8. Edward Scissorhands



I love this movie. Quintessential Tim Burton--a world just slightly off-kilter from our own, populated by characters just a little off-kilter themselves. The brilliance of this film, in my opinion, is that rather than show us this world, Burton takes us inside it. Edward, as the protagonist, is the avatar for the audience member, as strange as he is; we see the world through his eyes, learn things as he does, experience the world along with him. This is what gives the audience the ability to empathize with such a strange character in a way that we might not otherwise have done. And it is finally this empathy, this connection with Edward the naif and the innocent, that makes the final act so tragic. Ultimately, we cannot exist in a world that is different from our own, although we can, as seen in the framing device where Winona Ryder's character notes that it still snows, enrich the world that rejects us all the same. Beautiful.

current mood: contemplative
music: American Idol

Quick note to Jared (who updated, yay!): Lost Skeleton is a really little independent movie, so I would just keep an eye out on the art house cinemas in KC. It's not going to get a national release or anything like that; I think they're just taking it city to city. If nothing else, it should come out on DVD sometime this year.

9. Galaxy Quest



I remember when I first saw commercials for this movie, I thought it looked stupid and goofy. I didn't see it in theaters. My dad rented it, and I still didn't have any desire to see it. It wasn't until he went on and on about how funny it was that I grudgingly sat down to watch it, and then I berated myself for waiting so long. This movie is hilarious. Witty, a really fantastic snark on fandom, with some of my favorite actors (Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Sam Rockwell and Tony Shalhoub), this is just a great, great movie. Last night I was perusing my DVD shelf, trying to decide on the last two openings in my list, when I saw this, and just realized how much I truly do love it. It's not the greatest movie ever made, but it makes me laugh for 90 solid minutes, and that's quite an accomplishment.

Non-list related posting: I always love it when I stay up late finishing a paper, get up early to go to class to turn it in, and find out that class was cancelled. Sigh.

current mood: calm
music: Foo Fighters, "All My Life"

So, I recently decided that LOTR is, in fact, my favorite movie of all time. I had really hesitated since I first saw ROTK because Young Frankenstein has been my favorite movie since, like, ever. But I realized that in actuality, my entire top-ten list has changed quite a bit in the past four years, when I first put it together. So I have decided to post my brand new, revised list.

Shannon's Top Ten All-Time Favorite Movies

10. Donnie Darko



When I first saw this movie (with Caroline, as it turns out), my initial reaction can be encapsulated in a single word: "Wha?" But I saw it a second time with Laura, and I really understood it. Not the actual plot stuff, which is really vague and I think totally up to the individual viewer's interpretation, but the feeling, the mood of the film. It is at times very dark and depressing, but strangely uplifting and celebratory all the same. There are moments of exquisite beauty (the slo-mo intercut between Sparkle Motion and the arson, for example), and the sequence set to Gary Jules' "Mad World" is quite possibly the best montage-over-song sequence I've ever seen. A great, unique, imaginative, lovely, weird film.

current mood: working
music: Brewer and Shipley, "Too Soon Tomorrow"

Academy Awards Picspam















current mood: pleased
music: Ewan McGregor and Jane Horrocks, "You're Just in Love"