I love movies. As long as I catch it from the beginning, I can be pulled into almost any movie. I typically avoid really old period pieces (Troy, Gladiator, etc) and Sci-Fi (Matrix, Star Wars, etc). Any movie that makes me cry is a winner. Basic formula that gets my tear ducts working is any combination of a little romance, a little suspense, star crossed lovers, and of course, the breakup and reconciliation of a friendship or romance
This weekend, VH1 played on my favorites about 89 times and my remote control seemed to tune to it repeatedly. Since it was one of my favorites, I started reminiscing about my other favorites and decided to share. I could on and on, but I’ll just mention my absolute favorites.
Top 3 Movies
Dirty Dancing – The story of a summer love, between a bad boy, dance instructor and a good girl. How could you not love Johnny and Baby? Their connection was so quick and unexpected, that the romantic in me could watch this movie a million times. I think I’m up to about 1000. My favorite lines are:
Penny to Baby – “Go back to your playpen, Baby. “
Johnny to Everyone – “I’m gonna do my kind of dancin’ with a great partner, who’s not only a terrific dancer; somebody who’s taught me that there are people willing to stand up for other people no matter what it costs them; somebody who’s taught me about the kind of person I wanna be. “
And of course, Diva in Demand and I agree of this wonderful line, spoken from Baby to Johnny – “Me? I’m scared of everything. I’m scared of what I saw, I’m scared of what I did, of who I am, and most of all I’m scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I’m with you.” 
The Five Heartbeats – story of an African American singing group, from their rise to fame in the 60’s to their downfall in the late 70’s. I laugh, cry and sing every time I watch this movie. It’s got it all for me – friendship, love, music, action, scandal, overcoming addiction, etc. It was so well written and acted. The set design for each time period was dead on – vehicles, clothing, hair, etc. Beware – never watch it with me. I know about 90% of the dialogue. Favorite lines:
Eddie to the group: “Ya’ll sure you wanna sang with ole Eddie King Jr?”
(tears in my eyes every time)
Random man to himself, in restaurant – “Every night, I gotta fight to prove my love!”
(that line cracks me up every time)
Donald “Duck” to audience at Awards Ceremony – “I was at a party once and a critic said, ‘Donald Matthews will be a great writer when he suffers more.’ And I though to myself, what does that mean – suffers more? Well, I’m on my way to becoming a great writer and I have two people to thank – my fiancee Tonya and my brother JT. My brother…who’s been the same selfish m****f***a since we were kids!”
Space Camp – This movie is about 5 kids and an instructor at Space Camp, who accidentally get thrust into space. Ya’ll I loved this movie so much that for months, I begged my parents to send to the real NASA Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. During the summer of 1988, I actually went to The Space Academy and I loved it. This movie holds a special place in my heart and is definitely my favorite cheesy 80’s movie. Favorite lines:
Katheryn to Kevin – “My mom always says that being boss and being bossy aren’t the same. “
Tish to the group – “Whip me, beat me, take away my charge cards… NASA is talking!”
Kevin to Katheryn – “What’s the worst thing that can happen? We’ll all die, right?”
If you’ve never seen these, check ’em out. Here’s the rest of my top 10:
4. Beaches
5. Purple Rain
6. Grease
7. Harlem Nights
8. Lady Sings the Blues
9. Shawshank Redemption
10. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
What are your favorite movies and favorite lines from them?
Since you like movies that make you cry, I’m sure you have seen The Joy Luck Club.
This movie is one of the best that I have ever seen. The husband who was a playa was sooooo good looking.
Two of my favorite movies are Tombstone: a western about the shoot out at OK Corral. I’m not a big western fan – but I LOVE this movie. My favorite character is ganster Doc Holliday and pretty much every line out of his mouth is classic. His I don’t give a fudge I’m embracing life and gonna be me attitude is awesome!
Also, I love the movie Gattaca from the early 1990s. During the movie’s futuristic time setting — society analyzes your DNA when you’re born to determine where you belong in life. The movie is about a genetically inferior man who assumes the identity of a superior one in order to pursue his lifelong dream of space travel. The movie’s tagline says it all for me: There Is No Gene For The Human Spirit. WHOA! I love the whole movie! I cry every time I watch it. It’s about the power of human will to succeed over limitations both biological and psychological. This film really captures the optimistic thought that the greatest personal limitations we face are never insurmountable.
@ Beauty – I had read the Joy Luck Club novel and I was worried that the movie wouldn’t be any good. I was wrong! Yep, I cried.
@ Michelle – Hubby like Tombstone, but I’ve never actually watched it. Oh my goodness! I like Gattaca and caught it late one night on HBO. I’d never heard of it, but it’s a winner. This is the first movie that I really like Uma Thurman in.
I have too many to list. Seriously. I’d be all dang day. LOL!
@ Creole – Silly! It’s hard, I know. I’m going to amend to post to list the rest of my top ten.
You mentioned you love Shawshank. My favorite quote from that movie is the last set of lines from Morgan Freeman – “I find I’m so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it’s the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope.”
If you love inspirational movie quotes, I post one new one every day at http://www.ReelLifeWisdom.com.
I’m a movie fanatic, too. I have so many favorites it’s not funny. We share some of the same favorites, though. Grease is also in my top ten. I know all the lyrics to all the songs and I wanted to be Rizzo… “There are worse things I could do….” Favorite line from Grease, “Tell me about it, Stud…” –Gwyneth
THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT!!!! That is my line girl. Whew….I get choked up just thinking about it.
Have you ever seen Twister? LOVE IT….my favorite line is when Helen Hunt says “Cow. Nother cow.” and her co-star who is on the phone counseling someone says “I’ve got to go. We’ve got cows!” LOL
And of course the hood classic Mahogany when Lady Di says “Hey mister. I’ve got 5 kids, my old man ran out on me and my heat just got cut off. What are you gonna do about it?” Billy Dee says “ma’am would you like me to call the gas company (he might have said electric company)” and she replies “Naw. I want my old man back!”
@ Doug – Thanks for visiting. Good quote.
@ Diva – Thanks for visiting! Watched it again last night!
@ Gwyneth – *lol* And I’m sure you know the words to “Beauty School Dropout”.
Great list. I love most of those same movies. I think Willy Wonka is a classic.
Love Jones
The Bridges of Madison County
The Notebook
Scarface
Purple Rain
The Color Purple
Like Water For Chocolate
Antwon Fisher
Not in order of favoritism
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