Today’s Project: Let him win the media wars as you suggest an action-packed-car-chasing-things-exploding thriller – a guy movie.
“What is it with men and The Godfather?” wonders chick-flick princess Meg Ryan in You’ve Got Mail. Tom Hanks’ response? “It is the I Ching. It is the sum of all wisdom. The Godfather answers all of life’s questions. What should I pack for my summer vacation? ‘Leave the gun, take the cannoli.’”
One of the most marriage-testing conversations a couple can have takes place in the aisles of your local video store (or on Netflix, or on Amazon…). You want romance and subtitles – he wants guns and grunts.
Movies are an important ingredient of “The Husband Project”. There are many projects where you, as the wife, are called upon to put your husband’s wants and desires before your own, and in no area of marriage is it harder to “die to self’ than when picking what you’ll be watching on a Friday night.
The good news? Choosing to watch a “guy flick” with your man reaps double benefits – not only are you loving on your husband in a tangible way, you’re also doing research at the same time. The more Rambo-esqe cinema you take in, the deeper a peek you’ll have into your man’s inner life.
If you ever doubted that your husband’s deepest desire was to be your hero, just check out the kinds of movies he watches. Most male-movie fare is all about being a stand-up kind of guy, doing the right thing, no matter the circumstances. (Think Bruce Willis in Die Hard and Mel Gibson in The Patriot.)
Here is how my pastor, Scott Simmerok, put it when I asked him why he likes the kind of movies he does:
“Action thrillers and motivational/inspirational are the way I roll. Not scary stuff but suspenseful, who-done-it, and also underdog type movies when the little guy wins. Except I wasn’t a fan of Sea Biscuit and I’ll never admit to shedding a tear in that flick.”
So in the interest of public service to the wife community, I’ve compiled a list of guy movies for you to choose from.
This list is a compilation of the best dude movies as voted on by my guy friends. You may not like, or even approve of, every title on this list, but at least you’ll have a working knowledge of guy movie culture, plus a go-to guide the next time he leaves it up to you to fend for yourself at the video store.
Thanks to my guy friends for their insight and comments. They have preformed a great service to women everywhere.
Guy Movies
Anything with Al Pacino
Anything with Marlon Brando (pre-Don Juan Demarco)
Anything with Bruce Willis
Sports
Field of Dreams
“Baseball. Need I say more?” Steve
We are Marshall
“Inspiring, true, sports story,” Scott
Action
Back to the Future trilogy
Steve says,” I’ve always been interested in time travel. The only think that would have made it better would be a cameo by Molly Ringwald.”
Mission Impossible 1,2,3
Bourne Supremacy and all the sequels
The Net
Lord of the Ring: The Return of the King
“Great story, great action, worth sitting through three hours.” Karl
Violence
Gladiator
“Total macho movie, lots of action, however good plot and I love the soundtrack. This is one of the few movies where you don’t mind being the guy wearing the skirt.” Karl
Saving Private Ryan
Steve says, “Groundbreaking cinema, pro-military without being pro-war.”
The Shawshank Redemption
“Morgan Freeman and good over evil. What more could you ask for?” Charles
(Note from Kathi: While these are the hardest movies for me to watch, they do give me ample opportunity to bury my face in my husband’s shoulder.)
Humor
Young Frankenstein
“Seriously funny movie, quotes are memorable and make me laugh out loud whenever I think about that movie.” Karl
Oceans 11
Romance
(This was a trick category – if you think this falls under guy movies, you are still thinking like a chick.)
Movies Both Guys and Girls Like
This is a magical list. Every Hollywood producer is looking for that mystical intersection of entertaining males and delighting females. Here’s a group of movies that, from my research, is a pretty sure bet for both of you:
Princess Bride – Don’t let the title fool you – even the teenage boys in our home love this movie.
What’s Up, Doc?
Indiana Jones (1 and 3 – but don’t even bother with 2)
City Slickers
Field of Dreams
Shrek
Chick Flicks
Only to be watched with girlfriends and large supplies of tissues and chocolates.
- An Affair to Remember
- Breakfast at Tiffany’s
- Steel Magnolias
- Fried Green Tomatoes
- Say Anything (John Cusack declaring his eternal love with a boom box? It’s the fantasy of many a girl and the impossible-to-live-up-to standard for every guy.)
- Anything with Meg Ryan
- Anything written by Jane Austin
So tell me – what kind of movies are your guy’s favorite? And for this week’s project, are you going to let him pick, or are you going to surprise him with a movie of his choice. Let me know in the comments below, and you will be entered to win TWO COPIES of the Marriage Project (one for you, and one for your man!)
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!
That’s just two things:
What kind of movies does your guy like?
When are you going to watch a movie he would like this week?
My husband likes funny movies.
I just have to say, I love this post! So well said! My husband and I laugh almost every time we talk about what kind of movie to get, and how to effectively combine high-action-adventure-movie-with-lots-of-explosions with romantic-comedy-that’s-full-of-personal-interest-stories. So, yeah, one of the “romantic” things we’ll sometimes do is pick a movie that’s each other’s style instead of our own. A lot of times, we’ll try for something in-between, like a light-hearted detective show series on Netflix (think Monk or Psych or White Collar).
Rocky!!!!! I, II, III, IV, (don’t even mention the number of this one! and definitely don’t watch it, according to my husband), and Rocky Balboa (final one)
I just let my man pick Looper to watch. I did my best to make it through most of it. 🙂 think I will go for some SkyFall next with him. He got the entire 50th Anniversary James Bond blu-ray collection for christmas. We watch at least one a week right now. 🙂
this post is all about my man. for valentines day, I’m getting him the new James Bond movie in bluray. i like watching these movies with him. some other good titles are Star Wars, the matrix, fast and the furious.
I actually like guy movies…action packed or anything sports-related. Hubby likes Princess Bride too. The first time I ever even heard of it was from him. :p
My husband loves cars so anything with expensive sports cars like James Bond.
My husband enjoys inspirational movies, like Remember the Titans and Courageous. But we usually don’t watch because by the time we remember to go to Redbox, anything we might like is gone.
My husband loves action or suspense movies. This week Tuesday and Friday are his choice. Wed. and Sat. are my choice, We take turns.
Anything historical!
My husband likes comedies, action movies, and sentimental movies. He cried at the end of the movie Up (although he’d never admit it). 🙂
We’re going to watch The Partiot on Sunday after church.
I’ve got Act of Valor coming from Netflix tomorrow!
My husbands favorite movies are cowboy/western (especially John Wayne), war movies, especially World War II, and Sci-Fi. I have become pretty good at picking out a few of these each week for him to pick from as he just leaves it up to me to bring them home now. It will be his choice Friday night, our usual movie night!
My hubby’s favorite is Shawshank Redemption, but he loves military action films, too. Guess it’s time to let him choose our next Netflix movie!
I do not like rom coms and am a fan of action flicks, but my husband loves comedies, especially anything with Chevy Chase. So, Friday night we will lock the children in their rooms and watch some Spies Like Us.
My guy likes Marital Arts movies. Anything with Jackie Chan, Jet Li and the honorable Bruce Lee. You want “off-sync” dubbed voiceovers, this is the place to go.
My husband loves action flicks, especially cop or military movies. So, babysitter called, I am going to surprise him with going to see the new Die Hard movie.
It is about time I suggest an action, sports, superhero, or my least favorite (violence) movie to watch with him. We will have to watch the movie in multiple installments this weekend when our baby naps. My husband is so giving when it comes to watching TV and movies. He knows I am very sensitive to images and tries to come up with shows or movies that I can watch. He actually suggested we watch Downton Abbey together!
My husband likes the history channel and the cartoon channels.
My husband likes just about anything. He enjoyed watching the Love Comes Softly series with me. And he even cried when he watched Up…which is not like him at all. 🙂
While I don’t think he’d be the first to admit it to the general public, my husband can stand a little “mushiness” as long as there is good clean humor involved. He actually did admit to me once that anything with Meg Ryan is “safe.” He even introduced me to “I.Q.” (1994) and I had a great time watching it because he laughed so hard. He does enjoy the typical macho stuff, but a good laugh is essential, too. Since we have two little boys we both like to watch movies about boys, like “Secondhand Lions,” “The Iron Giant,” and “Finding Neverland.” But he mostly spends his tube time watching sitcoms he collects: “The Cosby Show,” “Home Improvement,” “Boy Meets World,” and “NCIS.”
This Friday we’re watching “Encounter.”
Okay, I must be a strange Woman, b/c I like A LOT of the guy movies you listed, and my mom likes the other guy movies I don’t like. 😉 My husband’s newest favotite I think is Courageous. 🙂
My husband likes that Meg Ryan movie Kate and Leopold because of the time travel aspect. It helps that the guy playing Leopold also played Wolverine from some other movies. That comic book series’ name escapes me just now.
He likes anything with action or comedy. I’d have to say that “Dinner for Schmucks” and “Bad Boys” are just a few of his favourites. Friday is our movie night 🙂
congrats! you are the lucky winner, please email bronwyn@kathilipp.com
congrats, you are the winner! Please email Bronwyn@kathilipp.com
My husband likes to watch Superhero movies, Spiderman, Batman, the adventures. We usually take turns choosing movies and this weekend it is his turn.
He likes action movies and real life inspiring stories like zero dark thirty. Today we can go see an afternoon movie while our sons in school so I think that’s going to be it 🙂 thanks Kathy.
We are going to watch Braveheart This weekend – action and romance all in one 🙂
My husband and I will watch his favorite on Friday: LA Confidential!
My husband’s favorite movie is “The Princess Bride.” He enjoys actions movies as well. He says, “A ;movie has to have things exploding to be good.” 🙂 For this Friday, I’ll ask him to pick something from Netflix; something with lots of explosions!
My guy likes all of the Toy Story’s, Forrest Gump, all of the Star Wars movies, and many on your list. I will take on your challenge and let him choose movie night. Thanks for such a great post.
Ok so list is totally missing ‘Top Gun’ – fighter pilots, aircraft carriers, dangerous enemy planes, showing off, fighter pilot school
My husbands all times favorite. Watched Sunday night. He was happy! 🙂
My man likes the Bourne movies, anything with Liam Neeson, the Ocean movies, Princess Bride, First Knight, Paul Blart Mall Cop, The Other Guys…
I’m going to let him choose the movies (or I’ll pick a couple “guy-flicks”) for Valentine’s night. We always end up watching chick flicks on Heart Day, so why not change it up a bit for both his sake and our relationship’s sake :).