We watch movies for many different reasons. It is a chance to escape into another world for a little while. It is time to spend with loved ones. It may be when you are sick or getting over a heartbreak. 

Whatever our reasons for watching them, films have the power to impact our lives so subtly that we don’t even realise it until we start to look back.

Think of your favourite film…

Now think about why it is your favourite…

I’m willing to bet that it is not necessarily your favourite because the acting, cinematography or costume design is particularly good. No, the reason is because there is a memory attached. That is the power of the movies, they have the ability to get under your skin and settle in your soul. 

As a way for you all to get to know me a little bit better, I would like to share with you some of the films of my life.

Look Who’s Talking (1989)

Most people tend to get the ‘sex talk’ when they are teenagers. Me? I got mine when I was about 4. I was a curious child (correction: a know-it-all) and was always asking questions, I had to be the smartest one in the room. Credit to my mum, she always tried to answer my questions as truthfully as she could. So when we I saw the opening credits scene to Look Who’s Talking, I wanted to know what the little things that were swimming were (FYI, it was sperm), instead of telling me some bulls**t story about tadpoles, my mum told me the truth.

Side note: She then got in trouble with the school when I proceeded to tell my classmates the real story of where babies come from.

Kindergarten Cop (1990) & Ferngully: the Last Rainforest (1992)

These two films were a staple of my childhood, it would be impossible to count how many times I have seen them both. Ironically though, having watched them again as an adult, I now find both of these a little scary. One rainy, dream scene in Kindergarten Cop actually terrifies me slightly. If you’ve seen it you’ll know what I mean.

Thinking about it now, given the current spotlight on climate change and plastic pollution, FernGully deserves a bit of a revival. Twenty-seven years after its release and its themes and messages have lost none of their original meaning. Maybe I should join Twitter and start the hashtag #FernGullyRevival or #FernGullyForever. To be honest, I’m not totally sure how Twitter works!!

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)

Right up until I was an adult, I would always choose to read a book over watching a film, especially when it came to book-to-film adaptations. However much I enjoyed reading though, it usually ended up ruining the film version for me, it could never live up to the experience of reading and imagining something for myself.

For some reason, I ended up watching Fellowship before reading the book and I absolutely loved it. So, naturally, I then wanted to read all the books. That Christmas, I got the full set but it came with a condition; I was not allowed to read them until after I had seen all of the films. That’s right, I had to wait three years to properly open my Christmas present.

As a result, I watched all the films with completely innocent eyes and to experience a full-to-capacity audience bursting into applause during the end credits of Return on the King was an amazing experience that I doubt will ever be repeated. That day, I learnt to appreciate the brilliance of film in its own right and they are now without a doubt some of my favourite films of all time.

Up (2009)

I am a soppy cow, I have been known to get teary at adverts, and yes, I do mean television adverts! But I challenge, even the most hard-hearted, cynical person out there, not to feel some sort of emotion during the first 15-20 minutes of Up. The animation, story and musical score are absolutely beautiful and genuinely have me blubbing like a baby every time I see it.

Sin City: A Dame To Kill For (2014)

Although a little disappointing overall, this film holds a very special place in my heart. Let me take you back to September of 2014…

Mark and I were taking an overnight trip to London, nothing out of ordinary there, before we got our passports, London was our trip of choice. We weren’t there for anything in particular so the plan was simple; take in the London air, have some dinner and watch a movie. Well, that was my plan anyway.         Do you know where this is going yet?

So after the dinner and the movie, we went for walk along the Embankment and then, in the middle of Westminster Bridge, Mark got down on one knee, pulled out a ring and asked me to marry him. I promptly burst into tears and, in my excitement, almost punched him in the face. I’ve not watched that film again but whenever I think, see or hear about it, I remember that night and smile.

So there it is, a little more about me. I would love to hear your stories, let me know what films hold special memories for you.