Saturday, June 21, 2008

How classic!


To celebrate its 1,000th issue, Entertainment Weekly has compiled lists of what it calls the "new classics" celebrating the best in pop culture of the past 25 years. It includes films, tv shows, albums, books, and theatre (although they only come up with 50 plays and musicals -- I guess 100 was pushing it a little). There are more lists beyond this, but these were the ones I found interesting.


For those of you who know me, you know I'm a sucker for lists like this and am in constant competition with myself to see how many items on these lists I've seen or experienced. Clearly, I've seen a lot of movies in the past 25 years since I've seen 87 of the 100 "new classics." I have not, however, spent much time reading, apparently, since I've only read 29 of the books on the list. (One note about the book list that sort of "bothered" me -- they mashed together fiction, non-fiction, adolescent lit, graphic novels, and satire all on one list. There were several books on the list that are currently sitting on my shelves waiting for me to get around to reading them and some that I just don't know I'm that keen to read -- like John Le Carre or Joyce Carol Oates (Joyce has just never really done anything for me).


Sure, there are glaring omissions (especially on the film list -- note the absence of Shawshank Redemption, JFK, Clerks, The Usual Suspects, Heathers, Resevoir Dogs, etc.) and some head scratchers (seriously -- Napoleon Dynamite? And Titanic is number 3??? I also have a hard time buying Purple Rain as the greatest album of the past 25 years when I've heard Achtung Baby, The Joshua Tree, Appetite for Destruction, Nevermind, Graceland, Odelay, etc -- and does it really count to include Bob Marley's Legend? It's a greatest hits package! Fine, then I nominate The Beatles 1!), but that adds to the fun of the lists, too, as you second guess the "experts" and put together your alternative list. What would be on YOUR alternative list?

4 comments:

jiboo11 said...

Your Links are still not working.... Remind me of this when you read this, and I will fix them for you

--J

Mel said...

I fixed 'em!

dbz said...

I cannot accept Titanic in the #3 spot ... I recently saw it again, and wouldn't you know it: halfway through the water scene (the endless water scene good lord would you drown already!!!), I had to pause and use the restroom ... that is NOT good film-making!

And Purple Rain? Clearly the author(s) of these lists is experiencing some form of dementia or is Prince himself.

Bah!

Mel said...

OMG! When I saw Titanic in the theatre, the theatre was incredibly cold (which always makes me have to pee) and I was drinking a giant Coke (which always makes me have to pee). That water started rushing, and I seriously was in the bathroom every 5 minutes! Imagine my surprise years later when I saw it again and found out Leo died. ;)