Tuesday, December 13, 2005

It's Let's Make a List Day

I'm still thinking about that movie, The Affair of the Necklace. It's really pushed my interest in the whole French Revolution time period and the events that led up to it. But it's also made me realize that while I rent a wide variety of movies, the ones I usually end up buying are more often than not, historical. And a look at my favorite movie list? About 75% historical. I thought I would narrow it down to a top five favorite historical movies and see if I could do it (you know me, any excuse to make a list...). So here goes:

Braveheart - Mel Gibson in a kilt, Scotland, sword fighting., the fight against injustice and oppression. Did I mention Mel Gibson in a kilt?


The Affair of the Necklace - Simon Baker, political intrigue, amazing locations. They shot part of the movie in Prague, which is on my list of top five places I want to visit, and I think seeing this movie may have bumped it up from 4th to 2nd position.

The Count of Monte Cristo - Jim Cavaziel, betrayal, revenge, and more sword fighting.

Pride & Prejudice - The Colin Firth version is my favorite, although the new movie in theatres is a close second. But really, can you have a top 5 favorite period piece picks and not include P&P?

Cold Mountain - Jude Law, before the whole taint of the nanny scandal. This movie to me was one of the most moving I've seen in a long while and not even the nanny scandal can turn me away from it. It depicted the human element of the Civil War in a way I haven't really seen in a long time. Most movies that focus on this era, focus more on the battles and the soldiers. This one showed the human toll taken on those left behind and those trying to get back to them whatever the cost.

So there's my list. And oddly enough, every movie also filled my Hot Guy requirement. Although I'm sure they would have been equally as great without that. Though I'm happy that I never had to find out.

So what's your Top 5 list?

4 comments:

Tess said...

I LOVE lists :-)

1) Gone With the Wind - Sean gave me the Special Edition for my b-day.

2) Lady Jane - with Helena Bonham-Carter and Carey Elwes. Not historically accurate, but a great romance.

3) A Knight's Tale - with Heath Ledger and James Purefoy (renamed Purejoy by a good friend of mine). Again, not accurate, but a fun romp, even though Will ends up with the wrong girl!

4) The Princess Bride - ok, not technically a historical, but the fantasy world seems pretty medieval to me. And it's soooooo much fun!

5) The Scarlet Pimpernel - Leslie Howard/Merle Oberon version. First piqued my interest in the FR.

There are lots more - but if I had only 5 I could take with me to a desert island, these would be them :-)

Anonymous said...

Braveheart, Gladiator, Last of the Mohicans, The Patriot, and I can't think what else.

All historical, too. :)

Maxx said...

The Colour Purple, Twister, To Wong Foo, La Femme Nikita, Sid & Nancy, Spirited Away, The World According to Garp, Hotel New Hampshire... oh... you said just 5... well that's just lunacy

Melissa Amateis said...

Tess, I LOVE the Scarlet Pimpernel with Leslie Caron and Merle Oberon! And even better, I found it on DVD in the $1 bin at Wal-Mart! :-)

Kelly, I have to agree with you on "Cold Mountain." The human element was fantastic. But oh, did I cry at the end.

Here's my top five historical movies:

1) Last of the Mohicans

2) Princess Bride (fave movie of all time - and hey, it's kinda historical!)

3) Sense and Sensibility (with Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet)

4) Catherine (it was a TNT miniseries with Julia Ormond - I love the sweeping romance).

5) Pride and Prejudice (A&E version)