I work at a software company that makes tax
software. As you can imagine sometimes work can get a bit boring because,
let’s face it, for most people taxes are not the most interesting subject
(except for maybe accountants). This morning, while discussing the new
Cinderella movie and Maleficent, we got on the subject of movies that we could
watch over and over again. One of my colleagues brought up the subject of
what our top five Sunday afternoon movies are. I rattled off a quick five
that seemed pretty accurate at the time then I really got to thinking about and
while some of them would stay on the list I now realize others would be pushed
out by other more beloved films. So without further ado here is my top
five Sunday Afternoon Movies.
1. Blade Runner – The Scifi Noir that instilled
in me a love for science fiction and film noir at a very young age.
Harrison Ford stars as Rick Deckard a police officer known as a Blade
Runner specializing in the tracking and destruction of human androids called Replicants.
Brought out of retirement when four Nexus 6 androids, a new generation said to
be “More Human than Human”, go rogue and come to earth illegally. The
story has a lot of different themes but most importantly it questions what it
means to be human and asks if it is possible for a machine to be more human
than the humans that created it. The dark tone and melancholy soundtrack
make this the perfect movie for a rainy Sunday afternoon.
2. Conan the Barbarian – Nothing like some good
old fashioned epic fantasy and Conan delivers it in droves. We are
treated to an exploration of the origins of the eponymous Barbarian and his
early life and training. Conan and his companions draw the ire of the
evil sorcerer and cult leader Thulsa Doom (played perfectly by James Earl
Jones) when they steal from one of his many temples and are tasked by an old
and grizzled king (Max Von Sydow) to steal back the Princess and rescue her
from Thulsa Doom’s dark spell. Featuring epic sword fights and an even
more epic soundtrack this is the perfect popcorn movie, perfect for a lazy
Sunday.
3. The Dark Crystal – At long last one that is a
bit more suitable for the entire family. Jim Hensons magical fantasy
about a young Gelfling destined to heal the eponymous Dark Crystal and bring
balance back to the planet Thra. Slightly darker than Jim Henson’s
previous work and featuring a some creepy creatures I still consider this one
safe for most young children. The movie is filled with fantastic
creatures and locations. The movie itself invokes many different
emotions, while at times it is happy there are times when it is very sad and
sometimes even terrifying. This one will always be an epic fantasy
adventure that the whole family can enjoy.
4. Labyrinth – Another family oriented
movie. Also by Jim Henson this movie
tells the story of Sarah, a teenage girl on the verge of adulthood with a penchant
for fantasy. Left to babysit her infant
stepbrother Toby she angrily and unknowingly summons the goblin king to come
and take him away she finds herself drawn into a fantasy world were nothing is
what it seems. Racing against the clock
in a world where even time can’t be trusted Sara must navigate through the titular
Labyrinth to rescue her brother before he is turned into a goblin forever. Along the way she enlists the help of a
handful of strange characters including a dwarf, a yeti and a dog goblin named
Sir Didymus. With a great soundtrack
provided by the great David Bowie, who also stars as the Goblin King, this
movie is a fun fantasy romp that everyone will enjoy.
5. The Last Starfighter – This movie has been one
of my favorites since I was a kid. It
tells the story of a young man named Alex who wants nothing more than to leave
the trailer park where he lives and see the rest of the world. Due to financial hardships and familial
obligations he feels trapped. His only outlet
is an arcade game called Starfighter.
One night Alex, in the zone, beats the game and is heralded a hero by
the residents of the trailer park. Soon
Alex is visited by a strange man named Centauri, Centauri promises him a life
of adventure and Alex reticently gets in to his car. Soon Alex is shown that the world he thought
was only a videogame is real and that he has been selected to join the ranks of
the legendary Starfighter League.
Feeling overwhelmed he asks Centauri to take him home. He is attacked by an alien assassin at home
and Centauri helps him to realize that if he doesn’t do something to stop the
evil Kodan Armada earth will soon be drawn into the conflict. Upon returning to the Star League he
discovers that the rest of the Starfighters have been destroyed. It is up to Alex and his navigator Grig to
pilot the last ship and defeat the encroaching enemy. This is a great scifi film and though a bit
dated is an adventure that will always remain a classic.
