Today’s Blockbusters, Tomorrow’s Classics

by Michelle Miles

A few weeks ago, my BFF and I were talking about movies. I had mentioned how I just purchased Ben Hur and The Quiet Man and that my next purchase would be El Cid and The Ten Commandments (okay, so I have a thing for Charlton Heston, I can’t help it…). Eventually the subject progressed to today’s movies becoming tomorrow’s classics.

She posed the question: What movies would be classics in ten years or so?

To answer this, though, we have to back up thirty-two years. Back in 1977, George Lucas released a little movie called Star Wars and it became an instant hit. And back then, movies stayed at the theater a really long time. Like a year. (I got a Star Wars storybook for Christmas in 1978. I only know this because my sister scribed the date inside when she gave it to me. And yes, I still have it, albeit it's a little tattered.)

I also remember sitting in the theater, watching the opening scroll across the screen and Sis whispering it in my ear. I was immediately in science fiction love. Major love. I had a thing for Luke (but quickly saw the error of my ways and knew Han was the bad boy of the universe and definitely the one for me. BFF says she’d like to be Vader’s GF, but then, that’s BFF).

I definitely say the Star Wars trilogy (the original – not the new one) has become a classic in its own right. At the time, they were groundbreaking and there was no other science fiction movie out like it. (I mean, hello, Flash Gordon (1980)? The only thing cool was the flying guys and even THAT was a stretch. So I don’t think so. Well, okay, maybe having Queen do the soundtrack helped...I still hear the "FLASH! AHHHAA" in my head and that's kinda creepy.) People devoured everything Star Wars. With the new version of Star Wars, I think some of that magic is lost. Yes, it’s spawned a whole new generation of kids (my son, for example) but it’s just not like back then. I miss those days of true movie magic.

But I digress, so back to the initial question.

The first thing I thought of was Pirates of the Caribbean (2003). Because it was so hugely popular and Jack Sparrow is such a quirky character, there’s a lot to love. Adventure, sea-faring pirates, sword duels, romance. It has it all. I’m not sure if the entire trilogy would become a classic, but definitely the first one.

And then Lord of the Rings (2001). I’d say the entire trilogy because it’s a seamless, continuing story. It helped that Viggo is yummy as Aragorn (a definite plus). Peter Jackson did the story justice with his retelling and it’s a fantastic movie to watch. Edge-of-your-seat drama (will Frodo make it to Mordor?), wizards both good and bad, talking trees, elves, dwarves and evil icky things that go bump in the night.

Other movies under consideration: Con Air (1997), Apollo 13 (1995), Forrest Gump (1994), (although, I’m not sure any of those are quite old enough for Classic Status), The Princess Bride (1987), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). You knew I had to get an Indy reference in there, didn’t you? And do you suppose it’s any coincidence movies that end up being classics have the same star in them? i.e., Harrison Ford, Charlton Heston, Katherine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Viggo Mortenson, Tom Hanks, Cary Grant, et.al.

For me, a classic movie is timeless. It’s a movie with wide appeal and characters you can love thirty years later. It’s a move that sweeps you off your feet and carries you away to a land unknown. (Hmm, kind of like a good book, too.)

What current blockbusters do you think will become classics? AND what movies from 20-30 years ago do you think have become movie classics today?

Michelle Miles writes speculative romance and sexy contemporaries and is a member of Romance Writers of America. You can learn more about her books at http://www.michellemiles.net.