I like making lists, but it feels odd to just say, for example, that both Lawrence of Arabia and Duck Soup are favorite films, because I have to be in the right frame of mind for each. And it would be absurd to try and rank them. Lawrence is a great film, but it doesn’t work very well if you’re in the mood for a musical comedy, and Duck Soup fails as an exploration of a complex individual’s psychology. So, I’ve tried to categorize these films not by genre so much as by what “vibe” I need to want in order to watch them.
To be eligible for the list, I have to have seen a film at least twice, and be willing to watch it a third time. There are plenty of films I’ve enjoyed on seeing once and might watch again, but those don’t make the cut for now.
Just Fun
Thor
The Mummy (1999)
Bandidas
Ghost in the Shell
Jurassic Park
Last Action Hero
When I Want To Think
Lawrence of Arabia
The English Patient
I Want It Darker
Chinatown
Scare Me
The Omen (1976)
The Terminator
The Haunting (1963)
The Mothman Prophecies
Musical Comedy
Duck Soup
Muppet Treasure Island
Movies That Are Terrible But I Enjoy Them Anyway
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin
Diamonds Are Forever
Star Wars Movies (Possibly some should be in the preceding category.)
All the original 6 Star Wars movies, but not the Disney ones.
I Only Like Medieval/Fantasy Movies That Are Funny
Great idea to sort them this way – viewing vibes are important! I’ve only seen a couple of the ones on your list (Monty Python and Diamonds Are Forever) but I agree about their greatness!
I like the vibe approach to categorizing. With streaming, I can choose what to watch based on my mood, not what’s only available. I’ve watched a quite a few on your list. When my mood is mixed (wanting something funny but also thoughtful), I usually turn to Dr. Strangelove. It is (sadly) a movie for our times. Young Frankenstein is at the top for pure comic relief and Blade Runner (Director’s Cut) for when I’m feeling dark.
Great idea to sort them this way – viewing vibes are important! I’ve only seen a couple of the ones on your list (Monty Python and Diamonds Are Forever) but I agree about their greatness!
I’m guessing Monty Python is the most widely-seen one on the list. And it is indeed a classic.
I like the vibe approach to categorizing. With streaming, I can choose what to watch based on my mood, not what’s only available. I’ve watched a quite a few on your list. When my mood is mixed (wanting something funny but also thoughtful), I usually turn to Dr. Strangelove. It is (sadly) a movie for our times. Young Frankenstein is at the top for pure comic relief and Blade Runner (Director’s Cut) for when I’m feeling dark.
All great choices!