Anyone who has followed my blog knows that I have entertained myself over the years by poking fun at the “Twilight” series, and it’s legion of lightly-imbalanced fans. I hope you know it was all in good fun. Besides, I honestly can’t fault the Twi-hards for taking something utterly mediocre and treating it like it is wonderful. I get it. I am much the same way – I enjoy watching Wipeout sometimes.
This might not matter to some, but, in an unplanned and amazing coincidence, “Breaking Dawn 2” was not the only movie to be released lately. Another movie has been re-released which does more to establish BD2’s rightful place in film lore than any snide comments I could possibly make.
This month, in honor of it’s 50th Anniversary, the movie “To Kill a Mockingbird” is being re-released in some areas. It is truly one of THE great ones. Based on the book by Harper Lee, “Mockingbird ” stars a non-sparkly Gregory Peck as Atticus, and a newly discovered Robert Duvall as Boo Radley. Apparently, many years later, Kristen Stewart went to the Boo Radley School of Acting. And of course the adorable Scout.
THIS MOVIE WAS IMPORTANT. It mattered. It still does. It dealt with deep themes such as racism, parenting, courage, kindness and countless others. One tiny example: When Atticus walks out of the courtroom without looking up… Those who have seen it know what I mean.
When the American Film Institute ranked the Best Movies of All Time. Mockingbird came in at #34. It should have been much higher, because some are movies ahead of it are ones we shouldn’t be watching. I would put it in the Top Ten, and maybe higher.
If you have yet to see “To Kill a Mockingbird,” please, please see it. If you can’t see it on the big screen, rent it. Or better yet, buy it. If your kids didn’t watch it in Junior High or High School, sit them down next to you and have them watch it with you. Pause and talk. Trust me on this one.
And there’s only one. Harper Lee only wrote the one book, and they just made the one movie. There was no sequel, or trilogy. They knew when to stop back then.
(Note: I tried to name one of my sons Atticus, but failed. I tried for the dog, but failed there as well. Couldn’t get Scout for the dog either.)
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| Robert Duvall as Boo Radley with Scout |
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| No, Atticus is not a “hipster.” |
My all time favorite film. Robert Duvall’s first screen roll. He doesn’t speak a word, but conveys volumns. While filming, when Gregory Peck first comes on the set in that white suit, Harper Lee says, “Wow, he even has a slight pot belly, like my dad” The director responds: “No, maam, what you’re seeing is damn good acting”.
As a 7th grader I read the book and later saw the movie, love them both. Made my list of top ten! Peck was wonderful in the movie. My friend Kerry H J named one of her daughters Scout! As for Twilight books/movies entertaining.
I must say, as much as I LOVE watching the movie (mainly because I love Gregory Peck and he was the PERFECT Atticus) I am a purist- the book is better. I just think the characters come to life more in the book. Maybe I am biased because it is my favorite book of all time. I have read it several times and it gets better each time I read it. Thanks for the shout out for this great book/movie!
PS: There was a kid in my primary class names Atticus. I always snuck him extra snacks because I love his name so much….and he was a great kid.
Love the Boo Radley School of Acting. Keanu Reeves is another alumnus.
My friends, Tim and Cait named their boy Atticus after Atticus Finch.
There was a little boy called Atticus in one of my preschool music groups a few years ago. Just thought it might make you jealous.
I love “To Kill A Mockingbird”. I saw it for the first time at BYU for a film class. I liked it so much I took a friend and watched it again the next night.
“Another movie has been re-released which does more to establish BD2’s rightful place in film lore than any snide comments I could possibly make.”
gosh, I love your humor!
Thank you! (But I was completely serious…)
Thank you. I concur. I read all four of the T-books and loved some of the ostensibly minor characters: Alice, Esme, Carlisle (a pretty decent example of a righteous patriarch) and Jacob and his grandfather. Mostly I just wanted to pinch Bella’s head off, as they say here in the South. But Atticus (have a friend with a son named Atticus!) and Jem and Scout and Boo Radley? People who will live in my head and heart forever.
As a high school English teacher, I LOVE teaching this book and movie. Truly great literature. I don’t know about naming a son Atticus (although I met a woman once who did), but if I ever had another daughter (and I won’t) I would definitely consider Harper Lee as her first and middle names. I think it sounds simply melodious. Good post. I will go see the re-release of the movie!
When I saw Arsenic and Old Lace on Netflix, I made my 11 and 10 year olds sit down and watch it with me. Hard to beat those old classics.
Oh, yes! Definitely one of the top 5 best movies ever. I have a friend that named her daughter Tabitha Scout. Love it!
Just curious what would you consider the top ten movies?
I’ve tried, but can’t quite do it. My tastes are too eclectic in too many genres.
Oh, I’m with you brother! The meat and potatoes of this (and many other classic books and movies, ie: Man for all Seasons, Jane Eyre, anything Shakespeare, Austen, Dickens, Gaskill, etc.) compared to the cotton candy of Twilight, High School Musical, etc. makes me so sad for the current generation. They are missing out on the goods! I don’t mean to sound condemning or critical, I too enjoy Wipeout and going to Twilight with the girls – it’s like smoking crack for mormon women, with slightly less brain damage. But if you don’t balance it out with some real meat, your entertainment appetite is going to be sadly malnourished. The balance is important for us as adults, but even more important for our younger kids who are creating their appetites for life. And whatever you feed – thrives, and whatever you don’t feed – dies.
Great post, MMM! I will be a second witness; Mockingbird has and will continue to be a movie worth seeing time and time again. Unlike other movies… *ahem*. 😉
We homeschool as well and read it last year during our study of the Civil War–I wanted my kids to see that the Emancipation Proclamation was just the beginning of a long, difficult road to true respect and equality. We watched the movie after we finished the book and enjoyed the extras that are on the special edition “Legacy Series” DVD. Top Ten for sure.
In a move to clean up my online discourse, I’ve refrained from saying anything about Twilight for a year or so. As in anything whatsoever. I accomplished this without the assistance of meds. I have to say I’m feeling pretty good about myself.
I am coaxed to have mentioned the name only because of the comparison to one of the top 10 books ever written. In my estimation public schools redeem themselves in making this required reading in most junior highs. I read it then too, and because of that, Atticus is the voice in my head, the ethical one. I’m going to have to watch the movie now. With my kids. While I wax rhapsodic.
I love this book(paper pages that you turn book)and I own the movie, but I am what I consider a normal fan. I have a sister-in-law and a daughter-in-law who reread this book every year. Seriously!
Several years ago the old theater in our town was showing this in its original format on the big screen. I hadn’t seen it for many years. It is truly a timeless classic. By the way, I also saw “Gone With the Wind” in its original format on this same movie screen. The film makers of those years really new how to draw the audience in to the story, and they did it without gratuitous sex, language, or violence.
Great contrast for most pop culture “must-see” movies. I mean, I really enjoyed Avengers and Harry Potter but if I had to make a list of important movies, they wouldn’t make it.
Kinda makes me rethink how I spend (waste!) my time!
I wrote a blog post along similar lines (well, kinda… just pointing out what I view as way more “worthy” of praise than Twilight) 3 years ago: http://smithfamilyicecreamscoop.blogspot.com/2009/11/bite-me.html
I love To Kill a Mockingbird.
Fun little bit of trivia: Tom Robinson, the wrongly accused man whom Atticus defends, was played in the movie by the same guy who played Starfleet Admiral Cartwright in Star Trek IV and Star Trek VI. In the latter he is, shall we say, a less than racially tolerant character. Reports from the set indicate that the actor had great difficulty delivering the lines written for that character as he found the sentiment behind them so disagreeable.
Amen!
My homeschooler and I read this for Lit last year, but we haven’t rented the movie yet. It’s one of my all-time favorites, and now when I read the book, Gregory Peck IS Atticus in my head.
I have a gr-nephew named Atticus. I also have “greats” named Wolfgang, Winifred, Violet and Homer (among many others, I have 80+ “greats”). This generation is going back 100 years for their baby names. :0)