guilty pleasures

as i mentioned on my other blog, reading the happiness project got me thinking about what i like to do, as opposed to what i think i like to do (or want to like to do).

lately, i've been thinking about movies. i don't always tell people my guilty movie pleasure, because it sounds funny even to me, but i thought i'd come clean. (you are free to chuckle.)

i love dance movies. if there is a dance movie out there, i have probably seen it. many times. i have probably danced along with it. many times. if you must know, i don't just love them - i love them all. it doesn't matter if they are for adults or teens or tweens.

here're a few (maybe i should be embarrassed) tidbits.

when i made my road trip from oregon to michigan three years ago, i found out that high school musical 2 was going to be released on abc. i planned it so that we'd be at the hotel in time to watch it. i told my sister helen (road trip partner) that i was doing it for her. she said that she was 15 and so was older than the target audience - and that i should just admit that i was doing it for me. hee. we ordered room service and watched the movie and it was perfect.

instead of going to see inception at the theatre, i went and saw step up to the streets 3. as a matter of fact, i happen to own step up to the streets 2 and have watched it (and danced along with it) a million times.

i will even admit that i happened upon some random dance movie for the tween crowd with selena gomez and probably watched it 3-4 times before returning it. the story wasn't all that great, but i loved the dancing.

what can i say, dance movies are my guilty pleasure.

ok, your turn!

Comments

[margie]

don't even get me started about the old school ones, dirty dancing, flash dance, turning point. love all of them. and i cannot dance if you are wondering.

[Kylie]

Elizabeth! Thank you for sharing; I like you even more now (if that's possible). I, too, adore dance movies, though I haven't seen any lately. My favorites are Save the Last Dance and Center Stage. And you know what? While we're at it, my favorite movies in general are "chick flicks". You've Got Mail, Notting Hill, Love Actually and Chocolat are probably at the top of the list. I love these somewhat-embarrassing favorites. They're so humanizing.

[Kirsten]

what an awesome post! i too, am addicted to dance movies! i especially love high school musical 1 and 3...2, not my favorite. i've seen the first one at least 50 times...and i own it! cheesy teenage movies seem to be my favorite (and i'm 43!). i've seen she's all that more times than i can count, and still love it! currently, i am watching friday night lights (the tv show) with my daughter (we're at the end of season 2) and we just got done watching 7 seasons of buffy the vampire slayer. it's nice mother daughter bonding time :) and it's all sorts of cheesy teenage stuff. love it!

[Julie M.]

That's awesome! I love dance movies, too. Step Up 2 had amazing styles. The mix of urban with lyrical and ballet- it's my favorite. And I also watch Dancing With The Stars. Date with the telly on Monday night. My hubby called from work (working late) this Monday and I told him I couldn't talk then but I'd call him right after the show. I'm glad he's secure with himself. :D

The Bachelor/Bachelorette series is probably my guiltiest pleasure (aside from French truffles). It's a hopeless show but I'm always drawn in.

[Scraps]

Hah! I'm totally with you on the dance-themed movies. I watch Save the Last Dance every time I catch it on and own Center Stage on DVD (if it were VHS I'd have worn it out by now!). I even love the teen movies like She's All That for the choreographed dance scene at the prom, etc.

[elizabeth @ retinal perspectives]

wheeee! there are lots of dance movie lovers in the world!

@scraps, @kirsten: i loved she's all that! i was on a freddy prinze jr kick when i watched it and went through the movies he was in, all similar. i like the cheesy teenage ones because they are sweet and have good themes and happy endings.

@scraps, @kylie: i just watched center stage! there is also a center stage 2 (i saw it first). i actually loved that one even more; the dance scene at the end was fabulous). btw: apparently there is also a save the last dance 2 but i cannot manage to find it at the library.

@margie: me neither. and i love those too. i just watched footloose and flashdance again. *happy sigh*

@kylie: love all of those! i agree. they might be silly at times but they are generally warmhearted and wonderful and i always need a dose of that.

@kirsten: now i am trying to remember which hsm was my least favorite. oh, you know, it might have been 3. there were 2 songs in 2 that i (ummm, sing .. still) - the baseball one and the golf course one. i love that this is a good bonding time with your daughter!

@julie: yes! i loved that too. i'd watch dancing with the stars if i had a tv. :) hehehe - giggling at your hubby story.

[Helen]

hehe don't worry, i loved watching hsm 2 w/ you on that trip, so i'm glad we had the timing right:) and i'd chuckle, but i'm right along there w/ you.

[Relyn]

Oh, I love dance movies! Shall We Dance the J.Lo version is a current fave. Another guilty pleasure I have in the movie catagory is the teeny-bopper movie, Ten Things I Hate About You.

[elizabeth @ retinal perspectives]

@helen: we can chuckle at each other. ;)

@relyn: love that too. i haven't seen the 10 things movie - will have to check it out!

[rachel awes]

i love a great romance, like notting hill...
certain scenes i've watched over & over.
loooooove to you! xo

[Tracy]

Such fun, Elizabeth! For films though, I love me a good romantic-comedy or drama... those English costume drama's especially. But guilty pleasure... Well, I have to admit I'm a close Bee-Gees fan. "Stayin Alive" on the radio--my keister wants to move...you won't see me dancing in public though--very scary... haha! ;o) Happy Weekend ((HUGS))

[kerri]

oh yes! i agree. and they are usually for teens, but i don't care. i go by myself in the afternoon to see movies like that. thanks u for coming clean and helping me be brave enough to confess it too! :)

i also love all romantic comedies. pretty much. but when i talk about movies to other people, i keep those on the down low...

[michelle marlahan]

that is hilarious and adorable. thanks for sharing =)

i love really funny movies like arthur, when harry met sally, christmas vacation. i could watch them over and over. the new stuff just isn't as good for me.

i also enjoy the occasional (don't tell anybody...) smut magazine. it's horrible i know.

[elizabeth @ retinal perspectives]

@michelle: me too. (especially when traveling.) i like them for the fashion.

@kerri: yay! if you lived closer, we could meet at the theatre for an afternoon movie date.

@tracy: mmmmm. bee-gees. i love stayin' alive too. *wanders off singing*

@rachel: i keep meaning to grab notting hill! i love that one.

[Sherron]

Fabulous! Comic book movies are my guilty movie pleasure. If it's based on a comic book (graphic novel?), I'll go see it. Even if it's a really bad movie (like X-Men 2, sadly).

[Kate D]

Ha! Wanna know something funny? My halloween costume this year was inspired by dance. So You Think You Can Dance, Season 2, Episdode 6? I was a zombie from the Ramalama Bang Bang song! Nobody knew what I was...but I did. :)