Wait, "84 Charing Cross Road"? I Actually Liked That!

Okay, I know, I know. "84 Charing Cross Road" isn't exactly spaceships and laser swords, right? But hear me out! For a hardcore sci-fi worldbuilder like me, there's still something incredibly appealing about this movie. It's about building a connection, a world, between Helene Hanff and Frank Doel through books and letters. Think about it: they're creating this shared reality, brick by literary brick, across the Atlantic. It's like a slow-burn, super-localized internet before the actual internet existed! The scene where Helene gets all excited about finding a rare book for Frank and sends it off, that's worldbuilding in microcosm! She's literally contributing to his world, and he's reciprocating by sending her glimpses of post-war London and the idiosyncrasies of Marks & Co. Plus, Anne Bancroft is awesome as Helene. She just gets that bookish enthusiasm. And Anthony Hopkins, even in his more understated role as Frank, conveys a certain quiet dignity and passion for literature that's totally believable. I will admit, the pacing can be a little slow for some folks. It's definitely not an action-packed extravaganza. But if you're into character-driven narratives and the power of shared interests to forge unexpectedly deep bonds, give it a shot. Maybe you'll find yourselves, like me, unexpectedly drawn into their little literary universe. I can get lost in creating other worlds, but this is a cool look at two people building a whole friendship in the real one. It's just, nice, y'know? Maybe the opposite of the big blockbuster.