“I don’t need no superstar
‘Cause I accept you as you are
You won’t be denied
‘Cause I’m satisfied
With the love that you can inspire
You don’t have to be a star, baby
To be in my show”
~”You Don’t Have To Be a Star (To Be in My Show)” by James Dean & John Glover
From the Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jnr album I Hope We Get to Love in Time, 1976
It all started with a scathing Internet article written by a blogger named Zack Carlson. It was Mr Carlson's premise that the use of computer generated effects is the bane of modern cinema. There's a degree of merit in his arguments. In a follow-up article, he instigated fans of cinema to "foam" and "gnash" at why they hate movies, even though in his discussion he manages to find virtue in those things he claims to despise. This was countered by another writer on the same website using the handle Hulk. Hulk, who bizarrely insists on maintain his chosen avatar's voice by referring to himself in the third person and yelling in all caps, discussed what he loved about the movies (click here to read it). Eric 'Quint' Vespe from aintitcoolnews.com took Hulk's baton and ran with it, openly aping his style, and challenging movie lovers everywhere to continue what he describes as a "geek chain letter" (Quint's article can be found here). Hulk's article and Quint's continuation of the same thought has inspired me, as a lover of cinema, to follow their lead. So with a tip of the hat to Hulk and Quint, I will add my link to the chain. Why do I love the movies?
I love the movies...
Because when Legolas kills an oliphaunt, it only counts as one.
Because those aren't two pillows!
Because to this day, in every student protest you'll find someone carrying a 'Save Ferris' placard.
Because the Stonehenge monument at the back of the stage really could have been crushed by a dwarf.
Because of the awesome nobility and dignity Gregory Peck brings to Atticus Finch.
Because when this baby reaches eighty-eight miles per hour... you're going to see some serious shit.
Because no matter how many times I see the montage of Carl and Ellie's life together it brings me to tears. Every last time.
Because what we do in life echoes in eternity.
Because of when Arcee and Springer take the time to teach Daniel how to use his father's old exo-suit.
Because they're going to need a bigger boat.
Because of the way Jack Sparrow runs.
Because of the sheer heart-in-your-mouth shock of Kane's death during breakfast.
Because of how Holmes sums up his opponent's weaknesses and discerns every step of his downfall in mere moments before executing everything exactly as he foresaw it.
Because of Sharlto Copley.
Because of Michelle Pfeifer's meow.
Because Jessica's not bad, she's just drawn that way. And because she loves her husband because he makes her laugh.
Because of Gollum and Sméagol's conversation.
Because fish are friends, not food.
Because of 23-19! 23-19!
Because when Leia tells Han she loves him, he replies "I know".
Because of the perfect use of an unlikely remix of In the Hall of the Mountain King during, of all things, a rowing race.
Because I can't decide if Inception is unfolding in eight layers of reality at the same time, or only seven. And because I wish so desperately that the film went for just another three seconds just so I can see if the spinning top falls over.
Because sometimes you need to run before you can walk.
Because of how Gene Wilder sings Pure Imagination.
Because of how Indy shoots the guy with the sword.
Because Vincent never saved anything for the swim back.
Because you can't stop the signal.
Because Rusty thinks they're going to need eleven.
Because of every James Bond theme song. Except the Madonna one.
Because the kids used to call him Mr Glass.
Because they're on a mission from God.
Because of Sam's unswerving devotion to Frodo.
Because of Roy Batty's beautiful and tragic monologue: "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain. Time to die". And then he very quietly does.
Because you wouldn't like him when he's... hungry?
Because Dr Venkman got slimed.
Because Henry Snr slaps his son for blasphemy.
Because of the way Phil wakes up to Sonny and Cher singing I Got You Babe... again and again and again and again and again and...
Because of the way Sam Gerard wants is a hard-target search of every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse in a six-mile radius.
Because Number Five laughs at the joke about the Priest, the Minister and the Rabbi.
Because of Sam Rockwell.
Because of the brilliant moment when Neo realises his potential and sees the code in the Matrix for the first time.
Because if Superman's got Lois, who's got Superman?
Because of John Rambo's devastating monologue at the end of First Blood, delivered by Sylvester Stallone with sensitivity and pathos.
Because of the slow-motion shoot-out on the railway station stairs.
Because of the Joker's disappearing pencil magic trick.
Because of Woody's "YOU! ARE! A! TOY!!" rant at Buzz.
Because of the way all the toys join hands on the way into the furnace.
Because of the moment Dave Kujan deduces who Keyser Söze really is.
Because of Tyler Durden's distorted vision of the future, hauntingly explained as the picture fades in and out of black.
Because of the moment of complete anguish when Bond's heart irretrievably breaks as Vesper drowns.
Because of the way the men in the queue at the employment offIce slowly start dancing to Donna Summer's Hot Stuff.
Because of the moment when Optimus declares "Today, in the name of freedom, we take the battle to them". And almost everything after that moment.
Because of Gandalf's slow smile when Aragorn asks him "What does your heart tell you?".
Because of Helen Parr's parenting. And because of how the Parr family reminded us to celebrate what is truly special, and not just the mediocre.
Because The Shoveller and his teammates have a date with destiny... and it looks like she ordered the lobster.
Because Andy Dufresne crawled through a river of shit and came out clean on the other side.
Because of every single solitary line in The Princess Bride, every last one of them eminently quotable.
Because of Heath Ledger's extraordinarily nuanced performance in his penultimate movie appearance.
Because Josh Pence's performance in The Social Network is one of the best you'll never see.
Because you should never, ever feed your Mogwai after midnight.
That's only some of the many, many reasons why I love cinema. I'm aware that some of my reasons have been similarly expressed by Hulk and Quint before me, but isn't that one of the great things about movies? Even though what you like and what I like may differ in places, there's great beauty in shared passions, a joy you feel when something that jazzes you also jazzes others. You've read my reasons. You may share some with me. No doubt you have many more of your very own. If you love movies, why not consider making a contribution to the geek chain letter yourself?
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