Butter on our popcorn, please.

It's well known that I love the movies.  My love affair with the movies goes way back to when I was a little girl.  I can remember going to the theatre and seeing every movie that came out.  I even worked in a movie theatre in high school (Florida) and then again during college (Washington, D.C.). 

There is just something magical about watching a movie and being transported to a different time and place.  I have some very distinct genres that I do not enjoy -- horror, western, and period/historical movies, but all others are fair game.  If its a chick flick and a comedy, I'm there.  A drama with a sappy ending, I'm there.  An action film starring any number of leading male stars and I'm there.  There is no twisting my arm to go.  Just showing up, with a big bucket of popcorn on my lap and watching a script coming to life is entertainment enough.  Even the movies that bomb and make us cringe while watching it, is fodder for many laughs for months to come with my friends and I. 

I've been patiently waiting for Ian to get old enough to show him some of my favorite movies.  Movies that are age appropriate and he'd understand and appreciate.  I think we've finally gotten to the point that we can do PG movies.  We watched "Back to the future" and Ian instantly wanted to see "Back to the future 2" and "Back to the future 3".  That's the kind of reaction I like to see.  How cool for him that he didn't have to wait two and three years between the next installments of the movie.

During our week at the beach, we brought the DVD of "Big" with us.  Got to love Tom Hanks.  It was really neat pausing the movie explaining to Ian how iconic the scene with Josh and his boss playing the keyboard piano at FAO Schwartz has now become. 

Last week, it occurred to me how much Ian would love the movie "Rudy".  This is easily in my top 5 all time favorites.  Ian loves football and what better, inspiring story of the "underdog" wanting to play football at Notre Dame, who has everything going against him.  I actually own this movie and couldn't wait to watch it along with him.  Unfortunately, I don't think Ian loved it as much as I thought he would.  He liked it, but didn't get moved to tears like I do at the ending, when the crowd starts cheering "Rudy! Rudy!  Rudy!" and Rudy finally gets his chance to play in the last 4 seconds of the last game of his Senior year.  Ah, what a movie. 

This weekend, we've got "Uncle Buck" at the ready.  I've found a great website, "Common Sense Media.org" that rates almost every movie out there and explains what the youngest age that should see it and what specifically gives it that age rating (violence, language, sex, etc).  I am not a stickler making sure that it has to be 7 years old or younger for the rating.  We are taking it case by case.  While Jeff can't wait to show Ian "Meatballs"  (Really?), I am eager to show Ian "Planes, Trains and Automobiles".  Both are not within shooting distance of being age appropriate yet.  I can still laugh out loud, without the movie even playing, just at the thought of the scene of Steve Martin and John Candy in the hotel room together.  "Where's your hand?"  "Between two pillows."  "THOSE AREN'T PILLOWS!!!!"   Ah, I can't wait until its ok for Ian to watch this gem.

Jeff and I have a list going of all the movies we can't wait to show Ian.  And, we get to do it all again once Sam gets a few years older.  What a great reason to stay in and make it movie night at Casa del Toppall.