It was during Abigail’s Party recently that it happened. Not an actual party at Abigail’s, I don’t know anyone called Abigail. Let alone Lawrence. And don’t get me started on olives.
Now you see if you haven’t seen that film, that last paragraph makes no sense to you. As the references to “frozen sausage” didn’t when people on Twitter then started talking to me about Rita, Sue and Bob too and I admitted I had never seen it. This seemed to shock a lot of people, who all declared it brilliant. One lovely friend, Vanessa, sent me a copy as she was determined I watch it. (which I now have and will be the basis of a whole other blog post).
Anyway, I digress. The “it” that happened was people tweeting me saying “what? you haven’t seen that? Tell me you have seen <insert title of well known film>” and me saying I hadn’t.
It sparked a whole Twitter conversation has rumbled on for days about films that are a must see, and actually how I appear to have been in some DVD-less void for most of the 80s and 90s it would seem. Well six years in Saudi Arabia didn’t help. Films were literally cut so that nothing even vaguely suggestive remains. Rita, Sue, and Bob too would have been the opening and closing credits, and possibly shots of girls walking really really quickly into a museum. The rest of it? On the floor of the customs hall.
So that got me thinking about other films that I might have missed that I really should see. And how I would love to see films again, as I did with Abigail’s Party the other night. One of my all time favourite films, and one that many people have never seen.
Which led me to thinking about having a blog film club
Watching one a week, announcing which one it will be ahead of time so you can join in if you like, and then blogging my thoughts, and announcing the next one to be viewed. Inviting people to join in and leave comments, or do their own posts and link up memories of the film, a review, whatever really. Re-visiting old favourites or finding films we might never have heard of but adore.
Mr B’s favourite film is Local Hero, another one that many have not seen yet he must have watched a dozen times, if not more.
There is another website that does “Rated or Dated” and is looking at whether classic films have stood the test of time. Which is sort of where my issue with Rita, Sue and Bob too comes in. I can see it is a great film, and there is so much about it to love. But I can’t get past the married man and two school girls bit. Seems 1979 is very different from 2014 and whilst none of us were really up in arms about the plot back then, it wouldn’t see the light of day if a producer tried to get that made today. Local Hero and Abigail’s Party, whilst very much “of their time” have stood the test of time and still fantastic films.
Hit me with them then people…. I need 50 films to do one a week in 2015. Leave me a list in the comments below and I will kick it all off in January
* snaps clapper board and shouts ACTION*
I am thinking we could rate them from one to five ducks, what do you think? Too much?
And whilst you do that I am off to make popcorn
Wow – what a brilliant idea Tanya!
We went to see The Lunchbox – that’s a GOOD film! you’ll love it > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwYN-XS92yY
LOVE ACTUALLY LOVE ACTUALLY LOVE ACTUALLY LOVE ACTUALLY LOVE ACTUALLY 4 WEDDINGS LOVE ACTUALLY!!!
Do you seriously think Polly that in all my dealings with La Freud that I would not have seen these?! Emma Thompson patting that bed cover in Love Actually is one of my stand out movie scenes of all time. But I think a mass watching with at tweet a long would be brilliant. Wonder if we could get Mr Curtis to do a question and answer session for us too?
*waves* yes I’m expanding Kieran’s film genre lately to old classics and rom com’s as I’ve never seen virtually none.I’m a big fantasy and sci fi fan, so I bet there are loads you haven’t seen.
Princess Bride
Labyrinth
E.T.
The Breakfast Club
The Outsiders
Mannequin
2001: A Space Odyssey
The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy
Pulp Fiction
Any of the Star Wars films
The Neverending Story
Any of the Nightmare on Elm Street films
Willow
Groundhog Day
Ghost
Ghostbusters
Donnie Darko
Pan’s Labyrinth
Blade Runner
Aliens and the other ones in the series
Any of the Star Trek films
The Fly
Any of The Matrix films
Any of the Back To The Future Films
I prefer the old Bond films, Live And Let Die, The Spy Who Loved Me, A View To A Kill, The Man With The Golden Gun
Robocop
On Golden Pond
The Blair Witch Project
From Dusk Til Dawn
Gremlins
Needful Things
Thinner
Pet Sematary
The Shining
The Dark Half
Any of The Poltergeist movies
I think that may be enough now.
Holy Moly. Some crackers on that list Aly. Thanks so much. ANd I love the idea of a Twitter party.
Film Club *without* Princess Bride would be…….Anyone? ……Bueller????
Just thought you could do a film Twitter party to.Live tweet our thoughts as we watch.
the Labyrinth. pretty in pink. dirty dancing. I might have to come back when I have more time to think about it xx
Ha! I think Aly seems to have it covered 🙂 I would also have said Love Actually, although at this time of year The Holiday is my obligatory watch. That said, although I wouldn’t fancy a revisit, The Sixth Sense is one of the best films I’ve ever seen. Or Avatar, but that wouldn’t be so great on the small screen I think. 2012?
Ooh I’m quite excited now. Although you will never get me to watch Brokeback mountain. Yawn…
Seriously, if you do it count me in. I need a good reason to leave my desk and watch TV once a week 🙂
You need some old classics in the list too! So –
Mrs Miniver
Brief Encounter,
The Way to the Stars
A Matter of Life & Death
This Happy Breed
Passport to Pimlico
Titfield Thunderbolt
The Quiet Man
The Gentle Sex (ask her Maj Hurley- Perera about that one!)
All old movies – probably very dated, but I love them and they are well worth watching in my opinion!
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha MINNIE HURLEY!!!!!
Having posed his yesterday, I sat and watched i again last night and her starring role made me smile!
I love this idea so much.
The Breakfast Club
Imagine me and You
It’s a wonderful life
Harvey
The Pianist
I could go on and on….
Oh great idea, it always surprises me that my husband (an avid film watcher) hasn’t seen so much.
Candyman
Nightmare on Elm Street
Child’s play
Stand By Me
The Goonies
Three Men and a Baby
The Shawshank Redemption
The Green Mile
Love the idea of a Twitter party.
Did you miss Wayne’s World?
I’ve got very beautiful lips x
What a great idea!! I am so rubbish at watching films and most films I watch these days are kids films. Aly seems to have got most films covered, The Green Mile is one of my favourites and the Shawshank Redemption
I’m a bit rubbish at film watching too really….sticking with the 90s thing, did you watch Notting Hill, I love a good romance. xx
Grease
Star wars (the original trilogy)
These cannot be left off the list!
In no particular order, but if one of these movies is on TV I cannot walk away….
A Room with a View.
Breakfast at Tiffanys.
Saturday Night Fever.
Joy Luck Club.
Blues Brothers.
I’d quite like to watch any of them right now, please!
This is such a great idea! My picks would be Big, Coming to America, Jack, See no Evil Hear no Evil and my hubbies fav Saving Private Ryan
LOVE THIS!
28 Days Later – has to be – zombie heaven!
Count me in!
This may be a 2 year project!
Well, joining a little late, but I think you need to have variety (20 rom-coms in a row would be hard to stomach) and if we need classics (there are 100s of great films, but I think you need to go for the “what? you’ve *never* seen…” ones) I would suggest/add:
2001
A Matter of Life and Death
Apocalypse Now
Angels with Dirty Faces
Before Sunrise
Blade Runner
Casablanca
City of God
Diva
El Dorado
Fargo
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe
The Graduate
Harvey
Il Postino
LA Story
Leon
Marathon Man
Midnight Express
Room with a View
Say Anything…
The Sure Thing
The Shape of things to Come
Shawshank Redemption
Spartacus
Unforgiven
Usual Suspects
The World According to Garp
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
Yankee Doodle Dandy