Alice in Wonderland

Thanks so much to Wolfie at Back2Stonewall for posting this. You do not know how much I love Tim Burton. I used to say (in high school) that my favorite movies were "dark, Gothic surrealism -- you know, things like Batman, Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, and The Nightmare Before Christmas." Then, I realized they were all done by the same guy. Though I think his love affair with Johnny Depp borders on homoerotic, you have to admit the two are made for each other.

I mean check out the trailer for 2010's Alice in Wonderland:

Oh, and wander over to Tim Burton's IMDB page, do I see the following as one of his next projects:
Whoa, dude. I think I just squealed a little bit.

Going through my collections

In an effort to constantly improve myself and find joy in other things except for drinking, carousing, and intimate encounters, I have two new goals: read more and go through my movie collection. And, because I am an obsessive blogger, I plan to write about it as I go.

Reading

I have a lot of books. At one point, I documented well over 2,000 books I owned. For the nerdy and outcast teen that I was -- my middle school years are highlighted by my social ostracism, both internally and externally -- I read voraciously. By 7th grade, I was reading several thousand pages a semester (I know because my English teacher required us to document our reading in great detail). I continued the need for books well into college, though my reading has significantly dropped off since.

My parents are moving and found a large collection of books left in a closet by yours truly, and she's bringing them here. The theory was that, after I went to college, I would trade out my college every couple years when I got bored with it. I am now confronted with the reality of not only having read the grand majority of the books on my shelf, but the addition of hundreds more.

In the past month, I've racked up thousands of pages, and I've found myself enjoying the effort. Some recent completions:

• George R.R. Martin's The Song of Ice and Fire series -- I admit it, I'm a scifi/fantasy junkie. I have read all the greats and am depressed at the notion that Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series will not be completed by the man himself. I picked up Martin's series in college and loved it, though we are still waiting for it to be complete. Like Jordan's series, it was intended to be three, maybe four, books and has now ballooned out to probably six or seven. I own only the first three and, after my recent re-read of the first three, I am foaming at the mouth of the next few. I think I am like most readers of the series though, wondering when the Starks, the central character family, will start doing something than dying off slowly. It has now been referred onto my brother whom I think will enjoy it. Read time (3 books): about two weeks.
• Flora Rheta Schreiber's Sybil -- Though steeped in some controversy -- some say Sybil, nee Shirley Ardell Mason, was misdiagnosed by her psychiatrist, Cornelia B. Wilbur -- the book is an interesting and fascinating look into the world of psychoanalysis and the ofter over-diagnosed condition known as Multiple Personality Disorder (Disassociate Identity Disorder). I read it for the first time in a series of books with similar themes, including When Rabbit Howls and The Three Faces of Eve, early in high school. I thought I wanted to be a psychiatrist at that point in my life. Though experiences since with the extremely mentally ill have changed my desire, the book is, nonetheless, fascinating. It's also not for the faint of heart, as the details of Sybil's abuse as a child will leave you squirming. Read time: about four days.
• Marion Zimmer Bradley's Mists of Avalon -- I don't remember exactly when I picked this book up, though it was probably in the middle school era where I was experimenting with religion and thought Wicca was it. It wasn't. I tried to read the book way back when, but I was unsuccessful and, going through this time, I found multiple book marks and dog eared pages where I had left off before. I was somewhat disappointed with it, as it was hardly the classic that everyone put it out to be. The characters were bland and the intrigue even moreso. Read time: about ten days.
• Clive Barker's The Great and Secret Show -- I long established as one of my favorite books of all time, and I found it equally enjoyable this time around, though it can no longer be counted as amongst my favorites. It's good and made for a quick read, but it isn't quite as life changing this time around. Apparently, there are other books in a series -- dubbed The Art, or a sequel at least -- but I really am not driven to read them. Read time: three days.
• Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth -- I was disappointed with this read the first time, thinking I wasn't as impressed with it as everyone said I would be. I'm actually enjoying it much more, this time around. It's a much heavier text than the rest, and I'm going slowly. Currently in the middle of it. It's an Oprah book, now, too.

Not sure what's next -- but I'll keep you updated, no doubt.

Watching

I own well over 200 movies, a collection I began in college when I got my first DVD player. The first movie I bought? Don't laugh -- South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut. Hey, it's funny. Anyways, after discovering the cheapy movie deals offered at most movie rental places (seriously -- 4 movies for $20?!), my collection has grown exponentially since, though my watching has not kept pace and there is a huge number of titles that I have never seen before. I think it's time to actually make it through my entire collection, this time around. What have I watched so far, in about two weeks of trying:

• Mists of Avalon -- FIRST TIME WATCH-- Especially having come off reading the book, I noticed that the movie was missing a lot of important details, though it works as a movie. Shocking, with such a huge amount of talent, you'd think it would have been better. (4 out of 10)
• The Emperor's New Groove -- Seen it god knows how many times, and I am still entertained by it, though it didn't make it far in the box office. Worth a great chuckle, though not ground breaking cinema. (8 out of 10)
• The Sweetest Thing -- Simple, lighthearted, and it's difficult to deny the joy of watching The Penis Song scene over and over and over again. As an amusement, it ranks high. Anything else -- including intelligent humor -- it lacks. (6 out 10)
• The Incredibles -- My favorite movie of all time. I can't get over how well done the movie is, especially with rich characters like Edna Mode and the extensive back story they created for the flick as evidenced by the DVD extras. I am shocked that no one ever decided to make a sequel, though there are enough rumors saying it will happen. Nothing was ever confirmed, and it makes me sad. Charming, funny, and well thought out. (9.5 out of 10)
• Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow -- FIRST TIME WATCH -- How can so many amazing actors pick such a bad movie? I could barely be bothered to keep track of what was happening. The cinematography was amazing, however, and was the only thing saving the flick. I left wondering what the point was. (2 out of 10)
• Fame -- FIRST TIME MAKING IT THROUGH -- Meh. Also a classic, but I wasn't as impressed with it as I thought I should be for as many homo's that say they love it. I mean, it was fun and I liked it, but I think the number of times I've fallen asleep watching it is a testament to my interest level. Classic scenes, though, and you'll recognize many references for later works. (5 of 10)
• Borat -- I turned it on the day Bruno came out. It is what you know it to be -- filled with low brow humor that you can't help but laugh at. I'm not sure why I bought it, and I'm not sure what would encourage me to watch it again in the future. (6 of 10)
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding -- We, like so many people, heard about it from the grapevine, pre-Twitter, and I was charmed enough to see it a second time in the theatre. I never go watch a movie twice in a movie theatre. It is much as you remember -- fun and whimsical and totally worth your time. And, extra score, the jokes are still funny! (9 out of 10)
• Elizabeth: The Golden Age -- FIRST TIME WATCH -- I loved the movie that preceded this, Elizabeth, so much, and I did enjoy the sequel. It's not as historically valid as the first, and has some continuity problems, but it's well-done and beautifully produced. I'd recommend the first one over this, but I would still suggest you check it out. (7 out of 10)
• The Wiz -- Watched it twice since Michael Jackson died, and I love it still. It is a brilliantly recrafted and rethought version of The Wizard of Oz, and it may actually live up to the original for its creativity. The songs will stick in your head for weeks, and Diana Ross is simply fabulous, while the final bit by Lena Horne makes you realize why she was a star. (9 out of 10)
• Sweeney Todd -- I am on a Sasha Baron Cohen kick this week, apparently, and I turned this on to remind myself that the man does have some amazing versatility as an actor. Add great performances by Johnny Depp, Alan Rickman, and Helena Bonham Carter, including some surprising vocal talent by the three, and you have a definite winner. Bloody as hell, though. Not an every-day'er though, and I think, in cutting down the original Broadway piece, it lost a little bit (8 out of 10)
• The Devil Wears Prada -- How can you not have seen this movie? I read the book a few weeks before it came out; my sister was reading it and it was just a cheapie little bit that seemed to be written so that it could be a movie. It turned out to be an excellent flick with a couple of Oscar nom's to boot. (9 out of 10)

The only problem is that I seem to be going after previously watched movies, or favorites. I'm trying to learn to balance new flicks with the old favorites. So far, successful.

I'm not sure if anyone cares about any of this, but I do. :-)

OUTRAGE Movie Trailer

Outrage, the movie that promises to piss off a lot of politicos, and cause a huge ethical dilemma with most of us who are unsure about the process of outing, has released their trailer on YouTube.

I feel like this is something I'm going to have to see, regardless of how I feel about it. I'm still kinda working out how I feel about the whole thing in my head.

Apparently, the movie even pissed off Jim McGreevey, former NJ Governor and now-out gay man, so much that he stormed out of it at the Tribeca Film Festival, but it was more about the use of his ex-wife, it seems, than anything else.

"I love you, Phillip Morris"

Jim Carrey's gay movie (he's poor, not having a succesful movie in years... it was bound to happen) with Ewan McGregor is getting good reviews.

From Reuters:

"I Love You Phillip Morris" doesn't have anything to do with smoking, but that's about the only thing it's not connected to. The feature, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, is of the ethereal-absurdist-gay-romantic-biographical farce genre, which poses the question: How are they going to market this? Basically, just say Jim Carrey struts his stuff in this engaging oddity.

It's in these naughty parts where this inventive escapade shines: Carrey's chameleonlike gyrations and falsifications as a flimflammer are deliciously funny. His comedic versatility and impersonations are amazing, but it's in his character's darkest recesses that he's truly powerful. As the steadfast Phillip, McGregor is sympathetic and vulnerable. His heart is always ready to be broken.

Like Carrey's character, the story and style are all over the place, rendering it somewhat inaccessible. Admittedly, the whole film is in a bit of an aesthetic dither that will confound many viewers. Still, filmmakers Glenn Ficarra and John Requa have concocted a frothy and misty amusement.

I'm not sure if I'm excited or trepidacious about this little flick. The preview seems... well, it seems weird. I'll hold my judgment, but it's shaping up to be a good movie for gays at the box office.

Harvey Milk's Last Words

Delivered posthumously via audio tape in the anticipation of his assassination.



Whoa. Thanks to HarveyMilk on Twitter for this bit.

Also, found this on my favorite site ever, Hulu.com. The full version of the Oscar-winning documentary, TheTimes of Harvey Milk.



I have not had a chance to watch it yet, but I will :-). And I'll review it... poorly.

Busy little blogger this AM.

GAY MOVIE REVIEW: Mambo Italiano

This is one of those trashy fun little gay movies that I'm addicted to -- that I also randomly picked up out of Blockbuster 4/$20 bin. 

The thing about ethnic comedies is that they are really hard to do well. My Big Fat Greek Wedding did it really well, and, watching this one, you can draw a lot of comparisons between MBFGW and Mambo Italiano. The only difference is that, rather than the love interest being of a different ethnicity, the issue is a gay love story. Mambo Italiano doesn't do it well, at all. In fact, if you're looking for a sickly-sweet romantic comedy that will stick with you forever...

...this is not your movie.

But if you need something to turn on when it's 3a.m. and you're reconnecting with your movie collection and your brain is a little fried from studying a little too much, this is your movie. It's cute and sweet and kind of fun. And Peter Miller, who plays lead Angelo's male love looks good creeping into the bedroom late at night with just a pair of boxer briefs on. 

It's interesting in that it addresses the whole ethnicity-sexuality boundary, but not in any in-depth or particularly world altering manner. The whole "self-hating Italian" thing is amusing, though. 

The writing is bad, and the acting is so-so. In fact, even the way the storyline is told is not particularly that interesting. Starting off with a frame story is neither original nor compelling. All the typical themes of a cutesy, young, gay, coming out story are there. There's the family issue, there is the sister who is the only who knows, there's the macho-I'm-not-gay boyfriend (and the requisite open and understanding and wonderful man who he ends up with), etc. etc. etc. They do try, on occasion, to make it serious and meaningful. But it's rarely even laugh out loud funny. 

Overall, this adds nothing to the dialogue of gay cinema. 

But it's like Trick or Eating Out. Or, if you want, like any silly little high school drama like Can't Hardly Wait. It's just fun.

And I've watched it like 100 times. Totally worth it if you can get it for under $10 and find yourself and needing a silly movie to watch every now and again. 

It's not a bad easy date movie, either.

Oh, but the ending is a little long, also. 

I love you Phillip Morris

Really.. this is a movie. Sheez...



Whatever, I'll still go see it.

MILK by Gus Van Sant

I am so obscenely excited to see this movie. I have not been to see a movie in a theatre ... well, I want to say since the last Harry Potter movie. Really. I wait until it comes out on DVD.

This time, I'm going :-). Who's coming with me.



And if you ever wanted to hear the quote that's flying around the world from Milk... in his own voice... thanks to QueersUnited.



We honor you, Milk.

Next Big Superhero Movie?

Amidst everything else this blog is doing these days, let's remember to keep it light occasionally.

In the last few years, there's been a dearth of new Superhero movies. Batman -- twice plus another sequel coming soon -- Superman -- another sequel to come -- Spiderman -- all three -- Iron Man -- sequel coming -- Fantastic Four -- why were there two? -- the Incredible Hulk -- a bad one and then a not so bad one -- X Men -- 3 of them -- etc... etc... etc...

What would you want to see as the next big superhero movie???

Not that I have a preference...


It would require some serious de-camping though...

A little more searching, we have two more coming out it seems for sure: Green Lantern with Ryan Gosling, Green Arrow dubbed "SuperMax" (no information released), and potentially a Justice League movie (with the intent of "testing" certain characters for their own movies).

GAY STUFF: Logo's Top 50 LGBT Movies

In response to my own post about LGBT movies, here is the top 10 as voted by Logo (readers? watchers? regardless...). I don't know how much I like this list. Some of them are downright bad... But, whatever. Click the link for all fifty.

1. Loving Annabelle* -
2. Brokeback Mountain
3. Latter Days*
4. Beautiful Thing
5. D.E.B.S.* -
6. Trick^
7. Tipping the Velvet* -
8. Big Eden*
9. Get Real* -
10. But I'm a Cheerleader^

*I've never seen
-I've never heard of
^Also appeared on my list.

LOL And Amazon.Com's "Most Watched GLBT Movies."

1. Longtime Companion* -
2. And the Band Played On
3. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
4. Steel Magnolias (really?)
5. First Wives Club (really? are these two gay?)
6. Love Valour Compassion*
7. Clueless (really? again, gay?)
8. Zero Patience*
9. Priest* -
10. In & Out

You'll notice the latter list is missing anything on my top ten.

And, importantly, there's a great list over here of GLBT movies to share with your teen.

GAY STUFF: Addenda to Favorite LGBT Movies

So the recent OUT magazine had a list of the grosses of "gay-themed" movies (or movies with gay characters), and I wanted to comment on a few.

Movies that most definitely should have been on my favorite list...
1) Transamerica(2005) -- Most definitely one of the best movies of all time. Felicity Huffman got it right and it was amazing. The subject was done perfectly, and it was singularly one of the most beautiful movies ever put together.

2) Wonder Boys (2000) -- I bought this off a clearance rack because "oh, it looks cute." And, despite any overt gay themes, Robert Downey Jr's gay sexual predation was just beautifully done. The trannie at the beginning with the tuba was freakin' hilarious too.

3) History Boys (2006) -- Again, bought it off of a clearance rack at Tim's squeal that "OH MY GOD THIS IS SUCH A GREAT PLAY." It also comes off real well as a movie, and the cast is stellar and charming. It also introduced to me his hotness, Dominic Cooper. PS -- New Stage Collective is putting this on this season.

4) Shortbus (2006) -- The Goober brought this one over. It is most definitely not safe for children, but is an interesting exploration into queer sexuality and sexualities. It ends ... differently, I think, than expected and it has enough interesting commentary on orgasm and sex and love between people to keep you interested.

Movies that would not have ended up on my list but deserve comment...
1) I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007) -- Lame, lame, lame, lame. I hate Adam Sandler, and I think this movie was bullshit even if they did wrap it up in a nice politically correct package near the end.

2) Blades of Glory(2007) -- I lost a lot of respect for the magazine when I saw this listed as a gay movie. Also, lost a lot of respect for Hollywood that this is only one of four movies from 2007 they could identify as having an overt gay theme.

3) Brokeback Mountain (2005) -- The Brokeback revolution failed, and the movie moves slowly. It was OK as an art piece, but was mostly disappointing as an entertaining movie.

4) The Family Stone(2005) -- I don't view this as gay at all save for the incidental gay couple... but bravo to the creators for making theirs the healthiest relationship in the movie.

5) Happy Endings (2005) -- I recommend this to my friends to watch because it's just downright funny. "When you're a gay man and your urologist says 'yea, I choose you,' you just can't be insulted" -- it's a funny, healthy gay movie.

6) Gay Sex in the '70s (2005) -- Saw it at Adonis as part of OutReels... this is for anyone who wishes they had been alive during the sexual revolution of the 70s and that the whole pesky AIDS thing never showed up.

7) Kinsey (2004) -- It's worth a view, though with a grain of salt. It actually turns into a more interesting commentary on the ineffectiveness of Kinsey's method and his own questioning of sexuality than anything at all.

8) Saved! (2004) -- I can't believe they're turning this into a Broadway musical. Can't they leave well enough alone? Besides, the song Rock Me Sexy Jesusis already taken.

9) Eating Out(2004) -- The Goober and I watched this this weekend. The only reason anyone watches it is for the full frontal nudity. I think this is far more "typical" of a gay movie than even Trick.

10) Under the Tuscan Sun(2003) -- I wonder if, when Sandra Oh and Kate Walsh met on the set of Grey's Anatomy, did they say "we were lesbian lovers before." My mommy let me borrow this one and I still have it.

11) Mambo Italiano (2003) -- Another bargain bin purchase. It's cute, it's sweet, and it's kind of like Big Fat Greek Wedding but gay and Italian.

12) Far From Heaven (2002) -- Bad, bad, bad, bad, bad movie. I remember coming out and going "this isn't what we thought we were going to see at all."

13) The Rules of Attraction (2002) -- I really like this movie, and I don't know why. I really liked the cast -- Sannyn Sossamon really is a great and beautiful actress, and you can't deny how beautiful Ian Somerholder is. And James Van Der Beek actually proves he may have some talent. It's bizarre, but fun to watch.

14) Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) -- Two words: creepy backstory. Thanks, end of story.

And, of course, things I want to see on this list:

Sordid Lives
Yossi and Jagger
Ethan Mao (I actually own it but never watched it...)
Party Monster
At Home at the End of the World (also own it)
Imagine Me and You
The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Greene (I love the comic)
Capote (also own...)
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Running with Scissors

And where is Y Tu Mama Tambien or Infamous on this list???

Also not on this list but worth a quick note...

Stonewall (1995) -- Yet another bargain bin movie, before they even tried to make independent movies look nice. It's two people's stories up to the Stonewall rebellion. And there's some unnessary partial nudity in it, which is always fun with indies. My favorite part is the song "Mine eyes have seen the suff'rin' of the Negroes and the Jews..." LOL I watch it regularly, but it appears to be only on VHS in the world.

POP CULTURE: Top 10 Movies of All Time

Using the same rubric to judge if I like a movie -- repeat watchability + it has to have "stuck with me" in some way -- here is the follow up to the previous blog and my favorite movies of all time...

1) Incredibles (2004) -- In short, one of my favorite movies of all time. I love cartoons, and I love superheroes. I watched this, also, first with a client and have loved it ever since. My former roommate and I bonded over it, as well. We are oft to quote Edna Mode as many times as possible in any conversation.

2) Hairspray (2007) -- Is anyone really surprised? I don't think I have to talk about it anymore than I already have. But it still makes me smile everytime I watch it.

3) Clueless (1995) -- You are not allowed to laugh. This "simple little teen movie" is actually quite intelligent and well done. Besides, ultimately, it's one of the few movies that I can pop in a watch again and again. I think that highly of it.

4) Velvet Goldmine (1998) -- This might have been able to appear on the "gay" list. It's a movie about the glam rock scene of the 1970s. Again, I love Toni Collette, but it also has Ewan McGregor (naked), Christian Bale (partially naked), and Jonathan Rhys Meyers (mostly naked). The music is amazing and the setting/costumes/general look is beautiful. I was introduced to it by a friend of mine in high school and I have watched it ever since. Also one of the first DVDs I ever bought.

5) Edward Scissorhands (1990) -- The first movie I watched when I identified a very specific artistic style -- Tim Burton's. Clearly, I had seen lots of his movies before (Batman, Beetlejuice, etc.), but when I put the pieces together and started getting into him this was the first movie I went to see specifically for the director. I was not disappointed, and the bizarre modern fairy tale left me breathless. The scene with Winona Ryder dancing in the "snow" and then her asking him to hold her (towhit he responds "I can't") are just amazing. However, it's clear that he was just beginning to define himself as a director in this one.

6) Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) -- Love, love, love this movie. Also a Tim Burton movie. Um. Don't know what to say except I remember seeing the previews when I was little and thinking "WTF," and seeing it much much later and really enjoying it.

7) Willow (1988) -- Favorite fantasy movie of all time. It's always fun to meet another person who really likes this movie and you inevitably get the shrill "Change me back, Willow!" conversation.

8) Steel Magnolias (1989) Could, also, arguably, end up on the gay list. These are these women at their best. Sally Fields was unbelievable, as was Dolly Parton. Always watch it when it's on television -- it sucks me in for the two hours its on. Just a great movie, and it always makes me cry.

9) Labyrinth (1986) and The Dark Crystal (1982) -- Jim Henson movies. I love them both and watch them with fair to moderate regularity. My mother introduced all of us to the Dark Crystal, while Bagel brought me Labyrinth. These are just movies you watch and remember how cool they were when you were kids. Sidenotes:

9a) Seriously, David Bowie is fucking awesome in Labyrinth, and this movie introduced us all to Jennifer Connelly who is beautiful and amazingly talented (and is on my list of "women to fuck if I ever got the chance").

9b) The Skeksis, to this day, give me nightmares from the Dark Crystal.

10) As Good As it Gets (1997) -- I love Helen Hunt. I don't know what else to tell you.

And the honorable mention over here goes to...

11) Requiem for a Dream (2000) -- Best way I've ever heard it described: About four people hitting rock bottom and proceeding to dig. The only reason it didn't make the official list was because I definitely can't watch it over and over again. It's something that you have to be in a very sppecific state of mind to watch... and you can't be under the influence of anything.

Yea! That's my list!!! What are yours (if you read and have a blog, or if you just wanna post).

GAY STUFF: Top 10 LGBT Movies

On the back of both Darren and Juliet & Juliette posting blogs about their favorite movies, I thought I'd follow suit...

These two lists were extraordinarily hard to come up with. Mainly because, when asked, it's hard to really think of any movies at all. So, we used the idea of "movies that stuck with me." I'm not saying these are the most incredible movies of all times, but they are movies that have left me with something, or are movies that I can watch over and over and over again. I'll note some obvious missing pics on both lists.

Also, neither of them are in any particular order.

Top Ten LGBT Films of All Time

1) Happy Together (1997, Japan)-- This was the first strictly gay movie I had ever seen, and I picked it up randomly from the "return" bin while I worked at the library at Miami. The reason it stuck with me so long is because it was the first time I had ever seen anal sex handled in a relationship on a film and they made it looked... well, almost natural. I thought that was neat.

2) Better than Chocolate (1999, Canada)-- The only lesbian-exclusive film on the list. It's cute, it's fun, and I love the basis for the title in the movie (ie, orgasms are better than chocolate). It's a cutesy little film from Canada, but it talks about some interesting and strange issues, including censorship and trans-relationships.

3) The Broken Hearts Club (2000, USA) -- It's a really really cute movie, and really sweet and I make recommendations to a lot of straight friends to watch it because I think it talks about the whole "newbie" syndrome quite effectively. It's a little foray in the 20-something gay adolescence we get to go through, and you'll notice (if you know me) that I get a lot of my "gay lingo" from this movie. And there are two great quotes that have stuck with me:

A lot of people ask me when I first knew I was gay. Fact is, I don't know. But what I do remember, what I can recall, is when I first realized it was Okay: It was when I met these guys. My friends.

Everyone can't be straight. Everyone can't be beautiful. Everyone can't be the same, Patrick. Some people are just gay and average. We're the strongest I think

Besides, it has a line-up of characters that you'll spend you're time going -- I know that actor. What's funny is, if you're gay, you'll spend your time going -- I know that guy.

4) The Birdcage (1996, USA) -- I just always have to watch it when its on. I also once had a client who would sit and watch it with me every time we heard it was coming on TV. I really enjoyed watching it with him. It's cute, it's funny... but it also has a lot of really special memories for me.

5) To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (1995, USA) -- Patrick Swayze, John Leguizamo, and Wesley Snipes in drag... how could you go wrong??? Besides, with lines like "I got more legs than a bucket of chicken," this was destined to be a campy classic.

6) Connie and Carla (2004, USA) -- I watch this movie over and over and over again. I've nearly destroyed the CD. It's not quite the drag classic that, say, To Wong Foo or Priscilla, Queen of the Desert are, but it's still wonderful. And I love Toni Colette. End of story.

7) But I'm a Cheerleader (1999, USA) -- This was fresh in people's mind when I went to college, and it's one of the first DVD's I bought. It's really sweet and ultimately campy as hell. RuPaul out of drag -- that's funny. Sweet little love story, and it's done in an appropriately bizarre way.

8) Unveiled (2005, France) -- Ironically, I saw this at Outreels, our now-defunct LGBT movie festival. It's beautifully done, extraordinarily poignant, and I'm not sure why I liked it as much as I did. I will say that I left the movie theatre feeling uplifted by the whole showing, and it made me very happy to have watched it.

9) Camp (2003, USA) -- Don't laugh at me. This turned out to be an amazingly on-point movie about kids at a theatre camp. The music is excellent, the cast handles everything with grace, and, even though there are moments where you're like "jesus, these low-budget indie films," you got to hand it to them to make such a great, watchable movie from almost nothing. And to have it so widely watched with almost no publicity.

10) I'm throwing three down for the last one because they are all short documentaries:

10a) Meth: The Movie (2006, USA by Todd Ahlberg) -- About meth and gay men. I still reference a line to people who seek a geographical cure to their addiction from this movie: "I landed in Miami to get off the meth... you know, as soon as I used up everything I had on me."
10b) Hooked (2003, USA by Todd Ahlberg) -- About gay men and online hooking up. I had forgotten about this one when I made this list, but it does well talking about the subject matter.
10c) The Gift (2003, USA by Louise Hogarth) -- About gay men actively seeking HIV infection. The director handles the topic matter amazingly well. It is worth a watch.

And I do want to give an honorable mention to...

11) Trick (1999, USA) -- People are going to laugh at me for putting this on the list, mainly because it's usually listed as "typical gay movie" more often than not. And it is. But it's its typicalness that makes it excellent and makes it interesting to watch. And the whole monologue by Tori Spelling in it was darling. Besides, I watch it over and over and over again.

There are clearly some things left off that people are going to go WTF on: And the Band Played On (it translated poorly from book to movie), Philadelphia (I've never seen the whole thing, and I don't know if I'm interested enough to), Priscilla, Queen of the Desert(loved it, but it's not in my "favorites" list), Rocky Horror Picture Show(I can't watch it over and over -- I can only really watch it when you're in the theater), Eating Out(despite having hot naked guys, it didn't have the same ring to me as Trick did), Trembling Before G-d(great documentary, but didn't leave me the same way some of the others did... more of "oh, this is interesting" as opposed to "WOW"), Small Town Gay Bar(shockingly, never seen it), Boys Don't Cry(I had the opportunity to buy it for like $7 and didn't -- that should tell you something), and Angels in America(don't crucify me when I tell you I have never seen it).