The Joy of Watching Movies!

by Nicholas Ziino

I’ve loved movies since I was a kid. I’d get so excited about going to the theater with family or friends to see a new movie. It was fun sitting in the dark, eating candy or popcorn. Sure, I’d watch movies on TV, but it wasn’t the same. Going to a movie theater was a special event.

Of course, we didn’t have the resources to watch movies at home anytime in those days. Popular films weren’t shown on TV until several years after they came out. Even then, they were edited and interrupted by a million commercials. But that was all there was.

The introduction of home video in the early 1980's changed everything. Audiences found they could now watch movies in their own homes anytime. Studios found the tapes were a major source of income. At first, they were very expensive and sold mainly to video stores or libraries. But as home video’s popularity grew, prices inevitably came down. Now people could own their favorite movies. And, of course, movie theaters took a major hit. That continued as the video industry developed, with the introduction of new formats such as DVD, Blu-ray, and streaming services.

But what is the better way to see a movie?

Well, both have their advantages. Yes, video allows you to see a movie at any time, in the comfort of your own home (and with your favorite snacks). And now, you don’t even have to use the TV. You can see it on a phone, computer, or ipad. You can even do it alone, without all those annoying other people around you.

But to many of us, there is still something special about seeing movies in a theater. Big-screen TVs are great, but nothing beats watching a film on that thirty-five foot screen with awesome sound. There’s also an atmosphere, a kind of special magic, that comes with being in a crowded theater. That’s something you can’t duplicate at home.

But perhaps it doesn’t matter how you see a movie. It’s all a matter of personal preference, anyway!

Looking for some good movies to watch? Try one of these classics on Hoopla or one of the many others available: