Thoughts on… not being that big a film buff
My younger sister got a (rude) shock when I
admitted one Sunday that I have not watched Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away before. Well, not
admitted. I just plainly stated that I have not watched it before. It is not so
much a sheepish admission but a blatant statement.
And she went, “You of all people! NOT. WATCHED.
SPIRITED. AWAY?!?!” (or something along those lines). She claimed that she has
watched it countless times. I doubted it. I share a room with her so I should know.
I shrugged and said that I did want to watch it
but one thing led to another and somehow I ended up not watching it. It was not like I was shunning the film on purpose
(heard that Taken? I shun you and
your franchise!). I know it is one of Hayao Miyazaki’s greatest works, and I
really really do want to watch it. I the director, I know the studio it came
from, and I even listened to the whole soundtrack by Joe Hisaishi (totally
awesome).
So that very Sunday I sat my ass down in front
of the television, spurred on by that damning reaction, and watched the film.
With said sister. And younger brother who has also watched it. And the youngest
brother who have not. I included him in just so that it evens out the number of
people in my household who have and have not watched it (2:2 – parents not
included).
I enjoyed every single minute of it. I teared
up at the touching parts, I laughed at others (did you see the way she ran down
the stairs?!) and I fell in love with Haku, the androgynous-looking river
spirit who lost his name (my prince charming~). I can finally place the
soundtrack to the scenes. How lovely it all fuses together. I also learnt, from
the film, that you can conquer anything with a little bit of courage and plenty
of earnest trying.
I am always surprised when friends or family are
surprised to discover that I have not watched one film or the other. I wonder
who is more surprised. Me or them?
I understand where their surprise came from,
what with an English lit background, my love for plays and musicals, and a future cultural medallion award waiting for
me; it is only natural that they
would associate me with being a cultured film buff.
I do admit to being a bit of a film buff, but
not a cultured one.
I don’t watch art-house movies just because. I
watch them because I think the plot is interesting, the topic explored is
gripping, the director is well known, the cast have actors I like, and it has
won or is touted to win some award. Yes, I tend to favour directors and actors whose
works or names I know.
I also rarely sought old movies to watch unless
one of the movie channels were showing them (HBO, Cinemax, etc.) or were
recommended by a friend.
To be frank, film buff or not, movies rarely
leave deep impressions on me. I only remember bits and pieces of scenes, sometimes
not even the plot. Only certain movies can leave very deep impressions,
emblazoned into my mind never to be erased.
Take for example, 300. I remember that movie very well, almost every scene, because
of its extraordinary CGI effects (that luscious deep red CGI-ed blood splashing),
the hyper-cool fighting sequences (simply revolutionary!), a very macho and
sexed up Gerard Butler, and the flagrant displays of abs and tits, all set in a
mythical world. It is like the pre-cursor to Game of Thrones (nope, have not watched it as well).
When decided what movies to watch, especially
if I have to pay for it, I favour blockbusters (IMAX 3D FTW!), chick-flicks,
and comedies. Yes, I like fluffy light-hearted stuff. I don’t enjoy crying in
the cinema, all that sniffling and covert wiping of tears, the trying-to-be-inconspicuous
groping around the bag to look for the damn packet of tissues. Then because I
cannot blow my blocked nose in the cinema (cinema etiquette people!), I have to
breathe through my mouth, dispersing my popcorn/nacho cheesy breath to all near
and dear. It is painful. I usually keep heavy-going weepy movies for home
viewing, where I can cry as loud as I want while blabbering to no one in
particular the injustices of the world.
Now to shock you more, below is a list of
movies and shows that I have not watched:
The
Breakfast Club (to the chagrin
of my friend)
Game
of Thrones series
F.R.I.E.N.D.S series (big gasp!) – can anyone tell me why
the title is spelt as separate alphabets?
Donnie
Darko(apparently a very good
movie)
A few of Quentin Taratino’s movies like Pulp Fiction, the Kill Bill franchise, etc. …
… and many more. It is an unending list.
However to redeem myself a little, here are
some films that I have watched:
The
Rocky Horror Picture Show
(both the stage play and the 1975 movie)
A
Clockwork Orange (in its full
ultra-violent gut-twisting uncut glory… and no… not illegally obtained but was
legally screened at The Art House)
Fight
Club (no one speaks about
Fight Club ya hear me)
Harry
Potter (but I have not read a
single book of it – shocker!)
Ridley Scott’s Alien (Sigourney Weaver kicks ass)
The
Ring (Jap version)
Zhang Yimou’s Raise the Red Lantern (featuring a very young and fresh-faced Gong
Li)
… and many more. It is also an unending list.
Really, it will never be enough. I will never
have watched enough movies or the right movies to be a credible film buff. There
isn’t just enough time and resources!
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