Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, so I asked some of the Blockbuster Online team to tell me a few movies they’re thankful for. That sentence ends in a preposition because I’m a hardcore rule-breaker just looking for a grammar fight on the internet.

Happy Thanksgiving, America!

My picks are:

High Fidelity
I’ve seen it 100 times, but it never gets old. It’s really funny, full of great characters, and has some fantastic music, including a killer cover of Let’s Get It On by Jack Black. Plus, as a frequenter of record shops, I know how spot-on the characterizations of the employees and patrons are.

Over the Top
There’s so much to be thankful for here. First and foremost: it’s a movie centered around PROFESSIONAL ARM WRESTLING. Second, the main character is a long-haul truck driver who needs to win an arm wrestling championship to earn money and the respect of his estranged son. And his name is Lincoln Hawk.

Then there’s the incredible workout montage with him doing standing pull-ups on the brush guard of his truck and using some pulley contraption in the truck’s cab. All set to the soulful jam Meet Me Half Way by Kenny Loggins. Also, Robert Loggia!

Amy Huff
I am thankful for Timothy Olyphant in general, but that’s neither here nor there. Justified. I’m just sayin’.

Away We Go
I love the music from Alexi Murdoch. John Krasinski is greatness as the mild-mannered Burt… right up until he isn’t. HA! Maggie Gyllenhaal brings the crazy like no one else. Allison Janney made me forget she was ever the once dignified CJ from The West Wing.

Passion Fish
It’s a beautiful movie that uses the Louisiana setting perfectly. Mary McDonnell is amazing and she rocked the presidency in Battlestar Galactica like no one else. Zydeco! David Strathairn became one of my favorite actors after his stellar performance as the quiet and mild-mannered Rennie. There’s a character named Sugar LeDoux.

In a general goodwill-towards-man kind of thing I’m thankful for Joss Whedon, who brought us Buffy, Angel and Firefly. Even if Angel got whiny there at the end, it was still greatness.

Sean Jackson
Highlander
It taught me may life lessons, like wrestling is just a precursor to swordplay and defeating my enemies brings me strength and power. Also, it’s got the best Scottish actor playing a Spaniard in a movie ever.

The Iron Giant
If you aren’t in tears by the end of this overlooked Brad Bird masterpiece, you might just be a robot yourself.

Scott Levine
The American President
It has some of the best writing ever in a movie. Example:

[Sydney emerges from the bathroom wearing nothing but one of his shirts]

President Andrew Shepherd: Perhaps I didn’t properly explain the fundamentals of the slowdown plan.

Sydney Ellen Wade: [feeling the bed] No, you explained it great.

President Andrew Shepherd: Are you nervous?

Sydney Ellen Wade: No.

President Andrew Shepherd: Good. My nervousness exists on… several levels. Number one, and this is in no particular order, I haven’t done this in a pretty long time. Number two, uh, any expectations that you might have, given the fact that I’m… you know…

Sydney Ellen Wade: [approaching seductively] The most powerful man in the world?

President Andrew Shepherd: Exactly, thank you. I think it’s important you remember that’s a political distinction that comes with the office. I mean, if, uh, Eisenhower were here instead of me, he’d be dead by now… and number three…

Sydney Ellen Wade: Andy…

The Secret of My Success
Made kids of the 80s want to take over companies, and be cool doing it. May have been responsible for the dot com bubble

Best quote: “You don’t mind if I walk around; it helps me to think.”

The Bird Cage
Robin Williams’ dry humor is perfect. Any scene at dinner — I’m usually crying from laughing too much at this point.

Best quote: “It’s like riding a psychotic horse toward a burning stable.”

Raiders of the Lost Ark
It defines a perfect adventure movie.

Best quote: “It’s not the years, honey, it’s the mileage.”

Jenna Marino
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Inspired many well-spent days off from school, as well as a need to “borrow” my father’s classic Corvettes at a young age.

Ferris Bueller, you’re my hero.

Swingers
Always double down on 11 taught me to never back down from a risky bet or situation.

The Boondock Saints
It’s Boston, stereotypical and true. And I call it home.

Elisa Nader
The Die Hard Series
Reasons:

1. Bruce Willis
2. Die Hard 2 — Dulles Airport scenes
3. Ditching Bonnie Bedilia for installments 3 and 4 — what a drag she was!
4. Timothy Olyphant in Live Free or Die Hard (meow-za)
5. Die Hard 24/7 filming in 2011!
6. My suggestion for the final Die Hard movie title: Die Hard or Die Trying

Both Sex and the City Movies
Reasons:

1. Bitchy, crazed Miranda in SATC1
2. Pulled together, supermom Miranda in SATC2
3. Carrie & Big’s apartment in 2
4. Samantha ditching Smith in 1
5. Less Smith in 2
6. LIZA! in 2
7. Flashback outfits in 2

Ann Prather
Trading Places
My favorite Christmas movie. Can’t wait to watch it. It used to be The Sound of Music, but it isn’t on every year anymore. Boo. [ed. note: It ain't cool being no jive turkey so close to Thanksgiving.]

The Bourne Movies
Anytime and every time of year. Same with The Italian Job (2003 and 1969), Sabrina (1954 and 1995), and As Good as It Gets.

If I take “thankful” in a deeper, more spiritual sense: The Book of Eli, Invictus, Cry Freedom, Amazing Grace, Passion Fish, The Greatest Game Ever Played, Billy Eliot, Four Feathers, and The Mission.

Mark Tran
Bladerunner
I’m thankful to Ridley Scott for all 20 versions of this movie (only a slight exaggeration). It’s a beautiful sci-fi movie that was ahead of its time and has an awesome soundtrack. I’m also thankful there are no Replicants running around killing people. Except for Pris; she was cool.

Jayna Wallace
Newsies
I’m thankful for this 1992 Disney musical, which never turned out to be quite the smash hit it was meant to be, even though it was directed by Kenny Ortega (of High School Musical fame).

• It stars a 17-year-old Christian Bale. Singing AND dancing. And wearing period-style clothing. For that I am quite thankful.
• It takes place in turn-of-the-century New York.
• It reminds us of a time when children were still earning their keep (darn those child labor laws. Kidding. Just kidding.)
• My 7-year-old nieces had never even heard of it, thereby making me the “hip” aunt for introducing them to such an important piece of Disney movie history (next on tap, Cool Runnings).
• It reinforces the importance of unionization by way of veiled political statements, a quality today’s song-and-dance kids’ shows are sorely lacking.

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