Ferndale Library Staff Recommends: Dar's Memorized Movies

Darlene Hellenberg (Reference Librarian) is usually our go-to "recommend-er" when it comes to fine Fiction works - new & old. 

This week, though, she's putting the books down and returning to her most favorite of favorite-est films - the ones she's seen 17 times (or more) - and can thus recite or reenact almost all of the (if not every) scene(s). 

She and I often pary swashbuckling satirical jargon from Princess Bridge or bandy about macabre quips from Beetlejuice. Oh beloved 80's classics. 

Darlene's Picks

By Darlene Hellenberg

While I tend to read a lot of serious literary fiction I love watching every type of movie under the sun.  I love chick flicks and dramas, comedies and science fiction, action and The following selections have been my favorites for years and years. I can quote every line, sing every song, and in some cases dance the dances. This is my movie cannon.

1. The Princess Bride - (1987)
DVD Comedy P

Pirates! Sword fights! An evil prince! The six-fingered man! Rodents of unusual size! A damsel in distress! A lovable giant! Seriously, people if you haven’t seen this movie you must do so immediately. It’s fun for the whole family, I promise.


2. Beetlejuice - (1988)
DVD Comedy B

What happens when you die? Well, it’s all very personal. For example, the Maitlands are stuck haunting the people who have moved into their house. But the Deetzes don’t scare easy and the Maitlands end up contracting the services of Beetlejuice, a foul mouthed “bio-exorcist” who causes way more trouble than he’s worth. This movie is pure silliness with a little haunting thrown in. I love it and I love the soundtrack too. I’m pretty sure I tried to reenact this scene when I was younger...


3. Labyrinth  - (1986)
DVD Children L
(looks like our copy is missing!! ...Ed??)

Sarah would much rather play dress-up and read her favorite stories than look after her baby brother Toby.  Toby won’t stop crying and Sarah, pretending, asks the Goblin King to come and take him away.  As she leaves his bedroom Toby suddenly stops crying. Turns out the Goblin King is real and he’s got Toby.  The only way to get him back is to make it through the labyrinth before time runs out. David Bowie plays the Goblin King and a very young Jennifer Connelly plays Sarah. Jim Henson is responsible for all puppets. And yes, I know all the words to all the songs.


4. Empire Records - (1990) (you’ll have to interloan this gem)

Happy Rex Manning Day! Well, it’s only happy if you like Rex Manning and most of the employees of Empire Records couldn’t care less about him.  He’ll be signing records while the rest of the employees deal with all kinds of back room drama. My best friends and I used to watch this movie all the time. It’s a great 90s slacker film.


5. Reality Bites (1994) and Reality Bites Soundtrack (1994) - CD Soundtrack Reality Bites

So you’ve graduated from college, now what? Lelaina and her friends are trying to answer that question in mid 90’s Houston, TX. Lelaina wants to be a filmmaker but she just got fired from her tv job, Vickie is folding sweaters at the Gap, Troy sells papers at a newsstand, and I’m not really sure what Sammy does. This movie is the reason I love shirt dresses, musicians, and the song “Tempted” by Squeeze. I’ll interloan the movie for you if you’re interested but you can check out the soundtrack from our CD collection.



Honorable Mention:

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) -DVD Comedy M

My brother and I love to quote this movie. Usually we laugh until our sides hurt. Then we laugh at our mom because she doesn’t get it and doesn’t get why we think it’s so funny.

I mean, C’MON! So funny!

Ferndale Patch thanks Jeff Milo and Darlene Hellenberg at the Ferndale Public Library for contributing to Patch! Check back soon for more ideas from library staff. Are you looking for recommendations on something specific? Email jessica.schrader@patch.com, and we'll pass on your questions to the library.