John- the reason you are quitting Netflix is the reason I've been putting off signing up. I desperately need to cull my own DVD collection, but there are so many I have not yet watched. And that's not counting the tote full of pre-atomic and atomic era VHS tapes I snagged from the donation sale at the library. And that's also not counting the handful of discs I've got checked out from the library waiting to be watched at any given moment. Sigh.
Brandon- I bought at Wal-Mart some time ago a multi-disc collection of about 50 Hitchcock films, a lot of them what I assume to be minor works. You're making me more and more eager to check out at least a few. I have seen too few Hitchcock movies, but have really enjoyed what I've seen and would like to broaden my exposure to his genius.
Adrienne- I honestly just didn't know any better. I didn't have too much exposure to good film until late in my college career, so plenty of cine-ignorance was allowed to fester in my brain. That's why I'm trying to give my son LIKE IT OR NOT the film history education I never had.
Malissa- the Dryden shows films that are appropriate for kids as well. You should check the schedule. The theater is really one of Rochester's treasures. As to your comment about the variety of films I've watched, that's a part of my lack of discernment. I really will watch just about anything, good or bad.
In other news, I saw The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus last night. I don't have a whole lot to say about it that hasn't been said by others except that, due to some observations I was making to an acquaintance about Tideland, I found myself wondering about Gilliam's work in light of a less obvious theme (at least to me to this point) than the power of imagination. There are some questions raised in at least few of Gilliam's films about the safety of children, and the responsibility that adults have to keep children safe. I certainly welcome any observations anyone has about this, as I have only just noticed it.
I believe he wants us to contemplate the idea that attempting to shelter children is bound to fail in some way or another and to recognize the inherent resiliance of children, maybe show them a little more respect. I think he would also say that the imagination is part of what makes children so resiliant and that adults who are in touch with their own imaginations are bound to be more resiliant as well. Life can be what you choose to dwell on more than what happens to you; that might be the best control you can hope for. Etc.
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