It is maybe hard to believe but going to the movies is not a social event. I know that there is usually a crowd in the theater. However, it is not a social event. You go there with maybe a friend and there are usually other people in the theater. However, when the movie is over there is no interaction with any other person who was within the theater. In fact, most of the people leave quietly. So I am not sure why people call this social interaction?
I really like watching movies. However, for me it is like studying a textbook trying to figure how the movie “works” or doesn’t work. I know I look at movies in a way that most people do not. The “entertainment” value is not the first thing that captures my attention. But it is there, somewhere. There are so many things to a movie for me. It is just not dialogue and action. I am “studying” all the other parts of the movie. The camera shots, sound, music, editing, etc. I also know that most people watching are not conscious of such things. I also know that people do not have to be aware of such things to enjoy a movie. I do not want to come off as being a “snob”. But my movie “taste” is not really one for the masses.
I had Monday off from work. And that meant it was movie day. I saw Kevin Smith’s latest Zach and Miri Make a Porno. I like his how he uses humor to offset the emotions of the characters. Just a heads up if you see it. You will not look at chocolate frosting the same way. And I found out there was a move called the “Dutch rudder”. Go figure. This was the second Kevin Smith movie I saw in a theater BY MYSELF. Yes! I had the whole theater to myself. I like going to the first showing of the day. Attendance is usually at a minimum and besides most people do not know how to behave at a movie anymore. In other words, SHUT UP AND WATCH THE MOVIE. This is the second Kevin Smith movie I saw by myself. It was Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. I did not see Jersey Girl in the theater. So it may have been three. Nothing personal but even Kevin Smith picks on that film a bit too. I did see Clerks by myself by the end of the showing at the theater. There was a small crowd in the theater and most of them were over 65 years old. There was a young couple on the other side of the theater and they were watching each other more than the movie. The elderly crowds (about 20 of them) were there because they saw a good review for in the local paper. And the movie theater is known for showing more Academy Award style movies and foreign films. Clerks is not a style of film usually shown there. As you can imagine the “humor” of the movie was lost on them. In fact, they all got mad and walked out. As the old woman behind me said as I was laughing my ass off, “That is the problem kids find these types of things funny. They should be ashamed”. That was 14 years ago and I still find it funny. That old woman will be disappointed that I have still not yet grown into being “ashamed”. Maybe next year. But knowing me. I would not bet on that happening.