Sunday, September 03, 2006

Friday Night Movies (on Sunday Mornin'?)

Barb at A Chelsea Morning has linked us to Mommy Dearest at Home Sweet Home ,(don't you just love all this linky stuff?), who is hosting a Friday Night Movies where she's asking you to list your top 5 faves and a little description.

My top 5 faves are (not necessarily in any order):

1. Apollo 13 ~ My all time favorite. I cry every time. - Unlucky Apollo flight 13 was bound for the moon when technical troubles scuttled the mission and nearly doomed the crew. Director Ron Howard expertly chronicles the smallest details of this true-life story, turning a failed scientific journey into a thrilling saga of true heroism. As lead astronaut Jim Lovell, Tom Hanks utters the now-famous line, "Houston, we've got a problem."- Rated PG

2. Cool Runnings ~ My fave comedy. First time I saw this I laughed so hard my sides hurt all evening. We've been to where they filmed it and my daughter has actually stayed in the Olympic Village in the movie, so it was fun to identify the places we knew. -A fictionalized account of the unlikely story of Jamaica's first bobsled team, Cool Runnings follows the athletes' journey to the 1988 Winter Olympics. When Derice Bannock's (Leon) chances of qualifying for Jamaica's track team are dashed, he looks for another sport. He persuades U.S. bobsledding gold medallist Irv Blitzer (John Candy), who now lives in Jamaica, to coach Derice and his friends as they attempt to become a world-class bobsled team. - Rated PG

3. National Treasure ~ Love the action adventure and the smartness of this movie and I love that I can watch it with the whole family. - Modern treasure hunters, led by archaeologist Ben Franklin Gates (Nicolas Cage), search for a treasure chest rumored to have been stashed away by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin as funds for the Revolutionary War. The whereabouts of the chest may lie in a secret code embedded in the U.S. Constitution and in a map drawn on the back of the Declaration of Independence. Co-stars Diane Kruger, Sean Bean and Harvey Keitel. - Rated PG

4. Pirates of the Caribbean ~ Again, love the action adventure and the humor in this show. -Flamboyant pirate Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp, in an Oscar-nominated performance), steals the show as a charming, carefree 17th century pirate who roams the Caribbean sea. When a rival pirate (Geoffrey Rush) pillages the village of Port Royal and kidnaps the governor's (Jonathan Pryce) daughter, Elizabeth (Keira Knightley), Jack decides to help Elizabeth's love, Will (Orlando Bloom), save her. Of course, the mission isn't quite that simple. … - Rated PG13

5. Paycheck ~ Another action adventure. Hmmm, I'm seeing a pattern. I love this for the smartness in the way the plot is put together. - Michael Jennings (Ben Affleck) is a genius who's hired -- and paid handsomely -- by high-tech firms to work on highly sensitive projects, after which his short-term memory is erased so he can't breach security. But at the end of a 3-year job, he's told he isn't getting a paycheck and instead receives a mysterious envelope. In it are clues he must piece together to find out why he wasn't paid and how he's gotten in hot water. Co-stars Uma Thurman. - Rated PG13

Okay, I'm cheating. I'm gonna list a couple fave chick flicks too. This also seems to be a pattern; I can't seem to ever decide when asked for a certain number in these games. Wonder what that says about me? Do I want to know? Anyhoo... on with the shows!

6. Ever After ~ See I can name a chick flick. Love this show and watch it with my daughters at least once a year! - Drew Barrymore stars as the put-upon princess-to-be in this fresh look at the classic fairy tale. Orphaned as a child, Danielle (Barrymore) is treated like a servant by her wicked stepmother (Anjelica Huston) and two stepsisters. When Danielle accidentally stumbles onto Prince Henry (Dougray Scott), who's fleeing an arranged marriage, the two inspire each other to resolve their respective troubles in this lushly produced romantic fable. - Rated PG13 (for momentary strong language)

7. Return to Me ~ Beautiful love story worthy of a least 3 or 4 kleenexes. - Chicago building contractor David Duchovny donates his wife's heart after she's tragically killed in an automobile accident. The lucky recipient? Waitress Grace Briggs (Minnie Driver), who's led a sheltered life because of her condition. A romantic comedy with, well, tons of heart, Return to Me brings Duchovny and Driver together with a climax that'll bring tears to your eyes. - Rated PG

I think I'll be having a movie night tonight! All the descriptions for the movies came from Netflix. If you'd like a great place to review movies before you see them I always go here to read up on them first.

For more favorites movie choices to visit or to add your own to the links go here.

11 comments:

twiga92 said...

I love all these movies too! Return to Me is such a great story. And I really like Paycheck. And Cool Runnings is very good.

Donnetta said...

Would you believe Cool Runnings is playing right now as I am typing this?? My kids are watching it to start waking up. That should do it! :-) Also one of my fav's!

Barb said...

I've seen Apollo 13 and Ever After. Both wonderful. Ron Howard hasn't made a movie yet that I didn't love. And Tom Hanks is just one of my favorite actors.

Haven't seen the other 5 but after reading your list, I really really want to see national Treasure and Return to Me.

This is great. This really helps me figure out what to put in my Netflix queque.

Blogger profile name said...

I never saw Cool Runnings, but I want to now. We saw Return to Me about a month ago and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it - it was much "more" than I expected!

Sarah said...

I think I've only seen 2 of your favorites -- I need to make myself a list and get busy!! Thanks for stopping by my blog from BooMama -- isn't she a hoot! I'll try to get back by more often!

Anonymous said...

Ok....

First, love Apollo 13! Second, National Treasure is a great family flick. Third, Pirates kept my attention because Johnny Depp was so good in it. As for Ever After and Return to Me...I have yet to see them!

Kate said...

Those are all great movies! Return to Me was very well done too. I have yet to see Paycheck. Think I'll go add to my Netflix list!

Melanie @ This Ain't New York said...

Great list. Anything with David Duchovny is an A+ for me. This meme looks like fun.

Islandsparrow said...

I haven't seen National Treasure - I'll have to try and get it at Blockbuster - or better yet - the library!

rena said...

Have seen them all except Return to Me..will have to check it out.
Thanks for the listing.

Shawna said...

I agree with some of your choices & haven't seen some of them. Our movie time has seriously gone by the wayside. I am so not caught up on the movies I want to see, but CANNOT WAIT for the "Cars" DVD release in early November. Thanks for the reviews!