Let’s Go To The Movies – Hive and Nest

I have tried three times to write about a funny day that I had last week but right now The Funny has left me and I could only make it sound like a weird, slightly pathetic day. Life has been dealing harshly with me lately and I think I’m kind of in survival mode.

So let’s talk about movies. I see a lot of movies. Which you probably wouldn’t guess because I rarely talk about them. Mostly movies are a vehicle for popcorn consumption. Popcorn is probably my favorite snack food. But not old popcorn like the kind you get in big tins at the holidays. Freshly popped, dripping with butter. We were never allowed to have this growing up when we went to the movies. My mother saw popcorn as “highway robbery” and still tries to smuggle some in rather than pay (don’t even think about trying to defend yourself, Mom. I’ve heard your excuses for the last 30 years.) I don’t like candy while I watch movies. Just popcorn.*

I really adore the dark, escapist aspect of movies. It’s a lovely invitation to get out of your head for two hours.  Although I rarely see a movie that truly takes me out of my conciousness and makes me forget that I’m sitting in a movie theatre. But a movie that helps me think about something differently is good too. Plus, there’s the bonus of getting away from the kids and the house. Mister loves movies more than I do. Loves, loves, loves them. I, personally, see probably about 75% of movies that come out. Mister has a little more pickiness about movies that are bad since he’s a Seminary teacher and needs to set a good example and have The Spirit with him and all that. Sometimes I don’t see rated R movies for a long time. Did you see No Country For Old Men?  That movie gave me the willies for about a week. I was constantly looking over my shoulder for a psycho, heartless killer. So I swore off rated R’s for a long time. But currently I don’t care. I don’t want to see anything or ultra-violent or raunchy (except Bridesmaids. Man, that was hilarious but pretty disgusting). But good movies that are rated R currently pass muster. At some point I’ll swear them off again. But not in the near future. It’s a good thing Mister doesn’t read my blog because he would be completely irate that I just admitted in a public forum that I watch rated R movies. He likes to keep up appearances. I figure that if you’re too embarrassed to admit that you’re breaking any rules, then you shouldn’t be breaking them. Own your wickedness, I say.

I’m not a hypocrite.

The funny thing is that I’m super particular about the movies my kids watch. I’m incredibly strict with the PG-13’s especially. The sad fact is that I’ve seen so many PG-13’s that have been horrendously sexual or really terrifying that it’s made me completely lose faith in the movie rating system. I do tell my children this, though (especially my 12-year-old son who is forever wanting to watch PG-13s): “If the people in Hollywood, who the most godless and misguided bunch of humans alive today, don’t think you should see a particular movie until you are 13, then don’t you think that I–who am your mother–want you to wait until you’re at least that old too?” We made an exception about Harry Potter because what the heck? Is it really that much worse than the other movies?

Mister and I have gone to see a movie at least once a week since we met. Even when we had four babies under age 5 (yes, at times I would skip paying a bill if it meant I couldn’t hire a babysitter. We have always taken date night very seriously).  I honestly don’t like watching movies on DVDs. I like the experience of going to the movie theatre**. We tighten our budget everywhere else to keep money free for going to movies.

You know what my favorite part of going to movies is? The previews. Seeing three or four new previews before a movies is a very auspicious start. Mister loves to see movies at film festivals but I’m not so crazy about it. Mostly because there are no previews. (And I have to wait in line.) It’s funny how I’m late to church about half the time but I am never, ever, ever late to a movie. Priorities!

Last week nothing good came out. We had seen everything we wanted to see. And all the other movies are waiting to be released on Christmas Day. So I actually broke down and rented some movies. Twice. It wasn’t the same. Although I have gotten pretty superb at making perfect popcorn.  Today is Friday so I’m hoping something great has come out. Anybody else going to the movies this weekend?

* Popcorn with butter halfway through and on top accompanied my beverage of choice: half Cherry Coke/half Diet Coke.

**My favorite movie theatre of all time being The District and/or Jordan Commons in the Salt Lake City area. Reserved seating? Best idea EVER! The butter quality is outstanding and I love a refillable pop cup. Do they still have those? And then, of course, there are the meal choices. You can eat anything while you watch a movie. Sigh. I miss that place.