Nostalgia-y movies
Got this off deviantart. List some films that have a strong association with your childhood.
11)The Never-Ending Story
I hated this movie and I still do! It makes no sense! Everything falls apart at the end, there's a giant dog I'm told is a dragon, some hulk-like guy that eats rocks like hot-cakes, a girl who cries because... well she's in the movie, and somehow a book can hear this kid yell! Worst scene I think I had ever seen was when the horse got stuck in the mud. Just terrible!
I don't like it, but it definitely brings me back.
10) Clue
What can I say? I loved this game and the film was funny. My friend next store asked to borrow it one day. When I came over the next day to see if she could play, her father answered and said, "She's been watching it non-stop till you gave it to her."
Oh yeah, it's that good.
9)The Brave Little Toaster
It really is a testament to the 80's movies that were incredibly depressing and/or scary, but you loved them anyway. The toaster kills a flower from loneliness, a kid's head is almost crushed, the lamp is struck by lightening, and there's a scary ass Satan Clown. But I think this movie is single handedly responsible for our generations love and affection for toasters. The blanket too is adorable.
Now that I think about it, I wouldn't be surprised if this film somehow inspired the "Toy Story" films. Same basic principle. Except instead of Woody, you get a toaster.
8)An American Tale
I've actually been surprised to discover how poorly this film was rated by critics, because I loved it as a kid, and I love it now. While it may be a bit too much for youngins at times-loosing a parent, giant freaking mouse, etc- I think these are the really important movies for kids. It's an easy way of keeping kids from going down a racists, anti-semitic, anti-immigrant route. Because, if anything, this film shows how America truly was built and continues to thrive, because of people brave enough to leave there homelands and try their luck here.
7)Faery Tale Theater
I'm still scratching my head over this one. It was a live action, children's show, with famous actors that I didn't know. This was an always-rent-from-the-library one. Now I can watch it and recognize most of the people in it, still it was a shock when I realized I was watching Kramer, and Robin Williams!
6)Star Wars
Here's another film experience by osmosis. I don't hate these films, nor do I love them. But I had a brother who was so obsessed, I know things about this film only nerds know about. The fact that I know exactly who Admirable Ackbar is, fills me with shame. My favorite is Return of the Jedi.
5) Sons of the Desert Laurel and Hardy
Back in Ireland, movies were a rarity for my grandmother, but any time she had the chance, she'd go out to see a Laurel and Hardy movie. I'll always prefer Laurel and Hardy to Three Stooges because there was intelligence that outweighed constantly hitting one another with a hammer. And sons of the desert was one of their best.
4) Any and all Rogers and Hammerstein Musicals
To be honest, many of these I never actually liked or enjoyed on the same level I did the other films listed, but my mother played these so much I know nearly all the songs by heart. I defy you to start any line from any of the musicals, and any one of my family, including Staley, can sing the whole song.
(Side note, I'm not too keen on Carousel, but I adore "Sound of Music")
3) Black Beauty
Every little girl wanted a horse, and I was no different. One of my earliest memories is lying on my mother's bed, listening to the sound of her voice as she read this story to me. I think this was the first movie I saw where I'd read the book first and the experience was quite unusual. I remember not understanding how they could change the story of Black Beauty without getting in trouble!
Also, the music in this movie is absolutely wonderful and nearly impossible to find. If anyone ever comes across it at a used store or a library, please please PLEASE copy it for me. I'll be your slave.
2) The Phantom of the Opera
This one might not count, because I didn't actually see the whole thing as a child. I saw a few bits of this film when it was on TV long before I became obsessed with phantom. I wasn't allowed to see the whole thing because my mother thought I'd be scared. BUT, I distinctly remember being absolutely fascinated by it. The costumes, and my remembered take on the story fueled some of my childhood fantasies for a long time.
It was only a few years ago I actually bought the film to see the whole thing. Well, memory and childlike imagination are better than this film turned out to be, but it was still enjoyable. This might have actually been the catalyst to an obsession began a few years later after listening to one of Nana's cds.
1) The Little Mermaid
I know, big shocker right? Maybe it was the association with a redhead, or the idea of becoming something you're not, but this will forever and always be my favorite childhood movie. This film brought about a new golden age in animation followed by such wonders as Beauty and the Beast, Alladin, and the Lion King. But on a basic level, it was just an amazing movie with a great message for girls: Go out and get what you want. I love many of the earlier films like Sleeping beauty, but Ariel is a far better role modle for young girls then some blonde chick who takes a nap. Although I never understood why she had to become human. Mermaid's far more interesting, Erik should have taken the plunge.
And yes, one day I will return to the ocean.
This really was an intersting exercise to do because in coming up with films that I associate most with childhood, it made me realize a few things about the person I am now. Ideas about what is beauty, what it means to be female, what I think is a good story, I can attribute to more than a few of these films.
I'd love to hear others take on this and how you think it's affected you.
I'm tagging aylaelphaba, schmooie730, and rjdaae. No need to put videos in, it's just more fun if you do.
11)The Never-Ending Story
Click to viewI hated this movie and I still do! It makes no sense! Everything falls apart at the end, there's a giant dog I'm told is a dragon, some hulk-like guy that eats rocks like hot-cakes, a girl who cries because... well she's in the movie, and somehow a book can hear this kid yell! Worst scene I think I had ever seen was when the horse got stuck in the mud. Just terrible!
I don't like it, but it definitely brings me back.
10) Clue
What can I say? I loved this game and the film was funny. My friend next store asked to borrow it one day. When I came over the next day to see if she could play, her father answered and said, "She's been watching it non-stop till you gave it to her."
Oh yeah, it's that good.
9)The Brave Little Toaster
It really is a testament to the 80's movies that were incredibly depressing and/or scary, but you loved them anyway. The toaster kills a flower from loneliness, a kid's head is almost crushed, the lamp is struck by lightening, and there's a scary ass Satan Clown. But I think this movie is single handedly responsible for our generations love and affection for toasters. The blanket too is adorable.
Now that I think about it, I wouldn't be surprised if this film somehow inspired the "Toy Story" films. Same basic principle. Except instead of Woody, you get a toaster.
8)An American Tale
I've actually been surprised to discover how poorly this film was rated by critics, because I loved it as a kid, and I love it now. While it may be a bit too much for youngins at times-loosing a parent, giant freaking mouse, etc- I think these are the really important movies for kids. It's an easy way of keeping kids from going down a racists, anti-semitic, anti-immigrant route. Because, if anything, this film shows how America truly was built and continues to thrive, because of people brave enough to leave there homelands and try their luck here.
7)Faery Tale Theater
I'm still scratching my head over this one. It was a live action, children's show, with famous actors that I didn't know. This was an always-rent-from-the-library one. Now I can watch it and recognize most of the people in it, still it was a shock when I realized I was watching Kramer, and Robin Williams!
6)Star Wars
Here's another film experience by osmosis. I don't hate these films, nor do I love them. But I had a brother who was so obsessed, I know things about this film only nerds know about. The fact that I know exactly who Admirable Ackbar is, fills me with shame. My favorite is Return of the Jedi.
5) Sons of the Desert Laurel and Hardy
Back in Ireland, movies were a rarity for my grandmother, but any time she had the chance, she'd go out to see a Laurel and Hardy movie. I'll always prefer Laurel and Hardy to Three Stooges because there was intelligence that outweighed constantly hitting one another with a hammer. And sons of the desert was one of their best.
4) Any and all Rogers and Hammerstein Musicals
To be honest, many of these I never actually liked or enjoyed on the same level I did the other films listed, but my mother played these so much I know nearly all the songs by heart. I defy you to start any line from any of the musicals, and any one of my family, including Staley, can sing the whole song.
(Side note, I'm not too keen on Carousel, but I adore "Sound of Music")
3) Black Beauty
Every little girl wanted a horse, and I was no different. One of my earliest memories is lying on my mother's bed, listening to the sound of her voice as she read this story to me. I think this was the first movie I saw where I'd read the book first and the experience was quite unusual. I remember not understanding how they could change the story of Black Beauty without getting in trouble!
Also, the music in this movie is absolutely wonderful and nearly impossible to find. If anyone ever comes across it at a used store or a library, please please PLEASE copy it for me. I'll be your slave.
2) The Phantom of the Opera
This one might not count, because I didn't actually see the whole thing as a child. I saw a few bits of this film when it was on TV long before I became obsessed with phantom. I wasn't allowed to see the whole thing because my mother thought I'd be scared. BUT, I distinctly remember being absolutely fascinated by it. The costumes, and my remembered take on the story fueled some of my childhood fantasies for a long time.
It was only a few years ago I actually bought the film to see the whole thing. Well, memory and childlike imagination are better than this film turned out to be, but it was still enjoyable. This might have actually been the catalyst to an obsession began a few years later after listening to one of Nana's cds.
1) The Little Mermaid
I know, big shocker right? Maybe it was the association with a redhead, or the idea of becoming something you're not, but this will forever and always be my favorite childhood movie. This film brought about a new golden age in animation followed by such wonders as Beauty and the Beast, Alladin, and the Lion King. But on a basic level, it was just an amazing movie with a great message for girls: Go out and get what you want. I love many of the earlier films like Sleeping beauty, but Ariel is a far better role modle for young girls then some blonde chick who takes a nap. Although I never understood why she had to become human. Mermaid's far more interesting, Erik should have taken the plunge.
And yes, one day I will return to the ocean.
This really was an intersting exercise to do because in coming up with films that I associate most with childhood, it made me realize a few things about the person I am now. Ideas about what is beauty, what it means to be female, what I think is a good story, I can attribute to more than a few of these films.
I'd love to hear others take on this and how you think it's affected you.
I'm tagging aylaelphaba, schmooie730, and rjdaae. No need to put videos in, it's just more fun if you do.