There is nothing quite as exciting as going to the movies with the big-screen experience, surround sound, popcorn, and the “Wow” factor when hundreds of people gasp, cheer or groan at the same time.
I remember seeing a Queen Latifah movie where she lost her romantic interest to her “hot” cousin. A man in the audience shared her pain with “Aww Queen!” Then there was “Woman Under the Influence,” in which Peter Falk’s character treated his emotionally fragile wife with extreme insensitivity. The woman in the seat next to my husband, Roger, jumped out of her seat and cursed the husband’s character. It occurred to Roger that he might be the nearest convenient object of revenge.
I loved those experiences and I have missed them. Will they happen again? Well, yes, and no.
There have been a lot of changes in the movie industry lately. There has been a four-fold increase in streaming platforms. When all we had was three networks, we watched our favorite shows and old movies when they were shown, or not at all. Now with streaming, we can binge. Many studios have been consolidated; others have bought the streaming services.
The studios must be flexible to keep consumer interest high. Some promise release of movies to platforms after only 30 days in the theaters. They have given stars extra incentive to allow their films to be released on streaming platforms first. In the case of “Wonder Woman 1984,” Warner Bros. made a deal with star Gal Gadot to give her $15 million dollars to allow the release of the film on Christmas Day to HBO Max. Numerous high-end films have had their release dates put off for over a year.
I don’t have many of the online services, so I will be seeing films in the theater. It’s an experience to love.
