What is Your Favorite "180-Degree Movie"?

In case you're wondering, a "180 degree movie" is one that you didn't particularly care for (or maybe even disliked) that became a favorite after watching it again later in life. Perhaps, this phenomenon has never happened to you...but I've experienced it on multiple occasions. My favorite 180-degree movie is Alfred Hitchcock's Marnie.

When I saw Marnie as a teenager, it made no impression at all. I thought Tippi Hedren was miscast and Sean Connery dull. The plot--what there was of one--was thin and the characters lacked interest. The cheap production values shocked me, especially the horrible use of rear screen projection during the fox hunt and the hokey set used for the closing "exterior" shot.

Flash forward three deacdes later. During a routine video store visit, I spotted Marine on the shelves. I had recently watched a slew of Hitchcock films during an AMC marathon and thus decided: "Oh, what the heck, I'll give Marine another try."

To my complete surprise, I loved it. Tippi Hedren's subtle detached performance made Marnie a vulnerable, intriguing character. The progressively complex relationship between Marnie and Mark (Connery) generated suspense--in its own quiet way--worthy of Hitch’s best man-on-the-run films. I was captivated by Hitch's finest use of color (especially during the opening scenes). And finally, there was Bernard Herrmann's incredible score (which, for me, ranks second only to Vertigo among his Hitchcock soundtracks). I've often wondered how I missed all of this the first time around?

The answer is a complex one, of course. It's easy to forget that "we" are a part of the movie-watching experience. Each time we watch a movie, we overlay it with our own emotions, our likes and dislikes, and even our remembrances of every movie we've seen. Our tastes in the arts naturally evolve over time. Had I not been exposed to  foreign-language films in college, would I be one of those people who never watch a foreign film because of those darn subtitles? I'd like to think not, but who knows!

I also think one can't underestimate the environment and state of mind when viewing a movie. If you're in the midst of a heavy romance, then Somewhere in Time may be an enchanting, tear-inducing experience. But watch it for the first time after a bitter breakup and one's assessment may be altogether different.

There are many reasons why a film may go from zero to favorite. But the question is: What is your favorite 180-degree movie?