August 25, 2009
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In an otherwise blissful marriage Jim does have one major teeny problem with me. I don’t like movies.
At least not in comparison to the other things I love like books, and reading (not to be confused with books), and food (and eating too for that matter). It’s not that I think movies sinful, or stupid, but I either can’t get into the story at all and somehow remain detached and unexcited, or the movie plays me like a fiddle and I am tossed too and fro, from the edge of hysteria to heartfelt grief. Will she live? Will the human race survive?!?! Jim always expects me to know the answers to those questions and I never do. Thus, he finds movies relaxing and entertaining, whereas I always feel like I just survived a bucking rodeo bronco, or am so sad I feel like my dog just died. Consequently I prefer the intricacies and nuances of book reading, where at least if it gets too tense I have something tangible to grip and go white knuckled on, and I can put it down for a second and gasp “no he didn’t just do that”. For some reason Jim doesn’t completely understand my need to pause a movie and just hyperventilate at the screen for a second before continuing.Last night, at the invitation of Mrs. Smith, we went with them to Balboa park where one of the worlds largest outdoor organs lives. They have a summer concert series and this was their “Silent Film Night”, presented with live organ music. It’s like a typical Music-In-The-Park community thing, except with an old b&w silent movie, and a 4,500 pipe organ playing a soundtrack along with the movie. All of which is a respected art form. Who knew? I certainly didn’t until last night, but now I’m a lifelong fan. I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard during a movie. You’d think with all the evolved movie making technology, that comedies these days would be substantially better than their Charlie Chaplin forefathers, and sometimes they are, but last night as I was wiping tears from my eyes and clutching my overused laughing muscles, I was shocked to uncover an entire new genre of enjoyable movies.
Can’t wait to go again next year, and if you live anywhere near us, you’re welcome to join us. We’ll hopefully be packing a wine and cheese picnic with all the works.
taken with Jim’s phone
Comments (10)
In the 1632 series, Buster Keaton films are enormous hits with the downtime population.
wow, you and J are SO much alike!!!!!
That sounds fun! My kids loved the Buster Keaton movie they saw last week. Since dialogue can’t carry the movie, there’s more action, which they apparently prefer.
When we were kids we loved watching old b&w movies at the amphitheater of our favorite camping haunt. My brother and I would then describe the movies to each other late at night when we were supposed to be sleeping, and we’d be rolling out of our beds laughing just at the memories.
Oohhhh! What fun! Maybe we can join you guys next time- let us know when it is! I *adore* silent films with musical accompaniment, although I haven’t seen any since moving to SoCal. That organ at Balboa is IMPRESSIVE!
oh my gosh. i want to go to there.
some movies are pretty pointless so i can see why yu dont watch movies that much. some movies dont really capture me at all and just completely bore me.
wow that looks so fun!! and what a gorgeous setting. Sounds like the perfect way to spend an evening.
wow that movie thing sounds so cool! I’ve never heard of something like that!
I really like your blog. My two boys are about the same ages as yours.