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I once heard in an interview someone refer to Wes Anderson's movies at "litmus tests as to whether I'll like a person. If they don't like the movies, I know I won't like them."
So, what are your litmus test movies? I'd say mine are Wes Anderson movies and the Lord of the Rings.
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A lot of the times it's LotR for me. At least then I'll always have something to talk to them about.
If people's favourite movies are "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," "She's All That," or, frightfully enough, "Titanic," I will not like them. End of story.
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I like the horrendously ugly man whose sole line is "And stay outta Woolsworth's!"
And later Delmar says, "And we got robbed by a bible salesman, and thrown out of Woolsworth's... I don't know if it was all of em or just the one..."
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*is sad that Carrie doesn't like her* Titanic's not my favorite movie, though, I just really like it. Does that help?
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LotR is a biggie. I changed hairdressers over this one.
O Brother, too. Princess Bride
To a lesser degree, Moulin Rouge. I sort of mentally marginalize the old fogies who don't get it. I don't do it on purpose, mind you.
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Yes!!! Olivet, I knew there was a reason I liked you! I like Moulin Rouge too. Lotsa people look at me funny if I admit that.
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If someone has seen and liked both Donnie Darko and Boondock Saints, they get some big bonus points in my book too.
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We do sort of the opposite. I don't know how many people we've forced Naked Lunch and Forbidden Zone upon, but those are really just to gage people's humor/offense boundaries more than to tell if we like them. Of course, some people decide they don't like us after watching those movies Posts: 3956 | Registered: Jun 2001
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The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is a great one. As is Oh Brother. All my litmus test movies would be comedies. I can still respect someone who doesn't like, say, LoTR but if we don't share the same sense of humour we're going to hate each other. Or, they're going to hate me at any rate.
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No, i but i find it interesting that you would subject yourself and others to that movie repeatedly given that. Sort of like a sadomasochistic thing or something?
Don't get me wrong, the movie was very cool. It's just not a movie on too many peoples' "must see" list.
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Have you guys seen 1984? The one that was made in 1984, with Richard Burton and John Hurt? That has to be THE best book adaptation ever. Maybe even moreso than LOTR. At the end of the movie you just want to die.
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We've loaned it out for a few of those instances. But I guess I am a bit of a masochist because I really enjoy torturing myself with the creepy giant centipedes.
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Man, I'm getting excited at all of these good movies and that people might actually like me for liking them!
rivka, as long as Titanic's not your absolulte favourite movie ever made in the history of cinema, it's alright. You can like it and I'll still like you
And I hate to say it, but I fall in the minority of girls under the age of twenty who absolutely hates Moulin Rouge!. The only semi-good part is Ewan singing.
Upon further perusal of my movie collection, I've come up with a couple other litmus movies: Trainspotting and the Robin Williams HBO Special.
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I can't really do this because every movie I consider a litmus movie I can think of a friend who dislikes/likes it. I guess I have a very diverse set of friends. I loose respect for people who like certain movies which I consider stupid, or people who don't like movies that I consider far too good to be overlooked. But I know, and like people who like both types, so for me there is no litmus movie.
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Do I sense the presence of another Ewan McGregor fan? One of the ladies at Ewan's Daily Journal Just posted links to video captures of scenes from Scarlet and Black, a Brittish TV miniseries he was in a long, long time ago. Isn't available in the US.
He has matured some since then, and is less likely to be prettier than his co stars. Not that there is anything wrong with that, mind you.
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I would have said "Raising Arizona" but one friend of mine could not stand it. Then again, she did drop me after I got married.
Rivka, I also really liked "Titanic". But my husband didn't get it.
Trish, for a while my sister and I were debating which was better, "Titanic" or "Gone with the Wind." Is there any comparison in your mind?
Just the other night my brother in law was asking something about this, how he would know a prospective wife would get along well with his family. At least that's what I took away from the conversation, but I said "well, if she likes 'the princess bride'..." The funny thing is his other two sisters-in-law, they can tolerate it but they aren't line-quotin' fools.
Ah, what's my absolute favoritest line from OBWAT? "My Hair!"
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LOTR would be mine, except that my best friend hated it and we've got loads in common. I don't think that movies are a good test for who I get on with - my taste in movies is very varied.
Basically I like comedy, horror, romance and fantasy. I'm a great person to invite to a video party as I'll watch anything. I think OSC himself once wrote that just because someone has the same taste in movies as you, doesn't meant that they're someone you'd let watch your children.
However, cutting out the horror movies as some great people find them disturbing. LOTR (obviously) Sixth Sense (Ok it's horror, but it's not too scary and I love it.) The Princess Bride and Labyrinth Little Women Indianna Jones and the Last Crusade I quite like 'Elizabeth' too, although the historical inaccuracies annoy me hugely.I used to love Titanic, but now I can't imagine why.
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Have to agree with The Princess Bride. Mind you, I've never met anyone who didn't like that movie, so as a litmus test its application is limited.
I loved Moulin Rouge but I can't use it, because too many people I like can't stand it.
Definately Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. If you're Australian, liking The Castle is mandatory. If you're not, liking it gives bonus points, but I'm more willing to forgive you not liking it. Most Coen Brothers films, with the exeption of Fargo.
I have one reverse litmus test: Save the Last Dance. If you loved it, chances are we'll never really get on.
I also have one litmus tv series: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Particulary if you realise that Once More With Feeling is a work of genius.
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Loved that episode. Why more people don't spontaneously break into song in the middle of the street more often is beyond me. I do it all the time.
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I have the soundtrack. It's great music to clean to - somehow even vacuuming is more fun if you can sing along.
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Now that I think about it, there are very few movies that are favorites of both myself and my husband. "Speed", maybe. He LOVES "Ever After" and I think it is one of the dumbest movies ever. Vice versa with "Titanic". Actually, I guess we were both really into "The Matrix" and "Groundhog Day".
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I love Kiki's Delievery Service and if you hate that or any Miyazaki film you are a useless stick figure and you suck. I hate: Fatal Attraction Dr. T and the Women What women want and movies like that and will surely throw you into the sea where you belong if you like those.
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When I was dating, I used to show girls A Fish Called Wanda. It may be the funniest movie ever made (at least in the top 5), and while it's not as shocking as, say, Pulp Fiction or something, it's just dirty enough that if a girl likes it, it means she's not too good for me. When a girl likes that type of humour and isn't put off by a little smut, it's a good indication she's on my wavelength. Needless to say, my wife passed that test with flying colours.
Another test my wife passed... the first movie we ever saw in the theatre was Rush Hour. See, I'm as into chick flicks as anyone. I actually introduced my wife to movies like Pillow Talk, The Sound of Music, It Happened One Night and many of the like. But I have a bunch of friends that, after they got married, could never, ever watch a movie with action in it again. Rush Hour is a funny movie, and I was impressed with the fact that this girl I was dating could get past the idea that it existed in an action genre and laugh at the jokes. She loved the movie, and I took it as a good sign.
Finally, a great litmus test movie for a person, not necessarily a girl I'm dating, is Harold and Maude. It's a great movie, and if a person can (1) get the dry, quirky style of comedy, and (2) get past the disturbing facade and appreciate the theme, that's a good sign that they're my type of person.
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While You Were Sleeping: If you don't laugh at the paper boy slipping on the ice, you have no humor at all.
The Princess Bride: This goes without saying.
Life is Beautiful: If I go with a guy and he cries I will marry him.
I like Oh Brother and Monty Python. Love LotR. I remember seeing part of Searching for Bobby Fischer on Disney once (back when Disney Channel had good movies) and liked what I saw. Hated Mulin Rouge. That's it as far as other's litmus tests.
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ooh, I forgot Monty Python. Life of Brian is essential. You must also be able to get the reference if I start whistling "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life"
:wanders off whistling:
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Uh oh. I saw The Castle in the theatres, no less. I laughed myself silly and proceeded to force it upon many others who didn't appreciate it nearly as much as I thought they should. And, while I have not seen many Buffy episodes, I have seen said musical episode and even not knowing who everybody was I had to say that I thought it was hilarious.
I guess what this means is Imogen and I now have to be best friends.
Bob, I grew up watching the Marx Brothers! I believe my first was Duck Soup and it all went downhill from there.
And, y'know, while I realize I can't have them. I really feel I should have the *right* to give birth.
[ December 04, 2003, 11:11 PM: Message edited by: Bob the Lawyer ]
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quote:And I hate to say it, but I fall in the minority of girls under the age of twenty who absolutely hates Moulin Rouge!. The only semi-good part is Ewan singing.
Thank you, Carrie. I was beginning to think I was the only one.
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I make it a rule not to associate with anyone who doesn't swear by The Full Monty.
*beats back my anti-snobbish tendencies*
If i used the litmus test method, I would have no friends. End of story. After this post, it may not matter anyway. Go ahead. Turn your backs.
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That's... that's very cute.
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I don't do it on purpose, mind you.
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Ralphie likes it too.
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