We all have those favourite movies that we watch over and over again, enjoying every scene again and again like it was our first time. There are also those movies that we watch and then feel cheated by ... "How will I ever get my 2+ hours back after watching that?" we think to ourselves. But how about those movies that we watch and think are so unbelievably terrific, but know we can never watch again? For me, these are the type of movies that usually surprise me. They have kept me up at night thinking, and have sometimes made me cry. These movies have affected me.
Sometimes I know going in that I will be affected by the movie and that's OK. Other times I am tricked into seeing the movie and that's OK too. Below is a list of the most notable movies I will never watch again, and my reasons why.
Sometimes I know going in that I will be affected by the movie and that's OK. Other times I am tricked into seeing the movie and that's OK too. Below is a list of the most notable movies I will never watch again, and my reasons why.
PAY IT FORWARD
This is one of the movies I was tricked into seeing. I don't normally go to the theatre to watch dramas. I usually save my money and only see movies on the big screen that include a ton of special effects, and of course, I'm much more comfortable crying in the comfort of my own home rather than a room full of strangers. However, my friends were begging me to see it and the short synopsis I read made it sound very uplifting. And it was for the most part. The story is about a boy whose junior high class was given a project whereby they were to think of an idea that would change the world and then put that idea into action. The boy (played by Haley Joel Osment) decided on a plan to "pay forward" favours which not only affects the boy, but his struggling mother (played by Helen Hunt), his physically & emotionally scarred teacher (played by Kevin Spacey), and the nation!
This is one of the movies I was tricked into seeing. I don't normally go to the theatre to watch dramas. I usually save my money and only see movies on the big screen that include a ton of special effects, and of course, I'm much more comfortable crying in the comfort of my own home rather than a room full of strangers. However, my friends were begging me to see it and the short synopsis I read made it sound very uplifting. And it was for the most part. The story is about a boy whose junior high class was given a project whereby they were to think of an idea that would change the world and then put that idea into action. The boy (played by Haley Joel Osment) decided on a plan to "pay forward" favours which not only affects the boy, but his struggling mother (played by Helen Hunt), his physically & emotionally scarred teacher (played by Kevin Spacey), and the nation!
This movie put me on an emotional roller coaster that took a very long time to get off. The ending to this movie was a complete surprise and not one I'd dare go through again. In the realm of movies I can never watch again this takes the #1 spot. It was both beautiful and tragic, and the acting was incredible. I know this movie at the time received mixed reviews, many complaining that the ending was "very bad", but in my opinion the ending was what made the movie. Although I hated it -- it was what kept me up thinking!
SCHINDLER'S LIST
Taking the #2 spot on my list is Schindler's List directed by Steven Spielberg. This was a historical Holocaust drama based on the book by Thomas Keneally and also on the true story of Oskar Schindler, a member of the Nazi Party who is credited with saving 1200 Jews by employing them in his factories in Poland and the Czech Republic. Long before this movie was released my brother had brought me back a book from Germany where he visited the Dachau Concentration Camp (sounds weird but I'm a bit of a history nerd), and the book had actual black & white photos taken at the time of some of the horrible things that went on there. It was not a book for the faint of heart and may be one of the reasons why Schindler's List, shot almost entirely in black & white, affected me as strongly as it did. The choice to shoot the movie without colour in my opinion made it seem more real.
Taking the #2 spot on my list is Schindler's List directed by Steven Spielberg. This was a historical Holocaust drama based on the book by Thomas Keneally and also on the true story of Oskar Schindler, a member of the Nazi Party who is credited with saving 1200 Jews by employing them in his factories in Poland and the Czech Republic. Long before this movie was released my brother had brought me back a book from Germany where he visited the Dachau Concentration Camp (sounds weird but I'm a bit of a history nerd), and the book had actual black & white photos taken at the time of some of the horrible things that went on there. It was not a book for the faint of heart and may be one of the reasons why Schindler's List, shot almost entirely in black & white, affected me as strongly as it did. The choice to shoot the movie without colour in my opinion made it seem more real.
Mind you, anyone who knows anything about the Holocaust would find this a difficult one to sit through, but the direction that Spielberg took along with the amazing cast of actors made it even more so. This movie won more than a fistful of awards after it was released in 1993 and deserved every single one of them.
TITANIC
I must admit I hate to have this movie on my list because I think James Cameron is a goof, but I need to give credit where credit is due. I am going to assume that everybody has heard the story of the Titanic, the "unsinkable" ship that sank on its maiden voyage on April 15, 1912. Being a history fanatic I was well aware of the story after reading, "A Night To Remember" by Walter Lord when I was just a pre-teen. At the end of the book is a listing of every person who was on the ship, and confirmation as to whether or not they survived. Obviously there weren't too many survivors. The movie was told via a fictional "love" relationship between the two main characters, Jack Dawson (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose Dewitt Bukater (played by Kate Winslet). It wasn't the love story, however, that put this on my list of never-to-be-seen-again movies but how very real the story was brought to life.
I must admit I hate to have this movie on my list because I think James Cameron is a goof, but I need to give credit where credit is due. I am going to assume that everybody has heard the story of the Titanic, the "unsinkable" ship that sank on its maiden voyage on April 15, 1912. Being a history fanatic I was well aware of the story after reading, "A Night To Remember" by Walter Lord when I was just a pre-teen. At the end of the book is a listing of every person who was on the ship, and confirmation as to whether or not they survived. Obviously there weren't too many survivors. The movie was told via a fictional "love" relationship between the two main characters, Jack Dawson (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose Dewitt Bukater (played by Kate Winslet). It wasn't the love story, however, that put this on my list of never-to-be-seen-again movies but how very real the story was brought to life.
Some of the scenes at the end of the movie were so heart-wrenching that you couldn't help but cry for all of the people who lost their lives that one, fateful night. Of course, the 3 and a 1/2 hour running time doesn't help convince me to watch it again, but regardless ... It was a very powerful film!
SOMMERSBY
I am well aware that having this movie on my list might now make me seem less than credible, but please just try to picture this. I drive myself to the video store on a Friday night determined to pick myself up a light and airy chick flick that will put my heart all aflutter and leave me with pleasant dreams. Listen -- Us chicks just need that sometimes, OK? I look through the selections and I find Sommersby starring Richard Gere and Jodie Foster. I'm sorry that when I think Richard Gere I think "Pretty Woman" and I figured the feelings it would exhibit would be somewhat on par with that movie. Besides, it's a period piece too so how could it go wrong, right? Well, no ... not exactly! Although most of the movie gave me those chick flick goosebumps I've come to know and love the ending just killed me.
I am well aware that having this movie on my list might now make me seem less than credible, but please just try to picture this. I drive myself to the video store on a Friday night determined to pick myself up a light and airy chick flick that will put my heart all aflutter and leave me with pleasant dreams. Listen -- Us chicks just need that sometimes, OK? I look through the selections and I find Sommersby starring Richard Gere and Jodie Foster. I'm sorry that when I think Richard Gere I think "Pretty Woman" and I figured the feelings it would exhibit would be somewhat on par with that movie. Besides, it's a period piece too so how could it go wrong, right? Well, no ... not exactly! Although most of the movie gave me those chick flick goosebumps I've come to know and love the ending just killed me.
I was extremely upset at the end of this movie, and instead of having a wistful sleep I dreamt instead that I was pulling each & every cast member out of the screen and slapping them, one by one by one. How dare they? I do now think twice though when I am in the "mood" and picking out a chick flick. Thank God for Google.
And so that's my list -- for now!! I'm sure I'll be tricked into another one at some point ... Lucky for me these days all the movie makers are relying on "comics" to bring in the big bucks, rather than thought provoking dramas or historically based masterpieces. :)
And so that's my list -- for now!! I'm sure I'll be tricked into another one at some point ... Lucky for me these days all the movie makers are relying on "comics" to bring in the big bucks, rather than thought provoking dramas or historically based masterpieces. :)