Hello, my name is John Shaff, and I love movies. Since a very early age I've been fascinated by them. Movies are like an escape, they can take away all the pains of reality and transport you to another world. In that manner, movies have kind of been the best counselor a boy like me could ever hope to have.
I sorta have my father to thank for my immense interest in cinema because my whole life he has constantly been dragging me in and out of the theater. He also never minded a film's rating, just so long as it was good, we'd go see it.
One particular memory was seeing the movie Gladiator when I was 6. I remember glaring in amazement at the Colosseum on the big screen and realizing I had started a life-long love-affair with movies. I was only in the first grade but I was already rooting for a movie to win Best Picture, and sure enough Gladiator did.
When I got into the second grade most of the other boys in my grade wanted to become firefighters, but I wanted to be a soldier. Why? Just because Saving Private Ryan was my favorite movie at the time. Movies have always had a strong influence on me, and I'm sure if I had loved the movie Backdraft as much I would've wanted to be a firefighter too.
As I get older my passion only grows more. I can't go a day without watching at least one movie, and my basic goal in life is to have an encyclopedic knowledge of films and film history. I hope to someday be able to direct and make great movies, much like Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Howard Hawks, and Charles Chaplin (some of my personal favorites.) I think of it like this-movies have given me so much, and I'd like to give a little back.
To this day, sitting in a theater is more like a religious experience than just a leisurely way to spend a couple hours. Cinema is the highest art form, it encapsules all other forms, such as music, photography, and writing. It is truly majestic. A good movie can set fireworks off in your soul.
So, I'd like to use this blog to share my opinions on movies I've seen, because it makes sense to talk about something you know.
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"Cinema is the highest art form, it en capsules all other forms, such as music, photography, and writing. It is truly majestic. A good movie can set fireworks off in your soul."
ReplyDeleteThis should be spoken at the Academy Awards this year.
These days every time I try to talk about film with someone, they know nothing besides the most recent films and that's all. I'm glad you're doing this blog to really capture the true meaning of movies and rediscover the classics
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to more of your blogs!
Eric I think that's a compliment, so, thank you.
ReplyDeleteAnd Ronn, as always, you're awesome.
John, I can't help but love this post. As you know, I have been a film lover from an early age as well (though I didn't see many R-rated ones in elementary school...). I highly look forward to subsequent reviews in here!
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