Royale's Autobiographical Movie List-Post 3:The Early Years Continued

I went to see Jaws. It was 1975 and I was 11 years old. I went to see it after it had been at the theaters for a few weeks. For the longest time, my mother wouldn't let me see it after what she had heard about it. It is hard to believe that it was such a big deal but it was. When I finally was allowed to go see it, I went alone because almost everyone else that I knew had seen it already. When I went into the theater a friend of mine and his family were there so I watched the movie with them. Jaws is still a great movie but it's age does show. I think the important lesson that I learned from Jaws is that things always as bad as people say they are. I jumped at a couple of scenes but I was more excited than scared and I didn't have a problem going back into the water after that.

Royale's Autobiographical Movie List-Post 2:The Early Years Continued

I'm not sure why but in 1973, when I was 9 years old, I went to see James Bond: Live and Let Die by myself. The movie blew my mind. It was full of things I had never really experienced like New Orleans Voodoo and rednecks. When I was young, a redneck was a cross between a narc and a poseur. In the general sense a redneck was someone that didn't do anything bad and would tell on you if did something bad, but also tried to hang out and blend in. I found these new rednecks even funnier. The Voodoo priest, Baron Samedi, actually scared me. (His real name was Geoffrey Holder and he went on to put the lime in the coconut in the 7up commercials.) I was uneasy walking home in the dark after that one. It was the first James Bond movie that I ever saw so, to me, Roger Moore IS James Bond. At least he was until Daniel Craig came along.
When talking about this movie, you have to mention the great song by Paul McCartney and Wings by the same name. The soundtrack to James Bond was the first full length album I bought with my own money. Of course I replayed the 'Wings song over and over but I did listen to and enjoy the rest of the soundtrack, which had been produced by the Beatles old producer, George Martin.
I never had really thought about how enveloped I was in that movie and music. Watching it now I remember those feelings of fear and excitement that the movie and the music gave me.

Royale's Autobiographical Movie List-Post 1:The Early Years

Okay, so I'm trying something new. This tangent that I am taking is inspired by the Movie High Infidelity. In that movie, when John Cusack's character is reorganizing his record collection, his friend asks him what organizational method (I'm paraphrasing)he is using. He says autobiographical. That, ladies and gentleman, blew my mind and has endeared me to the film. Although I never watch it because I cannot stand the hair style on his love interest. Sad, really. Anyway, this is the start of Royale's Autobiographical Movie List. I have been known to say that music has saved my life, which is actually true. I also want to say that that movies have shaped my life. Some have had more impact on my life than real-life events. That is the truth.
So we begin back in 1971 with 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the first movie I ever saw at the theater. I don't remember a lot about the film but I believe the price was fifty cents. My Mom let my brothers take me to the theater. It was about five blocks from my house and we walked there. It was a big deal just to go downtown, and especially cool to actually go to a theater. The Heart Theater in Effingham was a great old theater even then. It had a big glowing clock that I would stare at intently, trying to make time go faster so the movie would start sooner. I remember being thrilled at the big squid attacking the Nautilaus. I get a warm nostalgic feeling when I've seen it since.
Next was Snow White. This was a very special occasion because it was just my mom and me. My brothers were not with us for whatever reason, and my mom decided to splurge while we were downtown shopping. The Dragon that the prince fought was the coolest. I have to say, I wasn't that into the movie until he appeared. Thinking back on this, I don't think my mother and I went to the theater more than a handful of times. I took my mom to the drive-in when I was in my twenties and then to the theater when I was in my thirties. That makes three times. We did watch a lot of TV, VHS tapes and DVD disks together, though.
Both of these movies were good. Both are Disney classics and neither one was on it's first run when I saw them. I don't think I thought much about when a movie had been made back then. Our TV was in black and white so just seeing a movie that was in color meant a to me.
These movies were important to me for fairly obvious reasons. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was the first movie I had ever at the theater. It was the beginning of it all. All the movies that came later in which I loved or hated or changed the way I saw things all started with that one movie. I don't own that movie and I probably never will buy it on DVD. It guess it was more about the experience than the movie. It was thrilling. I was a "big boy" and I got to go to do something with my big brothers. Quite a landmark for a kid.
Snow White was a little different. It was special and kind of a secret. It was something that my mother and I shared without my brothers. Going to the movies was something we could hardly afford. Somehow at that young age I realized how special that was. Once again, I don't own that movie and probably never will. Yes, it was the experience and not the blah blah blah. But as trite as that may sound, it's true. And although there are parts of the movie that I remember, what I remember most was standing outside and staring at the movie poster and my mom saying, "We Let's go in." She said it with smile after she had talked herself into it. She had an attitude of "by god, we deserve this." She was a little dramatic but pretty damn cool. And I'll never forget that.

Donnie Darko

I was going to write about the Guy Ritchie movie, Rock'n'Rolla, but decided I don't want all my posts to be negative.  So, I just re-watched Donnie Darko.  This movie is what I think Catcher in the Rye would be if it were updated into a Sci Fi movie.  The film deals with the hopelessness of what some people, maybe all people, go through in their teen years.  And this situation is worsened for Donnie by the appearance of a man-sized evil-looking rabbit named Frank, who is telling him when the world will end.  That, and the rage that is caused by human teenage hormones, would be enough to send anyone off the rails.
The story takes place in 1988, but the movie is not saturated with late 80's culture like some movies that take place in that time period.  Some cool camera work and great musical placement set the slow, but steady pace of the movie.  I don't mean that in a bad way.  The movie unfolds like a flower opening up.  Saying that it was like it was a flower opening up may sound a little effeminate, but I never liked the old saying, layered like an onion.  Onions can smell bad and once the smell gets on your hands the only way to get rid of it is to handle fish, which is another problem.  Anyway, screw you if you don't like my flower metaphor. 
Anywayzzz... The movie captures a feeling of the self important "Me Generation" by many of the characters that were prevalent 80's.  (Check out American Psycho for more 80's me generation   In one scene, Donnie is talking about how he doesn't want to be alone, but the interesting thing in the movie is that almost everyone in the movie seems to be preoccupied with their own situation.  Even though there are people that are friends in movie, no one seems to connect with anyone, except for Donnie and his Girlfriend, and there's is a very awkward relationship.. This actually becomes a dilemma for Donnie when he realizes he will need to make some tough decisions.
The movie is beautifully shot and skillfully acted. Most of the characterizations are subtle, and therefore, seems more true to life. Donnie Darko doesn't have what I call a “Hollywood Ending,” but I believe most people will be satisfied with the ending. The movie is haunting. I saw the movie the first time quite a while ago and had viewed several times since. I still find myself trying to rework the things that happened in the film and change around the choices, playing the "what if" game. 
I do want to add that I don't recommend the "Director's Cut." In the Director’s Cut, he Basically changed some of what I felt was key music (from fairly obscure to more commercial) and added some fluff that actually did nothing to propel the story.  As a friend once said to me, if it doesn't enhance it, take it out. Having said that, I highly recommend Donnie Darko.