Patrick Swayze died yesterday at the age of 57 from pancreatic cancer. This news saddened me very much as he is one of my favorite actors - I've always loved him and the following are my absolute favorite Swayze films with a little description of why (these movies also fall into my other category which is whole 'nuther post "Movies I Can Watch Over and Over Even If I Catch Them In the Middle"
The Outsiders (1983) "Darrel Curtis" - The Outisders has to be one of my all time favorite movies, it's an ensemble cast including C.Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio, Emilio Estevez, Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon and Rob Lowe. Patrick Swayze played the responsible older brother Darrel "Darry" Curtis to C. Thomas' Ponyboy. Even though Swayze wasn't the central character he had a strong and masculine presense throughout the movie rounding out the story of orphaned teenagers in the 1950's. Don't watch this movie with me in the room, I know every line in it and it's really irritating.
Red Dawn (1984) "Jed" - While I haven't seen this movie in a really long time, it's on the list because I was so stricken by it, it actually scared me. I was 13 when I saw this movie in the theater and I thought "Wow - could that really happen?" and who doesn't remember the original battle cry way before Gerard Butler's "SPARTANS!" The teenage boys crying out "WOLVERINES" while defending their town is classic.
Dirty Dancing (1987) "Johnny Castle" - what is not to love about this movie and Patrick's portrayal of the bad boy with the loving caring heart who helps transform a teenage girl into a dancer with confidence. He was so incredibly hot in this movie, it was insane. Could be the year I fell in love with him and thought his wife was the luckiest woman in the world. Probably because in 1987 I was 16 and drempt of going to a summer resort and having an affair with an older man? Probably. Oh and Jennifer Grey is one of my favorites, no one puts her in a corner (it HAD to be said)
Road House (1989) "Dalton" - Dalton.....wow.....nothing better than this kick ass movie set in the south but with a ton of martial arts in it, yes the fight scene at the mansion of the bad guy was a wee bit cheesy with the big monster truck, but I'll sit through that any day to see Swayze work out in his loft and court the local doctor.
Ghost (1990) "Sam Wheat" - One. Of. THe. Best. Movies. Ever. - while Demi Moore DID cry a lot in this movie, wouldn't you if you lost the man who loves you more than anything in the world and TELLS you? I think so. This movie was sad but also had humor which I loved and who doesnt' want to take up pottery as a hobby after this movie?
Point Break (1991) "Bohdi" - How fun it was to see Patrick with long blond hair, a tan and that surfer way of talking. Again this was a movie where he wasn't the center of attention but the movie would have failed miserably without him. You wanted to hate Bohdi for robbing banks and shooting people, but he had such a good heart and such a GOOD argument about WHY. He didn't really want to shoot people and he was just stealing money from a bank, not old ladies or anything. Plus he was SOOOOOOO hot in that movie and you believed that he really did like Johnny Utah, he wanted to be friends. I think this is one of those movies that you either hate it or love it, I love it.
That's my list of my favorite Swayze movies. I had a teenage crush on him that lasted until my adulthood, he was devoted to his wife, a terrific actor and a respected man. He left us too soon, but I'm glad that I can see him in all the movies above over and over again.
I also am a nightmare when it comes to the OUTSIDERS LOL
Posted by: Marci Taylor | September 18, 2009 at 07:23 PM