Ever since the first movie was created and viewed by audiences, families have gathered to enjoy them together. You'll often find parents watching what their children choose, but if you have a dad like I did, you will often find yourself watching movies that he suggests for family movie night. Ever since I can remember, my dad has been this way. He has always suggested movies for me to watch because they are "one of the best films ever made" or just because they are in his personal favorites (he normally has a list of his current top 10 that he can rattle off). I will admit, most of the time, or just about every time, he has suggested a movie to me, I find it very well made and can appreciate it, even if I didn't particularly enjoy it and add it to a list of my favorites. My dad and I have always had this bond over movies.
Over winter break, I was able to experience something that is actually really amazing, and I didn't even realize it at the time. On Dec. 18, 2015, "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens", erupted into theaters shattering box office records making $247,966,675 in the first opening weekend, which was the largest weekend opening of all time. Many viewers, as my family and I did, attended the Thursday night premieres across the country on December 17. As I sat next to my dad during that premiere, I noticed how much he was nerding out, but I didn't notice the time shift dynamic that was occurring.
Years ago, back in 1977 when the original "Star Wars: movie was released (later referred to as "Episode IV: A New Hope"), my dad went and saw the movie with his parents. Now, in the present, his roll has been switched. Now he is the parent taking his kids to see a movie, a continuation of a movie saga he has loved for years. This is interesting, if you think about it. This is most likely a similar case for parents all over the United States, even the world. Parents grew up with "Star Wars" and now, they can share the same experience with their kids -- in a theater just as they had back in 1977. They can sit and watch their favorite characters reappear (maybe in an older version) on screen with new characters that will be loved just as much. Time has made a circle here, and many of us have yet to notice.
This probably occurs with many more films other than "Star Wars." Now that Hollywood has begun to remake and reboot films from the past, with new actors and sometimes plots, parents are finding themselves watching movies from their pasts with their kids. For example, Universal Pictures released "Jurassic World" last June, which was a reboot for the classic "Jurassic Park." Kids obviously wanted to see "Jurassic World" because of the action and dinosaurs, regardless of if they have seen "Jurassic Park" or not. Similarly, in July, Columbia Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures will be releasing a "Ghostbusters" reboot, with the same name.
Even TV shows can create this feeling of nostalgia that parents can now share with their children. ABC's "The Goldbergs" is a show about your typical suburban family during the '80s. The show follows a real family (recreated with actors) through all sorts of events from the '80s. Parents watching with their kids, remember these events and are now experiencing them all over with their children. So this time shift dynamic is becoming way more mainstream than we thought.
Thinking back on it, I feel so special to have been able to experience this with my dad. Of course, I was excited, but to see him get to watch an expansion of one of his favorite films of all time, was astounding. Even now, it only grows in importance in my mind because of the parallels from his own childhood.
I think that the tradition of movies is one that generations will be able to bond over, even far into the future. There will always be new movies for families to see, and there will always be memories that can be shared for years to come.
