Desert Island Films #69 – Cinemaniac Reviews

Alexander from Cinemaniac Reviews has kindly submitted his Desert Island Films. Read on for his choices and reasons, and be sure to check out his site.

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.

Desert Island Films – Cinemaniac Reviews

1. The Shawshank Redemption

Well, if you’re stranded on a desert island, you’re probably hoping to get out. But you need to be able to hope, if that makes any sense, and The Shawshank Redemption is my “go to” for such an uplifting premise. Plus it has Morgan Freeman, a great performance from Tim Robbins, and it’s Frank Darabont’s best attempt at directing Stephen King’s work.

2. 2001: A Space Odyssey

If I had my Blu-Ray player with me, I’d watch this by day, and stare up at the stars at night, and fall asleep to Stanley Kubrick’s metaphors. If I didn’t, I’d do the exact same thing, but I’d have no problem staring at the slipcase all day. It’s just that beautiful.

3. Schindler’s List

I have to give love to Steven Spielberg. Jurassic Park and Jaws were the two films that made me love movies. But if I were to bring those movies along, I’d run the risk of developing a paranoid, pathological fear of dinosaurs and sharks. Schindler’s List is what I’ve viewed as the man’s chef d’oeuvre since the day I saw it. Yes, it’s long, but if you can pay $5 to rent it, return it the very next day, and not have realize what a damn good life you have, I have to shun you as a lousy excuse for a human. The film is beyond moving.

4. Fargo

Don’t we all need a good laugh every now and then, even if it’s at the expense of something truly dark? Marge Gunderson says “Yahh.” Jerry Lundegaard says “The heck do ya mean?” Also a movie that could cool you down from the hot desert heat (unless you’re there during the not so stereotypical season of winter). Yell “Yahh” for the Coens.

5. Plan 9 from Outer Space

There’s a vampiress (or whatever you call a female vampire). There’s a ghost. There’s a flying saucer that looks like a paper plate. Why yes, it’s Ed Wood!

6. The Breakfast Club

First of all, I’d bring it along ’cause it’s The Breakfast Club. Molly Ringwald. Sure. Emilio Estevez. Why not. John Hughes. Why the hell not. And then, of course, it has a better, more untouchable soundtrack than any other film.

7. Memento

Simply put. You’re on a desert island. The film ends on a note where–even when you look at the story in a linear fashion–no one can be quite sure who committed the murder that set the events in action. But nonetheless, people debate on it. Why not spend the time on the desert island trying to decipher it myself?

8. Blue Velvet

Because I realized there was nothing else on the list with David Lynch, and that’s blasphemy. Anyway, I’m a fan, rain or shine, blizzard or desert island.

BOOK – “Your Movie Sucks” by Roger Ebert

Just so I can be glad of all the movies I didn’t bring and knew, somehow, that deep down, I didn’t want to, either.

LUXURY ITEM – A Bed

Hey. I did have some creativity in kind. I would have said the electric chair. Because you can sit in it, and as long as it’s not hooked up to high voltage, it could actually be quite comfortable. But then I realized, I’m not sleeping on sand. Sorry, but no way in hell.

Thanks again to Alexander for taking the time to join the prestigious 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

Posted by Tysoncarter182 on July 15, 2013

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