I am consulting the calendar on my Macintosh computer here at the office and I see where today’s date is Aug. 29. The date on my iPhone, coincidentally enough, tells me the same thing.
A thought leaps into my mind — summer is almost over.
It seems hard to believe, but it’s true. September and the start of school signal autumn and, let’s face it, the onset of the Christmas season (which is, we should all go ahead and admit, right around the corner). Football, cooler weather, long-sleeved shirts and changing foliage will be upon us before anyone has time to check his watch in bafflement.
(OK, I am willing to concede that cooler weather might not show up until much later — we’ve had such whacky weather the past three months that it seems the hot weather only just got here.)
I paid scarce attention to June and July because I failed to participate in one of my favorite, almost unavoidable, summer rituals: going to the movies.
True, Magnolia has no movie theater, and I have lived in Magnolia these past four months. So, okay, that’s one reason for my lack of attendance. But I’ve lived in other cities that lacked movie theaters (Arkadelphia, I’m looking at you) and still managed to see four to five summer blockbusters.
Not this year.
Why not?
Frankly, there really wasn’t anything in theaters I wanted to drive a great distance to pay to see.
Last weekend, a very dear friend of mine and I went to see Guardians of the Galaxy. It was a good movie — from what I recall. (Full disclosure: Due to the loveliness of my companion that day, I found it hard to pay much attention to the movie.) What I liked about it was its humor — this was a science fiction-action movie that played more like a spoof of science fiction-action movies. (And yes, Groot and Rocket the Raccoon are hilarious and will make great toys at Christmas.)
That was the only movie of my summer season. I did not see the latest Transformers film or … well, aside from Guardians, that’s the only title I even remember. Did anything else come out?
It was a strange summer, as if Hollywood were holding its breath, waiting for next year to put out anything really interesting. Last year saw the usual glut of great movies — I paid to see Man of Steel and World War Z and was the only person in the United States who enjoyed The Lone Ranger — but this year? I just didn’t see much to get excited about.
Going to the movies is different now than 12-15 years ago. What’s different about it? Two words: cell phones. I now know that when I pay $50-100 to see something in iMax 3D I will inevitably come away frustrated with my fellow audience members.
You know what I’m talking about. You’re seated in a darkened room looking at someone’s tiny lighted screen four or five rows over. Or maybe sitting next to you. Or directly in front of you (to the right or left). What this is means to me is that I have paid big money (not counting soft drink and popcorn) to sit and watch you play a game, check email, text, or update your Facebook status.
This is annoying and it has all but killed the moviegoing experience. For me, anyway.
Those messages the movie theater flashes onscreen asking patrons to put away or silence their cell phones? Yeah, nobody does that.
I can always tell when a movie isn’t working for someone — usually a younger patron. Their smartphone comes on.
So, I really have to be excited now about a movie to go see it, and I just couldn’t muster the enthusiasm this past summer. Oh, and I’ll have to buy or rent Guardians later this year to see what I missed. (Smiley face.)
Contact managing editor Dan Marsh at [email protected].