Going to the movies is becoming an elaborate thing these days -- not only are people willing to pay big bucks for tickets to The Dark Knight (because, you know, it was never going to play again ever), but they camp out, dress up, cheer the appearance of Batman, and applaud at the credits. (Or even at the trailers!) At least, that's the phenomenon according to The Independent and, honestly, I've been noticing it too -- mostly the costumes, though. Seeing people in costume at a midnight showing used to be fairly rare, a novelty largely centered on Star Wars installments, but now it's happening all the time. I mean, people dressing up for Mamma Mia!? That's hardcore! (And don't pretend you're "different" than the Jedis and Jokers, either! A costume is a costume!) Granted, I think the Independent is exaggerating things -- this kind of excitement is really only seen on opening night; come the next afternoon, there is no cheering or costuming to be found. Moviegoing settles back into quiet and sleepy normalcy.
But it is an interesting phenomenon nonetheless. What the heck is causing it? Is it a frenzy caused by billions of dollars of movie marketing? Is it due to an unsatisfied need for a communal experience -- where else can you go to enjoy a crowd and establishment that is safe, clean, and friendly to all ages? Is it just those wacky convention types taking any excuse to dress up and loudly play the geek?
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But it is an interesting phenomenon nonetheless. What the heck is causing it? Is it a frenzy caused by billions of dollars of movie marketing? Is it due to an unsatisfied need for a communal experience -- where else can you go to enjoy a crowd and establishment that is safe, clean, and friendly to all ages? Is it just those wacky convention types taking any excuse to dress up and loudly play the geek?
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And how into it are you getting? Does any of the above describe you? I'm feeling rather left out, a quiet moviegoer who is just happy if she gets a good seat. I confess that I've clapped at trailers and movies for years -- I think the first I ever spontaneously applauded was the trailer for The Phantom Menace. (Oh, how innocent we were.) I remember clapping (and sobbing) at the end of The Return of the King. In fact, Lord of the Rings is the only series of films that I've experienced where my fellow audience members were just going ballistic, but I thought that was just because we Tolkien fans were really into Ents. Who knew it would become an acceptable practice? Frankly, it's the one facet of this that I can really get behind, as I firmly believe all good entertainment should be applauded. (Even if, as the Independent sagely points out, no one involved in the movie is around to hear it.)
But, I've never gone to a movie in costume, and have never even considered it. (Shocking, isn't it!) The closest I've ever come is when my friends and I decided to make "the worst Jedi costumes ever" a scant hour before a midnight showing of Revenge of the Sith. This consisted of buying the ugliest bathrobes we could find and wearing them to the theater -- but not before the rest of our group caught on, and came in things like "worst Luke Skywalker" and "worst Imperial Guard." It says a lot about the crowd that no one even noticed. (Except for Luke Skywalker -- for some reason people took that seriously and praised it, but that's probably because my sister's hair made her really resemble 1977 Mark Hamill.)
I'm quite curious what enthusiastic audiences will do next. I expect there will be a lull and a quiet appreciation for the fall dramas -- I can't imagine anyone applauding The Road, for example, or dressing up for The Duchess. Perhaps the fedoras and femme fatales will break out for The Spirit, but I don't expect to see another moviegoing frenzy until Watchmen. There's going to be way too many Rorschachs in line to be comfortable with.
What about you? Have you ever dressed up for a regular screening at the local multiplex? When was the last time you applauded during the end credits?
1. I never dress up for movies, but I thought it would be fun to go to the X-Files: I Want to Believe wearing a t-shirt I got from an Amsterdam head shop years ago bearing the shop's logo: a glowing alien head w/ "Aliens in Amsterdam." I thought at least some people would find it funny. Oh, no. From the stares I got even my friends were like - "you go sit in the DARK theatre while WE go get the popcorn."
Posted at 12:27PM on Aug 11th 2008 by stbrigid