Desert Island Films #81 – Vic’s Movie Den

Vic from Vic’s Movie Den has kindly submitted his Desert Island Films. Please 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 #81 – Vic’s Movie Den

1 – John Carpenter’s The Thing

“The Thing” is easily my favorite movie by John Carpenter. “Halloween” held that spot for a long time but this seminal masterpiece of paranoid / alien terror has bumped it down. A fantastic work of art that showcases Rob Bottins’ monstrous and shape shifting alien in vivid starkness. It is hard for me not to write an essay on how exceptional and impressive this Carpenter/ Russell film is. Scary, gripping, beautifully shot by Dean Cundey ASC and timelessly acted by the all male cast, “The Thing” is indeed a favorite of mine that I wouldn’t be able to live without.

2 – Jaws

Perfect Perfect Perfect. A high adventure and the definitive monster movie about a shark by Steven Spielberg who previously directed “Duel” which was about another monster except on wheels. Based on the seminal novel by the late Peter Benchley,  “Jaws” deals with how a small coastal town named “Amity” deals with a real life monster great white shark. It is compelling, fun, adventurous and exceptionally scored and shot. “The Great White Turd” named Bruce is shown very late in the film and everything before that is Spielberg masterfully building suspense and style. The Moby Dick inspired third act is insanely watchable and glorious to watch as the 3 protagonists face the beast on it’s terms and in it’s element. I know “Jaws” line for line and one summer, when it was re-released, I spent just about everyday at the theaters watching this masterpiece. My favorite movie of all time!

3 – Raiders of the Lost Ark

Another perfect Spielberg film. Harrison Ford plays archeologist Indiana Jones and George Lucas supplies the story. Raiders is a true classic. Raiders is fun, adventurous, gripping and sports a fantastic score by John Williams. It is a period movie about religious lore, history, nasty nazis, overly competitive archeologists and sports not one but numerous, absolutely stunning action set pieces. The Truck Chase is my favorite. The look of the film is dirty, glamorous and real. It transports you to the past and immerses you in a glorious world of serialized adventure. The cast, photography, make up and direction is on beautiful display here. Spielberg gives us a riotous, fast paced and bloody movie that Harrison Ford carries brilliantly on his shoulders for over 2 hours. One of my favorite movies and I can never part with it. Ever!

4 – Airplane!

How funny is this movie? It was so funny that upon first seeing it in the theaters I could not find a seat for about 10 minutes because I had dropped to the floor laughing my ass off. I cannot live without this incredibly funny movie which consistently remains the funniest movie filled with numerous one liners and sight gags that keeps the viewer laughing, cringing and entertained. Yep, this one is a desert island keeper for sure.

5 – Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein

Oh man. How could I ever part with this hilarious horror comedy classic from Abbott and Costello? What is clearly the best thing about this movie is the incredible and impeccable timing of Bud and Lou. Also, the respect and reverence that is shown to the classic Universal Monsters. Yeah, they are all here: Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolf Man and even The Invisible Man. The horror actors play it fast and straight taking the material very seriously while Bud and Lou do the hard stuff and that is to make us laugh. The movie is timeless and nostalgic which makes the cut as a DI film in my book.

6- The Empire Strikes Back

My favorite Star Wars film and my favorite science fiction movie. I must include this movie because it had a deep and profound effect on me when I first watched it as a kid. It is moving, rousing, engaging, fun and sports an amazing score once again by maestro John Williams. Lucas bowed out from directing duties to let Irvin Kershner come in and deliver what is a very moody, dark but uplifting tale of the Jedi, the rebellion and of course, a father and son. The iconic Vader/Luke reveal till this day remains one of the most powerful sequences ever filmed. I know this puppy word for word and I have watched this entry more than any other Star Wars film, hands down.

7 – The Godfather

My favorite Francis Ford Coppola film about the Italian/American Corleone family. This movie is an absolute masterpiece from start to finish. Adapted with incredible efficiency by Mario Puzo from his novel and beautifully shot and acted by the incredible cast. Brando, Pacino, Cazale, Keaton and Duvall all knock it out of the park here. The film is full of amazing and long lasting messages, images, violence and forever changed how gangster films were to be made.  It raised the bar very high. Coppola’s palette totally immerses us in this world and we are forever changed by it. Coppola once said that “The Godfather” is about a father and his 3 sons. It is indeed. Gotta keep this one.

8 – 2001 A Space Odyssey

My favorite Kubrick film. I love it dearly and I hold it in very high regard. This is another DI keeper because it is deep, transcendental, trippy, confusing and beautiful to look at. It is 2 hours of incredible imagery that makes it the film world’s best moving screensaver. The movie is realistic and smart with some very interesting theories about our place in the universe and how we are products of alien tampering. The HAL 9000 remains one of the most treacherous (if a bit mis-guided)  sci fi villains ever thrust upon the silver screen. Kubrick’s decision to include a mostly classical score is inspired and the gateway and star child sequences are astounding. This is a no brainer for me as a DI movie.  Just timeless.

Book:

“The Keep”

by F. Paul Wilson

This historical horror novel by author F. Paul Wilson (Repairman Jack) is a spellbinding read. This and Salem’s Lot remain my 2 favorite Vampire (The term Vampire in The Keep is a loose term) novels and it was tough picking this one over King’s book but I have so much respect for Wilson’s ability to meld harsh history with Gypsy and Romanian myths. It remains a seminal monster novel that takes place during WWII. It features a blood curdling creature named “Molasar” and an enigmatic hero in “Glaeken.” Wilson’s book is broad, effective, romantic and beautifully written. He has some great passages of sheer terror and some of elegant prose. I find myself re-reading this fright-fest over and over again. This is the one book I would welcome on a deserted island.

Luxury Item:

My Recliner is my best friend. It is practically a part of my anatomy and I know when I am all alone on my deserted island that my recliner will never leave me or let me down. It is a keeper. Nuff said.

This was a lot of fun and my thanks go out to Tyson for the opportunity!

Thanks again to Vic 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 October 12, 2013

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