When I go to the movies, it’s usually one of three reasons.
First, to see it with or for somebody else. Previewing movies to make sure they’re okay for my kids has been a practice all their movie-going lives. Previews don’t say whether or not a “family” movie is going to be bawdy, and seriously: do you trust Hollywood to rate Hollywood? I took Christopher to see Toy Story 3d last week, and we both got emotional when Andy was saying goodbye to his toys.
Second, to learn something. I know that sounds documentary-ish, but it’s really not. I go see movie adaptations of books I’ve read, and some of them turn out to be real winners. The Princess Bride is still one of my all-time favorites. They don’t have to be documentaries or books I’ve read to enjoy them either. I went to see V for Vendetta because of the political undertones the previews showed. Undertones, schmundertones! It was a violent, political, and excellent movie in my opinion. Frankly, our whole country could do with seeing it if they’d understand the message. Jim Caveizel’s protrayal of Count of Monte Cristo was a fun ride too. That sort of thing.
Third, for recreation. I love seeing a comedy that’s just plain silly. Joe Versus the Volcano was unbelievable, would never happen, and was a fun ride. Karen and I went to see Killers, the retired hitman marries the clueless housewife whose dad used to be a hitman too movie. It was a great ride too. (warning: f-bomb toward the end. Yeah I gotta give disclosures like that so somebody doesn’t think I’m endorsing debaucherism or something…)
Why go to movies at all? For me it is a form of recreation. It’s a bit refreshing to let my mind enjoy how somebody else is being creative. I don’t take other people’s ideas and steal them, but have you ever noticed that you can run longer when others are running with you? Why do you think the military has enlistees march together for hours? There’s a strength in momentum.
Take another look at that. When absolutely everybody you see is able to do something, it makes you think you can do it too! There’s a bible principle in there somewhere. You’re reaching and reaching and reaching and can’t seem to reach a particular level. Then you look around and see everybody else reaching it. How you react depends on the voices you listen to. “What’samatter with me? Am I incompetant? Why can’t I do what everybody else is able to do?” Or “I can do this! Look around! Everybody else is able to do this too. I’ll get it!” Or “You’re nothing! We are better than you because we can and you can’t!” (Granted, they don’t say it that way, but put it in different words and we’ve all heard it, huh?)
I saw a terrible movie with Karen once, and I mean it was baa aaaa aaadddd. Not nasty. Not evil. Not violent. Not anything. Just awful. Do you know what? We came out of there laughing with each other about how terrible it was, and then she says, “If they can spend money making THAT a movie, Calliope is going to be awesome!”
My only published novel so far is Calliope. And yes, it would be very cool to see it on the big screen. But that’s not why we go to the movies. We go to get back into that momentum of creativity and imagination and fun and emotion. And every once in a while, it’s worth the price of our tickets.
