Movies. Why do we love them? It can be said that movies not only give us an opportunity to see the world how we wish it could be, but they allow us to choose that world as well. Does your idyllic world contain an epic war trilogy set in space? Would you like to be swept off your feet by George Clooney? Perhaps you’d like to be transported to the Victorian Era? Do you dare step into the arena and clamor for victory as a Roman gladiator?
(Photo by Ray Horwath)
I love the movies. Cliché, I suppose, but as a child growing up in the rural Midwest, the movie theater offered a vision of something larger. I could sit in the theater and marvel as I was transported into a completely different world. It didn’t matter if I were watching in the comfort of my own home or on the biggest IMAX screen available; the ability for a movie to have a profound affect on the human condition remained unchanged.
Reel Maniacs was created to explore the history of cinema and the classic films that have woven themselves into the fabric of American culture. Why a blog? Unfortunately, the human brain is not without evolutionary defect, and I can’t possibly remember 1001 movies off hand, though I wish I could. The cells in my body that watched a movie years ago will have replicated by then, leaving me with a shiny new updated version (though I hear slightly diminished as I age.) As the great Australian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein said, “Can you remember what remembering was like last Tuesday?”
What one considers a “classic” is arguable, and quite frankly, arbitrary. Which lead me to this..
The 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die list.
I’ve been aimlessly wandering through the annals of film since I was a mere boy in front of my grandparents exhaustive movie collection. From Disney, to 80′s slashers, to gangster films, to indie, to arthouse, and so on. I’ve always wanted my knowledge to span many genres and a wide era of time. I’m sure this feat has been attempted, and possibly even completed, but has it been documented from start to finish? That’s where I come in. Is the 1001 list perfect? Probably not. How could it be? I’d imagine the hardest part of creating such a list is deciding what to leave out.
However, it’s a fine place to start.
At this time, I’m 25 years old, and yet I’m not naive. I realize my appreciation of some movies may be hampered simply by my life experiences (or a lack of.) I’m sure I’m going to see life a lot differently at 35. Hell, I’ll see it different at 30. Then at 40, at 50, etc. The fact is I haven’t been married, or had a failed marriage, nor have I any children or buried any of my parents. The convictions I’m strongly attached to now may become old habits at a different age. Or as acoustic extraordinaire Frank Turner put it, “And all the things that I believed with all my heart when I was young are just coasters for beer and clean surfaces for drugs.”
The point being, I’m aware enough to know that I’m creating a time capsule. A look into the mind of a younger version of myself as I hitchhike through the galaxy of cinema. I’m never going to stop watching movies, so what better time than now to begin keeping a record?
That’s not to say my voice can’t be accurate. Some critics are so out of touch with reality that they’ll fail to connect with the material. That’s okay. Why? Because a movie, like any form of art, is a subjective experience. The difference between a great critic and a bad one is perception. What separates them? The ability to leave your personal taste out of the equation. “But Brad, what’s the point? I didn’t like it! It sucks!” Not quite. What you have to understand is that good and bad is not the same as like and dislike. I don’t like a large portion of Indie music, but does that mean by default, all Indie music sucks? Of course not. So many people “reviewing” these days live with delusions of grandeur, assuming that because they didn’t like it, it’s a requirement that everyone else does as well.
My reviews are personal. I’m only a man after all, so I don’t expect you to follow me or take my word as gospel. I think all “ratings” are silly, but it’s a short and simple way to express a snapshot of feeling. If I give a film a 6/10, I’m not telling you to skip it or not watch it. On the contrary, you should be able to draw your own distinctions and make your own choice. My ultimate goal as a writer is that you are able to read my thoughts on a movie, and based on my observations, make a decision on where to go from there.
Peruse the internet. Uninformed opinion is everywhere. Have you ever spent time at IMDb? Read the vitriol (or glad handing praise) spewed by a casual movie goer who has zero appreciation for life experience or subjectivity. It seems that most positive reviews are written in hopes of appearing on an advertisement or box cover. There’s nothing wrong with this, to each their own, but it comes off as more than insincere when someone reviewing a z-grade sci-fi film states “it’s better than Star Wars!”
See, I’m of the belief that people shouldn’t be able to spout nonsense and not be called on it. Pretending that all opinions are equal and deserve equal respect is a recipe for reducing everything to the lowest common denominator. If you have no regard for intellectual standards, then at least express some regard for common sense. If I told you that in my opinion, 2+2 = 5, is that equal to your belief of 2+2 = 4? Is this is corruption and elitism at it’s worst? Maybe so, but it’s hard to be quiet when you’re passionate about a subject that many so clearly don’t love or value. I despise elitism. No one should be locked into such rigid beliefs. The goal of every person should to be grow with each experience. Why are some people so concerned with what other people like?
What you ask, is my point?
Film and its consequent experiences are essential. It reminds us that life is a gift, not a privilege. It reminds us that we are alive and our time on this planet brief. It can impact all races, cross barriers of social or political belief, and is not gender biased. How much can be learned through the introspective examination we go through after the credits roll? That’s what I’m looking to find out. As much as we’d like it to be so, movies can’t save us from war, greed, betrayal, heartache, old age, or death, but it can revitalize us. I believe the cinema can be a great teacher. Some of the greatest moral lessons I’ve learned have come from the stories on the screen. A major deciding factor in watching so many movies is finding out what truths these experiences will lead me to.
I don’t consider myself a film critic, but others may. Through my looking glass I see more of an observer and active participant in the art form that I love. I’m here to share my life experience and provide you with insights that maybe you haven’t reached yet. Someone reading this may help me discover something about myself. If you’re coming here looking for recommendations, I’d be happy to give some. How about you give me some? Although my rantings may come off as holier than thou at times (a pitfall of enthusiasm, though I make no apologies), I can assure you I’m not attempting to berate your taste.
That’s the gist of this place.
So get comfortable, grab some popcorn, and let’s go to the movies.
Popcorn, check. Drinks, check. LETS GO!