10 Movies I Could Watch Forever

As a start, I've decided to share 10 of my favorite films. I highly recommend all of these.

10/10 m8.

1. La Haine

I've watched 'La Haine' about a dozen times now, and will watch it over and over again and never get sick of it. Three young adult men, living in the projects of Paris, wander aimlessly about their home turf in the aftermath of the violence as they try to come to grips with their outrage over a brutal incident that happened to an Arab friend of theirs. Also, Vincent Cassel is in this and I'll pretty much watch anything he does. Seriously.

2. Stepmom

Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon with Ed Harris being somebody's ex, husband, and father? Sign me up.

A few years after Luke and Jackie get divorced, Luke gets involved with a younger woman, Isabel Kelly. But, when the flaky Kelly meets Luke's children for the first time, their fierce allegiance to their mother is obvious. Try as she might, Kelly fails to endear herself to her young charges -- and to Jackie -- until a looming family crisis changes everything.

This is also my favorite role Sarandon has ever played. This movie hasn't gotten great reviews from critics but I love it and would recommend it to anyone who loves family movies.

3. West Beirut (بيروت الغربية)

This one tops my list. I was going to add it as either the first movie or the last on this post, but I feel like this movie is my very own and I never tell people how much I love it in fear that it'll become too popular as a 90s Arabic film and that it'll become a bunch of 13 year old's "aesthetic" and will ruin it for me. This is THE ONLY movie on Arabs, and especially teenage arabs, that somewhat accurately represents us. These fucking Hollywood and European portrayals of us are pure trash. I've never watched a foreign movie on arabs that I ever related to. If you want to know what our experiences are growing up, watch Arabic movies that tell you those stories. This one in particular is a favorite of mine, it's not realistically accurate but artistically it is. On another note, a British filmmaker who grew up in Liverpool will obviously not be able to tell a true story on a kid who was born in Lebanon, so please do not accredit the false portrayals of us.

(P.S: this movie is on Youtube with English subs, enjoy.:

4. Father of The Bride (Steve Martin remake)

I love this movie for several reasons. First, the cast--Steve Martin, Martin Short, AND Diane Keaton are all in this. Second, it's my mom's favorite. Lastly, it's so cozy.

Not to mention that Martin Short's name is Franck Eggelhoffer which is top notch for me. George Banks and his wife, Nina, are the proud parents of Annie, but when she returns from studying abroad and announces that she's engaged, their whole world turns upside down, especially that of overprotective George. From meeting the in-laws to wedding plans with an over-the-top consultant (Martin Short) and his flamboyant assistant, it seems as if the troubles never end in this update of the classic Spencer Tracy comedy.

5. The Russian Ark

A 19th century French aristocrat, notorious for his scathing memoirs about life in Russia, travels through the Russian State Hermitage Museum and encounters historical figures from the last 200+ years.

The most amazing thing about this movie is that it was shot by one camera IN ONE SHOT. They didn't spend 30-something days filming it. Instead, they rehearsed like a play and filmed it in ONE FUCKING SHOT. If that's not incredibly astonishing talent, I don't know what is. Alexander Sokurov is a genius and I would say that this is one of his GREATEST works. His best. Not to mention, how beautiful the costumes, the artwork, and the setting is.

6. Where Do We Go Now? (وهلّأ لوين؟ / Et maintenant, on va où?)

A group of Lebanese women try to ease religious tensions between Christians and Muslims in their village.

Nadine Labaki is my all time favorite Arab director, as she portrays all things that other Arab movie creators are too afraid to talk about. Caramel is my favorite work made by her, but I've decided to share this one as it has a more important message to it.

7. Seven Samurai

A samurai answers a village's request for protection after he falls on hard times. The town needs protection from bandits, so the samurai gathers six others to help him teach the people how to defend themselves, and the villagers provide the soldiers with food. A giant battle occurs when 40 bandits attack the village.

This was the longest movie I've ever watched. 3hrs and 27 fucking minutes. It's a masterpiece therefore its probably worth it. I've only seen it once and not that long time ago, but would watch it again for its incredible story, characters, and the iconic fight scene.

8. The Cure

I cried for a week after I first watched this movie. I still cry every time I watch it. You will cry too. You will. Trust me. You fucking will.

Erik, a loner, finds a friend in Dexter, an eleven-year-old boy with AIDS. They vow to find a cure for AIDS together and save Dexter's life in an eventful summer.

9. Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Two girlfriends on a summer holiday in Spain become enamored with the same painter, unaware that his ex-wife, with whom he has a tempestuous relationship, is about to re-enter the picture.

I hate Woody Allen; 90% of his movies are a complete bore, and to state the obvious, he's a horrible person.

Despite that, this movie is a favorite of mine because of the story and mostly because I have a huge crush on Penelope Cruz. Plus, this is the only role that Javier Bardem ever did justice to (as you can tell, I'm not a huge fan of his).

10. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

"I woke up this morning and I hated everything"

*redecorates the house*

I love badass women in movies, which is why it took me half an hour to pick one more movie worthy of being on this list. I worship Angelina, she is a gift to the world. I wanted to be Lara Croft as a kid when I first watched this movie, and now I still want to be a badass Lara Croft at 17 years old.

Also, fuck the remake, fuck Alicia Vikander, fuck remakes of classics, and this'll always be the only version that is worth being mentioned.

That's pretty much it for this list. Enjoy buddies.