My Best Movie Going Experiences
I’ve complained a lot about the experience of going to see movies in the theaters. And it’s true that like most of us who venture to the theater, I’ve had some miserable experiences that would turn anyone into a grub-like recluse. The shouting at the screen, the talking on the cellphone, the shaking of chairs, the children in Rated R movies screaming and crying while parents laugh and snort, the out of focus, bad sound of experience.
And that’s OK for the most part. But there are those films that require, or at the least quietly request that they be seen on a large screen in a darkened theater. Dark Knight, Bond movies, you know the type that I’m talking about. But not only are these few and far between, but I don’t know that the experience of them even makes it close to making up for the terrible experiences that I’ve had with the cinema in my 30-odd years of life on this earth.
Wow. That was quite the rant. That said, there are a handful of movie going experiences that to this very day I hold close to my heart. Some experiences were because of the theater itself, most because the movie was a revolutionary discovery in some formative moment of my life. And though I’ve had the occasional mind-blowing discovery at home or in film class (the Mike Leigh film Naked, stands out as a particular film class revolution), the following three movies were uniquely cinematic experiences that I still remember fondly.
3. Batman (1989)
Needless to say, or perhaps, important to note, is that Batman was the Movie event of the decade when it was released, or at least that’s how it seemed to me. All I knew is that the movie was dark, scary, but so much fun. My uncle took us early in the movie’s opening, huge crowds, in LA. And even better, I believe it was a 70mm presentation at the Cinerama Dome (now the famous Arclight Theater methinks.) Huge screen, great sound. Not to mention it was the forbearer for all the comic book and adult-themed action movies that we’ve come to enjoy today.
2. The Matrix (1997)
It’s hard to remember a time before The Matrix in terms of science-fiction, action and special effects. Jaw-dropping in its execution; dark, and wonderful. Of course, my memories of the film were subsequently diluted by repeated viewings on DVD (things tend to lose their power when you know them intimately, no?) the one thing that I do remember is walking out of the theater, into the brightness of the California sunshine, quickly questioning the reality of world around me.
1. Requiem for a Dream
My God. I loved everything about this movie going experience. I had heard grumbling about how great, and disturbing this film would be, and that despite the great cast, would be impossible to find in mainstream theaters because of it was unrated release. So I traveled alone one dark night to downtown Sacramento to find the one theater, the Crest, where I would able to see it, short of traveling to San Francisco.
It was a late showing. Not the greatest part of town, but managed to crawl into the theater with fewer than 30 seats and a bunch of strangers, film-dorks and ne’er-do-wells. What emerged from the screen was a powerful and disturbing portrait of addiction and pain. A quintessential viewing experience that any fan of independent film should have at one point in their lives: unfamiliar place, old theater, amazing film. Alone in the city.
Honorable Mentions:
Jurrassic Park
Dinosaurs. The biggest movie in history. 15 years old, you do the math on how great that experience was for me.
Casino
Late night, day opening viewing that started at 11 and ended at 2 in the morning. Never did seeing a film late feel so right, disorienting and depressing.