Where did you go?

It’s been a little while, hasn’t it? Apologies to all as it wasn’t our goal to abruptly disappear. Actually, maybe it was…a little. Let me explain.

As 2010 wound down, BMF found itself in an unfamiliar position – indifference. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been indifferent about a lot of movies over a lot of years. No, this indifference was from a grander perspective, and it stemmed from the gnawing sensation in my gut. Don’t worry, I went and got that checked out, the doctor said a little ointment would clear that right up.

I digress! That feeling bubbling just under the surface – apathy. The thrill to go to the movies seemed to be drying up. At first, I wrote it off to mediocre fare and exploding ticket prices. After all, how do you tell someone that it’s $10 for a ticket, plus $4 for IMAX, plus $4 for 3D…and then collect the $20 from your date. It just doesn’t work, she’ll think you’re a cheap basterd, not an inglorious one.

I continue to digress! While mediocre movies and expensive tickets did help, they weren’t the only culprits in the waning interest in movie reviews. I realized this when I went on a trans-Atlantic flight and caught up on about six movies at once. And while I did think heavily about writing reviews, going so far as to jot down the pertinent points to make fun of, I never made the time to type those puppies up. That’s when I knew the writer’s block was more than a motivational thing.

So, if there’s one paragraph to read in all of this, this is the one. Over a decade ago I found myself writing a review for the very first X-Men film where the rating was based on the number Wolverine’s claws. Last January, I delivered the 2010 Year In Review. In between, over 300 reviews/articles/guest reviews, with a sprinkling of new site layouts, domain name changes, and blogging platforms explored. By the 2010 write up, I felt there was finality in the wings and I was writing the Year In Review with the intent of announcing that on the site. Yet, I couldn’t do it, I left the door open a crack, just in case, at least to me. For you, it probably felt like walking up to the door, ringing the doorbell, and getting no answer…for 6 months…even though the lights were on.

So what does this all mean. Actually, maybe this is the paragraph that is important. It meant that after writing movie reviews for 10 years, I found my voice becoming monotonous. I was the saying the same stuff about the same movies, and really, how many times can I plead for some semblance of intellect in a film about giant robots? That’s actually only a small piece of what I came to discover.

In all seriousness, I found that it’s an easy job to critique, to pick and gnaw at the creative works put forth by countless individuals. Granted, “creative works” run a wide spectrum, but nonetheless, folks are delivering ideas onto the silver screen where they didn’t exist before. That’s a big thing, and critiquing the success or failure of those efforts, well, that’s a little too easy, it’s a cop-out, it’s being the backseat driver and pointing out the missed turn. Actually creating something, to turn an idea into something more than a thought, that’s a big accomplishment.

Enough of the deep, metaphysical stuff, what does this all mean? It means I started working on another project, a big one, one that’s been sitting on my computer for nearly as long as this site has been around. It also means that I’m trying to create something, and as karma would have it, you’ll be more than welcome to critique it. In the end, it means I’m focused on doing that, but I do hope that you’ll follow me on the journey.

I haven’t decided where my rambling thoughts and progress reports will live yet. When I do, I hope you’ll come along for the ride. After all, if you’ve come this far, maybe you’ll come a little bit further.

As for the reviews, they’ll stay up here. And for the new movies, well, maybe I’ll do twitter-sized reviews.

If you’re interested in what I”m working on, feel free to leave a comment. I’ll keep everyone posted, and I’ll always be checking in with the BMF mothership.

Till the next review -