Whether it’s a ‘tell everyone to see it flick’ or a ‘can I get a refund flop’ when you go to the theatre you get more than just the movie. You get people, food and atmosphere to enhance the movie; why else would people pay to see the movie at the theatre when they could just rent it at home. Smith has it all wrong… the cinema experience is so much more than just greasy food and Hollywood actors.
We arrived early to ensure I was able to observe movie goers from ticket purchase to film credits. I encountered a total of three lines and in each I observed people socializing. These are not the dreadful lines at a grocery store; they were a time for people to talk about school, family and work. First I purchased my ticket for a mere four dollars! This is a modest fee compared to the cost of most social activities these days; it costs over five dollars to rent a movie from Blockbuster (which does not include the theatre experience).
We proceeded to the next line, which by the way Mr. Smith is optional. I choose to engage in the entire experience for the sake of my research and therefore, purchased the regular pop and popcorn combo. My senses were tantalized as I waited in this line by the popping sounds and buttery scents. Smith was right that there are huge helpings of food and beverage; why not? The theatre is giving you a bang for your buck if you choose to buy the food and now you can even get a refill if the first helping wasn’t enough. Russell Smith thinks this is simply a greasy, disgusting display of eating habits. To this I say have you ever gone to McDonalds and seen people eat? At least in the theatre it’s dark and you don’t have to watch them eat, you can look at the big screen in front of you.
Although the food line was a bit slower, due to understaffing, I was able to observe a parent and child ahead of me. I realized the movies are a place for all people, young and old, friends and family. The movie theatre is open to all members of the public and it does not have a dress code. I saw a few girls dressed in high heels and four people wearing sweats or pajama pants. This is a place for people to come out, escape their everyday life and get immersed in a story on a big screen with surround sound. This is a rare opportunity for complete strangers to share laughs and tears at the same time.
As we approached the last line I saw people holding hands, smiling and talking. When we go to the movies we are spending time with people. How often do we do this? People are too busy or isolated in their own lives watching TV or typing on their computer to get out and see each other. Going to the movies forces people to leave their house and interact, what is so bad about that Russell?
Now this is one of my favorite things about the movies, the ticket-ripper who welcomes you, rips the ticket and then even informs you which direction to go for your movie. As I entered the theatre I noticed that people go to the movie in pairs and space permitting always allow for a buffer seat between strangers. This eliminates the awkwardness of sharing an arm rest, although the buffer seat is not possible when the theatre is full, most strangers are very considerate to one another in the movie theatres. I have yet to see anyone honk and finger the person beside them at the theatre, even if they do it all the time on the road.
This leads me to my next point people are really quite considerate at the movie theatre. I noticed four people (myself included) who pulled out their cell phones to turn off the ringer. This was the later show and there were no crying babies or loud teens, everyone was quietly speaking to their friend or significant other and enjoying the snacks they had purchased at the concession. Something was missing though; it was the movie trivia that Smith had associated with death. At the Movie Mill they played these terrible Lethbridge business ads that did perhaps remind me of death. The Hollywood trivia is fun and something interesting to do while waiting for the movie. It’s a lot better than just staring at the black screen or those business ads.
As for the people talking that Smith couldn’t stand, which I find strange because there are few places in public where you don’t hear people talking, it immediately came to a quiet hush as the lights dimmed. The speakers got louder and the advertising and previews began, which only lasted for thirteen minutes (less than half of the thirty minutes Smith proclaimed). At this point I actually became enraged with Smith because he so irrationally attacks the cinema for inundating us with commercials, when the media does this everywhere. Those commercials on the big screen are no different than those on the radio, television and street or in magazines and newspapers, on the internet and in our email accounts. Welcome to western society, we are consumers and there are advertisers.
So the feature presentation began, the movie was serious but also had some comical moments. Yes, there was that one person with the crazy laugh who actually made everyone else laugh a little bit harder during the funny parts. The most amazing part of observing the audience was noticing that all the strangers sitting in this dark room were connected and sharing the same emotions. People laughed at the same time, gasped and even cried with the person three rows in front of them. Going to the cinema is a social activity where people interact with friends and strangers in a way that rarely happens anywhere else in public. Smith simply overlooks the socializing that takes place in a movie theatre when he argues that everyone just stares at the big screen.
The movie ended and everyone compiles there belongings and prepares to exit. You are not even expected to clean up after yourself; there are people who do that for you. What I loved most about the exiting post-movie is that people filed out in a completely civilized and uniform fashion. There was no one pushing you from behind or cutting in front of you. As I was leaving I was reminded of a recent airplane experience; when it was time to exit people were savages, pushing and shoving, digging for their bags with no regard for anyone else.
When the audience was leaving I heard discussion of the acting, film, critiques and particularly with this film the issues that were raised. The movie was Blood Diamond and this was not the trivial, sun-dappled, California megastudio film that Russell Smith attributes to film. This was a movie about real issues that evoked awareness in the audience. I actually heard one women ask her husband or fiancé about her diamond and its origins. I personally have never thought about African conflict diamonds as I stroll through the mall peaking at Ben Moss displays, but I will now. When I left this movie I said to my significant other, “this is just about diamonds, what about all of the other resources the developed take from the developing countries”. The entire drive home consisted of a debate about western mass consumption and the consequences of our actions throughout history. So Smith, not everyone is talking about what food they like and dislike.
This is not the trivial conversation Smith complains about regarding the discussions associated with movie going. Although some of it is trivial, the movie lets people leave their everyday life and become immersed in a story, a different culture or a fantasy world. Whether it is fiction or based on a true story, drama or romantic comedy people are entertained at the cinema. The food is tasty and the atmosphere allows every individual to escape into the movie. The dark room, comfy seats, surround sound, big screen and fellow audience members make the movie experience one that is pleasant and far from the exaggerated death that Russell Smith describes.
