MovieChat Forums > Local Hero (1983) Discussion > How many times have you watched Local He...

How many times have you watched Local Hero?

posted 17 years ago by rthomp-8
78 replies | jump to latest

I guess most people on this message board love Local Hero. For me it is one of my two favourite films. I first watched it soon after it came out at a cinema in St Helens. I must have watched it 10 times since, more than any other film. Somehow, I find I can watch it many times and I don't get bored of it, whereas I would with other films.

I'm interested in how many times others have watched it over the years. Where did you first watch it? And do you feel the same about not getting bored with it?

[–] mowbie 14 years ago

Since the film came out on DVD I must have watched this movie at least 20 times but it's been a few years since I last viewed it. Now I have to see it again as I just saw "In The Loop" with Peter Capaldi(not a good film but not his fault). I realize that he is big in England but I hadn't seen him in years. Now my addiction to LH has returned to my life and a need a fix BAD!

[–] Davis-86 14 years ago

Many, many times. It is something of an antidote to loneliness, which I seem to feel more of recently for some reason. The story, I think, is about being lonely and the way there is something of a general sadness about life that we all must deal with as best as possible. As the characters deal with loneliness I feel a kinship and it eases my concerns for just a short while.

[–] rikuhourula 14 years ago

A dozen or so.

[–] Eightythreeyearoldguy 13 years ago

I just discovered it so have only watched it once. However, I will be showing it to my movie group Saturday night.

Life, every now and then, behaves as though it had seen too many bad movies

[–] kathy_in_wlsv 13 years ago

My husband and I have watched it probably 100 times. It's a wonderful, wonderful movie.

[–] Mickyfinn 13 years ago

Can you report how it was received by your group?

You just have to be resigned-
You're crashing by design

[–] Eightythreeyearoldguy 13 years ago

The group did really love it. One of those films none of us had heard of and a wonderful discovery for all of us.

Life, every now and then, behaves as though it had seen too many bad movies

[–] Brimac98 13 years ago

100 times at least -- dead heat with "Being There" as my all time favorite movie.

Sadly have lent it to other people over the years who found it very slow -- sadly I think its because every quirky comedy in the last 30 years has indirectly ripped off this movie's quiet, comic style, and people these days think "oh God, not another quirky comedy"

I think most of us in 1983 were in the right place at the right time when we saw this movie and how great it was at the time -- like everything these days, nothing is original for very long.

[–] jimel98 13 years ago

In its entirety, couldn’t say, maybe about 7 or 8 times; in bits and pieces, maybe 50. It’s one of those movies I can’t get tired of watching. Oh, sure, if I watched it every day for four or five weeks I might, but sporadically and sometimes as a surprise, this movie is one of my absolute favorites. Often times, the ‘small’ movies are the best movies.

[–] rthomp-8 13 years ago

After reading your comments I read the reviews on Being There. I've since bought the DVD and watched it. I can understand why you like it, it's got that same gentle feeling about what's important in life. I didn't (yet) enjoy it quite as much as local hero though! Thanks for the tip.

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] sabalon1 13 years ago

was watching horatio hornblower - the fire ships episode with denis lawson and had the urge to pop into here.

have definately seen it dozens of times. it definately defines my life at this point. currently job hunting, and one of my prerequisites is that i must either work or live in a coastal town. trying to find a place along the new england coast that will be as inviting as furness is in the movie.

is one of my top five personal all five films

local hero
harold and maude
creator
silence like glass
lost in translation

if it wasn't for my horse, i wouldn't have spent that year in college

[–] wooody 8 years ago

I'm a fossil who has seen thousands of films. Local Hero is my favorite. I just came across your post and had to respond. You absolutely nailed it about copycat quirky genre films. When someone describes a film as quirky it always draws my attention. And I remember after Local Hero how many films and television shows tried to capture the subtle tone(An Englishman Who Went Up a Hill and Came Down a Mountain and Northern Exposure)come to mind. Thanks for your post.

[–] emncaity 13 years ago

At least a dozen. Possibly 15-20. To me it's the very definition of a quiet little masterpiece.

[–] johnnyhightest 13 years ago

I'm watching it right now! It popped up on PBS and as such is running with no commercials. And it's tough, because I'm trying to make dinner at the same time and it's making me run in and out of the room. I can tell you right now I'm definitely not bored and loving every minute of it.

It has been a while since I last watched the whole thing, but I would say I have watched it about 10 times. I first saw it in the theater (1983, had to go to the movies to see anything first time), then rented it on VHS a bunch of times since then. I don't watch movies over and over again, and I tend to save movies like this for special screenings. I had even rented it to watch on a date once, but the other person broke up with me that night! (I watched it anyway. I wasn't going to let anyone ruin my enjoyment of it).

Bill Forsythe is a master storyteller and an even better filmmaker. Another movie by him, Comfort and Joy, is quite good as well, but nothing comes close to Local Hero. There's so much going on in this movie--social commentary, big business intrigue, human nature, international relations in a time of political tension (the Russians are friendly?), environmental awareness, life transformation and lots of subtle humor, all done in a way that is mesmerizing, with way too many favorite scenes and quotes to even begin to mention here.

Ok, just one..."How about a hatful of sand?"

And yes, one of the best final scenes ever.

[–] fugazzi49 13 years ago

I believe I've seen it five or six times since I first saw it in a theater in Cincinnati in 1983. Though the opening listed here is February, 1983, I remember seeing it in the summer; perhaps it didn't open everywhere at once. It was one of the first movies I rented when I got a VCR in 1985, and I've seen it several times since, most recently just a few weeks ago. I think the gentleness of the film, and the way it gradually draws you in until you're totally under the spell of this magical place makes it endlessly watchable.

[–] MeMichelfAndI 12 years ago

Hey, fugazzi49, my fiance & I saw it in a Cincinnati thater in 1983 as well! I laughed SO hard at the scene when the people are sneaking out of the church! For myself & my now husband of almost 30 years, this is still "our movie". Every so often, we just need a fix of it, first on VHS, then DVD.
I wouldn't say we see it as regularly as once a year, but we've already seen it twice in the last few months so I guess it evens out.
I would estimate we've seen it maybe 20 times.

[–] jorgemtrevino 13 years ago

Five or six. I keep getting more superb details from it with every iteration.

[–] rap31264 12 years ago

Just finished it for probably the 5th or 6th time...

[–] oldgal3 12 years ago

I have no idea how many times, probably in the teens, but tonight is the night! It's been about a year and I am ready to enjoy it again. While the snow flies, and everybody else is out celebrating, this household will sit down to enjoy this wonderful film one more time.
Among the times I have seen it include one where Peter Riegert attended and spoke, charmingly, afterwards, telling Burt Lancaster stories and Bill Forsyth anecdotes.

[–] hodie 12 years ago

More than 20, and I'm due to see it again.

"Joey, have you ever been in a Turkish prison?"

[–] vogonjab 11 years ago

just reviewed obivion (my first review) made me think of great films i've seen this being one of them. it kicks oblivion out of the water. stronger language would be used but not appropriate.this film gives so much to to the person watching that other films don't.you have to be increadibly stupid not to understand the film.