Recently on Facebook I joined in posting a list of my twelve favourite movies of all time - specifically, the ones I can happily watch again and again and again.
Here's my list, in release order - along with instances where these movies have influenced my writing.
Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
I could watch the scene where the bronze giant Talos comes to life and chases everyone every day for the rest of my life and never get bored!
Okay, so I've written loads of swords-n-sandals Greek-inspired stories - but in particular The Red Thread in Dark Enchantment is just steeped in the Jason / Medea bad romance.
Time Bandits (1981)
That Agamemnon sequence with Sean Connery? Take a look at my novel Divine Torment. Scorching sun, nasty court politics, guys in short tunics, and a cynic's view of the gods.
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| The saddest minotaur ever :-( |
Aliens (1986)
Directly inspired my SF-gangbang story The Military Mind, in Fierce Enchantments
Labyrinth (1986)
There are shades of Jareth the Goblin King in my creepy Dom fey The Brennnan, in Named and Shamed.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Falling Down (1993)
A masterclass in dramatic escalation, mixed motives and messing with the viewer's empathy.
Jurassic Park (1993)
The Prophecy (1995)
No escaping it, a HUGE influence on Cover Him With Darkness, and its sequels yet to come. I have to stop Uriel channeling Christopher Walken every time he appears! :-D
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| Also, Satan |
The scene with Antionio Banderas dancing joyously in the fountain is 45 seconds of pure sexuality for me - and an interesting contrast with Che's normal surly and angry demeanor that actually taught me something about writing alphas.
Deep Rising (1998)
The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Aragorn. All that repressed anger. SAY NO MORE.
300 (2006)
Oh good grief ... Gerard Butler, Lena Hedey, balletic ultra-violence, heartbreaking sacrifice, ripped and sweaty warriors in tiny leather pants.... This movie was made for Ashbless the writer ;-)
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| This poster is on my kitchen wall |
BTW, here's a list of twelve seminal movies I've NEVER ACTUALLY SEEN, and which have therefore no influence on my romantic or erotic imagination:
Grease
Dirty Dancing
Sleepless in Seattle
Gone with the Wind
When Harry met Sally
Casablanca
Love Story
The Notebook
Annie Hall
The Fault in Our Stars
Amelie
Pretty Woman
It might explain some things.
3 comments:
Of that list Casablanca is probably worth watching sometime. But how on earth have you managed to miss Grease? There was a point when it seemed like you couldn't escape it on the TV at every holiday!
I've had Facebook friends tell me the same thing about Casablanca!
I missed Grease because the year it came out my family had literally no income so we never went to the movies.
I was never sad enough to see Grease at the movies, but there was a spell when it was all over the TV. I should have trusted my instincts and run faster. But I'm a bit of musical tragic and there's some good tunes.
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