Cinematic Magic

When I was younger, going to the movie theater was the best thing ever.

For a while, it wasn’t the same anymore. This could’ve been probably because of the pandemic and the restrictions we had. Maybe because I started to grow up and went out to other events instead. Or probably because I thought staying in the comfort of my own home to watch a movie was better.

I remember going every week with my whole family. Either we would go the day the movie just came out—usually those were on Fridays—or the following Monday, because it was my dad’s day off. And the fun thing about going with my parents and sister was how we would watch a movie that one of us chose. And luckily, I remember most of the movies I wanted to watch were chosen; props to being the youngest.

I noticed that I started to have a routine when it came to going to the theater.

• The idea of watching a particular movie trailer and getting excited to see it on the big screen was one of the first steps.

• Arriving at the cinema, you could automatically smell all the popcorn being made. The second thing we did while doing this was to get our tickets if we hadn't purchased them online.

• Then we would order food depending on whether we hadn’t just eaten before or had plans to eat after. Usually it was a bag of Sweet Tart Ropes or small popcorn with butter, and it was VERY IMPORTANT to order a blue Icee. Every single time, even to this day, that was my order, and I could never forget my icee.

• After getting our food, it was essential to use the bathroom. I mean, if you’re going to sit for a 2-3 hour movie, it's better to be safe than sorry and miss parts of the movie.

• Lastly, we would go inside our chosen theater, find our seats, and get ready for the movie to begin.

After finishing the movie, I don't know if it was just me, but I felt different. It was a nostalgic feeling when we left that we would feel as if we adopted the personalities of the main characters. It's quite funny to think of it now, but it was something that happened frequently, probably because of the type of action and connected movies I watched.

But one thing about this is that I’m glad I’m getting back to the idea of going to movie theaters more often; I’m back to that magical feeling once again.

Just like Nicole Kidman said in the AMC ad, "We come to this place for magic..." and "That indescribable feeling we get when the lights begin to dim and we go somewhere we've never been before..." I believe it's quite cheesy, but true!

The cinematic in-person environment is a place where I noticed many can come together, a feeling that isn't the same or better/worse than being at home.

It's a place where family can go out when having free time, or for a couple of teenagers to go out in a date (but please don't let that be the first date!), or for anyone who wants alone time. And so I encourage you, the readers, to take yourselves out too. Whether that is alone, with a group of friends, or with family, and to enjoy that feeling too.

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