You Ought to be in Pictures

I went to a real movie last week.  Yup, one in an actual theater. 

I had forgotten how big the screens are and how loud the sound. The feeling as the room goes dark and the images appear. Coming attractions are so much more appealing on a giant screen, especially with popcorn.

It was the first time in two and a half years I had seen a movie outside of my home. I used to go three to four times a month. It was one of my favorite things, but world circumstances took it away. Not once in the over two hours I sat in theater did I miss my electronics that are my constant companion whilst watching at home. I have become the Queen of Multi-tasking in front of my television. Even though I reprimand myself for this behavior, I have not given it up.

As I sat mesmerized by the flickering images and dialogue, I remembered why I loved it so much. For that time, I had nowhere else to be, nothing else to do but to immerse myself in the imaginary world playing out in front of me.  I could enjoy the story, feel the emotion, notice the dialogue and celebrate the writing. It transported me to foreign places where I cannot yet go, but long to revisit. The phone could not ring, the dogs did not need anything, there was no task that could not wait. It was magical.

When the pandemic started you were aware of what you lost.  All the freedoms and normal everyday activities you took for granted. As a few months turned into a year and then two years, it was the new normal and the things you initially missed were faded into the background. Many of them seemed too much effort. Why go pay for a movie when you had hundreds if not thousands at your disposal on your television, iPad, laptop or phone?

I was wrong. There is something so much better, richer, fun, engaging and wonderful. Going into suspended animation in a giant room, that is pitch black and there is only the story in front of you.