Last week, I wrote about reading and how summer seems to lend itself to new discoveries and topics.

This week, how about some popcorn and some movie talk?

I’ll wait until the foil on the Jiffy Pop expands.  Grab an Orange Crush, too.

I still write movie reviews, although this has been a slim year for those. I’m in hopes of stepping it up a little on the watching and reviewing.

Still, I feel like I have a lot of movies to catch up on, especially in the category of the classics. I won’t even mention recent titles I want to watch.

There are still so many of the oldies I have yet to see. There used to be a guy who advertised “The Essentials” on one of the movie channels, and I need to see if he’s still doing that.  It seems to be a good list: a list any cinephile worth his salt should make sure he’s seen.

It is assumed that people who are interested in movies have seen them all. It’s similar for those of us who are in theater also. People think you know about every play and musical.

I would imagine that most aficionados of both movies and theater would say there are a heck of a lot of things they haven’t seen or heard.

I finally watched “Citizen Kane” last year, a movie that has been touted as one of the best and a masterpiece. It is one that I think I need to watch again, because I’m not sure I “got it” the first time.  

My summer list, at least my summer “classic” list includes “Casablanca,” “On the Waterfront” and “Lawrence of Arabia.”  I’d also like to see several Alfred Hitchcock offerings.

There are quite a few silent films that I started watching on early Saturday mornings, long ago, that I found out were on the list of essential movies.  Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin films, of course, but also films with Harold Lloyd and Fatty Arbuckle. Silent films may be an acquired taste, but after you’ve watched a few, you can begin to see the artistry and even relate to the appeal they had on audiences in the 1920s and 1930s.  

“The Maltese Falcon” and “Dr. Strangelove” came up in conversations a few weeks ago, both of which I have not seen. After I saw and reviewed the movie “1917,” I wanted to see both versions of “All Quiet on the Western Front.”  This made way for a bunch of war films, and I added “Mr. Roberts” to the list also.

War films weren’t always my thing, nor was science fiction.  Still, I want to see “Metropolis” from 1927. I’ve seen “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” from 1978, but still need to see the original from 1956.  

When October rolls around, I will watch “Dracula” and “Frankenstein” again, but there are a few horror classics I have yet to see.  

Now here’s where you will hear an audible gasp:  I have never seen any of the Star Wars films. It’s something I am somewhat ashamed of, and I have visions of the powers that be stripping me of all movie reviewer badges and accolades.

None of which I really have, but it adds to the drama.

OK. I admitted it. I’ll try to do better.

Sheesh, I’d planned to get a part-time job that made a little money after retirement. Think there’s a way to watch all the old films, read all the good books, and make money at it?

I’ll let you know if it works out.

I’d love to hear about your movie and book recommendations. I also get a kick out of hearing about your “lesser-known” titles that are hidden gems.  

Shoot me an email!  marksremarks10@gmail.com.