I’m watching “The Great Outdoors” with John Candy and Dan Akroyd on DVD right now, and I just noticed that there are scratches and hairs and little imperfections on some of the negative. Nothing really serious, but in the era of the newer-than-new transfers onto DVD it feels almost nostalgic to see a slightly imperfect looking movie. It gives it soul and character. It proves that time has put a few scars on it, given it a few white hairs. I kinda like that. In fact, I was thinking that some movies should include an untouched version on their special edition DVD’s because watching a pristinely restored film can sometimes feel like looking at a beautiful woman who’s gotten plastic surgery. She’s still beautiful, but you know she’s not that young and that you’re seeing something fake, which ruins some primal, essential quality about her.
Films are like that. I want to see that they’ve travelled the long hard road with me, like a loyal friend. It’s very comforting in a way.
