As a junior in High School, I never thought I would end up liking classic movies. When I saw a movie that was more than forty years old, I would not pay attention. There were no high definition or awesome special effects to draw me in. My entire idea of old movies changed when I enrolled in a class at my high school. The class was Design I and the first semester of the class really focused on designs of classic design, including that of the early to mid 20th Century. During this first semester, we watched a lot of movies and not just new ones and documentary’s, but films that were much older. The first one I really fell in love with was North by Northwest (1959) directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Other movies we watched in that class were Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Roman Holiday (1953). From this moment on, I really started to fall in love with the design of that era - the cars, the buildings, the style. Another thing I fell in love with was movies. I always liked movies, but that movie really changed me. I became more aware of all the older films this world has to offer. It didn’t take long before I became a movie aficionado.
During the rest of my junior and senior year, I couldn’t see enough movies. Every time I saw something I really enjoyed I would look for similar movies or look up movies by that director. Thanks to that one high school class, I also discovered my favorite genre of movies, the psychological thriller. Alfred Hitchcock is my favorite director and a true master in the psychological thriller genre. Although I still haven’t seen a lot of his films, the ones I have seen have landed themselves on my favorites list. I really enjoyed Dial M for Murder as well as The Rear Window. The idea of a film having a huge twist at the end really fascinates me in some way; it’s most likely the fact that it deviates from the predictability of most modern films.
I feel like these old movies leave me longing to live in a different time - mostly the 50’s. If only I could live in the 50’s without the twisted family values and Red Scare, I would love that era. The thing I love most about that era was the style. I like the way the architecture was radically different than any other period before that and I love the ornate woodwork in the bars and restaurants. I also love art deco, even if that was a product of the twenties and thirties.
Another thing the old movies have really given me is a fashion sense. I liked what the men wore in the fifties – the narrow lapels on suits way the men wore hats. I like to incorporate some of these items into my casual attire and will occasionally make a trip to the thrift shop to search for these. It can be a challenge to find and use these items, but I am still in love with the attire of the time. Someday, I hope to find myself in a classic art deco style bar wearing a suit and tie, with a drink in hand, just to say I’ve lived like that just for a minute. These ideas I admit are a little too romantic for a modernist age.
Since watching that first classic movie two years ago, I must have watched at least two hundred films. I feel that by watching these films, it has really broadened my scope on life. I have tried more things and done more things since watching these films, things that I wouldn’t have done otherwise. These films have also given me inspiration for what profession I may choose in the future. Right now, I am interested in engineering, but I am torn by my love for artistic design. I am not sure I have the knack for design as much as I do have for engineering. However, I feel that design and engineering go hand in hand so one day I may realize that dream.
Watching old films really gives me an understanding of modern film. Although it is hard to compare films of the fifties to films of the 21st Century, I can see where directors get their inspiration. I often see those 50’s concepts incorporated elements into the movies of today. A study of both classic and modern film has also allowed me to see where drama and action meet. In comparing modern and classic films, I feel that something has been lost. The beauty of an action film that also tells a great story has nearly gone by the wayside, lost in all the modern special effect. Today action movies feature big explosions and cliché’s and this really bothers me. There is no plot in the new action movies and there is no art. That said, there are many exceptions and I really enjoy watching these films that still capture the art that is in the action thriller of and older era. For example, I enjoy films by Guy Ritchie such as Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, the Sherlock Holmes movies, and RocknRolla. I feel that there is still somewhat of an art in these movies although I still can see that I am blinded by how cool they make the characters seem.
Modern films are not without their admirable qualities. The digital film age is amazing when you consider the amount of editing and time spent just to capture one shot. In modern movies, you can see incredible special effects that were not possible in the 1950’s. This is due in large part to the development of the modern computer and other technology. Another thing I find admirable in new movies is the emphasis on lighting. In the last 50 years film artistry has developed to the point where visual artists use shadows as a major element of a shot. I appreciate the art a bit more even when the story is not so good. Take, for example, the glacially slow paced movie, The American, in which George Clooney takes forever to construct a custom gun, falls in love with an Italian prostitute and then dies. Despite the story being slow and unrealistic, there is great beauty in the camera work, which makes the film worthwhile.
Movies – both classic and modern, have had a great impact on my life. I know what happens in a movie isn’t real. I like to view it as a great story and a source of inspiration though. I really enjoy the way a director takes a story and creates something visually pleasing and really entertaining. Movies provide me with the best escape in my qqlife, which is filled with problems sometimes I don’t comprehend. If I am depressed or stressed a movie is what calms me down. In this last year that may be why I have seen so many movies. More importantly, in addition to their ability to ease my stress and provide entertainment, movies are a great source of inspiration, a means of learning and personal growth and an important part of my life.
