RenaissanceFestival.com Forums

Back Stage => Mundane Topics => Topic started by: Merlin the Elder on January 15, 2012, 12:42:59 PM

Title: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: Merlin the Elder on January 15, 2012, 12:42:59 PM
I'm always on the lookout for good movies. What are some fun ones you enjoy? A few of my personal favourites:
Bottle Shock (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0914797/) (2008) - about the time when California wines were determined to be contenders. Alan Rickman, Bill Pulman, and Chris Pine.
Pass the Ammo (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095832/) (1988) - televangelists at their worst. This movie bombed at the box office...made about $180,000, but should be a cult favourite. It's out of print, but you can watch it on YouTube. Tim Curry, Bill Paxton, Linda Kozlowski
The Philadelphia Story (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032904/) (1940)- One of the classics. Kate Hepburn & Cary Grant
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: dbaldock on January 15, 2012, 02:21:36 PM
I've always enjoyed the "Fred & Ginger (http://www.reelclassics.com/Teams/Fred&Ginger/fred&ginger.htm)" movies, and of course Bringing Up Baby (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bringing_Up_Baby) with Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn.
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: Merlin the Elder on January 15, 2012, 02:26:08 PM
Quote from: dbaldock on January 15, 2012, 02:21:36 PM... Bringing Up Baby (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bringing_Up_Baby) with Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn.

heheh... the little old man in there (Charles Ruggles (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=3561)) reminds Nim of the character in the Monopoly games....
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: Butch on January 15, 2012, 06:11:26 PM
Big Trouble in Little China.
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: Captain Teague on January 15, 2012, 06:24:13 PM
Last Starfighter

Starman

Legend, the motion picture (Tim Curry as you have NEVER seen him )

Clue  (Curry again )

Princess Bride

Robin Hood, Men in Tights

Dracula, dead and loving it (Leslie Nielson )

The Hobbit, animated version

Labyrinth  (David Bowie )
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: Magpie Flynn on January 15, 2012, 06:24:40 PM
Court Jester and Amelie
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: Merlin the Elder on January 15, 2012, 06:47:36 PM
Lord Dragon, methinks you and I have the same warped funny-bone.
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: Lady Neysa on January 15, 2012, 07:31:03 PM
Quote from: Lord Dragon on January 15, 2012, 06:24:13 PM
Last Starfighter

Starman

Legend, the motion picture (Tim Curry as you have NEVER seen him )

Clue  (Curry again )

Princess Bride

Robin Hood, Men in Tights

Dracula, dead and loving it (Leslie Nielson )

The Hobbit, animated version

Labyrinth  (David Bowie )


No one plays the evil "devil like" creature like Tim Curry! 

Been seeing Labyrinth on tv a lot over the last few weeks, plus I saw for the first time in years, The Dark Crystal.


Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: Gauwyn of Bracknell on January 15, 2012, 07:41:01 PM
Monty Python and theo Holy Grail
Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou
Fantasia
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: BLAKDUKE on January 15, 2012, 07:56:09 PM
The Time of Their Lives , Abbot and Costello.  Set in revolutionary times.  Not their usual slapstick.
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: NoBill Lurker on January 15, 2012, 08:23:07 PM
All of "The Thin Man" movies...oldies but goodies... :)
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: C Dragonworks on January 15, 2012, 10:17:56 PM
The Other Boleyn Sister(COSTUMES...out of this world...great movie to boot)
Oscar (Stallone at his VERY best...Tim Curry as you never thought to see him) FARCE warning...tongue in cheek and FUN!
Still Crazy(great music,fun characters... if you love Spinal Tap this one is even better)OH add Stone Henge!


These come to mind... I could keep listing but I would be here ALL NIGHT!
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: Merlin the Elder on January 15, 2012, 11:24:41 PM
Haven't seen Oscar in many years. I'd forgotten that one.
Monty Python movies are (or should be) on all fun movie lists by default.
Young Frankenstein and History of the World: Part 1 are a couple I left off my earlier list.
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: KeeperoftheBar on January 16, 2012, 07:20:32 AM
I Agree with Young Frankenstein.  Fantastic movie...

Add Blazing Saddles and the greatest movie no one has ever seen...

AMAZON WOMEN ON THE MOON
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: Bob of the Lake on January 16, 2012, 11:06:52 AM
Oh Brother, Where Art Thou

Galaxy Quest

The Princess Bride

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zizou

A League of Their Own

Anything Monty Python or Mel Brooks!
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: scarletnyx on January 17, 2012, 12:46:28 AM
Zombieland

Talladega Nights ( Anything with Will Ferrell in it, he's a good comedic actor )

Army of Darkness ( Yes it's a funny movie! )

Hot Tub Time Machine

Super Troopers

Hebrew Hammer

Beerfest

I feel like I'm missing about a dozen other movies that deserve to be on this list... Mel Brooks and and Monty Python are always relevant! Also, I just learned that the writer of "World War Z" and "The Zombie Survival Guide" is Mel Brooks son! Geek. Over. Load.
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: Merlin the Elder on March 03, 2012, 07:09:41 PM
We just watched a mockumentary entitled Corked, an indie movie by a bunch of unknowns that was funny as hell.
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: Lady Renee Buchanan on March 03, 2012, 08:18:13 PM
Love, love, love "Almost Famous."

Hocus Pocus.  I can watch it anytime, not just around Halloween.

Bridget Jones' Diary

Serendipity

There's more, just can't think of them right now.   ::)

Thought of another one.  POTC the first one.  Saw them all, love that one the most.
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: Rowan MacD on March 04, 2012, 09:07:31 AM
 Ivanhoe

The Neverending story

The wizard of Oz

  Shirley Temple movies

 
 
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: cowgrrl on March 04, 2012, 10:35:38 PM
Return To Me:  romantic comedy without a bunch of sex. Sweet & funny.
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: DonaCatalina on April 12, 2012, 01:28:57 PM
Our recurring favorite is "Princess Bride". We pull that out whenever we need something to lighten the mood.

I even love the printed version
"I find Goldman's irreverent annotations the best of the story. He will cut in "Morgenstern"'s story at the strangest of places to rant about how Morgenstern was a megalomaniac who put in lots of irrelevant details. It's as if Goldman is poking fun at the academia's pretentious sobriety (in this book, there's a fictitious Morgenstern scholar from Columbia University who kept emphasizing some far-out grandiose notions of Morgenstern's rambling prose, and whom Goldman ridiculed bad) as well as at himself. Consider this, where Goldman explains why he "abridged" Chapter 3:

    Me again. Of all the cuts in this version, I feel most justified in making this one. Just as the chapters of whaling in Moby Dick can be omitted by all but the most punishment-loving readers, so the packing scenes that Morgenstern details here are really best left alone. That's what happens for the next fifty-six and a half pages of The Princess Bride: packing. (I include unpacking scenes in the same category.)

    What happens is just this: Queen Bella packs most of her wardrobe (11 pages) and travels to Guilder (2 pages). In Guilder she unpacks (5 pages), then tenders the invitation to Princess Noreena (1 page). Princess Noreena accepts (1 page). Then Princess Noreena packs all her clothes and hats (23 pages) and, together, the Princess and the Queen travel back to Florin for the annual celebration of the founding of Florin City (1 page). They reach King Lotharon's castle, where Princess Noreena is shown her quarters (1/2 page) and unpacks all the same clothes and hats we've just seen her pack one and a half pages before (12 pages).

    It's a baffling passage. I spoke to Professor Bongiorno, of Columbia University, the head of their Florinese Department, and he said this was the most deliciously satiric chapter of the entire book, Morgenstern's point, apparently, being simply to show that although Florin considered itself vastly more civilized than Guilder, Guilder was, in fact, the far more sophisticated country, as indicated by the superiority in number and quality of the ladies' clothes. I'm not about to argue with a full professor, but if you ever have a really unbreakable case of insomnia, do yourself a favor and start reading Chapter Three of the uncut version.
"
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: Morgan Dreadlocke on April 13, 2012, 11:16:44 PM
My 2 cents worth-

Romancing the Stone

Secondhand Lions

Worlds Fastest Indian

Eldorado

Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: Merlin the Elder on April 16, 2012, 07:26:53 AM
Secondhand Lions was one we stumbled upon a few years ago. I never remember hearing any hype about it when it came out, but it's one we like to pull out and watch once a year.

Are you referring to the El Dorado with John Wayne, Morgan?

I haven't caught the World's Fastest Indian yet, but it's in my queue.
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: groomporter on April 16, 2012, 10:08:44 AM
Someone mentioned Danny Kaye's "Court Jester," how about his similar spoof "The Inspector General "
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: KeeperoftheBar on April 16, 2012, 12:28:14 PM
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on April 16, 2012, 07:26:53 AM
Are you referring to the El Dorado with John Wayne, Morgan?

I suspect Morgan may be referring to the Disney cartoon.  I can't thnk of anything with John Wayne that could be considered "light hearted".  Except may for Donovan's Reef or the first half of The Wings of Eagles.  Not the second part.  ("Gonna move that toe")
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: Merlin the Elder on April 16, 2012, 08:11:43 PM
The Duke's El Dorado had some light moments, although I certainly wouldn't call it a comedy.  Wayne did other funny movies, North to Alaska, McLintock, and maybe even Quiet Man come to mind immediately.

I did like the Disney movie though...
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: Morgan Dreadlocke on April 17, 2012, 09:02:47 PM
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on April 16, 2012, 07:26:53 AM

Are you referring to the El Dorado with John Wayne, Morgan?


Yes. Great western with comedy, snarkasm, fights , shootouts and OHH OHH A PLOT!
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: Lady Amy of York on April 17, 2012, 11:17:50 PM
My husband , son and I just watched the new Muppet movie that came out this past year and it was very funny in parts.

Another funny one not mentioned yet is Mel Brooks in his spoof of Star Wars in a movie called " Space Balls."

" Naked Gun "

" Airplane "

"National Lamptoons Christmas Vacation."

Any of the " Pink Panther " movies.
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: Lady Gryphon on April 17, 2012, 11:29:06 PM
QuoteSomeone mentioned Danny Kaye's "Court Jester," how about his similar spoof "The Inspector General "

I think ANYTHING Danny Kaye would lift your mood.  What a great way to spend a rainy afternoon. 

Another movie We stumbled on was  "Kinky Boots"  It funny in places, poignant in others, but great entertainment.  If cross-dressing disturbs you, then maybe you might want to pas on this one.  But it is great the way it's handled in this movie.

Muppet Treasure Island,  Again Tim Curry at his finest.   And I liked the McHale's Navy Movie too.  It was a good laugh.

I know I'll think of more, but that's my start.

Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: Merlin the Elder on April 18, 2012, 06:19:43 AM
We ran across Kinky Boots last year on NetFlix and quite enjoyed it.

Lady Amy, I'm always up for any Mel Brooks movie...and may the Schwartz be with you!

Watching old movies with Leslie Nielsen when he was still doing serious parts seem so strange now. He can be so funny!
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: Captain Teague on April 18, 2012, 10:43:42 AM
If you liked kinky boots, you will likely enjoy Blow Dry. Features Alan Rickman in a role you will never forget. ;)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0212380/plotsummary (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0212380/plotsummary)
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: Merlin the Elder on April 18, 2012, 12:56:14 PM
Alan Rickman just kills me...  :D

EDIT: We just finished watching Blow Dry. Not Oscar material, granted, but I can't imagine why all the bad press. We enjoyed it. Bill Nighy was hilarious, I thought.  Meh...it's why I don't pay attention to critics when it comes to films and music. They want earth shattering, and I want entertainment.
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: Morgan Dreadlocke on April 27, 2012, 12:13:16 AM
Have seen this one in the $5 bucket at Wallymart- Fool's Gold.  Its a modern day sunken treasure hunt, decent plot, interesting characters. Matt (can't spell it), Ray Winstone and a very cultured Don Sutherland.
Keep yer eyes peeled for the little sailboat 1/2 mile outside the window. Sudden course changes several times as Sutherland converses  ::)
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: Nissa on April 30, 2012, 06:07:15 PM
I'd like to add Back to the Future and Harvey to the list. 
Title: Re: Fun, Light-hearted Movies You Enjoy
Post by: Merlin the Elder on April 30, 2012, 06:22:24 PM
Harvey is a delightful film!  Not many young folk are familiar with it. It was originally a Broadway play. A must-see old film.