In many families, the thing to do a couple of times a month is to check out the latest movies at the local theater. Movie makers spend countless dollars making trailers and spending money on advertisements in print and radio to try and vie for their share of the customers’ money. But what makes a movie really worth watching?
Many movie fans may choose to catch a flick based on the reviews it has been given. After all, this is how many of these films wind up being nominated for awards every year. Other fans may seek a sequel to a movie that they had previously enjoyed. Many film makers and actors have cashed in on the easy money that can be had with a successful franchise. There are times, though, that a film series falls flat and the storyline has run out of gas. Then, making new chapters is simply seen as a gamble to win back the fans’ loyalty.
There are other movie goers who simply seem to follow the crowds and the hype. Many of the more far-fetched sci-fi movies seem to be a big draw with viewers who are looking for that escape from reality. There are possibly as many reasons to see a movie as there are individual tastes. But the over-riding question is: what really makes a movie worth spending a small fortune to go see?
When it gets down to brass tacks, it may be the storyline and acting that drives a movie to the top of the heap. There are plenty of these movies as well, but they likely don’t get a lion’s share of the attention. Some are able to feature a worthwhile story and still be visually stunning; Titanic comes to mind for that one. It took a well-known tragedy from history and put a human stamp on it. At the same time, it was a beautifully shot movie with captivating images and special effects that were actually believable most of the time. This particular movie was both well-told and filmed. While it ran a little long, it was worth watching more than once.
There are a few other movies that would convince me to part with my hard earned money to catch on the big screen. Collateral Beauty, starring Will Smith and Ed Norton, is another movie that was panned by the critics but was totally worth the money to go see. It featured a unique twist on an old story while also hitting upon the main themes that none of us like to dwell on but, yet, all do: Time, Love and Death. This movie caught this viewer’s attention from the first moments. Critics felt it was flat and not fast paced enough; my answer is that it takes time to develop a story worth telling.
In the end, for this particular viewer, the movie must grab me, draw me in and make me want to be invested in the story. When it is over, I want to feel both satisfied and yet, a bit wistful that it is over.
Writer Bio: Angela Mose
I am a mom of 7 who has successfully homeschooled for 20 years. I was married for more than 25 years and have recently started my life over. I have a passion for writing and music and when the two can be combined, it is utopia. A Maryland native, I am planning to relocate north in the near future and will continue to strive to learn and experience new things on a regular basis. I am fortunate enough to be able to work from home while exploring new ways to increase my knowledge and skills and help improve the lives of those around me.