I love movies. I mean I love movies. I don't just go to a movie, I experience the movie. It speaks to me - it was made specifically for me. I know that sounds crazy - but I feel movies more then most people. There are certain movies that are deal breakers for true friendship with me. ie: If you don't love and appreciate a specific movie the way I do - that may mean that you and I are not destine to be friends the way I thought we were suppose to be.
I remember the first time I felt a movie at a very core level. I have no idea why it struck me - but when I was younger (8 years old)there was a movie that came out that I could not shake for days. You will laugh or think I am strange when I say this - but Return to Witch Mountain hit me square in my heart. IFor those who have not seen it it is about a brother and sister from another planet who come here and their spaceship has problems or something like that. Anyway they have specials powers and are being chased by the government or an eccentric million - I can't even remember - the point is at the end of the movie they get back in the spaceship and head back home. What struck me was - I was convinced that they had left me behind - like i was from a different planet, and now I was stuck here without anyone really knowing who I was. I know - it's weird, I grew out of it.
Anyway a few years later I went on my yearly trip with my dad to California. My dad always took me on one of his trips to California or other destinations. It was a daddy daughter trip. I was the only one who went because my sister Emily was more of a mommas girl - and she had no desire to go. These trips were the best, because I got to meet people, feel important, and travel, eat at new places, etc. And sometimes go to movies that may or may not have been on the approved list should my mother have been present on the trip. On this particular trip I believe it was my 14th birthday and the movie Terms of Endearment had just come out. I got to go to this movie. It was the most amazing movie ever. I could barely get out of my seat when it concluded. I wanted more - I felt older and wiser just because I saw it. That year when the Oscar Night came around - I watched and for once I actually had seen one of the movies nominated - and my goodness did I root for it to win.
Since that time - I do my best every year to see all the movies that are nominated in the major categories - I want to be able to have my opinion mean something (if only to me) because I saw all the movies. I love the whole experience of seeing the movies, sitting in the darkened theater, maybe some popcorn (if it looks like the good kind- I could write a whole other blog just about that) picking just the right seat. The thing about my quest to see all the movies, is that generally the people in my life don't have any desire to see all the movies - Often they aren't even playing in nearby theaters - I have had to travel to see them in time. Once I was England during Oscar season - so I saw Shakespeare in Love in England with Kettle Corn by my side.
I love going to movies alone. There is no one there to change my experience of the film. No -" what's going on?" whispered in hushed tones, etc. Some folks don't like to go to movies alone - they feel weird or out of place, like every one's looking at them and thinking -" are they alone?" I could careless what people think. I love going alone. Feeling the movie, thinking what I think about it, having my own non-influenced opinion. So this week for your moment of bliss - Go see a movie - by yourself. In Salt Lake the Holladay Cinema's Six is the best. They are never over crowded and have really cheap tickets - There popcorn is by far the best!! the total cost will less then 20.00 (with treats) and you can have 2 hours of escape while enjoying one of this years Oscar contenders - May I suggest - The Kings Speech, or True Grit!!
