- Breakfast at Tiffany’s – So this is my favourite ever movie of all time! If you know me at all, you’ll know this is my favourite movie. It’s a timeless classic and Audrey Hepburn’s masterpiece. I’ve loved this story since the first time I saw it and the ending gets me every time. I don’t know what it is about this film, but I love Holly, the main character, so maybe that’s what draws me.
“I’m like cat here, a no-name slob. We belong to nobody, and nobody belongs to us. We don’t even belong to each other.”
- Funny Girl – Ok, I’m a massive musicals geek! Funny Girl is my favourite musical (it’s Barbra Streisand, what else?) I would very much recommend this film, the first time I watched my mum came back from dinner with her friends to find me hysterically crying curled up on the sofa – her initial thought was someone had died! Believe me you’ll understand if you watch the end of the movie! This film has everything – music, theatre, dance, costume, comedy and romance. The story is so emotive and engaging I forget where I am every time I watch it.
“No law against waiting,” I said, “people do it all the time.” For once, I didn’t say too much, I didn’t say too little, I said just what I said and then walked.”
- The Lion King – Best animation hands down! This film takes me back to my childhood, dancing round the kitchen to the soundtrack (confession… I still do that now. But anyway…) The story is amazing, one everyone should see, I’ve also been to the stage production which is the best thing I’ve ever seen on stage and does complete justice to the Disney masterpiece. All I have to say about this film is the moment at the end when Simba climbs pride rock, claiming back the pride lands as everything starts to grow back and animals appear is one of the best cinematic moments ever!
“Yes, Simba but let me explain. When we die, our bodies become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass. And so we are all connected in the great Circle of Life.”
- Moulin Rouge – Moulin Rouge is amazing! I only watched this for the first time about 3 years ago and I was completely spellbound and enthralled by the story. It’s a dark, sinister story about passionate love in the bohemian era in Paris. Satine and Christian’s romance is so classic and the first time I watched it the tragic ending completely gripped and shocked me. My favourite part of the film has to be the El Tango de Roxanne, it’s so sinister to watch but highly dramatic.
“Use your talent to save him! Hurt him, Satine. Hurt him to save him. There is no other way. The show must go on. We are creatures of the underworld. We can’t afford to love.”
- Eat Pray Love – Eat, Pray, Love is one of those films that just calms me down. If things don’t seem to be going right or I’m just having a bad week Eat, Pray, Love is just one of those films I watch. It’s Julia Roberts for a start so you know it’s going to be good. As a wannabe traveller, I love watching Liz go to all the different countries and experience the different cultures trying to find herself.
“I decided on my word. “Attraversiamo”… It means: “Let’s cross over”.”
- Cool Runnings – What a classic. Set in sunny Jamaica then up to freezing Canada, is there a story that better displays overcoming racial prejudice for the masses? The characters are easy to root for and it’s easy for the laughs. Based on an inspirational true story, it has one of the catchiest jingles of all time.
“”Feel the Rhythm! Feel the Rhyme! Get on up, it’s bobsled time! Cool Runnings!”
- The Breakfast Club – A classic 80s film with Molly Ringwald, the ultimate actress of the 80s. This coming of age movie about a jock, princess, geek, basket case and criminal is insanely entertaining considering its all set in a school library over one day. The Breakfast Club is a classic.
“We’re all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it, that’s all.”
- Clueless – Clueless is one of my favourite chick flicks! It’s entertaining, relatable and endearing as a story (maybe a bit weird considering who Cher ends up with). This modern day Emma is one of the best feel good films – and my ultimate wardrobe goals.
“He does dress better than I do, what would I bring to the relationship?”
- Chicago – So from this list you can tell I love the dramatic! Chicago is one of the most dramatic, dark musicals. The music’s amazing and it’s so clever! With a stellar cast and a great storyline set around a murder trial, it’s got music and glitz and glamour. The Cell Block Tango has to be the most famous (and in my opinion, the best) song.
“They’d love you a lot more if you were hanged. You know why? Because it would sell more papers!
- Meet Me in St Louis – Most people will have never heard of this film but it’s my ultimate childhood film. As a child I was obsessed with this Judy Garland musical, I watched it on a daily basis (seriously not exaggerating). I think my brother and sister still have Meet Me in St. Louis related nightmares. This film takes me back to being 6 years old without a stress in the world. Weird or not, this is my ultimate childhood film.
“I can’t believe it. Right here where we live – right here in St. Louis.”
- Easter Parade – This is my designated Easter Sunday film, every year me and mum watch this Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland musical. For me it’s the costume that makes this one of my favourite ever films, the clothes are stunning. There’s a routine where lots of girls appear on the cover of magazines and I can’t help but stare every time at the clothes wishing I was born in that era.
“A girl dancer has to be exotic; she has to be – a peach.”
- The King and I – So, I know after reading this post you probably think I’m in my 60s not 18 but yes this is my genuine list of favourite films. My mum and I say some actors are born to play certain roles, and that some films wouldn’t have reached their acclaimed heights if it hadn’t been for the actor. In my opinion this is true of Yul Brynner as the King of Siam. I know Siam isn’t even a country anymore, but if it was he’d be the king of it. For me everything about this film is perfect and it’s the film my nan and grandad went to see in the cinema on their first date, which makes it even more special to me.
“This girl hurt your vanity, that is all, she didn’t hurt your heart! You have no heart! You’ve never loved anyone and you never will.”
- Gentlemen prefer Blondes – Marilyn Monroe, one of my all-time favourite actresses and a goddess of Hollywood! Most people know her as a sex icon but as a dedicated fan, I’ve seen lots of her films (How to Marry a Millionaire, the Seven-Year Itch, Niagara etc.…) but for me this is her best film. This is the film the iconic song “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” is performed in and it just the most hilarious and brilliant Marilyn film.
“In bed by nine? That’s when life just begins!”
- Honey – Most girls want to be Disney princesses when they grow up. Not me. When I was little I wanted to be Jessica Alba as Honey Daniels. She’s a dancer in Harlem, NY who teaches kids to get them off the streets but catches a big break from a big time music director. The film has such a positive message and I just love Honey as a character so much. P.S Missy Elliot’s in it!
“It was everything I always wanted. But when I had got it, it felt like nothing, less than nothing.”
- Grease – Grease is a classic and if I was stuck on a desert island, a movie I’d happily sing and dance to over and over again! Grease is a complete feel good film with amazing songs. What’s not to love? It should be on everyone’s Top 20 list.
“She looks to pure to be pink!”
- The Karate Kid – Ok, people might hate on me for this one, but for a girl that loves old movies, when it comes to Karate Kid I’m all about the Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith version! I love this film and its just one of those films that’s always on TV and you forget what a good film it is until you watch it.
“Kung Fu lives in everything we do, Xiao Dre! It lives in how we put on the jacket, how we take off the jacket. It lives in how we treat people! Everything… is Kung Fu.”
- Footloose – Again I’m talking about the new Footloose, the old one’s alright and Kevin Bacon does make a pretty good Ren but I’m all about Julianne Hough in the new movie! I hadn’t actually seen both of the movies till quite recently but I watched them both and loved them but for me the new version does slightly edge over the old one just because I feel everything’s slicker in the new one and its more of a spectacle. My favourite song has to be “Let’s hear it for the boy”. “Public dancing is against the law under 18 in Bomont.”
- Narnia, Prince Caspian – Most 18-year-olds don’t get excited about Narnia. But believe me, I do! If I find out Narnia is on TV, it’s an all-day affair! No one is going near the remote and I will shout “For Narnia” without fail every time a battle starts. I have specified that Prince Caspian is my favourite out of all the movies but they are all brilliant films.
“Things never happen the same way twice, dear one.”
- Mulan – As far as Disney is concerned, this is one of the masterpieces. I can watch this film over and over, it’s hilarious with amazing music and I’m still scared stiff of Shan Yu (leader of the Huns). I’ll make a man out of you has to be one of the best Disney songs and the fight scene is legendary!
“The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all.”
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Another childhood favourite, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is the ultimate feel good film, it’s got songs about sweets, a flying car, inventions and a song about bamboo? The main point to make about this film is that the child catcher is the creepiest person of all time. If I ever saw him, no lie, I’m running Mo Farrah speed. My favourite part of the film has to be the doll on a music box which is such a well put together and polished routine, you can’t take your eyes off Truly when she’s singing.
“I don’t trust a man who makes toys in a land where children are forbidden.”
So these are my Top 20 movies. If you haven’t seen any or some of these films, you’ve got to check them all out! Also, if there’s something else you think should be on my list, or you’ve got a list of your own, either comment or tweet me at @UCBloggers.
R.B
You must be logged in to post a comment.