Films You Watch for a Reason

In the first year my ex wife moved out I watched all nine seasons of Seinfeld four times because we used to fall asleep to it.

I have probably more films I will not watch for various reasons than things I watch to recapture a moment.  I still haven't seen Rachel Getting Married because it was the last film I was set to see with the woman who destroyed my ability to love.

When I need a pick-me-up I tend to go to a lot of early Spielberg, Close Encounters and Raiders especially. They're two of my favourite films, partly because of nostalgia but mainly because their energy never diminishes in infectiousness. They're just joyous filmic experiences that never fail to pump me up.

As for films I don't watch, it's usually ones that remind me of exes. Eventually that association dims, but it takes a while. Every now and again there will be a film I will actively avoid due to moral/political reasons. It happened recently with The Iron Lady, for reasons I've gone into elsewhere. it's a very, very rare thing but it does happen from time to time. 

I am gorging myself on Portuguese-language films and television, as I am learning Portuguese. 

So far I have multiple viewings of:

* Waste Land 

* Manda Bala 

* City of God 

* Elite Squad 

Four Days In September is next up. I'm going to get Path to the Clouds and Romeo and Juliet Get Married after that. I'm trying to average a new movie every few weeks. One of the most rewarding aspects of learning a new language is how films gradually open themselves up to you the more you learn. 

I also have been watching the Brazilian version of BBC news and some of their novellas, basically soap operas. Despite the surprisingly high quality of acting and production values, I would not normally be watching the soaps if not for the reason I am learning. 

My childhood was spent going to movies with my family, so I have personal attachments to strange bits of cinema. For example, my late uncle's favorite movie was Buckaroo Banzai. He passed over a year ago, and we played it in the lobby during his funeral. Since then, I've probably watched it 10 times, and spent most of the running time just thinking about him.

An example of something I don't watch for a reason: Honey, I Shrunk The Kids, which my family went to see before finding out our grandfather had passed. When I see that it's playing on TV, all I can think of is that, and I don't watch it. (Well, that and it's Honey I Shrunk The Kids.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackyShimSham 

I am gorging myself on Portuguese-language films and television, as I am learning Portuguese. 

 

So far I have multiple viewings of:

 

* Waste Land 

* Manda Bala 

* City of God 

* Elite Squad 

 

Four Days In September is next up. I'm going to get Path to the Clouds and Romeo and Juliet Get Married after that. I'm trying to average a new movie every few weeks. One of the most rewarding aspects of learning a new language is how films gradually open themselves up to you the more you learn. 

 

I also have been watching the Brazilian version of BBC news and some of their novellas, basically soap operas. Despite the surprisingly high quality of acting and production values, I would not normally be watching the soaps if not for the reason I am learning. 

Good call Blacky, when I was learning Portugese I did the same thing. For learning any new language if you can get the versions both in that language and also with subs in that language it's a really big help.

Songs are the other great pop culture language tool, because they naturally stick in your head.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mangy 

My childhood was spent going to movies with my family, so I have personal attachments to strange bits of cinema. For example, my late uncle's favorite movie was Buckaroo Banzai. He passed over a year ago, and we played it in the lobby during his funeral. Since then, I've probably watched it 10 times, and spent most of the running time just thinking about him.

 

An example of something I don't watch for a reason: Honey, I Shrunk The Kids, which my family went to see before finding out our grandfather had passed. When I see that it's playing on TV, all I can think of is that, and I don't watch it. (Well, that and it's Honey I Shrunk The Kids.)

My brother and I missed my maternal grandmother's Last Rites because our dad took us to a matinee.  This was about 20 years ago, but to this day we still never speak of The River Wild in my family because it upsets my mother too much.  As opposed to most families, who never speak of The River Wild because it's The River Wild.
 

For years I'd watch 2001 each New Year's Eve.

Last summer I got fired from my job and "celebrated" by watching Nixon and drinking red wine.

Close Encounters and Star Wars are my go to films when I'm down.

At the moment the Marvel films and Godzilla flicks are my "relax, unwind and have a good time" films.

For when I want to cry/remember how fantastic childhood is - E.T.

For when I get dumped - Swingers

For when I want to remember what's possible with film - Anything by Terrence Malick

For when I want to re-empower myself - American Beauty

For when I want to bemoan the horrifying state of humanity - Network

For when I'm lonely - The Breakfast Club

For when I want to remind myself how good life can be - It's A Wonderful Life

Really?  I watch that a lot and thank God I have boys.  Because I would totally be trying to bone my daughters friends.  Really, my sons better watch out too.

Anytime I'm sick, it's either The Princess Bride or Moulin Rouge. Familiar, wonderful friends who are there to make me smile, and in Rouge's case, go through the misery I'm going through as well.