Residual Forces

So I just watched it again to see if I was maybe I was imagining things. I have a tendency to put myself in movies. I always do it. I use movies to analyze what I did, or what I should do.

It’s not healthy, but it’s me.

I do this because movies are there. You just hit play, that’s it. There is no effort required. You don’t need to get dressed up. No need to make reservations. You don’t even need to build up the courage to ask permission to see them. You don’t need to build up trust with them to become friends. There is no pressure.

There are now 2 movies that have deeply affected me. They both seem to have been written specifically for me to learn something about myself. This one, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Life as a House.

I watched both these movies on a whim. One just happened to be on back when I had movie channels. The other I rented because there was nothing else that seemed worthy. But both movies grabbed me. They both made me cry for different reasons. One reminded me so much of my final time with my Dad before he died. And the other of how I deal with things.

Neither of these movies were rated fondly from what I remember. And since I haven’t been to a movie in a theater for almost 4 years, I don’t get wrapped up in the initial hype. I usually rent DVD’s or buy the ones I think I’ll like. I have often forgotten what was said about the movies long before I’ve seen most of them. I go into them pure, with an open mind.

I really like to do this with movies like these. It gives you a chance to see what the movie is really about. And what the writer wanted you to see. Many movies are held until a certain time for release. Others have their scripts, which had been filed away, polished up to be current and released to capitalize on something that just happened. Most movies are crap. Some are great stories that were done poorly. But these 2 movies were well worth the wait for me.