Watercooler: Las Vegas movies worth revisiting

Before I visited Las Vegas, I really didn't get it. Not much of a gambler nor a major fan of neon (or deserts), I couldn't think of a single reason I should visit.

My misgivings might have partially been based on the Sin City I'd always seen depicted on television and in the movies. "Leaving Las Vegas," the 1995 movie in which Nicolas Cage drinks himself to death, was a total downer. And I gave up on "The Real World" after the icky, sticky 2002 season where the Vegas cast skanked all over the Palms.

Then, this year, I changed my mind. Some girlfriends and I participated in a fitness contest where the team with the biggest health gains won a trip to Las Vegas.

That team was definitely not ours, but we decided we needed the trip anyway. We went two weeks ago.

I loved the trip, loved the Strip and loved almost everything about a city designed with decadence in mind.

Now that I'm a Vegas convert, I'm also ready to re-visit my stance on Vegas-based movies - and there are a lot of them.

Following is a list of movies I might give a gamble while I wait for my next trip to the Strip.

"Viva Las Vegas"

I've been meaning to sample some Elvis Presley movies, and I might as well start with this 1964 hit, starring Elvis as a race car driver named Lucky Jackson and Ann-Margret as the young lady he woos.

The movie features a famous scene of Presley performing "Viva Las Vegas," a song I found completely impossible to get out of my head during my visit.

"Casino"

Back in 1995, "Casino" got a lot of buzz - and a lot of awards. I remember avoiding it because of the violence, the setting and Sharon Stone, who annoys me.

But now that I'm seasoned by my visit to a real-life casino, I think I'm ready for this tale of two mobster friends who find themselves at odds over a Las Vegas casino empire.

The movie is said to include scenes filmed at The Riviera and on Fremont Street.

"Oceans 11"

One of my traveling companions was very excited about a scene from the 2001 casino heist movie "Ocean's 11" that was filmed at the Bellagio fountains. Poor thing kept searching in vain for Brad Pitt when we visited the site.

"21"

Considering my dismal luck during the 15 minutes I attempted to play blackjack in Vegas, I think I'd better look into this movie, which was released earlier this year and focuses on a group of MIT smarties who use their giant brains to manipulate Vegas blackjack tables.

"What Happens in Vegas"

Sure, it's a little throwaway romantic comedy. But the trailer for this Cameron Diaz/ Ashton Kutcher flick about two strangers who do a Vegas wedding while intoxicated made me giggle. Plus, it has one of those slot machine jackpot scenes every Vegas visitor dreams about.

"Swingers," 1996: Technically, I've already seen this one, but I remember loving it when it came out - mainly for its witty dialogue and for the introduction of a hilarious actor named Vince Vaughn.

"Vegas, baby. Vegas!"

What are you and your friends talking about at the watercooler? E-mail Denise Neil at dneil@wichitaeagle.com.