At the movies with the Melissas

Since June is movie month this year, we are asking authors about their favorite movies, but we also want to share our favorite movies and answer some other movie themed questions. This week, both Melissas are here to talk about movies. Yes, Melissa P. has returned after taking some time off. We're glad she's back and hope she'll be sticking around for a while. :)


Melissa A:

Favorite....
Movie of all time: Where the Heart is (based on the novel by Billie Letts). It's such a comfort movie and I love all the acting. Who need James Franco when you can have James Frain and his gorgeous curls? I have yet to see it without crying.
Romantic movie: 50 First Dates. I love how Adam Sandler tries to keep the romance alive with someone who he has to start over with every day.
Teen movie: Tie between Clueless and Ten Things I Hate About You. They have great soundtracks too!
Movie musical: Little Shop of Horrors. I saw this the first time when I was in fifth grade. I was expecting to be scared but found myself laughing the whole time. Once I got the soundtrack, I had all the songs memorized.

Movie that made you cry the most: Three way tie between Edward Scissorhands, Titanic and Life is Beautiful. I was embarrassed to leave the theater because my eyes were so puffy.
Movie that made you laugh so hard that you couldn't hear some of the dialogue: There's Something about Mary. I have a hard time finding movies that make me laugh as much as that one did.
Movie that should have won an Oscar but didn't: Beauty and the Beast (I still don't get how Silence of the Lambs won instead. I will sing "Belle" all the time but I will not quote Hannibal Lecter that way.)
Best memory of an experience going to the movies: My Rocky Horror days...becoming friends with the group that performed at the theater where I went, performing as Magenta quite a few times, celebrating New Year's Eve and attending a wedding for a couple who met because of it....amongst other things!


Melissa P:

Favorite...
Chick Flick: Mona Lisa Smile. I can watch this movie over and over and over again. I love the mixture of culture, art, intellectualism, feminism, friendship, love, and politics. It's the perfect blend.
Animated movie (not Disney): Avatar. This movie hit close to home for me. Being half native American, it was a sci-fi/animated homage to what my ancestors endured and I have yet to feel as emotionally and spiritually connected to any other film. The entire film is beautiful from beginning to end and it makes me proud to be a descendent of such strong and loving people.
Comedy film: Wedding Crashers. I have probably seen this movie a thousand times and it never gets old. I still laugh just as hard as I did the very first time I saw it. I really don't think anyone has ever cast a film better than this one. I'm sure everyone has seen it, so I don't even need to explain its hilariousness. I have a very slap stick, silly, random sense of humor.
Movie based on a book (chick lit): The Devil Wears Prada. This is one of my very favorite books and the movie did not disappoint me either. While I would have liked there to be more of the actual story at the end of the movie, I loved it anyway and I think that Meryl Streep was the perfect actress to play Miranda.

Movie that made you cry the most: P.S. I Love You. I read the book in a day and a half and I couldn't wait for the movie to come out. While I was a bit disappointed that they didn't set it in Ireland like the book, I still cry my eyes out every time I watch it. The book still haunts me to this day...
Chick lit novel I wish were a movie: "The Castaways" by Elin Hilderbrand. I could totally see this being made into a movie. I devoured this book while I was on Nantucket and Cape Cod last year and I can even see who I would choose to cast most of it. Elin does an amazing job of mixing friendship, romance and suspense. The perfect summer movie night out.
Who you'd cast if your book were made into a movie: This is hard. I think it would be a tough choice between Leighton Meester, Natalie Portman, and Alexis Bledel for my main character, Layla. As for the "best friend", Brooklynne, it would be Britt Robertson (The Secret Circle). I really can't see anyone else pulling off the part the way she could. As for Layla's parents, Chris Noth (aka Mr. Big) is a shoo in for her father and for Layla's mom, Lena Olin would be perfect. I literally can picture it. For Brooklynne's mom, Frankie, I see Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls). She's witty and can play a free-spirited, fun, but loving mom. As for the rest of my characters, I would have to give it some more thought.
(We can't wait for Melissa P. to have her book published!)
Movie you know all the lines to: National Lampoons Vegas Vacation/Christmas Vacation. Both of these movies are classics in my family! We all spout off random lines whenever we are together. It's hilarious to know that as a family, we all have the same silly sense of humor. Even our parents join in and watch with us whenever either movie is on TV.