I talk a lot about movies online, in real life, and in any other medium I can. If you know me through any sort of media, you probably know by now most of my favorite movies. I like to talk a lot about them. In fact, I only just finished an extensive series of articles about my favorite movies from each decade.
But, some people may be surprised when they hear about which movies I didn't like so much formerly. I'm not talking movies I'm just kind of more warmed up to by now. I'm talking movies which have actually become favorites of mine that I could watch over and over again now! What makes this happen? Well, here's just a few examples of what I'm talking about before I get to that.
"The Big Lebowski"
Why I used to hate it: I just saw it as a movie with no story or point to speak of that lasted a needlessly long time and ultimately led nowhere, thus making the movie a complete waste of time.
Why I changed my mind: I didn't entirely hate it. Even then, I still enjoyed watching individual scenes and quoting the legendary dialogue from it. Also, upon viewing it once more, I realized that all the points I mentioned above are actually what made the movie so great! The movie isn't supposed to go anywhere, and that's part of what makes it so funny. Also, everyone knows the movie wouldn't work without the main character known as The Dude. Every male college student loves him because he sets his goals low and he's meeting all of them. He doesn't contribute jack, but he's not hurting anyone either. And that's why I love him!
"The Social Network"
Why I used to hate it: Jesse Eisenberg annoyed the hell out of me. The story had few to no likable people. The story is largely fictionalized.
Why I changed my mind: I simply wasn't looking at it the right way. This brilliantly written and directed film wasn't meant to be a straightforward biopic. It's more of a commentary on the state of interaction in our modern digital age. We see the story of a young man who didn't understand friendship, so he redefined it! He had few friends at the beginning and even fewer at the end, so some may question the point of it all. The point is to show us a character, which whether we want to admit it or not, is pretty relatable to a lot of millennials and, in a way, is a symbol of Facebook itself. Despite his ability to connect, he lacks the ability for any real intimacy! As for Eisenberg, this was the first movie I saw with him in it. I didn't realize that he had earlier played some likable, yet awkward kids, much like his look-alike, Michael Cera, so he was actually showing some range in this film. (His Lex Luthor performance is another matter for another day, however...)
"2001: A Space Odyssey"
Why I used to hate it: On first viewing, it just seemed like a long, boring excuse for Stanley Kubrick to flaunt his style that ultimately made no sense. (I know, right? Now, such a statement about one of the greatest directors of all time would sound like blasphemy to me.)
Why I changed my mind: Again, I was looking at it the wrong way. Think of Walt Disney's "Fantasia." That film would likely bore any Disney-loving kid because it isn't meant to be viewed like a regular film. This film is the same way. At the risk of sounding like the pretentious cinephile stereotype, the film actually is visual poetry meant to be symbolic of the evolution of man, whether in the literal or metaphorical sense of the word. It mostly uses imagery to tell its story, which most aren't used to seeing. And, said imagery is quite beautiful. So, if you watch this don't expect a movie, so much as a moving painting!
"Kill Bill"/"Django Unchained"
Why I used to hate them: It may surprise a lot of you that I used to be very anti-Quentin Tarantino. I liked "Pulp Fiction" from the start, but I watched these two after and saw them as movies that started with promise but descended into silly stories that just want to show violence.
Why I changed my mind: I decided to give Tarantino another chance and watch his debut film, "Reservoir Dogs," and I was quite surprised to find I liked it a lot! After that, I watched "Inglourious Basterds" and was very impressed, feeling that it was Tarantino's most mature and human-feeling film to date. After this, I decided to give both the "Kill Bill" films another go, and they both still seemed pretty silly, but gosh darn it, they're just so much fun to watch. Probably two of the most artful action films I've ever seen. I believe Django was just not what I expected. I expected just a slavery story where a slave saves his wife, and not all the outrageousness that came in the final quarter. But, after finding myself loving "Kill Bill," I watched it again and discovered the story to be a lot more deep and intricate than I first thought. Not only that, but the shootouts are so darn fun. It's now in my top 3 favorite Tarantino films. (Still haven't decided if I like it better than "Basterds.")
"Goodfellas"
Why I used to hate it: Yes, I imagine everyone who knows me is now in shock, given how big of a fan I am of the movie now. (Believe me, this shock is nothing compared to the next entry.) I actually didn't even finish the movie the first time. I just saw it as an overlong, meaningless barrage of language and violence that I wasn't enjoying at all.
Why I changed my mind: Being a film buff, I do my research. So, I knew Scorsese was, and is, considered one of the great film directing masters. The following Christmas season I decided to do more of an exploration into some of his work, which also included "Raging Bull" and "Casino." After giving this particular movie a second chance, I was quite satisfied to find a cautionary tale lurking amidst all the carnage. And with subsequent viewings, I understood more how important it was to underline some of the moments which are hard to take for most people because it is important to understand not only the real extent to which these men lived their lifestyles, but also what made it so attractive in the first place.
"The Shawshank Redemption"
Why I used to hate it: Yes, it is true. I used to strongly disapprove of what is now my favorite film ever. The reason isn't that complex: The prison rape subplot made me uncomfortable, so I found it hard to enjoy the rest of the story.
Why I changed my mind: While still disturbing, said rape is only implied, not explicitly shown. Eventually, I was able to see that it was a necessary element to convey the horror of the prison, and it only helps to service the movie's central message of hope, which I find very inspiring. It's really just as simple as that.
So, what might the cause be for all these mind changes? Honestly, it's anyone's guess. Sometimes it's just as simple as my preferences changing over time. But, one common denominator I noticed with some of these was just having the wrong preconceived notions about what the intention was behind the film. Think of some of the directors here: The Coen brothers, Scorsese, Tarantino, Kubrick. All of them have very distinct styles that admittedly are not everyone's cup of tea. So, maybe it was just me learning to appreciate some of these guys' uniqueness and different artistic approaches. Honestly, I don't think there is any definitive answer that covers every movie I've ever changed my mind about. Except, maybe it's just that I'm a constantly changing person. We all are! This concept doesn't just have to apply to movies, it can be anything in life.
The important thing is to keep growing, exploring, and learning. And if a change must come along, may it be for the better! Were all of my changes listed here for the better? Maybe, maybe not. But, again, I'm just learning. We all are!
