Goodbye Galactica

Dearly beloved, we are here to say goodbye to one of the finest television shows in recent history. I have never seen a single episode of the original series of "Battlestar Galactica", so when the remake was announced 5 years ago, I wasn't interested. After a while, BSG fever had taken over. Entertainment Weekly couldn't sing enough praises. A well respected TV show news site had named one of the episodes the Best Show of 2006. Hell, it even won a Peabody Award. So I decided to give it a shot.

Within the course of about a month and a half, I was hooked. I had started to watch during the Season 3 mid-year hiatus, and before the new episodes began to air, I was totally caught up. As a "Star Wars" kid, I loved the space stuff. As a writer, I loved the long-reaching mythology and sharp-as-nails dialogue. And as a viewer, I loved every frakkin' second of it.

What would you do if most of the human race had been wiped out? Me, I'd probably cry myself into dehydration. But the characters of BSG are so strong, even while being weak. They cry, they get mad, they have sex with each other to spite one another. Incredible. And now, rather than running for too long and dragging it out for the sake of making more money, the series will end on Friday, only 4 seasons old.

I really am going to miss this show. It's dark, it's edgy, but it also knows how to have fun with itself. The cast is brilliant, the effects work is top notch, the music is haunting (especially every time "All Along the Watchtower" starts up). I can't recommend it enough, even if sci fi isn't your thing. Because it isn't really sci fi - it's a character study set against a space backdrop. The Galactica itself is like an aircraft carrier, but more importantly, it's a family. Frak, I don't want it to end.

"You lewd, crude, rude, bag of pre-chewed food dude!"

Hook, 1991. Dir: Steven Spielberg

It has been said that "Hook" is the worst movie Spielberg has ever directed. To me, that's not really an insult. If this is the director's "worst", then clearly the man can do no wrong. This movie is pure delight.

I suppose I love this movie so much because I do suffer from a Peter Pan complex - frankly, I don't want to grow up (I'm a Toys-R-Us kid!) But the irony is that I seem to like this movie more and more the older I get. Sure, when I saw it in theaters as a little kid I was overwhelmed by the fantasy of it all, and spent the majority of that evening trying to fly. However, like the Muppets and even a lot of Disney cartoons, there's so much hidden underneath all of that that plays to the grown ups. I love revisiting movies and catching all of the jokes intended for the parents who have to drag their kids to the theater. Not all "kids" movies can do that. Case in point - my dad hated "Rock-A-Doodle".

I fully admit that this movie falls into the usual Spielberg fare - father issues, losing yourself in fantasy, etc., but this movie actually promotes the idea that once in a while, it's alright to have a little fun. It's plain to see the actors in the movie are having a blast. During the food fight scene, Julia Roberts is caught laughing, and I honestly don't think it was acting. But when you're spending all day with Robin Williams, how could you ever hope to hold back a smile?

Certainly the most unforgettable scene for me was when Rufio goes one-on-one with Captain Hook. It's a case of the bad guy winning, but even as a kid, it didn't scare me. Rufio went out a hero, and inspired Peter to embrace his destiny and fight Hook. Sure, Dustin Hoffman clearly is replaced with a trained swordsman (his back is to the camera nearly the entire time!), but Peter avenging his friend is a great battle.

With that, I'd like to mention one of the great joys associated with this movie. I don't know why, but I nearly laughed myself stupid when, 7 years later, I saw the commercials for "Can't Hardly Wait" and thought "holy crap, it's that kid from 'Hook'!" Charlie Korsmo left acting to, no joke, become a rocket scientist, but if I ever get the chance to meet him, the first thing I'll start chanting is "Run home, Jack! Run home, Jack!" Then we'll sing "Paradise City", because I know that song!

"Who Ya Gonna Call?"

Ghostbusters, 1984.  Dir: Ivan Reitman

Of all of the movies ever created, I think "Ghostbusters" is the one most quoted by my friends, and with good reason.  Written by half of the paranormal-fighting quartet, the film benefits from the fact that it appears everyone on screen is having a hell of a good time.  And that is reflected to us, the audience.  

Now I didn't see "Ghostbusters" at first.  No, my exposure to the franchise came through the animated spin-off "The Real Ghostbusters."  My house was filled with toys - gadgets, ghosts, and vehicles.  Recently, a friend of mine got an original 1984 Ecto-1 toy and I'm so jealous I could spit.  In 1989 came "Ghostbusters II", an enjoyable, if not all together amazing, sequel.  I begged my parents to take me to see this in the theater, and luckily, they took me.  And although the sequel isn't quite what the first one was, it does contain one of my favorite gags - when the Ghostbusters are out of work, they entertain kids at birthday parties.  While singing and dancing to their theme song, they ask the kids that all important question - "Who ya gonna call?" and the kids scream out "He-Man!"  Kills me every time.  

Luckily, the series has remained in the hearts and minds of lots of folks, so much so that we're finally getting a 3rd entry, but not as a movie, but as a video game.  Can't wait.  On top of that, work has begun on a 3rd official movie, but I'm not so sure I know how to feel about this.  Recapturing the magic is one thing, but another movie this late in the game?  Need we remind Hollywood of a certain fedora-wearing archeologist who recently didn't have a spectacular theatrical outing?  

That being said, "Ghostbusters" is a true classic.  Entertainment Weekly even named it the best comedy of the past 25 years.  It's a pop cultural phenomenon, one that makes be proud to say I ain't 'fraid of no ghost.  

Next time:  Bangarang.

"I've seen this one. This is a classic."

Back to the Future, 1985.  Dir: Robert Zemeckis.

As much as I love movies, I hate the question "What is your favorite?", because in reality, it is too hard to pick just one.  However, I do give one movie as my answer - "Back to the Future."  

I can't even begin to express how much this movie means to me.  First of all, I don't think I know a single person who has seen this movie and hasn't liked it.  There are few other movies that I can say that about.  In some ways, "BTTF" feels like the perfect movie - does the "perfect movie" really exist?  No, but let me explain.  This is a movie that appeals to everyone.  Do you like to laugh?  Do you like science fiction or adventure?  How about movies that make you think about the consequences of your actions?  You're covered.  

Now I'm not going to into detail over the movie's plot - if you need that, you can find the link to the IMDB page here.  And odds are it will be on TV real soon - the cast and crew have probably made a small fortune just on the residuals.  Instead, I'm going to tell you what this movie means to me.  This is probably the first movie I ever obsessed over.  I was around 8 or 9 years old the first time I saw it (on VHS, with my family).  It was love at first sight.  And then when the movie comes to an end and the DeLorean flies toward the screen, it leaves behind "To Be Continued..."  Needless to say, the family piled into the car, drove to the video store, and promptly rented Part II, viewed the following day.  I'm not going to talk about my lifelong obsession with the concept of a hoverboard...at least not this time around.  

This quintessentially 80's movie has held up for nearly a quarter of a century.  I still laugh at the jokes.  I still worry if Marty McFly will make it back home.  And I get Alan Silvestri's theme stuck in my head when I'm driving just a bit too fast on the freeway.  The point is I still turn into that obsessed little kid with every viewing.  That's what I really want out of my favorite movie.  

Next time:  "What are you supposed to be, some kind of cosmonaut?"  

Welcome!

Welcome to Infinitely Rewatchable, a blog dedicated to the celebration of entertainment.  You know how you will come across a movie that you've seen a dozen times on television and sit down and watch the whole thing?  That's what this site is all about.  We will profile movies (and other similar items) that you can watch over and over and over again.  Nothing but love for the items here.  I hope you enjoy.  

Pook

Infinitely Rewatchable, 1/8/09