Where it all began...

It was a Sunday afternoon, nothing special about the day or the date. Just a random Sunday afternoon as a kid when my passion for films was really ignited. As a kid growing up I had always watched films, loved Zulu and Memphis Belle in particular, we'll get into that at a later date.

Back to this little scene setting intro I was on...so I was told by my Mum to come and watch this film she was about to watch. Now I was of an age where I didn't have the attention span of a knat but young enough to find the idea of sitting down watching a film on a sunday afternoon with your mum as boring. Still, I went along with it, thought why not?! Call me a maverick.

The film we watched; Shindler's List. Everyone who knows what I'm talking about for having that passion for film will have just gone... 'ahhhhh ok' and nodded their head in that nostalgic kind of way.

Now forget the fact I was definitely too young to be watching this film, don't try and act as if you have never watched a film that you were too young to watch because that ladies and gentleman is a lie!

Incase there is anyone who hasn't seen the film I shall say this next part with a hint of mystery as to not spoil it for you. Unlike a certain channel whom when they counted down the top 100 movies of all time and told the world the ending to 'The Usual Suspects' even though I had never seen it. The word fuming does not even begin to do my reaction to this god-awful decision to blurt out the ending of a film which has 'the best twist of all time' justice...

and calm.

Where were we, I will never forget that feeling when you see 'that red coat' for the final time in the film. Considering what happens throughout the film, that one scene is one of the most shocking and utterly spellbinding moments in Cinema. The word genius is over-used but that scene is, genius.

From then on I craved that feeling, that sense of being totally lost in a film that you forget where you are or what you were moaning about before you sat down and started watching it. The Muppets Christmas Carol just did not cut it anymore, and that film is superb (look out for the muppet who sticks his middle finger up at Michael Caine, brilliant).

I don't have the talent to be a director, and also I'm not Dawson Leery. I won't be banging on about how I would have directed a film nor will I bath Steven Spielberg in glory, apart from the fact he is the reason I love film. Schlinder's List and of course, like anyone who ever saw the film as a kid that the phrase 'the magic of cinema' was made for, E.T. That's it though, homage to Spielberg finished.

I will just share my passion for films, and ask some important questions along the way that may or may not be answered. As I write this first blog I'm sitting here watching 'Skyline' - for anyone who has seen this movie, I hope you didn't pay for it. For anyone who hasn't - don't bother! You would have thought for my first venture into the world of blogs I'd have chosen a classic, inspiring film that will ignite my creative side and help me produce a rip-roring blog. Well, I didn't, and to be honest I've barely paid it much attention during this nostalgic trip back to where it all began. As a teaser for what's in store here at the Armchair Director, Tim Burton - the man the legend, just how bad are films with Adam Sandler in?, and acting out Zulu behind a plastic table as a child.

Oh it's going to be emotional...