Dear Thursday: The Art of Re-Run
One of the interesting things about having our nephew, Josh from “Future So Bright” spend the last month with us is seeing how his entertainment habits differ so very much from mine. While he was here, he rewatched television shows, movies, and even listened to the 7th Harry Potter tome (which he had already read twice) on audiobook while we roadtripped to Santa Fe and back. I, on the otherhand, have it as a general policy that I don’t re-watch or re-read anything no matter how much I like it.
My official word on the matter is that there are too many good things in the world waiting to be watched and read. Why waste your precious time on the same stuff? Also, I think I might have been embittered about having been assigned Romeo & Juliet no less than 5 times during my academic career while having to seek out other brilliant works on my own time dime.
Still, while Josh was here I did end up rewatching quite a few things, and I now have a new appreciation for movies like The Breakfast Club, Big Fish, and Ratatouille, which I maintained was the best Pixar film before his visit, but now that I’ve rewatched it two more times I super-feel that way .
I don’t think I’ll be re-renting the 4th (and best) season of The Wire anytime soon, but m/b I’ll be a little more understanding when Betty decides to watch something I was okay with only seeing once like a thousand times as children are wont to do.
Anyway this all got me to wondering about how you guys like your entertainment. Are you cool with the reheat, or do you prefer a new gourmet meal everytime like me? Let us know in the comments.
I like a balance. I believe certain works of art reward repeated viewings, hearings, readings, what have you. Some things I now love I didn't even like the first time.
And as far as advice to writers, I think it was Nabakov who said a writer's better off reading six books ten times each than sixty different books, in terms of learning your craft.
I'm sure I screwed that up somehow, but it's something like that.
Hmm, I love that advice — mostly b/c I've been thinking revisiting a few of my favorite action-adventure novels in order to put my own in perspective. I've been on the fence about whether I should read the Dark Tower Series again, but you convinced … to read the newish graphic novel retake on it. Hey, baby steps…
I like a balance. I believe certain works of art reward repeated viewings, hearings, readings, what have you. Some things I now love I didn't even like the first time.
And as far as advice to writers, I think it was Nabakov who said a writer's better off reading six books ten times each than sixty different books, in terms of learning your craft.
I'm sure I screwed that up somehow, but it's something like that.
Hmm, I love that advice — mostly b/c I've been thinking revisiting a few of my favorite action-adventure novels in order to put my own in perspective. I've been on the fence about whether I should read the Dark Tower Series again, but you convinced … to read the newish graphic novel retake on it. Hey, baby steps…
I don't reread books, and I wouldn't pay twice for a movie in the theater.
Otherwise, I do quite a bit of rewatching. Depends how much I'm paying attention. If I'm sitting and watching exclusively, I don't tend to rewatch. If I want something on in the background while I do something else, I vastly prefer reruns and movies I've seen 20 times.
Now that I'm on bedrest, I'm considering rewatching the whole Wire. I know I'll appreciate all sorts of nuances the second time. 4th is my favorite season too, but I'll start from the beginning. And I wouldn't have it in the background; I'd watch it with full attention. Because it's The Wire.
I agree with Jeff about some things improving with repeated viewing. One of my favorite movies of all time is one that I hated in the theater (granted, I was only 13). I had to grow into it, and now I'll happily keep it in the background whenever it's on.
Wait, now I'm wondering what your favorite movie of all time is.
I don't reread books, and I wouldn't pay twice for a movie in the theater.
Otherwise, I do quite a bit of rewatching. Depends how much I'm paying attention. If I'm sitting and watching exclusively, I don't tend to rewatch. If I want something on in the background while I do something else, I vastly prefer reruns and movies I've seen 20 times.
Now that I'm on bedrest, I'm considering rewatching the whole Wire. I know I'll appreciate all sorts of nuances the second time. 4th is my favorite season too, but I'll start from the beginning. And I wouldn't have it in the background; I'd watch it with full attention. Because it's The Wire.
I agree with Jeff about some things improving with repeated viewing. One of my favorite movies of all time is one that I hated in the theater (granted, I was only 13). I had to grow into it, and now I'll happily keep it in the background whenever it's on.
Wait, now I'm wondering what your favorite movie of all time is.
I am not really into revisiting reading or something I have watched…usually once is enough for me. I guess I like that initial glorious high but there have been a few works that have defied the odds: A Room With a View (although I think I am done now), War Games, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The English Patient (movie), Twilight (movie and books), Firefly, Star Wars and Anne of Green Gables (books and miniseries).
Oh, I used to rewatch “Room W/ a View” like a fiend when I was a kid! Soooo romantic, and I still have a soft spot in my heart for Julien Sand and Helen Bonham Carter and of course, Daniel Day Lewis.
Oh Kim, I love, love, love, A Room With a View and watched it so many times in my early teens. Also, I still have a mega-crush on Julian Sands b/c of this movie.
I am not really into revisiting reading or something I have watched…usually once is enough for me. I guess I like that initial glorious high but there have been a few works that have defied the odds: A Room With a View (although I think I am done now), War Games, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The English Patient (movie), Twilight (movie and books), Firefly, Star Wars and Anne of Green Gables (books and miniseries).
Oh, I used to rewatch \”Room W/ a View\” like a fiend when I was a kid! Soooo romantic, and I still have a soft spot in my heart for Julien Sand and Helen Bonham Carter and of course, Daniel Day Lewis.
Oh Kim, I love, love, love, A Room With a View and watched it so many times in my early teens. Also, I still have a mega-crush on Julian Sands b/c of this movie.
This is a habit etc has shamed me out of but I used to re-watch movies all the time. The one thing I do still re-watch is the simpsons
Yes, I used to like "The Simpsons" before I met CH. Now I kind of can't stand it.
This is a habit etc has shamed me out of but I used to re-watch movies all the time. The one thing I do still re-watch is the simpsons
Yes, I used to like "The Simpsons" before I met CH. Now I kind of can't stand it.