top fives, part one

[such_heights]

So, alas, there was no internet on the bus for me! And then I was distracted by going and having dim sum with magnetic_pole and her partner, and now I am at midnitemaraud_r's place, yay. But I did write some lists, so here's a batch:

Top 5 Queer Movies

1. Imagine Me & You. omg FAVOURITE. It is a gorgeous, adorable film that makes my heart grow three sizes and also adore Lena Headey more than I already do. Everything about it, right from the all the beautiful shots of England in autumn through to surprise Angel Coulby cameo at the end, fills my heart with deep, deep gladness.

2. Saving Face. ALSO ADORABLE OMG. Note to self: when glass_icarus tells me to watch things, I should get on that right away. (See also A:TLA.)

3. Transamerica. Oh my, I love Bree SO MUCH, I think she's fabulous, I find the whole road trip saga of the film entirely charming, and it makes me smile and smile - hurray for trans characters who get happy endings!

4. My Beautiful Laundrette. It's a pretty weird film, but it's a British film from the 80s so this is to be expected. It kind of baffled me on first watching, but it has grown on me enormously since then.

And I only make it to four, which is kind of sad! Other queer films either bother me in one aspect or another (or are just bad), or are on my to-watch pile. I still need to watch films like But I'm A Cheerleader and Itty Bitty Titty Committee and Beautiful Boxer, for example.

Top 5 Goals for the Future

1. To figure out what my best talents are, and find where I can put them to use to do the most good. Which becomes a pretty complicated question pretty quickly, so I'll get back to you when I've worked it out!

2. You know, it would be really nice to get rid of my student debt one of these days.

3. To get to know myself and my body better so I can live my life as fully as possible whilst respecting the restrictions that my health places on me.

4. To go work in a brand new city, maybe in a brand new country.

5. Also, I'd really love to ace this year of postgrad.

Top 5 A:TLA moments (spoilers)

1. Azula, Mai, Ty Lee and Zuko have a teen angst moment on my beach. Everything about it is totally fabulous and delightful, and of course the crowning moment is Zuko's: "Bad skin? Normal teenagers worry about bad skin. I don't have that luxury. My father taught me a permanent lesson … ON MY FACE." Which I have quoted at far too many people far too regularly, but I don't care because it never stops being hilarious.

2. Katara and Toph attempt to pull a scam and end up in a jail cell where Toph can't earthbend, so Katara discovers that if she starts jogging on the spot, she can waterbend her own sweat! Toph's reaction of mingled disgust and admiration is wonderful, and the whole scene is really great, and also happily body-positive.

3. Every time Katara glowers at/threatens Zuko. (Where is the D/s fic, where?)

4. Every time Toph METAL BENDS LIKE A BADASS.

5. That time when Aang turned into Kevin Bacon and gave all the Fire Nation kids a Footloose party. :D

Top 5 BSG characters


1. Laura Roslin.


2. Anastasia 'Dee' Dualla.


3. Kara 'Starbuck' Thrace.


4. Caprica Six.


5. Sharon 'Athena' Agathon.

(Why yes, I did watch this show for the ladies. Honorary shout-outs to the dudes I liked best: Sam, Gaeta and Helo.)

Top 5 fictional geniuses

"Are you sure that's a real spell? Well, it's not very good is it? I've tried a few simple spells myself and they've all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, it's the best school of witchcraft there is I've heard - I've learned all the course books by heart of course. I just hope it will be enough - I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you?"

1. Hermione Granger.

"There's something that doesn't make sense. Let's go and poke it with a stick."

2. The Doctor.

Tosh: Come on guys, that wasn't even difficult. A disappointment.

Ianto: It's almost obscene what you do to security systems.

3. Toshiko Sato.

"I built an atomic bomb for my grade six science fair exhibit."

4. Rodney McKay.

"'Day' is a vestigial mode of time measurement based on solar cycles. It's not applicable... I didn't get you anything."

5. River Tam.

Comments

[sasha_feather]

Ha, this is great. I'll have to check out those queer movies.

[such_heights]

I recommend them highly! :D

[gorgeousnerd]

You totally have to see But I'm a Cheerleader; it's one of my favorites. Have you seen D.E.B.S.? (And Beautiful Boxer is on my to-see list after that vid, lordy.)

I love your A:TLA moments and BSG list. ♥

[such_heights]

D.E.B.S.! That's another one I need to check out, actually.

[gorgeousnerd]

It's super adorable! I watch it whenever I need a pick-me-up.

[glinda]

Yay queer movie recs! I must add those to my 'to watch' list (well except My Beautiful Laundrette which is on my physical 'to watch' list which is a pile of DVDs that taunt me with their unwatchedness from beside my stereo!). Oooh have you seen Nina's Heavenly Delights its not particularly deep but its a sweet little romantic comedy with lesbians in Glasgow!

[such_heights]

Ooh, that sounds great! I will investigate. :D

[sophinisba]

I like all those movies on your list too. Have you seen The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love? It's in a somewhat similar vein as the first two of fluffy lesbian romantic comedy. I'm really fond of it.

[such_heights]

I have not, though I have seen a vid for it and it looks v adorable.

[glass_icarus]

*\o/*!!!! to this entire post! :D

[such_heights]

:D

[magnetic_pole]

My Beautiful Laundrette! I saw that so long ago, when I was in high school, I think, and the racial dynamics of it blew me away--here were people who distrusted each other and didn't entirely understand each other and lived together not entirely happily or unhappily--tension below the surface, rather than outright conflict or false, sunny interracial peace.

So, so wonderful to finally meet you! M.

[such_heights]

Yes, definitely - I really love the realism of it, it's great to see things like that.

You too, and thanks again for generally looking after me!

[liseuse]

You should watch But I'm A Cheerleader if only because it is a classic. I was charmed by Itty Bitty Titty Committee I tell you, charmed! I have never even heard of Beautiful Boxer so clearly I need to put that on my rental list!

[such_heights]

So many things to watch, so little time!

[liseuse]

Conundrums!

[secondsilk]

River!

I still haven't seen Imagine Me & You; I will have to put it on the list. My Beautiful Laundrette is already on the list!

Have you seen The Crying Game?

[such_heights]

I have not, no - thanks for the rec! And IM&Y is just so great I can't even deal with it. <333

[eumelkeks]

Awww, Maurice and The Sum of Us aren't in your top five gay movies? Pity, they're both great.

[such_heights]

I have not seen either - clearly I should rectify this!

[zahrawithaz.livejournal.com]

I love your queer film list. It's funny, because my own list would be very different (except for Saving Face, because OMG wonderful!), mostly because of the time I came out. I'm not sure I could objectively evaluate Fire or The Incredible True Adventure of Two Girls in Love or even The Watermelon Woman, but they were all incredibly important to me.

That said, I can't resist throwing in some recs of my own:
When Night Is Falling--I will always love this film for its visual poetry, representing queer women's sex through aesthetics. (Why I also love The Gymnast, though WNIF is better.)
Intimates (original title Ji Sor, I think)--a cheesy epic Hong Kong film about the love of two women against the epic backdrop of twentieth-century Chinese history. Did I mention it's epic? It's like Titanic with queer women. I love every single cheesy moment.
Show Me Love (Fucking Amal in the original Swedish)--not sure how this would translate to the current moment, but I love its honest exploration of high school, which contradicts many of the cultural restrictions about how high school must always be presented in the US

[such_heights]

*makes many notes* Thanks for the recs!

[shopfront]

I also highly recommend D.E.B.S., which I only just got around to the other day myself. I also love Puccini for Beginners, I Can't Think Straight, Kissing Jessica Stein, Show Me Love, and Lost & Delirious. Vicky Cristina Barcelona, The Secret Lives of Pippa Lee and The Runaways are recent movies with some queer content that I've also enjoyed.

Some movies I haven't seen yet, but have liked the trailers (and/or the review articles, if as per usual I've only heard of them via AfterEllen.com) for are Room in Rome, Elena Undone, Chloe, The Kids Are Alright, I Am Love, Boogie Woogie, Viola di Mare, Piece of my Heart, and Everybody's Fine.

[such_heights]

Ooh, I haven't even heard of most of those, thanks for the recs!

[sunnyrea.livejournal.com]

Best River quote!

And But I'm a Cheerleader is damn hilarious not to mention so very cute. If I owned it we would watch it when you're here. Maybe I'll get it just so we can watch it. Have you seen Tipping the Velvet? I know its a mini series but I still love it and that I already own.

Still need to see Imagine Me & You. Its on my Netflix.

[such_heights]

I have not seen Tipping the Velvet, actually - I'm about halfway through the book, so I shall have to finish that first and then watch it.

[sunnyrea.livejournal.com]

ooooooo Love the book! I would read that all the time!