Yesterday I watched one of my favorite movies, Fiddler on the Roof, and that got me to thinking about my favorite movies and programs and why I liked them. So I thought that I would explore that here. My lead photo is one of the earliest targets of science fiction, which was often off base, but has gotten much better as technology has improved.
Of course Fiddler on the Roof is one of my favorite movies. I’m not Jewish, but I have often been mistaken for a Jew and was once scolded for not going to temple by a Jewish secretary who was convinced I was. I actually would not mind if I had Jewish ancestors or any other group of humans, but the reality is that, according to my DNA, I’m about as north European as I can get, with the exception that apparently some of my ancient ancestors managed to pick up some Denisovan genes during a long stay east of the Caspian Sea. However, Fiddler on the Roof has both a strong ethnic flavor and a message about our shared humanity. It has me in tears every time I see it. It was well casted and tells a story with which many of us can identify. This is especially true of Tevye’s relationships with his three oldest daughters, who he loves deeply, and with his wife, with whom he shares both a mutual love and respect. It is very hard not to sympathize with this basically very good man.
I have to say that Invictus (Mandela) and Gandhi were unbelievably great movies and, while not always in order eventwise, they were to me important tributes to undeniably great men who, while flawed, as we all are, rose above their flaws to true goodness. They both deeply touched me.
I have watched a lot of movies recently centered on women and many times directed by women, and one of the standouts is definitely Miss Potter. I was disappointed in the lack of a mention of her contribution to science, notably in her early support for the alga-fungus cooperation in lichens. She was one of the pioneers in this and they should have at least given her credit for her early work.
When I get into nature movies, I have to mentioned the early Disney flicks, especially The Living Desert. While obviously not totally filmed in the wild, it was certainly one of the influences that sent me into a biological science career. It also saved my father from being bitten by a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake as my observation of the snake’s tongue in the movie led me to recognize it as he was digging out a lizard burrow in one of his few good times. As the sand dropped into his shovel, a black forked tongue appeared and I yelled for him to step back. That got me one of the few praises from him that I ever had.
Of course that has to bring up several David Attenborough films, all of which are excellent and which have the big picture knowledge of their host. It is very hard to criticize his acumen in these.
I have been a science fiction fan since the early 1960s. Mostly I read it in magazines, like Galaxy, Fantasy and Science Fiction, and Analog. Unfortunately most science fiction movies and TV programs were mostly garbage, until The Twilight Zone and Star Trek. Rod Serling came across as a purveyor of more intellectually interesting programs and Star Trek opened the door to a brighter future where differing peoples mostly got along, while still having enemies. Most of the later made full length movies were interesting. Star Wars movies also improved on the usual fair, but is still a bit too focused on war for my tastes. I do especially like the bar scene in the original movie.
My wife converted me to mysteries, and while I could never be the Agatha Christie fan she still is, I really liked the movies and series of her Hercule Poirot. Of course the recently released Murder on the Orient Express is a great example, but I find the series with David Sachet to be the standard. I also have some liking for Sherlock Holmes movies, but they tend to be uneven as to the actors involved. Also Sir Arthur Conan Doyle tended to add details that were debunked even in his age, such as snakes drinking milk and being able to hear a whistle, as in The Speckled Band.
Of course, being a scientist, I was drawn to those series that involved forensics, such as the original NCIS and Bones. Both series are well acted and have well developed characters. I especially liked Bones, both for the scientific bent and for the actors who presented their characters, with all their human flaws, in a very moving manner. Of course, being the nerd that I am, I could occasionally find factual flaws, but on the whole Bones conveyed the basic ideas, even if forensic science is not as far advanced as is implied. Interestingly I identified with Temperance Brennan in her early dissections as I got extra specimens from my zoology professor at the community college and did the same as she was supposed to have done while in high school, dissected them at home. I am also a total biological nerd. It did serve me well when I was a TA teaching labs in Organismic Biology and Zoology as I already had some knowledge of animal anatomy.
I also tend to like some fantasies, as long at they are presented as such. It is, I think, useful to the brain to be able to enjoy a dose of imagination now and then. Thus I found myself enchanted by the series,The Good Place, at least in part because it was well written and well presented, with very interesting, if flawed, characters, and the actors were very good at projecting the characters they played. Also, where could you find a comedy that took on such interesting questions and actually mentioned Kierkegaard and Kant?
Similarly I really liked the series Lucifer. It also explores human frailty and is well acted. I know some people did not like the implication that even the devil is redeemable, but they should keep in mind that this is a well-written fantasy, not paraded as fact. As such it is both entertaining and at the same time causes us to review our beliefs on ethics and morality.
Finally I liked, but did not think I would, Sex Education, a series that tackled a very difficult subject and gave it a very humaine and sympathetic presentation. I wish more films would do so. Sex is basic to our lives- if it wasn’t for that, none of us would even exist! Something that makes me wonder at misogyny as it seems to imply a hatred of ourselves.
These are just a few of the films that I have liked and a few that really influenced me. These are totally personal and I expect all of you have different lists. What do you like and what has influenced you?