Guilty Pleasures

Every one us has that secret stash of movies we watch when no one else is around. No, I'm not talking about your pron. I'm talking about those "guilty pleasure" movies that you love, but will never admit the fact to a group of friends.

I happen to be one of those people who will stand up for my guilty pleasure movies to my friends. And I routinely get shit for it. But I stand up for them anyway, because there's something in each one of those movies that I can relate to, or something that triggers a good memory, or whatever. And it usually involves a specific scene or a character I can relate to in some way.

So, here are a few of my guilty pleasure movies, thrown out there for all the world to see…and make fun of. But I will argue that there's at least one really good thing about each of them.

The Replacements

Sure the premise is silly, and the whole thing is unrealistic. No one can throw a professional football team together in one week. But I would argue that this movie has one really, really good scene that has always stuck with me. It's the "quicksand" scene.

Watch it here.

Days of Thunder

Yep, it's 100% "Top Gun" in a NASCAR stock car. And it has it's unrealistic moments, too (no one builds a stock car in a barn.) But there was something in that Tony Scott film that really hit me as a kid and sparked a life long interest in racing. It also has an interesting message about overcoming fear and believing in yourself. Maybe that's why I like it.

Timecop

As anyone who really knows anything about time travel will tell you, Timecop set forth the rules that all time travel movies must follow. I reference it in any discussion about the subject, much to the ridicule of those around me. But I have to admit, I will watch this movie over and over. This one is for a much different reason, though. To be able to go back and change that one event that spiraled your life down a different, more painful, path was something I could relate to at one time. And so, each time, I root for JVCD to save his wife.

Lethal Weapon 2

No one seems to be happy with this one. Everyone kind of disowned it. But, to me at least, it was a good movie. Yeah, it was too neat and convenient that the bad guys killed Riggs' wife and all that, but I liked the fact that they dealt with Riggs' past. I liked loner characters and, this time, I could see where he was coming from. And, of course, I loved that they opened it up in the middle of a car chase. Oh, and let's not forget "Diplomatic Immunity!"

Lockout

This one just seems to get on everyone's nerves. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 38% and the critics hated it. I, however, could watch this every day for the rest of my life. This really is the action movie that no one makes anymore and I could argue why, but I won't. I'll just say that Snow is one of the best heroes I've seen in a long time. He's a funny badass who doesn't give a shit. We don't see that enough in action movies. And he's put up against one of the better villains I've seen in a long time, as well, in Hydell. I think I love this movie because it reminds me of why I love action movies from the 1980's.

That's it. That's my list, for now. And I'm not trying to make the case that these movies are great, or even good. I'm just making the case for why I like them. Ridicule me all you want, but you've got a few in your closet as well.

And if any of these rubbed you the wrong way? Well, you know what they say…

"Rubbin's racing, Harry."