Popcorn flick, circa 1973: My earliest memory of a popcorn flick was the Swiss Family Robinson.

Now, this presents a problem, since Google tells me the show came out in 1960, and I clearly remember seeing it at a drive-in movie with my parents in 1973.

But I digress. The fact is, The Swiss Family Robinson was my first popcorn flick.

What is a popcorn flick, you ask?

For me, 'tis heaven.

Star Wars was a popcorn flick. Die Hard was a popcorn flick to me (okay, most gals don't like the violence like I do... but I love that movie).

And of course, the ultimate popcorn flick? Anything that involves Dr. Indiana Jones.

That's why I am so incredibly keyed up about the fourth installment in the Dr. Jones saga, Indiana Jones and the Cave of the Crystal Skull, set to open nationwide on May 22.

Yeah, yeah, so Indiana Jones is long in the tooth. So what? So am I. But he is still thrilling. He still has the fedora and the bullwhip. And he is still the star of the ultimate popcorn flick.

My kids have been introduced to this genre from the earliest of ages. We saw Spiderman at a drive-in movie in Auburn, sitting in lawn chairs in the back of a truck. We have gone to opening nights of pirate movies, and of Star Wars movies.

To me, there is nothing like the excitement, thrill, and energy of an opening night of a popcorn flick. And by popcorn flick, I mean a movie that promises to give you a good time, that promises to be fun for all, and that promises to do that... while not making you think too much.

Should I be ashamed of loving this kind of movie? Shouldn't I prefer My Dinner with Andre or Amelie?

Which is not to say those are not wonderful movies. But really, do you need popcorn when you see them?

When I think of Swiss Family Robinson, I think of our car. My sister and I were in back, dressed in p.j.s. We had a speaker attached to the window, and my parents were in front. We played on the teeter-totter in the twilight before the movie started.

Did we make it through the movie? I don't think so. (Clearly, if we did, I might remember that the movie is 13 years older than I think it is.)

But I remember the feeling of loving life, loving popcorn, loving being with my family, and loving the movies.

So, 30 years later or so, I look forward to the man with the fedora and the bullwhip. And I already plan on bringing my three kids on opening day... no matter how bad the lines may be.

Because in the end of the day, there are a number of things that I would love my children to remember about their childhoods: I want them to remember doing s'mores at the beach. I want them to remember me coaching their ball team. I want them to remember singing together. And I think I would like them to remember seeing a popcorn flick with their mom, whether it is at 7 pm, or midnight.

After all, what could be better than seeing Harrison Ford play a hero at an age where most guys are cashing in their retirement plans? Talk about moxie.

We will sit there with our popcorn trays, grinning from ear to ear, enjoying the movie previews and the excitement in the crowd.

Well, there's no feeling like it.

Popcorn flicks do feel good, don't they? And the reality of taking my kids to a popcorn flick like this may even put my warm memories of Swiss Family Robinson to shame.

Lauri Hennessey has written this column for the nine years. She has three children, and adores movies in all shapes and sizes. You can reach her at lauri@hennesseypr.com. But you cannot reach her on May 22, when she will be seeing Indiana Jones and the Cave of the Crystal Skull.