Fight! : Barfight Films (the Beginning)

Best film lists? Bah! Top ten lists? Who needs them? When asked what are the greatest films ever made we always censor ourselves. We want to appear knowledgeable and hip. We want to let everyone know that, yes, we have seen Citizen Kane. We’ve even seen it two times, maybe three.

But you are amongst Family here. What is said to the Family stays in the Family. So speak your mind. Tell us what you really care about when it comes to the movies.

Scholars will wax eloquent over “The Rules of the Game,” but give me “Paths of Glory.”

We know that “High Noon” sits high on every list, but I’ll take “Ride the High Country” any day.

We’re talking here about films that we actually love. We’re talking here about films that we actually will watch–over and over again! And we don’t care ’cause we don’t need no stinking badges!

We shamelessly love Judy Garland, but perhaps not the Garland of her fans and her biographers. They want “Meet Me In Saint Louis” and “A Star is Born” to lead every parade. But diss “For Me and My Gal,” arguably her greatest, her most passionate, and her most ambitious adult leading role outside of the fabulous “Easter Parade,” and I’ll push your face in!

It’ll be like a Bumfight video!

Now no one’s gonna tussle over “The Godfather.” Got that. Or “Gone With the Wind,” or “Casablanca.” Those films are such a giant part of our collective movie memory that to diss them is merely to invite yawns. They will go on. And on. And on. And on. With or without us.

But mad dog “The Cooler” and so’s your old man, buddy! Mess with “Point Break” or “Lost in Translation,” and its on! You say Too-ma-toe,” and I’ll say to-maa-toe, but we are not calling the whole thing off if you have a bad word to say about “The Sugarland Express” or “Pitch Black.”

What we are defending is the personal film, the film that moves us in a way that is secret and unique to us. I can’t tell you for certain why “For Me and My Gal” is so towering for me (And here is a film that the critics have universally dismissed!) but it sits proudly on my top ten DVD shelf and gets a weekly viewing without fail!

We do not diss here so those who love “Citizen Kane,” you too are family. We love you no matter what. But c’mon. Let’s do this. Let’s go for it without shame. Tell us the films that move you and that stay in constant rotation in your DVD tray. Tell us about the films that, when the critics are away, and you are just amongst friends, you whip out and dare anybody to challenge its ability to delight and move.

So just for fun imagine we’re downing Coronas and doing shots. You don’t like me and I don’t like you but the Buckeyes are rolling and, for me, life is good. Suddenly I see your Best Buy bag and I can make out your DVD purchase. I make a rude comment about the film, say its ” L.A. Confidential” (a great film, by the way), and you can’t take this idiot sitting next to you anymore. Besides, you’re a Wolverine die-hard and my dissing of a your personal tower “L.A. Confidential” pushed you over the edge.

We scrap. Bottles are overturned. You push my face in triumphantly and walk out, “L.A. Confidential” untouched.

Tell us about those films that you would push somebody’s face in for. Tell us about the films that matter–to you.

They can be in any order and you can list up to thirty. So let’s go for it. You can even throw in a little explanation if you wish. To make your own list simply look to the your left: Click on Tell Us Your Vaulting Sky Experience. This is a blog that will allow you to post your choices for all to see.

We don’t diss here on the Experience, so feel free to speak your mind! Get wild!

However, once you are at the bar…

My list?

Ok, I’ll spring:

The Bandwagon, For Me and My Gal, The Killer, The Cooler, Out of the Past, Das Boot, O Brother Where Art Thou?, Ride Lonesome, The Clock, Elena and Her Men, They Were Expendable, Gettysburg, Glory, Jules and Jim, Chimes At Midnight, Easter Parade, Point Break, The Killers (both Siodmak and Siegal), Shoot the Piano Player, The Good, the Bad, and The Ugly, Ride the High Country, Letter From an Unknown Woman, Breakdown, The Searchers, French Can Can, El Cid, Master and Commander, Lost in Translation.

Scary?

You bet.

So come on. Here is our chance to leap into the deepest waters without a care in the world!

The Duke of Parma

PS: Here is the list from our Master Builder of this “Experience,” Leonardo:

The Princess Bride, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Titanic, Life Is Beautiful, Pulp Fiction, Searching For Bobby Fisher, Amadeus, Almost Famous, Gladiator

Leonardo’s Honorable Mention:

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Shakespeare in Love, Ghandhi, The Usual Suspects, The Graduate, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Forrest Gump, The Shawshank Redemption, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Memento, Fight Club, Fargo, Napoleon Dynamite, Sling Blade, Kill Bill (both volumes), Bonnie and Clyde, Star Wars (original), Apocalypse Now, Schindler’s List, It’s A Wonderful Life, The Sound Of Music.

P.S.: The Family member with the best and most interesting Barfight List wins the Bar Brawler’s prize. So come on, let’s scrap!