Have you had any love affairs with movies?

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I've had, for example, a hot, passionate relationship with Waking Life ever since I fatefully saw it (randomly) on TV. It's amazing and it seems my mind constantly uses it to express emotions more effectively, since the art in the movie, combined with the philosophy seems to be a realistic reflection of my inner workings.

Then there was Altered States - downloaded it after some research (although, I think it may have been kind of randomly as I didn't know there was actually a film with those exact words). I watched it not straight after it finished downloading, in a similar procrastinatory fashion of my personality, but when I was compelled to watch it - the title itself would have probably propelled more dopamine than most other films - I was mesmerized. This doesn't at all happen often to this extent, and certainly not with any other movies from the 70s (not sure I know of any other), but in this film I saw myself as an ideal. It is as if I was able to successfully transfer all my passion and interests into a single other body which sort of did better in life and had more resources and support.

So... well, you could see how those two movies intertwine.

And what are yours, why and how did it occur? (Please try to be as detailed as I was! )

I like how you describe your interest in your favorite movies as "love affairs". I've always thought of my feelings towards my own favorite movies as being similar to romantic relationships.

For the past 2 and a half years I have had an intense yet dysfunctional relationship with the movies that Tim Burton and Johnny Depp collaborated on. When I first discovered the movies they had worked on together (which includes movies such as Edward Scissorhands, Sweeney Todd, Sleepy Hollow, Dark Shadows, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Alice in Wonderland), I felt how I imagined a newlywed would feel - emotionally high and deeply in love. I connected so well with those movies because I saw different aspects of myself in the different characters that Depp played in each movie, and the fact that Burton's movies almost always involve the theme of not fitting in with society struck a chord with me.

The trouble began when that "honeymoon phase" ended several months ago. I crave and long for the lovestruck feeling that I got from those movies when I first discovered them, but the passion just isn't there anymore. This has led to me feeling torn between wanting to try new things to try and see if anything connects with me, and not wanting to let go of my former obsession with Burton and Depp's movies. My problem is that I always feel guilty for trying new things, as though the characters in Burton and Depp's movies have feelings and I am betraying them and hurting them by letting them go and trying out new things.

Though I am still struggling with my feelings toward Burton and Depp's movies, I have managed to have mini-love affairs with a few other movies on the side:

Secret Window is another Johnny Depp movie, though one that Tim Burton did not direct. I really connected with this movie, or rather Depp's character in this movie, because of his personality and struggles. I would elaborate more but I don't want to spoil anything for those who have not yet seen the movie. And when I say that I connected with Depp's character - whose name is Mort Rainey - I mean really connected with him; to the point where I run my hand through my hair like he does, sigh like he does, and say things that I think he would say in social situations where I need to be more confident.

Two other movies that I have really enjoyed are Fight Club and the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series (Swedish version) - specifically for the characters of Marla Singer and Lisbeth Salander, respectively. After giving it some thought, I think that I have connected with them because they each represent the extremes of my negative emotions - Marla my sense of hopelessness ("Marla's philosophy was that she could die at any moment... And that it was a tragedy that she didn't", not an exact quote because it's been a few days since I last saw Fight Club), and Lisbeth my inner fury, as well as both of them my repressed sexuality.

I would agree with your choice of words. I definitely have had love affairs with movies, or music. I would listen or watch specific ones frequently. over the years several science fiction movies I would watch over and over, or daydream about them when I could not watch. I would be hung up on a particular movie for months and months. As a teenager I went through as weird as it is The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and year later The Crow. I wish I could say there was some artistic merit to my obession with them but there was not. I would also later listen to The Crow soundtrack too everynight to go to sleep. Then I became obessed with Pearl Jam. I did grow up in the nineties hence the nineties references in pop culture to my tastes at the time.

Probably Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca. I first saw it in a 10th grade English class WAY back in 1976. It was one of the first non-kid movies I had seen. My mother was very strict on what movies my brother and I could see.

This film completely changed me and was the gateway drug to my addiction to film. After years and years of Walt Disney, I had no idea that films could be like that -- in turn funny and scary and romantic and thrilling and mysterious. While I may have seen other films more often, Rebecca holds a special place in my heart.

is this a sex thing or what?

i would say when i was younger it was Free Willy because i loved whales. i used to watch that movie so much i literally remember every line and every shot/scene that i could literally play the entire movie in my head.

Oh, I've had movie obsessions. No Country for Old Men I've practically memorized... the Aviator... When I was a kid it was The Little Mermaid, Pocahontas, and Mulan. I loved any character that was slightly different from the rest.

My most recent obsession is Lawrence of Arabia. I think that the titular Lawrence is one of the most fascinating and complex characters to ever be put to screen. Peter O'Toole also gives an intense, almost Shakespearean performance that I find mesmerizing.