The A-Z Alphabet Movie Meme

This meme is courtesy of the Plastic Mancunian.

I'm stuck waiting for a plane, delayed on my way to Bali though "engineering difficulties."

So, when stuck with little but to drink gin and wait, a meme I will do. The Plastic Mancunian and I have completely different tastes, but he writes a bloody good meme.

So here we go - I have two hours to kill and Qantas food to eat and Qantas booze to drink. I've set up my office in the Qantas Club lounge. I'm a bit blessed really.

So here we go.

A is for Anticipated Movie for 2014

I'm looking forward to the new George Clooney film, The Monuments Men. George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, art and Nazis. What more could you want in a film?

B is for Book Adaptation I'd like to see

Hmm, a hard one as films tend to butcher books - Atonement being a notable exception. I am still to see them adapt Donna Tartt's "The Secret History". I've cast this film many times with friends. Had a young Philip Seymour Hoffman down to play Bunny, Cate Blanchett as Camilla, John Cusack as Richard - but no, seems the rights are well elusive for that one.

Still not daring to see The Book Thief on the big screen as I don't want it to spoil the experience of the book. Same with Captain Corelli's Mandolin.

C is for Celebrity I'd like to meet

Other than Clive Owen? There are a few. George Clooney and Matt Damon seem like nice men who have their heads screwed on properly.

D is for Dream director / Actor pairing

Oh, this is a hard one, but I reckon I'd go Baz Luhrmann with Tom Hiddleston. See what he could do with that one. Hiddleston, a great stage actor is a bit of a triple threat. Love to see what our Baz could do with his dancing talents. Who knew an Englishman could dance that well?

E is for Essential Classic Movie

Would have to be Hitchcock's "North by Northwest" or "Rear Window". I love Hitchcock, but raised on these on Sunday afternoons, just wonderful. Rear Window is nearly perfect. North by Northwest just pips it.

F is for Favourite Film Franchise

The short answer is Krzystof Kieslowski's "Three Colours" Trilogy.  However, as I'm not sure that's a franchise in the Hollywood sense, so I will say I'm fond of the Indiana Jones set of films - and the Matrix films are not too bad.

G is for Genre I most watch

Somewhere between drama, comedy and art house is where you'll find me.

H is for Hidden Gem

I have two films on this list. "Barney's Version", starring Paul Giamatti was just delightful.

Another film that nobody's heard of but I rave about is Zach Braff's "Garden State". Both are unexpected, wise, funny, sweet and just adorable. Great films. Cried for hours after watching "Barney's Version."

The latest "Secret Life of Walter Mitty" was something everybody should see too.

I is for Important Moment in my Film Life

1989 - I discovered alternative cinema and the Adelaide Film Festival. The first film I saw was Peter Greenaway's "Drowning by Numbers". A classic. Have loved non-mainstream cinema ever since.

J is for Just right for a rainy day

My list of rainy day films that get put on without thought:

Almost Famous
Bull Durham
Pitch Perfect
Gosford Park

Any one of these I will plonk myself in front of and stay in front of. All fabulous in their own ways.

K is for Kiddie Movie I shamelessly enjoy

Does The Princess Bride Count?

Of modern cinema, I have to say that "Monsters Inc" is a near perfect kids film. I have memories of my friend Sam after a night out and she had a huge hangover. She stayed in my spare room for the night. Glued to the telly, I had to provide coffee and vegemite toast - but she was not moving until it was over. Wonderful film.

L is for Location I'd like to visit

Dreadful film, great location - "Angels and Demons" - would love to go through the Vatican Libraries and get to know Rome better one day. I have a thing for European cities, so "Midnight in Paris" also good. I'm sitting here writing this on the way to Ubud, Indonesia, the last location in the "Eat, Pray, Love" film/book. Love it up there.

M is for movie I know by heart

There are a few of them, but as I discovered a few weeks ago, I can go "Bull Durham" line for line.

The Princess Bride comes a close second.

N is for Nexflix movie I've watched.

I'm Australian. We don't have Netflix. I've seen the Netflix series "Orange is the New Black" and "House of Cards", but no films to date.

O is for One movie I've watched more than once

Nerd alert - I saw Kenneth Branagh's "Henry V" at the cinema eight times. Just drank up the English Accents. Love this film.

It's not unknown for me to see films two or three times.

P is for Preferred Place to watch a movie

As much as I love going to see a film Gold Class, I really like old picture theatres. Went to the Astor a few months ago - its a place where if you time it right you get to hear the Wurlizer organ play. The Rivoli cinema in Camberwell is great too - not too many bogans around and lots of art house to take in.

Q is for Quote that inspires me


From "The Princess Bride", there are many great quotes, by my favourite is from the Man in Black.

"Life is pain, Princess. Anybody who is saying differently is selling something."  Never a truer word.

R is for Remakes: Friend or Foe

Generally foe. There are very few remakes I can recommend, though Walter Mitty is not a remake, but a great adaptation of an old film. Some of the Spiderman and Superman films have been pretty good. Hard to think that we're running out of stories.

"The Philadelphia Story" and "High Society" are a good example of how to do a good remake.

The American version of "Death at a Funeral" a good example of how not to do it. Why screw with perfection?

S is for Snack I most enjoy

I'm partial to a boysenberry choc top at the cinema, though I love the gourmet flavoured ones you get at the independent cinemas more.

T is for Twist that blows my mind

Three come to mind. For those who have not seen "The Japanese Story" do so. Magnificent film, and I never, ever saw that twist coming.

Secondly, if you haven't seen "The Crying Game" get it on video. Brilliant. Great twist as well, though it would come over as dated now I reckon.

Thirdly, there is this Argentinian film, "The Secret in their Eyes". Magnificent.

Not giving any of these twists away.

U is for Unapologetic Fan of...

Ummm, Steve Carell. Not supposed to like him, in lots of gross out films, but I think he's fantastic, especially in straight roles. He makes me laugh, cry and think.

But I shouldn't like him. Just for "Anchorman" I shouldn't like him.

V is for Very Excited about Award season

Not really, but there are some great films about the place. Must see "Dallas Buyers Club
" and "12 Years a Slave" when I get back from Bali.

W is for Wish I had never watched

"Seven" gave me nightmares for a week, nasty nightmares. I spent most of the film with my head in my friends shoulder.

I walked out on "Sin City" - I found it dreadful.

I'm a bit sensitive to psychological violence.

X is for XXX movie watched at a young age

I missed out on all the "lets watch a porno" mates, so I've never seen anything more than a few snippets of true porn. I wonder if Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shit" sorry, "Eyes Wide Shut" counts.

Watching other people have sex doesn't float my boat.

Y is for Your Lastest Movie Related Obsession

Other than the Philip Seymour Hoffman back catelogue (I mourn the films he didn't get to make) nothing comes to mind.

See, on television, I'd be telling you about my "Breaking Bad" obsession.

Z is for ZZZ Catcher

Action bores the tits off me. I fell asleep in "Mr and Mrs Smith". I fall asleep in action a lot.

So there you go. I think my plane is going to board soon. this has given me something to do for the last few hours.

Please steal this meme - and let me and The Plastic Mancunian know about it. Love hearing about other people's film foibles.

Right, Bali here I come.

Pand