Movie Confessions

I got bored yesterday evening after getting home from work and started tweeting movie confessions.  Something fun to do.  You know, what the internet is for.  Not all that political posting or fighting in comment sections.  I do my best to keep my twitter timeline fun and this helped with that.  Here are a few movie confessions:

#MovieConfession I'd still watch any Star Wars prequel over any of the Dark Knight trilogy

— Michael Litzner (@Litzner) August 20, 2016

#MovieConfession Sam Rockwell will go down as one of the most underrated actors of our generation

— Michael Litzner (@Litzner) August 20, 2016

So I thought that I would add a few more movie confessions just for fun.  It's Sunday.  Who wants to read anything that could be thought provoking or something like that?

• Casablanca is the best 'classic' movie and might be the best of all time.
• I have trouble watching Field of Dreams because of this line: 'Hey Dad?  Wanna have a catch?'
• I legitimately hate Forrest Gump
• Blue Valentine crushed me
• The Cabin in the Woods was the best horror movie I've seen since the Blair Witch Project
• Overall, I don't like to watch scary movies
• Michael Fassbender could be the next Marlon Brando
• Return of the Jedi will forever be my favorite Star Wars movie
• The only good thing about Avatar was that it eventually ended
• I could watch any of the Bourne movies at any time on any day
• Every Doug Liman directed movie I've seen has been enjoyable

Now go watch a movie that makes you happy.

History: Not Just War

I can't remember what sparked it in me, but I have long enjoyed history.  In school, all the years from elementary through high school and beyond.  So much so that I studied it in college.  All kinds of different subjects that fall under the umbrella of history.  From military history to immigration to political history, I took classes that peaked my interest and others that were less than desirable.  For instance, I took one class that covered the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Era.  It was something that sounded interesting, but halfway through the semester I struggled to get the energy to even attend the class.  The major part of the problem was the professor.  Instead of talking with the class, she more talked down to the class.   

Ever since I was in college and I would tell people what I was studying, history, many had the same question.  'Oh history, what's your favorite war?'  In one way or another, the question was posed.  And yes, war is a major part of the history of the world.  There are many different aspects to history and to think that just one of them is the only focus of those who enjoy it is single minded.  So whenever I am asked that question, I normally respond with 'There's more to history than just war.'  After that, the discussion tends to veer towards what I wrote upon and what I studied. 

I wrote my senior paper on the immigration and migration of Bishop Frederic Baraga.  How, when, why he moved from Europe to the northern parts of Michigan.  It was an interesting topic for me, being from the Upper Peninsula, but nothing that was earth shattering.  It was not a monumental topic.  Part of history is learning about the past, no matter how small or insignificant the person or event.  Especially if the subject interests you.  Nuts to anyone who would roll their eyes if you tell them about a subject that they aren't interested in. 

To Have Seen Them Play

The great thing about sports is that we can not only live in the present, but in the past.  Just a few weeks ago, the baseball Hall of Fame inducted Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza.  Two players that were playing when I was younger and I remember watching. However, I didn't truly appreciate their talents.  They're peaks were in the early to mid 1990s when I was just mainly focused on the Detroit Tigers.

The more I thought about it, the more my mind wandered until it came upon a question:  who would I want to see play? Watching baseball now in my mid 30s, I have a fuller appreciation for the sport.  Being someone who loves history, this sport is right up my alley.  And of course my first thought was to see some of the Tigers greats play.  Cobb.  Lolich.  Greenberg.  Kaline.  Storied names for the franchise.  Even the players from the early 80s when I was so young I don't really remember. Players like Kirk Gibson and Chet Lemon.  I thought it would be fun to think of some non-Tigers players.

Sandy Koufax.  It's a bit of a toss up between Koufax and Bob Gibson as far as pitchers I would like to see.  Although, I think for Gibson I would like to watch his entire 1968 season.  He was straight up masterful that year.  If I had to watch just one game, it would be Koufax.  From his style of pitching to his ability to dominate in games, it'd be hard to argue to want to see someone else.

Ted Williams.  By and large, it's safe to say to any baseball fan that this guy was the greatest hitter ever and you would have minimal arguments.  The last man who I think will ever hit .400 in a season, every time he would step to the plate you would expect some sort of base hit.  And what's not to like about that?  I think most people go to the ballpark to see guys hit.  So why not want to see the best there ever was?

We, as fans, like to think that baseball that was played in the 60s and 70s was a much better time because we have all these giants of the game to reflect upon.  I don't know if we ever really stop to think about the giants that will be that we get to see now.  Thirty or forty years from now, we'll be able to say we remember Mike Trout's rookie season or Bryce Harper's MVP season.  I will surely remember Miguel Cabrera's triple crown season as well as Justin Verlander's two no hitters.  I don't think we truly appreciate what, and who, we get to watch on a daily basis.