly 10 year span of my (almost) 60 year life. Weird.

Please use the comment button below to let me know what you think of my list.

Please don't make me wait too long to see your list. You can e-mail them to me. You can pick a different format (you don't have to include quotes). You may want to explain why some of them are on your list.  It's up to you.  I will put in the links when I get your list. It will help if you put a year with each one, since some movie titles are reused.  Happy hunting!