Of Batty and Burgers

14,673 Days Alive

4 Movies “By Association”

1 Wendy’s Junior Cheeseburger Eaten as Part of Dinner

Okay, so, this might seem a little random but I really miss Robin Williams’ movies. I could rattle off more than a few of his movies off the top of my head. I could associate at least one role with a particular emotion, even. But holy fuck do I hate having depression in common with him.

Now, let it be known that I do appreciate that he was a fellow Chicagoan. He was a fabulous comedian, amazing voice actor, and just a phenomenal person all around. May his memory be a blessing.

But his movies? Oh man are they often like straight oxygen to my lungs on bad days. Especially since I know he bore his brain gremlins like the weight they are and still managed to leave the world a better place in his wake.

His acting abilities were phenomenal and touching.

When I need to cry but can’t? What Dreams May Come (1998) will break open that mental/emotional dam every time while simultaneously reminding me how beautiful life is.

When I want an animated, 90 minute laugh fest with a bonus of Mel Brooks as an animated, large assed metal rollerball? Robots (2005).

Am I feeling nostalgic but combative? Bangarang, bitches! Let’s put on Hook (1991) and have an imaginary food fight.

Am I sad but not depressed and just feeling out of sorts? Toys (1992) will usually perk me up. It helps that I think I actively had a fever the first time I watched this movie and I thought I had hallucinated the toy war thing.

Do I need to ponder my own mortality in the face of the growing AI hellscape universe? Fuck me up, y’all, I’m gonna watch Bicentennial Man (1999) and cry about it.

Feeling queerer than usual? Double feature time! To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995) followed almost immediately by The Birdcage (1996).

If I just want something on in the background, the potential moves are pretty vast: FernGully: The Last Rainforest, and of the animated Aladdin movies he was actually in as the Genie, Jumanji, Flubber, either of the Happy Feet movies, or any of the Night at the Museum flicks are enjoyable as background noise.

It reminds me of a game we played when I was younger and still living with my mom. So… 2000? Maybe 2001? And after that. We were big on VHS/DVD movie nights. But we loved playing “By Association” for a three or more movie fest. What do I mean? I’ll explain in this example I gave my sibling earlier:

Robin Williams plays the neurotic and lovable bat, aptly named Batty, in the 1992 masterpiece that said “fuck you loggers” in a magical, musical animated film: FernGully, The Last Rainforest.

By association -> Tim Curry, who played Nexus, the bad guy, in the above movie, FernGully.
Also played Dr. Thornton Poole in the 1991 classic bonkers ass comedy Oscar.

By association -> Sylvester Stallone, who played Angelo “Snaps” Provolone in the above movie, Oscar.
Also played John Spartan in the 1993 comedy masterpiece Demolition Man.

By association-> Sandra Bullock, who played Lenina Huxley in the above movie, Demolition Man.
Also played Sally Owens in beautiful 1998 feature Practical Magic (which is finally-fucking-ly getting a sequel in 2026!!! Woooo!. Ahem).

By association -> Stockard Channing, who played/plays Aunt Francis Owens in the above movie, Practical Magic.
Also played Carol Ann in the drag-tastic flick from 1995: To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar.

By association: we are back to Robin Williams, who had a small cameo in the above movie, To Wong Foo.

The End!

That’s the game. My late mother loved playing it with Sean Connery, Nicholas Cage, or Wesley Snipes. We also had a deep love for some of the stage-to-screen musicals. Most predominantly, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Newsies, and Cats. Those are the three I remember the strongest. I can still probably recite the entirety of either Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat or Jesus Christ Superstar. Mom had a thing for Donny Osmond and Yvonne Eilliman, who played Mary Magdalene in the 1973 movie.

Also, I have accidentally realized that one of my “tism quirks” may be movie-related. I could play By Association for hours.

Anyway, mentally I’m exhausted, still not feeling great. Hoping that next week is easier than this week and I don’t get sick again.

I’m going to go read for a bit before I pass out.

Take your meds, folks.