We've all listed the Great Movies, genre-related or otherwise, and our personal favorites, but sometimes my own lists ring false. Yes, sometimes I'll list a film as a favorite because everyone calls it a classic, or it was so influential, or it was a favorite growing up. Now, though, I think I've found a true measure of what my genuine loves are.
On Friday nights, it's time for my own personal sf/horror theater, and I reach for the DVD/video shelves. When I do so, unless I make some conscious decision ("Last week it was Quatermass Xperiment; this week, Quatermass II"), my hand will reach of its own accord toward the same small number of films. I'll grin like an idiot and pull out the same movies over and over unless I remind myself, "You've seen that this year already! And sit up straight!" So here's a list of movies the Hand of Fate always returns to, written as I thought of them myself, stream-of-consciousness style:
- The Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas
- X -- The Unknown
- Dinosaurus!
- Monster That Challenged the World
- Day of the Triffids
- Quatermass and the Pit
- The Thing
- The Day the Earth Stood Still
- War of the Worlds
- The Andromeda Strain
- Legend of Boggy Creek
- Revenge of the Creature
- The Mysterious Island
- Journey to the Center of the Earth
- Duel
- Rodan
- Ghidrah, the Three-Headed Monster
- Destroy All Monsters
- THEM!
- The Blob
- Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet
- The Monolith Monsters
- Atragon
- Dogora the Space Monster
- War of the Gargantuas
- Godzilla: Final Wars
- The Deadly Mantis
- The Lost Continent
- Village of the Damned
- Raiders of the Lost Ark
There may be others, but this will do for a start. I personally see little rhyme or reason to this list. A lot of 50s SF, but no early Universals or other 30s-40s films; I subconsciously see those all as classics and am a bit intimidated because I should like them. RODAN, GHIDRAH, GARGANTUAS but no GOJIRA? I feel like I should pay more attention to serious films, and I guess that detracts from the sheer fun of watching. THEM!, the first "big bug" movie, and the goofy DEADLY MANTIS, but not TARANTULA? I can't explain that one. Anyway, the Hand has spoken -- or made the sound of one hand clapping -- or something.
