Star Wars again, and The Bodyguard - romance and reminiscences
This weekend, we watched two films that have a very strongly nostalgic place in my heart. Let me tell you about them...
(I'll only cut things that are proper spoilerish, the rest is safe.)
On Saturday night, it was The Empire Strikes Back. I've often said that this is my favourite of the Star Wars films, but to be honest I'm not sure I really can choose a favourite. But it's a wonderful, surprising film that takes some bold steps for a sequel, while remaining true to the pure classic nature of the first film.
I've always loved the sadness, the music, the rousing themes, the developing bond between the characters. When I rewatched on Saturday, I also realised just how much of an influence this has had on the way I think about romance. That old fashioned idea of the man and woman hating each other and slowly falling for each other feels so right, and TESB does it to perfection. I'm also reminded just how much Han Solo contributed to my impression of men as I was growing up. What with this and Indy, Harrison Ford had a big influence on me!
The ending of TESB has always had a big effect on me, with Vader's revelation to Luke, and Luke's new hand, and Lando's path to redemption, and Leia's new-found psychic link with Luke as well as her feelings for Han... and especially, even though this is really pre-climax, the bit where they deep freexe Han. We all know how it came about, but isn't this one of the loveliest romantic exchanges in film history?
Leia: I love you.
Han: I know.
Also, just on a personal note, I love this exchange from earlier on:
Han: *strokes Leia's hand*
Leia: My hands are dirty.
Han: My hands are dirty too. What are you afraid of?
My other favourite quote from this film, of course, is the one in the accompanying icon. I think that had a big effect on me psychologically as I came across difficult things as a child and teenager, and probably contributed to the rather determined sort of person I am today!
The only problem with TESB, of course, is that it leaves you feeling rather depressed. The only antidote to this depression, of course, is to watch Return of the Jedi...
---
Now, The Bodyguard (which I bought on VHS from a charity shop for 10p!). This might be a surprising choice for nostalgia, I suppose. But you see, when I was about ten, I had this massive crush on Kevin Costner after watching Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (still one of my favourite films of all time, by the way!). From the age of about twelve, I completely got over him, and that might even be the last time I saw this film - but rewatching it last night reminded me just why he was such a big sex symbol in those days. Another one who had a big impact on my formative years!
The Bodyguard is a very good movie - and I don't think I'm just saying this for nostalgic reasons. It's a love story, but it's pacy and exciting, and the characters are nicely portrayed; all of this without graphic sex or an overabundance of swearing (apart from the odd f-word and reference to masturbation, it's absolutely fine for a child to watch, and I doubt I knew what masturbation was when I was ten or eleven). Above all, it has a wonderful musical score, with all those Whitney Houston power ballads (I have the soundtrack on casette in a box somewhere, but I am now really really wishing I had it on CD, because I'd love to listen to all the songs again today to keep reliving the experience). The romantic element is, again, rather old fashioned, and our hero is just that even if he does have the odd flaw. They don't really make movies like this any more, but I wish they did (not that the early 90s type of movie is better than anything else, but it's what I grew up with, and I'm fond of the format).
The bit at the end where 'I Will Always Love You' kicks in, and Rachel stops the plane and runs out to Frank, who gives her a proper old fashioned screen kiss, actually made me cry again, after all these years. So happy-sad. I'd forgotten about the scene after that though, and now I've grown up I'm still wondering whether it means they didn't stay together after all. In my heart these two characters will always be together. Nostalgia is very powerful stuff.
Rewatching it also reminded me very strongly of what it was like being ten- or eleven-year-old me. We often used to go to the video rental store (videos being very expensive back in those days), and I'd get to choose a film. The place had this nice smell, and the carpets were deep red, and the children's section was on the left on the way in but I often ended up in the adult section. Before my crush on Kevin Costner, I lost track of the number of times I got The Princess Bride out :) Then it was Robin Hood and The Bodyguard and Dances With Wolves. And then I ended up with a crush on Charlie Sheen and it was all Hot Shots and Navy Seals (The Three Musketeers was the film that resulted in this crush, and I saw it at the little cinema in Formby several times, and in the end they took pity on me and gave me their poster, which I still have somewhere). I'm tyring to remember what was opposite the video rental place before they knocked it down and built Safeway (which had these exciting weigh-your-own veg machines), but it's not coming to me. Sometimes I think it would be nice to revisit Ormskirk and see how it has changed, but sometimes I think I'm better off with my memories.
(I'll only cut things that are proper spoilerish, the rest is safe.)
On Saturday night, it was The Empire Strikes Back. I've often said that this is my favourite of the Star Wars films, but to be honest I'm not sure I really can choose a favourite. But it's a wonderful, surprising film that takes some bold steps for a sequel, while remaining true to the pure classic nature of the first film.
I've always loved the sadness, the music, the rousing themes, the developing bond between the characters. When I rewatched on Saturday, I also realised just how much of an influence this has had on the way I think about romance. That old fashioned idea of the man and woman hating each other and slowly falling for each other feels so right, and TESB does it to perfection. I'm also reminded just how much Han Solo contributed to my impression of men as I was growing up. What with this and Indy, Harrison Ford had a big influence on me!
The ending of TESB has always had a big effect on me, with Vader's revelation to Luke, and Luke's new hand, and Lando's path to redemption, and Leia's new-found psychic link with Luke as well as her feelings for Han... and especially, even though this is really pre-climax, the bit where they deep freexe Han. We all know how it came about, but isn't this one of the loveliest romantic exchanges in film history?
Leia: I love you.
Han: I know.
Also, just on a personal note, I love this exchange from earlier on:
Han: *strokes Leia's hand*
Leia: My hands are dirty.
Han: My hands are dirty too. What are you afraid of?
My other favourite quote from this film, of course, is the one in the accompanying icon. I think that had a big effect on me psychologically as I came across difficult things as a child and teenager, and probably contributed to the rather determined sort of person I am today!
The only problem with TESB, of course, is that it leaves you feeling rather depressed. The only antidote to this depression, of course, is to watch Return of the Jedi...
---
Now, The Bodyguard (which I bought on VHS from a charity shop for 10p!). This might be a surprising choice for nostalgia, I suppose. But you see, when I was about ten, I had this massive crush on Kevin Costner after watching Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (still one of my favourite films of all time, by the way!). From the age of about twelve, I completely got over him, and that might even be the last time I saw this film - but rewatching it last night reminded me just why he was such a big sex symbol in those days. Another one who had a big impact on my formative years!
The Bodyguard is a very good movie - and I don't think I'm just saying this for nostalgic reasons. It's a love story, but it's pacy and exciting, and the characters are nicely portrayed; all of this without graphic sex or an overabundance of swearing (apart from the odd f-word and reference to masturbation, it's absolutely fine for a child to watch, and I doubt I knew what masturbation was when I was ten or eleven). Above all, it has a wonderful musical score, with all those Whitney Houston power ballads (I have the soundtrack on casette in a box somewhere, but I am now really really wishing I had it on CD, because I'd love to listen to all the songs again today to keep reliving the experience). The romantic element is, again, rather old fashioned, and our hero is just that even if he does have the odd flaw. They don't really make movies like this any more, but I wish they did (not that the early 90s type of movie is better than anything else, but it's what I grew up with, and I'm fond of the format).
The bit at the end where 'I Will Always Love You' kicks in, and Rachel stops the plane and runs out to Frank, who gives her a proper old fashioned screen kiss, actually made me cry again, after all these years. So happy-sad. I'd forgotten about the scene after that though, and now I've grown up I'm still wondering whether it means they didn't stay together after all. In my heart these two characters will always be together. Nostalgia is very powerful stuff.
Rewatching it also reminded me very strongly of what it was like being ten- or eleven-year-old me. We often used to go to the video rental store (videos being very expensive back in those days), and I'd get to choose a film. The place had this nice smell, and the carpets were deep red, and the children's section was on the left on the way in but I often ended up in the adult section. Before my crush on Kevin Costner, I lost track of the number of times I got The Princess Bride out :) Then it was Robin Hood and The Bodyguard and Dances With Wolves. And then I ended up with a crush on Charlie Sheen and it was all Hot Shots and Navy Seals (The Three Musketeers was the film that resulted in this crush, and I saw it at the little cinema in Formby several times, and in the end they took pity on me and gave me their poster, which I still have somewhere). I'm tyring to remember what was opposite the video rental place before they knocked it down and built Safeway (which had these exciting weigh-your-own veg machines), but it's not coming to me. Sometimes I think it would be nice to revisit Ormskirk and see how it has changed, but sometimes I think I'm better off with my memories.