The "summer" experience is something that has evolved for me over the past 30 years. Yes...I know, I'm 35, but to be honest, I have very few summer recollections, beyond eating mud pies in the gully behind my parents backyard, prior to the 5th summer of my life. That summer was an important one, even if I didn't really know it at the time.

I have discussed on this blog and on Awards Daily how I became obsessed, for lack of a better word, with the Oscars, but I don't think I have ever talked about my initial infatuations with cinema. I remember quite clearly my first outing to the movies, at 5 years old, on my birthday: June 15, 1981. All due to a fascination with tall architecture and big letters.

To get pretty much anywhere from my parents' home in Corinth, Mississippi you had to drive past the Skylark drive in. I'm sure that it seemed quite intriguing to a young boy, and my family finally decided I could go...after much pleading...to see "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Of course, when the time came, like any typical child, I didn't want to go. And this was (also typical) after my parents had already packed snacks for the screening. I think it took allowing me to wear my pajamas to the film to get me into the car. The actual experience is a bit muddled (it was 30 years ago!), but I remember being slightly horrified yet thrilled when, at the film's climax, the Arnold Toht character's face melted. Which coincides with the memory of my Mother, for what seemed like months later, blaming this (and other fascinations with horror...such as sneaking peaks at the "Faces of Death" VHS tapes at the local video rental store and demanding, at age 9, to see "A Nightmare on Elm Street") on the fact that the only film she saw while pregnant with me was "Jaws" at the same drive-in, supposedly kicking with glee the entire time.

My next film memory was driving to Memphis, Tennessee to see "Return of the Jedi." Just yesterday I couldn't remember why we didn't see it in Corinth (my hometown), but now I remember very specifically, it was because Memphis had matinees that day and Corinth didn't! (Even then I felt the urge to see a film first!) Now, this was way before the internet age, so I got all of my film news from the likes of "Teen Beat" or "Starlog" magazines.

By "Jedi" I was 7 years old and had entered the action-figure stage of boyhood. Transformers, He-Man, and of course, Star Wars. In the 2 years since seeing "Raiders of the Lost Ark" I had started school and had learned from the other kids all about "Star Wars." More specifically, "The Empire Strikes Back" my favorite movie of all (at, least then) time! By the release of "Jedi" I had seen Empire 17 times and would quote the film to anyone who would listen.

Post "Jedi" it seems as if most of my summers revolved around one (or two if there was a new "Nightmare" movie) big theatrical release, often fueled by an accompanying toy/fast food/film combo at McDonald's. There was "The Goonies" in '85...a film that interestingly enough gave me nightmares when some "Nightmare" sequels did not. By '87 I was obsessed with Corey Haim, and somehow convinced Mom and Dad to let me see "The Lost Boys." And in '88 it was "License to Drive." And "A Nightmare on Elm Street Part IV." The next two years consisted of what were probably the biggest movie events in my life prior to that point, the first being Tim Burton's "Batman." (Other than "Return of the Jedi" this was my first experience waiting in a line so long that it almost reached the 2 lane highway that led to Corinth's "Twin Cinema.") Then in '90, I had the pleasure of seeing "Dick Tracy," starring Madonna (who I loved!...secretly, of course) on the front row, opening night, on my birthday. What a night! This was back when the front row was actually a fun experience. What would probably be closer to today's 8th row. Everyone in my small town knew, when there was a movie I wanted to see, front row center was mine.

Then: high school happened, and with it, summers filled with piano camps and band camp. Popular kid by fall, total geek by summer, with nothing notable cinema-wise until the summer of 1994, which was a turning point for me, for so many reasons--including graduation from high school. But also due to 4 specific films which would help solidify who I was, as a person, and my taste in cinema. The first of the four is one of the only films that has actually changed the course of my life, "Dead Poets Society," which I viewed at the end of the school year in my AP English class. I have often wondered if the teacher showed the film to the class for my benefit alone...because I was close to venturing out into a world with no understanding of my place in it. I saw myself as a combination of Neil and Todd. But it was Neil's fate that frightened me...as I'm sure it did many a person similar to me...getting ready to embark on "adult" life. I was headed to college to major in Pre-Law when I obviously should've been leaning toward the arts. Very Neil-like.

Two films really changed my opinion of what movies could be, were "The Piano" and "Pulp Fiction." Now, I know that PF didn't come out until October of that year and "The Piano" came out the year before. But I didn't see "The Piano" until it came out on video, which I'm sure was that 1994 summer. And "Pulp Fiction" was probably already being heavily touted by Entertainment Weekly (a very strong influence in my life at the time) since it had shown at Cannes in May. And you know what, October is damn hot in Mississippi. Might as well be summer.

And number 4? To beat a dead...already mallet-ted horse, there was "Forrest Gump." A film I saw 4 times that summer. I simply didn't get it. I kind of liked it at first. Then I read the book and realized how inane the whole thing was. After all the viewings the only positive thing I could say for the film was that I loved Robin Wright-Penn...and the rest...well...just wasn't my box of chocolates.

Over the years, college became more about summer stock (yes, I had the sense to change my major!) and occasionally there was a movie thrown in. I dragged summer friends to see "Eyes Wide Shut" (loved it!) but had no problem getting people to see "South Park" and "Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace." The latter film being another turning point for me. I was so disappointed with the midnight "Star Wars" experience that I was turned off from summer fare. For a long time. I didn't even see "Spiderman" in the theater. One summer I did make it to "Star Wars: Episode II" partly because I had heard it was better than its predecessor, but mostly because the streets of NYC (where I lived, finally!) were melting my flip flops, they were so hot. Sure, if there was a "Harry Potter" or a supposed Oscar contender ("Crash") I made it to the cinema, but summer had changed for me.

Now that I realized the Oscars were something I wanted to not only discuss at length, but perhaps also pursue as a side career, the summers became more about "filling the blanks." I tried to see important films I was embarrassed to have never seen ("On the Waterfront," "Raging Bull," "The Last Picture Show," "Goodfellas.") while hanging on to my sanity avoiding the likes of "Transformers."

In addition to that home movie viewing, "summer television" became a stalwart for me. "Damages," "So You Think You Can Dance," "Mad Men" (at least season 1), "True Blood" were all highlights...not only of the summer, but my entire year. The movies would occasionally call me back, like the day a few years ago when I had a very enjoyable summer double feature of "The Hurt Locker" and "(500) Days of Summer," two films that landed on my top 10. And last year gave me the New York Film Festival, a late summer festival that started my Oscar season.

So now, summer is not only the blockbusters like "Transformers 3" but also higher quality fare such as "Super 8" and "X-Men: First Class." To be honest, "Super 8" gave me one of my favorite theater going experiences in a very long time.

Bringing me back to the days when I was going to the movies back in the late 80s, merely daydreaming what those kids were actually putting on super 8. Many people have scoffed at the ending. But for me, the simple theme that things aren't as bad as you think, although treacly, was fitting to Abrams's style...and what the film had set up. "X Men: First Class" might even end up in my top 10. I read on Perez that the film had the most mistakes of any other this year...and a couple of people on FB had mentioned the film had tons of plot holes, and more than a few people were unimpressed with January Jones. I for one, thought she was just right. And I didn't notice the plot holes either. I did find great joy in seeing Fassbender make Magneto a highly engaging part of the film. I don't want to say what I'm sure many other people are saying...that he is now a "bankable star." A "leading man." I hate that way of thinking (almost as much as I hate the constant box office analysis that comes along, louder than the rest of the year, with the first weekend in May). For now, I will simply enjoy his success.

One of the first films I saw this summer was "Tree of Life."

And I, for one, am almost terrified to even talk about it. I've seen so much out there saying that if anyone didn't like it, they didn't "get it." I think this is the laziest response to a differing opinion. It happened last summer with "Inception" and now with "Tree." OK...so, I thought the film was mesmerizing, for sure. I seemed to get the opposite feeling than most of the major critics. I found the opening of the film, by far the most captivating than the middle. I felt like I was seeing something miraculous, only ever in my imagination...the creation....unfolding in front of me in the most beautiful way. Then we came to the family...and I didn't understand why. Why "this" family? I honestly didn't care at all about them. And no...to answer the looming question...you don't have to care about every character in every film...but if you are telling one story in all of creation...surrounded by Creation itself...it better be....I don't know.... More? Probably less. Something simpler...to the barest of bones (I almost would've preferred no dialogue at all). But is this all just a matter of taste? The film definitely stirred me. Provoked a thought process that has continued to haunt me for over a month. Something few films do.
After taking this journey through my own...(dare I)...film-life tree...I don't know how to wrap it up.

I can't wait for "Harry Potter?" I am eager to see the all stars join this season's "So You Think You Can Dance?" I am dreading this upcoming Oscar season and want to hold onto to the summer's innocence as long as I can?

Yes....all of the above.

Summer is, whether being blockbuster fluff or high art, about break time. A break from the norm, a break from the grind. And, while it may have taken me a month to get this published...it seems fitting. Give me a break....It's summer.

One Long (awaited), Hot Summer