I went to the cinema on my own over the weekend for the first time. I confess it felt a bit odd doing something which has in the past been so intrinsically social...just...on my own, because I wanted to.
I wanted to see the new Spiderman film after hearing people rave about it... I was aimlessly wandering into Hatfield proper and decided spur of the moment to go and see.
As I sat down in the cinema's half-darkness I came to be aware, as you do in these situations, of the people around me. Behind and to my right there were a couple of women discussing their diet...there were other people around me but I couldn't hear them because there were a couple of women just behind me, discussing their diet. When I say 'diet' I mean 'the food that they eat' not any particular plan or scheme.
W1: Well I tried that Atkins and I loved it. Ab-so-lute-ly loved it. Couldn't stay on it though. I would just want a tiny bit of toast with my bacon and eggs, or a leetle side of rice with my chilli. And it just didn't work! I piled on the weight.
W2: Terrible.
W1: I know! You'd think that would be allowed. I just...love being full, I suppose.
W2: Well, you could have a big plate of salad?
W1: Yes, but when I start having big portions of salad, I just want big portions of something else afterwards...
W2: Oooh! Have you tried that Taramasalata?
[continues in same vein until credits begin to roll]
At this point a concerto in rustling sweet wrappers began from their seats.
They had me grinning, anyway.
As the film ended, Spider-man swung off into a sunset-lit New York.
I'm moving there, I thought.
Cool.
As I walked out of the theatre (to the obligatory post-film toilet stop - whoever remembers their bladder when they're ordering pre-film buckets of drink?) I swear some kids were staring at me.
I was wearing, having not planned to go to the cinema to see that particular film, newish bluejeans and bright red sailing-style t-shirt, collared with blue denim. Two children whispered behind me.
They were just being silly, as kids are sometimes.
There's no way I could fit all my hair under that mask.
I go to movies all the time bym myself. You saying I'm some sort of wierdo?
I've gone to films by myself too. It's a strange thing to do - it's usually something you do in pairs or in groups. I guess it's kind of like eating at a restaurant alone (which I've done as well). All in all, I think it's liberating. And yes, makes you VERY aware of every conversation around you. Good luck with your move to NYC. Meanwhile, I enjoy reading little tidbits about England in your blog. I quite adore London :)
I've never been by myself although the last film i went to was farenheit 9/11 and a friend and i booked separately, which, in hindsight was kind of stupid as we weren't able to get seats next to each other. But I was very aware of all the people around me as I was by myself. I guess when you're with someone else, you don't really notice all the other people and their different conversations.
i tend to not mind going to movies by myself, especially since when i go with other people it's not like we can talk or anything anyway. it's also much easier to find a seat sometimes! nowadays i usually end up going to movies with the boy, though.
See, I don't mind watching movies by myself, since I usually aim to lose myself in them anyway.
Theatre or live music though - well, then it's all about being part of an audience. And if you can't whisper snarky/amazed comments to the person next to you, it's no fun. So, like, I;m not a complete nigel no-friends!
I occasionally go to see films alone. Even when I take the b/f he falls asleep regardless.
So did you like the movie?
Yes Lady Crumpet, I did.
Although there was that brief moment of disbelief which didn't belong there.
When watching Men in Black 2, one of the characters stands outside a shop in Manhattan and looks upwards at the stars, and I instantly thought, 'That's ridiculous - you wouldn't be able to see the stars in the middle of New York!' And I then went on to realise that I was watching a film about renegade aliens running riot all over the place, and I was scoffing something like being able to see the sky...
Same thing happened with the 'elevated subway' scene...there's no elevated subway on Manhattan anymore, and found myself scoffing (albeit quietly), before realising that I was watching a film about a man-spider hybrid who deliberately wears spandex whilst fighting crime...
Good to know! I enjoyed it very much myself, and didn't even feel guilty about it. The saving the train bit was one of my favorite scenes. And even knowing that the train line was in Chicago (I stayed for the credits to confirm), it totally worked in the context of the movie.