There are so many movies to go into our geek collections when you consider all the Star Wars, Marvel, and DC movies out there. However, there are other geeky movies that don’t fall into the mainstream categories but still definitely deserve a spot on your shelf of Geekdom:
This one arguably deserves a Number One spot for the sheer ingenuity that is Monty Python. This British comedy features everything your geeky heart could desire, from tongue-in-cheek humor about the medieval ages to hilarious encounters with a killer bunny (that can only be defeated with a Holy Hand Grenade), a Scottish sorcerer named Tim the Enchanter, and a French Taunter who hurls absurd insults and cows at the English “kniggets” (knights).
If you’re a fan of author Terry Pratchett, the book or show Good Omens, or British comedy in general, this one should be right up your alley.
Based on the book of the same name by William Goldman, this movie has become a cult classic that reaches more than just geeks (though I think we’re the ones who quote it the most . . .). Another comedic medieval tale, this one is set in the fictional land of Florin and follows the love story between Princess Buttercup and dashing Dread Pirate Wesley.
However, Buttercup and Wesley have to overcome many obstacles to be reunited: a band of mercenaries that include a good-hearted giant, a master swordsman on a revenge kick for the “six-fingered man,” and a self-proclaimed genius mastermind; Rodents of Unusual Size (R.O.U.S’s); a spoiled prince; and a Pit of Despair.
There aren’t a lot of rom-coms for the geeks out there, unless you count nerdy-girl-falls-for-jock-guy as your thing. That’s why the movie 10 Things I Hate About You stands out with its two sarcastic outcast protagonists featured alongside a nerdy guy’s desperate attempts to win the affections of the outcast girl’s popular sister.
Rather than rely on crude jokes like many rom-coms today do, 10 Things I Hate About You gets its comedy from the witty back-and-forth between the two main characters, the awkward situations the nerdy guy and his new friend find themselves in, and a cast of whacky side characters (like a school counselor who writes bad erotica in her spare time).
Also . . . Heath Ledger.
If you’re a geek, then it’s possible you’ve already seen Monty Python and the Holy Grail. In that case, let me introduce you to a more modern medieval comedy, George and the Dragon.
Featuring the amazing talents of James Purefoy as George and Patrick Swayze, George and the Dragon follows, well, George—an English knight returned from the Crusades who reluctantly embarks on a quest to save a princess from a dragon in return for a plot of land granted by the king. Less goofy than Monty Python, this movie is made hilarious by George’s dry wit, the antics of his sidekick—a monk named Elmendorf who loves to drink—and a few subtle nods to modern society.
All right, what can I say? We geeks love our medieval comedies. Since we’re told we need to branch out from Monty Python, we find other gems like A Knight’s Tale, the story of a young commoner (Heath Ledger—again) who dreams of being a knight. When young Will’s knightly master unexpectedly dies, he decides to train and pass himself off as a knight in the tournaments.
He can’t do it all alone, though; accompanying him is writer Geoffrey Chaucer (respectfully referred to as “Geoff”), who concocts the identity “Ulrich von Liechtenstein” for Will, and Will’s two foul-mouthed sidekicks who act as his squires. Throw in a snarky love interest and a cameo by James Purefoy (hi again, James) as Prince Edward and you’ve got one hell of movie.
Stardust is another movie based off a book, this one by Neil Gaiman, and it follows the adventures of village boy Tristan as he tries to retrieve a fallen star for his lady-love to prove his worth. However, this star is a girl named Yvaine, and she’s being equally hunted by a trio of witches who want her power to remain young (Hocus Pocus style) and what remains of seven princes all killing each other in dramatic ways to be the one to take the star’s power and the throne.
For fans of The Princess Bride, this adventure/love story full of humor and fun side characters (cross-dressing sky pirate, anyone?) is another movie to consider adding to your geek collection.
Ah, Mel Brooks, one of the greatest comedy directors of all time. You don’t have to be a fan of Star Wars to enjoy this parody of it. What’s not to love about a villain named Dark Helmet who breathes the way he does because he has asthma and the helmet is suffocating? Or a magical force tying everything together known as The Schwartz and a speed above Light Speed called Ludicrous Speed?
Trust me on this. You can have a healthy respect for Star Wars and still have a good laugh over all the absurdities and over-exaggerations of Spaceballs.
If you’re looking for another geeky movie to quote that’s on par with Monty Python, look no further than The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, yet another British comedy filled with that quintessential sense of irony and tongue-in-cheek wit (and yet another movie based on a book, this one by Douglas Adams).
In this movie, we follow Arthur as he is whisked into space by his alien friend Ford Prefect, who is composing a Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Along the way, they meet plenty of fun side characters, such as Ford’s semi-cousin Zaphod Beeblebrox, who seeks the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything (refusing to believe the answer is “42” as his supercomputer Deep Thought suggests).
If you’re not intrigued by the title, then just know this is another Mel Brooks comedy with all the glorious absurd humor of Spaceballs and starring Cary Elwes (remember him from Princess Bride?). In this hilarious version of Robin Hood, Robin of Loxley returns from the Crusades to find his estate, quite literally, gone—repossessed by the evil Prince John, who is terrorizing and taxing the country.
On a mission to win back his land, Robin is joined by his blind servant Blinkin, Ahchoo the son of Asneeze, Will Scarlet O’Hara, Little John, Rabbi Tuckman, and the rest of the Merry Men as they go up against the Sheriff of Rottinghman and Prince John.
Back to the whacky sci-fi, this geeky movie features two idiotic teenagers (portrayed by Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves) on a mission to improve their history grade so Bill doesn’t get shipped to military school and they can live out their dream of starting rock band Wyld Stallyns. Fortunately for them, a man from the future named Rufus needs them to pass high school so they can eventually fulfill their destiny of saving the world.
With Rufus’s time machine, Bill and Ted hop around different timelines to meet real historical figures for their report: Napoleon, Ghengis Khan, Billy the Kid, Socrates, Beethoven, and Abraham Lincoln among others.
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