Toki's Top Ten Films (for one reason or another) for the Stuff I Love: Top Ten Edition Challenge 1 /o/

1. The Birdcage
My ultimate comfort movie. I have watched it so many times I can recite it word by word. I think of the drag number rehearsal scene with Robin Williams bursting into a celebration of dance daily. "Keep your goddamn pinky down." "Purple mountains majesty..." "FUCK the shrimp!" "It's ours." I love found family and elder queers and the pointed questions on what exactly it means to perform masculinity or femininity. It's been 20+ years and Val is still clearly the villain of the film it drives me insane (bro was also not a compelling actor lmaooo.)

2. The Mummy
Did I enjoy the 2nd film? Yes! But it's the first one I always think of and have watched repeatedly. I adore Evie. She and Rick develop so sweetly together. As a dyke I look at Brendan Fraiser in that movie specifically and think **GENDER** because his looks give soft butch to me and I've never gotten over it. The movie has action, adventure, comedy and to quote a friend, "Sometimes a 6/10 movie is your 10/10 movie." It's perfect to me!!!!!!!!

"YOU'RE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE RIVEEER!"

3. Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
I rewatched the trilogy (movie 4&5 do not exist to me, I've never seen them and I never will) recently but the first movie really wraps up so nicely on its own I can just watch it on repeat. Jack/Will/Elizabeth are the disaster throuple of my heart. JackWill is my current obsession. Elizabeth/Anamaria and Elizabeth/Norrington are my 'Elizabeth goes on a gender and sexuality journey,' pairings. The soundtrack is bomb. The reveal of the undead curse on Barbossa's crew is SO SICK. I love attractive people being wet and windswept all the time. Jack Sparrow is a bisexual terrorist who will join or break up your marriage and I think that's beautiful.

4. Batman: The Dark Knight
One of my BATMAN MOVIES OF ALL TIME (tm). I watched this film in theaters when it came out and my mouth dropped open in shock and joy every scene. I left the theater fannish and electrified. I was in batjokes comms on LJ and this movie was like finding a strange, new buffet. Heath Ledger is my 2nd favorite Joker (Mark Hamill you will always be #1) and he fits so seamlessly into Nolanverse that I believed him for every second. His first two on screen appearances are written so tightly, I've never seen such a great example of "You do not know what this guy is going to do and it is TERRIFYING." The interrogation scene is one I rewind over and over endlessly.

5. Muppet Treasure Island
My favorite Muppet movie. "Professional Pirate," is my favorite musical number. Tim Curry is an amazing Long John Silver and I love that Miss Piggy canonically had a fling with him. I am weak to tiny outfits and there are soooo many cute ones for all the muppets. It's a fun film with a strong heart and across multiple adaptations, I often look for stories set in the future where Jim has found Silver again. I like their dynamic as a father/son or as a romantic couple \o/

6. Winnie the Pooh
One of The films of my childhood. There is something so gentle and slow moving about the original film - I love the animation of the trees and homes of all the animal friends. My wife's nickname for me is Blondie Bear and she frequently references "silly old bear," it never fails to make me smile.

7. But I'm A Cheerleader
There were many formative gay movies in my youth but this one stood above the rest. Natasha Lyonne and Clea Duvall??? Their chemistry was insaaaaaane. This movie toed the line between comedy and critically showing the harm in gay conversion camps. I loved the Ex-ex-gays and the building of community - and the ending cheerleader scene... Sapphic feels forever hhhhhh.

8. Tarzan
Upon rewatch as an adult, this shot high up on my list. Phil Collins' soundtrack still makes me emotional. I love the anatomy developed for Tarzan, and that he is a character who is so, so gentle. I believe his love story with Jane fully. I believe if Jane had been a man it would have ended up the same way.

9. Hook
Me realizing there are lots of flamboyant pirates on this list, lol. I guess I'm more into pirates than I thought. Hook was a surprise to me - Peter Pan isn't my favorite of Disney's films but this idea of a grown Peter returning really captivated me. The film was inherently magical because it captured Peter rediscovering his joy and a sense of play he gave up because he assumed he had to. The scene where he finally believes that the food is real is one of my favorites. And of course, Dante Basco as Rufio was such a scene stealer. I especially liked that regaining that belief is what allows him to connect and ultimately save his children from Hook.

10. James and the Giant Peach
Speaking of magic: one of my favorite stop-motion films (honestly, I debated which Tim Burton film would inevitably make this list and decided it had to be this one.) Of all the images, the warm glowing light from inside the peach has stuck with me all these years. The insect friends are all friends I know would have cured my fear of insects much earlier and I enjoyed at the end of the film they got to live out their dreams in New York. The live action segments aren't bad at all but the highlights for me were the stop-motion elements.