Here it is: the list of movies we’ve chosen for you to vote on. The winning movie for each Cinemanaut will be watched once every week of 2013.
Here’s why we picked what we picked, in our own words.
BILL GRAY
1) Back to the Future (1985) – My father irresponsibly showed me Part III first, when I was just 6 years old. I instantly needed to know the beginning of the story and have been hooked on the trilogy and all things time travel ever since.
2) Die Hard (1988) – I first watched this movie with Becca at the disgustingly late age of 23. I assumed it was just another dumb action movie. It absolutely blew me away and Becca and I couldn’t stop talking about how much we enjoyed it for days.
3) The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) – I first saw this on TV when I was 14. It was essentially my introduction to smart, slowly paced science fiction that wasn’t entirely monsters and ‘splosions. I love discussing the themes presented in this movie. And seriously, Gort rules.
TY PERRY
1) Star Wars (1977) – I grew up on this movie. I used to watch this with a sense of awe and wonderment.
2) Ghost Busters (1984) – The first movie I ever saw in theaters was the sequel, because I loved this and the animated series so much. I don’t think my parents were very responsible back then.
3) A Goofy Movie (1995) – I saw this in theaters as part of my friend’s birthday party. To this day I catch myself humming the “On the Open Road” song.
JOHN SCRIBNER
1) Fargo (1996) – This was the first Coen Brothers movie I ever saw, and it’s still my favorite. It has the perfect mixture of Coen darkness and Coen humor. I love Steve Buscemi, stopping for waffles, and wood chippers.
2) Jurassic Park (1993) – This was the first movie my parents wouldn’t let me watch that I actually cared about watching. I built it up in my mind for years, and when I finally saw it, it didn’t disappoint. I love every moment. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve read the novel. Hold on to your butts.
3) Network (1976) – If I were to make a list of the 10 greatest movie rants, this film would have at least two of them, maybe three. It was nominated for ten well-deserved Oscars, and won four. Two nominees for best actor alone! Sidney Lumet is fantastic. Dark, deeply funny satire. This movie makes me love loving movies.
BECCA BASCOM
1) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) – This was one of my favorite movies growing up and was in high rotation for my after-school TV times. It has what Raiders had– a religious relic and Nazis– but added an amazing origin story and Sean Connery. It’s a fantastic adventure movie that still keeps me riveted.
2) Much Ado About Nothing (1993) – I originally watched this as a “chick flick,” but I’ve grown to appreciate it as an adaptation. Being Shakespeare, it dips wildly from black tragedy to uproarious comedy. You get Kate Beckinsale young and round-faced, Emma Thompson being her fiery self, and Keanu Reeves as a villain. Whoa.
3) The NeverEnding Story (1984) – A childhood favorite that seems like it’s the first movie I ever watched. It is under my skin and in my synapses. It’s fantastically meta and is a great adaptation. I also fall victim to its Campbellian heroic journey.
There it is. The rest is up to you. To vote, click here. To see the vote totals, ordered by what’s in the lead, click here. You get one vote per day. If you want your movie to win, tell all your friends about us. Maybe on Facebook or Twitter? Or grab them by the lapels and verbally give ‘em the skinny on Movie Science. Lapel-grabbing is certainly an option.
Vote like the wind!
[Voting closed October 1, 2012. Please check your watch.]
