Friday, April 22, 2011

Suspending Disbelief

I'm a very movie illiterate person. Every time a conversation turns to that topic I end up lost and annoyed. This happens to me all the time:

"Have you seen *Insert Movie Title here*?"

"No"

"You need to"

"Ok"

I probably am not going to see whatever film is suggested in that scenario. It's not that I don't care that you're giving me movie advice. I just don't find movies to be something I like to fill my free time with. I'd much rater play video games, read, do things on the internet or watch whatever crap is on ESPN.

The biggest problem I have with movies is my own inability to suspend my disbelief while watching a movie. In a lot of films I can't get over the ridiculousness of it. Especially in Science-Fiction or Action films.

I can't suspend my disbelief watching Films or TV shows, but I absolutely can while reading a book. I think my brain likes filling the gray areas on it's own and Movies don't really allow for that. I like imagining Hogwarts or Winston Smith's apartment. In movies there's not that ambiguity. The scenery is absolute.

The type of movies I am most likely to enjoy are comedies, documentaries and films based on historical events. Comedy is already based in ridiculousness so I don't need to make my mind pretend that it's real. Documentaries of course depict the real world. Films that are based historical events at least have some basis from the real world.

I often feel like an oddity for not being a "movie person." So that's what I want to find out. Are you a movie buff? How big are films in your life? Is there anyone who feels the same way I do?

Thanks for reading and please comment.

-Michael

1 comment:

  1. I love movies, but it sucks when your friends are all huge movie nerds and constantly make references to things you aren't familiar with. so I feel how you do. I do like to watch movies.. but sometimes I feel like I can't concentrate or let my mind wander like it can when I read. I love acting though, and appreciate it in good films. dumb ones are an utter waste of time. also, a lot of the time, movies don't do justice for the book.

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