Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Who said that? Gary Cooper? James Stewart? Henry Fonda? Eh?


This is a wonderful idea that Slash Films had. They're asking people to list their favorite movie scenes.

As the author mentions this is an intensely personal thing that says more about the person identifying the scene than it does the scene itself. Reading through other's suggestions I found myself subconsciously taking points away from folks who either a) didn't have much cinematic literacy (i.e. "The Dark Knight") or b) picked a scene that I might admit is great but was also inherently violent.

The scenes I tend to fixate on in films are usually scenes of hope or that are so emotionally resonant I have to fight back tears. Here's just a couple of mine...




Besides Chaplin's genius for some reason this scene reminds me of high school. Maybe it's just because he's imagining he's entertaining all the pretty girls when the reality is much sadder.




A tie for my favorite movie. This scene embodies the "live and love life" message of the flick so well.




I wanted to be Wesley soooooo badly. Robin Wright was just beautiful in this movie. "As you wish..."




Okay, I did put one action flick on my list but it's one of the best action flicks ever made. I couldn't find my favorite scene from Raiders though. The scene with Marion and Indy on the ship after they escape and he realizes that she's really what's important, not the ark is the one that gets me.




This scene is almost quaint in comparison to the reality of the senate but Kapra/ Stewart's call to remember the little guy and do what's right remains moving decades later.

Lastly...




The "kissing" scene from "Cinema Paradiso." Romance and a love of film all rolled into one.

What are your favorite scenes and why?

15 comments:

Lockwood said...

I've never had a chance to watch Amelie, but after watching that clip, I have to.

Aaron said...

Great list. Off the top of my head some of my favorites would be: 1) Casablanca- the German soldiers singing "Deutschland Uber Alles are drowned out by the rest of the cafe singing "La Marsellaise".
2) Stagecoach-John Wayne offering Claire Trevor a drink of water despite the disapproval of the rest of the passengers.
3) In the Heat of the Night-The initial confrontation between Rod Steiger and Sidney Poitier in the police station ending in "They call me Mr. Tibbs!".
4) Shawshank Redemption-The beer on the roof scene.
5) The Committments- In Colm Meany's house, the camera focuses on a framed picture of the pope. The camera then pans up to show hanging above the picture of the pope a much larger framed picture of Elvis. Amen to that.

Arkonbey said...

A list right up your alley, eh?

I don't think in terms of favorite scenes; movies are more than just a string of moments to me. There are lots of good looking and powerful scenes from good movies; but in a good movie, it's the whole movie that matters to me.

Plus, there are many not-that-great movies that have beautiful scenes.

I did come up with two, though:

1)La Femme Nikita: The Venice assassination scene

Wonderful, quiet suspense. Truly shows the turning point in her life as a government agent.

2)My Neighbor Totoro: where Mei meets Totoro for the first time

It’s sweet and in a genuine, not saccharine way. The way that Miyazaki portrayed Mei is the best portrayal of a toddler in animation ever.

Randal Graves said...

Oh man, I'd have to really think about this before answering. Of course, I'd have to include something from Saw XVIII, the greatest film ever made.

There are about 875 I could choose from Before Sunrise/Sunset alone.

About 875 from Animal House. Randal shredding that annoying video store patron in Clerks.

Anonymous said...

[url=http://gallery.veafoorea.ru/russian-brides-colorado.html]russian brides colorado[/url] [url=http://gallery.veafoorea.ru/russian-brides-in-new-zealand.html]russian brides in new zealand[/url] [url=http://gallery.veafoorea.ru/single-russian-brides.html]single russian brides[/url] [url=http://gallery.veafoorea.ru/1988-womens-gymnastic-russian-team.html]1988 women’s gymnastic russian team[/url]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://young.hamee.ru/younger-russian-girls.html]younger russian girls[/url] [url=http://young.hamee.ru/young-russian-girls-nonnude.html]young russian girls nonnude[/url] [url=http://young.hamee.ru/young-mail-order-brides-in-russia.html]young mail order brides in russia[/url] [url=http://young.hamee.ru/what-russian-men-think-of-women.html]what russian men think of women[/url]

Joe the Philosopher said...

"We don't need no stinking badges."

I think it is full of meaning. It still makes me think.

Anonymous said...

[url=http://russian.reira.ru/mail-order-bride-forum.html]mail order bride forum[/url] [url=http://russian.reira.ru/dating-agency-kiev.html]dating agency kiev[/url]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://free.reira.ru/free-nude-russian-woman-movie.html]free nude russian woman movie[/url] [url=http://free.reira.ru/naked-russian-girls-in-saint-petersburg.html]naked russian girls in saint petersburg[/url]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://pretty.reira.ru/russian-women-seeking-american-husband.html]russian women seeking american husband[/url] [url=http://pretty.reira.ru/russian-small-girls.html]russian small girls[/url]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://livecam.reira.ru/why-are-russian-women-so-awful.html]why are russian women so awful[/url] [url=http://livecam.reira.ru/rate-naked-russian-women.html]rate naked russian women[/url]

Anonymous said...

Животные Рисунки - Разное

Anonymous said...

think it make sense to think many dating sites operate diffrently with diverse opportunities



---------------
filipinaheart

Anonymous said...

Your website is so useful … preserve up the great perform!

Anonymous said...

nice post,
It is well known that asian women are more people search for dating

---------------
asian women