For some reason, The Graduate was the first movie I thought of for this thread. And I like it, and am not 25. It’s clear that there’s a lot of subtlety to the movie, and I look forward to re-watching it. It’s been a few years.
Another vote for “under 25 and loved it” - after all, the younger viewers can relate to Scarlett Johansson’s character. But there may be something to what you’re saying anyhow.
Maybe so. I didn’t like Sideways. I could appreciate that it was very well-acted and written, but the guys were jerks- and I didn’t enjoy the feeling that if everything went wrong in my life, I’d wind up a lot like Miles.
Given the OP, I think we’re talking about two different things here:
Books/movies/etc. that mean more or something different as you age.
Material that is aimed at a particular age group and loses/acquires meaning when you leave/enter that group.
For #1, I offer “Dune.” When I first read it at a tender age, Leto was ranting “They have tried to take the life of my son.” More than once. I started ranting back at him “He’s OK, get over it!” When I read it now that I have a kid (well, 7 kids), it’s more powerful every time.
For #2, almost all pop music qualifies. There are very few songs of my youth that I still find even listenable, much less cool.
I read The Great Gatsby when I was a sophomore in HS. It was ok, and I got an A on the paper. I remember liking it, but not really getting it.
I reread it 2 years ago for a bookclub I’m in–totally blown away. And I thought (may I be forgiven)–why do they waste such great literature on teens? (forgive me-it was a passing thought).
Same thing in reverse for Catcher in the Rye --I loooooved that book when I was 17. I loved Holden and Phoebe etc. I also reread that one for a bookclub and I thought, “what a spoiled little whiner you are, Holden.”
So, I agree with the premise that there are times in anyone’s life where certain books matter more. Movies, too–and music, I suppose. Poetry, especially and Art as well.
Which book, song, poem, movie etc is up to the individual. I do know that as I age (I am all of 43 now), I tend to prefer the not so black and white, the flawed hero, the better ending, if not a happy ending. I was an incredible Romantic as a 20 something. It’s not that I have become more cynical(although I have in some ways and in some ways, less cynical than before) but I am more pragmatic/realistic. Who knows what another 20 years will bring?
