Thursday, October 10, 2013

Never Have I Ever... Been A Movie Person

Here's the thing: I'm not really a movie person.  I like movies, don't get me wrong, but I'm not motivated to see new ones very often.  When I go to the cinema - which is rarely at my instigation - I get excited about the trailers and I poke whoever's sitting next to me and I whisper, "Oh, oh, this is the one with the guy!  You know, the guy from the thing!  I love him!  I want to see this!  This looks so good!  We have to see this!"  And then I never actually make it back to catch it in the theater.

At home, I prefer watching movies that I've seen before.  It annoys the [expletive] out of Jon, but I kind of want to zone out when I'm in front of the TV and I feel like I have to focus if we put on something new.  He can and does sometimes convince me to broaden my cinematic horizons, but he'd agree that it takes a lot of effort.

That's probably why I've seen so few of the 50 best movies ever.  The list below came from AFI's list of the top 100 movies, compiled in 2007, and I can only check off 19 of them.  That's 38%.  Not so impressive.  Maybe this would be a good challenge for me - over the next year, do you think I can manage to make it through the other 31?  That's one every week and a half.  I can try, though I'm not optimistic... after all, never have I ever been a movie person!

AFI 50 Greatest Movies of All Time
green - seen // red - not yet seen


linking up with The Lady Okie today for Never Have I Ever...

 photo 866de425-8336-4c63-9efd-1c4dd8bf0e62_zpsafe0d56b.jpg

72 comments:

  1. I just did mine and put on it that I have not seen Schindler's List it just seems to sad but Mr. H thinks I really should watch it! Per my finger counting I think I have seen 16, but that is due to my taking Hollywood and America at university!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have to highly recommend Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It is my husband's favorite, and we just watched it again the other night. It's not too long, and it's really clever, plus Redford and Newman are both so handsome. :)


    I'm not big into movies either- we've gotten to the point where we just get them from the library. I can't be bothered to go to the theater for anything new. It's just going to come out on DVD anyway, so why not just wait and save money?

    ReplyDelete
  3. I really SHOULD see Schindler's List - I'm just not sure I could handle it, to be honest!

    ReplyDelete
  4. UGH THEY WERE (are) SO HANDSOME. okay, I'm swayed :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am so much worse than you...I can only check off 9 of those movies! (Maybe I'm just watching the wrong ones?!)

    ReplyDelete
  6. That is my reasoning, maybe we could watch it and have something hilarious and uplifting to watch right after?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Jess Gerrow / The Stroke BlogOctober 10, 2013 at 8:09 AM

    I'm not a movie person either! A lot of my friends are really into 'film' but when the topic comes up I'm sure I get this hopelessly vacant look on my face. I do, however, enjoy indulging in a good documentary and find myself reaching for those more and more than fictional movies.


    I've only seen 12 movies in this list above. I can't believe you haven't seen Schindler's list! So worth watching. With a glass of wine and a box of kleenex.

    ReplyDelete
  8. How have you never seen It's a Wonderful Life? That's easy to fix. I had to watch Psycho for a Lit class in college. It's good.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I've seen about half... but that's because I started my academic life as a film major! I highly recommend #37... one of my all-time favorite movies. I think as a history buff you'd like it!


    I keep thinking about starting an "Endless Film Festival" series on my blog... maybe I should make it a link-up?

    ReplyDelete
  10. I feel like I should get credit for having seen Clockwork Orange in a high school English class. the teacher inadequately fast forwarded through the inappropriate bits...

    ReplyDelete
  11. HAHA thank you - I often put "film" in quotes too


    I also just really like rewatching old favorites! it's why I have The American President and Princess Bride memorized :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Yea, I totally think of it as a "guy movie" but it had me laughing. Much better writing back then.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wine is my go to movie drink, well not scary ones as it would be all over me and the couch!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love it! Super creative take on the prompt :) I like movies, but I haven't seen a lot of these either. Like, The Godfather. Too much blood, in my opinion. Thanks for linking up! You're awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Dr. Zhivago- that one you must watch. And It's a Wonderful Life is the best holiday movie.

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is so interesting! I actually would consider myself a movie person, but I have only seen 17 of these. Maybe I need to broaden my cinematic horizons a little bit. :) West Side Story has been on my list for the longest time, I think I would like it, but I just never get around to watching it.

    ReplyDelete
  17. It's so funny that you wrote this - I just talked to my boyfriend this weekend about how embarrassingly few classic movies I've seen. Like you, I'm just not motivated to sit down and watch a movie. I'll power through marathon TV show sessions, something about the shorter storyline? I don't know.


    But you must see It's A Wonderful Life. It is so, so good.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I never knew there was a 'list' of must see movies =) That is fun that you've seen 19 of them.

    ReplyDelete
  19. well, MY list is different than AFI's list... but I figured I should start with something official :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. um, excuse me, I think you mean The Nightmare Before Christmas is the best holiday movie.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love West Side Story! The summer before I moved back to DC from London (the first time), Jon caught me watching the movie just as they were singing "One Heart" and I was sobbing my eyes out... so he got me tickets to see the production on Broadway when we were in New York together for my birthday! it's been extra-special to me ever since :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. omg - 6 hours of West Wing or Law and Order? done. a three hour movie? MOM, DO I HAVE TO? haha

    ReplyDelete
  23. I love looking at lists like this. I actually do like movies, but I've also only seen 19. I really like going to the movies, but it's so expensive that we typically wait to rent them and then I forget which ones I wanted to see.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I AM THE SAME. Unfortunately of all the things in the world that Rob loves, movies are at the top of his list. Poor boy, he's been known to sneak to the movies by himself because he knows how I'm not a fan. I can't imagine Grapes of Wrath the movie to be that fantastic though... hahaha

    ReplyDelete
  25. Betsy. you've never seen It's a Wonderful Life??? where have you been every Christmastime ever?

    other notes: Some Like It Hot is one of my favorites. I'm a huge fan of "classic" comedies, and this one is definitely one of the best by my standards. Psycho is also incredible, just because it's Alfred Hitchcock - he's seriously the master of suspenseful films. Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago I count as two of a kind (they're from the same set of filmmakers, so they really do have a lot of similarities); they're both long and sometimes a little slow, but the cinematography is so well done and the music is absolutely gorgeous. plus, Omar Sharif. I don't know why, but I really love Omar Sharif.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Ok, of the ones you haven't seen - you have to watch Schindler's List, It's a Wonderful Life {best Christmas season movie ever} and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest {one of my favorite movies ever}. They are amazing :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. May I humbly draw your attention to the fact that ZOMG THE AFRICAN QUEEEN, EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!! *incoherent squealing* Most romanticalest thing ever.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I wonder how many of the top movies I've seen or not, I'll have to count: 22. Not many more than you!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I haven't seen many of these either and I did have a cinephile phase that lasted like five years (late 2006 to... early 2012?). My attention span is just not that high lately, and I have a hard time committing to focusing on one thing for two hours. Besides, some of these I'm just not that interested in seeing.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I've seen a grand total of 3 of those films! Whoops...

    ReplyDelete
  31. I've seen 17/50. For a movie person, that makes me sad. I have a loooong list of movies to watch still.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I've seen 9/50. I guess that makes me "not much of a movie person" either. Is it bad that I'm not that interested in seeing the other 41? I'd rather read a book!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Wow, I've only seen 5 of those movies. And normally I am the person who has seen the movie, if you know what I mean!
    Well, I've certainly got some catching up to do!

    ReplyDelete
  34. So I had to go look this up, but I wanted to say something else. Considering how little time I have to devote to watching movies--I'd rather read a book or catch up with friends--I've made a concerted effort only to watch movies that pass the Bechdel test, with a few exceptions. Exceptions include movie franchises or adaptations from sources I already love (think: Harry Potter), movies based on true events or real people (like Lincoln), and movies that otherwise feature strong women or other strong characters who are normally marginalized. Very few films in AFI's top list actually pass the Bechdel test, which means I'm not really interested in most of them. http://www.lisashea.com/hobbies/afimovies/bechdeltest.html

    ReplyDelete
  35. I'm not a movie person either. Name any movie, and odds are I haven't seen it. And this includes some popular ones that everyone has seen (Finding Nemo, Grease, etc). As for this list, I've only seen 3.... well let's say 2. I believe I watched ET when I was young, but I'm not sure!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Haha, I do that at the theater too. I get all excited and then I forget about it! I don't know the last time I saw a movie at the cinema!

    ReplyDelete
  37. I just have to add a second plug for the Best Years of our Lives, which definitely passes the Bechdel test ;)

    ReplyDelete
  38. Okay, I think of myself as a film person as I love watching films at the cinema - the excitement the popcorn and the drama that is watching a film on the big screen. That being said, I've only read 12 from that list. This makes me think that my film fan status needs to be revoked. Have I epically failed if I haven't watched even half of this list.
    Good luck with your new film challenge, fingers crossed to you. My recommendation - if you only watch one film off that list - make sure it is It's a Wonderful Life. It's a brilliantly uplifting film and it's a Christmas one too - what's not to love.
    Happy watching.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Well if you see nothing else on this list - you really ought to watch It's A Wonderful Life, especially around Christmas-time. It's been a tradition in our family to watch it every Christmas Eve, and I continued it after I got married. Makes me cry every time and I'm not usually one to even tear up in a movie!

    ReplyDelete
  40. I am exactly the same way about the movies! My husband is a movie lover, but I'm not crazy about going to the theater because I get restless easily, and I like to be able to move around whenever I want. Anytime I am forced to sit in the same chair for more than about 45 minutes, I feel like I'm in a class of some sort, and it often starts to be an unpleasant experience for me. I'm also sensitive and can be overwhelmed by the total experience of movies in a theater. So I prefer to watch at home, too - and usually the ones that I already know all the words to. They're like old friends. I mean, why would I pick a new movie, that I might not love, when I could watch one that I KNOW I will love and enjoy? Haha. Of course, none of these feelings are shared by my husband. But we compromise. Glad to know we aren't the only ones! :) Loved this post.

    ReplyDelete
  41. So with you on the movie thing! People always think I'm weird for this, but I've seen pretty much nothing - current or classic (I think I've seen about 10 of these, and several of those were only because I had to watch them for a class...). For some reason I'm willing to commit hours to a book that I may or may not end up liking, but if I'm going to give over a few hours for a movie, I have to know it's going to be GOOD. So we probably end up watching 3-4 new ones a year, and otherwise it's repeats of my favorite Jane Austen adaptations when I'm home alone :)

    ReplyDelete
  42. "wrong" is subjective... maybe AFI is watching the wrong ones! haha

    ReplyDelete
  43. haha the idea of "endless film" makes me uncomfortable but tell me more :P

    ReplyDelete
  44. why thank you! yeah, I haven't seen a lot of THOSE classics.... Godfather, Scarface, Taxi Driver, etc. I'll get there eventually!

    ReplyDelete
  45. ugh it's SO expensive! dinner and a movie will easily put you back more than £50 in London, so you want to make sure you're seeing a good movie to make it worth it!

    ReplyDelete
  46. haha good for him! sometimes I treat myself to a nice glass of wine alone, so maybe that's the boy equivalent :P

    ReplyDelete
  47. I'M JEWISH! is that a good excuse?


    haha :)

    a lot of the others from 51-100 in the list that I've seen are Hitchcock - North by Northwest, in the list above, is one of my favorite films of all time!

    ReplyDelete
  48. I set this challnege for myself a few years ago, and I need to finish it! So many amazing films.... Go for the top ten first, okay 11 for Christmas, and then go for the rest. I loved so many movies on this list.... Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  49. well then I will have to wait until I can see it with you, mi amor!

    ReplyDelete
  50. I'm starting to distrust this AFI list... maybe we should make our own!

    ReplyDelete
  51. yeah, we should definitely make our own list. who made AFI the experts? haha

    ReplyDelete
  52. good thing we're heading into a cold dark winter... lots of excuses for Netflix on the couch!

    ReplyDelete
  53. HOW DO YOU NETFLIX AROUND THE WORLD? crisis.

    ReplyDelete
  54. yeah, I'm starting to think that AFI was closed-minded when they made this list...

    ReplyDelete
  55. love love LOVE Finding Nemo! don't worry, you have time to watch it before the sequel comes out :P

    ReplyDelete
  56. nah, I'm starting to doubt AFI's standards for "best movies." we should make our own lists!

    ReplyDelete
  57. haha I'm SO obnoxious to sit next to during the trailers for just this reason :P

    ReplyDelete
  58. I'll try to watch it this Christmas with Jon! he's used to seeing me cry at movies :)

    ReplyDelete
  59. Well now, I always considered myself a movie person but I think I've seen at most ten of those titles! Guess I'll be renting some of the classics sometime soon.

    ReplyDelete
  60. I've only seen eight! I had an ex who took it upon himself to educate me in the classics, but I tired of him quickly and we only lasted two months, so that went nowhere. Maybe I'll try to make it to 25 (that would be half!) within a year.

    ReplyDelete
  61. It's a date!! You, me, gin drinks (it is the tropics after all) and a small dose of casual racism (I will cover your eyes)

    ReplyDelete
  62. It annoys Scott that I only really like to have on movies I've seen before, Castle re-runs, and the DIY Network at home. I really don't want to be distracted from whatever else is going on, and I don't like having an hour or hours of my life taken up by sitting down and staring at the TV. One of these days I'm going to convince him that I really don't care if he watches TV without me, that he doesn't need to pause the TV show for me {because if he doesn't, it will be over faster!}, and that I really don't mind having the TV off and, you know, having some human conversation!

    ReplyDelete
  63. Don't feel bad, I would consider myself someone that enjoys movies but I'm not a fanatic, and I've only seen ten of the movies on this list.

    ReplyDelete
  64. I've only seen 13! So you definitely beat me. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is definitely in my top ten movies ever, and Nick's never seen it. I think it's the first thing that really got me into politics!

    ReplyDelete
  65. I definitely have a list of AFI's top choices floating around somewhere on my hard drive! I've only seen 9 from this list, which is terribly embarrassing, but I have hope that I will eventually see all of them. I consider it a work in progress. :)

    ReplyDelete

I love reading your thoughts and suggestions! Please do leave a comment so we can get to know each other better.