My 300th Post – The Movies Tag

For my 300th post on this blog, I’m doing the Movies Tag. Rachel Wagner completed this tag on YouTube and I wanted to give it a go myself. I did consider doing this in video-form, but despite the Harry Potter podcasts I’ve been participating in, I’m still a bit shy about making a video of my own. Maybe one day.

1. Favorite movie of all-time?
Titanic. It’s a film that’s got everything – action, drama, romance – and it’s an incredible spectacle. The design and special effects are so good that they put you right there on the ship.

2. Favorite scene from that movie?
At the risk of being cliche, it’s got to be the flying scene on the bow. It’s a lovely romantic moment; it marks a turning point in Jack and Rose’s relationship; the music is wonderful; and it has this fantastic sweeping shot of the Titanic itself.

3. Favorite actor/actress?
Easily my favourite actor is Tom Hanks. He just has so many great performances: Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, Cast Away, Captain Philips, and next he’s playing Sully Sullenberger. Favourite actress is harder, but I’d go with Helena Bonham Carter – she has a really great range, from serious stuff like The King’s Speech to more comedic and wacky like in Cinderella.

4. Most annoying actor/actress?
My most annoying actor is Will Ferrell. He’s actually pretty good in Stranger Than Fiction where he’s in a serious role, but whenever he does comedy, I can’t bear it – especially Elf. Most annoying actress is an easy one – I really don’t like Amanda Seyfried. Again, she’s fine in Mean Girls, but I hated her in Mamma Mia with her big vapid smile, and in Les Miserables too.

5. Best director?
Christopher Nolan. His films are extremely intelligent, manage to appear grounded even when they’re showing something fantastical, and have a style of fast editing and gritty cinematography that I like.

6. Favorite guilty pleasure film?
Top Gun. I don’t actually feel guilty for watching it because it’s one of those movies that I’ve loved for a very long time; but I know it’s not a masterpiece, at least not in the classic sense. Still it’s action-packed, insanely quotable and has an amazing soundtrack.

7. Favorite tear-jerker?
Forrest Gump – one of only a very few movies that have actually made me cry.

8. Character from a movie that scared you the most?
The T-1000 from Terminator 2. He’s certainly made more appearances in my nightmares than any other movie character.

9. Movie you love that everyone hates?
The Lost World: Jurassic Park. ‘Hate’ is probably a strong word, but most people consider it highly inferior to the original. That’s technically true, but I still really enjoy it, at least for the action and having even more dinosaurs.

10. Movie you hate that everyone loves?
Spirited Away. I can understand why other people like it, but I didn’t find it appealing at all.

11. Favorite movie duo?
The Great Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat, in The Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island.

12. Favorite animated movie?
Beauty and the Beast. Not sure if anything else can be said – it’s basically a perfect film.

13. Actor/actress crush?
Jenna Coleman. Yes, this is supposed to be about movies and most of her work is in television, but technically she was in Captain America: The First Avenger. She’s obviously very pretty and very talented, and when I was fortunate enough to meet her in Blackpool last year, she displayed a lovely, cheerful personality as well.

14. Favorite movie villain?
My favourite is probably the T-1000 that I’ve already mentioned. The runners-up are Doctor Octavius in Spider-Man 2 and Professor Ratigan in The Great Mouse Detective.

15. What movie surprised you the most?
Speed Racer. When I saw the adverts, the film looked much too flashy and childish for my liking and I had no intention of seeing it. Then I happened to find it on TV one day while on holiday in America, and I found myself really loving it. It’s got really ridiculous, over-the-top action that’s so much fun, and it even manages to have a heartfelt family dynamic in its story.

16. If you could only keep one movie what would it be?
Titanic, not just because it’s my favourite, but because it’s a very long movie, and if I’m only going to have one, I want it to take up as much time as possible.

17. Movie recommendation and for whom?
My recommendation is for my friend Rachel Wagner. I left a comment on one of her videos where I mentioned a number of films I thought had good atmosphere, and she said she hadn’t seen any of them. Out of those, Rachel, I think the one you’d like best is The Haunting (the 1963 version) – it’s technically a horror film, but not a bloody one. It’s got brilliant cinematography, a very eerie and detailed environment, and it has this really subtle and mysterious approach to scaring you.

18. If you could go back in time and marry an actor/actress from back when who would it be?
Catherine Zeta Jones. Not that she’s bad-looking now, but when I saw her in The Mask of Zorro and the Titanic miniseries in the 1990s, I was in love.

19. One remake you wish had never been made?
Alice in Wonderland. When I saw some of the promotional photos for it, I thought it would go for a more creepy and unsettling approach, but instead it shoehorns an action-based Chosen One plot into its universe and produces something totally bland and generic.

20. About to die but could only watch one more movie what would it be?
Forrest Gump, because I would like something quite peaceful to go out on and Forrest reflecting on those special moments in his life towards the end would be appropriate.

21. Favorite movie genre/favorite movie from that genre?
It’s a hard choice and I almost said ‘historical’ or just plain ‘action’, but really I’m most likely to see a film – maybe not in cinemas, but eventually – if it’s a superhero film. Superhero films give you certain expectations – not just action, but a certain amount of drama – yet there’s all sorts of approaches you can take with them, and you can usually rely on them for a reasonable level of entertainment, even if it’s just “so bad it’s good”. I’ve already said on this blog that my favourite is Spider-Man 2, which is basically the perfect superhero film.

22. What’s the first movie you remember watching in theaters?
The first movie that I apparently saw in theatres was Ducktales: Treasure of the Lost Lamp but I don’t actually remember that. The first one I remember is An American Tail: Fievel Goes West.