Popcorn, Movies and Dragon

I am far from movie expert and it is really rare that I get one correct answer in the movie trivias Ninja Captain makes at his site. Nevertheless, my dwarves thought it would be fun to sign up for Alex J. Cavanaugh's Top Ten Movie Countdown Blogfest. The real trick was to have one hundred and fifty dwarves, two muses and one dragon to come to an agreement. We all watch movies for different reasons and like different genres, except horror. The only monster allowed in the Dragon Cave is the murderous Chihuahua dog and probably Tassin.

Anyway, several popcorn packs later, these were the results. I know some people find it just obnoxious but my family loves to find some sort of lesson and philosophical messages in the movies. Sometimes we find them, sometimes we don't. It's the ones we learn something from that have a special place in our hearts.

10. ARMAGEDDON. This is my favorite Bruce Willis' movie. Yes, beyond Die Hard 3.1416, the Return of the Ancient Ones. I love absolutely everything in this movie and it still glues me to my seat every time I see it and I have seen it A LOT.  My favorite quote: "American components, Russian components, all are made in Taiwan!"

9. STAR WARS (IV, V, VI). Moment of confession: Father Dragon played with light sabers, so what? One is never too old or too big to play, even if you're 800 years old and dragon size big. Yet, it was Darth Vader I cheered for first. Must have been James Earl Jones' voice; sounds like mine, hahaha. But later, Yoda's wisdom brought me to the good side of the Force. My mother, my brother and I would spend endless hours in philosophical discussions over the whole Jedi stuff. My favorite quotes: "Great warrior, hmm? Wars not make one great." "Do or do not. There is no try." "No. No different. Only different in your mind."

8. SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE. It's kind of encouraging to think that even Shakespeare got writer's block. And I like how he gets the inspiration to write one of his greatest plays. Somewhere I read that inspiration was not inside the close doors of one's house but in the world outside. Do not write about living. Live! so you can write. That's what this movie tells me, and I love it for that. My favorite quotes have to be "It all turns out well. - How? - I don't know. It's a mystery."

7. RED CLIFF. This movie stole my breath away. I love strategy games and sharp minds. Just the kind of things this movie has. I could spend a life time observing the thinking process of such intellects. The why's, what's and how's behind the actions of bright generals trying to best their opponent and knowing how to use everything they have in order to reach their goal. I found a lot of Sun Tzu's Art of War logic in here and each time I see it, I learn something new.

6. THE NEVERENDING STORY. It is like the best example of Mother Dragon's century-distilled wisdom. "The fact that something lives in your imagination doesn't mean it doesn't exist." The power of imagination and creativity is endless as long as it is not sucked away by the "Nothing"; which in the end has a lot to do with fear, with hopelessness and limitations. And of course, who doesn't like a luck dragon? He's cousin of mine, but "that's another story and shall be told another time."

5. LORD OF THE RINGS. If there's one author I bow to, that has to be Master Tolkien. His work never fails to amaze me, no matter if it is in book or in movie. He would be the perfect author if not for the fact that he sent the dwarves to kill the dragon of the Lonely Mountain but I forgive him. I mean, nobody is really perfect. Anyway, the LotR trilogy is awesome and I could watch it over and over again for ages. My favorite quote: "So do all who live to see such times. But that's not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."

4. 300. Once again it is the message I get from this movie what really puts it here. The dilemma of doing the right thing even against the will of those you intend to protect and against better advice. Stand for what you believe, facing the consequences of your choices. In a situation where all odds are against you, the determining factor is the attitude, the conviction, and of course, the preparation. As you know, not all battles involve spear, shield, sword or gun, but one can still learn a lot from the Spartan king. Favorite quote (besides HA-ROOH!) "No retreat, no surrender. This is Spartan law. And by Spartan Law we will stand and fight...and die."

3. EAT PRAY LOVE. I guess by now it is evident I'm a sucker for all those movies that send the message to put aside all bullshit and embrace life. I have always said there are three greatest pleasures in life. One is eat, the other is love, and the third...well, that's not the point here. While my personal war has deprived me from these pleasures at one time or another, the important thing is to not to close yourself to opportunity. And pray, for me, is more about attaining inner peace than convincing my neighbor of the old "I'm right, you're wrong" lousy line. So this movie -and book- are gold in my standards. My favorite quotes: "Maybe my life hasn't been so chaotic. It's just the world that is and the only real trap is getting attached to any of it. Ruin is a gift. Ruin is the road to transformation." "Smile with face, smile with mind, smile with liver."

2. RUN MELOS RUN. Only the one who understands the full meaning of trust and honor would understand the transcendence of this movie. Once I read a man's value is not higher than the value of his words. I do assess men by their words and if they are consistent with their actions. Words speak of one's heart, values and intellect. That's why I don't take my word lightly and if I commit myself to do something, I'll do all in my power to keep my word and never betray someone's trust. One never knows if that trust is all a person has to hold on to. My favorite quote: "Why are you killing yourself like this? - Because there is someone who trusts on me, do you understand? Someone who trusts..."

 

1. KUNG FU PANDA 1-2. The Dragon Warrior by excellence had to be my number one. There is more to this movie than meets the eye but since I can't start a philosophical lecture here, I will summarize it in my favorite quotes: "You are too concerned about what was and what will be. There's a saying: Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That's why it is called 'Present'"
"There are no accidents."
"One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it."
"You just have to believe."
and the greatest of them all: "To make something special, you just have to believe it is special."

"You got to let go of the stuff from the past - because it just doesn't matter! The only thing that matters is what you choose to be now." 

"Everything is possible when you have inner peace."

"But once I realized the problem was not you, but within me, I found inner peace. And was able to harness the flow of the universe."

And the best of them all and our most favorite: "Skadoosh!"

So what are your favorite movies? Do you like pandas? Do you like dragons? (Well of course you do. Otherwise you wouldn't be here, reading one, hahaha) Would you like to discuss movie philosophy with me someday?