Pursuant to a recent post, Epictetus is copping to a spontaneous viewing of "Body Heat" last night on Cinemax or Showtime or Starz or HBO, or incarnations thereof, or somewhere on what the previous generation quaintly called "the dial."
What quickly became clear (other than how different Kathleen Turner once looked) is that "Body Heat" could have been made in the forties with Fred MacMurray or John Garfield in the Ned Racine role. (Ned Racine! What a great name.) The sex was not all that explicit–in fact, the steamy clinches really were reminiscent of similar scenes in classic noir, save for tasteful display of bared shoulders here and sweaty abdomen there, plus one or two other body parts visible in Super Bowl telecasts of yore–and even the score seemed more appropriate to the flicks running on TCM most nights. And let's not forget the underrated Ted Danson, who shows unexpected nimbleness in his soft-shoe scenes (dancin', Danson–get it?).
Anyway, the question comes up again: Is this something Epictectus et familia would have actually and actively spent energy and money to see (digital cable being the ultimate passive medium)? Probably not (and thanks to babalicious for commenting on this issue).
But it also raises what might be a more interesting question: What are the criteria for specifically selecting a given certain film/program on DVD or pay-per-view? Which movies are worth the effort and money–and which just cannot be watched spontaneously, no matter what? Which demand your specific attention and why?
Example: Epictetus would probably not stop to watch "The Bicycle Thief" if it unexpectedly showed up on cable (an unlikely event, but never mind that). But Epictetus would rent it with the express purpose of sitting down to view it. Yes to "The Seven Samurai" on DVD, but no to "The Magnificent Seven" on DVD. And so forth.
April 10, 2006 at 11:16 pm
Well, it is interesting to ponder these issues. And as we are parents that don’t get out to the movies much, I understand where your at. I think when you rent something, or order by pay-per-view, there is thought that goes into it. Your commited to watch it, especially if it’s from a store, not NETFLIX. Netflix becomes TV if you order too many.
But in that store, you look, you seek, your wanting something.. and something that will require your attention. On the fly, your right, you might not want to just catch a bit of “the bicycle Theif”. It might be hard to get into it, if your not in the mood. Great example by the way. I remember when I first rented that in colledge. And that would apply to all foreign flicks… Fellini, Godard, Truffaut. Those are movies, you just don’t stumble on and watch. Those take care, and attention. Not like, say last night, when I just stubled upon “How to Marry a Millionare”. And do you know, I watched the whole thing. It brought me back, to when I was younger and watched tons of musicals and classics. As for Body Heat… hey man I loved that movie. I saw it in the theater. Would I see it now? I wouldn’t have time, I would have to wait until it came out on DVD. And then, I would have to be in the mood.