Popcorn Palaces: Guess Russel Smith visited the Wrong Theatre!!!

Dear Readers,

            After reading Russel Smith’s exhuberating rant on the disgusting movie experience I had to question which movie theatre he visited. The one in hell?? Perhaps the movie going experience is unique to everyone; but we all expect a certain traditional atmosphere represented in theatres a like. It is the position of the theatre to create an ambiance so that the experience of movie goers is a successful one. They provide a service much like in any service industry such as restaurants or at sporting events. The costumer desires good food, good service, and pleasurable seating. I disagree with Smith’s argument that movie going is a sensory stressfest rather I believe it excites our senses and introduces us to a new state of consciousness.    

             We decided to go see a movie on a Sunday night at 9:00. My theater experience began with a drive along the desolate streets of Lethbridge and a sleepy yawn since I had just woken up from a nap. We had decided to go see the movie ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ after hearing Oscar Buzz around it’s success and a viewers score of 41/2 stars out of 5 on the Movie Times website. In my dreamy state I felt as if we were about to take part in an adventure that would stir up my senses. Feeling priviledged that soon I would be experiencing someone elses imagination, brought alive on screeen with the support of technologies such as special effects. Movie goers in a few hours are able to experience the worlds of fantasy and reality join in an artistic masterpiece, inducing a hieghtened consciousness. Your mood can effect the movie you choose to go see which in turn ignites how you experience the movie. I found it takes a type of ‘mental preperation’ to set the tone for the movie expierence.  After reading Russell Smith’s article I’m sure most of you will agree with me the guy must have been in a bad mood he can’t possibly be so closed minded to the cultural phenomena of movie going today. If everybody was so depressed and agitated with their movie going experience I’m sure they wouldn’t be so anxious to line up for the next one.

         Coming up to the Empire Movie Theatre on 4th I was disappointed to find only a few cars parked outside. I had hoped to be able to people watch more in a crowded room however, I didn’t realize I was about to embark on a unique movie going experience in itself. The old school theatre left quite the impression, substantially different from its descendant the modern day movie theatre of the contemporary age. The tone of the theatre was missing the comfort of modern theatre lights and flash symbolically aggressive of the entertainment industry. We found the only door that wasn’t locked and let ourselves in only to find the pay booth deserted. We found the ancient approach of this old school theater quite interesting rather for not having machines that automatically regergatated tickets and the usual handful of cashiers to rush you through the door. It made me realize how technologically spoiled we are everyday. However, it was refreshing to indulge in the historical atmosphere that made the movie business what it is today, how intimate the experience could be. The theatre consisted of only two viewing rooms, allowing for smaller audiences and less employees. Providing an oppurtunity for the staff to make relationships with its costumers. For example I would later find out that as a result of the concession guys recognition of me he would happily give me a free refill of my pop during the film.

            After finding the ticket booth abandoned we proceded into the large foyer were we were welcomed by a anxious young man behind the single till concession counter. He informed us we could just purchase our tickets through him. Symbolic of the concession stand was the traditional popcorn machine with the classic Red top and bottom and the blue and yellow bold letters sprawled across reading ‘POPCORN’. Added on to the price board was the comment ‘Real Butter: No unknown substances’ now that’s exciting. The popcorn tasted amazing; just like when you make it at home. Truly a popcorn palace in its own!!

            Russel Smith does make the point on how the ads before the movie seem to drag on and how we pay to watch them. I realize this is common in the modern movie experience however, we got no such advertisements at the unveiling of our feature presenation at the Empire. The movie just started on schedule, no interruptions. There are some of us who look forward to the previews before the movie; they are created to entice the viewer flashing all the best parts of the new upcoming film to lure in the audience. It can be quite entertaining on the big screen with the ambiance of the theatre’s load roar. Before the movie was presented they flashed a quick old school refreshments ad that was is so symbolic of the traditional movie experience.  Such as in the drive-in commercials we see in old movies. Drive-ins which today struggle with keeping there doors open, competing with the luxeries of modern theatres.  The big theatres have succumb to consumerism which can disenchant the viewer by constantly trying to sell them a product. Especially a viewer like Russell Smith!  

            We entered ‘Theater #1′ and preceded to pick a comfortable seat since we had our pick, there was only five other people joining us that evening for the viewing of ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’. Talk about intimate experience. Two rows ahead of us there were two guys and a girl appearing in their twenties, just good friends going to a movie on a sunday night. The one guy from the group closest to the walk way hid under his oversized hood and seemed to be sleeping for most of the movie.  I waited for a reaction during the real intense load parts of the film but there was nothing. I’m assuming his friends just convinced him it would be a good idea to go see a movie. Who knows maybe he was a third wheel on a date. In the row across from us was a young teenage couple holding hands and constantly whispering sweet nothings to eachother. Going to the movies is famously known for being a hot spot for dates. They snacked on handfuls of popcorn and an x-large ’gallon of liquid-sugar’ as Smith would call it. But who can have popcorn without the quench satisfying taste of coca-cola. Cokes famous logo can be traced back to the birth of the movie going experience.

           In cunclusion, the movie kept me on the edge of my seat for the duration of the film. We discussed the movies intriguing story line the entire way home and I even found myself dreaming about it into the night. That’s when you know you’ve gone to a movie worth viewing when your still pondering its ideas days later. Unlike Smiths negative experience I find that movie going allowes a different means to which people can communicate with eachother.  The movie industries leading age of technology today such as special effects allowes us to experience the imagination of a collective. Our senses our tantalized by the load roar of the speakers and the enchanting screen which breeds an atmosphere created to lure the audience in to a realm where fantasy and reality come together.  After leaving the theatre the people who shared In the same movie experience didn’t feel so estranged anymore we now had something in common. The intimate experience of the old school theatre had important services to offer movie goers, holding on to the qualities that made original theater’s ‘Great’. Perhaps Russel Smith just visited the wrong theatre!!

Kindest Thoughts,

Barb E