Simply Film – Desert Island Films

Andrew & Gabe from Simply Film have kindly submitted their Desert Island Films. Read on for their choices and reasons, and be sure to check out their site.

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Desert Island Films is about choosing 8 films you would take if you were going to be stranded on a desert island and explaining your choices. They don’t necessarily have to be your favourites, just 8 films, no more or no less! You are also permitted to take one book and one novelty item which must be inanimate and of no use in escaping the island or allowing communication from outside.

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Andrew King’s List of Island Films

Evil Dead 2

This has to be one of my favorite horror movies ever made. It’s extremely low budget, often ridiculous, full of laughably fake special effects, and is absolutely brilliant. Sam Raimi’s bizarre, unusual sense of humor really shines through in this movie, although it as a result it isn’t as scary as the original. If I had to sum this movie up in one word, it would be “groovy”.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

While this isn’t even close to my favorite Edgar Wright flick, I will probably never get sick of this movie. It’s the perfect geeky combination of action, awkward romance, and hilarious visual gags, and witty dialogue. And if that isn’t enough for you, the whole cast is pretty great, especially Michael Cera who I actually very much enjoy.

Taking Of Pelham 123 (The Original)

Even if you have had the misfortune of seeing the vastly inferior remake, you should really give the original a try. It is a great example of a slick and very cool heist/hostage movie, and it has that classic ‘70’s feel to it. Also, it’s one of Patton Oswalt’s favorite movies. And who doesn’t love Patton Oswalt, am I right?

Pulp Fiction

There really isn’t anything I can say about this movie that hasn’t already been said. It is simply a classic, full of amazing actors, brilliant dialogue, and expertly made. I am yet to meet someone who has seen this movie and didn’t love it.

Spirited Away

I know, this is a pretty generic choice for an animated movie, but so many people love it for a reason. It is wickedly creative and absolutely charming. I am not usually a fan of Anime in general, but I have to make an exception of anything Miyazaki, and out of all of his films this is by far my favorite.

Ghost Town

This is probably the most interesting and unique choice on my list. I know this movie isn’t perfect, but I really do love this movie. It is sweet, funny and full of heart, and due to the fact that for a stretch of time it was on TV a lot, I’ve probably seen it at least a dozen times. This one movie has made me a lifetime Ricky Gervais fan, and it never fails to put me in a good mood.

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back

This one doesn’t even need an explanation. Star Wars is a classic, end Empire Strikes Back is the best one in the entire series. Also, it’s the only one that George Lukas didn’t direct. Coincidence? I think not. And clearly I am not still bitter about the prequels.

Raising Arizona

While often overshadowed by the Coen Brother’s more famous comedy, The Big Lebwoski, this is a fantastic comedy in its own right. It is basically a comedy with Nick Cage stealing a baby, what’s not to like? Add in the famous cynical Coen Brother’s humor, and it’s easy to see why I picked this movie.

Book: Complete Calvin and Hobbes

There are few things that people of every age can enjoy. Calvin and Hobbes is one of these rare things. I have read through the complete book of Calvin and Hobbes several times throughout my life, and it never fails to be just as good as I remember it. If you haven’t read it, I would highly recommend it, don’t knock it just because it was a comic strip, it really is philosophical, honest, and absolutely fantastic.

Luxury Item: A Video Camera

This one seemed like a no brainer to me. If I am going to an island with nothing but movies, a camera made sense to bring along as well. That way I could always try to make more movies for me to watch, or at the very least I could make bizarre and drastically inferior shot for shot remakes of the movies I brought with me. I don’t know, I think it sounds that kind of sounds fun.

Gabriel’s Desert Island Films

Apocalypse Now
What other film would be better to help me on my inward journey for the self during my island bound solitude than Frances Ford Coppola’s magnum opus, Apocalypse Now. It’s hand’s down the greatest war movie ever made and easily ranks among my personal favorites. It takes me on a dark journey through the heart of man and never fails to give me heart aching chills. Call me a masochist, but I love every single minute of it.

The Big Lebowski
I have no problem calling this the funniest movie ever made. Every single line uttered by the Dude and his motley crew makes me burst into side splitting laughter without fail, and I couldn’t think of a partner more fitting for my island adventures than the Dude or El Duderino, if you’re not into the whole brevity thing.

Boogie Nights
At face value Boogie Nights may seem like a vulgar film detailing the porn industry and all it’s vices, but if given a little bit of time and effort you’ll find that it’s actually the greatest movie ever created about family. Everything here is executed perfectly, the cast is filled with talented actors giving their best performances, the direction and camera work expertly conveys the events of the film without getting in the way with stylish flourishes, and the writing is top notch allowing us to experience the secret world of porn and the interesting characters in it. Must I say more?

Mulholland Dr.
Dreams are always something that have interested me. They are other worldly but inside of us at the same time. We are able to reach things that would other wise be impossible, but these incredible things are also a part of us. Mulholland Dr gives me that feeling, and that is why I couldn’t live without it. Also, maybe if I watch it a couple hundred more times than I’ll finally understand what’s going on.

Being John Malkovich
Unlike dreams Charlie Kaufman gives us everything we wanted but could never even begin to imagine. I mean, how could I have known that a film about a puppeteer finding a portal to the actor John Malkovich’s mind would rank among my favorites of all time? How could it be possible that it’s funny, tragic, and intriguing all at the same time? Well, I couldn’t really tell you, and that’s what’s so amazing about it.

Annie Hall
Annie Hall is the ultimate romantic comedy. It gives you all you need, a guy meets a girl, there’s romance, there’s comedy, but it also adds something incredible to the mix, Woody Allen. Yeah, I know he’s a bit of a controversial figure these days, but when Allen is on a roll, I just can’t help but love everything about him and his neurotic sense of humor. And hey, when I’m sitting there on my lonesome island equipped with my personal home theater setup, I’ll at least have a little bit of romance with me.

Network
There are some films that just fill you up to the brim. You watch it, and you can’t ever comprehend all the dense layers passing before you. Network is one of those movies. In its many frames hides a treasure trove of ideas rife with meaning, and I think with some time alone with Network on my humble little island would be time well spent.

The Last Temptation of Christ
I know that in some circles these are fightin’ words, but The Last Temptation of Christ is hands down Scorsese’s best film. It takes the familiar story of Jesus and his struggles and emphasizes his humanity. It’s a fascinating look at the tremendous pressure that was exerted on Jesus during his life and how a man reacts when he is expected to be both man and God. Least to say it’s just as great film I couldn’t live without.

Book: Infinite Jest
Infinite Jest is a hard book to explain. I’ve read over 200 of it’s 1000+ pages, and I still don’t really know what it’s about. There’s a tennis academy, a drug rehabilitation center, Canadian terrorists, and footnotes that span dozens of pages, but there is one thing I do know, and that’s that this is the most brilliant thing I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Now maybe, with a little isolation I can finally get around to finishing it.

Misc Object: If I had to pick one thing to bring on my exceedingly well planed marooning in the tropics it would probably have to be an iPod filled with my entire music collection. I love books, and I really love movies, but I’d probably go crazy without a couple of my favorite tunes to keep me company.

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Thanks again to  for taking the time to join the prestigious Head In A Vice ”castaway” list. If you would like to submit your choices and add your name to this list, please drop me an email to – tysoncarter@hotmail.co.uk

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Posted by Tysoncarter182 on September 10, 2012

https://headinavice.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/simply-film-desert-island-films/