How many movies would you see more than once?

Engaged in a talk about movies, I mentioned the other day to my wife that I could watch Woody Allen’s latest film, “Midnight in Paris,” again and again. It’s just that enjoyable a view. That got me to thinking about other movies that I would watch, and have watched, over and over.

Here is a partial list:

“Galaxy Quest” (1999): A parody of a “Star Trek” type series that is far better than it had any right to be, mainly because it stars the lamentable Tim Allen, television director Dean Parisot managed to go better than cliche and create a movie that has memorable characters and a fun feel all around. I’ve seen it at least four time and, had I a copy here in Rome, would happily watch it again. “Never give up! Never surrender!”

“Slaughterhouse-Five” (1972): I still quote from this George Roy Hill adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut’s best novel. “I’ve become unstuck in time.” “So it goes.” “Nobody f——s with Paul Lazzaro!” Or maybe I just quote from the novel. Makes no difference. Hill, working from a Paul Geller adaptation of Vonnegut’s novel, achieved perfection. Which means that he matched what Vonnegut put on the page.

“The Magnificent Seven” (1960): John Sturges’ remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 “The Seven Samurai” is one of the best remakes of a foreign film ever. It helps that he had the star power of Steve McQueen, James Coburn, Yul Brynner and the great Eli Wallach. But Sturges also understood the notion of sacrifice. One of my best friends for years, Mike Holmes, used to say that “Everybody need a Mexican village.” I knew exactly what he meant. See the film and you will, too.

I could name others. But you get the point. Perhaps you’d want to mention one or two yourself.

Below : The trailer for “Galaxy Quest.”