Movies: we grew up with 'em. For better or worse they've helped shape our imaginations and our interests, and for most cinema enthusiasts it's not a stretch to credit them with making us who we are today
But beyond the posters and t-shirts, the quotes and the jokes, in many cases they've had a practical impact us. Sometimes a film will contain a bit of wisdom that sticks with us long after the credits roll, facts and figures we bring with us back into the real world and put to use in our lives
Just like LETHAL WEAPON left Homer constantly checking for bathroom bombs on THE SIMPSONS, sometimes what we see on screen can have a lasting impact, leaving us with new insights, tips, tricks and ideas
That's where this thread comes in
I'll start us off with an example I use constantly, in my daily life
SPARTAN (2004): "In the city, always a reflection. In the forest, always a sound"
This tactical truism, offered up by Val Kilmer as he schools Derek Luke in the ways of the secret agent, jumped out at me from the moment I first heard it. It makes perfect sense, doesn't it? The modern world is awash in materials that reflect light, the ubiquity of these reflective surfaces mean they rarely get our full attention. They're there though, virtually everywhere you look, each and every one refracting light from various angles and sources back up to our eyeballs. It's up to us to take note and use this information to our advantage
When out and about doing my thing, at the grocery store buying ice cream, walking down the street window shopping, I sometimes get that feeling that there are wandering eyes on me and my bubble of anonymity has been punctured
Before SPARTAN I'd just turn around and scope out my surroundings - an action that could potentially draw attention to myself and alert whoever may be watching that I knew something was afoot
After SPARTAN? I just think of Val Kilmer and my eyes go immediately to the nearest pane of glass, shiny car, or ice cream freezer case door. I can then observe my surroundings discreetly
It's an extremely useful tactic, and it feels pretty nifty to pull off such stealth successfully. It's extremely satisfying to deliberately avoid certain people ETC without them ever having known you knew there were there
How about you? What have you learned from silver screen that you've put into practice at home?
LIST YOUR MAXIMS, MOTTOS AND FACTOIDS HERE!
