The Best of the Best

By Kirsten Scott

I admit it. I'm a simple girl. I like a good musical, a love story and a happy ever after. As I settled in this evening to watch the Sound of Music with my girl (her first time!), I couldn't help but smile. That movie does it to me every time. It makes me smile and it makes me sing. I fall in love with the Captain every time I see him.

"Were you this much trouble in the abby, Fraulein?"

"Oh much more, Captain!"

I could see from my daughter's shining eyes that she was falling in love too. It's the perfect movie, really. A love story, great music, a spunky heroine, a hunky alpha male, and cute kids.

Do they make them this good anymore? I mean honestly, I know I'm old and nostalgic, but I don't think they do. It seems to me that movies today are all about special effects, 3-D action and fancy animation. Where's the STORY? The heart of the thing?

Another best of the best -- Star Wars. It had it's share of special effects, I suppose, but the heart was the story. Boy on a quest. Spunky princess in distress. Alpha male starship pilot. And a cool wookie. What would this movie be like if they made it today? I haven't watched all of the more recent Star Wars, but I did watch the most recent Star Trek. It was good. Interesting story, cool effects. But it was one action scene after another, lots of things blowing up, and not much time spent on the story or the characters. I liked it, but I didn't stop, transfixed, eyes shining, when it came on.

That's what I want from my movies -- and my books. I want a "drop anything this guy is too hot and this girl is too spunky to put the book down" sort of experience. Like this guy. And this book:

Remember Anthony Malory? Oh man. I'd drop everything for that guy. He was old school. Rampantly seductive. Didn't really care about anything but getting the girl into bed. Loved women. All of them, really. You knew if Anthony had you in his clutches, you'd have a good time. Guaranteed. It wasn't realistic. It didn't make sense. He was between the legs of the heroine (if I recall correctly) within hours of meeting her. Yet somehow it worked.

So I'm wondering, as I'm feeling nostalgic tonight -- is it true? Has the best come and gone? Do they still make movies that take your breath away and you'll watch for the next forty years, eyes shining, heart in your throat? Name names, please!

As for books, we've got incredible writers in the Lair, and of course we're all writing keepers. :-) But I want to know what's on your best of the best list. What's been on your keeper shelf for the past twenty years, and what's going to be there twenty years from now? Please share so I can get an old, tattered copy of it and squirrel it away for my daughter when she's old enough to read it!