1. The Exorcist- The one and only movie that moved me to return to the theater the next day to see it again.
2. Raiders of the Lost Ark- I was camping in Durango, CO when I caught this one. It totally mesmerized me.
3. Body Heat- William Hurt and Kathleen Turner had incredible chemistry. I was afraid that the theater might start on fire.
4. Von Ryan’s Express- The very first movie I ever attended on my own so very memorable. I knew that Frank Sinatra was in it but I wasn’t sure exactly
who he was.
5. The Little Mermaid- The best of the modern Disney movies for my money. My daughters and I watched it many, many times.
6. Avatar- We saw it at the Imax in SF and it was just fabulous. Yes I know the story was nothing special but those flying scenes….
7. Journey to the Center of the Earth- The one with Pat Boone. Not much to say other than as a kid I just loved it.
8. West Side Story- Fabulous movie. I had a simulated knife fight with my older brother in the parking lot of the theater afterward. We used our combs.
9. Romancing the Stone- Kathleen Turner was the best actress going for a while there and she and Michael Douglas really clicked. This is just a beautifully done romantic comedy.
10. Ghostbusters- So clever and entertaining with great special effects. I couldn’t wait until my son was old enough to watch it so I jumped the gun a bit. He was so scared afterward he couldn’t be left in a room alone for a month afterwards. Sorry Dan.
11. The Terminator- Simply the best SciFi movie of all time. Everything was perfect.
12. Z- The first foreign film that I ever attended on my own. Beautifully paced and staged.
13. Animal House- The original out of control college movie. John Belushi may you rest in peace.
14. Easy Rider- The theater was packed when I walked in. The only seats were in the front row. I didn’t care.
15. Jaws- This one is obvious.
16. The Godfather- So is this one.
17. To Sir with Love- I loved the song and I loved Sidney Poitier. What ever happened to Lulu?
18. An Officer and a Gentleman- Chemistry again, Debra Winger and Richard Gere. “I got nowhere else to go.” I believed him.
19. Before Sunrise- A very beautiful little film that reminded me a little bit of my youth.
20. Altered States- William Hurt’s coming out film. It hasn’t stood the test of time (watch it now and you will see) but at the time it was mindblowing.
21. My Cousin Vinny- I loved Marisa Tomei in this movie. Her testimony at the trial was fabulous.
22. Love and Death- I just remember laughing my ass off at this Woody Allen movie.
23. Speed- Great fun and Sandra Bullock was so appealing.
24. Aguirre- The Wrath of God- Werner Herzog attended the screening at my university. That alone made it memorable.
25. 2001 a Space Odyssey- Hard to believe this was set 10 years ago. Hal the computer stole the show. Visually stunning.
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Good list, I really need to go past my first 2o now.
Lulu is still alive and kicking, literally, she is on BBC Strictly Come Dancing at the moment week 5 I think and still there
Good list. I don’t watch movies too often so I couldn’t make up a like of 10 let alone 20
Jaws! Terminator! Altered States! Animal House! An Officer and a Gentleman!
I just finished reading RJ Silver’s My Third-World Girlfriend, and I mentioned to him I loved the scene at the end of this story reminiscent of the famous last scene of Officer and a Gentleman with Richard Gere and Debra Winger. And he said…..”Never saw it.” Ack! That is one of the most romantic scenes ever.
Where is our time machine so we can go back to the 1980s? Must. Find. It!!!!
No way, Penny! He didn’t see An Officer and a Gentleman? What an incredible movie! Make him watch it.
I remember seeing Altered States in a movie theater next to the UCLA campus and staying up all night to discuss it with my date. Great experience.
Raiders of the Lost Ark was the second movie my husband took me to and it was “our” movie. Love it. (The first was Blade Runner, which we saw the night before and shared the Philip K Dick novel the next day, I knew I met my match!)
Werner Hertzog! So important to the art house crowd in the 80′s, still pretty amazing imagery.
Speed is one the best action movies ever made, everyone shined in that one.
Romancing The Stone is a big favorite of mine. Kathleen Turner was so gorgeous with her smoky voice and stunning legs, I know my husband had a crush on her!
The images in 2001 a Space Odyssey stuck like glue.
I was surprisingly moved by Avatar, the first minutes of it stunned me and after that I was on Pandora…
Wonderful list, I go on commenting all day but others have already said something wonderful about all these terrific movies. The only one I haven’t seen was “Z”.
XXOO Kat
To be honest, Kat, Altered States freaked me out in a way horror movies don’t. Kathleen Turner does have those legs. Big envious girl crush. I thought the story in Avatar was mixed, some good some bad, but the graphics were incredible. Yeah, I was there too!
Werner Hertzog - he scares me too! My son loves him.
Great lists, Julia, you and hubby both.
I would add as a funny, funny movie “A Fish Called Wanda.” And for pure, heart wrenching romance, “Truly, Madly Deeply.”
Oh yes, Jaye - A Fish Called Wanda! Genius!