Movies = neato.

I like movies.

I used to get mad at movies that were first books. See, more than I like movies, I like books. Books are The Shiz, ya dig? I used to read a book, then watch the movie and groan over how WRONG they got it. Or, I’d see a movie, and then realize there was a book, and get all depressed… see, now if I read the book, I’d have pre-defined ideas about how the people should look and act in my head. That takes away a large amount of the fun.

Books are cool partly because your mind can run away with all the imagery. My mind really likes to do that, so it likes books.

That said, movies also rock very much. I can seriously appreciate a good story line in a movie, and when the actors portray their characters well, it can be breathtaking. I’m also a sucker for a cinematographically beautiful shot.

(And I’m badass for using the word, “cinematographically.”)

Additionally, some killer modern Effects and a slammin’ soundtrack are always a good time.

Along that vein, John and I recently rented a movie called The Hitcher, because Netflix recommended it for us. I’m willing to take movie chances, so I often check out this kind of crap. It sounded interesting. I was totally ready to laugh at what I was sure would be “old looking” and “cheesy” and maybe even “crappy as hell” camera shots and effects, considering that the date on the movie was 1986.

I was a surprised bitch. The movie was rather weird, but actually interesting and entertaining (if you like freakball thriller-type movies, like I do). The time period was definitely noticeable in the quality of the film, but not in a bad way.

And here’s the thing – I was entirely captivated by stunt scenes that were REAL.

You don’t realize how much you have just gotten so incredibly used to seeing computer generated effects in movies until you watch something old. They really had to do stuff like set cars on fire, flip them in chase scenes, and break REAL glass! And it LOOKS DIFFERENT when it’s real.

“Wow, that effect is really great, it looks so real!” can’t compare with, “Holy shit! That car is ACTUALLY on fire, and some stunt dude is driving it – F’in A!”

Upon looking into the film, I also learned that one of the lead actors, Rutger Hauer, actually did a lot of the stunt driving himself. Could he BE any more awesome? No, no he could not. Apparently, he even knocked out a tooth in one of the stunt scenes, where he crashes through a windshield holding a shotgun. Hard core.

Other notable actors in the movie include C. Thomas Howell and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Personally, I enjoyed watching Ponyboy Curtis get all flustered over almost eating a finger, and, here, Single White Female does NOT survive until the end of the movie.

I came away from the viewing with 2 fun, memorable quotes (both spoken by Rutger Hauer’s character, “John Ryder”):

“So, how ya like Shitsville?”

And, the considerably longer, and much creepier:

“Well, he couldn’t walk far. [pause] I cut off his legs. [pause] And his arms. [pause] And his head. [pause] And I’m going to do the same to you.”

But, I digress.

I like movies.

So, from time to time, I’ll be talking about them.