Rules and regulations have no meaning anymore"
Citizen Kane, Vertigo, The Godfather, Rocky IV. Sometimes cinema just gets it right. My wife and I took a trip to Portland, Oregon a few years back to celebrate my birthday. Much to my delight and surprise one of the revival theaters was screening Rocky IV (a theater a few miles away showed The Goonies the next night) Someone up there was looking out for me! I hadn’t seen theaters show this masterpiece from my youth very often so I logically believed we should go early because it was going to be packed. We arrived a bit before the show, grabbed some popcorn and a delicious west coast IPA and then headed to our seats. Well maybe they play Rocky IV all the time in Portland because only 10 other people showed up. (Side note, I’m awful at predicting how crowded certain events will or won’t be. A few years ago, we saw that the “89” Batman was playing at a theater and once again I proclaimed” We better arrive early because it’s going to be packed.” Turned out that my wife and I were the only people in the theater and I had to go ask the manager to start the movie) Oh well our faithful group of 10 laughed, cried, laughed some more (although I still love and defend this movie there are some ridiculous things going on) and cheered on Sly to defeat those evil Russians.
I remember that Portland trip fondly, but I also vividly recall
seeing Rocky IV in the theaters back in the Christmas season of 1985 at the Virginians
Movie Theater in Fredericksburg, VA. My dad took my brother and I to this and
many other future cinema classics. Going to the movies was a bonding experience
for us (although taking a 10-year-old to see Coming to America was a bold move
but I loved it then and still do. I tuned out somewhat normal?) Anyways it
always felt like a treat going to the movies (still does) kind of like getting
pizza on a Friday night. No matter how many time’s it’s done there’s still some
magic in it. Happy Father’s Day Dad and to all the Dad’s out there. I still listen to this soundtrack while running and this tune is one of my favs (shout out to No
Easy Way Out too!) Alright if you’ll excuse me I’m going to go find a barn and
lift some family and friends in a giant sleigh. Drago!!
On a sad note I’d like to say RIP to Kurt Thomas. Kurt was a
U.S Gymnastics Olympic champion but more importantly to me, the star of Gymkata.
Undoubtedly one of my favorite movies of all time. Don’t know how many times I saw
this as a kid, but I still own a copy today and it always makes me smile.
