Catch-up Classics

Ok, so before I start there’s two things you should know. Number one is, despite my love of films (and having a degree in the study of Film), there are a number of indisputable classics I haven’t seen. Quite a large number, actually. I can’t tell you why, exactly, I haven’t seen them. It could be something to do with being raised in the post-Spielberg/Lucas 80’s. It could be that these films just weren’t available to me when I was younger (that, or I had no idea about them). I’m fairly certain I had some sort of prejudice against older films when I was younger (mainly on the sound quality I think). It could be whenever I heard “you have to see this!” there was some small, strange part of me that rebelled; that said “I don’t have to do anything, man! I can watch whatever I want! And to prove it, I’m gonna watch Bring It On: All or Nothing!”

Whatever the damned stupid reason (and it is a damn stupid reason. I worked in a video-store at one point), my cinematic education is lacking. I haven’t seen Jaws. I haven’t seen The Godfather II. I haven’t seen Gone With the Wind, Seven Samurai or A Bout de Souffle. I bloody well haven’t seen Psycho. So, what the fuck is up with that?

Number two is the book. The book is 1001 Films You Must See Before You Die. It’s a hefty tome I received as a 21st present a few years ago. I haven’t really looked at it in a while, but the other night I went through it with my girlfriend. My girlfriend who, despite not having a degree in Film, has a film education superior to mine. She took note of the films I haven’t seen and she thinks I should. I also took note of the films I think I should (and want to) see. All up, it came to about 200 films. Which is not to say I’ve seen the other 801; just that these are 200 films I really, really should have seen by now. The kind of films, like Psycho and Jaws, that are the barest essentials of cinema.

So these two factors have me adding a new occasional column to my already running mini-reviews (including the upcoming Film Festival), In Appreciation Of... and other random bits and pieces. That new column? Why, the title of this post: Catch-up Classics. I’m sure you’ll be surprised and horrified at what I haven’t seen. It's time I caught up.