Reviews in 5

I’ve always been a fan of the director Chris Columbus, but a couple of years ago The Big Bang Theory  changed everything for me.

There was one particular episode that aired on Columbus day that had a scene of the four guys all huddled around their little television when their neighbor, Penny, walks in and asked what they were doing.

They responded by informing her that they were watching Young Sherlock Holmes, Gremlins, and The Goonies. And when pressed for a reason why, they responded simply that they were celebrating Christopher Columbus Day!

image courtesy of deadline.com

I thought that was brilliant! For so many of us Christopher Columbus day has become just some random day in October when the banks all close and our favorite shops put select items on sale. But now, our generation has the potential to make it so much more by using it as a day to honor one of our greatest directors.

I know, I know, right now you are probably asking yourself “Why are we honoring Chris Columbus and not Steven Spielberg, Alfred Hitchcock, or Francis Ford Coppola?”

Well, it is not my fault that none of them were named after an explorer from the fifteenth century is it? And besides, I honor Francis Ford Coppola by watching the Godfather trilogy every Christmas Day.

Anyway, since today is Christopher Columbus Day, I recommend that everyone stops what they are doing, grab some popcorn or your favorite movie snack, and pick your favorite Chris Columbus movie to watch.

Just in case you need any suggestions, here are my recommendations…

5. The Goonies

image courtesy of ulike.net

The Goonies was an idea created by Steven Spielberg, but he handed it over to Columbus to write the screenplay. This film is a classic from the 80′s due to all of its numerous one liners like; “Do the Truffle Shuffle!”, “Jeeerk Alert!”, and (my personal favorite) “This is our time! It’s our time, down here!” This film was the start of great careers for Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, and even Martha Plimpton who is now staring on the Fox tv show, Raising Hope. The Goonies is just such a fun nostalgic movie that I look forward to re-watching every year.

4. Adventures in Babysitting

image couresy of posteritati.com

Adventures in Babysitting was the film that Columbus used to launch his own directorial career. It stars Elisabeth Shue, Keith Coogan, and also includes a brief appearance by, my favorite, Bradley Whitford! My sisters and I watched this movie through out our entire childhoods! We would dance around the room to “Then He Kissed Me” by the Crystals, and we knew all the words to the Babysitting Blues number. And, since I have yet to see the film version from last year, Adventures in Babysitting remains to be the only reference I have for the character of Thor.

3. Gremlins

image courtesy of sodahead.com

The first script that Columbus sold was the one and only Gremlins! Okay, I have to admit, I don’t do well with scary movies and so Gremlins has never really been one of my favorites. I know it’s not that scary, but that scene when the mom is going up the stairs to find all the pods have exploded gives me nightmares. I still get chills whenever I hear the Christmas Carol “Do You See What I See“. But since Columbus day does take place in October, the perfect time for slightly scary movies, it is becoming one of my favorites to go back and watch.

2. Harry Potter

image courtesy of sodahead.com

Columbus directed the first two Harry Potter films (The Sorcerer’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets) and was one of the Producers for the third film (Prisoner of Azkaban). The first two films had a very different feel then the rest of the installments, but I think Columbus was the best choice to start off the series. He did a fantastic job and should be very proud of how the rest of the series, and all those young stars, turned out. He was there when Daniel Radcliffe and the others were just being casted, and look at how great they are all doing now! I’m not saying that Chris Columbus is directly responsible, but he was there at the beginning and he was a part of selecting them, I think that deserves at least a pat on the back.

1. RENT!

image courtesy of fandomania.com

I know a lot of people out there will be shocked that I would put Rent over Harry Potter, all I can say to that is that the people who are confused by my choice, clearly don’t know me very well! I love to sing and I love musicals, and Rent is one of my favorite musicals of all time! And Columbus did a fantastic job adapting it from the Broadway stage to the big screen. Columbus graduated from NYU and felt very connected to the project about New York City, and it shows! He took great care in honoring the true experience of the musical and in turn honoring the shows creator Jonathan Larson. My favorite scene is the one where Idina Menzel and Traci Thomas sing “Take Me or Leave Me.” In the Broadway version the song is sung with two performers doing circles around a rectangular table, and that’ it, but in the film, Columbus has them starting out climbing on tables in a reception hall, then moving it out into an elaborate stairwell, then into a study where Menzel get’s on top of a pool table. The song is powerful regardless of the choreography, but I love that Columbus and his team did so much with it and made it scene that is filled with energy and life. I love Rent and out of all the Columbus movies I try to fit in on Columbus Day, it is the only one that is an absolute must!

I hope everyone has a great Columbus Day! Last year I also started the tradition that along with all my favorites I watch on Columbus Day I also try to fit in one I have yet to see. Last year it was the Young Sherlock Holmes. This year I’m thinking Percy Jackson, but if you have any other suggestions, please let me know!

brought to you by Courtney

who is very thirsty, but too lazy to get up to go to the refrigerator