(originallly posted on my AFF blog)
No, friends, I am not talking about running off to Vegas with some cutie. I’m talking about my passion, what inspires me, what makes my heart soar.
My love of film has lasted as far back as I remember. Lately I’ve become slightly disillusioned, to be honest, but I’m rebounding from my malaise. My discontent has been perpetuated by a string of disappointing films, a realization that some people have forgotten how to use movies to dazzle and charm us. Far too often do I leave a movie theater in frustration, or barely find contentment with one of a few movies picked up at Blockbuster.
Then I went out to the movies Saturday night. I did see Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and I tell you friends, it kicked serious ass! Jason Segel is fantastic. I knew he was great in HIMYM, but now I really see just how great a comedian this guy is. He’s also sweet and funny, and cute as hell. Everyone else was also terrific, and Kristen Bell is one hell of a sport, in the not so subtle digs this movie directs at Pulse (which I liked incidentally). Also, am I crazy, or is Jonah Hill actually getting cute?
Then, a very cute guy at the video store made some suggestions, when I decided to stop in later Saturday night. He didn’t pick my whole selection, but he definitely pointed out some winner. So far not a single video I rented has disappointed me. I saw two very sweet indy flicks, both intensely odd romantic comedies; Numb with Matt Perry and Kevin Pollack, and Crazy for Love with Natasha Lyonne and David Krumholtz. Both were definitely bizarre, and not your typical romantic comedy fare, but they were charming none the less.
I’ve also loaded up on low brow and higher brow humor, with The Onion Movie and Meet the Spartans. I’ll admit, neither were quite as good as I hoped, but they were definitely better than my recent viewings.
Why do I love movies so much? Because if I open myself up to them, they can make me feel any emotion, any experience. They can touch your heart, your soul, your mind, or even just tickle your sides at the right moment. The search to tell a story on the screen is, for some, the search to touch others, even if only briefly. It doesn’t have to be a profound touch. Just a smile can make a difference.
Another reason I love film, is how it can bring back memories of times in my life. Case in point, Double Dragon. I vaguely recall this movie from my childhood, and that I was fond of it. But my real introduction, the one that lasted, was when my son became obsessed with this movie. I think he was about 5 or 6. At that time, the two VHS tapes that were never ever lost were Double Dragon and the special edition of Ghostbusters that I bought him. He loved those movies, and I remember loving that he loved them.
Deep down, I acknowledge that I want my son to find his way to film, in some small part, to know that he understands where a little bit of my heart lives. But I’d never want him to have it, if he didn’t want it, so I figure I can be forgiven my ‘dad wants son to be a football hero’ mentality.
I just finished watching Double Dragon, and that is what sparked these thoughts. Now, please don’t mistake me. While I love this movie, I hardly regard it as high quality film making. This movie is roughly equivalent to the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in effort, budget and demographic. But that doesn’t make it bad, by any means. You always have to consider who the primary audience is. If you can love a movie, with the eyes of your adolescent self, I think that’s an important thing to do. It’s good for the soul. And I’ll keep loving the Animaniacs, no matter what anyone has to say about it. 
But more than anything, I think this movie incites memories of my son first realizing there are movies that aren’t cartoons. This is when I realized he might just love them as much as I do, and that was a great moment in my life. I think watching movies is where I first bonded with my son. Not the mommy and son stuff, that comes from years of hugs and arguments alike. Bonding is important, and it’s hardly a gender based thing. Bonding is when you find a common ground, a new or better understanding of someone important to you.
Ok, gone on longer than planned, but once I get going… well you know by now. 
Night friends.
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