41 favorite cinematic things to celebrate my b’day

On By ruthIn Random Thoughts

So today’s my birthday. I’ve been blessed to have been alive for 41 years! I have no qualms about admitting how old I am, heck you’re only as *old* as you feel and I feel forever 21 😉

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I was wondering what post to do for my b’day. I did a list of Favorite Films from Each Decade I Live Through last year and y’know what, I still love a bunch of stuff on that list. Just like many things in life, over the years you may feel differently about certain things and the same with cinema. You may grow to love something you weren’t into, or the other way around. So today, I want to highlight the enduring cinematic things that I still love to this day (and probably forever) … as well as new faves I discovered recently 😉

1. The oh-so-heartbreaking unrequited love in The Age of Innocence

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2. Timothy Dalton as James Bond

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3. Nora Ephron’s rom-coms… esp. Sleepless in Seattle & You’ve Got Mail

4. Spellbound… for introducing me to the impossibly beautiful Gregory Peck
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5. Casino Royale & Eva Green as Vesper

6. Period dramas based on the works of my literary heroines: Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell (North & South) & Charlotte Brontë (Jane Eyre)

7. Emma Thompson’s brilliant screenplay for Sense & SensibilityElinorQuote

8.  Roman Holiday (1959)

9. Gladiator (2000)

10. Sam Riley as leather-wearing, Samurai-wielding, bad-ass Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies)

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11. Tango scenes in movies

12. Alan Rickman as Col. Brandon (Sense & Sensibility)

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13. Superman: The Movie… Christopher Reeve shall always be MY Superman

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14. John Williams’ Jurassic Park‘s score

15. The Gods Must Be Crazy… movie from my childhood that still makes me laugh

16. Phantom of the Opera (2004)

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17.The beautiful period drama Belle… and its star Gugu Mbatha-Raw 

18. Harrison Ford & Sean Connery pairing in Indiana Jones: The Last Crusade

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19. Julia Ormond’s Sabrina

20. Toby Stephens as Mr. Rochester (BBC’s Jane Eyre 2006)

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21. The immensely under-appreciated Return to Me (2000)

22. Casablanca (1942)… a classic epic I’m glad I got to see on the big screen

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23. Fiona in Four Weddings and a Funeral

24. One of the first Hollywood films I ever saw… Gone with the Wind (1939)

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25. What We Do in the Shadows (2014) … guaranteed to make me laugh for years to come

26. The exquisite scenery of Not Another Happy Ending… Glasgow AND Stanley Weber

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27. Great journalism movies… i.e. All the President’s Men

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28. The Bourne Trilogy

29. John Barry’s music for Somewhere in Time

30. Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1959)

31. Heath Ledger & Christian Bale in The Dark Knight

32. Richard Armitage as Mr. Thornton (BBC’s North & South 2004)

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33. The musical scenes of The Sound of Music (1965)

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34. Awesome movie car chases

35. Idris Elba (’nuff said)

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36. These 10 James Bond’s songs 

37. Hand-touching in period dramas

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38. Disney Princesses Movies, especially Sleeping Beauty

39. Evocative rain scenes in movies i.e. this one from the sci-fi drama Franklyn (2008) w/ Sam Riley and Eva Green

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40. Paris in the movies

41. Last but not least… movies about writers, i.e. Sam Riley as Sal Paradise in On The Road

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Hope you enjoy walking down memory lane w/ me on my b’day. 

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86 thoughts on “41 favorite cinematic things to celebrate my b’day”

  1. Izzy

    Happy Birthday, Ruth!

    And great list. Thank you for reminding me that Thompson and Rickman acted alongside each other in Sense & Sensibility 🙂

    Reply

      1. Well, I see Spellbound in your list – for me anything Gregory Peck is unmissable! When in my teens others loved George Michael and Duran Duran, I was in love with Gregory Peck.
        Then you mention Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman and Sense and Sensibility – I ADORE that S&S adaptation and all the actors in it!
        Richard Armitage and North & South – swoon! I am in love with Richard Armitage, half of my blog is dedicated to him…
        Jane Eyre, I love all things Jane Eyre. While Toby Stephens was not my ideal Rochester, I did like this adaptation and especially loved Ruth Wilson as Jane!
        Casablanca & Roman Holiday – two of my all time favourite movies! I’ve had posters of each movie up on my bedroom wall for oh, at least 20 years now!
        Totally with you on Fiona in Four Weddings and a Funeral, All The Presidents Men I haven;t seen in a long time but I remember enjoying that movie very much – Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman at their best and handsomest!
        I’m quite partial to Idris Elba myself, anything period drama (and yes, hands touching) will automatically get my attention.
        Gone With the Wind I used to really like way back when (but haven’t seen in a long time).
        I saw Belle not too long ago and absolutely loved it!
        The Sound of Music – I think I know that movie by heart.
        And: i also enjoyed Sabrina and The Phantom of the Opera….
        That’s about 75% or so of your list, right? 😉 🙂

        Reply

        1. Oooh you are a woman after my own heart!! I was in love w/ Gregory Peck a few years ago, I mean I fell HARD for him after Spellbound. Let’s just say the title was perfect given the spell he cast on me, ahah.

          S&S is my ALL TIME favorite film! I’ve seen it dozens of times.

          Oh you’re a huge RA fan? I was REALLY into him a few crushes ago, ahah. I still like him, I just don’t follow news on him as much anymore. But Mr Thornton will always be my fave.

          What didn’t you like about Toby’s Jane Eyre? My fave Rochester before him was Timothy Dalton but I thought he did an outstanding job. I love Ruth Wilson, too!

          Glad you love Belle too, such a beautiful film. And you love Sabrina + POTO, ahhhh that makes me happy!! Thanks for your awesome comment!

          Reply

          1. Jane Eyre is one of my fave books and Toby’s Rochester was just too charming. I think Timothy Dalton made the best Rochester. Actually also liked Michael Fassbender as Rochester, even though the adaptation wasn’t my fave.

            Reply

  8. Nice to see a list of films, music and scenes you love. I agree The Sound of Music soundtrack is great.
    Wishing you a day as joyful as it can possibly be. Happy birthday!

    Reply

  9. Seriously? I thought you were WAY younger. 😀

    I saw THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY as part of a class field trip when I was in sixth grade. I had a very special English teacher who took us to see it because she believed we’d appreciate it, and she was right. I think it was one of the very first foreign movies I ever saw.

    Enjoy your natal anniversary!

    Reply

    1. Ahah, maybe because of my relentless crushing over gorgeous European boys, ahah 😉

      THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY is so hilarious and even watching it years later I still find it funny and the humor definitely stands the test of time.

      Thanks Rich!

      Reply

  11. Happy birthday and wish you a great day, enjoy! I’m hot on your heels, will be 41 in August 😉 And love the list and nice to see some of your classic choices in there (wouldn’t be right without you mentioning Gregory Peck or The Gods Must Be Crazy 😉 )

    Reply

    1. Hey Nostra! It’s cool that we’re almost the same age 😀 Oh yeah, you know me, Mr. Peck will always be a fave and Gods Must Be Crazy is a classic comedy!

      Reply

  13. Love this! So many great cinematic things to love here. Your adoration of period dramas is lovely. When I got to hand touching all I could think of was Bright Star!

    Here’s to another 41 years, Ruth. Glad to be a blogging friend 😀

    Reply

    1. Thanks Drew! I think my adoration for period dramas is getting out of hand, ahah, but there are so many lovely period films out there and I’m glad they continue to get made! Oh yeah, I should’ve included the hand scene from Bright Star, it’s such a romantic film.

      Glad to be your blogging friend as well! 😀

      Reply
      1. Paul S

        You’re welcome and I trust our day was peaceful.
        I love your list and numbers 1,2, and 3 definitely do it for me. I’m sure I’ve told you before, but I saw Dalton’s Licence to Kill in the theatre back in the day and it’s one of my favourite cinematic memories.
        As for Daniel Day-Lewis and Michelle, Tom Hanks and Meg; well they’re two of my favourite movie couples, although I’ve always hankered to see Tom and La Pfeiffer in a movie together. Maybe one day!

        Reply

  18. First…Happy Birthday! Second, there are so many good things on this list. Age of Innocence, Timothy Dalton, Chris Reeves as Superman. Reeves is the only actor who has ever been able to capture the true panache of Superman and the awkwardness of Clark Kent. He was a theatrically trained actor and he was brilliant.

    Reply

    1. Thanks Mariah! Yay!! I’m thrilled to hear you love Dalton and Reeves, two of my all time faves from when I was very young and still love them dearly to this day. Reeves is hard to top as Superman and he was a skilled actor but most people didn’t realize that as he’s pretty much typecast after playing the ultimate superhero.

      Reply

    1. Thanks! Oh glad you love WWDITS, it’s gonna be a cult classic I think. It’s sooo rewatchable, I watch clips of it on youtube all the time. And it’s so darn quotable!

      Reply

  22. Woah the Riley crush is strong in this one 😛 Happy Birthday! I hope you get great gifts and all your birthday wishes come true! I didn’t know you like Sabrina, I’m doing a rewatch tonight for another Friday Ford Explosion 😀 and yes that pairing of him and Connery in Indy 3 is so awesome!

    Reply

    1. Ahah yes indeed! I’m in love w/ him and the more I read about him the more I’m dragged deeper into Riley fandom, ahah. I had a lovely b’day and my hubby gave me Maleficent Bluray where Sam played the silly but adorable man-bird Diaval 😉

      Oh I LOVE Sabrina, I mentioned it a lot here on my blog. I love Harrison in it too and he’s got a lovely chemistry w/ Julia Ormond. I hope you’ll love it as much as I do!

      Reply

    1. Thanks Allie! Ha, I’m in love w/ Sam, can’t you tell? I’m working on a massive post on him though I’ve compiled way too many things I don’t know where to start, ahah.

      Reply
  25. Brittani

    Happy (belated) Birthday! What a great post. There’s so many things I love here too. Idris, The Dark Knight, Not Another Happy Ending.

    Reply

    1. Thank you Brittani! I’m thrilled you love Not Another Happy Ending as I feel like NOBODY’s seen that movie. Idris and Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy will always be my fave.

      Reply

  27. Happy 41st Ruth. Being 47 I stopped celebrating a long time ago. Unfortunately while my mind feels 21 my body feels 47. You know when I was young I used too go to the theater by myself all the time. Heck I rented two movies a day to watch after work… on Beta no less… lol. I can even remember going to see The Gods Must Be Crazy in this little indie theater near the University of Pittsburgh. This was in the mid to late 80’s not 1980 mind you. I’m not that old. 🙂

    BTW they’re doing a sequel to What We Do In The Shadows. “We’re Wolves”. Best title ever. Can’t wait.

    Reply

    1. Hi there Dave! Oh I’m not celebrating either, just on the blog 😉 Well after 30 your metabolism pretty much stopped working, ahah. But I’m just thankful I’m still healthy generally, even if not as fit as I used to be.

      I think I watched The Gods Must Be Crazy on VHS, yeah we’re THAT old aren’t we? 😉 Oooh I didn’t know about WWDITS sequel. We’re Wolves!! Love that title!

      Reply

  30. Warm wishes for a fun-filled 41st year, Ruth! Loved your list as many of them are mine, too. I forgot all about “Return to Me”. I’m going to rent that one. Looking forward to tomorrow! Visit often and talk to your fans 🙂

    Reply

    1. Thank you Cindy! It seems there are something for everyone here, though my love for period dramas (and gorgeous leading men) are showing 😉 Oh you should check out Return to Me, I LOVE that movie so much.

      Oh I will be a part of Lucky 13, you can count on that!

      Reply

    1. Thanks Eddie! Ahah you’re too funny. Well unfortunately Riley isn’t on social media so I doubt that’ll happen, but I don’t care as long as I see him in more movies!

      Reply

  33. Happy belated birthday, I enjoyed your list quite a bit. I’m going to look back at some of these films because of your mention. Sense and Sensibility plus the Age of Innocence. I love your citing Return to Me and of course, Timothy Dalton as 007. My birthday was last week and I did a very similar project. If you are interested here is the link http://kirkhamclass.blogspot.com/2016/02/58-moments-ive-loved-from-movies-ive.html
    I’m just sharing for you. Take the comment down if you don’t want people linking on your page. I was just struck by the parallel idea. Again, Happy Birthday.

    Reply

    1. Hello Richard! Hey, happy belated birthday as well, man. I’m glad you send me the link, I’ll check it out for sure. Oooh I’m glad you love the two period dramas I mentioned here. And of course I have an undying love for Mr. Dalton and he’s just so criminally underrated. Glad you’ve seen Return to Me as well, now that’s another under-appreciated films I wish more people will check out!

      Reply

  35. Happy 41st birthday, dear Ruth! 🙂 🙂
    I will say we have a lot of overlapping favorite films, Ruth! I liked “Sense and Sensibility” with Alan Rickman (rest in peace) and enjoyed the fact Emma Thompson sobs out loud when finally Hugh Grant finds his way to her. I enjoyed the Keiran Knightley version of “Pride and Prejudice” and loved the character of Darcy and her father played by Donald Sutherland. Wonderful. I am a fan of many romantic movies and agree with the Nora Ephron ones you chose. I cannot believe you are so young, 41, yet know the old ones, too. I am trying to think did you include the older version of “Sabrina?” I loved Audrey Hepburn in this and “Roman Holiday.” You are an amazing compiler of movies and thanks for this.

    Reply

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