sure

I decided to go see the standard chick flick movie last Friday night.  The movie was called “because I said so” and yes it was one of those incredibly predictable movies that all men hate to go see, but my man had to come, due to his promise on Valentines day.

I choose this movie because I felt that it was one of the worst movies out that I coud see.  I did this because I tried to see the movie experience the same way that Russell Smith has chose to see it.

It was a very busy Friday night, I think because “Ghost Rider” just came out.  The lines were packed full of young adolescent boys, excited to see their comic book superhero up on the big screen.  Now, even I would have thought that this probably would have bothered me, but it didn’t.  I found their conversations actually quite interesting and to some extent a bit amusing.  I mean that is why you go to movies is to feel good correct?

After purchasing the tickets, everyone gets excited about popcorn. There is just something wonderful about the smell of salted popcorn with layered butter. This is something Russell continuesly complains about, but no one ever comes to the movies because it is healthy, it’s pure entertainment. Therefore, snacks are perfectly acceptable. My boyfriend and I then stand in line and watch as the people pour popcorn into the bags and quickly squirt butter (or margrine if you don’t feel like paying .50 cents) onto the popcorn. We watch Chad squirt butter on our popcorn and get a bit on the bag. He apoligizes but we shrug it off claiming it is going to get all over our hands anyways. After all we aren’t here for the good eats, we are here for the total experience. If we were in a fancy restraunt it may be a different situation, but were not, we all are here for the entertainment.

After getting your food you of course move into the ticket ripping line. This line is actually my favorite line. This is the line that the “hard core” movie goers get super pumped in. In this case it was the “Ghost rider” people who were talking about who the vilian is, and how cool it is when Ghostrider is on fire. I turn to my boyfriend and we quietly snicker, both knowing that we were once that excited about something so simple.

Once we get through the ticket ripping and into our theatre we settle down and everyone begins to munch. This was something that really irritated Russell Smith so I tried really hard to pay attention to it. He said it was noisy and loud, and people were eating like animals. I looked at the couple sitting in front of us and they were eating piece by piece with napkins, being careful not to spill. Then there was a family of four to the left of me, with the little boys taking as big of handfulls as their dad, and trying to stuff the whole thing in their mouth just like their dad. Therefore, I don’t see these people as wild packs of wolves or lions as Smith would describe them as. I see it as a quiet way of bonding, a way to share something. It is not disgusting or loud, and if it is then maybe a movie theatre is not the place for you. For example, Smith also talks about the mess in the aisles and how disgusting this is. Well, I didn’t know we were going to a fancy party. Oh right, cause were not. We are going to a relaxing movie, to put us at ease. So an easy solution: don’t wear your formal shoes. There Smith you’ve been for warned. And even so I found barely any remenents of popcorn.

After settling down in the theatre, I watched as it piled up. Everyone is munching on their popcorn and nachos. Since this movie is a romance, there is mostly couples in the theatre. I notice one particular couple. You can tell they were on their first date because he was trying to impress her with those beginning ads. And ironically so was my boyfriend, but in our case, it was more to just annoy me. Infact, the more I looked around the more I noticed how true it is that everyone plays those games. And what a good idea, how else are we suppose to keep entertained before the movie. We did come here for entertainment after all right?

After the lights dim the trailers come out. Smith goes into lengthy detail as to why this is annoying. So I wonder if he has ever been to a concert? They always start with opening bands to get the audience excited about the real entertainers. Same holds true about the trailers. The last trailer before the main movie was “wild hogz”. A comedy right before a romantic comedy. I watched everyone throught the ads, everyone captivated by the sounds and images being shown on the big screen. No one is talking, everyone is almost in a meditative state, focusing on only one object ( the screen) unaware of other distractions. To me this is the purpose for going to a movie. It is an escape from reality, a way to just relax. Therefore, the movie industry works hard to find ways to make sure your experience provides these things.

As everyone files out of the movie, I hear everyone talking about the oh so predictable questions: “Did you like it? What about that one part? Did you think the acting was good?” These are the questions that everyone asks, and is curious to know. Why? who knows. Must just be “movie talk”.

Movie going are for those who want to escape reality. Those who do not, have no place there (yes, that means you Russell Smith). Our movie no matter how terrible it was ( and it was) will not stop us from going to others. It is for fun and not boredom as Smith claims. I feel like people like Smith are just so stuck on being so proper that he has no real concept of waht relax means. As for the rest of us, we all I think really appreciate such wonderful entertainment!