Frydmania

Golden oldie

When it’s a Friday night, when you want some uncomplicated entertainment, who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!  Dan discovered that three out of four of them at work were very keen on the film, and suggested watching it again last night.  Feeble protest from me.  More, “I’ll get the film ready, then.”

Ghostbusters was probably my first real recollection of a film phenomenon.  Now, with monthly passes for cinemas, or renting recent releases through the telly, it’s harder to get a sense of a big film even, for all of the efforts of bus advertising to make you think so.  My upbringing was one of cinema being a treat, so when you went, you wanted it to be GOOD.

So, what of Ghostbusters?  The first time we tried to see it, we queued round three sides of the block to get in to the cinema - and were turned away, with only 10 people in front of us, because the cinema was full.  That makes it an Event.  Thankfully we persevered and came back another time, without quite such a queue, and were able to get in.  And yes, it was well worth it.

It’s also an early awareness of a film soundtrack being significant.  Part of the continuing to enjoy the film, for me, was listening to the soundtrack again…and again…I even bought it on record, which shows that life and technology has moved on just a tad.  But there’s so much humour and enjoyment in the soundtrack, as well as atmosphere - it does what you want it to, in underpinning and enhancing the story. 

Despite 80s fashion reappearing (neon socks anyone? Seemingly very fashionable again), and 80s music being played in shops, watching an 80s film does show you that time does move on.  The amount of casual smoking is a bit of a surprise.  The haircuts are always good for a giggle.  And in a film like Ghostbusters, where a certain amount of ‘kit’ is required for the story, carrying a tape recorder on a strap doesn’t really look like big science any more.

So why watch it?  Because the humour is still good.  It’s fun to be reminded of just how sharp the timing between Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd is.  The effects are there to make you laugh, the slapstick is there too, but the verbal humour still sings, and not many films even bother with that now.

I rest my case. And my photon accelerator.

Add comment November 29th, 2008

Saturday morning sacrament

We don’t go passing round the wafers, if that’s what you are thinking.  But in terms of a Sabbath, as a day of rest, our main shot at resting does seem to coincide with Saturday mornings.  Time to sit with Dan and chat, drink a coffee, unpack the week, hold out a little longer, drink another coffee…

For those with kids, where days of the week start at pretty much the same time every day, I don’t mind if you feel you need to turn away.  It is a bit indulgent still to have this space.  And it’s not so much about not doing as the chance to talk, and say where our thoughts and feelings have been going over the previous few days. 

Resting is all about recharging, if you get a shot at it.  Similar to a post about learning to relax, that I wrote a month or two back, it’s about things that are consistently good in enabling you to unwind, and feel better afterwards.  Or be ready to tackle a bit of life again.

Part of the treat, for me at least, is also having some time where there’s nothing written against it, in a real or mental diary.  I need some headspace to explore, to pick things up and put them down again.  These things may not form part of a ‘to do’ list, but that’s their very appeal.

Was remembering about The Idler - can’t quite tell whether it’s now a book, or a blog, or multiples of all of that.  http://idler.co.uk/ - see what you make of it.  But part of what they are talking about is giving yourself time to think, rather than just doing. 

For someone like me, who can be fairly said to be a Protestant with a work ethic, it’s invaluable to be reminded to find this space.  I enjoy doing, of various kinds, and I’d never claim we can get through life without doing, but I am certainly thinking more and more that just being is a pretty good pursuit. 

When we think back to treasured memories, holidays, that kind of thing, often what we’re remembering is the space to be; to idle; not just to let our mind work out what is really going on, but to allow our heart to be part of that too.

Too much gobbledy-gook?  Well, I’m good at that too.  But along that path, sooner or later, some wisdom comes out, something to help me be happy in my own skin and at peace with God.  I’ll raise a mug of coffee to that.

Add comment November 29th, 2008