Like a lot of people, I’ve watched many movies.  And like many of those people, I’ve watched a lot of those movies at a young age.  Because of that, and because of some things that have happened to me, I’ve often felt like a handful of those moments were slightly on the cinematic side.  Or at least, that’s how I viewed them the moment they were happening.  Still, to this day, I look at them as if they were movie moments filmed from certain angles edited together, even with an inspiring or slightly whimsical film score accompanying them.  The film score part of it could be it’s own topic, but here are a couple videos to help set the tone.

As far as dramatic/inspiring scores for my moments, I always think of this one.

When I’m out walking or experiencing gentle moments, this one comes to mind.

It’s tempting to ask if this is normal, but I’ve no doubt that others have felt this way regarding certain moments from their lives.  We’re often told to visualize things, so the inspiration has to come from somewhere.  My question for you is this… how would you describe your movie moments?  Do they have a slight Spielbergian sense of awe and adventure?  Is there something visually intriguing with a David Fincher feel to it?  Are your movie moments a little like something out of a Stanley Kubrick film?

I get the impression that if someone thinks their “life movie” is like something from a Stanley Kubrick film, they may be living a life with a lot of mystery.  The guy did really cool movies that would make you think, and there was always something below the surface.  You watch one of his films, and it’ll linger in your mind after the credits roll.  After that, you’re still thinking about it since things are open to interpretation.  I’d even say the same about those who think of life like a Terry Gilliam film.  Similar idea, but definitely different and with its own style.

For me personally, the styles and feelings are all over the place.  I think of my life so far like it’s a culmination of many movies & director styles.  And not just from film, but also television.  As a little kid, for instance, I’d think of my school life and home life as if it had Wonder Years-ish elements.  I’m sure others who watched The Wonder Years felt the same way, even pretending to have Daniel Stern’s voice inside their head narrating things.  I also felt a similar thing with the narrators from A Christmas Story and The Sandlot.

Even Bart Simpson knows what I’m talkin’ about.

Later on, as I entered my teen years, hanging out with friends felt like something out of a Kevin Smith film or something from John Hughes.  Even movies like Can’t Hardly Wait and Bring it On reminded me of school life and vice versa.  Looking back at it, and when thinking of TV shows, Community comes to mind in terms of how my friends would hang out in the library and talk.  Granted, we were less witty than Dan Harmon-created characters, but when I really think about it, the idea is definitely there.

I never played D&D, but we played another game and this scene reminds me of it.

Then there was my home-life, which would sometimes feel like a Chris Columbus film.  That’s basically another way of saying there was more of that John Hughes sorta’ thing since they both created Home Alone.  And during family trips, for some reason I’d think of those Simpsons episodes where the Simpsons have their own family trips, gatherings, or vacations.  Yes, my parents let me watch The Simpsons in the 90’s at a time when other parents would complain about the show.  And I thank them for not being as paranoid as other parents.  Thank you mom and dad.

So anyway, even though a lot of those things influenced the way I thought my home-life, not everything felt like comedies.  Whenever I’d experience something tragic or unexpected, for example, I would think of Phenomenon (one of the first dramas I ever saw as a kid).  I was 10 when I first saw that movie and it definitely made an impact on me.  Not just in terms of showing that things can be tragic and have a lot of struggles, but also in terms of the kinds of stories that I cling to.  I always find it neat when something a little fantastical is in a drama in this sort of fashion, and for some reason that resonates with me to this day.

 

By now, you’re probably thinking to yourself that I might have watched too much stuff as a kid.  That’s cool, because I totally did.  But let’s continue shall we?

Recently, things have started to feel a little different in that the tone has changed a bit.  For starters… I’m 31 and a lot more introspective than usual.  With that said, I often feel like things are akin to this moment from Jerry Maguire in which Jerry was writing that mission statement.  Other times, like when I’m working on things, I feel like I’m in that montage from The Social Network where Mark was planning & creating Facebook, or that montage from 500 Days of Summer where Joseph Gordon Levitt’s character was getting back into architecture.  In addition, and to go into the TV side of things, I still reflect on things as if there’s a voice narrating and recapping things.  But instead of Daniel Stern’s voice, it’s my voice this time.

If you think all that sounds a little random and crazy, you should see what my dreams are like.  They’re like a strange hybrid between a coming-of-age Cameron Crowe-inspired film, a fun epic Robert Zemeckis-style escapade, The Truman Show, K-Pax (weird, I know), a Jackie Chan film (stay with me here), and also a forgotten outrageous film from the 90’s where someone I get thrown into crazy little shenanigans they I didn’t expect to get caught up in.  And I happen to be breaking the fourth wall too.

If that sounds crazy, yes it is crazy.  But it does make for a fun time 🙂

Check out this guy’s other videos by the way, they’re really fun to watch.

Overall, when I think about all this… I kind of don’t know what to make of it.  In the end, this is just how I’ve looked at things and how I feel about it.  But I want to do something with it.  It’s one thing to say what it’s all like, but it’d be a whole other thing to show what it’s like.  And you know something?  That’s a thing I want to do.

I feel like this is a new beginning in a way.  A start to what could become a series of more introspective pieces.  I think about these things a lot, and while I’m sure others feel like this at times, I wonder how many have shared their thoughts on it.  In addition, I also wonder if their feelings are as specific as this; and if they’re able to articulate things better than I can.  People often visualize things, so it only makes sense to write about it.

If any of you have similar thoughts and feelings, definitely say so and let me know what movies, shows and filmmakers come to mind when you think of your own life.  Everyone has a story, and everyone is the protagonist of their own movie, so share it.  🙂

But if your life is akin to an Uwe Boll movie, for the love of all that is good and holy please fix your script.  See ya next time everybody!  o/