I recently read a post by Thirsty Daddy where he had written the soundtrack to his life, choosing songs that meant something to him at the time. I gave this some thought and it would have been really easy to do the same, but then I thought about the films I’d watched at certain times of my life and decided to give the idea a bit of a twist. So here are my favourite films.
The Films of my Life.
The Younger Years, Favourite Films
Going way back to when I was little I loved musicals and films with lots of dancing. I guess it was my Mum and Dad’s influence but I loved the likes of Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Gene Kelly and Deanna Durbin. However, to define a moment in time it would have to be Saturday afternoons at a friend’s house watching Elvis Presley films. We’d watch with her brother and sisters, and her Dad who was a big fan. Then her Mum would come back from shopping with sweet treats for us all. I haven’t watched any of these films for years now, maybe it’s time for a catch up.
Pre-teens favourite Films
When we were fairly young, but old enough to go out alone, me and my cousins would go to the cinema on a Saturday afternoon. We would often watch animations like Peter Pan, but I remember going to see a brand new film, Pete’s Dragon which was a mix of animation and live action. I loved it and it was my favourite film for a long time. Sadly I’ve yet to watch the re-make. (edit: I have watched it now, and I didn’t enjoy it!)
Teenage Years, favourite films
I remember when Star Wars first came out and there was no-one who wanted to go with me to the cinema to see it. I just knew I would love the film but I had to wait quite a while before I got to watch it. I’ve watched all the films now and my eldest son is a big fan. He’s read loads of the books too, and I may have read a couple myself.
A year after Star Wars came Grease but this time I had someone willing to go with me to see it. I loved Grease, I even had John Travolta’s poster on my wall and I would sing along to the album every day. I think I probably still know all the words to ‘Hopelessly Devoted to You.’
I was a teen for most of the 80s and there were many films that became long time classics. Here are 20 Movies from the 80s you can watch with your kids and teens.
Young Adult, favourite films
Now this was the time I watched lots of films. We would visit the video rental store regularly and hire a film for the night. Sometimes, if the film was popular you had to reserve it, then hope that the person borrowing it would bring it back on time. Our video store would give us a quick call as soon as it was brought back.
Conan the Barbarian was a big favourite, along with Mad Max. I must have watched all the films several times and often sought out badly made rip-off type films. It seems like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mel Gibson have been around forever, much like John Travolta and Tom Cruise.
As for the cinema, there are two films that stick out for me. Ghostbusters and Gremlins. I actually went into town one evening with the hope of watching Ghostbusters but the queue to get in the cinema was humongous. My boyfriend said there was another cinema just down the road so we could try there. When we go there, however, it was just the same.
We were about to give up and go back another night when I noticed they were showing Gremlins. We had not heard of the film and had no idea what it was about but decided to watch it anyway. I thought it such a weird film but I did fall in love with Gizmo. As the years have past, and I’ve watched both Ghostbusters and Gremlins many times, I have to say that Gremlins is my favourite of the two.
Then I grew Up
With quite a few adult years under my belt it’s obvious that there are lots of films that I’ve loved. Some I’ve watched over and over and never tire of them, like Back to the Future (all three films.) A few years ago I went to The Gadget Show Live and managed to get up close to Jason Bradbury’s Back to the Future Delorean.
I’d be really excited to see the Back to the Future Musical, you can read all about it here.
More grown films I love are Trainspotting and Pulp Fiction, yet the first time I watched them I wasn’t that keen at all. I’m not keen on violence, or drug taking but I do like films with a different approach, something that makes them stand out from other films. And both of these certainly do that. I’ve still not seen the new Trainspotting film though. (edit: I have seen it now and I didn’t enjoy it!)
Full Circle
As a child I loved musicals and I still do. When I was at school, admitting that you liked Abba was a bit of a faux paux, a social blunder. So, of course I wasn’t a fan. Years later Bjorn Again played at the university where I worked and I loved every minute. So I was utterly thrilled when Mamma Mia came out. I’ve watched it tons of times but now I’m waiting for the chance to watch Mamma Mia, Here We Go Again. (Edit: I’ve seen it now and I didn’t enjoy it so much!)
It took me a long time to watch The Greatest Showman, but again, it’s one of my favourites that I could watch over and over. The story line is not that brilliant but I love the music and Hugh Jackman of course.
I guess that brings me up to date. Although, I feel like I’ve missed so much out, there are always so many memories attached to films. And of course, there are so many favourites too. A few more of my favourite films are
You’ve Got Mail (And most of Tom Hanks Films)
Malificent
The Cornetto Trilogy (Sean of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World’s End.)
Bruce Willis Films (Die Hard, The Fifth Element, Hudson Hawk, Armageddon.)
Marvel Films, I love superheroes. Thor is my favourite, but close second is Captain America.
I also like some anime and in particular anything from Studio Ghibli such as My Neighbour Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Spirited Away, Arietty, Porco Rosso…ok, it would be really hard to choose a favourite. And they are all currently available on Netflix..yay!
What are your favourite films?
I can do a list of songs and films for my life – things that stand out but sometimes what I watched at say 21 does not translate to what I’d want to see again. In college The Graduate was a huge hit and I thought it was amazing. Don’t care to see it again now. It’s not the 60’s and I’m not 21. But watching that movie with a friend is a wonderful memory. #MMBC
Oh, I agree, I’m not sure I’d enjoy Conan the Barbarian or Mad Max again now, but I loved them at the time.
#mixitup linky What a great idea. xx Really enjoyed reading this one x
My all-time favourite is Wings of Desire, but others that come to mind are Back to The Future, Badlands, Rumblefish, Betty Blue #MixItUp
I had not heard of Wings of Desire, but it sounds really interesting, I may have to watch it now. Not heard of Betty Blue either but I do remember Badlands and Rumblefish.
Ahh! I have never watched any of the Star Wars films but I’m going to. They are being shown on ITV from Saturday all the way until Christmas. hehehe
I am still watching The Greatest Showman at least once a fortnight. #MMBC
Yes, catch up with Star Wars, they are fun. Some of the newer ones are harder to ‘get’ than the first ones though.
Love all those. The Back To The Future trilogy is my all time favorite set of films.
#MixItUp
Oh yes, even though the ‘future’ has passed, they are still fab.
I loved Gremlins when I was growing up. I wanted a pet Gizmo! #MMBC
So long as you didn’t feed him after midnight it would have been fine 🙂
A real trip down memory lane. I well remember my Dad standing for hours trying to get us into Grease when I was little. Star Wars never hooked me but I am going to put that right as I think I may have missed out. Mystic Pizza was a big favourite that I can still enjoy now. Sadly watching films as well as reading and other pleasures seems so much more hard to organise now I am a mum. But this too can change and you have given me some ideas of films to see #MMBC
Finding time for films can be difficult sometimes x
Very cool songs. Thanks for sharing it with us. #MixItUp
I was really scared of Gremlins but I absolutely loved Grease. The soundtrack to my teens is definitely Top Gun :o)
#MMBC
Top Gun was a big favourite of mine, I really loved Tom Cruise in the early days.
What a great Idea – great selection of films you have chosen X #mixitup
Aw, what a fab trip down memory lane Anne! I loved the Gremlins. My all time favourite and still now to this day has to be The Lost Boys.
I have to admit to not seeing any of the Star Wars films though and The Greatest Showman is one of my favourites now too.
Thanks ever so much for sharing with #MMBC. x
There are so many films on your list that I also grew up with and love so much – Grease, Mamma Mia, Back To The Future. Great post x #MixItUp
… coming at ya from #BlogCrush
I remember going to see lots of these at the cinema too! Ghostbusters will always be my favourite though! #blogcrush
As a young teen, Grease was the word! Wow, I was blown away. Watched it twice. In college, it was The Big Chill. I hate gratuitous violence but loved Pulp Fiction. Pete’s Dragon the remake reminds me of our prior pugs, Atticus and Eli. And the Greatest Showman, we have watched 347 times so far, give or take a few. Lovely post-Anne! #mixitup xoxo
What a lovely way to take a trip down memory lane! I love StarWars and Grease and I grew up watching musicals too. I’ve not seen Pete’s Dragon for years – you’ve just reminded me about it – I bet my girls would enjoy it. #blogcrush