Why I Love the Movie Theater
Alternate Title: Why You Need the Movie Theater
Thirty-plus years ago, we moved to a small town in Florida. It had three movie theaters: Regency 8 played first-run movies; the Plitt showcased indie and smaller-budget movies; and the Dollar Theater was the last stop before home video. Fast-forward 33 years, and my brother Travis and I are walking into Regency 20 to screen a classic. Walking through those two yellow doors is akin to stepping into a time machine.
It’s the old part of the theater where the original eight screens still live. There’s no fancy stadium seating or plush recliners with footrests; they upgraded from cloth and generously increased the seats’ recline beyond an airplane seat. This is not a large format or Dolby surround; I’ve been in living rooms with more immersive sound.
However, when the title: Ninja Scroll hits the screen:
The lack of amenities fades into the background. I’m sitting beside my brother, enjoying one of the greatest anime classics ever. Our age gap leads to it being a movie we grew up watching separately. I saw it on videotape, and he probably saw it on a burned DVD from a friend or me.
If you’re ever feeling disconnected from someone, sit in a dark theater, put electronics off, and don't talk. Start talking as you walk out of the darkness and into the bright lobby lights. You have spent 90 minutes to 3 hours not speaking, time to bond over it.
As for us, we walked to my truck and started talking. I asked him to do a guest movie review for my podcast, and the conversation flowed from there. We discussed his upcoming podcast, the movie's lasting appeal, and life. Until the inevitable kicked in, it was past 11 o’clock. Time to get home to the families. Until next time, read my no-scroll review of Ninja Scroll.