Donna's Top Summer Movies

1. "JAWS" - the ultimate summer movie that give you a great rush AND it has a song about bow-legged women --- how can anyone resist it?

2. BASEBALL MOVIES - Every time I go to a Mariner's game, I can't wait to get home and watch "BULL DURHAM" or "FIELD OF DREAMS" or "A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN" or "EIGHT MEN OUT" or "THE NATURAL" or "THE ROOKIE" or "BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY" or "THE BABE" (John Goodman is phenomenal in this!) --- and not because the Mariner's are bad or the game was bad (although the food most probably was) but, down deep, I am just a sucker for a baseball movie.

3. SUMMERTIME IN NEW YORK CITY - First, Spike Lee - Who else captures the heat of summer in the city than Spike Lee? Check out his groundbreaking "DO THE RIGHT THING" and "SUMMER OF SAM" --- how does he make you sweat when you are watching it in air-conditioning? THAT is part of his talent. Next, check out "DOG DAY AFTERNOON" which has so many stand-out performances --- and I know, you may have seen it before, but really, treat yourself to it a second time. And on the other end of the spectrum, the silly "SEVEN YEAR ITCH" featuring Marilyn Monroe and Tom Ewell (yes, this is the dress-flying-up movie).

4. THOSE NOSTALGIA MOVIES - Okay, here is the irony with these nostalgia movies, everyone in them is so YOUNG! See the beginning of Richard Dreyfus'/Harrison Ford's/ River Phoenix/Reese Witherspoon/Macauley Caulkin's careers. Truly, these movies pull at you and make you smile. "STAND BY ME" and "AMERICAN GRAFFITI" and "THE MAN IN THE MOON" (with a very young, very touching, very talented Reese Witherspoon) and "MY GIRL".

5. SUMMER ROMANCE - Heavy sigh of pleasure for any of these. "A WALK ON THE MOON" (with Diane Lane and Viggo Mortenson) and "BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY" and "SAY ANYTHING" (Lloyd Dobbler . . . heavy sigh of pleasure) and "MONSOON WEDDING" (who'da thunk eating marigolds would be so . . . seductive?) and "BEFORE SUNRISE" (romance in Vienna --- I can do that.) and Katherine Hepburn in David Lean's "SUMMERTIME" (romance in Venice --- I can DEFINITELY do that).

6. "GEORGE WASHINGTON" - I really love this movie by David Gordon Green. To me, it is like watching music --- one of those classic pieces that I don't know the composer or name of, but love it anyway --- the atmosphere he creates is hypnotic. And since I am talking of David Gordon Green, check out the powerful "UNDERTOW" (good extras on the DVD!) and "ALL THE REAL GIRLS" --- he is so talented!

7. REUNION MOVIES - "INDIAN SUMMER" (I love every actor in this movie: Diane Lane, Alan Arkin, Bill Paxton, Elizabeth Perkins, Kevin Pollack) and "ROCKET GIBRALTOR" (once again, what a cast: Burt Lancaster, Patricia Clarkson, Bill Pullman, Kevin Spacey, a 7 or 8-year old Macauley Culkin) and "PARENT TRAP" (I like both the original Haley Mills and the remake with Lindsay Lohan)

8. "LILO & STITCH" - I gotta say, this is one of my favorite Hawaiian movies, one of my favorite Disney cartoons, and one of my favorite movies about siblings. I find it charming and funny and touching and very pretty. And it has Elvis songs. Other good sibling movies: "YOU CAN COUNT ON ME" and "IN HER SHOES."

9. "PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN" - I'll end this list as I started it --- what a great rolickin' good summer flick --- how can anyone resist it?