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Ahhh…Joan, Dearest. I do my best not to disappoint you...
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I suppose, given your definition, my favorite would be THE MUMMY (1999). Not only my favorite "popcorn flick", but my favorite adventure film and favorite film of the 90s. Also, all the Final Destination films.
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Obviously, every poster has his/her own favorite “Popcorn Flicks' just like their favorite soundtracks and composers. Joan Hue wrote: I actually found a definition of Popcorn Flicks on the Internet. “Mindless fun that has one special thing like special effects, action, etc. Nothing else.” I do NOT agree with that definition. For me, a popcorn flick is a movie where I am, for two to three hours, thoroughly entertained. I just plain have fun in these movies. In my definition there is a combination of drama and comedy. At times I’m laughing out loud and at times I’m very tense. I don’t have to think too deeply, but I’m always engaged in the movie. IMHO I lean toward the definition “Mindless fun that has one special thing like special effects, action, etc. Nothing else.” I find that certain genres of film engage me more in excitement and involvement. Again, it's everyone's personal choices whether it's science fiction, fantasy, spy, crime, western, kung-fu, horror etc. But wait, there's the ANTICIPATION aspect. For example: During the 60's-70's I couldn't wait to view James Bond and The Man With No Name films ad nauseum. I EXPECTED “escape time” and FUN. What about the 1940's serial cliffhanger flicks that kids attended on weekends? I bet they loved to down their popcorn that way. And for those who watch at home, remember the Honeymooners classic episode of Ralph wresting control of a TV from Norton, then lovingly place his food within arm's reach. Some of my absolute favorites such as Midnight Cowboy, All About Eve, In The Heat Of The Night, Army Of Shadows, I am thoroughly engaged and absolutely entertained. But I feel they are NOT Popcorn Flicks as I am thinking more “deeply” and not tossing my popcorn in the air, wide eyes open with childish delight in reaction to an action scene or silly comedic line. Anyway, some of my favorite “popcorns” are: all Bonds, all western Eastwoods, all crime film noir, all disaster films, King Kong 1933, Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein, A Hard Day's Night, A Guide For The Married Man, both Flint flicks, Jason and The Argonauts, War Of The Worlds, “camp” films such as Valley Of The Dolls and The Best of Everything. Bottom line: All pure fun without “messages” or “social statements.” Thanks for reading.
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Joan Hue wrote: Personally, I don't think all popcorn flicks are "mindless." Some have food for thought but I don't have to go into a deep thinking mode. I have to agree as I've been trying to rattle the old brain cells for examples of “food for thought” but not “deep thinking mode.” I thought The Good, The Bad and The Ugly was pure “popcorn” as Eli Wallach carried its adventure. So I was giddy expecting similar of Sergio Leone's Once Upon A Time In The West. My popcorn was ready, as was my laughter but Leone gave OUATITW a somewhat more serious overcast than TGTBATU. But I feel the basis of a Popcorn Flick is always to tickle the “child” in all of us with a “fantasy and thrills” aspect. Your list of: Die Hard (the first one), Speed, Jaws, True Lies, Superman, Jaws, Pirates of the Caribbean (the first one where less is more), The Avengers and “all-time favorite” of Jurassic Park – reflect so. Animation/cartoons do it to kids as well as adults. Also, my Popcorn “mindless” Flicks definition includes movies of anticipatory escapist “choreography” such as Astaire/Rogers/Kelly dances, kung-fu fights, western/spaghetti shoot-outs. Imagine those hard working 1920's audiences enjoying Busby Berkeley numbers. Now, West Side Story due to its story of teenage social problems has that “food for thought.” That is, a bit closer to our “everyday reality.” One could argue that crime Film Noir is also close to reality, but there's a soap opera escapism. How could murder be so blithely portrayed? Some of my favorites: Laura, The Big Clock, Night and The City, and Double Indemnity. In closing, I think Alfred Hitchcock's 1950's body of work exemplifies both Popcorn and “food for thought” but not “deep thinking mode.” Thrilling, riveting “combination of drama and comedy” (as you stated in your opening thread.) My all-time favorite: North By Northwest. Some of Hitchcock's teaser trailers are on You Tube so I imagine that 1950's audiences had their popcorn ready in anticipation of an opening. I sort of envy them, as sometimes I wish I had amnesia to relive the thrills of seeing The Birds, Psycho, Rear Window, etc. for the first time again. Thanks for the discussion.
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Joan Hue wrote: Even though Jurassic Park was an escapist popcorn flick that didn't require deep thinking, I still got to ponder the science the amber with the mosquito and the cloning of DNA from dinosaurs. Ahhhh, you are right!! Gonged my memory 2 decades after viewing of the movie. Yes, Jurassic Park was NOT just "A dinosaur movie." Spielberg and Crichton combined well for a compelling story. I remembered it as solid entertainment but subsequently did not compartmentalize it with destructive monsters on the loose - kaiju, Gorgo etc. OK. On to view (maybe post) other threads. Good Day.
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Posted: |
May 25, 2014 - 4:14 AM
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By: |
Timmer
(Member)
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I still got to ponder the science the amber with the mosquito and the cloning of DNA from dinosaurs. Wonder if we will ever do that considering our archeological digs? It's impossible however much I'd love it to happen. Any DNA will be far too corrupted. Rather than "popcorn" movies I would call them "comfort" movies, those films you love and can watch over and over. I couldn't watch something as harrowing as, say, COME AND SEE ( Elem Klimov 1985 ) while stuffing my face with popcorn. My comfort films? All the Bond's, Die Hard 1 & 2, Lethal Weapon's, Indiana Jones, anything Ray Harryhausen, Back To The Future's, Harry Potter's and others already mentioned in above postings. Has anyone mentioned the Universal and Hammer horror movies? No!? Okay, that's my contribution.
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