Sunday, January 26, 2014

Two movies I'm supposed to like more than I do...

There are always movies that are very popular for reasons that escape me.  This is something that happens to everyone at one time or another, and we all have reasons for not liking various movies- we saw them with the wrong person, we were in a bad mood, etc and so on.   All those reasons are perfectly understandable to reasonable people most of the time. 

And then there are movies we think we should like and for some reason find only mildly entertaining.  Here are two movies I do enjoy to some degree but just can't love like lots of other people seem to think it's normal to do.  I won't even get into the movies I don't like at all that are ever so popular with many people.  I mean, I enjoy all the Lord of the Rings movies but don't ever feel the need to own them or watch them more than once a decade.  Same with Harry Potter or even many superhero movies.  Go figure on that one, huh?

The Nightmare Before Christmas:
I've given away my copy of this movie.  I like it just fine, but I sure don't love it.  And it looks like something I should love- monsters, some catchy songs, nods to several of the Rankin-Bass holiday specials, but for some reason it doesn't catch my attention at all.  I think possibly it's that Jack is kind of stupid and self centered and not very likable for most of the movie.  I really can't quite put my finger on it at all though.

The Empire Strikes Back:
Yeah, I say this and I get the whole "how do you not love this movie?  It's the best Star Wars of the bunch!"  Which I understand, but I love the first one- STAR WARS, the most.  It was fun and exciting and funny and amazing.  Sure, now that I'm older I can see all the elements Mr. Lucas borrowed from (samurai movies, Burroughs' Martian stories, THE MAGIC SERPENT, WWI dogfight movies) but he blended them together in a sci-fantasy melange to make something wonderful.  When I went to see the second movie, I thought we'd get more of the same.  I'll admit that's my fault for not getting what I wanted.  Instead it was a slightly darker and more mature work.  Don't get me wrong, it's still a great film, but it's certainly got its flaws, including the last minute decision to make Darth Vader Luke's father.

I had originally intended to write about three movies, but dang it all if I remember the third one.  Guess that will be another post for another day.


3 comments:

Chris Sobieniak said...

Don't feel too bad, I hardly saw them both myself (in the case of Star Wars, I suppose one movie was enough for me, but I really should see The Nightmare Before Christmas).

X7 said...

actually, I have more to write about these movies, lol. It was late and I figured no one would see it until I added the rest.

raserned said...

I never liked the Jack character. Not a bit. As an animator I love technical accomplishments on many levels, but I have to ignore story, direction and character development. And despite my usual love for Danny Elfman's work I found the music unusually bland and uninspired. Meh.