Ya know, I've seen this movie all of three times. Once when it came out, once when I could find nothing better to rent at Blockbuster, and last night. Last night, I have to admit, I finally got the true brilliance of this movie.

Don't get me wrong, I knew it was pretty good, but when I saw it in my senior year of high school, it had a far different take from that perspective. At 18, you're pretty tightly wound up in whatever clique you've been cast in, and for myself, I've always been too cynical to take a message from something so crass as a major motion picture release. Such was 1985 for yours truly.

Second time around, I recall being bored outta my skull and not paying too close attention to the movie. It's dialogue heavy and unless I'm in the mood for that, I can't really get into a movie. Such was 1995 (or thereabouts) for yours truly.

Speed up the tape to last night ... forced viewing ... you just have to sit there and take it in. And I have to say this movie should be required viewing for what I got out of it. I had obviously not seen true to the light that this was, indeed, the penultimate coming of age movie. And I make that claim as a 35 year old viewing it through practically new eyes, not someone trying to revisit my youth ... cuz I could never understand that.

A few things are in order, though, and I couldn't resist noting how truly OLD Judd Nelson looked in the movie. Never realized that till now, also. In fact, he was 25 ... but could have played 30. What really ruined this movie for me the first two times was that Molly Ringwald is just too incredibly hot for me to see anything beyond that fact. Put her on a screen at the tender age of 17 and man, I'm off to the races. It was the only reason I went to see it the first time. I could also relate to the Judd Nelson and Anthony Michael Hall (as I was somewhere in the midst of those two stereotypes myself back in the day). Imagine a brainiac, rebellious, metalhead, but without the pot and pocketknife ... and that's me.

Anyways, what really stood out to me this time was that Ally Sheedy comes across as a lot more appealing to me for some reason. Even though her character is way too over the top, she's funny as all get out, and pretty hot too. At least until Molly slaps all that damn clown makeup all over her. I can tell know, why it never hit me back then, though ... in one scene, she's looking at a Prince album cover ... yech! I've also since learned I have a penchant for being drawn to and (for even more unexplainable reasons) getting along well with these oddball type of women. As long as they don't tell me they get into Prince.

Anyways, the movie is what it is and chances are, if your reading this, you've seen it way more than I have. I thought the final group conversation was overblown, but necessary for the full meaning to really come out. I think that's what blew it for me the second time around. The library dance scene was pretty gay, but it also screamed for the likes of one Jim Cahoon to run up there and mimic the movie (and in fairness, one assclown did attempt that, but only for a second). I contend that Jim could have gotten a standing ovation AND nailed that scene perfectly, complete with Ally Sheedy's morbid little death dance.

All in all, one of the more enjoyable Midnight Movies River Oaks has shown. I'd put it up there with Princess Bride and Ferris Beuhler in terms of movies I really appreciated seeing on a large screen once again. Now if they can only get a print of Rock & Roll High School.

On a somewhat tasteless note: I find out via one of Molly's fan sites that she and her hubby are set to divorce. Think about it ... first Nicole Kidman, now Molly Ringwald. At long last, the system finally works in my favor!!!