Thursday Movie Picks: Shopping Malls

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Get in loser, we're going shopping over at Wandering Through The Shelves this week. I kind of hate that malls feel like they're phasing out. As someone who lives in a state where it snows a lot, I can appreciate a giant indoor shopping/eating area where I don't have to go outside to go to another store.  Anywho, here are a few of my favorite films that feature malls. 


1) Mall Rats - This one is a given. A solid comedy about college kids hanging around the mall for the day. My husband and I still make escalator jokes because of this movie. 


2) Dawn of the Dead - These characters run for refuge from the zombie apocalypses in a shopping mall. It gave us plenty of montages including a very well acted "fuck me harder, Steve" line thrown in. 


3) Jackie Brown - I was late to watching this movie but it mostly takes place in a shopping mall where they plan on exchanging money. It's a great film, I'm glad I finally saw it, even if I should've watched it much sooner. 

Comments

  1. BirgitJune 16, 2022 at 8:49 AM

    I like malls but now, people are going back to plazas. Plazas were the thing back in the 60s & 70s. They call it centre's now, right? They are glorified plazas. I agree with you ys I miss the old fashioned department stores.
    I haven't seen any of your picks and, like you, feel ashamed that I gave not seen Jackie Brown yet. I'll skip the zombie one but Mall rats sounds good. When I skipped school I'd go down to the mall. Escalators seem to be a big thing to use as a prop in movies

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamJune 16, 2022 at 4:32 PM

      Mall Rats is hilarious. If you like Kevin Smith's humor it should work for you!

      Delete
  2. SaraJune 16, 2022 at 11:09 AM

    I've only seen Mall Rats! I really do plan on seeing Jackie Brown someday though.

    ReplyDelete
  3. joel65913June 16, 2022 at 11:24 AM

    I agree with you about the fading of the mall and the loss of convenience that went with it. I also liked that on a rainy day you could park (hopefully close to the entrance!) make a dash for the door and then be able to wander around dry for hours while you shopped and ate. Now it's all hopping from place to place the result of which is that I shop much less.

    Anyway, it also took me a while to watch Jackie Brown, as it does with most if not all Tarantino films, but I also ended up really liking it....though like all QT's films it was in need of a tighter edit. The whole cast was really terrific but Pam Grier stood out.

    I didn't care much for Mallrats. Maybe my expectation was too high, I'd heard it praised for years before I finally got around to it and then I was underwhelmed.

    I've never seen Dawn of the Dead. I've considered it from time to time but with horror the opportunity needs to present itself when I'm in the mood or I'll never seek it out.

    This one is sort of tough if the meaning is it be set entirely in a mall. The only one that came to mind right away is Chopping Mall. A pretty terrible movie, the reasoning for why I've seen it is explained by my comment above. It was showing on TCM on their late night Friday Drive-In feature and I figured "Why not?" The best I can say about it is that it could have been worse.

    I also though of the hilarious "Soapdish" where Whoopi Goldberg sensing that soap queen Sally Field needs an ego boost talks her into going to the Paramus Mall incognito only to be discovered and surrounded by fans and lifting her spirits.

    Most everything else I can think of happens in a department store though I suppose a great deal of Fast Times at Ridgemont High is set in the mall.

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    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamJune 16, 2022 at 4:33 PM

      I like the 2004 version of Dawn of the Dead so much better than the older one. I have never heard of Soapdish but now I feel like I NEED to see it.

      Delete
  4. thevoid99June 16, 2022 at 4:43 PM

    We share a pick with Mallrats. I love that film. Snootchie Bootchies!!!! I also like your other picks. Soapdish is a hilarious film as it features a young Tony Stark being seduced by Cathy Moriarty.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJune 17, 2022 at 6:53 AM

    Haha...I am the opposite. As someone who lives where it is hot and humid all year round, malls with their air conditioning provide a refuge from the heat.

    The only one I've seen is Dawn of the Dead and I think it's one of the best zombie movies.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wandering Through The ShelvesJune 17, 2022 at 6:59 AM

    Haha... I am the opposite. As someone that lives where it is hot and humid all year round, malls provide a refuge from the heat.

    Dawn of the Dead is the only one of your picks I've seen and I think it is one of the best zombie movies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamJune 17, 2022 at 8:15 AM

      See! We can all appreciate malls for their climate control lol

      Delete
  7. SJHoneywellJune 17, 2022 at 11:01 AM

    I prefer the original Dawn of the Dead, but that is probably related to the fact that I have a history with it. I have vivid memories of one of my brothers sitting in the TV room with a six pack and cheering for the zombies. Hard to compete with that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamJune 21, 2022 at 7:46 AM

      I don't blame you! I saw the remake for the first time after hours when I worked at a movie theater with all my friends. That made it special.

      Delete

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