Do You Ever Watch Movies Simply for the Sake of Having Seen Them?
The Blind Eternities forum
Posted on Dec. 13, 2020, 9:59 p.m. by DemonDragonJ
Usually, I watch movies because I wish to watch them and enjoy doing so, but there are some movies that I have watched simply so that I can say that I have seen them, and so that I can understand any references to them in popular culture, with examples of such movies being Mac and Me, Top Gun, Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Breakfast Club, Fight Club, Dirty Dancing, My Cousin Vinny, Pulp Fiction, Half Baked, and Vampire’s Kiss. I also plan to watch The Usual Suspects, A Few Good Men, Footloose, and Cool Hand Luke, again, simply so that I can say that I have sent those films and understand cultural references to them.
What does everyone else say about this? Do you ever watch movies simply for the sake of having seen them, and being able to understand references to them in popular culture?
plakjekaas says... #3
Most of the Kubrick and Tarentino movies I have watched really late in life. I didn't really enjoy any of them, but I keep giving the ones I haven't seen a chance, because everyone else seems to adore them.
I end up disappointed every time
December 13, 2020 11:41 p.m.
I always give the lord of the rings trilogy a good rewatch every 3-4 years. Also studio ghibli movies like howls moving castle and princess mononoke. Also the first Matrix film and so many more. So yes, I do rewatch movies over and over.
December 14, 2020 2:08 a.m.
SteelSentry says... #5
This is exactly how I felt watching the Marvel CU and Disney Star Wars movies. However, I will say that I have not seen most of the movies on your list (one of the exceptions being Fight Club, it's one of my favorites), and it's not the end of the world when someone makes a Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter reference that I don't understand. I don't like when other people tell me what I have to watch, but I understand why they would want to make sure I have seen a movie that is considered a cultural touchstone.
December 14, 2020 5:20 a.m.
As someone who watches as many movies as I possibly can, and who genuinely finds joy in having watched 95% of them, I am always perplexed when people say they haven't watched a list of what I would consider popular or influential movies. I will fully admit that I give more of myself to film than most people, though I hang out with a group that puts me to shame. I am curious though, mainly for SteelSentry and DemonDragonJ, what is it that you actually watch, if anything. What I mean to say is, if you haven't seen the films listed or are only watching them to understand pop culture references, what movies do you watch in their stead?
I do understand that this could be an age difference thing too. I grew up with the majority of the movies in Demon's list so if I'm significantly older than you both it is more understandable.
December 14, 2020 8:55 a.m.
Last_Laugh says... #7
I haven't payed for a single channel of tv or any sort of streaming service in about 15 years. I buy used movies locally, have for years, and I'm at the point I could watch a different movie every day and not repeat myself for over 4 years (and that's not even getting into tv series that I own).
December 14, 2020 3:58 p.m.
Not unless someone ask me to watch it. I only watch stuff I'm interested in.
December 14, 2020 4:35 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #9
FSims81, there are many movies that I have watched because I actually enjoyed them, and it would take too long to list all of them here, but some examples are the original Star Wars trilogy, the original Indiana Jones trilogy, the first two Home Alone movies, the first two Ghostbusters movies, Space Jam, Hocus Pocus, Heavy Metal, the old universal monster movies, the first Alien film, and nearly ever Disney animated film.
December 14, 2020 6:37 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #10
plakjekaas, I have enjoyed every Stanley Kubrick film that I have seen, but I fully agree with you about Quentin Tarantino's movies; I enjoyed Pulp Fiction, but I found Reservoir Dogs to be unbearably dull, and my former girlfriend wished to see Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, which I agreed to see, but I really wish that I had not.
December 14, 2020 6:40 p.m.
plakjekaas says... #11
I can appreciate the craft that went in those movies, but both directors have such a tendency to be incredibly cinematic over such a lot of nothing happening on screen. Kubrick with visuals, Tarantino with dialog, I did pick that up in YouTube breakdowns and essays, which I watched to see if there's any appeal that I missed on first viewing. I feel like I had to, given how notorious both directors are for making great movies.
I just seem to be not as crazy as the rest of the internet about movies with more attention to detail than actual story being told.
December 15, 2020 6:03 a.m.
Not into movies at all, but it can definitely feel that way when watching anime. Normally, I’ve found when I’m watching one just to understand a reference I end up enjoying the anime less than I should. Maybe that’s to do with my expectation being driven up? I like finding things by surprise better as it feels like you make your own discoveries rather than chasing after what other people deem as enjoyable.
goodair says... #2
I do the same when I get the chance. Sometimes the movie is enjoyable, othertimes it isn't and whatever reference came from it isn't funny either.
December 13, 2020 11:13 p.m.