Comments on: Listapalooza, holiday edition: all-time top tens

By: John Tate

John Tate — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 03:19:39 +0000

I like this exercise, and I do it all the time -- philosophers, composers, religions, etc. I usually stick to a top 5. But when I try to do movies, the top 5 is all Kurosawa, so I allow myself another 5. Now Martin gives me 10, and I'm on Easy Street because I don't have to bend the rules at all. So here they are:

Seven Samurai
Throne of Blood
Ran
Sanjuro
Yojimbo
Dr. Strangelove
Modern Times
Mon Oncle
Under the Rooftops of Paris
Babette’s Feast

Love to all,

John

By: The

The — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 05:12:09 +0000

In years past Martin claimed I cheated on my lists - can't remember why exactly - maybe because I didn't name albums, but instead songs as favorites. Ha!!!

Here is my current list of books:

1. John Steinbeck, East of Eden
2. John Kennedy Toole, Confederacy of Dunces
3. Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams
4. Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes were Watching God
5. Daniel Pinkwater, The Big Orange Splot
6. Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
7. Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
8. E. Annie Proulx, The Shipping News
9. William Goldman, ed. The Princess Bride
10. Cynthia Rylant, The Relatives Came

Movies:

1. Arthur
2. The Princess Bride
3. Say Anything
4. Pride and Prejudice (last two productions)
5. Henry V
6. Groundhog Day
7. Mulan
8. Ladyhawke
9. Dodgeball
10. ANYTHING by the Coen brothers

Discography will be skipped, as I don't want to make Martin feel fussy. Sigh. I do also have a list of best onscreen kisses (including the scene in Witness where Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis don't even touch).

Merry Christmas my friends! Louisa

By: Heather and Martin

Heather and Martin — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 15:08:04 +0000

See? This is exactly what I mean. I don't know Barrico, but now I'll have to check him out. And I LOVE It Happened One Night (no undershirt!), but it didn't quite make my top ten – this time, anyway.

By: Joel

Joel — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 14:28:18 +0000

These lists, especially of friends, always elicit three responses in me:
- "They must not have read/seen xxxx"
- "How can they not included yyyy?!"
- "Am I common or a fool because I would list zzzz?"

Under books: Wind in the Willows is on my list too. Too Kill a Mockingbird is there, though that's definitely common. There's also a collection of Vonnegut short stories called Welcome to the Monkey House that I read at a disturbingly young age and have enjoy rereading several times.

Movies: Given your penchant for classics and light comedy, have you seen It Happened One Night? Clark Gable & Claudette Colbert, and a sweep of the Academy Awards.

By: Caitlin Strokosch

Caitlin Strokosch — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 13:59:26 +0000

fantastic list! here's a partial fiction list for me....

#1 book of fiction: Lands of Glass, by Alessandro Barrico

and others:
-Something Wicked This Way Comes, by Ray Bradbury
-Til We Have Faces, by C.S. Lewis
-Slaughterhouse Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
-And the Ass Saw the Angel, by Nick Cave

By: Ellen Jockusch

Ellen Jockusch — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 13:46:41 +0000

No fair! You have already crossed the finish line on this exercise and we Madrono-ites have not even started! Just kidding. I love it that you posted your rave-faves. The range of what you read is extraordinary. No wonder you are a top draft pick for charades!