[Cali Panthers Fan]

Ok, most of us know what we like and often just go and watch it, but once in a while we get dragged to something, or reluctantly watch something that someone else really wants to (usually a significant other). 75% of the time we are right and honestly don't care for the film, but sometimes it's surprising and refreshing. This may require some thought, but list your top 5 films that you wouldn't have watched if someone hadn't asked you to. Explain why if you want.

1. Before Sunrise
Way back when I was a young lad you couldn't pay me to watch a romance movie, let alone one where it was 99% dialogue sitting around various places in Vienna. I was forced to watch Before Sunrise and I instantly became a fan of the genre. Still one of my favorite romantic movies ever.

2. The Notebook
See above re: romance movies. I was a little more apt to watch romantic movies at this point, but this one floored me. Just an amazing character driven story with some timeless moments. However, it was the scenes in the old folks home that drove me to tears. I bawled like a little girl at the end of that movie.

3. Tim's Vermeer
This one is pretty recent. It's a documentary about a man's obsession with painting in the style of Vermeer, the dutch master. What follows is a stunning revelation about technology, art, perseverance, human ingenuity etc. Really a remarkable film that I was not expecting to like so much. I was literally on the edge of my seat watching a man slowly paint. How many times have you said that in your life?

4. The Rape of Europa
A documentary about the nazi campaign to collect nearly all the master artworks of Europe and destroy any culture they despised. Engaging and heartbreaking, this is a film that is so much better than I thought it would be and is endlessly fascinating. The Monument's Men is a poor man's version of this amazing film.

5. Hairspray-2007 musical version
I actually like musicals, so it's not hard to get me to watch one, but this one I had reservations about. I've never been a John Waters fan, and I really didn't care for the original film he made. Plus, you're telling me that you put John Travolta in a fat suit AND drag? Also, Christopher Walken as a song and dance man? I just couldn't see this being good in any way and avoided it for a long time. I was genuinely surprised how much I enjoyed it. Great message, great performances, good songs, well crafted. Honestly a very good movie that I almost never gave the time of day to.

HM: Girl With The Dragon Tattoo-Original Swedish
This is kind of a funny one because I probably would have watched it eventually, but when my wife asked me to watch it back when it was a relatively unknown story in North America, I was very hesitant. Needless to say she couldn't say much about the story for spoilers, so she couldn't sell it effectively to me. I'm glad she forced me to watch it, and I'm glad I saw the original well before that mediocre American remake was made.