Wednesday, February 1, 2012

A Poll: What Makes For a Memorable Book and/or Movie?

I have an inquiring mind and would like to know: Have you ever read a book or watched a movie that you just can't get out of your head?

Every writer's dream is to pen a story that will linger in the reader's mind until he/she expires. But, what makes a story or movie memorable? That is the BIG question. Give us your opinion.

Will you share that memorable book and/or movie title with readers and tell us why you think it (or they) should make it...or "did make" it to the top?

Please post a comment. This should prove interesting.

16 comments:

DanielleThorne said...

I think the Pride and Prejudice movies are a given. I've also been inspired and thought often about the Horatio Hornblower series, Master and Commander, the Harry Potter films, Pirates of the Caribbean...

I really enjoyed The Help film from last year and still think about that a lot. As you can see--I generally prefer movies of adventure or fantasy if I am going to see them. Sometimes the more serious work is just too heavy.

Miss Mae said...

I agree. Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth. The romance was tender, the settings realistic, the dialogue memorable.

But who can forget Gone with the Wind, with Clark Cable and Vivian Leigh. Ahhhh!!!

Larry Hammersley said...

Well, of movies, I liked The 300 Spartans, not the recent one but the 1956 one with Richard Egan. Sad ending but top notch story. Books? I have two and they are varied to be sure. I've read Jonathan Livingston Seagull several times He didn't go with the "breakfast flock" on the piers. I liked his loner attitude. The science fiction paperback by Doris Piserchia entitled Star Rider was a great story. Its about a young girl who rides a horse through space looking for the dream planet Doubleluck. She writes with such a relaxed style, something I wish I could master. Call me oddball for my choices.

Rachel Rossano said...

Jane Eyre, the Timothy Dalton version, has been a favorite of mine for years. But there are so many others that can top my list, I am not even going to attempt to name them. :) I would say the elements that make books and movies memorable for me are the characters and the writing.

Unknown said...

Movie: Circa 1955 "Picnic" with William Holden and Kim Novak. It takes place withint a 24-hr period, centered around the Labor Day Picnic in a small mid-western town. These two lead characters, plus an "old-maid" schoolteacher (Rosalind Russell)who rooms in Kim's parents' house, the pathetic man she reins in to marry her, Kim's fraternity playboy, and Kim and William, themselves.
Kim--too beautiful for words is the Queen of the river parade, but she doesn't want to be shown off. William Holden, a bum who jumps off a train to visit Kim's brother.
This story is filled with high emotion every minute. All these people, their foibles, their weaknesses, their desires, their dreams, their jealousy...it all comes out by the end. Wow, what a movie. I've watched it half a dozen times at least over the years.

Book--one of LaVyrle Spencer's books--maybe The Hellion--a love story that has twists and turns. Or And Then Came Heaven, about a young father whose wife is killed at the beginning by a train, and is left with two young daughters in the local Catholic school. The young nun/teacher of the girls, and how she never wanted to be a nun...and her misery and heartache to disavow the order. So sad and heartbreaking...but with the sweetest ending you have ever, ever read.

Very good question, Laurean.

LoRee Peery said...

For me, it's the musical score as much as anything. The sound track takes me back to the visuals. "The Last of the Mohicans," "Blink," and "The Phantom of the Opera" come to mind.
Most books written by LaVyrle Spencer. It's the emotion that I remember most.

Gail Pallotta said...

Hi Laurean,
I have lots of favorites, so I shouldn't try to name them all, but this comes at an appropriate time. I just went to see Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, and I loved that movie. I enjoy spy movies or books a lot. I suppose the thing I liked most about it was the suspense and all the twists it took. One minute, I thought one guy was the culprit, the next another. I'm thankful for a lot of great books and movies to make life more fun.

Laurean Brooks said...

Danielle, I like the Pride And Prejudice movies, too. They strike a chord inside of me each time I watch them.

Pirates Of The Caribbean is an adventure-filled pirate movie, so I understand why you love those swash-buckling scenes.

I haven't yet seen "The Help" but plan to.

I see you have diversified interests. Very good. You will never be bored. LOL.

Thanks for commenting.

Laurean Brooks said...

Gone With the Wind? Oooooh! Miss Mae, I wondered when someone would come up with this one. Who can compete with Rhett Butler's magnetism?

Never has been anyone comparable to Clark Gable, or Vivian and I doubt there ever will be.

Thank you for participating.

Laurean Brooks said...

Larry, I haven't seen the 300 Spartans, but I have read Jonathan Seagull years ago. It was a touching story.

Science Fiction intrigues me. I was an original Star Trek fan. "The Star Ship, Enterprise" and Captain Kirk.

"Beam me up, Scotty. There's no intelligent life-form down here."

Thank you for your input.

Laurean Brooks said...

Rachel, odd as it seems, the book "Jane Eyre" was the one that got my sister interested in reading at the age of 13. I was the one who nagged her until she finally read one. But little did I know, I'd created a monster. Sis always had a book in her hand.

All through high school, when I asked her to do something, or go somewhere with me, the answer was the same. "I'm reading my book. Don't bother me." LOL

Anne Patrick said...

Great post, Laurean!

Book - Escape to Witch Mountain. Read it as a kid and still think of it often.

Movies - Dark Victory with Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart.

What makes them so memorable are the characters.

Laurean Brooks said...

Celia, I enjoyed "Picnic" too. The movie had so many twists and turns, leaving you surprised.

Do you think the difference in "unforgettable" books or movies and ones that fade into the twilight is that the "unforgettable" ones touch something deep inside us. That they stir us up, or shock us?

Food for Thought. Thank you for dropping in, Celia.

Laurean Brooks said...

LoRee, I know what you mean by the muscical score. I catch myself humming the theme songs to, "Gone With The Wind" and "Love Story."

LaVyrle Spencer? Her name keeps coming up. I don't know if I've read anything by her. I'll check her out.

Thank you for coming by.

Laurean Brooks said...

Gail, like you, I have several favorite books and movies. I wonder if they all have common elements that makes them a cut above.

Intriguing characters? Great dialogue? Thrilling plots? All three and more? LOL.

Thank you for commenting, Gail.

Laurean Brooks said...

Anne, "Escape to Witch Mountain" is a good one. I'm sure I've seen "Dark Victory" but am still trying to recall it.

What about the movie "Gaslight" or "King Kong?" Weren't those thrillers?
And Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds." Not to mention, "Rear Window," "Marnie" and "Vertigo."

We kids begged mama to let us stay up and watch these spine-tingling movies by promising her we wouldn't get scared.

Ha! I kept my head under the covers all night, teeth chattering.