The top 5 best movies of all time

Have you ever really thought through what your five most favorite movies are? I think because there are so many movies it would be difficult to decide one just one favorite movie, but what about 5? Maybe some of you have played the game where you have to decide which 5 books you would have with you on a desert island? Well, I challenge you to decide, if you were deserted on an island with only a portable DVD player (and a big battery) which five movies would you take with you?

In my down time the last couple weeks I've found my mind going back to this question and I feel like I am finally ready to answer. So without further ado, here are Jonathan's top 5!

1. Contact - I'm not sure what it is about this movie but I can't not place this at number one. It is one of the most scientifically accurate movies ever made, and has some amazing acting by Jodie Foster and Matthew Mcconaughey. However, when it comes down to it, it is number one because it evokes an emotion deep withinme that I actually can't even name.

"I guess I'd say if it is just us... seems like an awful waste of space."

2. Raiders of the Lost Ark - Does this even need explaining? This is the ultimate adventure movie. The hero, Indiana, is both brilliant and the luckiest man alive. Throw in a priceless religious artifact, Nazi germans and great female lead and you have Raiders. This excited my desire for adventure when I was a child, and now as an adult I can still watch it and remember what it felt like to want to grow up to bean archeoligist with a whip.

"Asps... very dangerous. You go first."

3. When Harry Met Sally - Wait, what? A rom-com on a top 5 movies list? Yes people, that's right. Arguably one of the best written comedies of all time. Dialouge so fast, and so witty that Billy Crystal is the only actor who could have pulled off the amazing complex character of Harry. Jenn and I have watched this movie dozens of times, and we could easily watch it once a week for the rest of our lives. It is our favorite movie to watch when we are away from home on a trip and want to feel at home.

"Look at that, I said I was going to let it lie and then I didn't."

4. Lost in Translation - This movie is extremely unique. Just like number 1 on this list, this movie makes me feel deeply, and I can't even label exactly what those feelings are. I don't think any other movie has so beautifully captured what it feels like to feel out of place. This is another one of our favorite movies to watch when we can't travel, but wish we could. We love to feel out of place together, and this movie allows us to experience that without leaving the house.

"Well you figure, you sleep one-third of your life, that knocks out eight years of marriage right there. So you're, y'know, down to 16 in change. You know you're just a teenager, at marriage, you can drive it but there's still the occasional accident."

5. Unbreakable - So why not the Sixth Sense? While the Sixth Sense has arguably the best twist ending of all time, I feel like the brilliant dialogue written by M. Night for this film is outstanding. Combined with cinematography that perfectly captures the tone of the film and you get a movie that is the perfect set up for a trilogy. In addition, Bruce Willis really flexed his acting muscle in creating, what I think, is one of the most complex superheroes I've ever seen on film.

"Its alright to be afraid, David, because this part won't be like a comic book."

Honorable mention

6. Monsoon Wedding - My favorite foreign film of all time, and arguably just as deserving as the other 5 to be in the top 5. But alas, there are 6 movies. Not being from India it is hard to tell how accurate this movie is, but I loved being able to watch this family go through the emotional roller coaster leading up to a wedding. Being able to experience another culture in such a visceral way is truly an amazing experience. (The Namesake could easily of been up here as well were it not so Americanized, but Mira Nair did an great job with both.)

"These are my children, and I will protect them from myself even if I have to."

(Also as an FYI, number 7 would be Castaway, but I had a hard time putting two of Zemeckis' films in the top 5)

So thats the list!! Even now having written it you remember another movie and start to think that perhaps it should have been on the list. Its funny how truly difficult it is to come up with a list like this! I challenge you to think about it, which 5 movies would be on your list? If you know them go ahead and list them in the comments section! Any movie in your top 5 that I haven't seen, is a must see in my opinion if you would rank it that highly.

For the record, I think Jenn would agree with a few of these, but may object to my top two :)

So, what are your top 5?

Frogs and Snails and Puppy-Dog Tails...

Morse code kicks from Dave: "Mom, this is your son. Send more potatoes."

While Facebook has been our baby-update media of choice, I thought I would post an announcement on our family blog as well: we're having a boy!

Everybody, meet David. This image was taken about five weeks ago (16 weeks). As you can see, we caught him mid kata, poised for a front snap kick. (Remember those, Matt? Not from the womb, but from your Dan Verdugo karate days?)

I'm sorry to say that, at this point, this poor child is still without a middle name, but we've discussed some good contenders. I think we should just go with Bronwyn and Jeremy's suggestion (when they were deciding on their first child's middle name) and choose an ASL sign: first name, (super meaningful hand motion), last name.

On a more decisive note, we have registered for baby things! Armed with two books and a scan gun, we inched our way through Babies R Us, scanning items for David's sleeping, bathing, feeding, traveling and playing wants/needs. In terms of the nursery, we're going nautical:

And of course we can't forget about all of the treasures that can be found on eBay and Craigslist:

It's been so fun figuring our how to prepare our nest for this little man! I could write a completely separate, and epic entry about trying to prepare for parenthood, but for now I'll leave you with potential paint colors instead. Those are much easier to sum up in a photo:

Rise and Shine

This morning, for the second time in the last week or so, I am up earlier than expected. This is because the baby is up earlier than expected:) I don't think it's bizarre that there is another person developing within me, but it is bizarre when an internal presence wakes me up... Usually the culprits are external--birds, thunder, the neighbor's dogs. Not so any longer. This morning it was a series of subtle, then not so subtle kick-punches just below my left set of ribs.

Jon can tell you how much I value my sleep, but rising and shining for this little person is not so bad:) It's actually a very sweet way to wake up.

Setting Sale

Friends, there are at least three reasons why today is shaping up to be a spectacular day:

1. It's Friday afternoon

2. The World Cup has begun

3. Team Pagan embarked upon their first yard sale and emerged as champions

Were my joy to manifest, it would look something like this. The search result after typing "happy jumping people" into Google Images. I would look like the person in between the blue and green panel, but rounder, and likely lower to the ground.

This morning before work, Jon and I drove to a yard sale that a friend-of-a-friend was hosting. After 20 minutes of browsing, we walked away with the following treasures:

1. Baby Bjorn

I kid, although I think it would be hysterical and redundant to see Bjorn donning a Bjorn.

The real deal as purchased by us.

2. Lime Bumbo (plus tray!)


3. Complete Set of Baby Einstein DVD's

I know, the recent lawsuit may have indicated that Baby Einstein products won't, in fact, turn our son into the next DaVinci or Mozart, but if they will keep him engaged in his Bumbo while I'm cooking dinner, we'll consider this purchase a win.

All practically new and obscenely discounted! Yes!

I do like the satisfaction that comes from a successful yard sale experience. Great suggestion, Jon!