I can remember the day cable television came into my life like it was yesterday. I'm not gonna lie, truly one of the best days of my childhood. The joy of channel surfing quickly became a habit, one I still feed most weekends, mindlessly flipping through channels after the kids are in bed, waiting for something to grab my attention. There are a lot more than the 57 channels Springsteen once sang about, but there is often nothing worth watching. I can easily spend a couple hours just flipping, bits and pieces of pop culture seeping into my consciousness.
On Friday and Saturday night, I'm usually looking for a movie to watch. Sometimes I find a movie I haven't seen, and I'm pleasantly surprised. Recent examples include The Mexican and The Upside of Anger. Other times I'll watch a movie just to verify my disdain. Recent examples of this include anything starring Matthew McConaghey.
Most of the time I watch movies I've already seen. I always enjoy coming across an old classic. Of course, by old classic I mean such fine films as Flatliners and St. Elmo's Fire. Then there are movies I simply can't turn off, movies I've seen more times than I can remember. Footloose and anything from the John Hughes oeuvre come to mind. It doesn't matter how late it is, how much I've already missed. There are some movies I just can't resist.
Last night I realized that Little Miss Sunshine has become one of those movies. I'd seen it a couple weeks ago, but when I flipped to it last night, my channel surfing was done. It really is a great film. If I come across it again a month from now, I'm sure I'll watch it again. It's just one of those movies.
I think we all have those movies we can't resist watching over and over. I'd love to hear what movies other people can't resist.
That's a seminal moment, actally. I can remember when TV came into my life. It was a small brown box with two fuzzy channels. I guess this shows my age.
ReplyDeleteThere was a time when I didn't have cable other than TNT, and it played Truman repeatedly. It's not my favorite move in the world, but I still like it. The movie is such an expose on our reality TV based culture, and while I'm admittedly a reality TV watcher, the movie has provided an insistent reminder in my head that there are lines that should not be crossed and that I should not participate in.
ReplyDeleteMovies to watch over and over 'It's a wonderful life' (total cliche I know). 'Chocolat', 'Under the Tuscan Sun' and of course 'The Goonies'.
ReplyDeleteDefending your life. Don't see it on tv often. But I watch it once or twice a year.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the blog love, Riles! I'm on board with anything by John Hughes - I just can't seem tot click past Breakfast Club or Sixteen Candles, no matter how many times I've seen them. My biggest "guilty pleasure" movie and the one I never pass if it's on is Rock Star with Mark Wahlberg. And, yeah, I know I just said that out loud.
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http://thisthattheotherone.blogspot.com
This will be so gay, and I'm gay so it's ok, but my movie is The Sound of Music. I love that so much.
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I'm from the John Hughes era so I love all those movies, especially 16 candles. LONG DUK DONG! (Sorry.) One old movie that always gets to me is Rob Reiner's Stand by Me.
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