Snooze Button Dreams
Snooze Button Dreams
Snooze Button Dreams
February 07, 2005
Movies that change you
(Category: True Stories )

Some movies can actually change you. Change your attitudes, your thoughts, even your beliefs. Any story can do this if it has a portion that touches you in a special way. By 'touching in a special way' I don't mean the way that pedophiles do, I mean in a good way.

The movie Singles changed me in an actual measurable way. Ever since I heard of 'gesundheit' it had been my sneeze response of choice. I mean, what's cooler and more worldly for a little kid to say than a foreign word in popular use, especially when said little kid knew how to use it appropriately. And the word wasn't a cuss so he could say it anywhere without having wooden spoons broken across his backside.

Well, in the movie Singles there's a scene where Bridget Fonda's character (just broken up with her boyfriend) gives her 'shopping list' for a guy. It's long and very detailed. But then she says that she's lowered her standards quite a bit and doesn't use that list anymore. Now she'll be happy with a guy who says 'gesundheit' when she sneezes. Or 'bless you'. 'Bless you' would be better - she really likes that. Skip to the end of the movie where Bridget and her ex are in an elevator together. She sneezes, he says 'bless you'. She jumps his bones.

I'll still occasionally say 'gesundheit' because that was my ingrained sneeze response for so many years. But since I first saw that movie anytime I actually think before doing the sneeze response I say 'bless you'. When a 'gesundheit' slips out I'll have a mental dammit moment when I realize that I missed a 'bless you'. And when I do the 'bless you' I get a nice warm feeling.

Okay, it's a very small thing. But that movie was directly responsible for a change in my attitude and behavior. In a good way too, I think.

So has a movie ever changed you? Big or small, good or bad? I'm keen to know.

Posted by Jim | Permalink
Comments

I'm uncomfortable driving through toll boths since The Godfather.

Posted by: Paul at February 7, 2005 08:23 AM

Having seen Grosse Pointe Blank, i REALLY want to go back for my 10 year high school reunion.
:-D

Posted by: tommy at February 7, 2005 09:52 AM

Ok, everybody slowly back away from tommy... slowly now... hopefully he won't notice or remember us...

Posted by: Clancy at February 7, 2005 01:18 PM

You mean, besides a Joe Don Baker movie, right? The Kids Are Alright turned me into a huuuge Who fan. Seriously--ever since I saw that movie, The Who have been the band against which all other bands are measured (and those "other bands" are frequently found wanting).

Posted by: Victor at February 7, 2005 02:16 PM

Ok, time to get sappy.

About ten years ago, after watching Star Trek: Generations with my at-the-time girlfriend and her kids, I decided that I wanted to be part of their lives permanently. As of the present, I am.

Something having to do with Captain Picard wanting to make a difference, I guess. Anyway, it was a definite turning point in my life.

Posted by: diamond dave at February 7, 2005 05:05 PM

Harold and Maude.

Those who've seen it will know why. Those who have not -- WTF is wrong with you?!

Heh.

Posted by: Margi at February 8, 2005 02:32 AM

Great question.

Thin Red Line, American Beauty, Jerimiah Johnson, The Godfather, Swingers, Pulp Fiction, Say Anything ... there's more but I'll stop there.

Posted by: 8zero8 at February 8, 2005 06:32 AM
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