From when I was little until now, I can remember almost every one of my visits to the movie theater. In Miami, Fla., numerous movie theaters were focal points for a certain period of my life and film journey. The movie theater at The Falls was filled with animated films and free summer movies. But as I grew up, my taste in film transitioned, and so did the movie theater. I started going to Cinepolis or the Sunset Place movie theater for drama films that took up more than two and a half hours of my day. Throughout my life, the movie theater became my second home and a far better place to watch a film than the typical streaming service.
When one ventures to the theater, it does not cover just a few hours of their day. Yes, the film may only be two to three hours, but it takes over all your thoughts and discussions for the rest of the day. Typically, I prefer to see a movie early in the day. This is so I can discuss the film with anyone willing to hear me speak that day. As much as I love film, the discussion is my favorite part. Many of my fondest memories are the moments after, as I spoke with my mom about every aspect of what we just watched on the silver screen. Most recently, I saw “The Brutalist,” which was three hours and 35 minutes long, with a 15-minute intermission. The film blew me away, and these adventures to the theater solidified why I love film. The cinematography and story left me speechless, but still with so much to discuss hours later.
These adventures to the movie theater are important to truly immerse oneself into the medium. As they slowly fade away with the transition to streaming services, all my experiences remind me what it is like to adore something so much, which for me is film. The medium is rich in history that needs to be preserved, so I and many others can continue to pass on these beautiful adventures that are monumental to life.
