Lies, Damn Lies

Films

I consider myself a bit of a film buff. Not a lot of one- while I have seen hundreds, possibly thousands of films, I am well aware there are many, many films that I haven't seen that I should have. Because they're awesome.

A really good film can do so much- it can move you, it can teach you, or it can just amaze you. Or if you're in the mood for something a little more low brow, like the classic Airplane, it can make you laugh til you cry.

'Course, I have an interest in a lot of things- I get astonished when people don't watch films, yes, but people who don't read surprise me, because reading is such a valuable skill, and a really good book can take you away from life more effectively than any other medium in the world.

I think thats part of my problem- I tend to be a jack of all trades. I can impress people who know little about any subject, because I tend to have some knolwedge in all of them, but when I talk to a specialist I end up feeling rather stupid. But meh, as I get older I'll learn more about everything. Or so is the plan. Right now, I'm trying to watch as many films as I possibly can.

So as to aid that, finally getting to my belaboured point, I went round a friend- Ella's- house last night and we took advantage of blockbusters excellent new old films section, where you can rent 3 movies for a fiver. And we watched 3 classics, all of which I haven't seen- Goodfellas, Dr Strangelove, and Full Metal Jacket.

I would reccomend all of these films. Two of them, as you might notice, are Kubrick films, who's a bit of a leg- you've got to see Clockwork Orange because its fantastic. Honestly though, these are all great. Probably the least good is Goodfellas, because as a gangster film it doesn't have THAT much new to say, and while Full Metal Jacket is about vietnam ( a subject covered to death), its an early example, and the section of the film in boot camp is frickin' incredible. As for Doctor Strangelove- its very funny, and its harsh, biting satire of the cold war still works very effectively today.

There was also a revelation made at this evening, but thats for another post.

posted by Mr K @ 3:00 pm