Rewatchable Movies

There are some movies you just love to watch over and over again. Some of them better than others and some that just tickle your fancy every time.

I was just listening to a song from Pirates of the Caribbean (PotC - the first one) and it was the final song in the movie right when the film ends and goes to credits. It's that nice theme song for PotC that everyone knows when they hear it. Funny enough, hearing that song made me think of seeing the movie in the theater. Made me think of when everyone is finished watching it and start instantly talking about whether the movie was good. That time when people start standing up and filing out of the theater. It was kind of weird. On top of it, it made me want to see the movie again! PotC is a fantastic movie. It's one of those movies you can watch over and over again and you won't get tired of it. I probably still chuckle to myself at the same parts I laughed at when I first saw the movie. It's just one of those movies.

The other day I watched Two Towers and the first half of Return of the King. I was watching it with Chris and I kept saying lines before they happened. I think he was about to strangle me at one point (I did behave myself eventually). He said something like, "watched the movie a few times?" I can't even estimate how many times I've seen LotR. I think Fellowship gets the raw end of the deal for me because I typically start with Return of the King and go backwards. For some reason I don't quite get to Fellowship...I should have a LotR marathon when I get my tonsils out! LoL I usually watch the extended DVDs, but the theater ones are just as good (that's the version I saw with Chris). Again, LotR is one of those movies that I love to watch over and over and I still enjoy it as if it was the first time.

Now we've come to the Harry Potter films. The weekend of July the 4th, ABC Family is doing a Harry Potter movie weekend again and in November Half-Blood Prince comes out in theaters. I like watching the Harry Potter movies, but they don't instill in me the same urge or desire to watch them. Don't get me wrong, I still like to rewatch them, but...they're just not the same. It probably has a lot to do with the fact I know the books so well, but even then...I just don't think they're as good as other movies. LotR is a great set of movies on their own, books aside. My observations have shown that very few people who are fans of the books will say they don't like the movies. In fact, I don't think I've found anyone who is a fan of the books who didn't like the movies. The movies hold up as separate pieces that are semi-attached to the books. Harry Potter simply doesn't hold up. I know numerous fans who do NOT like the movies, but still watch them in theater. They only do this because it's almost a necessity if you're a HP fan. Maybe the LotR observation has more to do with the fact I'm not engrossed into the fandom as I am with Harry Potter (when you work for a Harry Potter fansite that has a staff of 200+ and have 10 really good HP friends...being engrossed happens!), but I doubt that.

A movie-to-book adaptation is never perfect and it's not that I think the storyline and what they cut out of HP is absolutely terrible, I just don't think the production is as good as it can be. WB is making multi-millions off of HP fans (simply because a few hundred million are fans) with the movies. If it weren't for the fact HP fans seem to be a breed of their own compared to other fan groups (I think every group says that, but HP fans range all over the world in strong ways compared to Star Wars or Trekkies), I wonder if the movies would have been produced this far into the series. I don't think Narnia is going to make it past Dawn Treader. That's a bit sad, but I just didn't enjoy the last movie. There was no connection between the audience and the characters. There was no real growth and I just had issues with the storyline. I do admit the production value of Prince Caspian did go up from Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe. At least I overall enjoy HP, but I think WB would be opening themselves to millions of hatemail from disgruntled fans (don't underestimate moving hundreds of millions of fan all over the world!) if they didn't at least attempt to create good movies. I am disappointed, though, that WB seems to be cheap about their productions. They cheap out on a lot of special effects for magic because it'll cost too much. I have issues with that since they make so much money (they also own the marketing license for the HP merchandise). Call me a fan, but I think they can at least attempt to make the best movie they possibly can. I don't think anyone after watching the movies would say they are right now.

So...Though I find the HP movies rewatchable and enjoyable when I watch them...They just won't ever match PotC or LotR in my mind. PotC and LotR are in a league of their own. HP I wish was better, but I'll take what I can get. I do like the cast, but I think they're wasting the adult cast for one-liners here and there.