To get folks in the mood for faire.. and to get into a Irish-y mode. I'm listed some of my favorite movies to watch to get the right feel.. Please feel free to add your own.. most of the ones listed I own.
Quiet Man - John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara - One I play every year at St. Patrick's Day. Enjoyable movie all the way through, get to see John Wayne in a great brawl, plus him boot O'Hara's character all the way back to brothers. Premise of it is John Wayne's character is a famous american boxer who'se returning home to Ireland to his home town where he hasn't been back to since he was little. He's trying to forget his past and begin his life anew, he runs into a hot spirited Red hed (Those will be the death of me I know) who he falls for and runs afoul of her brother. It's from the early 50s I think but still a great movie. I have it on DVD and VHS
Darby O'Gill and the Little People - Sean Connery; Disney flick but done back when they weren't trying to be so PC all the time. You see a really young Sean Connery. Has Leprechauns, pookas and Banshees, not to mention Marty's favorite drinking song. Another St. Paddy's Day tradition of mine. Gives you an idea of how myth and religion work hand and hand in Ireland. The DVD I have has some cool extras.
Boondock Saints - Great movie.. modern though but has some great quotes cool gun battles and just a overall feel that get's in the mood to be a Irish bad ass.
Braveheart - Not my favorite movie.. I commonly refer to it as the "lawndart movie" for the amount of swords tossed at folks, but I love the Irishman, as well as some of Braveheart's cohorts. Some decent fight scenes, but it's freaky looking at wrinkly Mel Gibson trying to play like he's really young and trying to seduce the young scottish girl who'se storyline wise only a few years younger than him. DVD and somewhere I think I still have a VHS copy.
Rob Roy - Liam Neeson; Came out the same time as Braveheart, but my favorite. It get's you more of the feel of the highlands versus lowlands attitudes, something resembled in the irish. Favorite scene is the opening one with the tinker thieves.. So much would like to duplicate that one somehow. This one though later than our time period is better at getting me in the right attitude to be Irish at faire. - Have it on DVD, used to have it VHS too, but gave it away. Great soundtrack too for getting in the mood
The Field - Richard Harris; Kind of depressing look at the Irish farmer, but it gives you the feel how the landless in Ireland where thought of.. like Tinkers Gives you an idea of the farmer and what they did to build their land into something. Don't have a copy of it, but usually you can find it to rent
Secret of Roan Inish; Deals with the coast of Ireland, myths like Selkies and such. It's entertaining but can be slow in spots. I like it for it's myth like quality and the love of the sea. I think I loaned or gave my VHS copy away.
Leprechauns - No not the horror flicks, This one had Whoopi Goldberg in it as a Banshee. Loosly based on irish myths. I forget who all is in it, though they are well known. Decent enough flick, nice scenery. VHS
Leprechaun (Horror) movie series - Sheesh I don't know how many of these movies they've put out but amazingly enough they do toss a few tidbits of true Irish mythology in there.. like one had him trying to take a bride.. and if she sneezed three times without someone saying bless you she would of been his bride.. I later found the reference in actual myth lore on Leprechauns. They've had him in the hood, in space, amoungst just terrorizing normal folks. Don't own any copies
Circle of Friends; Minnie Driver, Chris O'Donnel - Another movie I love, I use it to get into accent easily and just like the story. I just like the feel of it. Based on a book by Maeve Binchy. VHS
Fighting Prince of Donegal - The only movie so far I've ever found about the 16th Century Irish at all. A Disney flick done in a Errol Flynn style, they tend to try to make the English look nicer than in real life during the time. Lead character is Hugh O'Donnell, his best friend is Henry O'Neil (who is a ladies man in this one) Kind of cool movie, hard to find though, luckily I own it on VHS.
Riverdance - Musical, lots of dancing Michael Flatley trying to show how much a pimp daddy he is. (He's always looking like he's going "I can have that one, had that one, will have that one", to every woman he dances near). Cool instruments, love the Uilean Pipes and the giant irish drums - VHS and bought mom a DVD I think
Commitments - A movie about a band in reland who tries to make it big playing the blues/R&B. Love the soundtrack.. tons of cool quotes and just a enjoyable flick. Don't own
Matchmaker - Jeannine Garafolo, Dennis Leary - Dennis only plays a cameo in this someone weak Romantic Comedy. It does give you the feel of matchmakers and has some nice scenery but is kind of weak overall; Have it VHS
Waking Ned Devine - Funny movie, haven't seen it in awhile to give you more than a premise though.. Ned Devine passes away right after he wins the lottery, a bankrupt town pretends he's still alive so they can collect the winnings.
Far and Away - Tom Cruise Nicole Kidman; I've never been a big Tom Cruise fan and this movie is what dropped my opinoin even more. He potrays a Irishman who ends up journeying to the Americas to find his fortune. Don't own it, don't want to own it.
The Englishmen who went up the Hill but cam down a mountain - Hugh Grant; Romantic Comedy, and it's about Wales, but it's another that just gets me in the right mindset about country life and Celtic pride.
Irish Jam - Eddie Griffin - Ugh awful movie, the only reason I list is so you don't rent it or buy it. Premise is Eddie Griffin wins a poetry contest writing the lyrics from a rap song of some rapper to win a contest where he wins a pub, he goes to claim it and miscommunication and hilarity ensues. Scenery is the only reason to watch it.
Great Irish Drinks - Kind a mix of a documentary and travel guide. Makes you really thirsty. Great scenery shots and is interesting to find about your favorite alchohols. Must be made by company that has put out several videos like this as I recognized scenes from other simliar moves about ireland. Try getting it on Netflix or Blockbuster as far as renting it. Wouldn't mind owning it.. But be prepared to be thirsty
I'll probably think of more movies later that will get you in the right mood for faire and don't hesitate to share yours., or your opinoins on videos I've posted on The movie doesnt' even have to make sense, it just has to be something that gets you in the mood or attitude to do faire.
Quiet Man - John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara - One I play every year at St. Patrick's Day. Enjoyable movie all the way through, get to see John Wayne in a great brawl, plus him boot O'Hara's character all the way back to brothers. Premise of it is John Wayne's character is a famous american boxer who'se returning home to Ireland to his home town where he hasn't been back to since he was little. He's trying to forget his past and begin his life anew, he runs into a hot spirited Red hed (Those will be the death of me I know) who he falls for and runs afoul of her brother. It's from the early 50s I think but still a great movie. I have it on DVD and VHS
Darby O'Gill and the Little People - Sean Connery; Disney flick but done back when they weren't trying to be so PC all the time. You see a really young Sean Connery. Has Leprechauns, pookas and Banshees, not to mention Marty's favorite drinking song. Another St. Paddy's Day tradition of mine. Gives you an idea of how myth and religion work hand and hand in Ireland. The DVD I have has some cool extras.
Boondock Saints - Great movie.. modern though but has some great quotes cool gun battles and just a overall feel that get's in the mood to be a Irish bad ass.
Braveheart - Not my favorite movie.. I commonly refer to it as the "lawndart movie" for the amount of swords tossed at folks, but I love the Irishman, as well as some of Braveheart's cohorts. Some decent fight scenes, but it's freaky looking at wrinkly Mel Gibson trying to play like he's really young and trying to seduce the young scottish girl who'se storyline wise only a few years younger than him. DVD and somewhere I think I still have a VHS copy.
Rob Roy - Liam Neeson; Came out the same time as Braveheart, but my favorite. It get's you more of the feel of the highlands versus lowlands attitudes, something resembled in the irish. Favorite scene is the opening one with the tinker thieves.. So much would like to duplicate that one somehow. This one though later than our time period is better at getting me in the right attitude to be Irish at faire. - Have it on DVD, used to have it VHS too, but gave it away. Great soundtrack too for getting in the mood
The Field - Richard Harris; Kind of depressing look at the Irish farmer, but it gives you the feel how the landless in Ireland where thought of.. like Tinkers Gives you an idea of the farmer and what they did to build their land into something. Don't have a copy of it, but usually you can find it to rent
Secret of Roan Inish; Deals with the coast of Ireland, myths like Selkies and such. It's entertaining but can be slow in spots. I like it for it's myth like quality and the love of the sea. I think I loaned or gave my VHS copy away.
Leprechauns - No not the horror flicks, This one had Whoopi Goldberg in it as a Banshee. Loosly based on irish myths. I forget who all is in it, though they are well known. Decent enough flick, nice scenery. VHS
Leprechaun (Horror) movie series - Sheesh I don't know how many of these movies they've put out but amazingly enough they do toss a few tidbits of true Irish mythology in there.. like one had him trying to take a bride.. and if she sneezed three times without someone saying bless you she would of been his bride.. I later found the reference in actual myth lore on Leprechauns. They've had him in the hood, in space, amoungst just terrorizing normal folks. Don't own any copies
Circle of Friends; Minnie Driver, Chris O'Donnel - Another movie I love, I use it to get into accent easily and just like the story. I just like the feel of it. Based on a book by Maeve Binchy. VHS
Fighting Prince of Donegal - The only movie so far I've ever found about the 16th Century Irish at all. A Disney flick done in a Errol Flynn style, they tend to try to make the English look nicer than in real life during the time. Lead character is Hugh O'Donnell, his best friend is Henry O'Neil (who is a ladies man in this one) Kind of cool movie, hard to find though, luckily I own it on VHS.
Riverdance - Musical, lots of dancing Michael Flatley trying to show how much a pimp daddy he is. (He's always looking like he's going "I can have that one, had that one, will have that one", to every woman he dances near). Cool instruments, love the Uilean Pipes and the giant irish drums - VHS and bought mom a DVD I think
Commitments - A movie about a band in reland who tries to make it big playing the blues/R&B. Love the soundtrack.. tons of cool quotes and just a enjoyable flick. Don't own
Matchmaker - Jeannine Garafolo, Dennis Leary - Dennis only plays a cameo in this someone weak Romantic Comedy. It does give you the feel of matchmakers and has some nice scenery but is kind of weak overall; Have it VHS
Waking Ned Devine - Funny movie, haven't seen it in awhile to give you more than a premise though.. Ned Devine passes away right after he wins the lottery, a bankrupt town pretends he's still alive so they can collect the winnings.
Far and Away - Tom Cruise Nicole Kidman; I've never been a big Tom Cruise fan and this movie is what dropped my opinoin even more. He potrays a Irishman who ends up journeying to the Americas to find his fortune. Don't own it, don't want to own it.
The Englishmen who went up the Hill but cam down a mountain - Hugh Grant; Romantic Comedy, and it's about Wales, but it's another that just gets me in the right mindset about country life and Celtic pride.
Irish Jam - Eddie Griffin - Ugh awful movie, the only reason I list is so you don't rent it or buy it. Premise is Eddie Griffin wins a poetry contest writing the lyrics from a rap song of some rapper to win a contest where he wins a pub, he goes to claim it and miscommunication and hilarity ensues. Scenery is the only reason to watch it.
Great Irish Drinks - Kind a mix of a documentary and travel guide. Makes you really thirsty. Great scenery shots and is interesting to find about your favorite alchohols. Must be made by company that has put out several videos like this as I recognized scenes from other simliar moves about ireland. Try getting it on Netflix or Blockbuster as far as renting it. Wouldn't mind owning it.. But be prepared to be thirsty
I'll probably think of more movies later that will get you in the right mood for faire and don't hesitate to share yours., or your opinoins on videos I've posted on The movie doesnt' even have to make sense, it just has to be something that gets you in the mood or attitude to do faire.
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Fresno
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