How to Watch a Movie...

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I go out to the movies a lot. One of my favorite things to do. Occasionally, I talk to people who never do so. And I find this shocking. I can understand the one's who tell me "Oh, I can't afford it because I have three kids, so that's $50 for everyone just for tickets, much less snacks and so on". I have been there myself so yeah, sometimes practical concerns get in the way. But the people who say "I have a good entertainment system at home, so I just wait for movies to come out on Netflix and watch it there."

Those people, I don't get. 

To me, there are lots of things that make a movie worth going to the theater for. For one thing, there is simply the fact of getting out of the house. I am a homebody and enjoy staying home. And I am not exactly a social butterfly. But sometimes it is nice to get out of the house but not really have to interact with people except maybe my wife. And movies are perfect for that. I can't explain it, exactly, but just having that...excuse...to leave my apartment is just a good reason to go.

Also, a movie theater (ideally) has far fewer distractions. When I watch a movie at home I have my phone, I have my cats, I have the sounds of my neighbors doing whatever the hell it is that they do. Occasionally someone comes to my door. And so one and so forth etcetera etcetera etcetera. But, barring the occasional misfortune of having rude people talking in the theater, I have almost no distractions in the theater. And even if I do get the occasional butthole who refuses to shut up during the movie, it's still less distaraction than my neighbors making their noise, one cat throwing up and the other cat insisting on walking in front of the TV.

Details. If a movie was originally shot to be seen on movie screen (as opposed to being straight to video), then there are often details that you just won't see on the TV unless you have have a pereption score of +28. "Ah, but I have a big screen TV" you say. And sure, your TV might be big but it isn't 20' x 50' big. I have seen several classic movies in theaters that I originally saw on TV and picked out lots of little details I never noticed before. Like in "It's a Wonderful Life" where George is talking to Mr. Potter. On TV, all I really noticed was that Mr. Potter had stuff on his desk. On the movie screen, I could pick out what that stuff was, like a skull shaped cigarette lighter. Kind of gave a little insight into him, in my opinion. 

Even the downsides (and as with anything, there ARE downsides to going to the cinema) aren't what they used to be. I used to HATE going to movies I knew would be packed. I am a big, big guy. I don't like to be squished and i don't like to squish anyone else. And older style movie theaters, when packed, are like flying coach. Crammed into tiny, uncomfortable seats next to total strangers damned near sitting in your lap. Not fun. But newer theaters, or theaters that have recently remodeled, have bigger plusher seats. Big enough that my fat butt can plop downn in one and even if the theater is crowded and I have a stranger sitting next to me, neither of us is encroaching on the other's space. It's great. And trays. Some theaters have little trays on the seats now. And those are a godsend. I have gotten so spoiled since my usual movie house has them and yesterday I went to a show at a different theater without them and my first thought was "Where the hell am I putting my nachos and my drink?" which is weird since it's only in the last two years or so that there was any thing to do without them besides just hold them. So if you are one of those people reluctant to go to a cinema because they are crowded and uncomfortable, try it again. Might have changed.

Lastly, there is just something to be said to seeing a movie while it is still new, while people are still talking about it. Being able to see a meme someone made about it and being ble to say "Haha, I get that" instead of having to wait until months down the road when you finally see the film. Gives one something to talk about.

So all in all, while I do love watching movies on my big ol' TV, seeing them in cinemas (arguably the way they were MEANT to be seen) is still the better choice. And I will do that whenever I can.