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1. We’ve been busy promoting the new issue of mental_floss, in which we name The 25 Most Influential Books of the Past 25 Years. If the topic were The 25 Most Influential Movies (1984-Present), what would you nominate?
2. With this next question, I sound a lot like Captain Clarence Oveur in Airplane!. But I’ll ask anyway. Have you ever been to a Presidential Library? Was it worth the trip? If you had to pick one, which library would you honor with your presence?
3. It was four days after my daughter was born and I hadn’t shaved in almost a week. I was overjoyed, but also overwhelmed and overtired, and my stubble exaggerated both emotional states. I’ve been turning down offers of hot towel shaves at various barber shops since before I hit puberty. This was the time to splurge.
My regular barber wasn’t on duty when I arrived, so I hopped in the first chair that opened and ordered The Signature Service – a package deal that included a shampoo, a haircut, and a hot towel shave. I was expecting a sword-like knife and a close shave unlike anything my Mach-3 could provide. They were expecting the day to go by without anyone ordering The Signature Service.
A towel was placed over my eyes, so all I heard was the rustling of cheap plastic. And then all I felt was pain. After hearing any one of the following sentences, I probably should have called it quits: “I left my good razor at home.” “I just bought the cheapest Bic blades they had at Kings.” “These blades wear out so fast it’s gonna take me a while.” “Don’t worry, it’s not a lot of blood.”
Forty minutes and $41 later (more than double the price of the non-Signature Service), some of the stubble was gone. I could finish the job at home. Eventually, my cuts would heal. But I couldn’t get back that splurge. Have you ever treated yourself to something, big or small, and been disappointed?
4. What will you name your next pet?
Comments (83)
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Some considerations for most influential movies since 1984:
Pulp Fiction
Terminator 2
Clerks
X-Men
Memento
40 Year-Old Virgin
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood
The Matrix
Ran
Grave of the Fireflies
posted by Greg on 2-27-2009 at 12:41 pm
1.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
American history X
3. Getting my hair done for a mardi gras ball. I definitely should have done it myself. She didnt do a very good job and I had to take it down and do something else anyway because i did not like it.
4. My current pet’s (Basset Hound)name is Stella. i think my next pet’s name will be Weezie.
posted by Kaitlyn on 2-27-2009 at 12:53 pm
3. I treated myself to a spa day when I was in Austin, TX a couple weeks ago.
I was supposed to get a 60 min deep tissue massage, essential oil scalp massage, hair cut & style, and mani & pedi. They messed up every service I got and didn’t give me the scalp massage.
jerks. I complained and got a discount, but it totally wasn’t worth what I ended up paying.
posted by s on 2-27-2009 at 12:54 pm
1. If the topic were The 25 Most Influential Movies (1984-Present), what would you nominate?
Passion of the Christ.
2. Have you ever been to a Presidential Library? Was it worth the trip? If you had to pick one, which library would you honor with your presence?
We went to the LBJ Library in Austin once, I liked it, my wife did not. I wouldn’t have driven all the way to Austin just to see it, we were visiting family, but we were nearby and now I can see I have been there.
3. Have you ever treated yourself to something, big or small, and been disappointed?
Hurricane Ike’s 9 day power outage while I was evacuated in Dallas made our food stink up our refrigerator so bad that it needed to be replaced. We wanted something nice so we went to Lowe’s and picked out a pricey Stainless Steel model with the freezer drawer on the bottom. When we got it home not only did we realize magnet’s did not stick to it, but I am tired of leaning so far down just to get ice.
4. What will you name your next pet?
We are considering getting a new dog, I want to name it “Kitty” but my wife does not want to confuse our one-year old (I thought that was the best part of the name!) Then I suggested Barfolomew (or Barf for short.) Then my wife said it has to be something that won’t embarrass her at church. Now I think I am just going to call it “Dog” (After the bounty hunter, not the species.)
posted by Witty Nickname on 2-27-2009 at 12:55 pm
2 — Never been to one. Is Ronald Reagan’s library in California? I’d like to head out there, so I’ll stop by his on this fictional vacation.
3 — I bought a pretty pricy home theater system earlier this year thinking we’d have people over for movies and sporting events. There’s something off with it though and there’s all sorts of feedback and hissing and static and nobody can figure it out. Big disappointment.
4 — My wife and I are talking about getting a dog. I’d like to call him Plaxico.
posted by Brent on 2-27-2009 at 12:57 pm
Jason – What movie did you and your wife end up seeing last week?
posted by Curious on 2-27-2009 at 12:57 pm
Curious — Thanks for asking!
We saw ‘Slumdog Millionaire.’ I went four hours early to get the tickets, but we only arrived ten minutes before showtime (fondue dinners take a while) and we had to sit in the second row. But that wasn’t too bad. We were happy we could root for a movie we’d seen during the Oscars.
At dinner, one of the worst dates in history was playing out at the table next to us. Money line: “I’ve never met anyone as perfect as my ex-wife, and she probably did ruin me for other women. But the counseling is helping with that.”
posted by Jason English on 2-27-2009 at 1:02 pm
1. I don’t even want to get into this one. It would take too long to think of a proper answer. Great question though and I can’t wait to hear some of the responses. (40 year old virgin??? SERIOUSLY?!?!)
2. No. I avoid all libraries at all costs.
3. All bad lap dances are a ripoff!!
4. My current pet Dobermann is named Jaeger (middle name is Bomb) so I might have to continue with the alcohol theme and name my next pet Bushmill.
posted by BW on 2-27-2009 at 1:03 pm
1. Boondock Saints
Army of Darkness
Clerks
Reservoir Dogs
Anchorman
2.nope
3. Two tattoos that i got (at the same time) didnt come out all that great. They were kinda dull and blotchy. The main problem is that i treated myself to them and now i will have them forever. Oh well…you live and you learn.
4. Boondock, Dutch, or Duncan
posted by Andy on 2-27-2009 at 1:07 pm
1. Spiderman comes to mind because it proved a comic book idea can be made into a decent movie. Saving Private Ryan is probably at least partially responsible for the success of WWII movies and video games. Personally, most of Guy Rithies stuff got me in realize that most indie films have more original ideas than Hollywood.
2. I’ve been to the Clinton Library in Little Rock. It was worth it only because I’d never been to a PL before and the trip was paid for by my company.
3. I like fine dining, but have a middle class budget, so eating out at a 5-star restaurant is a highly anticipated special event. I’ll just say that I’ve blown $100 on dinners that did not live up to my expectations.
4. My Aussie Shepard will be weaned next week and her name is Sienna.
posted by JaynTX on 2-27-2009 at 1:08 pm
1. Influential Movies
Schindler’s List
Pan’s Labrinyth
No Country for Old Men
Jerry Maguire
Kill Bill Vol 1 and 2
Forrest Gump
South Park and Team America
Lord of the Rings Trilogy
This list can go on and on…
2. I went to the LBJ Library in Austin. It was definately worth the trip and I would love to go to more of them. It was very intersting to see not just artifacts from his presidency, but also artifacts and stories from such an interesting era in American History.
4. My next dog will probably be named Gandalf.
posted by k on 2-27-2009 at 1:13 pm
Absolutely my top 2 would be Pulp Fiction and The Matrix.
Pulp Fiction has influenced tons of movies since it came out in 1994 with its ensemble cast, non linear story telling, graphic violence, explicit drug use, retro soundtrack, and unbelievable screenplay.
The Matrix revolutionized the sci/fi genre with one of the best filming techniques ever – Bullet Time. This one filming technique has influenced countless movies and movie makers, as well as many video games.
Only time will tell, however, I believe the movie 300 might eventually break into this group – but it is not there quite yet.
Honorable Mentions on my personal list -Braveheart, Shaun of the Dead, Diehard.
posted by Ian on 2-27-2009 at 1:15 pm
1. American History X
Fight Club
Braveheart
Dead Poets Society
Back to the Future
The Dark Knight
Toy Story
2. I’ve been to the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri but I was about 8 and don’t really remember much. I really want to go to the Lincoln Library and it’s only about 4 hours away, maybe I’ll make it this summer.
3. I bought a new car a few years ago and was really excited about it. Turns out, it wasn’t so great.
4. I’ve only ever had female dogs, so that’s a little limiting. I’d probably name it something like George :) Or maybe Vick, just to pi** off Michael Vick!
posted by Solstice on 2-27-2009 at 1:23 pm
1. Pulp Fiction and it looks like I am not alone…even if you don’t like it, the dialogue has definitely influenced. Saving Private Ryan…war scenes have not been the same since.
2. Lincoln…three words…Go! Go! Go! I have been to a lot of historical homes and musuems and this blew them all away…especially the theater experience and not Ford’s..its a cool live and computer generated presentation.
3. I had a hot rock massage and the guy was sweating drops on me.
4. Rice
posted by Marty on 2-27-2009 at 1:25 pm
Clerks
Pulp Fiction
Jurassic Park (CGI)
The Matrix
The Breakfast Club
Schindler’s List
Lord of the Rings (pick one)
American Pie
posted by Gene on 2-27-2009 at 1:29 pm
1.
Schindler’s List
Forrest Gump
An Inconvenient Truth
Titanic
Pirates of the Caribbean
Ray
Napoleon Dynamite
Anchorman
3.
Pretty much any spa service where the technician won’t shut up and let me enjoy it… don’t ask me questions while I’m trying to relax!
4. I have a Cavalier King Charles spaniel named Bogie (like Humphrey Bogart, not like a British booger or fighter jet). People think I should get a girl and name her either “Birdie” or “Becall”
posted by Steph on 2-27-2009 at 1:31 pm
Some considerations for most influential movies since 1984:
Toy Story- it made everyone realize the world was better if Pixar fixed it first.
Knocked Up- It wasn’t good, but it started the pregnancy movie genre. Apparently accidental pregnancy is not only funny but everything works out in the end. (Juno, Baby Mama, that episode of Weeds with the deaf girl, etc.)
A Beautiful Mind- a take on schizophrenia that helped America understand the struggle. It also helped many people realize that schizophrenia did not have to do with having 20 personalities. A wonderful movie all around.
posted by g on 2-27-2009 at 1:32 pm
1. Steel Magnolia’s
2. Nixon Library- We had our Senior Prom there! Good times…
3. Mani-Pedi- I left with bloody cuticles. no fun.
4. Gus Gus
posted by Danielle on 2-27-2009 at 1:37 pm
1) “The Shawshank Redemption.” Hands down.
posted by Rebecca W. on 2-27-2009 at 1:41 pm
1. I agree with everyone who put Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan. I think Supersize Me had a pretty dramatic impact on the way people look at the fast food industry.
3. Chocolate covered potato chips. I assumed that if they were popular enough to sell them there must be a fair number of people who thought they were good. After eating one, I concluded there must either be a bunch of people who think like I do, or a fair number of people were completely wrong.
posted by Chris on 2-27-2009 at 1:42 pm
Influential Movies?
THIS IS SPINAL TAP
Gave birth to Meathead as a visionary director.. and the first in a line of completely improvised movies.
ROGER & ME
The “Adam” of entertaining documentaries. Even if you are not a fan Michael Moore’s politics, you must respect his genius.
THE USUAL SUSPECTS
MEMENTO
Both movies took film noir to a new place… and a whole new generation experienced the endorphin rush of wanting to watch the whole movie again after watching it the first time…
posted by Goliath The Pickle on 2-27-2009 at 1:49 pm
3. Like JaynTX I too live on a meager budget and have treated by wife to some pricey meals that did not live up to my expectations. You ever get out of the restaurant thinking “what did I just pay for??” The worst was a hoity-toity french restaurant near the downtown area where I live. They were all about the “high prices for small plates” philosophy. Needless to say we spent a lot of money and left without feeling full. I think we actually went to McDonald’s or something to finish off the night.
4. I plan on getting a beagle her name will be Erin G. Bragh (cute huh?)
posted by Mick on 2-27-2009 at 1:50 pm
1. Toy Story – and thus was great computer animation born
2. I’ve been to Springfield often, but I was little so I can’t say for sure if I’ve been to the Lincoln Library. That’s one I’d like to see, along with Jefferson’s.
3. Ugh, a haircut and color last April. I was a broke intern looking for a splurge before my move home, she was a space case seemingly new to the business and unable to interpret length in a picture to length on the head. Soooooo wretchedly short and bowl-like. And the dye didn’t take right, so my hair turned a terrible copper with differently shaded roots. I wore a hat for a month.
4. My plan is to eventually own a huge, stupid dog, a tiny, possessed, fuzzy dog, and an orange cat. I will call them Ludo (Labyrinth), Fizzgig (Dark Crystal), and Max (weirdly, I think I picked this up from the dog in Terminator 2).
posted by Chelsea on 2-27-2009 at 1:55 pm
Jason, the epic date beside you sounds a little too much like a few of the dates I’ve been on in the past…
Too funny!
posted by Jenny on 2-27-2009 at 2:08 pm
1. In no order:
The Terminator
Pulp Fiction
Fargo
Boogie Nights
The Shawshank Redemption
Schlindler’s List
Goodfellas
Fight Club
Forrest Gump
Saving Private Ryan
Aliens
Back to the Future
Toy Story
Cinema Paradiso
The Killing Fields
Wall Street
Aladdin
Lord of the Rings
The Silence of the Lambs
LA Confidential
Donnie Darko
Dazed and Confused
Rushmore
The Sixth Sense
Being John Malkovich
2. nope
3. nope
4. Zissou
posted by KLB on 2-27-2009 at 2:12 pm
1. Princess Bride, Say Anything, Red Dawn, Forrest Gump…
2. No, but I went to an crazy Ethiopian restaurant on 18th st. by the business district that was to die for.
3. I once spent $80 on a DVD set of the television show The State, my favorite sketch comedy show that has never been officially released. The DVD’s were burned copies and horrible quality taped from tv over a decade ago. Most sketches were completely unwatchable.
4. Next cat – Futuristic Electronic, Next Dog – Elliot Sherman C.P.A. Next Fish – Blue Fish
posted by Nick on 2-27-2009 at 2:14 pm
I had a similar experience with a barber shave. It was my birthday, and I decided I was going to splurge on myself and get a manly-man shave with the straight razor and hot towel. I drove around to a mess of old-school barbers until I found one that even offered the service.
My first mistake was not waiting for the old dude who owned the joint. He had a line of guys waiting for him. I had to settle for the 30-something woman. Don’t get me wrong, ladies. I usually get my hair cut by women-folk, but there are we lads have to do for ourselves. Like giving each other straight razor shaves.
The hot towel treatment was fine — if brief — and the hot lather felt great. Then the butchery started. My experience was similar to yours. I left with a half-assed shave and a lot of pain. Waste of time and money.
posted by Ed on 2-27-2009 at 2:16 pm
1. “Bowling For Columbine” – Agree or disagree with the content, but it elevated documentaries to the cinema level. “March of the Penguins” or “An Inconvenient Truth”–or any other Michael Moore doc, for that matter–probably wouldn’t have been released or viewed as wideley they were if “Bowling For Columbine” hadn’t brought the genre mainstream.
Also, as mentioned by others, “Toy Story” greatly changed the way animated movies are made, promoted and received.
2 & 3 kind of run together: I went to Atlanta for business and knew I’d have some downtime so I planned to visit both the MLK center and Jimmy Carter library. As a history goon, I was really looking forward to it. It surprised me that I was able to get through both of them quickly–an hour or two at each–so I guess I thought there would be more to them. Both were suprisingly empty of visitors as well. But they’re only a short drive apart from each other and their exhibits share some of the same themes (peace, leadership, etc.)which made for a good experience when viewing both.
4. My wife and I are going to get a Boston terrier and name him Billy Zane. Billy Zane just makes us laugh in the same way people laugh at the mention of Jean-Claude Van Damme or Steven Seagal. It’s hard to describe. Also, when Billy Zane (the dog) barks we can say “Put a cork in it, Zane!” ala Zoolander.
posted by Ed on 2-27-2009 at 2:16 pm
1. My thoughts immediately went to LOTR. Toy Story definitely kicked off Pixar’s great run of movies. I would say that March of the Penguins made documentaries more accessible to the general public and Amelie did the same for foreign films. There Will Be Blood, Magnolia, and Run, Lola, Run would also be contenders for me in terms of interesting storytelling. Also, The Fall was amazing and highly underrated.
2. No. However, I could probably do a trip to Nixon’s or Reagan’s.
3. I bought a used Ikea bed so that I could have a semblance of a bed frame in college. The slats kept falling out, making the mattress fall to the floor. It was easier to just keep the mattress on the floor like I had been doing beforehand.
4. Skilos, the Greek word for dog.
posted by cgarcia on 2-27-2009 at 2:17 pm
I’ve toyed with naming a pet Carnegie, Tajmah, Juvie, or maybe even You (as in “Hey, You, get over here!”).
As a special bonus, my last name is Hall (say the hypothetical pet’s full name out loud).
Slainte!
posted by Pete on 2-27-2009 at 2:21 pm
1. Glory
Full Metal Jacket
Van Wilder
Empire of the Sun
Cinderella Man
Goodfellas
Pulp Fiction
American Pie
Road Trip
and more…
2. The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, MI is pretty impressive. I went a few years ago when they had an exhibit on slavery. It included the noose used to hang John Brown!
The JFK Library is a shrine.
The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center is amazing!
The new Lincoln President Museum is also amazing, in a much different way. There’s plenty of theatrics.
3. Can’t think of anything.
4. Rupert
posted by Jamie on 2-27-2009 at 2:36 pm
1. Some that have not been mentioned:
Blair Witch
Chicago
Sling Blade
Jurassic Park
2. Been to Jimmy Carter’s – came home with a bunch of peanuts (no joke)
3. My lunch today was not worth the $12 I dropped on it!
4. Chauncey
posted by law'sdad on 2-27-2009 at 2:42 pm
1. Princess Bride is the first thing that popped into my mind.
2. The Lincoln Library in Springfield is incredible. I highly recommend going. There is a display that shows the progress of the Civil War in 5 minutes along with the mounting casualty count for the war. Very moving.
3. Too many imported gourmet food products that turned out to be total busts to mention.
4. I would love to name a Scottish terrier William or Robert, although Ethelwulf for a mutt would be nice as well.
posted by Josh on 2-27-2009 at 3:00 pm
4. Seamus or Angus for a St. Bernard
posted by ac on 2-27-2009 at 3:19 pm
1. I think The Usual Suspects has had a lot of influence on other films, as has Crouching Tiger, Hidden Drago and Pulp Fiction.
2. I went to the Jimmy Carter homestead and saw him teach Sunday school at his home church (along with almost 800 other pilgrims).
3. I used to get a massage pretty regularly, and the worst experience was when my massage therapist had a black eye and I heard all about her boyfriend hitting her during my massage. (Luckily it ended well with her moving out with the help of her burly male massage therapist friends helping her move out of the guy’s place. But still…)
I was not thrilled with acupuncture – I thought it would be relaxing like a massage, but I just felt trapped.
4. Romulus
posted by Diana on 2-27-2009 at 3:19 pm
2) GO to the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum! I’ve been three times and it just gets better. It’s a full walk through of his life from the full sized log cabin to the replica White House. If it does not move you to tears, you do not have a heart.
4) Twin huskies. Cairo and Amarna
posted by Kieran on 2-27-2009 at 3:21 pm
1. Shawshank, definitely, but I would also add:
Ghostbusters
Back to the Future Trilogy
Groundhog Day
American History X
The Dark Knight
Dick Tracy
2. Nope
3. I saved and saved and saved for a Wii. The entire time rationalizing to myself (and my fiancee) that it would be worth it. We would have fun and get some exercise. It would be great. We got it and now six months, and 20 pounds heavier, I have barely looked at it. (My fiance loves it) So maybe it wasn’t a disappointment over all, but still. . . . I’m the gamer . . .not her. (enter whiney voice here)
4. Well I already have a Kahlua (a dog named in my drunken college days), Fiona (a new addition, this mutt was named because she is white and “Fiona” means fair haired in Gaelic), and my personal favorite: Ampersand (my cuisenart of a cat). So I guess the only way to top myself is “Parenthesis”
posted by Nathan on 2-27-2009 at 3:23 pm
1. The Little Mermaid
Forrest Gump
Saving Private Ryan
Back to the Future
Braveheart
Schindler’s List
Philadelphia
2. No, but I would like to go.
3. Very small disappointment, but I hate when I’m needing a caffeine rush and I stop by Starbucks to splurge on a latte and it’s bitter and poorly made. There is nothing but Starbucks where I live now, but I prefer the Oregon company Dutch Bros, and it’s always a disappointment to not live anywhere close enough to go.
4. My dog’s name now is Dallas (my dad’s a Cowboys fan) and my grandpa almost bought her a male counterpart and named him Tyler (as in Tyler, TX ha ha). As for me, I’ve always wanted to name a dog Toby, after the basset hound in The Great Mouse Detective.
posted by Katie on 2-27-2009 at 3:25 pm
Just got a female Chihuahua puppy and named her Tater, as in tater-tot.
posted by oshean on 2-27-2009 at 3:37 pm
3. Anytime I get a bad espresso and the last time I went for a pedicure. It was so bad I just do it at home myself now.
4. We have a beagle named Sarah Jane (after the Doctor Who companion) and my name is Martha, so whenever we get a cat it will be named Rose so we have the current companions covered.
posted by Martha on 2-27-2009 at 3:38 pm
1. Pirates of the Caribbean. I liked all three, but the first one is really the outstanding film.
2. No.
3. I got a facial and I guess it really aggravated my pores because I had several huge pimples afterwards.
4. I named a cat Eowyn from Lord of the Rings. I guess I am partial to names that are adjectives…I have 3 friends whose cats’ names were: Silly, Spooky, and Lonely. Cute names for cats.
posted by Jamie on 2-27-2009 at 3:45 pm
1. I never like movies that most people like. The Oscars never even nominate my favorites.
Lars and the Real Girl
Secondhand Lions
October Sky
Cars
Beauty and the Beast
2 I live near the George H.W. Bush library in College Station, Texas. It is pretty cool in that it details all aspects of his public life
3. We bought a new G.E. Front Loading Washer & Dryer a couple of years ago. The washer was horrible. It ran forever and did a lousy job of cleaning clothes. It was hard to find anyone to work on it. I got so disgusted with it that I bought a traditional top loader and paid them to haul away the front loader. That was a $1,000 mistake!
4 I will have to see it before I can name it!
posted by Tex on 2-27-2009 at 3:51 pm
1. SinCity
V for Vendetta
300
rhe visual style of these movies will be continually copied and improved (like in The Spirit and the upcoming Watchmen).
2. The Lincoln Library (or is it just a museum, in Springfield IL, cuz Lincoln is just so complex a president, and I heard they have some unique exhibits, and it’s one of the closer ones.
3. Perhaps I shouldn’t tell this story, but… Went to Vegas for a buddy’s bachelor party. We get there on a Friday, most of the guys had worked that day, but its Vegas, no reason to go to bed. We have some martinis (Ick) and then head out to a casino for a little gambling and alcohol, w/ plans for the, ahem, gentlemen’s club later.
So we take care of the bachelor first, buy him a few dances, and then we’re on our own. I’ve had a good amount of booze by now (and at least one member of our group had nodded off at the club) and I saw this rather stacked dancer and got a dance from her, and afterwards she gave me a card w/ her website.
The buyer’s remorse came when I checked the website SOBER to view the WELL-LIT photos. YIKES! Talk about your beer goggles, although she still had a nice body, rock hard abs which I figured she needed w/ all the extra weight up top she was carrying.
4. Sydney, if it’s a girl dog after Sydney Bristow, the heroine of Alias, and Bogart or Bogey after Humphrey Bogart.
posted by Big Jonny on 2-27-2009 at 4:07 pm
1. Note that these are not necessarily my favorite movies; I just believe they have been influential.
2001 A Space Odyssey (visually)
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (for talking to the camera)
When Harry Met Sally (vignettes)
Apocalypse Now (content)
Blair Witch Movie (style, or lack thereof, and WOM marketing tactics)
Schindler’s List (black and white is wow again)
Children of a Lesser God (subject matter)
Steamboat Willie (animation!)
Beauty and the Beast (computer animation!)
3. A beautiful dessert concoction with chocolate, fruit, and cream layers, at a fancy restaurant. Artfully presented, it looked sooooo much better than it tasted.
reCaptcha: virtue yes
posted by DB on 2-27-2009 at 4:46 pm
my hubby gave me a $100 gift certificate to a dayspa. I got a $55 chocolate pedicure which was actually the lady just mixing cocoa powder in warm water and pouring it on my feet and wrapping a towel around it. The deep tissue massage was the most agonizing pain ever! I ended up paying an extra $50 for tips and overages. I will never do that again!
posted by kaisharif on 2-27-2009 at 4:53 pm
Not sure if they are influential, but they are quotable
Emporer’s New Groove
Empire Records
Coming to America
4.) if i get another kitten, i will name it pickles
posted by lindseyu on 2-27-2009 at 4:58 pm
1.) All Matrix movies, if for no other reason than most people born before about 1967 or so will simply be unable to grasp the concept of an entirely contrived world that may or may not exist based on computer code. I also nominate “The Pianist” for its ability to evoke terror, anger, empathy and compassion for all sides in WWII. And, finally, “Apocalypse Now” and “Platoon” for their varied, but no less captivating, portrayals of the Vietnam War.
2.) I live in Canada and have never visited a presidential library during any of my trips across the line. Sounds like I should, though, eh!
3.) I once spent $12 (Canadian!) to see “Star Wars: Episode I”. Colossal waste of time and money.
4.) If I got a dog, I’d call him Rex, Rover or Fido. My next fish will be housed in an old, non-functional blender and will be named “Sir Mix-a-lot”.
posted by Beth on 2-27-2009 at 5:03 pm
I have bene to several presidential libraries. Ford’s museum is very well done, lots of watergate stuff, worth a trip. Truman’s was fine. LBJ’s was very interesting based on the interesting place in history he was in. Ford’s was the best though.
posted by jeff weddle on 2-27-2009 at 5:18 pm
Zeigeist Movie – eye opener
Loose Change
Pulp Fiction
BoonDock Saints
Schindler’s List
Forrest Gump
American History X
Fight Club
posted by Nicole on 2-27-2009 at 5:57 pm
I splurged and took my boyfriend out to eat at my favorite restauraunt – which is three states away – and they burned his food. We were kind of in a rush and he didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, so he ate it anyway rather than return the food to the kitchen. But it totally ruined our experience.
posted by Leia on 2-27-2009 at 6:01 pm
1) is “wayne’s world” on nobody else’s list???
2) nope.
3) i promised my sister-in-law i’d treat her to a cut-and-highlight for her birthday, just a few months after she had a baby. i took her to my favorite stylist and told her to go wild. we didn’t anticipate her hair being so resistant to dye; it took SIX bowls of that blue powder stuff before her hair started to take on any highlights. her hair is also really thick and unruly and the cut took forever. I ended up paying $160 for something that neither one of us was particularly pleased with. three weeks later, she tells me she swiped a box of hair dye from my mom’s anti-gray supply and colored her hair, completely covering those expensive-ass highlights.
never again.
4) my cat’s name is sassafras. sassafras jones. we don’t share a last name, we figured since she’s not of our loins she can have her own unique last name. IMHO, it’s one of the best pet names that i’ve ever heard, besides “ampersand” from above and my husband’s friends’ cat “baby dirty face.”
posted by kristen on 2-27-2009 at 6:06 pm
1) Clerks – Kevin Smith’s first movie, and the beginning of an era
The Matrix – changed special effects forever
The Sixth Sense – reinvented the plot twist
2) nope
3) While on our honeymoon at an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica, we received a bonus credit on our room account. I decided to use part of it at the resort’s “award winning spa.” Since it was our honeymoon, I splurged and signed up for the $75 Deluxe Pedicure.
I knew I should have just cancelled the service when I saw that their pedicure area was a row of office chairs with plastic containers under them. But I figured it’s the technician that makes the pedicure, so I went through with it. Did I mention the chairs had wheels? I spent a half hour trying to keep myself from rolling away while this poor lady hunched down in the floor over the woefully too-small plastic tub and tried to scrub my feet. Then she squirted some crap on me that I could swear I heard sizzling as it killed off the top layer of my skin. Then she says, “this is good stuff, you can’t get it in the USA.” Confident that I would never have skin on the bottoms of my feet again, we moved on to the next step.
The “deluxe” part of the pedicure was a paraffin dip followed by a hot towel wrap. Apparently the thermostat on their paraffin bowl was broken, because when she plunged my foot in, I thought the bones in my toes were going to melt. I screamed, tried to stand up, and ended up rolling halfway across the room in that stupid chair, splashing magma-hot wax all over the place. She just rolled me back over to the spot and tried to dunk my other foot in. I told her there was no way she was doing that to me again, so she wrapped my feet in saran wrap and walked off. After sitting by myself for about 15 minutes, I finally just peeled all the junk off my feet and limped out of there.
They should have paid ME to go through that experience! Worst $75 spent ever.
4) My current dog is named Fezzik. If we get another one, we will name him Inigo Montoya (Monty for short).
posted by thecooley on 2-27-2009 at 6:15 pm
1) I think everyone has missed The Dark Knight or I’m just reading the comments too fast. I thought that was a very influential movie, especially with the chase scene in downtown Gotham which had no music playing during the whole chase. I do also agree with Back to the Future, Pulp Fiction, and Toy Story.
2) I’ve driven past the sign for the Ronald Regan library but never gone in it. Nice sign though.
3) I was in a huge necklace jag and decided I needed a lot of them. I went to a cute boutique and shelled out $270 for a Juicy necklace. Needless to say I am not a necklace person.
4) My boyfriend and I just got a new puppy and named her Holly Erica. Holly because she was born in December and we’re always joking about how P.S. I Love You is always on some movie channel (that’s the main characters name) and Erica because she was born on my cousin Eric’s birthday.
As a side note, Ed’s comment about calling his dog Billy Zane is awesome!! I almost choked on my soda when I read “Put a cork in it, Zane!”
posted by Colene on 2-27-2009 at 6:15 pm
1.Toy Story, Forrest Gump, Titanic, Oceans 11 & 13 – NOT 12, Enron; The Smartest Guys in the Room
2. None
3. Three Dollar Martini’s at a Martini Bar (all fruit juice, bad heartburn, no buzz)
4. Rufus Yogi Caruthers (The Evil Mr. Caruthers) Current Dogs; Jacob Lloyd Stultzfuss, Cookie Jarvis & Chandler Ross Tribiani, Cat’s name; Rocco Vanzetti
posted by M. Barney Smith on 2-27-2009 at 6:41 pm
An Inconvenient Truth — Whether you’re a believer or a denialist, most people first became aware of the Global Warming controversy from Al Gore, his film, and the pro and con publicity around it.
Spiderman/X-Men — There were superhero films in the past but these two raised the level of play and spawned many others.
A Beautiful Mind — It’s not just about what it is to be a genius lost in a forest of insanity. It’s also about how one person’s life affects everyone around him. His life story demonstrated his Nash Equilibrium.
Jurassic Park — still scary after all these years.
posted by TerraByte on 2-27-2009 at 7:00 pm
2) Have you been to a presidential library?
Yes, Hoover’s and Lincoln’s – both were fantastic. Hoover’s library and museum is located in West Branch, Iowa next to the house where he was born. The grounds contain a one-room schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop, and a Quaker church. On the day I visited, reenactors in period costumes were on hand to answer questions and give demonstrations. The museum itself has wonderful exhibits on Hoover’s humanitarian efforts before and after his term in the White House. I left with a better appreciation of a little-loved president.
Interesting fact: Hoover only lived in West Branch until the age of 9, but he chose to have his library built there to contrast his humble beginnings with what he had achieved in life.
posted by Amy on 2-27-2009 at 7:02 pm
1. Airplane (I am serious, and stop calling me Shirley)
Nightmare Before Christmas
2. No
3. My first perm. I was a teenager
and was paying or it from my babysitting money (I was 15). I just wanted a wave put in and I went home looking like a poodle. She also chemical burned my forehead.
4. It just depends on what we get. If I get more birds there are no point in naming them because the siamese gives them heart attacks, the kids have learned to quit naming the mice because the spider eats them, and I don’t need anymore cats or dogs.
So who has the teen? Or is it an ongoing arguement? my catchpa is 18-year-old clash
posted by Lorelei on 2-27-2009 at 8:29 pm
witty nick name, go for DeeOHgee(d-o-g)say it fast and there is our solution!!
posted by Heidi on 2-27-2009 at 8:33 pm
Movies!
- Silence of the Lambs (it really fused horror and thriller to make a whole new “smart” type of horror film that didn’t invlove thrashers)
- The Matrix (brought comic-style sci-fi to the mainstream so that films like Dark Knight and The Watchmen could be made)
- Napolean Dynamite (from what I understand, it kind of started the “indie craze” which has led to films like Juno and even Slumdog Millionaire)
- Toy Story (made computer animation THE future and even the present)
- Billy Madison (created a whole new genre of comedy that has been wildly successful)
-
posted by Colleen on 2-27-2009 at 9:19 pm
1. Wall-e and the first Matrix movie should be on any most influential movie list :)
3. I paid for a $12 massage (I’m paid $5 a day) that was supposed to ease my muscles of the aches and pain caused by boxing training. I was kind of looking forward to it since I had a really good time the last time I was there. Unfortunately, the one who previously massaged me was just a reliever and their regular therapist had really heavy hands. I ended up with more bruises than before.
4. We name our dogs based on their appearance and/or actions so I guess it depends on how it looks/acts.
posted by Leizl on 2-27-2009 at 10:03 pm
3) The first time (of only 2 xs) I had my highlights professionally done… the person I was with, came over when the stylist walked away for a moment and asked me ‘when was she doing it’
And I replied – she’s already done!
And to make matters worse, the stylist charged for two colors AND a haircut!
posted by Anon Emous on 2-27-2009 at 11:01 pm
2. Been to Ronald Reagan’s (for a Victoriana exhibition they were hosting, oddly enough) and to Nixon’s (my now-husband’s parents were visiting, and the mom had been involved in his re-election campaign in her home state). She brought some campaign buttons with her of a type they didn’t have represented, and ended up donating one to the collection right then and there!
4. It Has Been Solemnly Avowed that when circumstances finally allow, we shall get two cats; one male, one female, acquired in that order. (We’ve read that they accept each other easier that way around.) And the male shall be named by my husband (the comic-book maven) “Eartho the Normal Kitty” in pointed opposition to Superman’s “Krypto the Super Dog”.
posted by VM on 2-27-2009 at 11:52 pm
#2: I’ve been to Reagan’s, Kennedy’s, and Nixon’s. I volunteered for two years as a docent at Reagan’s, located in my hometown.
posted by bdoc on 2-28-2009 at 3:41 am
1) The Shawshank Redemption
Donnie Darko
The Life of David Gale
Akira
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Boondock Saints
posted by Count Spatula on 2-28-2009 at 8:27 am
I think many here are missing the point. These are the ‘best’ movies we are talking about. Its the most influential. Shawshank Redemption, while it is a great flick, has not been very influential (unless you know a lot of prison inmates who make their fellow inmates better and friendlier while bringing down corruption within the prison system). Not to mention, it is a unique film that has never really been emulated. And Schindler’s List? Really? Influential? I agree, its a great film but as for its influence I just don’t see it. And Dark Knight and Wall-E? give me a break, its been out for less than a year. They havn’t had a chance to be influential. Give them time, however, they might be at the top eventually.
(Quick Tangent – Get your years right people….Airplane was released in 1980, Apocalypse Now was 1979. This list was supposed to be from 1984 through today…This is why Star Wars isn’t listed anywhere here).
Looking at the suggestions on this thread, I see a bunch of great suggestions.
Toy Story
Pulp Fiction
The Matrix
Fight Club
The Silence of the Lambs
Goodfellas
American Pie
The Sixth Sense
These movies are all acceptible in my book. They are all very popular and have been very influential (not only in the movies, but in other aspects of life). Personally, I don’t think a movie should be even mentioned unless it has been nominated for an academy award or has been wildly popular. I could even see the LOTR trilogy on here, but for sake of argument, lets leave it off.
posted by Ian on 2-28-2009 at 9:06 am
Sorry, that first line in my last post should read ‘these are NOT the ‘best’ movies we are talking about.
sorry
posted by Ian on 2-28-2009 at 9:28 am
1. The Man From Snowy River
2. I would like to attend Obama Barack’s Presidential Library opening in 2012!
3. Super-sized value meal at McDonald’s… They keep putting the fries in sideways!!!
4.D.O.G. Dee-Oh-Gee (”Deo” for short!)If this is for a contest…I will take a T-shirt! Thanks!
posted by nt4thbook on 2-28-2009 at 9:43 am
Most Influential Movies since ‘84
Legally Blonde
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Mac And Me
Gigli
She’s All That
posted by 1234igloo on 2-28-2009 at 12:33 pm
Schindlers list
Do the right thing
Malcolm X
12 angry men
JFK
Philadelphia
Roger and Me
Glory
Ghandi
Passion of the Christ
posted by Ryan on 2-28-2009 at 4:20 pm
1. Movies (maybe not influential, but my favs…) Airplane, Monty Python & Holy Grail (pre-84?), LOR Trilogy, Saving Private Ryan, Good Morning Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, and Young Frankenstein. Good Lord, what an eclectic list.
2. Go to the Reagan library in Simi Valley, CA (just north of LA)! I’ve always been a fan of his and got to go while on a business trip a couple years back. The museum is first rate and very classy. A recent addition is the plane that was Air Force One during his presidency. There are pieces of the Berlin wall and the day is completed by a visit to Reagan’s grave on the property. Very moving regardless of your political leanings.
posted by dannyabtl on 2-28-2009 at 4:31 pm
1.)
Fight Club
E.T.
The Matrix
Jurassic Park
Titanic
Toy Story (first major Pixar film)
Lord of the Rings
4.) I like Quincy. We might get a Husky so I’ve been trying to think of some Arctic-type names, so far I’ve come up with Juneau, Shackleton..and that’s about it. We have a pug named Miso so other possibilities are Tofu and Dumpling.
posted by Caroline on 2-28-2009 at 7:42 pm
ryan,
the original 12 angry men beats the remake any day.i would argue the first one (made long before 1984) is far more influential.
billy zane,lmao.
posted by nikky on 2-28-2009 at 8:11 pm
I think it would be cool to get two cats, one Manx, and one non-Manx. I’d call the regular cat Serif, and the Manx? San-serif, of course!
posted by Mare on 3-1-2009 at 12:08 am
2. I go to Texas A&M, home of the George Bush Presidential Library, but I’ve never visited it. It’s way out in nowhere land on the far end of the campus. At some point before I graduate, I’ll stop in.
3. Once, I paid $60 to get my hair done before I went to a dance. Because I had to take off my glasses an consequently couldn’t see a thing, I didn’t realize what this crazy woman was doing to my hair. By the time she was done, it looked like one of those crazy, tall weaves you sometimes see girls wearing. I went home, washed it out, and re-did my hair myself. My mom told me I should have refused to pay for it, but I didn’t have it in my heart to do that, especially after she wasted about 3 cans of hairspray on me.
4. I want to get a black and white cat and name it Chango. Back when I was very little, I had a stuffed animal panda I loved very much who I decided to call Chango for some strange reason. Since it’s probably illegal and dangerous to keep a real panda as a pet, I figure a cat of the same colors is the closest I will get.
posted by Sandy on 3-1-2009 at 2:11 am
sandy-
it’s funny that you named a panda chango,i don’t know if you knew this or not,but chango is kind of a nick name for monkey in spanish :] we used to call my brother chango.as you might imagine,he liked to climb things.
captcha:alice darkly :]
posted by marie on 3-1-2009 at 8:08 am
4. Dog: Sodium, Gold fish: Quartz
posted by Tunafish on 3-1-2009 at 9:47 am
In no particular Order:
Wall-E – even though it’s only been out for like a year it showed that animated movies can make such a huge and serious point. I gotta say that I was hit powerfully when This cute little animated robot movie turned into a movie about caring about our world and becoming proactive people.
Shawshank Redemption – I’ve got to say it because it gives prisoners a human side. Everyone see prisoners as low lives but this movie portrays them as people who make mistakes or get screwed over by the system.
Green Mile – see above.
Fight Club – Expressed the built up anger/rage in our working class caused by ennui/depression and constant feeling of getting screwed over by the “higher ups”. Also started many fight clubs around the country.
The Dark Knight – again a newer movie but it shows that side of crime that is emerging. People don’t need reason to commit crime anymore. It’s a world where there is no morality. It shows the depressing fact that there is no reason to be good anymore by today’s standards. “Some people just like to watch the world burn” probably one of the strongest quotes of our generation.
No Country for Old Men – Same as above
The Matrix – Completely changed how directors saw special effects. Also like it was said earlier, nobody born before the tech revolution could ever hope to understand. Created its own world.
Death to Smoochy – probably one of the most innovative black comedies ever made.
Team America: World Police – Arguably the most brilliant satire ever made. Showed the dark side of America acting as a world police force and how there needs to be a compromise between War and Peace. All done with puppets no less. Beautifully done.
Bowling for Columbine – Started the major movie documentary genre.
Supersize Me – Started the health food trend.
Inconvenient Truth – I despise Al Gore. However this movie started the “Green” movement.
Breakfast Club – showed the pressures that teenagers face. Probably one of the first to expose this.
American History X – Discussed an untouched side of racism. The struggle of whites to find some sort of pride in their race while coexisting with other races. It also showed the real and gritty side of racism today.
Silence of the Lambs – Made horror films intelligent. This lead the way for movies like SAW.
Lord of the Rings – This trilogy brought back the epic quest genre. It is this generations Star Wars.
There are proabably many more I could add. But this is my list.
posted by DW on 3-1-2009 at 5:31 pm
1. Jurassic Park, Pulp Fiction, Toy Story, The Lion King, sex, lies and videotape, Batman (1989), Scream, The Matrix, Ghostbusters
2. I love presidential history so I’ve been to the libraries of LBJ, JFK, FDR, Clinton, Carter, Nixon, Reagan, and George H.W. Bush. I only need to go to Truman, Eisenhower, Ford and Hoover to see them all. My favorite is probably FDR’s because it’s located in the place he grew up and it tells you a lot about what influenced him.
4. Ponzi after a Ponzi scheme.
posted by Marc on 3-1-2009 at 6:52 pm
1. The ones off the top of my head have already been mentioned:
Sixth Sense
Supersize Me
Sin City
Wall E
Also like to mention one of my film-major husband’s favorites:
28 Days Later
I’m sure he’d have more, but he isn’t here right now. :)
2. Nope. Live across the world now, so probably won’t see one anytime soon.
3. I’m sure there are more than a few instances which I’ve blocked out. I will mention that my husband (before we met) spent the last of his savings – thousands of dollars – moving his parents from upstate NY to Florida so that they wouldn’t have to shovel snow anymore. After 6 months, his mother decided she missed the winters and made his dad move back to NY!
4. Not sure!
Jason – why did you pay for the shave?!?
posted by Dawn on 3-1-2009 at 10:15 pm
3: I’ve had a lot of disappointing hair cuts in my short life span that were not cheap. Also at my job (I work in a high end chocolate store that uses a naked lady for their symbol….can anyone guess?) we got a special box of chocolates in and it wasn’t nearly as good as I thought it would be.
4: I would get a boy dog and name him Ron. I already have a small chi-wienie named Hermione. I’m a Harry Potter freak (that’s why I’m Fred…my sis is George)
:o)
posted by Lindsey aka Fred on 3-2-2009 at 12:15 am
3: I’ve had a lot of disappointing hair cuts in my short life span that were not cheap. Also at my job (I work in a high end chocolate store that uses a naked lady for their symbol….can anyone guess?) we got a special box of chocolates in and it wasn’t nearly as good as I thought it would be.
4: I would get a boy dog and name him Ron. I already have a small chi-wienie named Hermione. I’m a Harry Potter freak that’s why I’m Fred…my sis is George
:o)
posted by Lindsey aka Fred on 3-2-2009 at 12:19 am
oh…sorry i posted that twice!!
:o(
reCaptcha: 166 Lebowitz…sounds like a sweet street name!
posted by Lindsey aka Fred on 3-2-2009 at 12:21 am
1. Clerks. As bad as it was, it revolutionized the idea of indie movies.
2. I’ve visited the FDR library in Hyde Park. I’m a history student in the neighboring city, so it’s basically an unspoken requirement to make the pilgrimage. Even though I’m fiercely anti-FDR, it’s a pristine institution.
3. I’m a broke college kid- so I barely splurge. I did, however, get $200 “sports” massage a while back that was pretty useless. The worst was a $350 cut-and-color at an expensive salon (that my aunt had paid for). My hair was essentially sheered off into this Neo-80’s mess, and dyed a bright orange. Needless to say, I was not impressed.
4. I want to be an assortment of fish. The goldfish will all have names of authors I admire- Wharton, Chaucer, Bulgakow, Knowles, etc.; In a separate bowl I want a beta, who will be named Milton.
posted by Kate on 3-2-2009 at 7:10 pm