It being Flashdance.

After work tonight, I went to the video store. And not only did I find the movie there, but I bought it.

Yeah, it was only $.50, hahahaha. I laughed right there in the store. That pretty much confirmed my suspicions that arose the first time we rented the movie (and never watched past the credits).

Of course, I was immediately countered, once again, by the clerk when I was paying. Her instant response was the standard 'Omg..this is SUCH a good movie! Classic.'

My response was "That's what everyone says". Still thinking "and I have no idea why" in the back of my head.

I gotta say though, I was definitely taken by surprise when I finally watched the full thing. I had assumed that the reason every one of the movie's initial audience loved it so much (and started cutting out the necks of their sweatshirts) was because the story must have been really great, with the main character Alex being incredibly inspirational or relateable to so many of the 80s generation.

Not that I could've related to any of that anyway, but in my opinion the story was the worst part of the film.

Now just hold your horses. I'm not gonna trash Flashdance. Honestly, I was totally thrown off guard by the quality of the filmmaking. The film still looks great...which is kinda unusual for most 80's films. But there are some really gorgeous shots in there, and the cinematography during certain scenes is on par with (or better than) many of today's films. Notice that I don't say 'movies', because the shots in this film would still have the blockbuster flicks that would be comparable to this one based on plot alone, blown out of the water.

I never thought this film was supposed to be visually stunning, and at moments it is.

Unfortunately, just like the box states its a visual and musical smash. Meaning, sure, it "dazzles the senses", but character development and the script were obviously not what made this film a cultural phenomenon, and because of that it didn't touch my heart or give me even the slightest warm fuzzies. I still have no idea who the hell these characters are as people, or even know if I like them. I think I would like cook/comedian except for the endless polack jokes. And I suppose Alex seems like she'd be a pal to have around, when she drags her ice skating buddy out of the strip joint because "I'm your friend, you jerk".

As far as the acting goes...there wasn't really a lot to act. Which is kinda sad I suppose since JB essentially got her break into acting, by starring as an unknown in the lead role of such a big film, and just looking pretty as the Director of Photography took care of the rest. Well she had some good eye acting, with her big brown orbs portraying the naievity of little Alex. Oh..did I mention this welder by day, dancer by night is only 18! She's a BABY! As for her co-star, mr. love interest was kinda boring. Especially since he was like...30? That part of the story confuses me a bit. Were 18 year old girls in the theaters really attracted to him? I don't even think his character was in the film that much. Long enough to be slapped like 5 times in row, and angrily grab a cigarette from Alex chiding her like his daughter telling her she's too young to smoke, and I think that was the most 'acting' he had to do.

Just an example of how the writers weren't really that into it: in that scene they could have had a low blow with a retort from her like, "Oh, but I'm old enough for you to fuck" or something like that, escalting into a heated exchange, or at least some awkward moment of revelation of the position these two are in. Of course they didn't, and the character said nothing, and they moved on to the next scene. Besides that one moment, the difference in age wasn't even mentioned or discussed at all. Is that really believable, for an 18 yr old to start dating her boss, who's been married and divorced, without hestitating? Or without any other time when this would cause conflict or pause in the relationship? I don't think it would have been that common.

But then again, maybe a lot of it is just...the 80s, so its harder for me to relate...orrr maybe this is one of the movies that proves how far we've come in storytelling via film, since the 80s, lol. I can definitely see why people would have been ecstatic about it at the time though. Annnd overall it was a pleasant surprise. Nothing I mind spending 50 cents on at all.

Now if I could only get the soundtrack on vinyl at such a deal.

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