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Thursday, May 18, 2006

Popcorn, Anyone?: Top 8 Culturally Relevant Movies I Haven't Seen

I've seen a lot of movies. I'll wager that I've seen more black and white movies than all of my Dear Readers put together. (Ty doesn't get to play, since we were raised by the same movie-lovin' mother.) I bet I'm the only one in our blogmunity who has seen Treasure of the Sierra Madre and The Maltese Falcon. (Unless we have a closet Bogey fanatic in our midst.) I can practically recite Gone with the Wind and It's a Wonderful Life. I can count the big studio-era musicals I haven't seen on one hand: Carousel, On the Town, and 42nd Street. And yes, I've seen several movies made after my parents were born, too.

I pay attention to pop culture. Or rather, I have the freakish ability to absorb massive amounts of information re: pop culture whether I'm trying or not. Probably because I like to play Trivial Pursuit and my brain files possibly-useful information automatically. This means that I know the stars and basic plots of about a jillion movies that I've never seen. Which means I feel no driving need to see say, Deliverance, even though it's constantly referenced in pop culture. (I hear it's not a good choice for a youth group event, right Ty? Or perhaps Ryan should ask his brother-in-law, who chose it.) I didn't see The Godfather (I & II) till a few years ago, but the plot wasn't much of a surprise to me, since it has been referenced and parodied on practically every show I've ever watched.

Thanks to movie trailers and good ol' Bugs Bunny, The Simpsons, Anamaniacs, Family Guy, SNL, Seinfeld, and numerous other shows--especially those Top 100 clip shows I'm so fond of, I can quote plenty of lines from movies I've never watched. But even though I have a certain level of knowledge re: movies that I've never seen that are constantly referenced in popular culture, I still feel a little silly to admit that I've never seen these flicks:

1.) Jaws

2.) Rocky (and its sequels)

3.) The Breakfast Club

4.) Scarface

5.) Halloween/Nightmare on Elm Street/The Exorcist/The Shining/etc.

6.) Rambo (and its sequels)

7.) Pretty in Pink

8.) Terms of Endearment

I realize, Dear Readers, that many of these movies are before your time. But I'm an old lady (I was born while Nixon was still in office, most of you were probably Reagan-era babies). Most of my movie-loving peers have memorized these films. Not having seen Jaws in my peer group is akin to not having seen Titanic or The Matrix. At least I think that's a good analogy--I'm not completely sure what you whippersnappers are watching these days.

posted by Unknown at 4:37 PM

13 Comments:

  • I promise you that you aren't missing out on much. 1,3, and 7 are really the only ones worth watching, and even then, probably only once.

    You're, like, the queen of Top 8 lists... it's great... I want to steal your ideas, but it would be too obvious...

    By Blogger arwen, at 10:58 AM  

  • Ok, GIna, you seriously need to see 1,3, and 7. Like Arwen said. But I would argue that 3 and 7 are worth more than one time watches. I mean, you really can't beat a Molly Ringwald movie. I also loved 16 Candles. 1 is good too, but I watched it when I was like 5 and had nightmares that scarred me for my whole life up til today. But I would say that since you are over the age of 5 you could probably handle the mechanical shark eating peoples limbs off.
    I also can quote It's a Wonderful Life, we watched it every Christmas Eve of my life. And I'm sorry, but Clarence is one creepy angel dude.

    By Blogger Lisa, at 11:05 AM  

  • I've seen Sixteen Candles several times (but never all in one sitting, just in random, overlapping fractions). It was pretty good, but it didn't set me on fire to see the entire Molly Ringwald ouvre. I think I own The Breakfast Club (I'm ridiculously vulnerable to Buy 2 Get 1 Free sales). I'm sure I'll get around to watching it eventually. Same goes for PiP and Jaws. And probably Terms of Endearment. The others? Meh.

    Arwen, you came aboard a little late and probably didn't read the post where I declared that Friday would henceforth be Top 8 day. I've got a list of 16 more ideas, but at this rate I'm going to run out in late September. So topic suggestions are welcome--as long as you're not offended if your suggestion doesn't inspire me to make a list.

    If you want to make your own Top 8 (or 7, or 9) list of movies you can't believe you haven't seen, or any other Top 8-inspired topic, please feel free. I would be flattered, not offended.

    By Blogger Unknown, at 11:34 AM  

  • /Cough.

    ONLY person to have seen Treasures and Maltese?

    Sorry, but you found your closet Bogart Fan. :P

    And from your list of films you haven't seen, number five is the one I fail on. But that's just cause I don't do slasher films.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:28 PM  

  • Aaron, I must have forgotten how cultured you are. (Or maybe that legendary incident when Chrysta pitched a hissy and made you turn off a certain cinematc gem clouded my memory of your otherwise excellent taste in high-class entertainment.) I'm not surprised you've seen Treasure of the Sierra Madre and The Maltese Falcon. I'm sure you've seen African Queen and We're No Angels as well. Yes, you're very cultured, Dear. (pats Aaron on the head>

    I'm kind of surprised you don't like slasher films though. Don't know why, but you seemed like the kind of guy who'd enjoy a little heart-stoppage and gratuitous gore. Maybe that's only when swords and battle-axes and maces are involved. Everything's better with a suit of armor nearby, right?

    By Blogger Unknown, at 2:36 PM  

  • I've seen some, haven't seen others... life not inhanced or forever changed because of them. Not a movie fan, can we tell?

    (My word verification thingy is out ragiously long! kafteanp ...this makes me laugh out loud.)

    By Blogger Kara Deal, at 4:54 PM  

  • Ok, which cinematic gem was that?

    I've forgotten the incident.

    And "The African Queen" rates up there with "Rooster Coburn" as one of my favorite Katherine Hepburn movies. Sorry Gang, "On Golden Pond" just doesn't do it for me.

    I may play a barbarian most of the time, but I have been exposed to my fair of culture.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:38 PM  

  • i've seen the African Queen too! and Robin S Caruso... That Dick Van Dyke is a genius... I did come in pretty late, but now that you mention it, I think I do remember reading something about Fridays... Ugh. I'm so out of the loop...

    By Blogger arwen, at 11:36 PM  

  • Hey Gina, sorry I dont' have much to add in the whole movie conversation, I've seen so few movies it surprises me, though I do love black & white's especially with Cary Grant & Dorris Day! And we won't get Will started on how sadly lacking recently made movies are. Of course he still has hope & will occasionally drag us to the movie theatre only to leave dissapointed! I've been reading your blog for a while now but I always have to start from the very beginning so it took me a little while to get caught up! VERY ENTERTAINING. Anyway, I sure do love you & wish that I retained random facts as well as you! Wendy.

    By Blogger Mathias and Craig Families, at 9:10 AM  

  • Once there was an old man, sitting in his threadbare relciner, musing over the menaingful moments of his life; the meager contributions one man can make; the relationship one invests in; the prayers that are sent heavenward.
    In his ample lap rested the old man's computer where words and images splashed, illuminating not only his darkened home, but also his old heart. With deft fingers, the ancient youth minister scrolled and clicked, reading the clever, humorous, and insightful thoughts of his old youth group members and their little friends.
    As he linked from one blogsite to the next, the old man's heart warmed ... he sighed deeply ... and a tear fell.
    KW

    By Blogger Kaydub, at 9:35 PM  

  • Kevin read my blog! I have arrived!

    Wendy, I'm flattered that you could find the time to read this with all the other things you've got going on. It's nice to hear from you! Love you bunches!

    By Blogger Unknown, at 9:55 AM  

  • I am coming to this party WAY late, so I'll assume the only person that will ever see this comment is Gina. (And then only if she gets email notifications of comments, or if she's crazy like me and goes back to old posts, just in case...[you are crazy like me, aren't you Gina?])

    Anyway, you've gotten some good comments, but they are definitely chick-biased. Sure, that Molly Ringwald stuff deserves its view, but Rocky stands in a class above. The first 2 Rockys are fantastic. When he goes to her apartment for some smooching, the uncomfortableness is so raw it will make you squirm in your seat. And the turtle in the corner? Genius. Additionally, nary a convergence of music, cinematography, make-up, and emotion has been captured as skillfully as it was in the scene after the fight when Rocky calls out her name. Younger viewers are probably tainted by seeing one of the abysmal sequels, (3 and on), first. It is hard to go back and enjoy the original once it has been messed up for you by one of the lessers.

    Which brings me directly to Nightmare on Elm Street. Now, maybe it’s because I count it as the second R-rated film I ever saw, but that thing spooked me. Wes Craven is a master. He may not always hit the target, but the first NOES took a bloody set of steak-knifes attached to a glove and destroyed the bullseye. He stood on the shoulders of creepy-old-guys-killing-teens movies and gave it personality. Freddy won’t just kill you, he’ll tease you. If you want to beat this guy you don’t just wait till you’re the last one alive and hope you can push him off the cliff; you better be smart. And, tying in the parents as co-conspirators? Come ON. That scene at the end where the camera pulls back and the ragtop matches his sweater? Puh-lease. I’d propose that once again the original was spoiled by seeing one of the sequels first.

    On a related side note, you should see the Exorcist--but get the remake. I saw that in the theater when it was re-released and cringed—a lot (never saw the sequel). Also, Jack nails it in The Shining (never got ruined by a sequel).

    Jaws is another one that probably got screwed up by its sequels. I actually saw Jaws3-D in the theater when it came out, so you know that was some old stuff. The first one is worth a viewing, there is some creepy stuff in the water and the battle will keep you holding your feet off the ground right up till the end. (Don’t even think about the sequels.)

    I think these horror flicks get a bad rap from the younger kids because they can’t stand up to the special effects that they are used to. It is hard to go back and be scared by old effects—this is sad, but true. A love story stands the test of time better because it doesn’t need the effects.

    Like you, I never saw Scarface, and we both know that we should see it.

    I’ve also never seen Rambo, but I’m not sure I’m not missing much.

    By Blogger Jason Hill, at 3:04 PM  

  • sometime when the hills and the kartans and the bergs are all in the same city, let's have a scarface screening. i bought it for the mister two years ago for christmas and we've still not watched it. i mean, we've seen it, but we've not watched the extradee special one i bought him. it's a commitment, it's several hours of violence and language not regularly experienced, so you have to be in a very tony montana mood.

    By Blogger rebecca marie, at 1:02 PM  

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