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You Got Mail is my favorite movie.

Most people scoff at this bold statement of mine.
"That's just a chick flick"
"Out of all the movies in the world that is your favorite?"
"The movie where Tom Hanks meets Meg Ryan on the top of the Empire State building?"

But I saw the movie when I was 10 and the world stood still for me.

"Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address."

If I could tell you the ONE THING all of my favorite movies have in common, it would be strong character development. So strong that you feel as if you could answer personal questions about the characters, as if they were real people. You Got Mail explores character relationships so deeply that you feel as if you could be a part of them. The sets, the costume, the location, the witty humor... they all feel real and very cohesive. Since seeing this movie, it strengthened my dream of owning my own bookstore someday and share with people my favorite books.

I also get attached to things very easily. Stray animals, cars driving the same direction on long car rides, plants, or canceled TV shows. But in movies, I think we all need to feel a sense of attachment and understanding for the character. I think this is why I understand movies so well, I get immersed in the story line about 2 seconds in.

I decide to see movies from many different standpoints.
1. Hype: I'm a sucker for hype. I heard about Black Swan about 6 months before it came out and by December I was DYING to see it because I'd heard so much about it. Every time I hear a Sofia Coppola movie is coming out I can't WAIT until it comes to theaters near me.
2. Commercials: Like I said, I get attached easily. Commercials are on average 30 seconds? I cry in commercials! I laugh! So of course when a movie preview comes on I'm glued to the screen.
3. Referral: I take this one less seriously, mostly because there are very few people I trust to have a real opinion. I can always count on that my sister and I will have completely opposite opinions
4. Reviews: I mostly say this because I try not to read reviews until AFTER I've seen the movie. Firstly, because I write film reviews and I don't want to steal anyone else's ideas or words. Secondly, because frankly, reviewers seem way too damn pompous and arrogant. Well the blah blah blah was very blah blah blah and the actor gave a blah blah blah performance. When I write a review I try and think of what other people will think. Burlesque was a good movie because it was fun! No it wasn't a great script. No, the acting wasn't stellar. But you left the movie feeling good and happy. I wrote my article so that readers could understand that it was lighthearted fun.