Some of my favorite memories from childhood include movies. Going to the theater to see them, getting our first VCR and renting VHS tapes (not betamax), waiting for them on TV. My dad inhales popcorn (really and truly--this is a sight to behold) and instilled the need for such food early on. We were microwave popcorn nuts when Orville was the only choice. The first movie I remember seeing in the movie theater was Star Wars. The original one, which I realize is the 4th one, but really was the first one--you know what I'm saying. I may have seen some before this one, but it's the first I remember. Another significant movie-going experience was seeing ET. I went with some family friends, Tom and Sharon, the same weekend my grandfather was dying. A distraction of sorts. I have seen both of these movies at least a dozen times since, and they never grow old, reigniting the same excitement, fear, thrills and heart-tugging, even though I know full well what will happen.
We regularly have family movie night, when we don our jammies, pop some corn and watch something together. We also try to see movies in the theater when we can--balancing various ages of children and attention spans, finding babysitters when these cannot be accomodated or when the movie is too mature. Always with popcorn--despite all the recent health warnings about how extraordinarily awful it is for you.
Now that it's Christmastime, some of my very favorites must be seen and seen again. Everyone has a favorite--mine, hands down, is It's A Wonderful Life. You have to see it all the way through, and if you haven't, you have missed out. I hesitate to build it up this way, because one movie was lifted so high for me before I saw it, that I was completely let down when I finally did. That movie was A Christmas Story. Couldn't get into it, thought it was cheesy and silly and not very good. I could be crucified for speaking so ill of such a beloved film, but I just didn't get the hype. So I will refrain from heaping praise on Jimmy Stewart's finest effort so that those who haven't seen it can do so without hype.
Other great Christmas movies include Miracle on 34th Street and Polar Express. I also like two more recent ones, Elf and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Now I won't let my kids see Christmas Vacation yet--a little too mature (no, immature?) for them, I think. But Miracle and Polar have already graced our TV this year, and It's a Wonderful Life in on tap for tomorrow night.
What are your Christmas favorites?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment