Movie Etiquette

Perhaps I'm just a bit peculiar. Perhaps I'm just a bit dim. Perhaps I long for a code of conduct that just disappeared when it comes to the glorious area of art. I am a movie connoisseur, I absolutely adore their story lines, cinematography, and flow. They are the modern world's escape as books have been in the past. Some are crap. Some inspire the imagination and spurn one on to a more pronounced and exciting life. Just like books. We won't use this time to debate which is the better medium (books), but I feel letting out a little rant about the indelicate disposition towards film and the consumerism of the feelings it portrays in this loveable modern world of ours.

Since moving to the UK, I've realized how entirely lucky I am to live in this time. Doctors, planes, music, travel, food, news. It's truly incredible how much is available to us all and instantaneously. But it's a status that's every changing. We have conversations over each other in a group. We disrupt. We generally have no regard for the idea of enjoying one thing at a time. We must have more. And so we have dinner in front of the television, with one person trying to speak and the others only half listening to the concerns, but really paying attention to who's dumped who in Coronation Street. It's truly sad that we value an imagined life more than the wonderful reality that's been given to us, that we cannot appreciate one thing, one conversation, one moment for itself.

But I digress. What has this to do with movies? Well, what we believe in one sector of our lives inevitably rolls over into the others. I believe a film is an invitation to step into another world, to leave your cares and worries behind and see life from a different perspective. It's an opportunity to learn life lessons from those who have lived, to judge literary styles and critique what is true with what is mere romanticism, secularism, or pluralism. It provides an inside look into a culture's gods and taboos--shows us what a culture finds important and what it neglects. It is chance to uproot yourself in your imagination and wander the corners of the created world on the most amazing stories that often only begin to parallel everyday life. Some are absolute rubbish and made for yet another instant high for our throw away culture to consume and forget in seconds. But there are others that are diamonds in the ruff. They are gems worth noting and remembering. Entering into the world created by a movie is almost like being invited into someone's life story, and I believe ought to be treated with the same respect. Now, granted, it is a movie. But if you are going to spend time and energy on something, you ought to throw your entire focus and attention onto it.

Tonight I watched a film with a wonderful family, a film I had been looking forward to see for ages. It was beautifully filmed and the script was incredible. However, the dear people I watched it with demonstrate my point immaculately. Lines were not heard because of constant crunching of crisps; random talks would break out and destroy an important moment.... and they wouldn't stop; the dad came in half way through and turned on the lights. We did not stop the movie, but had to wait for him to put on a lamp--a suprisingly demanding ordeal. He then proceeded to type and play videos, music and speeches over the very ending and dramatic bits of the film--the redemption, death scene and aftermath. I'm not gonna lie. I hate it when people talk and chatter during films. I hate it when they talk while someone is speaking. The absolute disrespect to the speaker and to those that are trying to listen and learn drives me up a wall.

Maybe my goal should be like Wilberforce. Eradicate slavery and reform society. Or maybe I should take a lesson from dear Aretha and push for Respect. Whichever way, something's gotta give and it ain't gonna be anything less than that.