Seeing a film is a perfect solo activity

Taken from Alyssa Rosenberg's article in The Washington Post.

The problem with seeing a movie on a date is the movie becomes subordinate to the date. Rather than giving your full attention to what’s happening on-screen, maybe you’re wondering if you’re going to hold hands, or you’re feeling the weight of their arm across your shoulder. You’re sharing popcorn, or your fingers bump when you both reach for a Twizzler at the same time.

And even if you aren’t distracted by these little zaps of physical electricity, the way you process a movie on a date is inevitably shaped by the discussion to come. I like this, but will she like it? I hate this, but will he? How could anyone think that was romantic, or smart, or suspenseful, or satisfying? If I talk about the cinematography, is he going to think I’m pretentious? If I don’t talk about the cinematography, will she think I’m dumb? I wish I was at “Star Wars.” I wish he was someone who wanted to see “Star Wars.”

No, if you really want to get lost in a movie — and have an aesthetic experience that will be yours and yours alone — the only way to see a movie is by yourself.

One of the first experiences that convinced me of this was in 1994, when I went to see “Little Women” in the small Vermont town where my family was living at the time and cried so hard when Beth (Claire Danes) died that a neighbor called my mother to make sure I was all right. This year, I saw “Hell or High Water,” David Mackenzie and Taylor Sheridan’s magnificent neo-Western, by myself on a Friday afternoon. One of the reasons it’s stayed at the top of my private best-of list all year is that, though I wanted to talk to everyone I knew about it as soon as I left the theater, while I was watching the movie, I didn’t think about the world outside at all.

There’s something singularly decadent about the other pleasures of going to the movies by yourself.

So what do you think: better to see a film on your own or with someone?

 

I think both have benefits. I like seeing a movie with my husband because I like to analyze it and talk about it afterward, and if I see a movie alone, I dont have anyone to talk to about it.

Also, I've definitely seen some movies that are a lot more fun to watch with lots of other people reacting in the theater. Especially horror movies.

But I do enjoy seeing certain movies alone, particularly ones I've already seen and want to see again or ones I'm mildly interested in but I dont think anyone else will necessarily enjoy it.

 

I like going to movies solo or with a date. I’ve never had a date be an issue when it comes to paying attention to the flick.

 

Yeah, we should boycott all websites because porn is on the internet!

 

By your logic it is. Not every film has sex in it and not every film in cinemas is made by Hollywood. There are plenty of film industries around the world that have nothing to do with Hollywood. You need to purge the internet! And really the internet, not film, is why so many watch porn anyway! Get rid of the movie industry and you'll still have porn!

 

No it doesn't!

And if you want to talk about not supporting Hollywood then why are you telling people to buy products from businesses that support Hollywood?

 

No it doesn't!

 

Your first post in this thread.