Highly Recommended

[Kristin]

If you're like me, you're constantly recommending stuff to friends and family ... movies, books, music, etc.

So what are your favorite recommendations? I'm mostly talking about stuff that isn't hugely popular, so you feel the need to make people aware of it. The you've-probably-never-heard-of-this-but-I-know-you're-going-to-like-it recommendation.

Here are ones I always recommend most highly: :cool:

Movie: Waiting for Guffman (funniest movie ever!)

Music: Dar Williams (pop-folk music that is wonderful)

Book: To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis (my favorite non-HP book, usually shelved with sci-fi/fantasy)

Music: The Last Five Years (an off-Broadway musical that's hip and modern and altogether wonderful. I haven't stopped listening to it.)

Play: The Last Night of Ballyhoo by Alfred Uhry (funny and poignant play about Jews in the South. Read it if you can't see it.)

[Colli]

Ooooh great idea!

Um... let me try to pick things you all might not have already seen. ;)

Movie: My Best Friend's Wedding, starring Julia Roberts, Rupert Everett, Cameron Diaz, and some guy I can't remember. It's a cheesy chick flick but absolutely HILARIOUS.

Book: The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy. The French guillotine, a hero, a pompous jerk, and his wife. Mystery and betrayal! It's great stuff.

[lithorose]

Books: Brave New World. Very applicable for a consumerist society.

Movies: Well, Pirates of the Caribbean, of course! Also an old 80s film called Where Toys Come From, which takes a tour through a toy factory from the perspective of the toys. Great fun. Too tired to think of any more.;)

[xKatiexBellx]

ooooooh! I have a few:

Movies: Willow I love that movie... and That Darn Cat (the old version... can't beat That Darn Cat... it's really cute) and Grease I lurrrrrve that movie...
Music: Grease soundtrack, Coldplay and Nelly Furtado
wonderful singers yet not very popular over here... oh, and I can't forget the Moulin Rouge Soundtrack :swoon::swoon:



These are all the unpopular things I want to get out, there's a ton of more popular things i have too.... too much writing tho..

[Kristin]

Oops! I forgot some. :o

Book: The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye (It's a kids book, maybe around age 9, but I'm 25 and I love it!)

Books: Song in the Silence and The Lesser Kindred by Elizabeth Kerner (aka Lanen) (Her books are wonderful! Read them!)

[qleap]

Originally posted by Kristin
Book: To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis (my favorite non-HP book, usually shelved with sci-fi/fantasy)
I must have a look at that since I liked Three Men In A Boat a lot when I read it.... years ago, so maybe I should reread that first ;)

Books: Daniel Pennac's Malaussène (or Belleville) series.
Funny and serious at the same time... mostly surreal. Please note there are not-easy matters in the books, so I'd think twice before recommending it to young children.

[StarGazr]

Movie: Gone with the Wind... one of the greatest movies of all time, and Scarlett O'Hara is one of the (if not the) greatest heroines in movie history. It's my all-time favorite... nothing comes even close!

Music: Pretty much anything (yeah everything!) by Billy Joel. He's a musical genius!
Garth Brooks too.. I love him... loved him since I was like seven, and he's still one of my favorites. I totally recommend his Double Live album.

Book: Where the Heart Is by, Billie Letts... ten times better than the movie.
Promised Land by, Connie Willis... it's like a sci-fi romance... really really good. I've read it ten times.
The Mists of Avalon by, Marion Zimmer Bradley... the BEST there is in Arthurian myth... just a wonderful (and long) mystical tale... I loooove it.

[qleap]

TV: Moonlighting!
Does any of you remember this great tv series? Er... does any of you remember the 80s anyway ;) ?
Moonlighting was unique.
I like people who speak fast, I speak very fast myself and tend to understand people if they speak faster, but GOSH I had to be sure I didn't blink too much or I missed something with this one ;)
I've just thought about it because there are reruns on now...
Bruce Willis: "Do you think you're going to kill us and leave as if nothing happened?"
Villain:"Yes!"
Bruce Willis:"Oh come on how can you think that, DIDN'T YOU SEE THERE'S A CAMERAMAN FILMING US?"
:rotfl:

[Mirdan]

Originally posted by lithorose
Books: Brave New World. Very applicable for a consumerist society.ditto that! :cool:

BOOKS:
The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide by Douglas Adams...these books are hella funny! :LOL:

Anne McCaffrey's Pern Series...if you like talking dragons with attitudes, read these books!

Plato's Symposium -- i used to hate philosophy, but Plato changed all that :notworthy


MOVIES:
The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert...Hugo Weaving at his best IMHO

Monsoon Wedding -- not your usual Bollywood movie, i tell you!

Billy Elliot -- Mrs. Weasley's in here!

The Goonies. 'nuff said.

[Lanen]

First - Kristen, thanks for the plug! :hug:

Ooh, ooh, books!

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books by Alexander McCall Smith. About a woman detective in modern-day Botswana. Completely unexpected and delightful. Elegant prose, sparse and lovely. Great books.

The Sherwood Ring, by Elizabeth Marie Pope. Well-written ghost story, very gentle, young teens sort of thing, about a young woman who meets some of her ancestors from the Revolutionary War - only that's not what it's about. :D

Riddle Master of Hed, Heir of Sea and Fire, and Harpist in the Wind, a trilogy by Patricia McKillip. Wildly original fantasy.

Anything by Peter S. Beagle, but notably Tamsin, A Fine and Private Place, and The Last Unicorn

A new collection of short stories by Jane Yolen, including the title story Sister Emily's Lightship which won her a Nebula.

The Owl Service, The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, Elidor - in fact anything by Alan Garner

Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart. A masterwork - funny, clever, inventive, set in a China that never was, but should have been. Glorious book.

Oh, i could go on forever.

Movie - Local Hero, about an American who falls in love with Scotland

Oh, and an old black-and-white movie called I Know Where I'm Going. Delightful.

Fun thread!

[Xazinon]

Originally posted by qleap
TV: Moonlighting!
Does any of you remember this great tv series? Er... does any of you remember the 80s anyway ;) ?
Moonlighting was unique.
I like people who speak fast, I speak very fast myself and tend to understand people if they speak faster, but GOSH I had to be sure I didn't blink too much or I missed something with this one ;)
I've just thought about it because there are reruns on now...
Bruce Willis: "Do you think you're going to kill us and leave as if nothing happened?"
Villain:"Yes!"
Bruce Willis:"Oh come on how can you think that, DIDN'T YOU SEE THERE'S A CAMERAMAN FILMING US?"
:rotfl:

Oh yeah, loved that show! :) :D

Probably part of the inspiration for my own little detective agency, I think! I actually only really saw recently, like in the last couple of years on cable, but it was very good! My sense of humour, I gotta say. :)

[DinEdhelwen]

Books: Ditto to Mists of Avalon and Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide, those are absolutely fabulous.
The Poisonwood Bible was really good. I can't remember who wrote it though. Five Quarters of the Orange by Joann Harris is one of the best books I've ever read.
Gone With the Wind is always a good one. The book is so much better than the movie, I think.

Movies: Pirates of the Caribbean and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen are wonderful.
Moulin Rouge was absolutely brilliant, but the saddest movie I have ever seen. Chocolat is really good too.
Willow and the Labyrinth are always amusing.

Music: Anything by Coldplay, Starsailor, Anggun, Crambo, Shakira
I thoroughly enjoy Something to Talk About by Bonnie Raitt, Telepathy by Emiliana Torrini (the woman who sang Gollum's Song), How the World by Anggun, Fool and Ciega, Sordomudo by Shakira....
There's tons more, but that's all I can think of at the moment.

[BloodFire]

Movie - Pirates of the Caribbean. Go see Spastic Jack.

The Gods Must Be Crazy. Hilarious movies, set in Africa, about a Bushman named Xixo (Prounciation, please?)

The Graveyard of the Fireflies. The most depressing and sweet anime I ever seen. It's about a Japanese boy and sister during one of the World Wars. A bit confusing, but a definite heart render and tear jerker.

Books - Anything by Terry Pratchett. Lanen's books. ;)

Of Mice And Men, short but bittersweet. Poor George.

The Power of the Rellard, a very moving book about three children and a battle for their lives.

Elizabeth Haydon's Rhapsody series, consisting of Rhapsody, Prophecy, Destiny, and Requiem For The Sun. These books begot my Achmed obession. It's all their fault, I swear! The story revolves around an ex-prostitute (Rhapsody!), an assassin (Achmed!), and a mercenary (Grunthor!), and their destinies. They've got prophecies all about themselves, and evil fire spirits after their immortal souls!

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. A classic and probably the reason I read so many books about talking animals.

Spider Robinson's Callahan series. Lots of puns, laughs, and action. A must-read for sci-fi fans!

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. Do I even have to say anything?

Path of the Fury by David Webber. This book hooked me like a fish. It's not past of David's Honor series, but it's still space opera. I like that name. Space opera. Whadda fun genre name. :D Path of the Fury got me interested in a little known set of Greek/Roman goddesses called the Furies (Hence the title.). I did my final latin project on them. They're so much more interesting than Jupiter and his pack...

John Bellairs. The man could write mysteries. And they always have a fantasy twist. He pulls you in and you don't want to leave no matter how scary it gets. He was what Stephen King should aspire to be!

Neil Gaiman. His novels are just... wow. That's all you can say. They give a whole new perspective on life and humanity, jsut like Terry Pratchett's Disc series.

Stealing The Elf King's Roses and The Book Of Night With Moon by Diane Duane. Both books made me cry for different reasons. Stealing is about Lee Enfield and is a murder mystery. Our Earth has a quick cameo. What made me cry here was the climax of the book, because of the beautiful description. Nobody dies, it's just beautiful, the way she describes it. You can see it. The Book Of Night With Moon is about cats wizards (Those talking animals I mentioned! ;) ) and it will make anyone who has cat companions look at the felines in question and wonder. Just what do they do on those midnight jaunts? Night With Moon is a tie-in with Duane's So You Want To Be A Wizard series. It features gods manifesting and dino skeletons coming to life, wizarding and other worlds. My tears this time were for on the main characters, a kitten, who dies. It' so sad. :(

Prospero's Children by Jan Siegel. A very disturbing book about Atlantis. It's the beginnings of a series, but the only one I've read. It's a unique look at Atlantis's fall.

Anything by Diana Wynne Jones. She and Diane Duane have very similar styles with their own unique twists.

Brown Girl In The Ring by Nalo Hopkinson. It's set in Toronto in the future. The main character is Ti-Jeanne, a single mother who lives with her grandmother. Ti-Jeanne can see how a person is going to die and has prophetic dreams, just like her mother. She must fight her evil grandfather with help from the ancient gods of the Caribbeans.

The Gammage Cup by Carol Kendall. It's about little people, called the Minnipins, who have become so set in their ways that even wearing bright colors can get you scorned. Muggles (:D), Gummy, Walter, Curley, and Mingy are exiled for disagreeing with the leaders of their town when they claim that the Minnipins' ancient eney, the Hairless ones are returning. So they have lead the fight against the Hairless ones and convince their people that the Hairless ones exist and are coming.

Piers Anthony's Incarnation of Immortality series. You may not like Xanth, but IoI is a different kettle of fish, dealing with major adult issues like death, sin, evil, rape, etc.

Nancy Atherton's Aunt Dimity books. Aunt Dimity was a character in Lori's bedtime stories until she died and left Lori her house and fortune. Now Dimity helps Lori solves mysteries via a blue book she uses to communicate from the other side and Reginald, a pink stuffed bunny she gave Lori. Dimity even sets Lori up with her husband.

Music

"Beer For My Horse" Toby Keith and Willie Nelson. The video is fun to watch. Tody plays a detective investigating a serial killer with partner. Willie's his father, a retired detective, and the best of the best. At the end of the video, they have Toby's partner in drag to bait the killer and Willie rescues Toby from the bad guy. It's a fun song and a fun video.

"James" Blue October. This is Snape's song. It's all about hating James. So very Snape it's scary.

My longest post ever! Yay!

[Lord Schaudt]

READ TERRY PRATCHETT EVERYONE!!!!

[Amberion]

Books:

The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon
- the most epic book in the genre (fantasy) next to LOTR. If you have ever done roleplaying and wanted to have a role model for playing Paladins (a personal favourite), this is the book for you.

The Crucible Series by Sara Douglass
- An Aussie author so her books may be hard to get , but certainly worth the read. They are an alternative history of England and europe at the time of Joan of Arc (who makes several guest appearances)

The Cineverse Cycle by Craig Shaw Gardner
- Three books based on B grade Hollywood movies of the 1950's. Just the titles make me smile :)
Slaves of the Volcano God
Bride of the Slime Monster
Revenge of the Fluffy Bunnies
Verry Verry Funnnny

Films:

Rollerball
The original not the very bad ripoff remake. That is the one starring James Caan and John Houseman

Man of La Mancha
Its the musical retelling of the Don Quoxote story starring Peter Otoole and Sophia Loren

[Little Miss]

try this:

(no obscene language in case you're wondering)

realaudio (http://boss.streamos.com/real/virg001/a_perfect_circle/audio/thirteenth_step/weak_and_powerless_00.ram?siteid=apcstreet073003)

[Fleurdelacour]

Book

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee - Just read it, its amazing :notworthy My favourite book, apart from HP of course ;)

Films

Moulin Rouge, my favourite movie, yes... the saddest movie I've seen, but wonderful all the same :)

Amelie - Everytime I feel down, I just watch this and feel all warm and fuzzy :) Don't let the subtitles put you off. Also good for wtching when you have a french exam the next day!

Grease - Just watched it, and rah! Great for a sing-along!

Trainspotting - Just, wow. this should be shown to every teenager in the land.

Music

Ah... Norah Jones... Coldplay... Moulin Rouge soundtrack... Queen... Will Young... Dusty Springfield... Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Robbie Williams... All I can think of right now....

[DinEdhelwen]

MUSIC:
Some of my friends are in a band called Uncle Skip; they're music is really really good. Try downloading it from MP3.com....
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/509/uncle_skip.html
The one called Last Minute of the New Day is my favorite, but unfortunately it's a very bad recording; you can still the cool parts though.
I also recommend Djobi Djoba by the Gipsy Kings
I See Sound by Moth
Um, basically any techno...
Shake Your Bon Bon by Ricky Martin is always enjoyable
T.A.T.U. has a rather enjoyable cover of How Soon Is Now
Oooh, I Want You To Want Me by Cheap Trick, always good...
Any of the songs from The Labyrinth (yeah David Bowie)
Anything by Veruca Salt or Neil Finn
Disney songs NEVER get old!!!!
Peter Cincotti is wonderful!!!
Elvis=God
Fear of Dying by Jack Off Jill
She Still Loves Him by the Jellyfish (the beginning is really cool!)
John Mayer also=God
Natural Blues by Moby
Existential Blues by Mr. Bungle (very VERY trippy!)

MOVIES:
Tomb Raider wasn't too bad. That Scottish guy was beautiful... *drools and spaces out* where am I?!? Oh yeah!!.....
While You Were Sleeping, Two Weeks Notice, and Practical Magic (or any Sandra Bullock movie really)....
Oh yeah, and there's this movie with a bunch of pirates, and this annoying chick, and Orlando Bloom and Jonny Depp; might wanna check that one out... savvy? ;) :D :swoon:

[ChianaWeasley]

Oh! Uncle Skip!!!
I really like them!
Mandy's in it!
Good ole Mandy, the reincarate of Marilyn Monroe
:D

Never gotten to see them in a club, but I've seen them perform a few times at school. Very good they is!
:p

[Lanen]

just got a review of the latest animation movie, Sinbad. My pal Anne said it was good fun and lots of good actors doing the voice parts - Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michelle Pfeiffer. I was going to give it a body swerve, but with that kind of recommendation I'll give it a shot. And besides, the movie theater is air conditioned!! *whew*


Besides, after seeing Ladyhawke years ago, one of Pfeiffer's first movies, I'll watch anything she's in. She is terrific. And stunningly beautiful, drat her ;) Ladyhawke is a wonderful movie, as long as you ignore the appalling soundtrack :p

[ElfTBD]

Originally posted by Mirdan
The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert...Hugo Weaving at his best IMHO


Oh My GOddess! I LOVE that movie (I acctually have that on VHS somewhere...)

What was really funny was when LOTR came out, I hadn't realized that Hugo Weaving was the same guy as in Priscilla, and it was after I saw LOTR, and then watched Priscilla again, that I realized it...I was like:

"Oh My God! It's ELROND in DRAG!!! Wicked!"

:rotfl:

Anyway, a high recommendation for a movie (and if you can find it on DVD or VHS somewhere, please let me know!) is a movie called "Enemy Mine"...I know it stars Lou Gossett Jr., and is an amazing movie...very underrated, IMHO!

[Fleurdelacour]

Originally posted by ElfTBD

"Oh My God! It's ELROND in DRAG!!! Wicked!"

:rotfl:


And you can get the same reaction with Moulin Rouge! Faramir in drag! ;) David Wenham plays Audrey, the... I don't know what Audrey is meant to be exactly... He is either playing an actual woman with awful make up, or actually playing a drag queen... not sure... But *hint hint* see Moulin Rouge :p

[Little Miss]

:( nobody's commented on my song :(

[PhineasNigellus]

just listened to it. Not bad sounds kind of similar to incubus (i am not sure if the passes as a compliment or insult so read it however you want.

[Little Miss]

kind of an insult. but then again its not A Perfect Circle's strongest song. its their first release since their bassist went off with billy corgan and their rhythm guitarist vanished off the face of the musical world so i spose thats an excuse for it being kinda weird.

add to the fact they got Jeordie White ("Twiggy" from "marylin manson") to replace Paz and its even understandable.

i hope they play in england soon though, i want to hear Mer De Noms live, its supposed to be excellent (even with new musicians)

[PhineasNigellus]

the only band i am really mad aboutis Radiohead but tickets to see them seem to cost so damn much!

[Little Miss]

uh-huh. the only chance there realy was to see them in britain this year was at glastonbury (where apparently they were excellent) but its expensive to go there and there were no good bands really except them.

[PhineasNigellus]

anyone here ever been to any of the other big uk festivals? I wanted to go to the reading festival this year...looked like it had a good line up.

[Little Miss]

the only time i've been to reading i spent a lot of money to lie unconcious in a field for the most part, only waking up for long enough to throw up somewhere and knock myself out again.

dont think i'll be repeating the experience anytime soon....

none of the festivals have enough good bands (in my opinion) to justify the cost. its around £200 for a weekend ticket, then you've got to either hire a car, get someone to drive you or pay another £50 for train fare, buy or borrow a tent, spend up to £100 on edible food if you didnt take any along, and then when you get home you've got to go shopping to replace all the clothes that got ruined, and possibly replace the tent you borrowed cause its now in shreds in a hedge somewhere.

if there were more than three decent bands it might be worth it...

[PhineasNigellus]

:LOL:
yeah i suppose they are maybe more trouble then they are worth!