Inspired by Facebook. Who would’ve thought such words would ever be spoken? I certainly wouldn’t have ever expected such a thing, but here we are. It’s happened. One of most popular things appearing in my News Feed pretty much everyday right now is “Top 5″. Normally I skip over these things. Yesterday though, I was inspired by it. Now, I share with you my inspiration. I give you… 5 movies that have had a profound impact on my life (in no particular order)
SMOKEY & THE BANDIT
Seriously, this is one of the greatest movies I’ve ever seen. The perfect blend of action and comedy with a little bit of a love story inter-weaved through the car chases and one liners. It’s brilliant. It was the movie that introduced me to two great loves in my life. First, the Basset Hound. It’s actually the reason I would eventually go on to own a Basset Hound and hope to one day again in the future. Second, It’s the reason I went out and bought myself a Firebird. I loved my Firebird. A 1989 Forumla, 5 speed, 305 with T-tops. Man I miss that car. Maybe one day I’ll have another one of those too!!!
GHOSTBUSTERS
Superman was my superhero, but as a kid, I would’ve done anything to be a Ghostbuster. And if I were given the chance, I’d be just like Dr. Peter Venkman. I think there are certain parts of my personality that are a direct reflection of the Bill Murray character. I could never grow tired of this movie. I think I have it memorized! When I was a kid I had all the toys and of course I watched the cartoon. As a true fan of the Ghostbusters, I was also devastated with the utter disappointment that we now call Ghostbusters 2… although I’m slowing getting over it. A video game is on the way. I’ll buy it! Rumors of Ghostbusters 3, with the original cast, are also floating around. I’ll wait in line!
BACKDRAFT
I grew up around the fire hall. My dad was a Volunteer in the community I grew up in for 33 years. What kid doesn’t love fire trucks? I always knew I wanted to be a Firefighter, mostly because I wanted to play with the sirens and hoped one day I’d be allowed to drive the truck. As a kid I didn’t really understand the rest of it. It was just about the cool gear, impressing girls with the uniform and driving big red trucks. After watching Backdraft, not becoming a Firefighter was never an option. To this day, after nearly 10 years of service, that movie still influences me. Check the end scene, when Baldwin is sitting in the jump cab, drivers side, looking out the window, completely calm, just there for the ride. Every time the truck goes out, that’s where you’ll find me, and that’s how I look.
GOOD MORNING VIETNAM
That movie, along with American Top 40 with Casey Kasem and Rick Dees and The Weekly Top 40, is the reason I am in radio today. I’m nearly 15 years into my career and I’d still love to posses even an ounce of the talent demonstrated in the character portrayed by Robin Williams. Adrian Cronauer must have been an absolute riot to listen to on the air! I’m not there yet, but I’m still trying every single day. After watching that movie I figured if it was possible to have that much fun on the radio, then it clearly had to be one of the greatest jobs in the world! Another added benefit which I came to discover was 4 hour shifts. Yes, this could quite possibly be the greatest job ever!
SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE
This is the hopeless romantic in me. I could, possibly, replace this movie with about a dozen others in the same style. Many of them would indeed still star Meg Ryan. The idea that there is somebody out there, and they are just perfect for you is beautiful. The movie has come to mean even more to me in recent years. Tom Hanks is starting over after the loss of his wife. Not convinced that he will ever love again, it takes the prompting of his son to get him to try. As somebody who is divorced, I too expected I would not love again. I didn’t have a young son to prompt me to try, but the idea of there being somebody out there for me is an extremely romantic one. It’s one that motivated me to give it another shot.
So there they are. Five movies that have had a profound impact on my life. I do feel it necessary to give honorable mention to another “group” of movies if you will. Whenever I need to laugh, I turn to the Muppets. It could be any of the Muppet movies, I don’t care. But whenever I need my spirits lifted, the Muppets have the ability to do it.
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