Everyone has a favorite movie … or even a list of films he or she can watch over and again.
But there’s another, less heralded film category that’s just as important. The films we can’t turn off when we channel surf onto them.
The great Adam Carolla tripped over this theme in a recent podcast with comedian David Koechner. The two were talking about “Goodfellas,” and they agreed that any time the movie comes on screen they have to watch it all the way through.
They “can’t move” from the set, or even resume channel surfing. It doesn’t matter if the movie just started or is near the end. They can’t turn away, and they’ll suffer through a barrage of TV commercials to keep watching it.
For WWTW, “Starship Troopers” is that kind of movie.
It’s not a great film, and I wouldn’t even put it on my top 50 list (if I had one). But every time it’s on TV I can’t help watching it. The effects startle me all over again, and the glorious action sequences give me a child-like joy – without fail.
The fact that the film has a fascist subtext intrigues me, but it’s the snap, crackle pop of the storytelling that’s the ultimate draw. And those killer bugs.
So …. what’s your “can’t move” movie? And why?
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{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
I was in the Air Force. When stationed at Misawa AB, Japan, our dorm had a cable system with one channel dedicated to our MOPP status, MOPP being Mission Oriented Protective Posture. It basically told you how much of your gear you should be wearing during war. Maybe just your flak vest all the way up to full chemical protection suit.
When we weren’t having an exercise or anything the dorm manager would play movies instead. One evening, just before going bar hopping, “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” came on. I made a joke that Clint had a “three slugs” look on his face. “He’s going to shoot this guy three times,” I said.
Sure enough, and much to my surprise, Clint fired exactly three times. Ever since I can’t NOT watch that movie.
Serenity. No matter how many times I watch it, I never get tired of it.
There isn’t many which fit this profile. If I were to venture a guess I would say “Gettysburg” which is my favorite film. Close seconds would be Forrest Gump or Apollo 13, which on both I’ve seen, it seems like a thousand times. If I were channel surfing and ran across Walk The Line I would put it into this same catagory but that hasn’t happened yet.
Purple Rain, though it’s sadly lacking the “That’s not Lake Minnetonka” scene of the un-rated version.
Great, eclectic choices! I’d add Shawshank Redemption to the list, but there are far less bugs in that one.
“The Last of the Mohicans” and “12 Monkeys”…and the Madeline Stowe connection really has nothing to do with it.
My top “can’t move” film would be Miller’s Crossing. Throws a hook into me every time I see it, no matter where I come in at. Only film I know that can make throwing three ice cubes into a glass a hypnotic moment. From that icy moment to the icy words, “What heart?”, I’m hooked.
lord of the rings
the matrix
band of brothers
When Harry Met Sally
My husband’s is Unforgiven and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Speaking of Raiders, did anyone see the last Big Bang Theory? Will Wheaton is an ass. LOL!
BTW, we own all the movies and will still watch them when they come on television… commercials and all.
For both my wife and me, “The Right Stuff.” If we happen upon it on cable, we are frozen in place until it is over.
Firefox – Sometimes I miss the coldwar and Eastwood finally isn’t doing the spaghetti thing or playing with orangutans.
Victory – Sly and Caine in the same movie? And Pele? Nazis? Love the escape. Good stuff.
Glory – If you don’t get goosebumps during the charge on Ft Wagner…
Office Space – feels like my current job. Watching it makes me feel better.
Weird Science – old fantasies die hard. Reliving them through this movie is so easy.
O Brother, by the Coen Bros.. doesn’t matter how many times I’ve seen it.
…The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
I agree with many folks here…”The Right Stuff”, “O Brother Where Art Thou?” and of course “A Christmas Story”.
For me it’s any time “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” or “Goonies” comes on, even though I own the DVDs. I was about 12-13 years old when these films were released, so childhood nostalgia is obviously at work here. Plus, “Ferris” is my favorite John Hughes film.
I Like the “Firefox” Inclusion, one of my favorites, for me, it’s a bunch, most notably the first 2 diehards.
and let me add this.
Toto said:
For WWTW, “Starship Troopers” is that kind of movie
For that, I have to say, Christian, do everyone who ever read the book a favor, and punch yourself in the face.
It’s just a request, but even you have to admit you have it coming.
For both me and my wife, it’s The Quiet Man, with Wayne and O’Hara. Add “Rear Window” and you’ve got a great double feature. (Of course, anything with Wayne or Stewart in it is worth watching.)
“Army of Darkness” — So many great lines, I keep watching just to hear the next one (and to see the steam-powered Delta 88 come crashing through the wall, lopping the heads off of skeletons left and right, of course).
Independence Day. That’s one movie I can watch over and over and if I come across it I usually will. Airplane! is another (esp since you sometime see a different cut with extra gags). And Weird Al’s UHF.
A couple of mine: “The Fugitive” and “In Harms Way.” “The Quiet Man,” too. Oh, also, the Jimmy Stewart-Anthony Mann collaborations, like “Winchester 73″ and “Bend of the River.”
“Yeh, uh, that, uh, will, uh, about do it.”