By some unknown series of misfortunes, Suzanne had yet to see Return of the King, so Lesley decided to remedy this by having a “Make Suzie Watch Return of the King” party. Since such a film deserves to be seen on a big screen, I volunteered my home theater. Little did I realize how many people would be attending. I must have had 10 people in my apartment! At last I was able to see if my seating calculations would prove true. My new folding chairs came in handy as well.

This movie will always be close to my heart. I cannot separate the experience of seeing it from meeting Peter Jackson at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, surrounded by fellow geeks. Peter had been walking down the aisle and, when he turned to wave at someone, had lost his balance and tumbled down a few stairs, landing in front of me. A wave of shock washed over the theater as we thought, “We killed Peter!” Without really thinking about what I was doing, I reached down, grabbed him under the arm and pulled him to his feet (he is a small man), pointing him in the direction of the stage. Later, when he came back down the aisle to sit with us, I told him, “Hey, watch your step this time.” He chuckled and said that a nearby serving table had helped break most of the fall.

1. Return of the King
2. Children of Men
3. Stay
4. American Astronaut
5. Shortbus
6. Stranger Than Fiction
7. Pan’s Labyrinth
8. Apocalypto
9. Black Snake Moan
10. Heavenly Creatures