re: Changed movie opinions on first and second viewings

What's interesting to me is watching movies after I have more life experience. Things hit differently at different times in your life. I don't think that's profound or eye-opening, but it is interesting to look at from outside of yourself and try and understand what's happened in your life to make you interpret art differently than you once had.

What I once thought was edgy is now straight cheese, or what was once a romcom now hits way too close to home. Someone mentioned Fifth Element, and that's an example of one I thought was edgy and awesome and is pretty hard for me to watch anymore. The first time I saw Love Actually I hated it, but I've oddly come to at least enjoy it (maybe not love).

I also have to remind myself to judge a film based on when it was made, and not when I'm watching it. If a film had a lot of copy-cats or set a style, it may age worse than it really deserves.

It's also fun to look at from a technical standpoint. The more I learn about things like photography, lighting, sound, writing, etc, the more I can appreciate something I used to take for granted.

I loved Dances with Wolves as a kid, but it's a slog for me nowadays. Same for Braveheart.
Younger me watched Blade Runner and couldn't follow it, but now I love it.
I used to love Apatow comedies, but they're not as funny to me.
Moneyball was ho-hum on my first viewing, but now I love it.
17-year old me loved the Matrix sequels, but now I'm like "wtf were they thinking?"