My good friend Molly has this theory that really great movies you can only watch once, while the merely "good" ones you can watch over and over... and I think there is something in that. The overwhelming emotional experience of the truly great movie is hard to recreate once you already know where it's going.
But right now, I'm watching Clueless and it's one movie I can watch whenever it shows up on TV and will repeatedly laugh out loud, will repeatedly be impressed at how Amy Heckerling so cleverly adapted Emma, and will undoubtedly swoon when Paul Rudd finally kisses Cher at the end. All I know is I still enjoy it each time I see it, although I'm probably near my twentieth viewing.
Do you have movies you can watch over and over?
PS. This isn't the kiss I was talking about... I like the one on the stairs in her house. Though this one was nice, too.... Paul Rudd. Just saying...
13 comments:
I loved Clueless! I have a few films I can see over and over--I just get drawn into the middle of them and can't pull myself away: While You Were Sleeping, When Harry Met Sally, Footloose, Roman Holiday, The Philadelphia Story, Shakespeare in Love... Feel-good movies :).
You know, Ihave tried to watch movies I REALLY loved again, and couldn't get the same vibe. CAPOTE is one that comes to mind. But I have watched Legend several times, ladyhawk, and Rudy.
I am developing a serious thing for Paul Rudd
Ditto on Clueless, along with so many others, but like Marilyn said, they're all feel good movies. I thought about your friend's theory and tried to remember any movies that I've just watched once that have stuck with me. I know there are more, but the one that comes to mind is Big Fish with Ewan McGregor. The part at the end where he puts his father in the river just made me bawl. I've thought about watching it again, but just haven't been able to pull the trigger, so maybe there's something to good vs. great.
Better Off Dead. Mame. Houseboat. My Blue Heaven. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. There's a ton more I can't think of.
For some reason I watch a lot of Meg Ryan movies over and over again. Sleepless in Seattle always stops my remote from its tendency to channel surf...
I think you're right about the feel-good thing, Marilyn.
Some of the "best" movies I've ever seen weren't exactly feel good and while they affected me emotionally at the time, I guess I'm less willing to go on those rides again... Nor will the ride ever be the same as it was that first time.
But with the happy movies, I can watch over and over.
Eileen, sorry, Paul Rudd is mine. I called dibs ages ago.
I very very very rarely watch a movie more than once. The only exception that springs to mind (altho I'm sure this isn't the ONLY exception) is The Shawshank Redemption.
I usually don't watch a movie more than once, either, but if something's on cable I might watch a few minutes of it. I always stop on Sixteen Candles. Always.
Jake Ryan? Enough said :)
I love Clueless!
I agree about the great movie thing. I loved Million Dollar Baby, but I could never watch it again. Same with Schindler's List and Sophie's Choice (I'm seeing a pattern here...) While I loved those movies, they are too emotionally heartbreaking. One truly great movie I can see over and over however, is "Life is Beautiful." I think because despite the sadness in it, it's so uplifting.
I'll watch The Thomas Crown Affair no matter what. Also: The Breakfast Club, Casablanca, Aliens, The Philadelphia Story, Terminator, Shag the Movie, Sense & Sensibility...wow, the list really goes on and on.
My ears were totally burning...
I can watch Good Will Hunting and Field of Dreams over and over again. Will never watch Lost In Translation, The Deer Hunter, American History X, Capote (good one whoever mentioned that one) again.
Husband can watch Rudy, The Goodfather series, Good Fellas and the Ocean's Eleven Movie but he's with me on Lost In Translation. He won't see Life Is Beautiful either. Or Shindler's List.
I'm all for watching a movie I liked a second time. Of course, I also enjoy reading the same books multiple times.
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