I recently stepped outside my comfort zone and watched Top Gun.
It was there on my streaming menu. I pressed play. My young adult children laughed at me. ‘Mum are you feeling okay? It’s the type of film you hate.’
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The kids were correct. But on this Saturday night it was what I needed. It was Tom Cruise, before he turned into an iconic superstar. It was sunsets, sunrises and glorious young men at their peak. It was Anthony Edwards pre-ER. It was all about bravery and friendship and fun. And seventeen different versions of the song, Danger Zone. I loved it.Sitting on my own couch, watching it was bliss. I’d never really had a crush on Tom Cruise, but always found him endearing and sweet.
I’m a child of the 70s. The highlights of my life came from the box in the corner of the room. Over the years, the TV changed from small black and white portable to larger colour screen. There was a strange thing called a remote, and an even stranger thing called a VCR. There were DVDs and for about five minutes, laser discs. That was how you watched your movies after spending two hours at Video Ezy and trying to agree on what to borrow.
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Back to Top Gun. Recently on a Facebook group there was a discussion about the movies of Tom Cruise and was he a good actor or merely a very pretty face? Consensus was that he is a good actor – in spite of the prettiness. We all ignored the scientology issue and then moved on. That led to a further discussion re Pitt and Clooney and Keanu. Multiple sighs and gushes and fluttering eyelashes – everyone loves Keanu. He can’t be called Reeves – he can only be Keanu.
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Now my DVDs lie in a cabinet. Occasionally we pull them out and have an audit. As a family, we have access to 4 streaming services and spend half our lives flicking around trying to find someone that will suit our mood. When I need comfort, I turn on Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings or Some Like It Hot. For one daughter, it’s Love Actually, the other it’s Shaun of the Dead. If my husband wants to have a good cry he watches Cinema Paradiso.
I never would have picked Top Gun as my comfort watch and I’ll probably never watch it again. But it served its purpose last weekend. I needed a lift and Maverick and Goose and the planes gave me just that.
What is your comfort movie watch? The one you’ve seen 15 plus times, the one where you know you’ll cry, the film that leaves you devastated (or happy) Everybody has one.
The Pelvic Floor Coffee Club 
The Big Chill. Must have watched it 100 times.
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Love it. Haven’t seen it for years
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Pretty Woman
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Ah yes. I fell in love with Julia Robert’s hair plus realised that Richard agree was ageing very well indeed.
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The full Monty will watch it know matter what time of the day or night it comes on .
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One of the best comedies!
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The Notebook
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Much to my shame I don’t know this film!
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Another great read Erica!
A couple of my favourite movies, I guess they deal with families and parenting – I have watched them both multiple times – Parenthood with Steve Martin and Everybody’s Fine with Robert De Niro – both great films.
Hope you and the family are doing okay in these improving Covid times. Maureen
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I have not seen either,Maureen. But they are now on the list!
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My go-to movie is Love Actually. I still cry after all these times watching it. Top Gun was an absolute favourite of mine back in the 80s. I had the poster on my wall and I played the record of the soundtrack over and over. I was in love with Tom back then…
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Love Actually is a wonderful film. I watch it in company of my daughters every few months. Re Tom: I’d love to see a warts and all interview with him where he would be fed truth serum by the interviewer ( Leigh Sales) and all would be revealed.
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Oh! I love that idea!
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Gone with the Wind, Notting Hill, Offspring, Brigette Jones. I am doing an Ethan Hawke Film Festival ATM. I have watched about 35 of his 80 odd titles. It’s not possible to get some of them in Australia. Not sure why he has never won an Oscar!
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Aah. GWTW. I adore it.
Bridget Jones Diary is one of my favourites.
I don’t know much about Ethan Hawke. Which films do you especially recommend?
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The Before series. Before Sunrise Before Sunset and before midnight but watch them in order. And Boy. Filmed over 12 years as a you g boy toys from 6 to 18. Same actors!
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I shall see where I can of these movies ! Thanks Robyn.
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