So I'm going to put my Desert Island needs here. They may change over the years, and it is an evolving list so it's not completely finished. But it is a good place to start I think.
[I'm also going to do 10 items, instead of the customary "5" items on my desert island. If you have a problem with that ... too bad. :) My island, my rules.]
DESERT ISLAND MOVIES
- Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead: This is my logical movie. One that I will have to think about over and over again. There is no easy answer to the questions it leaves. It also involves my other love, Hamlet, so it's like two movies in one.
- Hunt for the Red October: This is more than just an action movie. It is a political thriller. It is one of the Clancy novels that I thought most plausible. And it gives me hope that there are men with good standards out there who are involved in matters of national security and world diplomacy.
- Ocean's Eleven: The newer version. Once again, its a movie that I can think about over and over again. And it also has some pretty faces to look at, so that's a plus.
- Emma: Only reason for this one is Mr. Knightley. Okay, not really. It is the relationship between Emma and Mr. Knightley that make the story of Emma so memorable for me. That is the type of relationship that I would want. Mr. Knightley and Emma are probably my second favorite literary couple, so their movie is a natural on the list.
- Much Ado About Nothing: Kenneth ... oh Kenneth. I love the fact that he continually, and with almost perfect constancy, provides a good quality version of Shakespeare on film. Benedick and Beatrice are my number one literary couple so ... they have to be on the list. And this version is just so full of wit, music, and drama.
- Up: I have to put a Pixar movie on here. It's hard to chose one ... they are all so good! But Up has to be my favorite. I knew it the moment that I watched the montage towards the beginning of the movie about Karl and Elle's life together. I cried. It has to be on my list.
- A Few Good Men: At first I was going to put Social Network on here, but I hesitate putting on 'modern' movies because they haven't stood the test of time. And I have to put a Aaron Sorkin masterpiece on here so naturally this movie lends to that criteria. And it has Kiefer Sutherland and Tom Cruise in his young hot days. And its a legal drama ... and its witty ... and well, almost perfect.
- Across the Universe: The Beatles ... has to make a good movie. I would simply put this movie on the list for the "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" scene. That is a powerful scene.
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter is on the list ... there is no list without Harry Potter. It's hard to pick which one should be on the list ... but I think the last book is one of Rowling's best.
- Clear and Present Danger - Tom Clancy: Once again it's hard to pick one of his books, but this was the first book I read by him. It is what first got me interested in studying politics.
- The Complete Works of William Shakepeare - William Shakespeare: Enough said.
- The Giver - Lois Lowry: Once again, there is no doubt in my mind that this is one of the most powerful books written.
- The Scarlett Slipper Mystery - Carolyn Keene: This is a book from my childhood. I used to love reading the Nancy Drew mysteries. For a while I had a good majority of my mom's books from when she was a little girl.
