Movie collecting

A while back I bought one of those dual VCR/DVD recorders that handles rewritable DVDs. I've been recording commercial-free non-edited-for-TV movies from various movie channels to build up my own personal "must have" movie collection. Since I can't think of anything else to say today, here is a list of what I've recorded so far, in no particular order.

Seven Samurai -- Never seen, but always wanted to (original language with subtitles).

Harvey -- The original. Seen before, watched it again last night. One of my favorite movies. I also enjoy the Harry Anderson version, because I like pretty much anything with him in it, but the original is superior.

Buckaroo Bonzai -- Another favorite that I've seen several times. Filled with quotable quotes. I wouldn't mind a sequel.

Army of Darkness -- Seen it. Should be part of every movie collection.

My Fair Lady -- Yes, this one might throw you. Rex Harrison really cracks me up with his totally over-the-top pomposity. I also really like the number where everyone walks on two or three at a time and freezes in position until the entire street is filled before they start the scene. And, you know, Audrey Hepburn. What can I say?

The Mark of Zorro -- This was a 1974 made-for-TV version and is another that might make you think, what is Alan thinking? But the "violence" is tame enough for young children and it has a great message about fighting against unjust authority, plus a couple of excellent quotes.

Man in the Wilderness -- Based on a true story about a man in the early 1800s who was mauled by a bear and left for dead by his companions. He managed to survive and make his way back to civilization with nothing but determination and his bare hands.

The Shadow -- Unfortunate choice for the leading role, but I'm always attracted to stories about vigilantes with supernatural powers.

Alien, Aliens, Alien 3 -- Aliens who hate humans and massive gore. What more could you want?

Remo Williams -- Secret society, secret identity, weird martial arts powers, and comedy. Another movie I never get tired of.

The Blair Witch Project -- I have to admit, I've never watched it. I got so tired of hearing and reading about it when it was released that I just blew it off. I'll watch it sometime, maybe around Halloween. I also dubbed the Sci-Fi channel's "Curse of the Blair Witch" pseudo-documentary onto the same disc from an old tape I still had stashed away.

Blue Velvet -- Perhaps David Lynch's best. Filled with darkness and Isabella Rossellini. And Dennis Hopper.

The Evil Dead -- The one that started it all. Still gets me.

Jeremiah Johnson -- Saw it once a long time ago, it had a big impact on me. As a kid I thought, I gotta get one of those Hawken rifles someday! And I did!

Repo Man -- The best movie Emilio Estevez ever made.

They Live -- Another vital entry for any B-movie collection. Great quotes, and I really like the conspiracy theme.

Moog -- A documentary about Robert Moog, creator of the Moog synthesizer. Probably not for everyone, but anyone who is interested in electronic music should see it. It's fascinating to watch Moog puttering around in his garden and talking about how he built his first synthesizer.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon -- For me, this one didn't hold up well to repeated viewings. Still a cool movie. This one was overdubbed in English, which is okay, because my kids don't have a lot of patience for subtitles. Yes, I let them watch it.

Tank Girl -- A silly movie, but that doesn't make it bad. I kinda dig Lori Petty, and I'll watch anything that has Malcom McDowell in it. It also has Jeff Kober, who is one of my favorite character actors.

Big Trouble in Little China -- And if you don't believe this is an essential movie for any collection, well, I think you may be reading the wrong blog.

The Crow: City of Angels -- Not anywhere near as good as the original The Crow, but dreamy and dark, and you have that whole "vigilante with supernatural powers" thing again.

Little Big Man -- This is just one of the best movies, ever. Regardless of genre.

I'm Gonna Git You Sucka -- This movie still cracks me up, no matter how many times I've watched it.

There are still several movies I can think of offhand that I want, like A Clockwork Orange (which I have a dubbed tape of, but not on DVD), the original Darkman, Evil Dead 2, The Crow (which I have on tape). I also want to get the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. The first because it is quintessential horror, the second because it's so funny. "It's just a peppercorn..."