“Everything I learned, I learned from the movies.”
When I was a kid, I always loved going to movie theaters.
The whole experience felt so magical;
the movie was never disappointing, the snacks were yummy,
and even the previews were exciting. In the age of streaming services and the like,
individualized technology means
watching something centered around sites like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime,
and most people prefer binge-watching the latest television dramas
in their bed alone while also mostly glancing at their phones.
This is the comeback weekend Hollywood (and myself)
But movies are meant to be watched in a shared setting:
an experience aided by the energy of those around you,
enhanced by the vastness of the large, dark theater,
and especially by putting away your phone.
How I love sitting in the dark,
How I love sitting in the dark,
shoulder to shoulder,
with strangers, laughing
at the same lines,
with strangers, laughing
at the same lines,
no matter who we vote for.
The communion of popcorn
crunching down the aisle,
the heavenly incense
of melted butter;
The communion of popcorn
crunching down the aisle,
the heavenly incense
of melted butter;
the nostalgic excuse to eat
Buncha Crunch and drink Cherry Pepsi,
Buncha Crunch and drink Cherry Pepsi,
ignoring the inevitable belly ache to come.
Even feeling pissed
at folks’ loud whispers
behind me, the forgiveness
when, later, I hear
their muffled sobbing.
The way their tears give
my tears permission.
My memories of love taking my hand
when they start falling
Even feeling pissed
at folks’ loud whispers
behind me, the forgiveness
when, later, I hear
their muffled sobbing.
The way their tears give
my tears permission.
My memories of love taking my hand
when they start falling
or the scaries kick in.
Today I give thanks
for each of you
who leaves your name,
your past, your present
life to enter this flickering
cave that holds us briefly
in a common story.
The social media-fueled fusion of Greta Gerwig's “Barbie”
and Christopher Nolan's “Oppenheimer”
Today I give thanks
for each of you
who leaves your name,
your past, your present
life to enter this flickering
cave that holds us briefly
in a common story.
The social media-fueled fusion of Greta Gerwig's “Barbie”
and Christopher Nolan's “Oppenheimer”
brought moviegoers back to the theaters:
the baby-faced teens seeing Barbie, all decked in pink.
the baby-faced teens seeing Barbie, all decked in pink.
This is the comeback weekend Hollywood (and myself)
has been dreaming of since the pandemic.
So, I would like to encourage everyone,
So, I would like to encourage everyone,
young people in particular,
to venture out and do one incredible thing:
Go to the movies.