Recently though, it has become apparent to me that my pop-culture score has dropped from the "I'm too good for the Hollywood blockbuster - Isn't there an intelligent movie playing" version to the sort of clueless version where people wonder what planet I've been living on. I blame the drop, like all things, on law school. This weekend, I watched "Dr. Strangelove" for the first time. When I mentioned it to some other friends at lunch, they said, "Yeah! That's a classic!" I didn't even know it existed until Friday night.
Among other movies I have never seen:
- The last one or two of the Star Wars series that were released.
- Any of the Star Trek movies.
- The name fails me now, but any of those "The Hobbit"-type movies that came out a few years back. The fantasy ones that ran three hours long....cripes....see, I told you I have an increasing problem here.**
- I have seen one James Bond movie in English (Casino Royale) and one in French (something with Sean Connery, which ruined the whole thing because 1/2 of Sean Connery's sex appeal comes from his voice and accent). According to Wikipedia, there have been six James Bonds and 21 films.
- Any of the Godfather movies.
Embarassingly, this list could go on and on.
So, I'm opening this one up to my community to remedy. If there is a great movie, book, show or other item that you think I shouldn't miss, please post a comment below (or send me an email). As I move through my "assignments" from you, I'll let you know what I think about your recommendations.
**A law school classmate came in and I asked her about these. She said, "You mean something other than the 'Lord of the Rings' movies?" No, I meant those actually.
6 comments:
Roxanne dear,
Jeff and I would be happy to rehabilitate you. You bring the popcorn and we will get the movie!!!!
Love Anjali
I would highly recommend the Monty Python movies for "classic" films that you should see. In particular, Holy Grail and Life of Brian. I own them if you want to borrow them.
Then of course there is the "rockumentary" - This is Spinal Tap. Very funny and filled with pop culture reference material, such as "this one goes to 11."
As for Godfather, Lord of the Rings, James Bond, etc, they are more of the "guy flicks" genre. I have the Lord of the Rings movies if you are ever up for a marathon but I think you can live without seeing them IMHO.
My primary suggestion for supplementing your pop culture knowledge would be Monty Python. Start with Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail, and then go to Life of Brian. Some really great scenes that will add tremendously to your cultural quotability. Or go see Spamalot. Your call.
Then, go to This is Spinal Tap, the fake "rockumentary" about a British band. Lots of quotable lines that make NO sense unless you've seen the movie. "This one goes to 11" being the most common.
I own all of the above, so you can borrow them anytime. Its the least I can do!
Comment from Roxanne:
Mom emailed me with the following suggestion:
"Here are some classics for your cultural enjoyment for the next break.
http://www.nndb.com/people/050/000044915/."
The link takes you to a biography page for Herman Melville. Thanks Mom.
(Now you all know why my pop-culture score is low.)
Spinal Tap is a bit beyond where Roxanne is in regards to the whole band culture thing. 98% of the funny comes from inside jokes she won't get.
One Monty Python that Karol over looked that is a "must" is Meaning Of Life.
Some must see "stupid" comedies I would recommend are (in no particular order):
Meatballs
Animal House
Airplane
Top Secret
Real Genius
Some more recent movies I recommend you see would include (not necessarily comedies):
Napolean Dynomite (not a fave of mine, but everywhere in pop culture)
Taledega Nights
Stranger than Fiction
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
(skip the last two star wars movies, they sucked)
Harry Potter Books and/or Movies (books are better, but the movies aren't terrible)
Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy
The Bourne trilogy
The Incredibles
Ratatouille
Some classics you may have missed:
Clockwork Orange (since you just saw Strangelove)
Blade Runner
Citizen Kane
A lot of these are in my DVD library if you want to borrow.
Of the suggestions so far, I have already seen the following:
Meatballs (didn't that come out when we around 10 years old?)
Animal House (always a classic)
Airplane (found this funny as a kid - would probably find it funny but pretend to be "above it" now.)
Stanger than Fiction (loved it!)
The first two Pirates of the Caribbean movies. (Didn't like the second one much so I didn't see the third.)
The Incredibles
I also recently saw "Waitress" on the flight home from Europe. It was FANTASTIC. The dialogue, both internal and external, is hilarious. Examples:
Jenna: I Hate My Husband Pie... You take bittersweet chocolate and don't sweeten it. You make it into a pudding and drown it in caramel
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Jenna: Earl Murders Me Because I'm Having An Affair Pie... You smash blackberries and raspberries into a chocolate crust
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Jenna: I Can't Have No Affair Because It's Wrong And I Don't Want Earl To Kill Me Pie... Vanilla custard with banana. Hold the banana.
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Jenna: Pregnant Miserable Self Pitying Loser Pie... Lumpy oatmeal with fruitcake mashed in. Flambé of course
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Ogie: [to Dawn] . If I had a penny for everything I love about you, I would have many pennies.
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Becky: Hey Earl, me and Dawn just decided you have attractive hair. Woooo! Go you!
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Becky: If you havent noticed, my right boob is way up here in Maine and my left boob is danglin' down here in Florida.
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