A Night to Remember (Please Weigh In)

Posted on Author Ryan McNeil


Somebody once asked me why I go to screenings of movies I’ve already seen. They didn’t mean it in a “Why did you go see THE DARK KNIGHT three times?” sort of way. No, they meant it more in a “You own THE GREAT ESCAPE on dvd and have watched it about a dozen times…why are you taking time out to see it on a big screen?”.

There’s the obvious reason, which is that when possible, good movies deserve to be given the theatre experience. I’ve found that in the dark, with a big screen, and the soundtrack coming from all sides…you lose yourself just *that* much more in the story.

But there’s another reason…

I go to screenings – especially screenings of older movies – because I’ve been witness to communal experiences that heighten the whole show.

Like this week, at an outdoor screening of SAY ANYTHING where some patrons responded to Lloyd Dobler holding up his boombox by firing up some sparklers and holding them aloft in response.

Or last week (at the same venue) where with all the clapping, singing, and dancing, I started to feel more like I was at a Talking Heads concert, and not just a screening of STOP MAKING SENSE.

Then there was the night a truly beautiful theatre in the neighbourhood I grew up in was closing (bound to become a big-box bookstore). As the lights went down and the feature began, an elderly couple in the middle of the house popped a bottle of champagne.

Or a year or two back, when my favorite indie cinema played WHITE CHRISTMAS on December 23rd, and the packed house actually sang along in the final scene.

Stuff like this just doesn’t happen in your living room – at least it doesn’t happen in mine! This makes me curious folks…

Ever been there when the crowd is just a little more into the movie than usual? What are some of your favorite movie-going experiences?

3 Replies to “A Night to Remember (Please Weigh In)”

  1. hatter, you live in a cool place to get so many super outdoor screenings. a lot is said on film blogs these days about the pain of going to the cinema and the distractions and horrible things that come with it which weve all experienced but going to the movies can still be a great experience, even when you see a crap film.
    i remember being at my local old-school cinema to see Mission: Impossible 2 (dont ask) and every time the Cruiser would take out a bad guy in the ludicrous end sequence this bunch of kids would start cheering. made the film better, actually.
    i also remember going to see Forrest Gump with a few friends when we were teenagers and one of them decided it would be a good idea to drink a small bottle of whiskey before the film. he threw up within minutes of the start and fell asleep. i still enjoyed the film though, despite the smell of vomit a few seats to the right of me.
    when i think of the best cinema experiences ive ever had i think of films like Jurassic Park, Batman, Speed, Fight Club and The Dark Knight – not my favourite films by any means but the actual experience at the time blew me away.
    on a non-film note, i recently went to see The Lion King musical on stage and just as poor little Simba was leaning over his dead papa Mufasa, someone's mobile phone went off – i couldnt help but laugh

Comments are closed.