Well now, not exactly an original statement from a guy who spends his time blogging about movies. I’m sure most people would assume that any blogger who writes about movies must really love them, but it wasn’t until last week that I realized just how much love I had.
It’s been a particularly crappy summer, not that I’m complaining too much, as it hasn’t been really warm and outdoor activities have been almost non-existent. By this time last year, the kids and I had been in my parents pool (and by pool I mean a 3 foot deep, 10 foot wide inflatable circle) almost every day. I think we made it in there 3 times so far this summer. This has led to plenty of days in the house trying to entertain small children. And what does a good movie loving dad do for their children….that’s right, supply them with endless amounts of flicks to watch.
That would be the first reason I love movies so much. When I tell the kids that we’ll just be sitting around watching movies all day they get all excited. Can we make popcorn they’ll ask, can we turn off all the lights like at the theater they’ll follow up with. Not only does it provide at least an hours worth of quiet time, it allows me to share my great love with the kids and hopefully provide some great memories for them later in life. I didn’t watch many movies with my parents but I remember my Aunt and my Grandmother spending plenty of time with me in front of a screen. My Aunt had Star Wars on VHS and every single time I went to visit my Grandparents, my Aunt would put it on for me. I swear I must’ve seen that movie over 200 times by now. My Grandmother would also take me to the theater just about every time I was there. We saw Return of the Jedi, E.T., Back to the Future and plenty of other films. There was even this bad 3D cartoon that I cannot remember anything about except for the fact that it was 3D.
The next reason would have to be a films ability to melt any the worlds problems for me. Last week was an especially boring one as my back was wrecked. I could barely get off the couch and it was leaving my nerves very frayed. Small children, a short fuse and terrible back pain are a wicked combination. Many nights last week ended with me in a very bad mood. Usually this means me heading to bed very early to just get over the frustration, but last week I needed to get something up on the blog before I headed camping for the weekend. So I sat down to some flicks. From the moment the first flick of light hit the screen until it all finally went dark at the end, nothing mattered anymore. I didn’t care how bad the day was, or what kind of pain ran up my back, all I cared about was how great that movie was and how much I was enjoying it. That was literally the moment that I realized just how important film is to me. Film lovers will understand I’m sure, but I know plenty of people who just aren’t into movies like that. They see some here and there but nothing is ever really taken away from them.
To me, movies are more than just some shiny pictures on a screen. I love being the guy that someone comes to for movie suggestions, trivia, info, or just being the guy someone can ask ‘What’s that movie with the guy and he does the thing with the explosion?’ and actually being able to answer it. I proudly display my collection the same as someone else may display fine works of art. I’ve actually spent hours organizing the over 1200 movies I have in alphabetical order. To say that movies offer me an escape from reality would seem too much. I like my reality! HAHA! I’m not trying to get away from anything, but there’s always those moments that you just need to forget everything for a bit. I love how a movie can make me think, or change my mood from grumpy to happy. I love that it can bring my household together, if only for an hour, while we munch our popcorn and laugh at (typically) whatever animated character is entertaining us today. Sure, sometimes that winds up being Spongebob, but sometimes it ends up being Coraline or Green Lantern (which I’m just about to go and get right now. Seriously, go out and buy it guys, DC flicks are really great lately).
Films inspire me to accomplish things in my life. Watching an Evening with Kevin Smith always makes me want to go out and make a movie! Heading to a film festival and seeing Canadian made short films always makes me think, hey, I can do that to. They make me think about my life and how I live it. They inspire me to do better each day and sometimes they just inspire me to get drunk with my friends and throw popcorn at each other and the TV. Anyway you look at it, movies are a massively important part of my life and I wouldn’t be Will without them.
Under the marquee – Will
Well you could start doing a Youtube channel. That may get ya more motivated to expand beyond blogging, roast some movie noobs. Then maybe Kevin Smith may notice ya and ya become another celeb.
I have to admit, this post was pretty inspiring to me. I have been in my own funk this summer. Being in Detroit my climate is similar to yours and I have also spent many hours in the house, but strange changes in life has strayed me from watching movies, and only this past week seeing Harry Potter and Donnie Darko was I reminded what it was about the movies that I found so great. Rewatching Snatch made me remember how much I loved Guy Ritchie and how excited I was about Sherlock Holmes coming out. Reading about Burton’s Alice In Wonderland has me enthralled for next year. In spite of what’s transpiring elsewhere in my life I will always have the movies. It makes me think of Penny Lane in Almost Famous when she says, “if you’re feeling lonely put on a record and listen to your friends.” I feel that way about movies. I just adore everything about them.
Thanks for writing this, it really cheered me up.
That quote hits the nail right on the head Heather! Sometimes a movie is all I need to change my tune. And judging by the weather here, once again, I’ll be throwing a nice happy flick in to brighten the day.
I’m glad that my sharing some thoughts on what inspired me may have brought a smile to someone else’s face.
i think every adult who loves movies such as us has a mandatory reason of why we’re like this way that we are. I too have fond memories of my mother taking me to see all the major films during the summertime. Even at age 9 or 10 she didnt just take me to see all the disney movies, she let me see the good stuff. I remember Judge Dredd was my first adultish movie in the theater. A bad movie by all regards but at that age, youre just excited to be there. Movie for me are really special but theres not much else I can say that you didnt cover in your great post. Keep it up man.
Sometimes I wonder if I have fond memories of movies because I love them so much now, or if I love them much so now because of those times that made those memories.
Glad you liked my excessive rambling about something! I guess a refreshing burst of creativity hit me and I’m slowly starting to stockpile up thoughts and ideas for future use. I gotta get the brain working so I can kidnap people at the film festival next month and have some interesting questions for them.
Surprised y’all haven’t hooked up yet in person and host panel discussions with other fans for cons and such. The fact you have such dedicated readership on your blogs, what’s to say you guys can’t expand upon it. Idea yes? *raised eyebrow expression*
I think everyone is pretty scattered across the four corners of the Earth! HAHA! Although I was reading the blog of one guy who winded up being someone who picked programming for the Toronto After Dark Film Fest. Thought that was pretty cool.
I imagine at some strange place I’ll wind up bumping into someone who reads the blog or whose blog I read. At the very least you’ll always be around coz you’re the idea man! HAHA! You keep thinking of them so that one day we can make millions man!