“Movies can and do have tremendous influence in shaping young lives towards the ideals and objectives of normal adulthood.”
I love the movies.
Great films are best, but I’ll settle for good. I’m even willing to watch bad, once… or twice.
My childhood was full of great cinema from a range of sources. Saturdays were spent at my Grandparent’s, where my sister and I would camp on the carpet in front of an old wooden TV. It was the same size as a 42″ High Def set I would drool over now, except square instead of rectangle, and thick instead of thin.
And no High Definition, but rather, limbo stick low resolution.
But it was TV, and I was a kid.
Every weekend, an old film played on channel five. The same one, four times. This is where I learned to first tolerate, and then love, black and white.
In between the awesomeness of the Love Boat and the hysterical cool of Fantasy Island, I’d watch something like, “King Kong,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” or “Some Like it Hot.”
Weekends were made for movies, and a festival started on Saturday, often resumed the next day.
A family tradition, second only to Sunday breakfast, was a trip to the theater to fill the final afternoon of our weekend.
The experience ripened alongside our years. As our literature aged, so did our cinema.
I remember the first R rated movie we saw:
Rain Man.
I loved it because it told me a story in a way I’d never seen.
At least not on the big screen.
At home, we had a library, stocked with a wealth of R rated features. These red stamped flix were supposed to be off limits. Fortunately, my mom and dad were different, each with their own opinion about what best to withhold from a budding mind.
My father believed it important to shield us from coarse language and violence (though this did not slow words that rhyme with truck and sit from frequently fleeing his lips).
But my mom’s objections could be summed up in a single word.
Nipples.
Not nudity mind you. Just nipples… and the short and curlies, at least if they sprung from a lady.
The swollen underside of a breast, fine. The lazy S of a damsel’s backside, sure. Full frontal nudity from someone with a hairy chest and dangling participles, not a problem.
Nipples?
No way.
Now here’s a test:
At age thirteen, would my mom have preferred her son to see…
A movie where a guy gets a grenade shoved in his mouth, as he’s kicked off a cliff. He rolls down said cliff, releasing a chain of curse words which link every oath with four letters to the few that involve immediate family. As he exhales his final syllable, he is blown to a billion bits scattered in the bed of the basin.
OR
Franco Zeffirelli’s, “Romeo and Juliet,” which displays precisely two nipples for exactly two seconds.
High five if you picked the one that might warp me.
Like any kid worth their childhood, my sister and I were able to wade the waters of our parent’s particulars.
We saw pretty much everything.
By the time I could drive, I was ready for flix from art house to multiplex, which probably explains my love for Tarantino.
Who are we but the product of an infinity of finely sliced seconds, where each one matters, at least to some degree.
What we feed our brain is important.
Was I feeding mine well? How do you feed yours?
Writer Dad
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If you liked that post, you’ll love, “A Billion Pixels and None of Them Wasted,” “Batman Left My Wife Lying Crumpled on the Floor,” or “An Old Dream Come True.”
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I can actually remember when we first got a TV and programming in the town I lived in was only in what is now prime time. And of course we never had any movies at home, other than NBC’s “Saturday Night at the Movies.” During the summer, we had summer passes for Saturday matinees where we would see two movies — with a cartoon. Of course they were old B movies — westerns, mostly — but we never knew.
When our girls were growing up and we watched movies on cable, we really had no restrictions. If we watched it, they did, too. Doesn’t seem to have hurt them, though our youngest is very picky about what her kids see. Very understandable, given what’s available today.
I love the movies too, Writer Dad - though there’s nothing that has captured my attention at the local multiplex recently.
The hype over ‘Dark Knight’ skirted me by (does that make me odd?!)
It’s an interesting point you make about what is and isn’t suitable for kids these days.
I think that parental guidance should be used in the home, but what if your child goes movie watching at a friend’s house?
I guess a parent has to rely on the other mom or dad to be as equally concerned as you are.
And it’s not just the content of movies that are potentially harmful to youngsters…
Everywhere, from tv to video games, questionable content is streamed unfiltered into the brains of children. Very often, there is no one standing in the way of it or helping them to make sense of it.
It’s by providing kids with a context and explanations for what they are watching that any negative effects can be minimized.
I guess the same thing applies to the positive side of watching tv too.
Recently my two older children wanted to watch an R-rated movie (Air Force One). I was a bit on the fence, my wife was ok with it. We have both seen the movie when it was out in the theatre years ago. I couldn’t recall why it was rated R (language, and maybe violence I found out). We discussed. And decided it was ok for them to see. And the thing is, there in school (for many years now - ages 11 and 13) and the language, well, they hear it at school already. Not by them, mind you. But, we can’t protect them from everything they will be exposed to. This is a tough one for me. Where do we draw the line and what is and isn’t acceptable in movie for them to watch. I definitely wouldn’t let my 9 year old watch this movie.
Lances last blog post..Stimulate Creativity
I heart movies in a very big way too Writer Dad. I am a bit of a movie nerd if truth be told and can’t wait for my children to really immerse themselves into films too. My first movie at the cinema was the cartoon version of Robin Hood and I also recall going to see The Three Muskateers with my dad - in the days of an intermission!
I was there queuing with my parents to see the likes of ET and Star Wars and I was there for event movies such as Jurassic Park.
Since having children I haven’t been as often as I used to (sometimes twice a week!) but I have now discovered some wonderous children’s films (Iron Man, Toy Story etc) and get to see them through the eyes of my excitable little boy who is also just discovering Star Wars and Indiana Jones - yay!
Tara@From Dawn Till Rusks last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: The fairy wish flower
WD,
I don’t think we always have control over what is feeding our minds. Everything does at all times. The media, movies we watch, books we read, people we hang out with, etc. One of my good friends used to say, you tell me the books you read and the people you hang out with and I will tell you the person you will be in 5 years.
@Scott: Not to mention going between parents. When I was younger, my best friend would go to his mom and ask her if we could watch a movie, if she said no, here comes dad, ask him. Besides, look at how much the ratings have changed between now and when we were kids. I remember Gone With the Wind was almost not allowed till I was in high school because it had one bad word in it.
@Tara: Those were some great movies weren’t they? I can’t wait till my kiddos get a chance to watch them.
Sals last blog post..What do you know?
I don’t think young children should be watching R-rated movies. I know of a lot of kids who do so though. It just doesn’t seem right. And a lot of them don’t know how to deal with the images and themes presented in such films.
I believe in the rating system and I’m glad it is there. A lot of the time a teenager is ready for such films though. And if someone is ready for it then it is not necessary to wait until 18 years of age. Knowing when they are ready is the tricky part.
Chase Marchs last blog post..Supreme Time Waster
Oh boy, my parents were the exact opposite! We were raised on Disney and the Cosby show, though we did get to watch Spiderman. We never had cable so we only got three or four channels. My dad watched with us when he was home, otherwise it was my mom. Dad blacked out commercials. It was a strict household, and as I grew older, I learned to watch sports late at night, uninterrupted.
However, every Saturday was Saturday Night at the Movies with Elwy Yost. Soup and sandwiches evening, and I *lived* for it. At 8 pm I was THERE; screw my friends. The last time I watched SNM was probably in university, and I still miss it.
Colin and I don’t subscribe to TV. Renting movies is our thing. Pizza and movies, every single weekend if we can. I make the pizza, he brings the movies. We don’t ever do anything else, so we figured we’d splurge on a big-screen. It’s totally our favourite thing. Unfortunately, he hates anything made before the 1980s. (Sometimes I wonder how it’s possible we’re together…)
stephs last blog post..Letting Go
Writer Dad,
I don’t heart movies. I can pretty much take them or leave them. Don’t get me wrong, I get captivated by some of them, but most movies seem to be very formulaic and therefore… crap. Yes, I’m an ace movie critic!
I quite like the kid’s movies, but after seeing each of them 259 times they lose their appeal.
I don’t know, maybe I’m dead inside?
Dave Fowlers last blog post..A Policeman’s Lot Is Not A Happy One
Dave, shame on you! You have to watch a child’s movie at least 300 times before you get the full viewing pleasure of it - every kid will tell you that!
Now watching Barney the freakin’ dinosaur 3 times (let alone 300) is enough to make me never ever watch moving pictures again . . .
Tara@From Dawn Till Rusks last blog post..Welcome to the labour party - now share the horror!
Hi, Writer Dad -
There’s nothing like a great old movie on a rainy (or snowy!) night. Lately, my husband and I have been reviving classic Hitchcock movies. Between the plot, the cinematography, and the fashions, we’re transported into another world for a few hours and we love it. Can’t wait to open the wine and indulge the mind again this weekend.
Rebecca Smiths last blog post..The scoundrels’ dictionary
I’ve learned a lot of my best moves in life from TV and movies. Just the other day I found myself in a situation where I had to ask, what would Bug Bunny do?
J.D. Meiers last blog post..3 Revealing Questions for Myth Busting
My children are a product of divorce and the product of a completly different belief of what they should be exposed to. (hmmm..anyone want to take a few guesses why we aren’t together?)
At our house there is no tv, no commercials, we import Feature Films for the Family (highly recomended) movies, we watch the classics and fun movies, and make popcorn and have family time. At Dad’s house the tv is never turned off, They have every cable channel invented,the Simpsons reign, ratings mean nothing and they know everything there is to know about CSI. Thankfully the ratio of time spent there to here is small. I guess its balance?
Wendi Kellys last blog post..Changing Colors
My folks didnt’ have much money when I was young. We weren’t poor, but we didn’t have too much left over for “extras”, like movies.
So going to the theater was a BIG DEAL. An event that took place, maybe 2-3 times a year.
Mom refused to shell out the big bucks for popcorn. To save money, so she made it at home on the stove, in a cooking pot with hot oil. And we smuggled the bags of popcorn in the theater in her monster purse, along with our cans of coke.
First movie in a theater I ever saw was “Herbie the Love Bug”. That was 1969…I was four at the time. It totally blew me away. I drew Volkswagens for months after that.
Geezus, I’m starting to sound like one of those old farts, aren’t I?
Maybe I should have added that we walked uphill to the movie theater in snowstorms, both ways.
Friars last blog post..Lessons in Pike Psychology
Great post (and funny). It sounds like we grew up with the same parents, only instead of mom being the tough one, it was my dad. Which sucked, because I was a movie buff, and went out of my way to find movies (either on cable or at the video store) that I thought my dad would like. He worked so hard during the week, I wanted to give him some joy on the weekend.
So, we’d watch movies, but God forbid if any female nudity came on. I was told to cover my eyes with an angry yell.
Oddly, this had the opposite of the desired effect. By the age of 13, I was peeking through the crack of my bedroom door late at night when I knew my dad was watching some movie which might feature even a second of female nudity!
Fortunately, I didn’t go on to become a peeping tom, but his strictness over such matters has made me think about how I will restrict my son’s exposure to things like that. I definitely won’t let him watch violent movies, but I’m not sure that going off on nudity sends the right message. I think if taken to the extreme, associating nudity with such shame can cause any number of sexual or intimacy problems. I can’t tell you how many girls I knew while growing up that had ultraconservative parents. Guess how they rebelled. I’m sure my wife (who is far more conservative than I) will come to blows over my son’s media diet.
As far as feeding my own mind, I have pretty eclectic taste in movies. Some of my favorites: Last of the Mohicans (the Daniel Day Lewis version), Old Boy, Dark City, 12 Monkeys, My Life as a Dog, Europa Europa, Midnight Clear, The Crying Game, The Sixth Sense, The Professional, The Life Before This, Fight Club and Office Space.
Friar: LOL!!! I remember Herbie! I used to love that car! I never saw it in the theatre, mind you, but it was on Disney often enough.
My first movie in the theatre was Never Cry Wolf, of all things! A friend of my mom’s took us to see it. All I remember was his naked bum, and him eating a mouse! I think I might have seen ET in the theatre too. All I remember from that was “penis-breath.”
Hmmm, I think I see why parents are strict with movies. I would be too if I had kids!
stephs last blog post..Letting Go
Mike: It does seem like there is more available with less supervision. I’m sure you and your wife weren’t watching anything truly heinous with your little girls in the room. Old westerns are awesome. It’s nice to seem them making a little comeback.
Scott: I did catch the Dark Knight in the theater, but that’s because I love Batman. Mostly though, I catch everything these days on DVD. It’s mostly time, but the quality of the movie experience has gone up at home, and down at the theater.
Lance: By thirteen, Air Force One isn’t going to show them anything they haven’t seen. My post went all over the place, and nowhere near where it was supposed to, but one of the ideas that came up before it was deleted was in the differences between what we read and see. Would you let your nine year old read “Air Force One?”
Tara: It sounds like we’re the same vintage. I LOVE sharing movies with my children, and can not wait to spread the best out on the floor.
Sal: We don’t ALWAYS have control over what we’re feeding our minds, but most often, we do.
“The media, movies we watch, books we read, people we hang out with, etc.”
All of those things are things we have control over.
Chase: I agree that children shouldn’t watch R rated movies. However, I do have big problems with the ratings board. They have NO consistency, and big budget studio movies often get a free pass while less offending independent films are crucified. The ratings board is mucho uncool.
Steph: We do pizza and a movie every Friday night. It rings in the weekend for the wee ones. After they’re tucked in, we pop something in the player that’s for our eyes only. Usually, it’s something grown-up enough to wash away the purity from a week worth of preschool.
Dave: You’re not dead inside, just watching the wrong movies. Check out Blogger Dad’s list. It’s awesome.
Tara: Wouldn’t it have been awesome if Speilberg had put Barney in Jurassic Park? That would’ve been sweet.
Rebecca: I love Hitchcock. Vertigo, The Birds, Strangers on a Train, North by Northwest…. I totally know what I’m watching this weekend. Thanks.
J.D. Meyer: And what would he have done?
Wendi: That is exceedingly difficult. I can’t even imagine how I would feel in that situation….. defeated, probably.
Friar: …. barefoot.
Blogger Dad: Dude, I love your list. Only three I haven’t seen, and all the ones I have, I love. I think I should do a post on favorite movies. Did you see “Sympathy for Lady Vengence?”
Steph: That’s funny that you say that. I’ve been wanting to screen E.T., but I too remember “Penis breath.”
Sir, I beg to differ. We saw Stand By Me in the theatre in 1986, a full two years before Rain Man came out. Fortunately, it had no nudity.
Unlike Maid to Order (1987), which we saw by ourselves at the UA (if only Mom knew how Ally Sheedy’s nude pool scenes had warped our tender young minds).
Writer Dad,
You know I had to think about that for a minute, I don’t feel defeated at all actually. I spent 13 years with their dad, and nothing about him is going to change…I accept him for who he is and in SO many ways he is a great dad so, we just have to agree to disagree on our lifestyle choices. When we parted company, we chose to remain friends and raise our kids as best we could as partners. Its not perfect but…oh well. In the areas that we have no agreement like social norms, family values, politics and religion..(don’t ask what we had in common..it wasn’t much) our children will grow up with choices. We treat each other with respect and kindness and that is the most important thing they are growing up seeing. I think that will out way a great deal. We actually laugh and joke about the TV difference. Not much else we can do. The kids are teens now, soon they will grow up and have their own families. That will be when it gets interesting. To see where they place the values for their families.
Wendi Kellys last blog post..Changing Colors
Hmmmm, it seems to me–and it has been my experience–that there are plenty of wholesome, uplifting movies available to watch.
Granted, picking from the “new releases” section for wholesome goodness is like picking strawberries in December… in Alaska.
However, if you’re willing to look a little further, there are more “good” movies available than you could possibly watch in a lifetime.
I’m all for feeding my brain good stuff. It makes me happy.
Ryans last blog post..Google Browser Brainwash
Ha. This reminded me of the Seinfeld episode where Elaine accidentally exposes her nipple in a Christmas card.
Vereds last blog post..How To Lose 100 Subscribers in 4 Days
Here via the Remarkablogger game and I’ll be back.
Betsys last blog post..MICHAEL MARTINE IS REALLY A REMARKABLOGGER
Hi Writer Dad,
I’m glad to learn that I am not the only person who love movies, even the old ones. I still watch the old black and white movies every weekend on AMC or TMC.
My favorite movies these days seem to be espionage or great dramas. Can’t wait to see the new DeNiro and Pacino movie.
Valeries last blog post..A Look at Adult Day Care - Youtube Video
Writer Dad – Are you seriously recommending movies the kind of which a peeping tom might enjoy? Shame on you.
Tara - Barney….
……is a dinosaur from our imagination
When he’s tall he’s what we call A dinosaur sensation
Barney teaches lots of things
Like how to play pretend
A-B-C’s and 1-2-3’s and how to be a friend
Dave Fowlers last blog post..A Policeman’s Lot Is Not A Happy One
Kittytown: I knew as I was writing, my facts were probably false. I was counting on you to enlighten me. Why the @#$% is Stand by Me rated R? Sure, there’s a dead kid, but you only see him for like a second. I’ve seen movies with armies of undead that were PG-13.
Maid to Order was/is awesome. Mom couldn’t have a problem with it because it was PG, and wouldn’t have had a problem with it because it had the ULTIMATE rule which superseded the nipple rule. You know, the mustache rule. We were watching Tom Skerrit sport a stache and a half for like twenty of the eighty nine minutes of towering Maid to Order genius. It would’ve taken silver dollar sized areolas to foil that.
Wendi Kelly: That’s about as healthy as it gets. Good on you. Agreeing to disagree is healthy. You’re right, it will be interesting to see how your grandchildren are governed. I would guess that many of the things they enjoyed will be muted for their own children by your voice inside their heads.
Ryan: There are more wonderful, wholesome movies to watch then I could ever get through in a lifetime.
Vered: I love that episode. And by that episode I mean every one ever shot. Well, except the finale. That kind of sucked.
Betsy: I am very glad to have you.
Valerie: “Righteous Kill” looks good, but I can’t imagine it’s better than “Heat.” That one is more awesome every time I see it. By the way, you are doing excellent work on your blog. You should be proud.
Dave: Yes.
Stand By Me is R because leeches on balls (even when not actually seen) will ALWAYS warrant an R. I was watching an 80’s teen exploitation movie with the commentary on the other day and they were discussing the nudity. Now, I’ve always assumed that the poor ratio of female to male nudity in movies was due to a combination of sexism and the fact that most directors are male. In this commentary, they were talking about how they wanted male nudity, but the ratings board said they could have all the female nudity (faux-teenage, no less) they wanted but NO WANG (I always wanted to type that all in caps) or they’d get an NC-17. Because apparently visible wang = aggression in the eyes of the rating board. We should tell Mom this . . . she was incorrect in her judgement. Wang is far more corrupting than nippleage.
Writer Dad - No, I didn’t see that. I take it, it’s good?
Dave - That’s a peeping tom with good taste in films! Speaking of peeping tom’s, I’m wondering what the AP style guide says about the capitalization of the term. Since Tom is a proper name, I would think, peeping Tom, might be the correct usage. Maybe, it’s Peeping Tom. I’ll have to check on that.
Blogger Dads last blog post..Psychotic Toddler Syndrome
Writer Dad,
Tarentino…good choice. The first R-rated movie I saw was the EXREMELY POPULAR “Cinderella Liberty.” (And no, smartie, it wasn’t in black and white!)
But I remember the following weekend, I was on a double-date, and we couldn’t get into ANYTHING. But, we were in the City, so we knew that if we kept trying, somebody would let us in.
We got luck with a double feature: one a French film, and one something about time. So, we started to watch the first, and it wasn’t in French! No art movie? Jeez. The movie was called “Maitresse.” It was about a woman who preforms S&M umm “behavioral things” and gets paid for it. Our dates (the guys) almost passed out at a few scenes. They both ended up leaving me and the other girl we were with to finish this gross movie.
Well, at least the SECOND ONE wasn’t like the first. It was actually based on a book by an author I had HEARD of. And it had an actor whose name I had heard once or twice. So how bad could this movie about time be?
It was “A Clockwork Orange.” I was 15. I turned 27 that night.
Rita
Nice post Writer Dad. I love movies too. I can’t wait to watch many classics with Lukas as he gets older. It is one of the things that I, honestly most look forward to. Is that a good thing, or should I look forward more to other acheivements, such as his first home run, which is high on the list as well?
Jamess last blog post..Going Postal!
This is too funny. People have the strangest idiosyncrasies. My grandmother Ruthi and I both love going to the movies, and she’s been my favorite movie partner since childhood.
Marelisas last blog post..25 More Ways to Celebrate Life
Kittytown: I think it should be wang OR nippliage. The real evil is spawned when the two are put together. Isn’t amazing though, how often we ended up watching Mel Gibson’s butt?
Blogger Dad: It’s a lot like Old Boy… but crazier… and more violent… and with a chick. I guess it’s like if Kill Bill and Old Boy had a baby.
Rita: Tarantino’s World War II movie is already my favorite WWII flick of all time, and they haven’t shot a single strip of celluloid. I know someone from the Movie Geek Alliance is going to come and knock me on the head and take my badge away, but I just can’t get into Kubrick. I’ve tried, really, but overrated. I did like a few sequences of “Eyes Wide Shut,” an awful lot. Actually, I like a few sequences in all his movies, just not the movies themselves.
James: I think whatever makes you feel genuine is the right thing. I know I look forward to digging through my movies with my children. More than most things.
Marelisa: Yes they do.
Your post today was really sweet, and it made me want a Margarita something fierce.
My movie upbringing was a bit different than most. I preferred to either read a good book, or be out of doors playing at some sport, real or newly invented. Of the movies I did watch, black & white films were a fair bunch, followed by some slower paced dramas or comedies. I cannot remember the first R-rated film I saw or the first film with nudity.
I do recall seeing E.T. and having my grandmother claim that the insult was “peanut breath” and not “penis breath”. Of course, I knew better, but I didn’t say anything because my grandmother was always on the forefront of distaste for vulgar language. So much so that the word “fart” was banned from being used in her home. I still refrain from using it because it does sound a bit vulgar, no?
These days, I prefer foreign films and documentaries, both of which tend to put my sweetheart to sleep, but she makes a valiant effort at watching them sometimes.
Ians last blog post..Will Chrome lead to Google Linux?
Outstandingly well written, bravo!
Dereck Coatneys last blog post..Let Me Share My Worldview With You
My dad took me to my first R rated movie. It was the only movie he ever took me to. The movie was “10″ with Bo Derek and Dudley Moore. I felt a little like Dudley Moore in the movie. Disapointed. I think every teenage boy back then wanted to see 10.
malathionmans last blog post..Double WTF!!!
We loved hearing about your parents guidelines as to which movies were acceptable or not. haha
You have a wonderful love of cinema though, that we can see. So much can be learned from movies and books. They are both worth exploring.
the sits girlss last blog post..Featured Blogger: Jenn’s Pen
We also love movies. In fact, my living room is set up like a movie theater. My parents lets us watch everything as long as it’s not X rated and I turned out ok, I guess…
Chriss last blog post..A Ray Of Light, Part 7
Ian: Books and movies were neck and neck. Outdoors, not so much. I loved foreign films and documentaries before children. Now I need something with more zip to keep from my zzz’s.
Dereck: Thanks, but I’m nowhere near as thorough as that guy over at iwillnotdie.com
Malathionman: I’ve still never seen it.
Secret’s in the Sauce Girls: Movies, books, and my favorite people; that’s enough for me.
Chris: I would love to set up my living room like a movie theater. It would be bliss.
I enjoy movies. But, even as a grown man - I do often avoid violent movies. If I want violence I can turn on the nightly news.
I prefer uplifting movies, or at least inspirational. If I want to be depressed, there are plenty of other ways to do so.
I don’t want my movies doing that for me.
Bamboo Forests last blog post..7 Sounds That Make You Want to Gouge Your Eyes Out
Writer Dad, I liked this line a lot: “Who are we but the product of an infinity of finely sliced seconds, where each one matters, at least to some degree.”
Very cool. Glad to have found you through Zen Habits.
Beths last blog post..Le Chocolatier
I 2nd Beth. That is a beautiful line - one fraught with wisdom.
Bamboo Forests last blog post..7 Sounds That Make You Want to Gouge Your Eyes Out
Writer Dad - And what would he have done? … Have a bite of carrot, chew on the problem, then think his way out. Bugs was a master of the gap between stimulus and response, and a leader in emotional intelligence.
J.D. Meiers last blog post..3 Revealing Questions for Myth Busting
Bamboo: I like all my emotions, and I like them all to be pet. I’m a pretty happy guy, so seeing a movie that’s depressing is often the only way I can tap into that part of my conscious. But I totally see what you mean. Why open the door, if you don’t like who’s knocking, right? Thanks for the compliment. It was the last line added; sometimes those are the best.
Beth: I’m very glad to have you. My lady’s from Colorado, or at least she spent a lot of time there. She always tells me how much I’ll love it. Maybe someday.
J.D. Meier: That made me laugh. Thanks, and you’re right.
Fantastic post, WD. I’ve blogged on this subject several times as, like you, I am a certified cinemaphile. I teethed on movies and still go all goose-bumpy at the thought of a good flick. I saw Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet with my sister the very week it came out in theaters. Our parents let us go by ourselves; it was incredibly exciting. I was eleven years old and she was twelve!
I told my daughter only yesterday as we drove home from Charlotte: I am continually astounded by the extent to which my enduring paradigm has been shaped by popular culture in the form of movies and music. In a good way, I believe … and I was allowed to watch pretty much everything too.