What's the difference? Most of my films had subtitles. Farewell, My Concubine; Xiu-Xiu, the Sent-Down Girl; anything with Vincent Cassel in it. Merchant & Ivory movies. Period pieces. In general, as my guy put it, "Stuff with people with accents." In general, too, my films had heavy themes--suicide, abuse, prostitution, prejudice and bigotry. The heavier and more complex, the better. I admit it. I was a film snob.
Him? Well, suffice it to say his entire movie repertoire consisted of having seen every Rambo movie and anything with "Ah-nold" in it (and go figure Conan would end up as the governor of California). Once, his cousin babysat my baby daughter. As I left, she was perched on his lap on the couch and they were watching Smokey and the Bandit. I grew up with all sisters; my guy with all brothers and male cousins. Movies vs. flicks. I was getting an education in why men love movies with smashed-up cars and the obligatory naked breasts.
Over the years, like any long-term couple, we've worn off on each other a little. I knew it had happened when, in 1998 or so, we rented a movie by one of my fave directors, Wes Anderson--Rushmore. And my guy actually used words like "plot" and "dialogue" when we discussed it afterwords. I almost cried with joy! He had learned that movies had things like THEMES! When we went to a flick in the THEATER with subtitles, I knew he had changed. As for me? I dutifully went with him to see Independence Day. I have seen every Will Smith movie there is, along with Ah-nold, and a bunch of movies that sort of blend together with a lot of fight scenes and car chases.
So . . . that's the story of my life and film. How about you? Do you see "films" or "movies"?
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15 comments:
My hubby and I met and married quite young, and our tastes have definitely rubbed off on each other. Now we have exactly the same taste in movies and books. Eerie!
Bev
Hmm . . . that hasn't happened to us, yet. He still gets too confused at French films. ;-)
E
I watch both, but I know I'm more of a movie girl and when I do watch films it's when my husband rents them! There is mostly sword combat involved, though. :) :)
I love block-buster super hero movies that cost a fortune to make and have cars and buildings exploding nonstop, but I also love films, especially indie films. I love when Sundance Film Festival comes to town, and I can't wait to go back to the LA Film Festival again someday. There's just something so amazing about a person or small group of people putting their hearts, souls, and every penny toward a project they feel so passionately about.
Wendy:
I feel that way about indies, too. And the fact that they're willing to tackle risky themes.
E
I'm a movie girl, through and through...... give me a chick flick with humour, pathos and a happy ending and I'm in heaven.
All time faves: Love Actually, Miss Congeniality, Sister Act, What A Girl Wants...... movies that I can sit back and enjoy and not have to think too hard.
My husband will endure the movies I rent... he'd much rather we rented old cowboy films (as if)
My husband and I are like siamese twins- we like all the same things-really, it's, well, kind of weird! Though last week when he was out of town, I rented Jane Eyre- not that he wouldn't have watched it, though maybe not three times like I did!
When my wife and I met, she brought something amazing to the relationship: a VCR! I saw few movies before her, and since she is the list keeper in our family (books and movies both--for our kids, now, as well) my taste has followed hers. I've been more interested in the subtitled stuff, and she would rather read than see the Princess Bride, Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Martians (all aliens are Martians to her) or anything fantastical, our tastes are very much in line. I LOVE a good chick flick as much as she does, and we both like stuff with theme as well as plot. Also stupid movies if they are funny, and despite the idiocy, well written and performed. Our big change is that our tolerance for violence has lessened. Pulp Fiction was once her favorite, but now, what can I say? Not so much . . .
I'm probably more of a movie maven. I love period pieces and anything with Jean Reno (what can I say?) but I also like the blockbuster stuff, as long as it's well done.
Tops on my eclectic list are Much Ado about Nothing, The Importance of Being Earnest, O Brother Where Art Thou, Bandits, Cellular, The Illusionist and The Lake House. And my all time favorite is probably Shawshank Redemption. Oh, and I can't wait to get to the States this summer and see the latest installments of Pirates and Harry Potter! Yup. Movie Maven.
Movies. My husband got real lucky with me in that fact that we both like martial arts movies. Subtitles are too distracting, but there are some movies that I like that have subtitles (Amelie).
Definitely movies. Especially if they have Kleo Thomas in them. I don't watch subtitled movies unless I'm forced to. Like for school or something. I'm too busy reading to enjoy the movie.
Brian:
My tolerance for violence has really changed too. I thought Pulp Fiction was so audacious and funny, and now when I see it, except for one or two scenes, I just can't watch it. I guess I feel like there is enough violence in the wold without needing to spend my money adding to it.
E
gerb:
My all-time favorites list is pretty eclectic, too. I liked Love Actually, O Brother Where Art Thou, but then there's this slew of indies that are all over the map. I really enjoyed Little Miss Sunshine, and I also really liked Mumford--which was just a weird movie.
E
gemini,
I loved Amelie. And I also watch a lot of martial arts films--Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a favorite.
E
I don't get out much lately (unless you include going overseas)...but I definitely love movies. Sitting back and forgetting about my own life for 90 minutes is bliss to me!
~Simone Elkeles
www.simoneelkeles.com
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